The history of the indulgence shewing its rise, conveyance, progress, and acceptance : together with a demonstration of the unlawfulness thereof and an answere to contrary objections : as also, a vindication of such as scruple to hear the indulged / by a Presbyterian.

VIII. Hovv the hands of Prelates are hereby strengthened.

COnsidering how we stand engaged against Prelates and Prelacie, every sinful course, that hath a tendencie to strengthen their hands, and to fix them in their tyrannical Usurpations over the Church, should be so much more abhorred by us; Yea, what otherwayes might be lawfully done, in this case, should be wholly forborne. We shall therefore take notice of the Advantages given to Pre∣lacy by this Indulgence. As.

1. Not to mention the open door, that is left unto them, to accept of the Prela∣tes Collation, nor the encouragement they have unto the seeking and obtaining of this from the Bishop, in and by this Indulgence; we may take notice of this, That hereby they put themselves in prison, and the key of their Prison, door is in the Pre∣lates hands; for without licence, granted by the Bishop of the Diocie, they may not go without the bounds of their confinment. And, sure, as this is no small dis∣advantage to themselves, but a manifest exposeing of themselves unto temptation; so it is a great power and advantage granted to the Prelate over them; which slaverie

and bondage they had been free of, if refusing the Indulgence, they had remained in the same Condition with the rest of their Non-Indu••ged Brethren.

2. There is in the accepting of the Indulgence, a voluntarie with-drawing of an helping hand from the greatest part of the Land, groaning under the Tyranny of Prelacy; and a leaving of the same unto the will and pleasure of the Prelates and of their Curates; for hereby they willingly did give up themselves to be inclosed wi••hin their several designed and limited places, and were content their Ministery should be their confined, let the necessity of the Church be what it would, or cou••d be. Thus, as to them, the Prelates, and their Curats were left in the pea∣cable possession of all the rest of the Land, which was no sma••l advantage, seing they were secured as to them, in all time coming, and had no ground to fear, that they should ••••ssen their Kingdom, and beat-up their quarters, with Field & House-Meetings, as others Non-Indulged did, and are doing, to the Glory of God, & to our Comfort.

3. Not to mentione the friendly and brotherly love and correspondence, that some have observed betwixt some of the Indulged, and their neighbour Hirelings, who are under the Prelates the general deadness and slackness as to any zeal against the Prelates and their wicked courses, which is commonly observed, wherever the Indulgence is, is no small proof of the advantage, which Prelates and Prelacie have had by the Indulgence: Prelates themselves will possiblie say, that one field Conventicle hath done them and their cause more prejudice, than many preachings of all the Indulged men: Though I am far from: thinking, that the preachings of the Indulged, have any direct tendencie to strengthen the Course of Prelacie; yet what I have said being generally observed to be true, themselves are concerned to search, whence and how it cometh to passe, that it is so; as also, how it is that so many observe a greater keenness in them, against the field preachers, than against the Pre∣lates; yea and the Supremacy, even in their Sermons.

4. It may have some weight, as to this, to consider, how by their accepting of the Indulgence, which floweth from the Supremacie, the Prelates are ready to look upon themselves as justified, in accepting of Prelacie from that same Supremacie, for, may they think, These men cannot blame us for acquiesceing unto the deter∣mination of the King, acting by vertue of his Supremacy in Church-affairs, and over all Church-Persons, and accepting of that Charge and Place, which is given to us, in the Church, from him, who hath full power to dispose of Ecclesiastick Persons, as he will; seing they themselves have acquiesced unto the determination of the King, acting by vertue of his Supremacie over Church-Persons, and accept∣ed of what charge and place in the Church he thought fit to give them, and took their Instructions, to boot.

5. In accepting of the Instructions, they virtually engaged themselves to several things, which could not but strengthen the hands of the Prelates and their Curates. As (1.) To admit none of the people, who live under Curates, unto their Sermons. (2.) Not to admit them to their Communions, without the allowance of the Cura∣tes. (3.) Nor to baptize their Children, without the same allowance. (4.) Not to marry any, living within their bounds, without the said allowance, if the place be not vacant. (5.) They are ordered also to observe Presbyteries and Synods, which are now wholly Prelatical. (6.) Matters of Discipline and Censure, which usually

came before Presbyteries and Synods, are ordered to run in the same channel. By all which (not to mentione their praying of dues to the Clerks of those Episcopal Meetings, which was also injoined) it is obvious and plaine, how the hand of the Prelates and their Curates were to be strengthened; and if these Orders had been punctually observed, themselves, I hope, will grant, that hereby the hands of these Adversaries had been strengthened; and if so, sure I am, their receiving of these Injunctions, and of their licence upon condition of observing them, was a virtual engaging of themselves hereunto.