A brief discovery of the corruption of the ministrie of the Church of England, or, Three clear and evident grounds from which it will apear that they are no ministers of Christ published for the information of all by Thomas Colyer.

Sixteen Queries of concernment, Propounded, with a desire of an Answer from those who can, or please.

1. IF ever the Lord made use of any as Ministers of his minde, unto the people, that were bread idle at Schools and Universities all the daies of their lives, without a calling, as the Priests of England, but rather the contrary, as Moses a shepherd, Elisha a Plough∣man, David a shepherd, Amos a Herds-man; Christ himself a Carpenter, Paul a Tent-maker, Peter a fish∣erman? &c.

2. If ever Christ and his Apostles did get a Paten∣tee, viz. an Ordinance from man to Monopolize the gift of Preaching to themselves?

3. If ever Universities and Schools of humane learning were in Scripture, called the fountains, or well-heads of Divinity?

4. Whether ever Christ and his Apostles did In∣dent with their hearers, what to have for preaching before they preached unto them?

5. Whether ever Christ and his Apostles built their Churches by humane Authority?

6. Whether Christ and his Apostles did at any time gather the prophane carnal men of the world in∣to

the Church, excluding the Saints, who out of ten∣dernesse and light, follow him?

7. Whether ever Christ and his Apostles deterred any from Preaching the Gospel, by the powers of the earth?

8. Whether ever Christ and his Apostles made use of these two great bug-bears, so common in use with the Priests of England, to prevent the Saints from preaching the Gospel, and the world from hearing them, viz. 1. The approbation and ordination of the men of the earth. 2. Humane learning, the language of the Beast, without which men are in their account altogether unmeet to medle in the things of God?

9. Whether ever Christ and his Apostles first bap∣tized, and then twenty or fourty yeares after taught them faith?

10. Whether ever Christ and his Apostles deluded the World, viz. the ignorant and prophane, with the name of Christians; when there was no such thing ap∣peared?

11. If ever Christ or his Apostles had a hundred or two hundred pounds per annum for Preaching?

12. If ever Christ and his Apostles appropriated Tythes to themselves for preaching?

13. If ever Christ and his Apostles did remove from one Parsonage to another?

14. If ever Christ and his Apostles did confirm the truth they delivered by the power of the Magistracy, Authors, Fathers, &c.

15. Whether the Spirit teaching be not sufficient in the things of God?

16. Whether it be not the work of Christ, and that which is to be expected in these later daies, to overturn, overturn, overturn, all these things acted by men, contrary to his own minde?

FINIS.