of Christ until we all come in the Vnity of the Faith and the knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man unto the measure of the full stature of Christ that we be no more children tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of Doctrine by the slight of men c. but carrying it sincerely in charity may grow up into him which is the head even Christ From whom the whole body fitly joyned together and compact by all the joynts contributing from the inward working-power according to the measure of every part obtaineth encrease suitable to the body unto the building up of its self in love Eph. 4.3 c. 8. Whereof seeing we are in expectation from Divine goodness why should we not be rationally enquiring out the way of that Union and Order on which there is laid so great adress for the salvation of the Church and mutually afford one another participation and improvement both of Light and Order It is pious and praise-worthy not to be found slack in this matter 9. As for me into whose haâ—d is now come an opportunity of bringing forth to light in a new edition the Order of the Church of the Brethren of Bohemia I apprehend it much to the business to set before your eyes in the example of this very Church by what steps God is wont to lead on and perfect his people which whosoever of the godly readeth will easily finde occasion seriously to consider the admirable method of Divine Providence about himself as well as about the Church 10. God hath done all things well and made every thing beautiful in its season saith Solomon Eccles 3.11 implying that the works of God do always proceed in a certain order and step by step from less to more even the work of Creation the work of Redemption the work of Sanctification and the whole course of Divine Providence about all things teach us this very thing and especially the wonderful wisdom hereof in enlarging the Tents of his Church which we have now in particular taken under consideration evermore either unto greater bulk or beauty 11. The Son of God could indeed being come into the world in Humane flesh have made his Gospel known by himself to the whole world in the full and compleat mysterie of Redemption but he was not pleased to do so but ordained some certain men Apostles which going through the world did publish among the Nations those Treasures of Divine Grace and they committed the same Office to others to succeed them and they again to others and so to the end of the world Mat. 28.20 2 Tim. 2.7 Tit. 1.1 12. For howbeit the light of the Gospel was even then by the very Apostles sprinkled throughout the world even to the ends of the earth as Scripture and Histories report yet that light in some of those first ages may seem to have been rather as sparks catching upon some persons and families here and there then the full enlightning of the Nations In the fourth Age indeed in Constantine the Greats time whole Nations began to Convert and renouncing Paganism openly to profess the Christian Religion and then afterward the Faith having been first received in the Empire of Rome and other places went on constantly for twelve Generations one Nation after another giving up their names to Christ in Baptism throughout Europe Asia Africa and America 13. The succesful work of Divine Providence was very evident and remarkable in founding the Churches of the Slavonick Counties scituate all along on the Eastern parts of Europe Among whom the plantation of the Gospel being planted in the Apostles times proved a fair crop in the fourth Century by degrees extended it self in those parts making the Churches there sometimes bigger sometimes better it faring also with them now and then as with the Moon still to have their light impaired by wainings spots and misty overcastings Let me briefly summe up the whole evidence hereof as may serve to quicken us even at this time to go forward from good to better till we take up at length with some attainment worth the acquiescing in 14. That the Gospel was planted in those Countreys in the Apostles times we have the Apostle of the Gentiles for a witness who writes thus to the Romans c. 15. v. 19. I have filled all places with the Gospel even from Jerusalem to Illyricum round about And he tells Timothy 2 Tim. 4.10 that Crescens went into Galatia Titus into Dalmatia Now both Illyricum and Dalmatia are parts of the Slavonick Countrey to this day and that that Plantation did not come to nothing it is evident in that Jerome being born at Strido a City in Illyricum to advance the success of the faith received in his own Countrey translated the Books of the Divine Scriptures into their Mother tongue by means whereof the Slavonians were the first of all the parts of Europe that were intrusted with the Oracles of God in their Mother Tongue At this very day do these Countreys glory in that Translation and will use no other although the language of that people be so much altered that the common sort of them in many things do not understand that ancient form of speech Therefore their Priests the Ruttenians and the Moscians are fain to study that ancient Language as we do the Latine 15. That the Churches in these Countreys did very much encrease we may easily gather from the sixth Synod of Constantinople held in the year of Christ 680. making very remarkable mention of the Slavonians in these words This Council being at the best but low and obscure expected the help of all neither ought that which one part doth be hid from the other especially for that it is well known that in the heart of the Countreys we have very many Fellow-servants both Longobards and Slavonians which are still busily scrupulous and inquisitive about this matter c. Whence it is plain the Slavonians were at this time Christians and also such as abhorred Image-worship in as much as they durst not joyn with that Synod which stickled for Images 16. Moreover in the Age next following God opened the Door of the Gospel to whole Countreys of the Slavonians and the occasion was this The Bulgarians a Countrey of Slavonia infested the neighbouring Empire of Constantinople with continual wars till Michael the third being Emperour made a peace with them in the year 845. restoring to the King of the Bulgarians his Sister which the Gâ—ecians had taken in battel Now this Lady being in her Captivity seasoned with the Christian Religion prevailed with her Brother to renounce Heathenism and turn Christian Hereupon his subjects following his example embraced the same faith By this means the Bulgarians became the first fruits of the Slavonian Nations unto Christ Other people in those Coasts or Regions about Danubium Greece and Italy of the same Language presently treading in their steps viz. the Moesians Rascians Servians
Leprosie Numb 17.10 11. King Vzziah again on the other side casting off the Authority of the Priests usurps their office and he is also punished by the same hand with Leprosie 2 Chron. 26 16. Now then whilst among Christians both these offences are committed shall we wonder if those of both the extreams be avenged with a spiritual Leprosie and other plagues Would to God the Roman Aaron with his Miriam his Regulars would confess their errour and render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's contenting himself with that which is allotted to him the spiritual charge and care of Christ's Flock John 21.15 But behold in Aaron and Miriam some hopes of pardon Numb 12.15 which comfort we finde not for the Imperial-Papacy for it is written The Leprosie cleaved unto Vzziah the King unto the day of his death 2 Chron. 26.16 I would therefore they would make haste to get them out of the Church v. 15. i. e. to restore the power of the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven which is given to the Church from above but by the corruption of men and the policy of the Devil now taken away from it Verily 't is high time to repent and repair the impaired Order of the Church 3. I pass on to Discipline as the Mean Ligament and Bond ordained from heaven to keep the Church in Unity and Order Christ calls it Salt Mark 9.50 because as salt resists putrefaction and makes food savoury and wholsome so the Discipline of manners heals corrupt manners and makes us careful to keep our selves within the bounds of our duty and therein to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling It was not without cause that our Lord said Every man shall be seasoned with salt and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt v. 49. and it must of necessity be understood of the Discipline to be extended to every man which offers himself up a sacrifice unto God For the command of God is strict Lev. 2.13 Whatsoever thou offerest to the Lord thou shalt season with salt Thou shalt not with-hold the salt of the Covenant of thy God from thy gift in every offering thou shalt offer salt I would those Imperial Papists which would have their Churches to be without all Discipline and their sacrifices themselves without all salt would seriously consider how in despight of God exempting themselves from all Discipline they affect a most dangerous licentiousness of spirit But who shall administer this Discipline Who shall apply this Salt to the Sacrifices of God to sanctifie all souls to God Christ makes the answer to his Apostles You are the salt of the earth Matth. 5.13 They are then to be the Pastors of the Church the Successors to the Apostles in their Office They therefore that wrest out of their hands the Church Discipline would have them to be salt without all savour What is it to deceive a man's self if this be not it To have food sweet rather then wholesome After Christ had said Ye are the salt of the earth he addes immediately but if salt shall be as if were not rendred insipid or lose its savour wherewith shall it be seasoned it is henceforth good for nothing but to be cast away to be trodden under foot Consider I pray which of you would have your Salt your Apostles to be without salt such as yet you do what in you lies to make them to be in the sight of God O how deserving these things be of our utmost consideration But granting the necessity of Discipline in the Church of what kinde would we have it I answer Such as Christ instituted and the Apostles observed Watchful strict and severe wholly spiritual and for edification Watchful to be extended to all that are exorbitant though yet according to the degree of the offence Mat. 18.15 Severe to be exercised without respect of persons even them that are dearest to us or them which are the principal members of the Church and seem to be most necessary Concerning which very remarkable is the Order which Christ gives that no man is to be spared which gives a just cause of offence If any shall be to thee as thy right hand saith he to the Church directing and governing all thy actions viz. the Presbyter himself or Bishop or Pope or as thy foot bearing thee up as the Magistrate and those in Power or as thy Eye giving thee light as all the sublime Doctors whosoever cut off both those and pull out this saith he for it is better for thee maimed lame and with one eye to be preserved unto life then to perish with all thy members full and entire v. 8 9. It is better then that by the vigour and strictness of Discipline the Church preserve it self from scandals should be small obscure and lame than tolerating scandals and enormities to advance her self to never so much largeness wealth honour and glistering pomp in the world Finally the Discipline of the Church ought to be proportioned to the Kingdom of Christ which is altogether spiritual and therefore revilings banishments pecuniary mulcts prisons stocks gibbets or capital punishments which are the kindes of Civil punishment are not the weapons of our warfare but admonitions shame terrour and last of all delivering up to the Divine judgement and to Satan the Executioner thereof Yet all these things not without an holy designe viz. That others in the Church may fear 1 Tim. 5.20 and they themselves which offend may be snatched with fear out of the flames of sin and death Jude v. 23. It remains only that and how the body of the Church being well united well ordered and well knit together with the bands of reverence must over and above this be all filled with the Spirit of Christ This is yet a further matter and differing from the former For any Philosophical Colledge or Secular Commonwealth the Lacedemonian or some other yea and Ants and Bees too and the Synagogue of the Pharisees may be a company well united and well ordered and knit together and yet not be the body of Christ the Church being destitute of his Spirit For if any have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his Rom. 8.9 What then is the Spirit of Christ Even the Spirit of the life of God quickning them that are dead in Adam 1 Cor. 15.45 i. e. turning to God them which are turned from God and them which are transgressors of the Law to be obedient to the Law and they that are fierce to be milde humble patient in a word making men new brought off from Satan the world and the flesh and offering themselves up to God alone to do and suffer all his Will This verily is the meaning of that which Christ speaketh If any man will come after me he must deny himself and take up his Cross and follow me Matth. 16.24 and whoever cannot or will not do so he denies that he can be his Disciple Luke 14.26.32 Because
but now within sight of the Haven of their Rest Greeting in the Lord. THe troubled state of Affairs which is every where to be seen at this day is in it self sad but yet to them which do but heedfully mark the way of Gâ—ds works all along of old it seemeth to speak the hope of some excellent change 2. To wit even as in the beginning of all things God brought light out of darkness a most beautiful order out of the confused Chaâ—s So in the course of his governing whatever he suffers to come to pass to the disturbance of the Sons of men all that he always turneth to good unto them if they be godly at least to exercise them if they be wicked also frequently to bring them out of the darkness of ignorance into the fellowship of the light So that the Church evermore even by her very ruines may grow either bigger or better 3. Even in the many vicissitudes of that one people of Israel if they be observed it is apparent that all their chastisements captivities removals here and there were always onely fresh occasions of declaring the works of God 4. Who is it which seeth not that even Abraham the Father of the Faithful with travels dangers and promises in appearance a long time but vain was therefore so tired out that his faith being thus trained up he might learn to bear up in hâ—pe against hope and that the Church might have a very glorious patern of that Heroick faith which utterly vanquisheth all the difficulties in the World 5. That therefore his seed was in such an horrible manner oppressed by the Egyptian bondage that in Pharaoh there might be taken an occasion to shew forth the power of God and thereby the name of God in all the Earth God himself is his own witness Exod. 9.16 6. What could be more sad to see then that the People of God being overcome by their Enemies the Philistines should lose even the symbol of the Presence of God and the hope of help from Heaven viz. the most sacred Ark of the Covenant that this very Ark being taken by the enemies carried by them in triumphs and brought into the Temple of Dagon should be made such a laughing stock before that Devillish Idol and Idolators and yet even this very terrible disaster and dispensation to what excellent purpose did it serve to set forth the glory of God and detect the vanity of Idols 7. 'T was sad that the people of Judah and in them the seed of David to which so great promises were made even to all generations and also many holy men were led into the Babylonish Captivity yet even there Ezekiel being raised up to be a Prophet with what notable Revelations did he illuminate the Church and Daniel by wonderful works and sufferings in the same place how great and many Kings and people did he bring to the knowledge of the true God as it is to be seen in his Book Chap. 2. ver 46 47. 4.1 2 3. 6.26 c. 8. The Plots of Haman against the dispersed people of God the Jews how far did they proceed they were doomed to perish all in one day and yet this very dismal exploit how great salvation joy honour did it bring to that people for a monument unto all Posterity of the Providence of God as always watchful for the good of his people as is plain in the book of Esther 9. How great was the rage of Antiochus against this people but did it not produce so many glorious Martyrs Maccabean men of valour with so many excellent cordials to the Church for the experience of Omnipotent Divine Providence directing all things according to its own pleasure 10. The dispersion of the Apostolical Church at Jerusalem was very sad and yet it was nothing but the dissemination of the Gospel amongst other Nations Acts 4.8 c. The banishment of John into the Isle of Patmos with how vast a treasure of Prophesie did it enrich the Church 11. Also how many soever any time afterwards either assaults or persecutions without or bickerings and contentions heresies or schisms within brakâ— forth in the Church so many occasions evermore were found either of setting out the most glorious Army of Martys or of compiling the most famous Writings and thereby confounding the wicked by the constancy of the Saints and the further irradiating the godly with the clearer light of the Truth 12. Finally touching the last times of the World which now are although the great Prophet our Lord hath foretold terrible things viz. That it shall come to pass that we shall hear of wars and rumours of wars Mat. 24.6 That Nation shall rise up against Nation and that there shall be Famine and Earthquakes ver 7. yet he hath added See that ye be not troubled for all these things must come to pass but the end is not yet ib. For the Gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all Nations and then shall the end come ver 14. 13. Then let there be even now before our faces through the violence of second causes howbeit to the very great grief of the godly Nation dashing against Nation Kingdoms and Empires falling upon one another Let the earth tremble with horrour and let Cities Churches Schools yea and all places private and publique be piled up in their own ruines yet for all this that same God which formed the most beautiful Structure of the World out of the most rude Vast which also he powerfully preserveth and wisely governeth hitherto for the sake of his Church knowing how to produce even out of these concussions that which is better then we all can think to wit as he hath promised that the Gospel may at last pass away from sharply chastised Christendome to the other Nations of the World That so as it was long ago our stumbling may be the enriching of the World and our diminishing the riches of the Gentiles Rom. 11.12 14. The consideration of this so much to be admired Eternal Providence doth gently allay the grief which I have taken by reason of the ruine of the Church of my native Countrey of the Government of which so long as she kept heâ— station the laws are here described and set forth in view Even my self alas being the very last Supeâ—intendent of all am fain before your eyes O Chu ches to shut the dâ—or afteâ— me And that I may shut it faithâ—uâ—ly I determined by this shâ—â— meditation to justifie the Divine judicial proceedings against us as also to furnish my self together with them which are yet left of mine and whosoever will take heed of miscarrying by our example with some comfort and some advice 15. For the deluge of most raging Peâ—secutions for these forty years hath sâ— defaced us that in all Bohemia and Moravia we have not verily so much as one Church remaining onely some few reliques of the flock dispersed through
enamoured me with the love 1. Of Unity especially that of the Church 2. Of Order especially in the Church 3. Of Settlement especially of the Church 4. Life and Vigour especially of the Church cannot but be in pursuit of those things with all my desires and having lost the less our Unity Order Bands Life I cannot but pray for the greater even the Unity Order Bands and Life of the whole people of Christendome in as much as Unity in the Community is far better then community in paucity I would some greater and more famous Church which is as a City set upon an hill Mat. 5.14 yea lifted up above the Hills Jos 2.2 would begin and set an example to the rest I mean of perfect co-implantation perfect Co-ordination perfect connexion and perfect reformation after the life of Christ as much as may be on this side heaven for in these doth the perfection beauty and salvation of the Church consist We ought to pray for the Unity of the Church because he which could not desire but that which was best even he who is our Saviour sanctifying himself to be a Sacrifice for us prayed for this and that with tears Father I sanctifie my self for these that they also may be sanctified in thy Truth Joh. 17.19 even all that shall believe in me 20. That they all may be One as thou Father art in me and I in thee and that they may be One in Vs 21. I have given them the glory which thou gavest to me that they may be One even as also We are One 22. I in them and thou in me that they may be made perfect in One and the world may know that thou hast sent me 23. Alas Christians be afraid having lost Unity we have lost that whereby the world should know that we are God's people and that Christ was sent of the Father to be the Saviour of the world had we kept this we might have gained a thousand worlds O then that yet yet we may return unto Unity that the world may know c. But what Unity do you desire Even that which the Apostles began by the Command and Example of Christ under whom the Church was one Heart and one Soul Acts 4.32 i. e. there was no study to make and maintain parties but the same sentiment and consent in all and the same designe of common edification as among the members of the same body O that God would please so to give to us one heart and one soul that all the Pastors with their several Flocks and all the Flocks with their several Pastors the whole Clergie among themselves and the people among themselves all the Rulers with their subjects and subjects with their Rulers and every Church with it self and all the Churches of the same Kingdom and Province within themselves may all be but one body and one soul Open but your eyes O Christians how without Unity there is in the very foundation of the whole Fabrick of the Church no strength at all but all to tumble and running to ruine In all things Natural Artificial and Moral the only Base of Peace and Prosperity is Unity unto which all things first and last above and below on the right and left hand must be so reduced that if one goes all go In such a frame hath God made the world and all and every thing in the world to wit the body of every living creature yea and every Plant too hanging together still with certain ligaments in every part To the like form of necessity must all humane Society and the Church also be reduced because where ever multitude is there is confusion unless that multitude by vertue of Order be brought to an Unity break but Unity it 's unpossible but that the multitude should fall in pieces and so to ruine For it cannot be otherwise but that plurality not united together with the band of Union must come to division and from division to contention and from contention to confusion 2. But Unity is not enough for the full safety of the Church and therefore Order must be added because the Church is not a Body made up of Similar parts all of like nature and name with themselves and the whole as an heap of Sand or a stack of Wood or a flock of Sheep or the body of a Snail where 't is not enough that the parts are together but such as consists of divers members of distinct places scituations forms and offices as we see in a House City Army and the Humane body where every thing the top and the bottome the end and the end the middle and the middle according to their degree contains it self in its own place and acts what it hath in special charge in its own sphere and it must be thus or else all is in a despairing case But what Order do we wish in the Churches Such again as Christ hath instituted and the Apostles observed viz. That there should be some to govern and go before and some to follow and obey in a legitimate subordination of the lowest to the highest and especially that every one abide in the Calling wherewith he is called not forsaking his station nor intrenching upon anothers 1 Cor. 7 17. Christ hath set us an example herein who executing the Office of a Prophet in his life of a Priest in his death and of a King in heaven whilst he was yet in the exercise of his Prophetical Office and they would make him a King he declined it John 6.15 they would have him take upon him to distribute outward possessions he refused it Luke 12.14 and he commanded the like to his Apostles not to intermeddle with secular affairs Luke 22.26 It is then confusion in the Church when persons called to Ecclesiastical Offices shall entangle themselves in Civil Ministrations Possessions Dominions Judgments Wars or contrariwise hereto Of the former way of confusion all see a plain instance in the Papacy where Church-men having gotten into their hands the power of both swords exercise Spiritual and Secular Government Of the latter they which are any thing well-sighted may see it true in part of the Reformed Churches where those of the Civil Power have forced away the power of the Spiritual Sword out of the hands of the Pastors of the Church and do not indulge them the exercise hereof To this purpose Olevian that godly Divine hath an observation which gives me occasion to give a seasonable and useful warning to the Church of God and indeed such is the abominableness and mischief of the danger I would give warning of that a kinde of necessity is laid upon me so that I must speak Thus Olevian as before Hist Ps 53. § 115. When I behold the sad face of the Reformed Churches in Germany plainly I am all over set in a trembling I perceive Secular Powers have been the Accommodations of the Church but now in many places they are turned into Dominations and they Lord
Kings hath said All power is given to me in heaven earth go you 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 make all Nations my Disciples Matth. 28. i. e. advance my kingdom both by outward preaching unto all Nations and by the inward power of my Spirit learning of me to live not an earthly but a heavenly life O how invaluable and incomparable would this be if you did but know how much you are advanced above all earthly things but alas the highest of the Bishops at this day stick in the very first rudiments of the Apostles not aspiring unto any degree of high Apostolical perfection What was their first rudeness To dream of Earthly Kingdoms and Thrones with Christ where to sit on the right hand and on the left What their high perfection To count all things here as dung for the excellency of Christ and casting all Worldly Interests behinde them to press forward for the prize of the High Calling Phil. 3. and so to rejoyce in the hope of future glory and glory in Affliction the Cross Martyrdoms c. I would here lay down my Pen but that this swelling excrescence of the Church by tract of time hath gotten such an extreme hard crust upon it that it seems needful to ply it with oft-renewed-mollifying applications Let it be taken therefore how it will I offer in the sight of the Church my desire of things of the better sort Now that which God makes and ordains must needs be better than that which man institutes for the works of God are perfect Deut. 32.4 that which he establishes for ever and the decrees which he makes no man may pass over Psal 148.6 behold then whosoever they be among men which God doth appoint to be guides of others unto heaven all those he absolutely declares in both the Testaments that he would have them altogether free from earthly cares first straitly forbidding his people Israel by Moses to allot to them any inheritance amongst them and then severely charging the Priests themselves that they should not admit of any such terrene possession And Christ did the same for those which he chose for himself to be Messengers to the Gentiles he made leave their Nets Customs and all wayes what ever of getting gain yea and himself also being about to discharge his Commission in reference to mankinde laid aside even his heavenly Riches Honours Thrones to reach that these at least are utterly incompatible and became poor contemptible and low having not upon earth whereon to lay his head Verily it was to be fulfilled which was typified in David who had no hopes to triumph over Goliah till he put off the Royal accoutrements and addressed himself in the habit of a Shepherd and in Gideon who being to discomfite the Midianites was first to dismiss his numerous Armed Forces reserving to himself nothing but his Lamps and Trumpets and then as Gideon said to his company As I do so do ye Judg. 7.17 So Christ bespeaks his I have set you an example that what I do ye may do also John 13.15 Why do we not then imitate him if we would perswade our selves that we are the Sub-Delegates of that Legate from heaven He though they made him an overture of Regal Dignity accepted it not John 6. though they would proclaim him King Luke 19.38 yet he persisted taking to himself no Title but that of Master 22.11 being asked whether he was a King He made answer My Kingdom is not of this World Being assured that there was reserved for him a Royal Throne in Heaven Why not we in like manner having a promise of the same Throne Howbeit not unless we first overcome Apoc. 5.21 Most certain then it is that Episcopal pre-eminence consists not in this to possess vast Demesnes to shine in Gold to be surrounded with a Retinue to be carryed in Coaches or lie on Beds of Doun to be clothed in Scarlet c. but to be deep in inward Piety of the heart and profound in Divine Knowledge with Zeal for the Glory of God and the Salvation of the Church as also of improved experience in the things of God renouncing and abjuring our own private profit these are the things which make up the Pourtraiture or Essence of a true Bishop and his outward Characters are many to be much in Labour and Travel in Watchings in Hunger and Thirst in Fastings and Solicitousness for all the Churches to be weak with them that are weak and to burn when others are offended 2 Cor. 11. and so to bear about in their bodies the marks of the Lord Jesus Christ Gal. 6.17 and when he meets with one sick of the spiritual Palsie to say Silver and Gold I have none but such as I have I give thee in the name of Jesus Christ arise out of the bed of vain and sinful state and walk in the wayes of Christ Acts 3. In a Word not at all to savour Earthly things for he which talks of the earth is earthly John 3.31 but to shew in word and works that he is the Messenger of the Lord from Heaven who gives life to all 1 Cor. 15.45.47 If Bishops and all they that discharge any Embassie for Christ hope to be such verily their worldly additaments earthly dominions and secular honours must be taken away for these are baits which prophane persons swallowing and being caught withal croud themselves into Ecclesiastical preferments shutting and thrusting out their betters For it is vain that Bellarmine saith The Sea of Rome either admits them which are Saints or makes them such It is more truly retorted by another that it either embraceth them that are wicked or makes them such For men cannot reach to such an height but they must be very worldly ambitious subtle to deceive by a thousand tricks more than are good Yea if it be so that haply some of the better sort fly so high yet it is almost impossible but they will be taken wiâ—h a spirit of giddiness by reason of the very heighth of their condition And the same must be said of every Bishops Sea set out with such pomp and riches that these things either are possessed by such as are ambitious covetous idle drones and effeminate or else they soon make them such These sweet poysons the pomps of Riches and Honours can hardly be drunk deeply off by any one and he remain innocent Let no man say within himself the Mendicant condemns them that have riches because he hath none himself for indeed he which is out of the mist can the better see the cloud nor yet need we to be so indigent if modesty and fear of venomous dregs stood not in our way I could tell you the spirit of zeal hath somtime raised up them among us also that by liberal Donation would have setled sufficient large Revenues upon our Church for ever as in Moravia B. B. of Z. in Bohemia Pr. of Rosenberg they were only finding out a way how these Demesnes might with some colour be made over to be possessed by some others so as yet the rents might be paid to the Antistites of the Unity But it was not accepted both because it could hardly be concealed but and if it should have been known it would have provoked envie and because our Ancestors dreaded the not returning footsteps reckoning themselves to be but men and so liable also to abuse this worlds goods but most of all because of the Divine Inhibition and Command God grant the Successors of the Apostles the Spirit of the Apostles that being fully perswaded that there is nothing urged but that which is Apostolical if haply the Church shall think fit otherwise to dispose of her Benefices yet none dare to have a thought of raising tumults or wars upon that account as they Mich. 3.5 or cast off their charge But rather be so much the more instant and cheerful in the work of their Divine Calling in as much as any fight or work is managed with the greater ease when clogs and incumbrances are removed Did not the Apostles of their own accord committing the care of inferiour matters to others Acts 6. chuse to be Dispencers of the Divine Word and not of Tables Let then the followers of the Apostles do the same esteeming it that they are Stewards of those Spiritual Heavenly and Eternal Treasures a thousand times more than if they had the charge of earthly riches Nor doe these things tend thereunto That the faithful Servants of Christ should be defrauded of their Rewards and Honours but that they should learn how to estimate as well their labours as the rewards thereof better then they seem to know how to do it which gaping so greedily after these outward things are carried with a cursed negligence and indifference as to the internal and eternal matters God indeed liberally provided for his Ministers under the old Covenant appointing that the whole people should bring in to them all the First Fruits of their increase and all the Tenths with their Free-will offerings besides even all the best of their Oyles and Wines and Corn as God himself saith Numb 18.12 and yet he commanded them to look after somthing higher saying v. 20. I am thy part and thy possession and commanding the people that they reverence and esteem them as his Angels Mal. 2.7 therefore let all Christian people know that there is due to the Messengers of God maintenance Mat. 10.10 and reward Luke 10.7 and reverence as to the Angels of God yea as to Jesus Christ Gal. 4.14 in whose name and stead they perform the Office of Ambassadors 2 Cor. 5.20 O! how happy the Church would be if we could get back to the times of the Apostles Come Lord Jesus repair us after thy own good pleasure Restore to thy Church the Bands of Unity Restore the beauty of Order Restore the reverence of their Government Restore the fervour of thy Spirit that the Kingdom of God may suffer violence as of old Or if this last age be past cure and incorrigible irreformable take down the stage of the world that we may enter upon that Blessed Kingdom where shall be Unity without Distraction Order without Confusion Love without Intermission and God shall be all in all for ever and ever Amen FINIS
this Bishop presents us with a refracted moderate godly Episcopacy wherein we have a Bishop 1. A degree for order not of order 2. For labour not secular Dignity Dominion Domination 3. Having no more power but what is freely delegated and devolved on him by the election and consent of the Ministers not some but all concerned 4. Performing Ordination ordinarily in a general Synod and Jurisdiction in an Ecclesiastical Senate to which he himself is subject 5. Not countenancing male-administration by admitting any unworthy person to Orders or the Lords Supper 6. Without the leaven of Arminianism page 52 7. Promoting the vigilancy of Pastors in the exercise of Discipline 8. Not imposing snares on the Conscience by the made-Religion of Romish Liturgie or Ceremonies made necessary Exhort page 28 29. 9. Not taking the wicked by the hand nor giving life to looseness to bandy against a real Reformation but of vehement goodwill and zeal for the power of godliness Would the Lord bless us with such a Bishop we would not contend whether Bishop or no Bishop whether by election only or by imposition of hands also whether the rite be essential and constitutive or consecutive and declarative only of Ordination whether the consignation should be by the hands of one in the name of the rest they being acknowledged to ordain Actu Potestate or by the hands of all the Session whether the prudentially invested Bishop be temporary or perpetual whether Ordination be an act of simple Office or of Jurisdiction it being acknowledged that ad ordinem non gradum spectat ordinare and who shall live when the Lord works this great work for us But Reader I will not wrong thee by withholding this Legacy much longer from thee onely give thee an account of my purpose in preparing this book for thee and I assure thee and all the world that my design of making this book speak English is not to carry on any design to smooth or please any party but to advance the common interest of Christians in promoting the union of the Churches all but one which this discourse shews how it may be rendred practicable if men would a little unhusk themselves of their own singularities divest themselves of those prejudices they have entertained and minde the things that tend to peace and edification The first motion to the said translation was from a Reverend Brother whose travels in the work of Pacification the following ages will more gratefully acknowledge then the present The Translator thinks himself sufficiently rewarded with thine and his own edification in the assured knowledge of some momentous matters which are herein contained and communicated which are as followeth 1. That there have been and are some in the world that do evince to all men that the Gospel is not a Fable but that the truths thereof do make real impressions and work strange changes upon the mindes and conversations of men and that the Discipline of the Lord Jesus where but so much of it is practiced as is owned by all Christians hath that majestie and power with it that it needs not the whole secular arm to uphold it nor fears the same power though it be against it for the Church had never better Pastors and Government then in Persecution nor ever thrives better then when its Pastors do wholly attend their flocks and retrench themselves from Secularities and Courtly concernments to minde the good of souls the rebuking and suppressing of wickedness Heresie Errors Schisms advancing Piety and Godliness in the strict observation of the Lords-Day expressing more zeal against the Prophaners of the Lords name and those that live so unlike Christians in the world I am but an obscure person in the world I dare presume to say that this way to prosperity and establishment will never fail but I do verily believe that there are not greater enemies in the world to Episcopacy then some Bishops and that the ready way to throw it down is to set themselves up with the premunire of their Jus Divinum and Secular Domination 2. That it is possible to maintain Order and Decency in the Church and disparity among Ministers without a rigorous imposing of Ceremonies and Forms or advancing Bishops into Superior Order above Presbyters Let but Ceremonies keep their proper place and station and be looked upon as things indifferent and the use of them left free to Christians we need have no more contest about them If it appear by experience in them that use them that they do really tend to Edification and Charity as they must or else they are nullities and mockeries the greatest part I believe of Ministers and Christians in England will take them up nor yet are we sure that even in Heaven we shall be all of one size or posture if there be such excellency significancy and teachableness in them and yet no Superstition Let them stand a while without the bolster of penal Statutes and let us see what ground they get For if this were done that Ministers might use them or not as they finde them most convenient in times and places possibly many if not all Ministers might sometime use them For suppose that a Minister were to preach at the Court some Cathedral or Oratory that were trained up to these things prudence would direct him upon such an occasion and for that instant to do many things which he doth not do in his own or in an ordinary Congregation as in Vniversity he would use an hood which it were ridiculous for him to do at home So if a Bishop were to preach in an ordinary particular Congregation or charge where the people were wholly strangers to the usages or forms of the Court Colledge or Cathedral if he came in the ordinary garb of the Minister of the place and preached in the ordinary mode of a countrey Minister I believe it would get him more reverence and esteem in the hearts of the people and tend more to unity and edification then if he should come in his Pontifical formal Procession with a pompous train of attendants For the Apostle became a Jew to them that were Jews that he might gain the Jews and a Gentile to them that were Gentiles c. that is in indifferent things for we abhor to think that he would transform himself into more Religions in any respect whatsoever To this purpose Augustine tells us That he knew no better course for a serious prudent Christian to take in matters of Ceremonies or Custom then to follow the example of the Church where he is for whatsoever is there observed neither against faith nor manners is a matter of it self indifferent and to be observed according to the custom of those with whom we live This was Ambroses counsel I think to Monica Augustines Mother When I am at Rome saith he I fast on the Sabbath day but at Millain I do not so do you likewise when you come to any Church observe its
the neighbouring Kingdoms Moreover by reason of the continuance of our Banishment we are come to that pass that near all the Pastors of the Churches all indeed withâ—ut exception of the Presidents Bishops Superintendents Deacons and Archdeacons are perished from among the living Saving onely my self alone who for the hope of a Restauration being in the year 1632. chosen according to the will and votes of the Church assembled in a Synod by the Presidents then yet alive even now but one onely with a few Ministers my Brethren and one onely Colleague out of Polonia do survive alone during the good pleasure of the Author of life For howbeit upon our laâ—t dispersion in Polonia not full four years since I endeavoured by all means my utmost to prevent my being left alone the last of all yet it pleased not God to give success to the counsels hereunto given for since that time those of the chief which might have succeeded are perished from among the living 16. But yet I would not have these things to be so taken as if in my solitude and by my departure hence I feared or foretold the final end of the Church in my Countrey I know that the Church being founded upon the Rock of Eternity cannot fail viz. the Catholick And yet examples testifie that particular Churches are sometimes overthrown by the hand of an angry God that according to his good pleasure others may be planted or else the same otherwise Yea God himself attesteth The end is come upon my people Israel I will not again pass by or spare them any more Amos 8.2 and again when the destruction threatned was now come to Baruch Thou saidst wo is me now for the Lord hath added grief to my sorrow Thus saith the Lord that which I have built I will pull down and that which I have planted I will pluck up c. Jer. 45.3 4. Finally the Church her self being overthrown speaking concerning her self thus Our end draweth near our days are fulfilled our end is come Lam. 4.18 17. Nor yet is it to be thought that Elias offended when complaining that he was left alone he was afraid as concerning the Church for in this his solitude and carefulness he was raised up with Divine Consolation and also instructed with counsel for the appointing of his Successor 1 Kings 19.14 c. which I also with full trust expecting from the same everlasting goodness if notwithstanding God should call me to depart out of this life without present comfort yet will say with the last of those seven Maccabean Brethran Martyrs Let the anger of the Omnipotent which is come upon our generation for ouâ— sins rest upon me and my Brethren 2 Mac. 7.38 but if neither by this prayer I may obtain that the anger of God should conclude in me but at last our Mother must also dye as there ver 41. What shall I do 18. It is a cuâ—tom in use among the Heathen that they which dye without an Heir transfer their fortunes to strangers even whom they please insomuch as some of their Kings being the last of their line have made the people of Rome heir of their Kingdoms so Attalus King of Pergame Ptolomie of Cyrene Egypt and others Why may not I also so provide for the making good of my trust if it should be the will of God that I should be taken away without any one such as should succeed me a Successor 19. But then to whom shall I transfer our goods or what are those goods for all are lost Nay but by the Grace of God there is yet something left to be beâ—ueathed neither are they all wanting to whom it may be disposed both friends and foes Now then to foes we leave those things which are or else may yet be taken away viz. outward good things as Churches Lands Schools c. yea the lives also of thâ—se few of us which are yet escaped if it so please the World-disposing God even as he was pleased tâ— deal with Christ who being crucified had not onely his garments but his very life given to the Souldiers for a prey 20. But to you friends after the example of our eternal Master we commend better treasures even our well-belâ—ved Mother the Church take you now the care hereof in our rooms whatever it shall please God to do unto her whether to restâ—re her amongst us or when she is deceased at home to â—â—se her to life elsewhere You have just cause indeed to love heâ— even when dead who whileâ—t yet living went before you in her goâ—d examples of Faith and Patience even now unto the third Generation 21. But how shall I commend to you that which now is nâ—t to be found what charge can be given or taken of that which is not I answer it is no unusual thing to erect Grave-stones for deceased friends that their memory may not easily wear away Yea and if in their lives they shined in acts of vertue we pourtray the countenance of those very vertues for a mirrour to posterity Moreover also God himself when he took away and laid waste his peoples Land City Temple because of their unthankefulness for his blessings he would still have the Basis of the Altar to be left in its place upon which after ages when they should be returned to themselves and to God might build again Ezra 3. ver 3. If then by the grace of God there hath been found in us as wise men and godly have sometimes thought as will after in its proper place be made to appear any thing true any thing honourable any thing just any thing pure any thing to be loved and of good report and if any vertue and any praise care must be taken that it may not dye with us when we dye and at least that the very foundations be not buried in the rubbish of present ruines so that the generation to come should not be able to tell where to finde them and indeed this care is taken and provision is made on this behalf by this our trust entrusted in your hands 22. Indeed I reckoned this as already done having some while since presented you with the History of Johannes Lasitius a noble man of Polonia lately printed at Amsterdam containing as his words are memorable passages of the Ecclesiastical Discipline Customs Decrees of the Brethren of Bohemia Which present though they tâ— whom it was commended did testifie by their loving aspect and friendly speech that it was not unacceptable to them yet they did acquaint me that they in England judged it expedient that there should be another peice written about the same matters having a plainer title viz. The way of the Discipline and Ecclesiastical Order in the Accord of the Brethren of Bohemia I answered that that was published by our Fathers which use not to commend their own and that this would rather be performed more fully and exactly by some person of another Countrey who upon that account
might be an Admirer of our Order and which would give more ample satisfaction in these things But my friends were instant with me and unanimously urged the putting out of the formerly mentioned work so that I made them a promise I would satisfie their desire in this matter 23. I therefore save my credit and behold here I send that which I was requested with manifold Copies in the substance of the matter I have changed nothing it being not mine but the Churches publique piece Onely where it was judged pertinent and to good purpose to set down some things of special reference that the close bands of that Order might be the better perceived and the practice more easily observed I have there added some notes more fully explaining that which was briefly spoken 24. And because the Preface seemed something dry and insufficient for the information of Foreigners I have premised a short Historical Narration viz. How that the Churches of Slavonia being planted by the Apostles themselves propagated by Hierom Cyril Methudius took root especially in the Countrey of Bohemia and run up to a head and ripened in the Vnity of the Brethren of Bohemia So that this may be useful for the better understanding of the sequel 25. Farewel Holy Brethren and best w but the use of a double hour upon me while I acâ—uaint you with the conflicts and sorrows of my Church and especially the ways of our Ecclesiastical accord I commend you to the Spirit of Grace may he by that of the Apostle Let a l things be done decentâ—y and in oâ—der being written on your heart compose câ—ncorporate consolidate you all even the whole body with his most glorious Head and all the members of his Political and Mystical bâ—dy with one anâ—ther with the band of faith love and eternal concord even indissâ—luble that as Brittain hath been behold of late the sad tragical stage of Contentions so now it may be a lively pattern of Concord to the perfecting of the power and glory of Gâ—d and the happy treading down of the Enemies under your Great Constantine not called out of but recalled into â—ritain in sâ—ite of the Maxentians and Licinianus Finally to make your Châ—rch by the assistance of God after so many shakings fair as the Moon clear as the Sun and terrible as an Aâ—my in Battel-Array even the mirrour of all the Churches in the World Amen Jesus Christ Amen So prayeth from his whole heart The most vehement Sollicitor of the Peace Order and Salvation of the Church I. A. Comenius of Moravia A SHORT HISTORY OF THE Slavonian Church PLANTED By the Apostles themselves enlarged by Jerome Cyril Methodius taking root principally in the Countrey of Bohemia and running up to a head in the unity of the Brethren of Bohemia Pious Reader THose words of Christ the Everlasting Brideâ— groom touching his Bride the Church spoken as with admiration Cant. 6.9 are well worthy of our consideration WHO IS THIS WHICH COMETH FORTH AS THE MORNING FAIR AS THE MOON CLEAR AS THE USN TERRIBLE AS AN ARMY OF BATTLE IN GOOD ARRAY as which whether taken in a divided or a conjoyned sense afford us very excellent Lessons 2. If we take them in a divided sense of the Catholick Church divided into particular Churches it is plain that the Churches may and ought to be so distinguished and reckoned of as they are really and truly in the account of God That is to say as some Churches are novel coming up but of late the Light whereof is as the Morning so there be others of longer standing having the advantages of clearer light as the Moon Others also joying in the full day of Faith Love and Hope of Eternal mercy even as the Sun Others again over and above this glorious light within sparkling terror outwardly to thâ—m which are round about as an Army well marshalled â—â—riking horrour into the Enemies the very Battel being set and Colours flying 3. If we take the words in a conjoyned sense of the one onely entire Catholique Church of which Christ speaks in the former verse My Dove is but one entire without doubt we have insinuated the several ages and statures of it viz. that the light of the infant Church newly come forth in the Apostles times was verily the Morning the godly mostly glorying herein that the night was far spent the day was at hand and it was now time to awake from sleep Rom. 13.11 12. 2 Pet. 1.19 at which time the truth is Divine Knowledge was not improved as it was afterward Neither was there such a clear and distinct understanding of the mysteries of Faith as there was after that the dotages of the Hereticks had exercised the wisdom of the Church yet it sufficed them even now as to this effect viz. to cast off the works of darkness and put on the armour of light and to walk honestly as in the day Rom. 13.13 as their then zealous piety shining in their Martyrdomes plainly sheweth 4. After this came the time of priming and waining light as of the Moon in the days of the Hereticks with whom the Churches conflict was with various success one while the truth prevailing against errour another while errour against the truth until the time that it suffered an horrid eclipse under Antichrist 5. But there was by the Grace of God and the benefit of a Reformation a restoring of the light which was extinguished in the Church with a new addition and that was according to the promise made Isa 30.26 The light of the Moon shall be as the light of the Sun There being a more through search made after the truth even to the very lowest foundations then was ever known in former ages 6. Yet because the very Sun in our firmament though nothing is more bright may and sometimes doth fail Eccles 17.31 and by the permission of God even the Reformed Churches still again suffer the hour of darkness the goodness and wisdom of the everlasting Bridegroom gives us hope that it shall come to pass that the Church shall at last become terrible to her enemies and intimateth in what way this shall be effected to wit if through Gods blessing differences being ended the Church shall sometime at length so unite it self on every side within it self and knit together by the bands of Order as that after the manner of a well set Array of battel she shall be impenetrable by her enemies but run through rout and quash all contrary forces or powers whatsoever that rise up against her 7. And this is none other but that which the Apostle urgeth upon the Ephesians and requireth of the Church now grown up saying Endeavouring to preserve the Vnity of the Spirit in the band of peace c. then further Ascending up on high he gave gifts to men some Apostles some Prophets some Evangelists some Pastors and Teachers for the compacting of the Saints for the work of the Ministery for the edification of the body
Bosnians Croatians c. which contributed much assistance to Cyril and Methudius they being Grecian Bishops but ready and expert in the Slavonick Tongue These passing on and about the year 861 entring into Moravia then by the Germans called Marcomannia there also they converted unto Christ Suatoplucus their King and a little after that Borivoius a Duke of the Bohemians From thence the brightness of the Gospel darted into Polonia in the year of Christs 65. the 71 year after the conversion of the Bohemians of the Moravians the 104. of the Bulgarians the 120. Fifteen years after this in the year 980. the Russi and the Mosci and the Slavonian Counties turned wholly to the Christian Religion Anna Basil the Emperours sister being given in marriage to Wlodimire a Kyoviensian Duke 17. From hence it appears that all these Countreys converted by the means of the Eastern Church even the Bohemian too were Christianized with the Grecian Rites and Forms But the Pope of Rome which even at this time lay in wait to make a prey of all the Churches in the World let slip no opportunity whereby he might bring them under the yoke of his jurisdiction What opportunities were given I must in brief relate were it onely for the sake of Bohemia 18. Satan the Enemy of our Redemption raging at the beginnings of Salvation in Bohemia suborned secretly plied his Incendiaries by which that part those of the Nobility and Commons which stifly adhered to Gentilisms being incensed and hurried into a Dog-like madness presently banish Borivoius and then his Nephew Wenceslaus with his Grandmother Ludomilla being dispatched by Martyrdom substitutes Boleslaus a sworn Slave to Heathenish Superstitions By whom many of the Noblemen and even all their Sacerdotes or Ministers were either slain or taken captive and so imprisoned or banished and driven into the neighbouring Provinces of Germany until the year 940. when Otto the Emperour coming upon them with an Army cooled their courage restraining their fury making Boleslaus restore the Temples and call home the banished and take order that Children be initiated with Christian Rites i. e. baptized Thus the Bohemians were first brought again under the power of the Roman Emperour and then presently fell into the snares of the Roman Bishop upon the next occasion which was in this manner 19. Good Bolestaus son of the Tyrant of that name being desirous very much to propagate the Christian Religion founded a Bishoprick at Prague and endeavouring â—o procure a person of great experience for the Pastor of that late scattered Church there was one Ditmar a Saxon Canon of the Archbishops See of Magdeburgh lately founded commended and chosen At the inaugurating of this Saxon was present the Archbishop of Moguntia by the French called Mentz But he prescribed to the new Bishop of that new people such Laws enjoyning and giving him in charge by express command from the Pope the Roman Liturgy in the Latine Tongue as offended the Bohemians and they not enduring that Divine Service should be celebrated in an unknown Tongue were fain to seek at Rome by certain Agents Bolehest Mislebor c. the wonted use of their Mother Tongue in the holy things in the year 977. and they obtained it But that one generation passing Gregory the seventh called Hilderbrand took it away again by an inhibitory Edict sent to Wratislaus Duke of Bohemia in the year 1079. Which Edict in the very terms thereof is extant in the History of the Preservation of the Bohemian Church chap. 5. Since that time there hath always been a contest between the Bohemian and the Roman Church the one always putting on the other always shaking off the yoke of their Superstitions even to this unhappy age of ours wherein she is fain to couch under her burden which especially as to the chief passage hereof it will not be amiss briefly to relate 20. The next age Coelestinus the Pope going about to obtrude on the Bohemians the command concerning the single life of the Clergie his â—egate viz. Peter Cardinal of Lalavie very narrowly escaped stoning by the Ministers and Prelates of Prague an 1197. this is attested by Hagâ—eius a Pontificial Writer 21. After this that generation passing there began to be obâ—ruded on the Churches the opinion of Transubstantiation together with the Sacrilegious communion of the Eucharist in but one kinde But in Bohemia this was not imposed till the year 13â—1 when Charls the fourth King of Bohemia and Emperour of the Romans changing the Bishoprick into an Archbishoprick and founding an University at Prague sent over for Masters and Doctors out of Germany Fâ—ance and Italy So these being abroad trained up in the custom of Communicating in one kinde began vehemently to urge it here the Bohemians on the other side not enduring this innovation but stoutly setting themselves against it 22. Amongst and above all the rest of the zealots there was a certain person descended of a noble Family by name John Milicius Canon of Prague and Preacher in the Cathedral Church Which with his Collegue Conrad Stickna vehemently thundered against the encroaching abuses which were so apparently and notoriously contrary to the Word of God Notice of this being given to Pope Gregory the eleventh he dispatches a Bull whereby Milicius with his hearers were excommunicated he also being given over to the new Archbishop Ernest of Pardubitz to be corrected Who presently committed Milicius to Prison but because of the fear of the people he was set free again and then banished in the year 1366. 23. To be Successor to him there was appointed Matthias Janovius of Prague Confessor to Charls the fourth But he nothing daunted at the hard measure of his banished Predecessor perfiâ—s shotly to assert the Communion in both kindes Also he sollicited and perswaded Caesar to call a Council for the abolishing of the many growing abuses But then when Caesar began to negotiate this busineâ—s with the Pope the Pope was anygry and so instantly urged the compelling and suppressing of he busie Hereticks that Charls being infatuated by the Authority of the Pope banished his Confessor out of his Kingdom howbeit he had much place in his affection Afterward he returned indeed but passed the remainder of his life in private unto the year 1304. wherein he dyed It is testified that a little before he dyed he uttered these words to the comfort of his friends The fury of the Enemies of the Truth hath hitherto prevailed against us but it shall not always be so for there shall arise a mean people without sword or power which they shall not be able to deal withal 24. It is worth the noting that the Bohemians were not onely acted by the S. Spirit within but also put on with the concurrence of the godly every where observing and detesting the Abomination of Desolation viz. from the University of Paris and Oxford where they travelled for the advancement of Learning and came away enriched with the light of sounder
but those which were truly faithful were oppressed between both till those which remained of the Taborites were quite down and under foot 43. For Rokyzan speaking them fair by himself and others making them believe that he was still ready to yield if they could make it appear that the truth was with greater purity on their part and that he would not have himself nor any of his own party Judge of his cause but that the Estates in their publique Convention should take cognizance thereof and give judgement thereupon The Taborites assented And being confident of the goodness of their cause appeared with them at the Convention where after many bickerings Umpires were chosen to give the ultimate verdict to be confirmed by the Authority of the Convention so that it might not be lawful for either part to make any more appeals but forthwith be bound to fall to one part They then coming to the issue for agreement it being so laid before gave it for Rokyzan The honest and simple Taborites at last perceived how they were abused by fraud yet not daring to do any thing against their Covenants They promised consent in the Rites and when they were returned home and were negligent to reform in the Church i. e. which is all one as to immerse it again in Superstition the Vice-Roy George coming upon them with an Army laid siege against the City and compelled the â—itizens to yield and resign up the Priests to their dispose He then committed them to perpetual imprisonment in the Castle of Podebrand and Litz Martin Lupacius with some others going over on Rokyzans side 44. But when as for some years space the Bohemians had in vain sollicited the Investiture of their Archbishop and the Pope still refused to hearken to them in this matter unless Rokyzan would part with the Cup yea moreover 1448. sending the Cardinal of St. Angelo to Prague under pretence of a Treaty gave order to surprize and force out of their custody the Compactata or the Covenant-Rolls wherewithal he was fled but being called back was compelled to restore them and let them go Rokyzan resuming his stomack against the Pope justified it that he was that great Antichrist spoken of in the Apocalyps and Daniel And we saith he unless we fall off from obedience to him are an undone and a damned people telling them that they must have for the way of Religion not the Compactata or the Scroul of Agreement but the Law of Christ that all things of the Popes way were to be laid aside as being impure and all things to be wholly reared up out of the foundations of the Apostles In a word he so payed Antichrist that most of them believed him to be a second Huss and were in expectation of no less then a full Reformation 45. But because he did not put his hand to the work all this while they of his Auditory which were more real of which the very chief was Gregory Rokyzans Nephew by his sister a man of a Noble extraction saying their heads together come to Rokyzan lay open their troubles of conscience and ask his advice He entreated them lovingly and commending their zeal produced them some Tractates to read concerning the Abomination which was crept into the Church and so kindled their zeal yet more but withal adv sed them to silence and patience When yet again the third time their number being now encreased they were instant with him that what he had declared for in words he would not delay in very deed to perform He answered it was a business of great concernment and difficulty wherein nothing could be done suddenly c. 46. In the mean time Rokyzan bestiâ—s himself all he could against the Pope endeavouring also the joynt consent of the Gre k Church For because the decree of the Florentine Synod by which the Bohemians were again as Hereticks cut off from the Church was come forth there was holden at Prague in the year 1450. a Convention of Estates and a Synod of Priests Now here it was that by Rokyzans advice and the common consent of the Estates and the Clergy an appeal was made to the Greek Church and Legates were dispatched away with Letters to Constantinople The Greeks when they had heard the Contents of the Doctrinâ— delivered by the Legates they joyed in the mutu l consent and returning Letters to the Bohemians confirmed them in the faith Adding also a promise to ordain them Ministers for their Church But these things lying yet in hope coming on slowly giving some ground of hope Rokyzan doth again animate his Clients and openly gives them to understand that it was hopeful that a Reformation would even now shortly appear For said he taxing the many abuses we do but touch some things which lie uppermost in the surface but they will appear shortly who will rip up the Foundations of Truth from the bottom 47. Thus when he had whiled of these godly souls unto the seventh year being again advised with he said He had now cast about all things in his minde and did not see what to resolve upon unless to make a separation wholly as well from the Calixtines as the Papists for now all was full of Abomination and the mischief was past cure To the like effect was also the advice of Lupacius They said then let us fall off we will own honour follow thee for our Leader Doctor and Father But he answered You lay upon me said he a hard task you are too bold the matter is full of danger and the like 48. Constantinople was now again in the year 1453. sacked and spoiled by the Turks at which time two of the dispersed Grecians escaping come to Prague and there were made welcome by Rokyzan he after much conference with them about Religion admitted them also to the Celebration of the Lords Supper At which when they saw that here even amongst these the simplicity of faith was so much defaced in Superstitions those good zealots were yet more troubled in their mindes seeing what to fly but not having what to follow 49. Therefore they come again to Rokâ—zan and beseech him for the sake of the glory of God that he would pity the souls of his beguiled people and not leave them in so great an apparent hazard of Salvation But he good man having not so much courage as to despise the hitherto plainly vain hope of Arch-episcopal glory and to chuse shame and the Cross with the people of God was now wrath and upbraided them with their importunity and bids them they should let the business fall and withdraw from him that he would beg for them of the King George Podebrand which to gain the Crown had sworn obedience to the Pope some place where they might live safely and serve God with a pure conscience 50. And he obtained the Principality of Litica in the mountanous places of the neighborhood of Silesia whether presently the Citizens of Prague both
Batchelors and Masters betake themselves others both Commons and Nobles learned and unlearned elsewhere thereabout in great numbers giving themselves diligently to the reading of the Scriptures prayer and works of piety Their Pastors were of the Calixtines which renounced the superstitions and addressed themselves after the form of the Apostolical simplicity among which Micael Bradacius Pastor of Zamberg a pious and devout old man was the chiefest These all called one another mutually by the common and to the godly dear name of Brethren and Sisters by which means it was that the title of the Brethren of Bohemia is given to them by way of eminency even to this day 51. They began indeed to call themselves The Brethren of the Law of Christ as well to distinguish themselves from the orders of the Papists as also from the Benedictines Franciscans c. as to insist upon the foundation of Mr. Huss viz. That the Law of Christ is sufficient for the Government of the Church Militant c. But afterward when they observed it was drawn into a calumny the adversaries crying that they founded a new Order of Monks they left it off saluting one another not amiss with the title of THE BROTHERLY VNITED CHVRCHES or the VNITY OF THE BRETHREN For as the Church is the company of them which are called out of the world to partake of salvation by Faith in Christ knit together by the Laws of mutual charity even so Vnity Ecclesiastical is with us the company of Churches knit together in the Laws of mutual love for the mutual edification of one another in the common salvation fully according to the mind of the holy Ghost Psal 133. and Ephes 4. and elsewhere set down in the Scriptures 52. But Satan was wroth with those beginnings of the Church undertaking a Reformation according to the Laws of the Gospel he therefore raised a new and horrible tempest to overwhelm it for the fame of this flying all abroad the Priests every where stirred up the people to hate them Choak they cried choak the spark least it grow into a flame Rokysan himself who one would think strange puts on the disposition of an enemy and accuses them of headstrong impiety for there was no want of such as would traduce them to the King and Consistory with variety of imputations 53. Hereupon it came to pass in the year 1461. that our Brother Gregory with some others visiting the Brethren at Prague they being assembled together in a certain house were betrayed and taken Where take notice of this remark of providence The Governor entring stayed at the door of the room where they were met and bespake them in these words of Scripture All you that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution You therefore that are here follow me to prison for he was a good man and meant well to the business of the Brethren but could not do otherwise because of the command of his betters 54. The King by reason of the complaints the wicked made of them to him was perswaded that the Brethren of the Taborites as they called them had some plot in hand therefore he commanded that that holy man Gregory should be put upon the rack but he falling into a deep Trance or extasie felt no pain and so they left him upon the rack by the tormentors for dead Rokyzan his Unkle coming in to him and finding him dead on the wrack lamented over him with many tears redoubling it I would I were in thy place O my Gregory but he afterward coming to himself related the vision which in this wheel he had seen That he was carried into a most pleasant meadow in the midst of which stood a tree loaden with fruit and many kinds of birds sitting on the leaves feeding on it there standing in the middle a youth governing the birds with a cane so that none of them durst get away out of order In which sight without doubt God intended to give the picture of that Church whereof he was as the Patriarch He saw also other three men keeping the same tree which six years after when they were in very deed chosen by vote to be the Superintendents he remembred and assured us that they were the very same by the very lineaments of their faces in that vision 55. So Gregory by the mediation of Rokyzan was dismissed but then Patents came forth by the Kings order inhibiting all the Pastors the ministration of the holy Ordinances without the ceremonies and threatning the punishment of death to any that should dare to adminster without the said ceremonâ—es to the Brethren known by the now odious name of Piccardi The Brethren therefore being reduced to great streights and as sheep bereaved of their shepherd run to Rokyzan beseeching him by the glory of God and his own salvation that he would not desert that cause which he knew to be Gods nor hinder the turning away of many from the way of error which they were earnestly providing for and that he would not by any means with-hold the known truth in unrighteousness That even the chief of all the Clergy in the Kingdom must give an account of all both things and persons wherewith they are intrusted and the like But when they saw he was hardned at length they took their leaves of him inserting these words in their last letter Rokyzan thou art of the world and wilt perish with the world 56. At which words being vexed he exasperated the King again against them and out comes new Patents in the name of thâ— King and Consistory That those execrable persons should not be tolerated in any place of Bohemia or Moravia But howbeit they were not wanting which would have them taken and put to death yet Jodocus Rosenbergius Bishop of Wâ—atislavia disswaded them from it giving this reason that Martyrdom was as half-raw-rosting which easily breeds worms meaning that the faithful multiplied by being diminished by martyrdoms and that they would be better reduced if they were banished in all parts For when they are come to that pass saith he that they know not which way to turn themselves they will return to their sound mind 57. Upon this a sore Inquisition was resolved and executed upon the Brethren and so hot it was that most of them especially the chief being dispersed into the Mountains and woods dwelt in caves or dens neither yet there being sufficiently safe therefore they dared not to make any fire for kitchin use save only in the night least the smoak going forth should betray them and then sitting about the fire in the sharp cold air they would spend their time in reading the Scriptures and holy conferences and as oft as they came forth in the deep snow to provide them necessaries least they should be traced they trod all in the same foot-prints the last man drawing after him a Turpentine bough to cover all that it might seem to be only the track of some Countryman
in the year 1471. Rokyzan being dead Fifteen days before And now then the Halcion days seemed to return God wonderfully preserving that little Flock By which means was fulfilled that Prophesie of Matthias Gannovius deceased a whole year before Of a mean people to arise without sword and outward power which yet the enemies of the Truth should not be able to prevail over 65. For there succeeded to George Wladislaus the Pole a most meek Prince under whom things were like to be in a more quiet State but that the Adversaries stirred him up and put him on and yet this a good while in vain for although presently in the second year of his reign 1472 he suffered a decree to pass for the rooting them out yet receiving from the Brethren their Apology and supplication that he would tolerate them in their native Country as faithful and quiet Subjects seeking nothing but to please God and their King and all men in that which is good he presently checked it as also many times afterward until the year 1508. Wherein they extorted from him very much reniting that kind of bloody instrument yet still without any effect as they intended Amongst other Boutefeus was Bohuslaus of Lohkowitz Baron of Hassenstein a most renouned Orator and Poet in his time Secretary to the King in the fourth Book of whose Epistle written to the King 1497. these words are to be read This most of all vexes me that that seditious faction who under King George and Rokyzan though accused of Heresie durst not so much as peep should now under a Catholick King so take root and so far spread its branches that it can scarcely be rooted out or pulled up by the strength of man 66. The Brethren therefore seeing that Schisme and sedition was layed to their charge and fearing least shortly they should be made to fly the Country advising with their Patrons which at this time they had amongst the Nobles sent four men Luke Pragen Mares Kokowetz Martin Kapatnik and Caâ—par March to seek if any where could be found some people Worshipping Christ purely to whom they might fully joyn themselves as to a true Church of Christ They went therefore being liberally set out and plentifully provided by the Barons one to Greece another to Moscovie and Russia a third to Thrace and Bulgar the fourth to Asia Palestine Egypt to make a search They all returning home make report that there is no place to be found but where all things are very corrupt and that the Christians are full of vices and superstitions as if they were all agreed herein 67. Then the Brethren convene in a Synod and cast about again what is needful yet to be done And that they might in the mean while at least before God clear their Consciences of the guilt of Schism and also put Posterity into some certain way they made a Canon That if God shall yet any where raise up pious Teachers and Reformers of that Church they will joyn themselves to them c. This was done 1486. 68. But from whence to expect these they being uncertain they send again Luke Prag and Thomas German into Italy and France to take a survey of the Assemblies of the Brethren the Waldenses that they might fully know how all things were with them But they bring tidings that they finde nothing but a few remainders of the godly lurking in private and that they were Spectators of the burning of some which were discovered and betrayed among whom one was Hierom Savanorala The good Brethren the Bohemians saw there was nothing remaining but sighs to God for the Christian people and constancy and patience in bearing the Divine tryals at home And how great calamities they suffered even to the r ising up of Luther in Germany the History of the Persecutions of the Church of Bohemia from Chap. 21. to 28. relateth 69. In the mean time the art of Printing lately found out in Germany began to grow into frequent use many less and greater sacred and prophane Books coming forth in Italy especially at Rome and Venice The Bohemians therefore resolving to use this so great a gift of God mostly to salvation of souls about this time procured the Bible to be printed the first of all Europe again at Venice in their Mother tongue A little after the Copies being dispersed at Noriberg once and again At last setting up a Printing-house at home they made many impressions especially at Prague Bolislavia and Kralice in Moravia 70. About the year 1511. It was that Erasmus of Rotterdam began to be famed by the common vogue as the Restorer not onely of Languages but also of more pure Divinity To whom the Brethren by two of their own Nicholaus Claudius and Laurence Wotik send their Apology dedicating it to King Wladistaus and printing it at Noriberg in the year 1408 their request was that he would read over the Book and ingenuously tell them of the faults therein and they were ready to correct them But if he found nothing amiss therein that he would daign to commend it by his testimony to vindicate the innocent from wrong as much as in him lay Some days after he answered That he did observe nothing amiss therein but as for attesting such things under his hand it seemed neither safe for him nor necessary for the Brethren as well because they which were prejudiced against them under the name of Piccardi would not be any thing the better satisfied concerning them by his testimonial as also that by so commending them which all men had an evil eye upon he should onely effect thus much that by the prevalency of the Popish party his writings would be suppressed and not come to hand even such writings of his as out of which he commonly heard the seeds of true piety were gathered and whereby rebudding Religion which was yet as it were in the bud or shooting might by little and little be much set forward all men having now liberty to read them Seeing therefore his judgement and approbation given would render them neither better not better esteemed he thought it best to keep himself safe for some better service to the Church So the Brethren went on according to the Orders they had made among themselves to propagate the Kingdom unto more and more purity 71. Yet nevertheless he gave testimony to the Brethren two ways viz. First by the by as it were in his Preface to the New-Testament and then professedly in answering John Schletch which calumniated the Brethren In his Preface to the N.T. he thus argues But he is a Divine for me which not with his artificially perplexed Syllogisms Disputations no but with his affection with his presence and countenance with his conversation teacheth us viz. That a Christian must despise riches not place his confidâ—nce in worldly advantage but wholly depend upon God Not revenge injuries but bless them which curse do good to them which deserve evil must love and tender
man can minde and do all things at one and the same time All things as they should be we cannot do all Nor yet to one do Gods gifts wholly fall As Luther himself writes in his Piece de Servo Arbitrio of Enslaved Freewil ripeness of mans knowledge hath and doth still come on by length of time Adde this many things are wanting in some to be supplied by others Thus far Lasitius 78. Now these Transactions with Luther being over writes the same man there came out of France to Bohemia two learned men bringing commendations from the Brethren the Waldenses to acquaint them with the calamities of them which sent them by reason both of the continuance of the Hostile Persecution as also their difference arising amongst themselves that giving them fully to understand the better condition of the Brethren of Bohemia they might receive some consolation and to carry iâ— home to their own To this end they stayed with ours six whole moneths seeing their Order and unity in all matters the diligent care of their Pastors over the flock the observance of the youngers to the Elders and their daily performance of all kinde of labours and services c. as also ours beholding in like manner their pious Conversation and zeal and by these two were able to judge what the rest were And inasmuch as they found them sound in Doctrine and Faith they admitted them into Communion with them So at length the beloved strangers take their leaves of each other with mutual consolation c. 79. The Divines of Strasburg having some counsels in hand for the repairing of Ecclesiastical Discipline amongst themselves write to the Brethren of Bohemia Anno 1433. by the hand of Fabritius Capito and received in writing an answer thereunto again Anno 1540. by the hand of Marvin Bucer then the Brethren send Mathius Erithreus one of their own to them These Transactions are set down by Lasitius but it may suffice here onely to present you with some few Elegancies out of the sayings of the most pious Divine Bucer Ecclesiastical Discipline saith he is the Throne of Christ reigning in the Church And when Mathias entreated him to excuse his impolite speaking Bucer answers â—iety is to be looked at in a Christian not quaintness of speech it is apparently from the Divine hand that you being not so learned have yet so well a governed Church But as for us though we may seem more learned yet because we neglect the care of Discipline we profit very little wherefore we are thinking by all means how to settle it And when Matthias the Divines being now come together to hear his message was relating to them the usual way of the Brethrens Order in the Church Bucer not able to refrain from tears turning to the Divines sitting about him said Now verily this Hierarchy or holy Government is rather Celestial above then Ecclesiastical here on earth He also yet further inserts in his Letter to the Brethren Many with us have shaken off the yoke of Antichrist but yet refuse to take upon them the yoke of Christ c. I am perswaded that you alone are they that at this day are found in all the World amongst whom onely flourishes sound Doctrine pure edifying and wholesome Discipline I have perused the Confession you sentime rejoycing very much to finde amongst you so great a lustre of the Truth and such Order and Purity in your Administration Great indeed is the goodness of God toward you in that you retain the Doctrine so pure and have such disciples as diligently take care to bring back the Discipline into the Church as it were out of banishment Truly we are much ashamed of our selves when we compare at any time our Church with this of yours And publiquely in his Piece against Latomus in print thus That way is surely the most excellent which is observed by the Brethren called the Piccards who alone in all the World again still retain among them together with the purity of Doctrine also the Discipline of Christ in force The thing it self is so plain that we cannot but as give them the commendation thereof so praise the Lord which hath so wrought upon them Howbeit those Brethren are lightly esteemed of some Preposterous though Learned men 80. At the same time there wrote to the Brethren of Bohemia also two other Divines Fabricins Capito and John Calvin Pastor of the banished French Church then at Argentorat Part of Fabricius Letter runs thus The Express of your Faith which came to our hands was very acceptable to us it containing your Church Order absolutely the best that I finde in our generation in that together with a solid Confession of Faith and right use of the Sacraments it beareth the sweet savours of holy Discipline and the watchful Pastoral care among you of your Pastors For Calvins Letter it is extant in the Volumn of his Epistles under this title To the Bohemian Pastors of which these words are a fragment I heartily congratulate your Churches upon which besides sound Doctrine God hath bestowed so many excellent gifts whereof this is none of the least to have such Pastors to govern and order them and such people as are so well affected and disposed towards Government To be constituted in so excellent a sorm adorned with the most excellent Discipline which we worthily call the most excellent yea and the onely bond whereby obedience can be preserved I am sure we finde with us by woful experience what the worth of it is by the want of it nor yet can we any way attain unto it God bless me this very thing makes me often faint in my minde and feeble in the discharge of my Function yea I should quite despair did not this comfort me that the edification of the Church is always none other then the work of the Lord which he himself will carry on by his own power though all help besides fails But yet this is a great and rare blessing to be assisted with other necessary advantages therefore I shall never take our Churches to be in any posture of strength or firm establishment until we can be knit together with that nerve c. This excellent man was not long after by prime choise called to exercise his Ministery in the Church of Geneva where he erected this kinde of Discipline and it is famous at this day in all the World 81. In the year 1542. was made another and that the last application of the Brethren from Bohemia unto Luther and it was not so much by Legates as in the way of a personal friendly Visitation For John Augusta himself the then chief Antistes of the Unity taking with him of the Ministers George Israel and of the Nobility Joachimius Prostibore comes to Witteberg to understand what hopes there were of the Gospel-Churches their receiving and embracing the Discipline which the Strasburg Divines had expressed themselves so much desirous of They being kindely embraced
Churcâ—es to be shut up and their Pastors to be seized The first that was taken was the chief Antistes John Augusta which with his Assistant James Bilek was takâ—n upon suspicion of corr spondence had with Luther yea conspiracy That his design in hâ—s coming to Witteberg was to dispossess Charls of Germany and Ferdinando of Bohemia that the Elector of Saxony might be King of the Bohemians Hereupon they committed them to the cruel wrack to be tortured three times and yet could discover no mention of any crime for indeed it was a meer malicious calumny nor yet could have any colourable reason to inflict any punishment upon them They were left in Prison full sixteen years untill the death of Ferdinando July 25. 1564. and then at length were dismissed 85. Some of the dispersed Pastors and people came to Prussia and there were graciously received by Duke Albert assigning them these Towns Guizina Dubrawn Solduvia Gardia for their fixed habitations There is extant touching these a memorabâ—e Letter of Antonius Bodâ—nsteinus a Lutheran Pastor of Guizina wheâ—e the better part of the exiles took up residence written to Mr. Brentius an exile also at this time at Basil which Lasitius sets down entire Book 5. and wherein among other things we have as followeth These young men are of the number of those Brethren which within these twelve moneths were driven out of their own Countrey of Bohemia and being exiles were received in our Prussia Their Confession was published at Witteberg and commended by the judgement and approbation of Mr. Luther our Reverend Father and Master of pious memory They have not onely their Doctrine consonant with ours but also some other things peculiar such as with not small jeopardy of Conscience are wanting among us Such watchful care of souls as I never saw more exactness the most choice exercises of piety and repentance both Domestick and Ecclesiastick honesty of conversation before men and righteousness the true use of fastings watchings travels prayers brotherly admonition private counsels Ecclesiastical censures c. that they are justly matter of admiration to us all And I do not think Prussia could have had better guests or inhabitants to make welcome in the world again Mr. Bucer a man of great judgement is not afraid to extol them in his works above all the Churches in the whole Christian world attributing to them that which he doth not to any others and commending them to all the godly even as a pattern proposed for their imitation The same have other choice men done Luther Capito Calvin And truly if there be any Churches extant in which the Discipline and gravity of Apostolical men and all things framed after the example of the holiest Martyrs can be found they are for certain these little Churches of the Brethren I believe this so holy a people is sent of God into these parts to the end that others may be provoked by their example and bethink themselves throughly to amend those defects which yet cleave to our Churches It is a very sad thing that the Gospel of God should be published onely for a witness to the world c. Given Septemb. 15. 1542. 86. Thus Prussia blessed themselves with their new neighbours Moreover there appeared also at the same time another argument of the Providence of God on his Churches behalf in that these very exiles as they made their way through Polonia the greater scattered there as by the by when otherwise taken up some seeds of the Gospel For when they were to depart their own Countrey not knowing whether to turn themselves better then to the Polonians being consorts of the same language Being met together in a certain place in the confines of Silesia behold in one company there came thither out of the places adjacent about nine hundred souls in above a hundred and twenty Coaches Nay so it was not onely in Silesia but also in Polonia it self thougâ— yet adhering generally to the Papacy they found more countenance then opposition D. Anâ—reas Earl of Gork Captain General of Polonia the greater not onely permitting them to be entertained and lodged in the Suburbs all about Postriania but inviting them also into his Hereditary Towns Samotuli Kurnik c. insomuch that they had yielded themselves to him as Subjects but that presently there comes from the King an Edict which a Popish Clerk had procured by his sollicitation streightly enjoyning that they should be driven out of Polonia Whereupon they went forward into Prussia yet not without leaving upon the mindes of the Polonians some desire after them 87. For they having some Pastors with them were ready for Divine exercises to be performed freely none hindring them singing praying reading the Scriptures preaching to which when as many flocked as the minde of man is desirous of that which is new it could not easily be but that God should open the heart of more then one Lydia also for that the year following Matthias Sionius an Antistes following his people into Prussia and through some indisposedness being constrained to stay at Polonia by the means of many conferences had with divers sorts of men upon occasion there was no small number of the Citizens and Nobility which gave themselves up to the Discipline of the Brethren and desired them to appoint a Pastor over them 88. They gave them therefore for a Pastor and ordered to go over to them in Polonia George Israel one which had been wonderfully released out of Prison at Prague a man of right Apostolical spirit and he propagated the Gospel of Christ with such happy success that in one six years he brought most of the Nobility among whom was the Right Honourable the Earls of Gork of Ostroroge of Leszno unto the knowledge of the Truth and planting near forty Churches as Vergerius whom the Pope sent his Legate of whom after to view them computeth them d d govern them with that dexterity that the Noblemen and Ministers of Polonia the less having received their Reformers at that time out of Switzerland and so called the novel Churches of the Helvetlan Confession began to be beholden to them for counsel and to desire to be conjoyned with them 89. But this matter did not please Mr. Lismaninus now Arianizing so that upon this account an appeal was made to the Divines of Tigurine and Geneva Anno 1556. by which means the Brethrens affairs were exposed to a new debate not onely in Helvetia but also by the zeal of Vergerius in all Germany and Italy The Helvetians approved their design of conjoyning especially for the sake of their Discipline I have ready at hand divers Letters written at this time to the Poles out of which it will not be out of the way to alledge something pertinent to the business now before us John Calvin writes thus Your accord with the Waldenses I hope will be to very good effect not onely because of that blessing with which God is wont to visit the
holy Unity in which the members of Christ grow up together but also for that the Brethren of the Waldenses it is to be hoped will be of no small advantage to assist you in your small beginnings by reason of their expertness wherein God by much and long experience hath trained them up Wherefore you must all endeavour with the greatest diligence to confirm this your holy communion wirh them more and more 90. And Wolfgang Musculus one of the Divines of Berne hath these words We are very much delighted with that wonderful providence of God in that he was pleased some years since to transplant among you some Brethren which they call the Waldenses when they were cast out of Bohemia that they might be helpful to your Churches in the knowledge and propagation of the Truth This was not intended by them which violently removed them from their habitations neither as I suppose did they themselves think of what God was then doing But he which many ways infatuates and muffles the wise men of this world in their own devices was thus pleased to provide no small relief for the tender infant-state of the Church reviving amongst you And a little after thus I must needs commend your Churches for the course that they have taken to joyn with the Waldenses For I hope by this means you will be less divided among your selves or else the differences which arise will be the sooner composed inasmuch as you may now hereafter be able in your teaching to tell how hit upon the certain form of Doctrine And again thus he I judge that you have done very prudently in that you have embraced that form of Doctrine which is so simple and so consonant to the holy Scripture that as I remember it was unanimously agreed by the Churches even when they were in other matters divided among themselves was fit to be printed and dispersed in our Germany 91. Notorious is the judgement of Peter Martyr at that time a Divine of Strasberg writing thus I advise moreover that the use of Discipline be by all means as soon as may be brought into your Churches For if it be not received at first when the desires of men after the Gospel are vigorous and strong afterward they usually abate and growing cold it will not easily be admitted And that all your labour is in vain without it you may assure your selves upon the experience of very many Churches wherein they being at the first ground-work of Reformation unwilling to take this wholesome yoke upon them could never after by any good government be brought into any order of good life and conversation Whereupon and I speak it with much grief almost all things become unsettled and threatning ruine on every side God bless us but it is a very grievous mischief and the certain decay of the Churches when the nerve of Discipline is wanting therein Nor can they be said truly and solidly to enjoy and possess the Gospel where either there is no Discipline or where it is despised and care not taken to keep it up Certes in the Gospels and Apostolical Epistles it is so punctually set down that we must needs acknowledge it not the least part of Christian Religion They therefore seem to be negligent of Religion which part with so excellent a part thereof 92. Zanchy P. Martyrs Colleague at this time at Strasberg in his to his acquaintance inserts these words Be careful with all diligence that together with the preaching of the Word Ecclesiastical Discipline also be restored in your Churches for we finde daily by sad experience what abundance of mischief hath risen in the Churches with us and in all Germany and how ill it bodes daily that Ecclesiastical Discipline is laid aside with us without doubt God will severely judge them by whose means it is that the use hereof is not restored to the Churches 93. After these Counsels were mutually imparted some yet for all this troubling the state of Church affairs so it was that some of the Nobles of Polonia the greater among whom was the illustrious and right honorable Palatine for one and the other were two Earls James of Ostrorog and Raphael de Lezno desiring to know fully how it was with the Brethren took a journey to them they being about this time in the heart of Moravia there to hold a Synod They joyfully arriving August 24. plainly relate before them all the many and great things they had heard of them about their true hearted Hospitality and singular Piety There were more then two hundred of the Clergy and a great appearance of the Patrons Barons and Nobles here at that time they created fifteen Ministers of the Word of God six Conseniors and two Bishops viz. George Israel and John Blahoslaus the one Superintendent for the Polonian the other for the Moravian Churches Our Countreymen congratulating their happiness saith Lasitius entred into very close Religious Fellowship with them 94. The same year was printed at Tubing in Sweveland the Confession of the Brethren by the care of Paulus Vergerius an Italian sometime formerly Bishop of Justinople and the Popes Legat in Germany who owning the truth of the Gospel was banished upon that account and was now with the Duke of Wirtenberg he having graciously entertained him This Vergerius as concerning the Brethren in his Preface to their Confession writes thus I suppose it very necessary to declare wherefore and upon what account I published this hitherto not enough known Confession of Christian Religion of the Waldenses or as they call them the Piccards When God lately called me cut of Germany into Prussia Lithuania and Polonia being very desirous to see and know the many and different Churches in divers Countreys and travelling about for some time in Polonia there at length I alighted upon about forty Churches constituted after the Waldensian Form and Prescript With which Church I waâ— indeed very much affected singularly satisfied and refreshed in them inasmuch as the voyce of the Gospel sounded clear and harmonious among them And so too that I was not able shall I say to observe nay truly not so much as in the least to suspect that there was any errour or controversie either in the Doctrine or amongst their Teachers their Ceremonies most chaste and pure so absolutely removed from all Popish Superstitions and Cringings that there was not so much as any favour print or mention of them remaining Their Discipline grave and strict by means whereof there was such renovation and reformation of life as did produce such fruit as could not but acknowledge that the root of it was none other then unfeigned sound repentance as could be most meet to be found in any Christian But whereas I writ about these things to the Brethren in Italy and other Nations and with great joy related some of them to the most illustrious Princes of Germany and other chief Persons therein Some knew not at all whether there were such a
a matter of necessity that we must give you a meeting for we must absolutely obviate the various attempts of Satan which with all craftiness they make amongst us to disturb the Church and hinder the progress of the Gospel For there are that neither will in all Articles allow our universally received Doctrine nor willingly will submit to Ecclesiastical Discipline we must therefore have mutual consultation to know how to deal with men of this sort and the Lord give his blessing to us that our meeting may not be in vain c. Thus that excellent a Lasco hoped well but was frustrated for they came together to no purpose both this and some years after all the Antitrinitarian Turn-coats as yet hiding their poyson but always bending another way according to that of our Saviour He which doeth evil hateth the light 99. This good old man a Lasco being taken up into his heavenly Countrey another Synod was convened in the Town of Xians 1560. wherein the haters of Truth and Order being very daringly bold affirmed That the Senior or Superintendent was not to be chosen out of the Clergy but out of the Secular men perswading themselves they could more easily instill their poyson into them They pretended two Reasons 1 That the Pastors had enough to do every one with his flock 2. Lest any thing savouring of Popery be still left among them which were separated from the Papacy The Legates of our Churches which were there Laurentius and Rokita not yet founding the depth of Satan in this matter nevertheless being required their opinion said Our custom anciently carries it an other way affirming also that Order with the Authority of Scripture and Arguments To which the Pastors agreed the Nobles dissented and there was a great stir 100. At last the haters of Order broke out to that height to affirm That there was to be had a more perfect Scriptural 〈◊〉 fâ—â—mation of the Church then that of the Brethren of the Waldenses Arguments therefore were drawn up by our men that this very way of Reformation was such as was settled according to the pattern of the ancient Apostolical Church and that the most famous of the Evangelici did attest it to be such at this day nor was this out Reformation rashly made or by any one man but whatever the grave and serious Counsels of many could finde to be best whatever could be learned from experience what the temper of all times could afford or custom could confirm that onely was agreed upon to be admitted why then should we try new and uncertain experiments since that in our experience now for these forty years we have sufficiently been deluded with c. rather then seen by humble and obedient practice any fruit of the Gospel as if the Gospel lay onely in Temples and lips without reformation of life the onely suitable return for so great a light of Truth So true is the Testimony of Speratus Bishop of Pomefania of holy memory now six years agone deceased wherein he finding things then not much otherwise complains We preach saith he and do not our people hear and believe not Well unless the Evangelici of Polonia knit together on all hands in the bands of order nothing will be of any durable standing for Posterity now Order is that some govern and others obey for constant mutual Edification 101. But still they objected That the Brethren did not open their Churches nor had they any full Communion of Saints but administred the Sacrament to some onely which were of their own way at their Devotion To which answer was made Christ for bad to give holy things to them which are not holy and that Christianity must take its beginning at repentance not at receiving the Sacraments nor is it according to the Institution of Christ to pronounce Absolution save onely to them that repent and believe Both of which viz. Repentance and Faith that they be not superficial and counterfeit there must necessarily be a discovery made by examination had to that purpose in some appointed fit season And inasmuch as to attribute salvifical vertue to the naked Elements by reason of the work done is the Basis of all error in the Papacy that that errour cannot be corrected unless by a certain tryal that not huddled over till the secrets of hearts be disclosed and the newly converted be a long time carefully both informed and examined that Cyril well observed that Christ did not presently commit himself to them which made a profession of their faith in him and that Chrysostome called them abortive Christians that were admitted to the use of the Sacraments before they had been learned and taught to renounce all things forbidden in the Decalogue So that 't is the concern of a true Minister of Christ that he makes not abortive Christians to insist upon the fruits meet for repentance as requisite before admission to the Sacrament and that because there be three parts of the Ministery 1 Doctrine 2. Keys and 3. Sacraments The Sacraments may not be administred save onely to such as unfeignedly embrace sound Doctrine and subject their life and conversation to be tryed by the Laws of Discipline If any man refuse this how is he a part of the flock and before he be a member how can he be joyned or received as such are the Constitutions of Order to be disturbed in favour of such Libertines as exempt themselves from all Law of Order 102. The things at that time more largely discussed are well known yet it seems there was then no such force in them as to make the obstinate to yield Yea the conclusions of that Synod were so drawn up that it was plain to be seen that Politique and Carnal Prudence got the better of Divine and Spiritual wisdom For the body of the Church was not formed as the Apostle would have it Eph. 4.16 that by the inward working power it may encrease unto edification of it self in love But it was with them as the Apostle forewarned ver 14. men being unstable as children tossed and carried about with every wind of Doctrine through Satans long experienced craftiness artificially to deceive This I say was apparently the Frenzy-like Arrians spirit everyday more and more impotently putting forth it self and troubling the faith and tranquility of the Church So that at last the Orthodox were fain of necessity to be very watchful to rid themselves of those unquiet spirits to gather up into a more close body by the yet firmer bands of unity in the Spirit 103. For at length the many Counsels of pious and wise men took place so that the Churches of Polonia the less received th Order of the Brethren of Bohemia they constituting out of their number of their Pastors for their own Churches which were scattered all about the Provinces five Bishops or Presbyters of Cracovia of Sendomiria of Lublin of Russia of Belsa and so many Compresbyters with all the Solemn Rites used
as also they were to be ever after in the same manner chosen and ordained even as Pastors also and Deacons or â—atechists and Acoluthi or Readers besides they had in every Church their Political Seniors or Lay-Elders and Synods Districtual five Provincial one to be held every year Which example the Churches of the great Dutchy of Lithuania followed dividing themselves into six Diocesses and under so many Seniors and Conseniors And because there yet remained some difference in rituals all the Churches among themselves at last came to that moderation even in these things that there seemed nothing to be wanting unto full Brotherly concord 104. Because yet nevertheless the Jesuits in their clamoring and traducing the Evangelici to the King laid to their charge a chaos of Errors and Schisms They as they had professed turned away from those open bare-faced Hereticks the Arrians named afterward Socinians from Socinus a new Imposter so now for the better uniting themselves within themselves they yet more fully engage to one another a Syncretism or mutual holding together there being then called about that time by the indulgence of the most pious King Sigismund Augustus unto Sendomiria all the Churches of the Evangelici in a general Synod 1570. wherein consent in Faith and Christian Religion was established between all the Churches of the Augustan Bohemian and Helvetian Confession The thing is notoriously known by the books of that consent so often printed in Poland and Germany and yet the Augustans afterward being at appointed Disputations divers ways tempted by some of their own party in Germany seemed to step back 105. To this issue did the moderate Councils of these Brethren of Bohemia come at that time in Poland with the applause of all good men It doth me good to remember one John Lasitsky a Nobleman of Poland and a learned which being then young about four year before the agreement for consent abovesaid was made turned from the Papists to the Evangelici and hearing that besides the Helvetian or Switzerland Confession already received in his own Countrey there were others of the Evangelici in Poland the great of the Augustan and Bohemian Confession resolves upon a journey to thosâ— Churches to have personal knowledge of them in all matters that he might see what difference there was between one and th' other He takes down with him into Germany and France some great Noblemens sons and taking his journey as he had appointed visits the Brethren in Bohemia making there a through enquiry and setting down all the memorable things which he observed Whereupon afterward he compiled the History of them entituled Eight Books of the Original and Transactions of the Brethren of Bohemia wherein in the seventh Book he ascribed the consent of the Churches agreed at the Sendomirian Synod especially to the Brethrens moderation 106. And of himself Lasitius reports thus Taking a journey for the advantage of my studies unto Heidleberg and afterward 1571. returning from Strasberg home I turned a little out of my way in unto the Brethren at Prague and Bolestavia At which time their Superintendent in Bohemia was Calephus a grave and strict Christian as they are all but good God with what great joy was my heart ravished to see these things which are now here written and fâ—ithfully related in the eighth book Verily surveying every thing diligently and enquiring into all things fully methought I was in the Church of Ephesus or of Thessalonica or some other of the Apostles own planting beholding and hearing those very things which we read in the Apostolical writings in the Epistles of Ignatius the Martyr in Justins Apology or Tertullians Apologelick Indeed they are very unjust and injurious to the Brethren whoever they be they are acted by that malignant and envious one that detract from the holiness of their Conversation or derogate from their faith so productive of good works or whosoever any ways prejudices so good so harmless so peaceable men Bohemia is not aware Moravia knows not what kinde of inhabitants they have If they did they would have more respect and affection for them then they have Absolutely they are of that worth that the Government of the whole Church if we would look to have it holy and pure returning to that flower and vigor of the Apostolical age should be committed to them But all these wishes are in vain the Churches beautified with right Bishops will never give in Nor again will those sheep of Christ that are now turned into goats endure any Pastors but like themselves Babylon will be jovial and fear nothing till in one hour be come upon her her appointed plagues which yet shall never touch Noah Lot Daniel Tobias God being their protection Thus this Defendor of that time proceeds with too much art haply yet as may serve to quicken us to carry our selves more warily and look into things more narrowly attending not onely outward appearance but weighing all Possibly there may lie a most precious jewel under a shabid fordid clod it being usual with God to choose the foolish things of this world the feeble the base those of no account and indeed which are as if they were not 1 Cor. 1. v. 26.29 107. Lasitius sends this History as soon as ever it was finished from out of Germany to the Geneva Divines to have their judgement upon it as also to John Laurence the Brethrens Antistes in Poland writing thus concerning it I writ to Mr. Beza a relation of your affairs that if he advises to it they may be published and why not Christ commanded that light should shine out c. perhaps they may pass the press till there may come forth something better for in the mean time the improved revenue of those talents which God hath bestowed upon you will abound amongst many people to the glory of God And Beza to Lasitius thus At last I return your Manuscript of the Churches of the Waldensian Brethren which you sent me to read and give you my opinion of There be many excellent things in it which I plainly admire and I would we had any hope to be able to introduce them into the Church But there be some other things I judge that must not be be propounded for imitation because we must therein have regard to the present time and circumstances 108. But let us return to the Brethren and see how it is them at home in Bohemia and Moravia and truly their affairs are much mended under Maximilian a peaceable quiet Prince of a moderate judgement of himself if he have a moderate Council Amongst whose Privy Council those which were most great gracious with him was John Crato his chief Physician a friend of the Brethren He at one time being alone with the King which took him into his Coach with himself going to take the aire of the fields for his health and pleasures sake and Caesar dolefully relating the many and great divisions that were in
Heidelberg then piously solicitous about the erecting of Order in the Churches of the Palatinate under Pious Frederick as appears in their Embassy and Letters to the Brethren of Bohemia for Zech. Vrsin in his to Andreas Stephanus the Antistes of the Brethren writes thus We are fully certified by your Confession both of your consent with us in all the heads of Christian Doctrine and also of your care and diligence to keep up a conversation worthy of a Christian and indeed upon this account we must needs joy you with an happiness far beyond us And we entreat you to help us in your prayers to the Lord that we may obtain his grace for some further attainment of the beauty of Christian Order amongst us also and that we judging our selves may not be condemned of the Lord for notwithstanding our prayers and endeavours many a day have been reaching hereunto that something of better Order may at last be seen amongst us yet because the name of Church-Discipline some imprudently and importunately urging it others bitterly and altogether rejecting it is become so odious that a great part do not onely decline it but would have it demolished and we can scarce hitherto enjoy the name or the least slight shadow of Discipline Therefore with shame and grief we are sensible that you ascribe more to us in your opinion then is to be found amongst us yet this advantage we have by it that from hence we apprehend you ply us as with a spur to quicken us to endeavour to be more answerable the better to answer to that good opinion which you and the rest of the godly conceive of us c. Mart. 19. 1574. 114. Answer hereunto being received the Church of Heidelberg dispatch to the Brethren one Badius with Letters to the same Antistes written by Mr. Olevian to this effect Mr. Vrsin shewed me your Letters and them of Mr. Languet whereby I understand that you of a long time have vigorously laid at that design whereto also we aspire namely to place the beginning middle and end of Religion not in disputing but in doing i. e. in true conversion to God and solid faith in Christ Let me therefore beg of you not onely in mine but in the name of the Brethren which are here in the service of the Church that you would furnish this John Badius with understanding of the whole Oeconomy or Administration of your Church and make him welcome for he is a learned and very pious man Mr. Vrsin and all the Colleagues salute you At Heidelberg April 28. 1574. 115. Now what opinion the Divines of Heidelberg had of those things which Badius observed in the Churches of the Brethren is evident by Olevians Letters again to Stephen given Sept. 6. in these words It cannot be expressed what high thoughts I have of that work of the Lord which he hath not onely began but also carried on so many years in your Churches The extreme corruptions of this age makes me and my Coleagues not a â—ittle desirous to confer with you about the most excellent Government of the Church for we would so build that the building may stand firm for after ages but we see how great differences and what sudden changes there are in those Churches which are deprived of their Priviledge and wholly depend upon the Civil power unless we seasonably obviate these evils many of the godly will think at least in a great part that they have run in vain I mean as to the stability of the building and the preservation and propagation of the whole Oeconomy of the Kingdom of Christ Wherefore we thankfully own what the Lord hath given us and we desire to make more full acknowledgment thereof and beseech the Lord that he would supply us with sufficient means hereunto to that purpose Veriâ—y when I behold the sad face of the Reformed Churches in Germany I am utterly afraid I apprehend that secular powers have been heretofore the Churches entreatments but now in many places they are turned into a kind of Dominion to domineer at their pleasure over the Churches and the heavenly doctrine Of the causes hereof this seems not to be the least that many Churches have too much given up themselves to the Polities of the world as if they were an essential part of the Kingdom of Christ Therefore I cannot but extoll your way of edifying who would have your Churches so subjected to the Polities of this world yea and to all men for good as yet to part with nothing of that liberty which Christ hath purchased for them with his blood 116. Hubert Languet mentioned before was the Elector of Saxonies Legat in Cesars Court at Vienna a man of great authority I find some letters of his to Andreas Stephanus and in one of them these words The Pope fears nothing more then our consent and uniting together which is his sure destruction if it can be effected but we have some unsound Divines amongst us which reject all good counsels and therein do much advance the Popes interest I would have the Churches of Bohemia which you write desire the Augustan Confession first joyn themselves with your Churches But these things are belonging to the good pleasure of God onely unto whom we must earnestly pray that he would defend his Church against them which labour to dissolve it Of the Gentleman D. of Z. I think as you do he seems to me to be of that sort of men which prudently and simply judge of things as nothing at all byassed by their affections of which there are to be found but very few Tho most and those not otherwise wanting parts and ingenuity being so hurried away with their affections that they seem sometimes when they give their judgement to be destitute of common sence At Vienna 15. Feb. 1574. 117. There was come forth before this time an 1572. the famous four-languaged Bible of Benedict Arias Montanus printed at Antwerp and not much after that was the new Latin Translation of the Bible of Francis Junius and Imanuel Tremel printed at Heidelberg This put the Brethren upon preparing in like manner a new version of the Bible in their own language conformable to the Original for all that they had hitherto had was the Latin version they therefore set about this business and in pursuance hereof they send to the Universities of Wittenberg and Basil some Candidates in Divinity to give themselves diligently to the study and thorough-knowledge of the holy Tongues To these was adjoyned a Jew born Lucas Helitz of Posnania a learned and pious man ordained also a Minister of the Gospel among us and that these might be able quietly to attend this sacred work there was assigned them in the heart of Moravia an accommodation for their dwelling together viz. the Castle of Kratlitz a Printing office being there also erected under the patronage of the Right honourable Lord John Baron of Zerotin having his Mansion in the next adjoyning
Tower called Namest This noble Lord bountifully maintained all those persons and preparations at his own proper cost and charges and God blessed it so that we now if any part of Europe again have the Prophets and Apostles speaking in our langauge and yet most purely and properly They were about this work preparing the Translation pure explaining it with Commentaries and writing it out in six Tomes fair for the Press the full space of fourteen years The first part namely the Pentateuch coming out anno 1679. The second part viz. The Historical Books 1580. The third part viz. the Hagiography i. e. the Psalms Proverbs Ecclesiastes and Canticles 1583. The Books of the Prophets 1587. The Apocrypha 1588. then the sixth and last part containing the New Testament 1593. out of which afterward other Editions were taken 118. In the year 1575. Maximilian held a Convention at Prague and he gives his allowance that the Estates of the Kingdom which were for the Sacrament in both kinds should enter into a mutual engagement of fidelity to each other under the common seal or token of one confession The Jesuits notwithstanding and the Pseudo pretended Hussites acting to their utmost strength to hinder it but yet they could not For whereas they in their Petitions and Remonstrances amongst other things clamoured to this purpose That the Estates for both kinds were not unanimous in the Faith but nourished amongst themselves the Piccards Calvinists Lutherans The estates that they might testifie their consent agreed together to draw up a Common Confession To this end making choyce of certain Divines and appointing also some of the Barons Nobles and City Officers to overlook the business To these therefore the Masters of Prague presented the Books of Mr. Huss and the Synodical and Parliament Acts for the Religion of the antient Bohemians but those which imbraced the Augustan Confession which were a great part of the Estates offered that same Confession as they that were of the Brethren offered theirs They compare both the sense and the form of speech or phrase of both parts in every Article of Faith and put it into such a form as both parties were able and willing to subscribe it not too much descending to particular subtile Scholastick differences of Questions Which Christian moderation and prudence of theirs did not only profit themselves but also highly swayed many great persons in Germany and elsewhere For Cesar ratified that Confession that was offered him and took all which did subscribe it into his royal Protection onely what they petitioned for power to constitute the Consistory and the University he put off till another time graciously promising them withal in the mean time that he himself or his Son which they had assigned to be his Successor would not be wanting to promote the Petition of the Estates 119. Note That this Confession of the Estates was written in the Bohemian language not translated into Latin nor printed till the year 1619. at which time it was presented to King Frederick by the University and Consistory of Prague therefore it is not extant in the Catalogue of Confessions but that which is found there under the title of the Bohemian Confession is the peculiar Confession of the Brethren of Bohemia not this common one of the Estates There was care taken that they should be put down only in the German tongue and then submitted by the Council to the censure of the Divines of Wittenberg 1575 by the Lord Bohustaus Felix of Lobkowitz and Hassenstein chosen by the Estates to overlook that business It was well approved of by the Wittenberg Divines who in their answer to this Baron in the German tongue among others have these words Although this Confession be brief and we easily observe that the main design in drawing it up was that the chief Articles of Faith should be briefly plainly and properly expressed to avoid all superfluous prelixness and jangling contention about doubtful questions which haply sâ—me contentious spirits in our Germany if this Confession come forth in the German dialect will find fault with all But as for us we cannot but approve your Christian prudence and moderation and plainly we would warn you that though in other places they should be of another opinion yet that you would not suffer your selves to be lead away from this holy and pure simplicity forasmuch as it is certain that the Churches are herein best provided for and such are more edified reformed and kept in unity where the pure Doctrine of the Gospel is commended to Christians in simplicity without any curious affectation of subtilties and the contentions arising thereupon As also David prayeth Psal 25. Thou shalt keep me in simplicity and uprightness c. Given at Wittenburg 3. November Anno 1575. 120. Most excellent Maximilian being laid in the grave 1576. his Son Rudolph succeeded him and treading in his Fathers steps until the year 1602. he reigned in quietness no man being troubled upon any account of Religion but this year by the secret machinations of the Jesuites managed by their Agents things were brought to that pass that Rudolph subscribed the Edict by them drawn up to reinforce Wladislaus Act against the Piccards and commanded it to be published but it effected no further mischief then to shut up the Churches of the Brethren for a time for the Patrons of the Brethren the Nobles protesting against it as not belonging to them inasmuch as the Piccards were not such as were therein described easily obtained of Rudolph graciously to connive at the slack observation and execution of his Edicts neither was it so lawful for the adversaries to urge them by the activity of the other Estates of the Evangelici It is also reported by credible Authors that when in the evening that very day 22 July a messenger bringing tidings that Alba Regalis the chief City of Hungary was taken by the Turks Rudolphe being very much troubled said I lookâ— for some such sad blow ever since I began to usurp Gods Dominion which he hath over the Consciences of men alluding herein to a saying of his Father 121. And that it was never his intent but that the promises of his most pious Father should be performed and the libâ—rty of Conscience established he sufficiently declared afâ—erwards when as Anno 1609. he assigned the Estates of the Kingdom which stood for the Sacrament in both kinds notwithstanding the contraveâ—sings of the Pope and the Spanish Faction as also of many of his own Councel to reform the new Consistory and the University as they should see meet adding moreover hereto his Royal Letters under his broad Seal to confirm his grant hereof giving moreover his allowance that the Churches and Schools which yet the Evangelici had should be continâ—ed in their possession and that others should be built where there was need forbidding that any of his Subjects whether temporal or spiritual should be punished upon the account of Religion And took
publique Candlestick may not be suffered as it now is quite to be extinguished 128. But alas what remains to be done by a Nation most sorely afflicted and that for this very cause that â—he hath more diligently adhered to the Apostolical Doctrine the footsteps of the Primitive Church and the conduct of the holy Fathers being beyond all others hated assaulted cast down and troden upon forsaken of her own and finding no pity amongst men but this one thing alone that crying out for help to the onely Eternal God of Compassions with that perished people of God of old she should say For those things I weep mine eye mine eye runs down with water because the Comforter that should relieve my soul is far from me my children are desolate because the Enemy prevailed Lam. 1.1 Sion spreadeth forth her hands and there is none to comfort her the Lord hath commanded concerning Jacob that his adversaries should be round about him Jerusalem is at a menstruous woman among them ver 17. The Lord is righteous for I have rebelled against his Commandments hear I pray you all people and behold my sorrow my virgins and my young men are gone into captivity v. 18. I called for my lovers but they deceived me my Priests and my Elders gave up the ghost in the City while they fought their meat to relieve their souls v. 19. Behold O Lord for I am in distress my bowels are troubled my heart is turned within me for I have grievously rebelled abroad the sword bereaveth at home there is as death v. 20. They have heard that I sigh there is none to comfort me all mine enemies have heard of my trouble and they are glad that thou hast done it thou wilt bring the day that thou hast called and they shall be like unto me v. 21. Remember O Lord what is come upon us consider and behold our reproach c. 5.1 Our inheritance is turned to strangers and our house to aliens ver 2. We are Orphans and Fatherless v. 3. Our necks are under persecution we labour and rest not v. 5. Servants have ruled over us there is none that delivers us out of their hands v. 8. The joy of our heart is ceased our dancing is turned into mourning v. 15. Thou O Lord abidest to Eternity thy Throne from generation to generation v. 19. Wherefore dost thou forget us for ever v. 20 Turn us to thy self and we shall be turned renew our days as at the beginning v. 21. 129. Nor was it much better in this age with the Slavonick Churches in other Nations we here being oppressed with the Papal yoke they there with the Turkish or else overgrown with the manifold superstitions of the Greek Church Have mercy on thy Christian people so many ways bruised and broken in pieces O Jesus Christ 130. Now to what end are all these things recorded is it not to comfort us remembring that as of old in the times of the Primitive Church no violence no torments no executions could hinder the propagation of Christianity so even at this time that this extreme rage of Papal cruelty shall not be able to stop the course of the Gospel forasmuch as although the light thereof be put out in some places as amongst us yet in other places it blazeth forth with so much the greater lustre Neither is God other then he was of old or is his hand shortned but he can still finde out away to deliver his people out of the Babylonish fornace and to enclose his enemies in their own flames Great is our Lord and great is his power and of his wisdom there is no account can be made Psal 147.5 He doth what he pleaseth in Heaven and in earth Psal 135.6 For the Lord will not put away his people for ever but though he causes grief yet will he again have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies Lam. 3.31 32. 131. And for others that they remembring these things and seriously considering how severely the Lord hath corrected us which were even the portion of his inheritance may learn themselves also to be afraid of the judgements of God who therein for the most part begins at his own house 1 Pet. 4.17 yea at his own Sanctuary Ezek. 9.6 For whether they believe that we came nearer to the Sanctuary then they or themselves nearer then we as to the way of the purer Discipline it is all a case since that we came up nearer to true piety Truely they which are so regardless of the life of Christianity must look to hear that of Christ If these things were done to the green tree what shall be done to the dry Luke 23.31 but and if they are nearer the Sanctuary then we surely then they must be attended with greater plagues then we unless they take warning and repent by the means of our example For he to whom much is given must be beaten with many stripes Luke 12 47 48. 132. Some haply may think that we have herein in short reported many things in our own praise But I answer we have not commended our selves out of our own mouthes but onely related the opinions of others I may therefore say with our great Master If I bear witness of my self my testimony is of no value there is another which bears witness of me John c. John 5.31 32 34. I receive not my witness from men saith our Lord but speak these things that you may be saved v. 55. i. e. that you may ponder the truth unto the acknowledgement of it and so be excited to give glory to God Nor indeed have we any other design in reciting so many testimonies but that the godly Readers may be incited to give so much the better heed in perusing this ensuing book and then to judge whether so many grave Authors have without all just ground on our part as not at all answering the character they give of us published so great things concerning us and thereupon to retain what is good amongst them or amend what is corrupt 133. If we have formerly hitherto offended in hiding our talents behold we amend our fault setting it now forth to publique view and if it now be our lot which was the lot befel that unthankful and slothful servant to feel the judgement of the Lord saying Take the talent from and give it to him that hath ten Luke 19.24 we must humbly say with David It is the Lord if he shall say I will take no delight in us behold here we are let him do with us as it seems good unto him 2 Sam. 15.26 And behold O you Churches which have more talents unto you do we here now deliver ours also respectfully entreating you to receive it of us so as it may now bring in a greater improvement or income unto the Lord then it hath done whilest it remained in our hands We read in Moses that God commanding the Tabernacle to be erected for himself required free-will
it securely at their pleasure over the Churches and so over the heavenly Doctrine c. What this means John Valentine of Andreas a choice Divine of the Lutherans in his Auguration Sermon or Speech at Tubinga in the year 1642. tells us in these words The impotent Usurped Power of the Pope over Emperours Kings and all power of State and Magistracy which one may call by an unusually but not an unfitly name Papal-Magistracy with a Divine Spirit of Power set at liberty their Rights Dignities Crowns and Scepters and being restored upheld them by the Authority of the Divine Word Now Satan easily perceived what an incurable wound was given him and how the very foundations of his Kingdom were shaken by this liberty of the Magistrate restored therefore superseding all force and violence he takes to his Arts and Stratagems and attempting that which no man suspected an unworthy return indeed for so great a benefit instead of Papal-Magistracy the Tables being turned he institutes Magistratical-Papacy and foisted it into the Church scarce as yet gotten out of the Roman dungeon Would you know what this word means 'T is sad indeed and that which is very prejudicial to the proceedings of the Church affairs I had rather you should have it in the words of Conrad Schlisselberg formerly an excellent Divine of Ours than in mine own Imperial-Papacy saith he is the confounding of the Church and Civil Power wherein the Secular Lords in Courts and Cities under pretence of keeping both the Tables snatch to themselves the Spiritual Sword and make themselves Lords over the Church and the Ministery of the Word Prescribing Forms of Obligation and of Teaching Praying making Sermons Honouring the Magistrate Taxing offences and Errors Administring the Sacraments and Keyes and setting up Ceremonies in the Church such as are now dangerous doubtful and contrary to the Word of God and they will have to be in their own and their Courtiers and Senates hands the Supreme and Dictator-like power of hearing taking cognizance of and determining all Ecclesiastical causes and of chusing and calling Ministers and dis-officiating the same whom and when they please whether the Church will or no consent hereunto or dissent and all to this end that themselves may not be reproved and admonished by the faithful Preachers from the Spirit of God and that the Civil Peace as they account it may be preserved Thus Schlisselburg And John Valen. of Andreas Printing on purpose a little Book entituled Apap i. e Papa inverted to shew the prodigious abominations and fatal effects of that new Monster Imperial-Papacy That it is the most desperate crafty stratagem of the Devil to frame for himself of Ministers of the Gospel Masters of State and transform the Servants of Christ into Servants of men and to hang fetters upon the Prophets to make them either dumb or fearful to speak lest they should be Reprovers Ezek. 3.25 26. Chrysostome was in the right This is the cause of all evils that the Authority of the Governours of the Church is lost and they be not had in Reverence Honour and Fear Hom. 2. on the 2. of Tim. for verily when the Magistrate will not be reproved neither will the people For Let 's but see th' Mode Royal And who 'll not be Loyal And then the Church becomes such as it was in the time of the Prophets Licentious Contumacious and impatient of all Controul Let no man strive and reprove another for this people is as they that strive with the Priest Hos 4.4 Whence it comes to pass that in those Churches where Imperial Papacy rules one of the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven is neglected despised lost I did not know it the Omniscient is my witness and to this very day for what hath an incurious man to do in another man's charge for ought I know I might have been ignorant of it but that some 14 yeers ago by chance I came to the knowledge of it Excuse me as to the name of place and person and I 'le relate it to you in few words It hapned that in the chief City of Germany I had some speech with the chief Pastor of the Church in that place He told me he had a good while longed for an occasion to know whether a Book which he had read viz. The way of the Discipline and Order of the Churches of the Brethren in Bohemia did contain the true story of that Church or only a Model how a Church should be constituted I asked why he doubted it He answered because I cannot imagine any such Church should or can at this day be found in the world I answered 't was an History not a Fiction there related and that indeed there was really such Orders and Constitutions though they were not enough observed and therefore now we that would not be governed thereby are under the chastisements of the Discipline of heaven Saith he O happy you that had both the Keys we have lost one of them that is the binding Key We are appointed to be such Stewards in the House of God as are bound as it were to set open the Barns Cellars Chests and all Treasuries and not at all to shut them so that we cannot but give holy things to dogs and cast pearls before swine I have known saith he some persons in my Congregation very prophane covetous extortioners drunkards adulterers admitted to Confession and the Supper which must be by me absolved to day and for certain would be found to morrow returning to wallow in the mire I told him they were not to be admitted unless they would engage to reform He answered I tryed that but could not carry it on they defame me as some new Papist or Calvinist my life is bitter to me c. and so began to sigh and weep I tell you a true story before God who is a most faithful witness if haply even by this the enormity and deadly mischief as well of the Imperial-Papacy as the Papal-Empire may be made manifest for by the one as much as by the other is the Order of the Church shaken even in the very foundation fin and judgment being filled up to the measure by such breach of Order Is there not some likeness between the Papal Empire of the Evangelici and that Micah of Mount Ephraim making himself a new God for his House and having a Priest to perform the Service as should be by him prescribed Judg. 17. Doth it not resemble the Policy of Jeroboam setting up Calves to be his Gods and Calvish Priests to be Ministers because forsooth the reason of State so required Mark I beseech you the Founders of the old and new Church and the many Reformers and Transformers their divers and even contrary wayes God will not be mocked that which any man sowes that he shall also reap Aaron the Priest with Miriam the Prophetess go about to shake off the Authority of Moses their Prince and they are punished by God with
last when he had fitted all and every of the particulars was no hard matter for Solomon so neither will it be for you especially now that you have such plenty of workmen every one most ingenious conferring his Talent of activity hereunto For as it was there there being so many thousand cheerful workmen and among them so many of the most skilful Artificers which under the eyes and direction of wise Solomon striving in diligence to out-doe each other quickly dispatched and finished all so it is plain to see this holy emulation working also in yours even all along through this Century notwithstanding the divisions always continued among you about the Form of Church-Government in which time there have been made up as well by a considerable number of Reverend Bishops Jewell Andrews Hall Vsher c. as by other learned and godly men of them which appeared and approved themselves to be the better part and more reformed from the superstitions so many exact pieces that I think we may-affirm that the heavenly Solomon permitted and throughout during the whole Century tolerated those dissentions amongst his Workmen to this very end that by their mutual emulation all things might be done on all hands with so much acuteness Behold what remains but that the like activity be used on all hands as zealously to make up and finish entire those things which have been hitherto wrought up by parts and parcels Hereunto also those opportunities such as you have not had in all this generation before such as no Christian Nation ever hitherto enjoyed may induce you For your late tempestuous State of affairs among you being now calmed your Halcyon dayes returned the Renowned Head of your Commonwealth restored the Fathers of your Country conspiring in common for the common safety the people also falling in with their earnest prayers to help you and your neighbours on every side blessing you with good speed do you not believe that the heavenly Husband speaks to his Spouse among you as Cant. 2.11 The winter is past the rain is over and gone the flowers appear on the earth the time of singing of Birds is come the voice of the Turtle is heard in our land c. Arise my Love my Fair one and come away In truth the times you now see seem to be the very times of Solomon wherein 't is not all that you may every one sit under his Vine and his Fig-tree but the House of God also is to be built all things necessary and requisite being now made ready only cease not to pray That God would please to fill your Solomon full of the Spirit of Wisdom and Zeal And God grant you may put together and set up your hitherto prepared pieces after the example of Solomon's workmen without the noise of Hammers and Axes 1 King 6.7 i. e. without any quarrelling or violence or mutual circumventing one another by fraud peaceably candidly successfully Besides the Wisdom of Solomon mindes you of this also in reference to your building now in hand The foundations and the Walls must be only of the most solid stuff Marble v. 7. The Cieling and Roof to cover all must be of Cedar 9. 15. and all to be at last covered over with Gold 22. i. e. what ever you frame from the foundation even to the top you must be sure if it be possible that it be as Adamantine cut out of the never to be shaken Rock of the Word of God or if any thing be added of humane reason let it not be otherwise then as of Cedar streight plain of good savour and repute incorruptible taken out of common received Principles and then let all be covered with the gold of pure charity that all may approve themselves as evidently directed to the mark of common edification And that the Scripture represents Solomon as studious of Gold and precious Stones 1 Kings 10.10 11. Even from this also it may be useful to observe that whatsoever it pleases God that we finde rare and precious in spiritual good things and gifts that we should be desirous to make our own This our heavenly Solomon himself in that Parable in Matth. 13. v. 45 46. hath taught us The Kingdom of Heaven is like unto a Merchant seeking goodly pearls and when be had found one pearl of great price he went and sold all he had and bought it Such Merchants were my Predecessors before the two last ages gathering all whatever was precious out of the mines of the holy Scriptures out of all Antiquity and out of all the Churches in their time as 't is plain in story Such also were those men of Desire of the last Century before ours Bucer Zanchy Vergerius c. which in like manner trying all things have testified that they found some singular precious pearls even among Ours And such Jewellers have you hitherto been by the grace of God lading in together treasures of most precious Jewels wherein you triumph and many rejoyce with you But in as much as our Saviour saith To him which hath it shall be given assure your selves that you having so much shall have yet more added thereto if you go on to be diligent and inquisitive Merchants The most precious Jewel of all more worth then heaven and earth is but one Jesus Christ the Saviour of the world and there are also other particular Pearls the manifold graces of Christ the sum of which perhaps God would have represented by Vrim and Thummim which properly what they were the Jews and we with them to this day know not they being lost in the first Temple But not being to seek after the understanding of the words we think we understand what God means in the now Church thereby viz. Light and Integrity or Perfection of this Christ speaks Let your light so shine c. also Be perfect as your Father which is in heaven is perfect Matth. 5.16 48. And verily by the grace of God you my well-beloved have found the resplendent Vrim so that the Churches of so many Nations see your light and rejoyce in it Our Predecessors indeed we must confess were never honoured with so much light being more solicitous about the Thummim to wit how they might walk before God as Abraham uprightly with what degree of perfection of sincerity may in this life be attained to Other holy Merchants have witnessed as much viz. That they found the Thummim i. e. the rule leading men toward perfection in Christ among them in greater perfection then could be found any where else in their generation Why should we despise their counsel and not to seek scrape even among them also to finde either some gem or some grain Let us do our best holy Brethren to have the light of Doctrine and the Canon and Rule of our direction in perfection that so the Churches may have you and yours for an example This will make much for the glory of God and for your honour too
and the third Government and the abuses and scandals of each of them hereupon may be taken away I answer Physitians will not think that there be any diseases of the body incurable if there be a skilful Physitian at hand timely to relieve Nature therefore neither let Christians despair as to the diseases of the Church provided only that the counsel of the heavenly Arch-Physitian be hearkned to and taken they advise to care and caution that the disease get not a head by long continuance crying withstand the Beginnings but our High-all-Healer is able to cure even the most inveterate by reducing things to their beginnings Matth. 19.8 by vertue of which Rule Let that be taken away from Episcopacy which was not in the beginning and the Disease is cured But what is that 1. Secular Domination 2. Earthly Riches 3. Pomp of Ceremonies for Christ hath said 1. Kings exercise Lordship c. But you shall not be so Luk. 22.25 2. Possess not you gold nor silver nor money in your purses nor have you two coats Matth. 19.9 As also God forbad earthly Possessions should be assigned to the Priests in the old Testament giving the reason also I will be their portion and inheritance Numb 18.20 Deut. 10.9 18.2 3. Christ also taught them to serve God in Spirit and Truth not in Ceremonies John 4.23 which thing the Apostles very much pressed But they assert themselves in respect of their Wealth and Domination by the Donation of Constantine He adorned the Church with such splendour for the honour of Christ and therein set a good example of holy zeal for other Christian Kings to follow But the answer hereunto is manifold 1. Do they not know can they not tell the story of a voice which as at this time was heard This day is poyson poured out into the Church What-ever any may make of the voice the thing is certain That those endowments being given and accepted beside the Will of God turned unto poyson Let the poyson then be taken out and the Church will be well again 2. Again Grant it were Constantine's pious zeal yet 't is evident that it was not according to knowledge for it was not lawful for him to dispense with the Interdict of God much less ought the Servants of Christ to admit such things against their Lord's Will Naaman the Syrian in pious zeal offered Elizeus money but with better zeal he refused this Lumber Gehezi took it but it turned unto Leprosie upon him 2 Kin. 5. I would the servants not of Elizeus but of Christ would at this time but understand what a foolish choice they have made of an earthly instead of an heavenly inheritance and would begin to think of some course to cleanse the Church of this Leprosie 3. I answer Constantine could not foresee the abuse of this Donation and the mischief that thereby would fall upon the Church Now the whole world sees it and if he were risen again and should see it undoubtedly his desire to restore the Church to her integrity would put him upon it to retract what he gave with a better good will then ever he gave it As haply Moses himself would have broken the Brazen Serpent if he had seen how it would be abused as when he saw the Idolatry of the people he brake the two Tables of the Law written with God's own hand and in as much as Hezekiah coming after him did it piously as it were for him 2 King 18.4 why may not godly Kings at this day piously also retract the liberal donations of their pious Ancestors now perverted by abominable abuses and improve them to better purposes As for the pomp of Church Ceremonies God indeed in the old way of Worship ordained such a thing therein by shaddows to set forth the spiritual mysteries of salvation which Christ at his coming was to disclose but seeing that since the coming of Christ they have been demolished and levelled by so many Apostolical strains as claps of thunder and flashes of lightning directed against them why should we bring them up again still to make use of them Under the Papacy perhaps where the light of the Gospel is once obscured by and in the barbarous generations they may have seemed or seem to be of some use at least with some colourable pretence but in a Reformed Church I beseech you what use can be made of them Those which have been hitherto retained in England under the Reformed Bishops have not the very Pontificians themselves laughed at them unto scorn and derision It is plain to be seen in that Edward Weston's Theater of Life Civil and Sacred Printed at Antwerp 1626. p. 564. c. where having said that the Religion of the Protestants is without all Religion because they have no Sacrifice Priesthood nor Sacred Ceremonies he adds Some Protestants indeed that they may not appear absolutely impious and irreligious use our Missal and Breviary selecting what they please thereof for the Rubrick of their Liturgie and to make the Form of their worship appear the more goodly they have their Canonical persons forsooth and their Arch-DeaconS and so after the mode and custome of the Church of Rome their Caps and Hoods and Holidayes and such like stuff and lumber which they say they found in the Synagogue of Antichrist By which very thing it is apparent that the Religion of the Protestants stands guilty of stealth and robbery by which it first came into the world or if they will not be taken for thieves let them still go for our Apes and Antichrists c. and so he goes on These with all their whole service are derided and scorned not only by ours but also by their own c. at last he set down the judgement of one to this purpose The English seem to have driven the Pope out of their Kingdom in such haste that they compelled him to leave his clothes behinde him which they as fools in a play put on with a kinde of pompous Ceremony of triumph and so lead their Quite O how we are abused by their dallying and colloguing they being Reformed but not to any purpose A goodly Reformation it is that they dare not carry it through It will therefore be a glorious thing for the Reformed Churches to come back to the practise of Christ and his Apostles leaving off the baubles of earthly riches honours and pomp both Ecclesiastical and Civil to be taken up look after and busie themselves about matters of an higher nature Seek the things that are above saith the Apostle where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God Set your affections upon and let your care be for things above not things on the earth for you are dead and your life is hid with Christ in God Col. 3.1 2 3. which if it be enjoyned all Christians much more them which are set next under Christ to be leaders unto others from earth to heaven and to whom the King of