recouered the Arke of God from contēpt receiued in the time of Iudges of Saul placed it more comely he appointed Priests Leuites singers and doore-keepers to minister in the tabernacle of the lord He aduised kings to looke vnto their duties Psal 2 And now ye kings vnderstād be learned which iudge the land serue the Lord in feare c. Salomon did beare the highest charge in religion Salomon Asa and Iehosaphat tooke charge of religion not onely in building the Lords Temple but also in consecrating hallowing of the same What should I speak of Asa who hauing the charge of religion did rid away the Idols out of all the land of Iuda Beniamin 2. Chro. 6 2. Chro. 15 2. Chro. 29.30.81 c. And of Iehosophat who tooke away the hil-altars and groues out of Iuda Of Ezechias who following the footsteps of his father Dauid in the beginning of his raign the first yeare and first moneth opened and refurnished the gates of Gods house commaunded the priestes to heare him to become holy to cleanse the Lords house and to rid all filthines out of his sanctuarie appointed Leuits with cymbals Psalters harps according to the ordinance of the king his father The like is written of Iosias who vsed the same power authority in the like case Now then since it is so cleare Iohn 12.18 Rom. 13.1 that kings princes are the seruants of God established in authority girded by him with a bawdrier to the end that not only honesty of life should be maintained opposed to violence dissolution but that the true seruice of God should be aduanced contrary to idolatry superstitiō Therfore they ought with all the power which God hath giuen thē to vphold the holy ministery worship of God as wel in vprightnes of discipline as purity of doctrine that both may be cōformable to the word of the Lord testified by Christ his Apostles without adding or clipping or altering consequently bridle as much as they can punish according to the exigence of the case the perturbers of the peace of the Church For religiō belongs not to the left but to the right hād of a prince neither is there any crown so curiously wrought or cunningly set with precious pearles that can half so beautifie a princes person as to seek to promote the glory of the lord and to take these Foxes which seeke to vndermine his vineyard The seruants of Benhadad king of Syria 1. King 20 Traitors make mercy the groundworke of mischiefe what wrong soeuer they had offered to Israel yet fallen into the lapse would reuiue and recomfort themselues with these words Behold we haue heard say that the kings of Israell are mercifull kings let vs therefore put sackcloth about our loins and ropes about our neckes and go to the king of Israell it may be that he will saue our liues Thus standing vpon what may be and not what ought to be what peraduenture he would and not what they deserued they make mercie the ground plot of mischiefe But the king is reproued and it is told him thy life shall go for his life and thy people for his people No lesse are those runnagate ruffians to be regarded with thē which welcome and intertaine them For as the practise of the one is to steale away the hearts of subiects so the mark that the other aime at is to lend them their hands against their countrie if time should serue their turne The Almightie God preserue her Maiestie and euermore increase all zeale in her for the punishment of his her enemies that as Asa commaunded all such to be slaine as would not serue the God of Israell as Darius deliuered Daniel 1. King 15 Daniel 6 Daniel 4 2. King 19 2. King 23 and cast his enemies into the den of the Lions as Nabuchadnezzar serued him who by proclamation forbad any in his Dominion to blaspheme the true and very God as Ezechias and Iosias serued him by ouerthrowing the groues and the places that were set vp contrarie to Gods commaundement So she with Dauid hating Gods enemies with a perfect hatred may seeke to root them out more and more and as alreadie she hath broken downe the lofts that were builded to idolatrie ouerthrowne polluted and defiled the altars defaced the vessels that were made for Baal and for the host of heauen so she may cut vp the verie roots of iniquitie and expell the Cananites that the Common-wealth of Israell be not troubled O let not the glozing speech of any ambitious parasite dazle her highnesse eies nor boulster vp poperie by a false perswasion to further clemencie but let him be dishonoured in a day that is not truly zealous for the honour of his God and let him die the death that wisheth not her Maiesties throne to stand steadie as the seat of Salomon and you that feare the Lord and loue his truth say Amen Furthermore as the foresight of her Highnes most honourable counsell hath appeared in shielding vs from forraine foes so ought their chiefe circumspection to be seen in shielding vs from domesticall feare Then shall we being free in our bowels from sedition at home be stronger to withstand forraine power abroad It is not a safe thing to lay the bridle vpon the necke of such dangerous practitioners by whom both prince your selues our liues our countrie our fortunes may be hazarded in an instant execution of discipline is a perfit mithridate against al dangerous conspiracies insurrections seditions rebellions and all popish pollicies Correct saith Bensyra a wise man with a nod and a foole with a club there hath been mildnesse and lenitie shewed long enough there hath been becking and nodding and notting long enough but the froward will not receiue information What remaineth then but an hammer or an hatchet or a club execution I meane of Iustice against these household enemies Your H. shall rightly propose to your selues the example of Moses who for the like cause hanged vp the princes of the people teaching thereby all good rulers to make them examples in suffering who haue been the ringleaders in offending Here also to you the graue sages of this land may rightly a lesson be read I meane the Iudges placed ouer Gods people to iudge soundly substantially betwixt brethren and brethren vnto whom God hath after a sort lent his name and his seat The dutie of Iudges in hunting the Foxe to teach you chiefly to regard and maintaine his owne honour If it be your duties to punish theeues murtherers and such like perturbers of the peace of the Common-wealth then much more the vnderminers of the Lords vineyard grosse Idolaters hollow hearted votaries disloyal persons whose liberties prosperities in a Christian Church what can it elfe argue but that iustice is turned into iugling and true religion either into heathenish prophanenes or Romish superstition You may not forget that
now it may be boldlie auerred that mercy and trueth are met together righteousnes and peace haue kissed each other Now then ye noble Lords graue sages valorous captaines resolute souldiers braue gentlemen worthie citizens laborious comminaltie shew your honours your valours your worthines your trustines and painefulnes in promoting that which is and ought to be your glory rather hazard the last drop of your dearest blood then see her dishonoured without whom all your honours are but vanities Nay Peace and plentie the children of Religion if you receiue her not as you should for her owne sake yet respect her for her children and thinke it not too much to bestowe your wealth to maintaine her your honours to countenance her your authoritie to assist her your wisdomes to pleade for her against the prophane pollicie of that miscreant Machiuel who is become a counseller amongst the greatest Statesmen of Euâ—ope against hellish Atheisme which â—oeth about to perswade the world that â—here is no religion at all and especiallie â—gainst that common strumpet Romish â—uperstition who is not ashamed to borâ—ow religions name So shall you shew a â—tudious zeale and affectionate loue toâ—ards your Prince also whose prosperiâ—ie is the pillar of your peace Lastlie I haue in this treatise detecâ—ed treacherous dealings of Roman Caâ—holikes and manifested their dangeâ—ous proceedings to the view of euery good subiect the which I haue published vnder the patronage of all you that loue the Gospell whom the Almightie protect with his power and guide with his grace Yours in the Lord I. B. THE SVMME OF THE CHAPTERS Chapter 1 AFfliction hath been is and shall be the common condition of Gods Church and the lot of his inheritance The lamb standing on mount Sion is more mightie to saue then the enemie to destroy Chapter 2 The enemies of the Church are either cruell Tigres or craftie Foxes Househould enemies most hurtfull to the health of the Church Chapter 3 The true semblance betwixt a two-legged and a foure-legged Foxe Chapter 4 An oration from olde Rainard to his Iesuiticall cubbes and extrauagaunt Fox-priests wherein his experienced wilines directeth them from curious contemplation to treacherous practise Chapter 5 The semblaunce betwixt the Fox and the Lion Antichrist and Mahomet in broaching their damnable doctrines and leuieng many nations to their lawes Chapter 6 Of sundrie sorts of Foxes that are most of all troublesome to this our Church Chapter 7 Of the vnkennelling of the Foxe and the duties of the Terriers vsed for this purpose Chapter 8 Two principall reasons why Foxes are suffered in the Church Chapter 9 Eight reasons prouing all perfit papists rotten-hearted subiects to true Christian Princes Chapter 10 Twelue reasons prouing by diuinitie and true Christian pollicie that Foxes ought to be tied shorter Chapter 11 Two principall gardiens of the vineyard Magistrates and ministers where first of the duties of ministers in hunting of the Foxes Also see an enditement found against many Patrons of benefices Chapter 12 The dutie of Christian Magistrates as well Soueraigne as others in purging of the Church from these noysome vermine Chapter 13 Two Toiles wherewith Foxes must bee taken there see the miserable end of Traitors A TOILE FOR TWO-LEGGED FOXES CHAPTER I. Affliction hath been is and shall be the common condition of Gods Church and the lot of his inheritance The Lambe standing on mount Sion is more mightie to saue then the enemie to destroy THey do greatly abuse themselues which are perswaded to see the Church in so quiet and calme estate as to be without afflictions either within or without or both together within and without the contrarie experience whereof the histories of all ages doe sufficiently declare For if we looke into her continuall course heretofore It is Bellarmines dotage to make outward prosperitie a marke of the Church or consider what the spirit of God hath prophecied concerning the future state of the Church wee shall finde that it hath beene from the creation of the world vntill this day and shall be vnto the consummation therof tossed to and fro with many cruell stormes subiect to many afflictions and persecutions for proofe and experience whereof consider the estate of the Church vnder Adam Churches persecutions Was not righteous Abel a principall member thereof vnnaturally murdered by the bloudie hand of his elder Brother Genesis Thus first arose the tempest against the boate and little barke of Iesus Christ the same continued vnder Abraham Isaac and Iacob vnder Moises the Israelites tyranized by Pharao Exodus distressed in the wildernes and diuersly tempted before they could take possession of the land of promise If euer the Church enioyed a pleasant and a faire time of weather Iosua it was vnder Iosua and those which then ruled the people being most triumphantly planted in Canaan together with the seruice of God Iudges afterwards vnder the Iudges vntill Samuel for one day of faire weather â—n whole yeare of stormie and foule then behould the arke of couenant taken captiue 1. Sam. 4.11 Silo ruinated and all brought into an vtter confusion howbeit God pittying his Church raised vp Samuel by whose ministerie this storme ceassed 1. Sam. 7. and the schooles of the Prophets were reformed But this Sunne was scarce vp when horrible darknes was brought in by wicked Saule the priests themselues being massacred the sorcerers restored 1. Sam. 28.8 the people exposed to ignominy being no better then a bodie without an head 2. Sam. 2. vntill that Dauid houlding the scepter the welfare of the Church began to grow as also vnder Salomon 1. King 6.7 8. c. who furnished the Lords house â—oth within and without with a most triumphant magnificencey yet this happie state is ouerturned ten tribes â—gainst two 1. King 12. the sinagoges ruined to â—odge Iereboams calues in the Leuits expulsed the poore prophets constrained â—o be hidden in holes 1. King 18.13 and there to be sustained with bread and water 1. King 17.4 Helias himselfe being brought to that extremitie that he was faine to be fed with a Rauen. Now as for the kingdome of Iuda there the faithfull seruants of God had no worse enemies than the Kings and the Priests namely vnder Achaz and Manasses 2. King 16. 2. King 21. What grieuous affliction did the Church sustaine when in the daies of Ieremie the Chaldeans wasted Ierusalem 2. King 25. spoiled the Temple slew the Nobles before the princes face put out his eyes dishonorably led him away captiue to Babilon leauing that populous countrie admired for prosperitie a barbarous wildernes and dreadfull example of miserie To come vnto the shipmaster himselfe Luke 2.17 what colde entertainment receiued he in this world borne in a stable from thence forced to flie into the deserts of Egypt Math. 2.14 Mark 6.3 Iohn 1.4 brought vp and nourished in a poore carpenters house in a citie of so
saith 1. Cor. 11. that there must be heresies that they which are approued might be knowne 1. Corin. 11. Where also that of Augustine is worthie remembrance let vs vse heretikes saith he not to that end to approue their errours but that by defending the Catholickes doctrine against their deceits we may be more watchful and warie because it is most truly written there must be heresies that the tried approued may be manifested or discouered from the holow harts amongst you Let vs vse this benefit of Gods prouidence for heretikes are made of such as would erre or be naught thogh they were in the Church but being out they profit vs exceedingly not by teaching the truth which they know not but by stirring vp the carnall in the Church to seeke truth and the spirituall to cleare the truth Thus then it is apparant that both the weaker and the stronger the carnall and the spirituall may profit by heresies and schismes which the Lord suffereth in his Church the one by learning the other by teaching for they shall trie our faith and our loue whether we be counterfeits dissemblers whether we wil be suddainly wind-shaken whether we will forsake the truth and follow falsehood or whether faith be grounded in our hearts or no For like as in the time of Moses God suffered great magitians to be in Aegypt that he might make his owne power more euident in Moses so he suffereth heretikes as sorcerers or enchanters to be in the Church that the power of praier of faith of loue of zeale might be more apparant A crab oftentimes carrieth the coat of an apple and is not well knowne but by the taste copper hath the colour of gold is not so well tried as by the touch an hypocrite may lurcke vnder the shadow of a beleeuer and is not throughly manifested vntill his faith be tried but the beliefe of Gods children is like vnto the glaze-worme which glittereth most brightly in the darkest night or like the lampe that giues most light in the darke But some will say alas we are no clearkes and in these diuisions and disputings here is euery one alledging scripture for himselfe what shall we doe or what course shall we take that are vnlearned For the better helping of you in this hazard first looke whether euerie one alledgeth scripture or no for that goeth for scripture many times with the Catholicks which is no more to be found in the booke of the Bible thē Paradise in hell Secondly know them to be false teachers which for confirmation of doctrine of faith alledge any other testimonies ouer and besides the scriptures for mans writings are no further to be credited then they bring warrant from the word of God which containeth the whole counsell of God touching our saluation If they reply that all is not written which the Apostles taught answere them with that which is said by the Apostle who requireth nothing besides the scriptures to make the man of God complete then compare their vnwritten traditions with Gods written truth the light will straight discouer their darknes Thirdly if the interpretations be repugnant so as one or more of them must needs be erronious then conferre scripture with scripture and expounde scripture by scripture as Christ teacheth and lastly referre the whole vnto the correspondency of the articles of faith the briefe abridgments of christian religion and then if thou bringest with thee a teachable minde and a desire to learne in humilitie thou shalt not erre but finde Christ in his owne home that is in his word The second reason why the Lord suffereth his Church to be troubled with deceitfull companions is his proportionable iustice against the vnbeleeuers And that Saint Paul meaneth when he saith that when men haue no minde to obey God and his truth 2. Thess 2.10 hee sendeth them false prophets euen with an efficacie and speedines of errour The beguiling of Achab showeth this euidently Who is it saith God that shall deceiue Achab as if he should say I see that he will needs be drawne vnto the bottome of hell for the wretch was defiled with his Idols had peruerted Gods seruice was full of all stubbornnes 2. King 22.2 and malice against the prophets would receiue no admonition Therefore God seeing him a man forlorne sendeth a lying spirit to beguile him But here marke one thing especially comfortable to Gods childrē that when God had giuen Sathan commission to execute his vengeance vpō the vnbeleeuers he not onely giueth him leaue to punish them with losse of goods sicknes of bodie c. but giues powre to leade them into errour vtterly to deceiue them and to carrie them away with lies This is apparant in the historie of the triall of Iob where Sathan his first commission is to touch his goods and the second to touch his body but he may not meddle with his soule Thus you see it standeth both with the manifestation both of the mercie and iustice of God to send deceitfull workmen into his Church CHAPTER 9. Eight reasons vnaunswerable prouing all perfect papists rotten-hearted subiects to all true christian princes THere is a kinde of people who faine would that Dauid should alwaies sing of mercie that as it may seeme by excessiue clemencie our Soueraigne might nourish a serpent in her owne bosome Wherefore although this matter hath been handled heretofore of such learned and godly men as tender the saftie of her Maiestie and the flourishing state of her trustie and true harted subiects yet since the argument fits this place so well I haue thought good to lend my hand to my brethren and to proue that no perfect papists can be sound faithfull subiects to their christian princes And I say perfect papists because that euerie one that is blemished or holdeth any one errour or article of doctrine that the Pope holdeth as perhappes purgatorie or prayer for the dead is in that article a papist Yet I count not euery one that thus is taynted within the compasse of false heartednes to the realme or vnder the title of traiterous papists for manie otherwise sound subiects are not purged from all infections wherwith the whorish Church hath poisoned them wherfore the cōsequent reasons must be vnderstood of perfit papists whose hearts since they be Italianated I thus frame my first reason to proue them rotten hearted subiects The first reason prouing perfit papists traiterous subiects to Christian Princes ALl good subiects which obey for conscience as euery one ought to doe must haue their consciences enfomed by the word of God But perfit papists hate our assemblies despise the preaching of the word which should direct their consciences both in dutie towards God and loyaltie towards their prince and in stead thereof entertaine a strange worship Therefore perfit papists cannot bee sound hearted subiects I haue heard wise men say that there is no knot of theeues so dangerous as when there is
of these dayes and times wish the death of her Maiestie and alteration of state and gouernment there needes no further proofe then their conspiracies Beleeue them without further proofe their treasons and secret attempts their platformes and practises for forraine inuasion whereby it is euident that these are the dayes of their griefe and sorow and that they regarde the saftie neither of prince nor countrie so they may returne to the flesh pots of Egypt and eate their fill with peaceable freedome The eight reason THey that regarde not into what subiection slauerie shame and dishonour her highenes Papists regard no state so that poperie may preuaile her kingdome and subiects be brought vnto so that â—heir blinde worship and pageant of papistrie may bee erected can bee no good subiects But perfect papists neither regard Maiestie of the prince nor dignitie of the nobles nor grauitie of age nor difference of sexe nor excellencie of learning so that poperie may be set vp in stead of the Gospell Therefore such can be no good subiects The desperate dealings and damnable practises of papists heretofore prooue plainly Wofull experience that allegiance to their prince cannot keepe them from treason the dutie of loue to their naturall countrie cannot withdraw them from fauouring rebellion at home nor lincking with straungers abroade that the dutie of obedience of children to parents or of parents affection to children cannot keepe them from vnnaturall crueltie that the dutie of mutuall loue and societie betwixt the husband and wife cannot remoue them from monstrous immanitie that the dutie of kinde and naturall pittie cannot stay a papists hands from murdering feeble sexe tender babes or reuerent age lastlie that the duty of familiaritie in youth of frendship in grauer yeares of continuall societie during all the life passed cannot stay a papists hands from sacrificing his dearest frendes Nay which is more not onely are they contented to yeeld their bracelets and earerings to the framing of the golden calfe as did Israell nor to offer their frends in sacrifice as did that vnnaturall King of Moab in offering his sonnes to asswage the ire of his angrie Gods but to make their owne liues a pray to their enemies as did the Athenians when they accorded by casting of lots to giue themselues to bee deuoured of that gastly monster Minotaurus Wherefore since it is so cleare a case that the consciences of these catholikes are altogether Romish that they hold the Popes excoÌ„munication against our dread soueraigne the Queenes Maiestie to be lawfull that they yeeld their obedience no longer then durante beneplacito of the Pope that they receiue and recommend such libels as deface our Church abuse her highnes person and all her louing subiects that they receiue pardons to exempt themselues from dutifull obedience that they receiue and entertaine the enemies of this realme Iesuits seminarie priests that they looke for a golden day and long for an alteration that they care not to conspire at home with traitours and to plot abroad with straungers whereby to conuey the crowne to a forrayner sithens I say this is so then two conclusions do follow first that euery perfect papist is a secret traitour to his prince and countrie And secondarily that it is a safer way to trusse then to trust a two-legged Fox Our gracious God that hath hitherto protected vs blesse her Maiestie and her honorable priuie counsel that through their wisdomes zeale and courage Gods glorie may be promoted the vndermining of these Foxes which destroy our vines soundly sifted and secret traitours sharply punished Then shal EnglaÌ„d lesse feare her ruine which God forbid by strangers force when vengeance deserued shal strongly sease on household foes nay els may EnglaÌ„d more suspect the weakning of her present state by nourishing a viper in her owne bowels then Spanish power or any els who gnash their teeth at her peace and welfare CHAPTER 10. Twelue reasons prouing by diuinitie and true Christian pollicie that Foxes must be taken THe thing that our Catholickes chiefly doe aime at is that her highnes and her counsell may be deceiued by erronius pretence of pollicie and colour of clemencie that they may lurke vnder the shadow and be nourished as a Serpent in the bosome It is therefore heedfully to be respected that the Church of the diuell be not maintained with indulgence multiplied with foolish mercie but that it be kept vnder with sharpnes of discipline and correction that it grow not to such rankenesse as to choake the true Church Foolish mercy may marre all and clemencie may be great crueltie when it ouerfloweth to the hazard of Gods Children Where seueritie saith one goeth into loosnes their edifying goeth into destruction custom goeth into corruptioÌ„ law into conteÌ„pt mercy is laughed and godlinesse goeth into hypocrisie execution of lawes against Gods enemies and the enemies of this Church and Commonwealth is the marke that is leuelled at and why should it not be hit since diuinitie and godly pollicie wil haue it so Wherfore although this point hath been no doubt handled religiously and zealously of the learned both in preaching and in writing yet since it fitteth this place so well I purpose to speake of it briefely and distinctly and proue that both diuinitie and Christian pollicie require that sharpe execution be vsed in punishing the enemies of the Church The first reason prouing by diuinitie that lawes ought sharpely to be executed vpon papistes and all idolatrous heretikes God commaundeth Foxes to be 〈◊〉 THat which the Lord commandeth must be don without mammering staggering doubting or delay But he commaundeth Foxes to be taken and execution of lawes to be done against them Therefore Christian Princes and Magistrates doe but their duties in rooting out such noysome vermine as destroy the vines If there arise among you c. Deut. 13.1.2 Cantic 2.16 Deut. 7.1.2 Galat. 5.12 Take vs the Foxes the little Foxes which destroy the vines when the Lord shall haue brought into the land whither thou goest to possesse it c. I woulde saith the Apostle they were cut off which trouble you The second Reason THat which the godly magistrates haue done in defacing the Lords enemies and defilers of his worship Presidents for Christian rulers that ought stil to be performed of Christian rulers in the like cause But they haue remoued destroied the enemies of his truth and peruerters of his seruice as their examples may be remembred Therfore Christian magistrates in the same cause ought to shew the same zeale When the golden Calfe was erected to Idolatrie Moses Moses willed them to arme their hands and to sheath their swords in the intrals of their nearest kinsmen to make hauocke of their liues and he calleth it a sanctifying of their hands to the Lord. And how What manner of holines was that Truly euen to kill the Idolaters and to put the corrupters of religion to death And whom commaunded
are altered religion mournes because her best seruants want their wages For they neuer gaue so fast as now they take away Sublatis studiorum praemijs ipsa studiae pereunt saith Cornelius Tacitus and substraction is become a great part of patrons study The conclusiō like to follow such polling premisses is the decay of learning piety religiō the bringing in of al Atheisme error Barbarisme For they which would study diuinitie aboue all when they see that the Church hath scarce the fauour of an ordinarie ward yea when they behold the contempt the beggerlines vexatiō and miserable want of the ministery are glad to fall to phisicke or law or some other trade Gen. 48 7 What shall I say of you You are worse thē Pharao for he had a care of his priests howsoeuer the world went with the rest You are not so kind to ministers of the gospel as Iesabel that painted harlot 1. King 18.19 These shall rise in iudgement against you Iud. 17. was to the prophets of the groues for she fed foure hundred at her table you are not half so religious as Micha was superstitious for he maintained his priests You shew that you haue lesse loue to religion then they papists haue to superstition The kite is your cognisance who being greedy and rauenous yet mounteth aloft as though he would touch the gliding clouds but yet when he flieth a matchlesse pitch he hath his eies fixed below on the earth spying and prying for a carrion carcasse euen so you soare aloft in your contemplation and in a certain counterfeit sanctimony seeme to be raised and carried aboue the clouds yet so long as you can find in your harts to play the part-stake patrons to spoile the Church to seeke to enrich your selues by such robberies they are no better it is an infallible signe that you are worldlings and earthly minded seeking your owne gaine and priuate profit For Gods loue let this be reformed that we may know you by another cognisance The last and best sort of patrons are such as account them worthie of double honour which rule well The best sort of patrones 1. Tim. 5.17 that hold the labourer worthie of his hire that no man goeth to warfare on his owne charges 1. Cor 1 from the 5 verse to the 15 that husbandmen should eate of the fruit of such vineyardes as they themselues planted that sheppeheards should eat of the milke of their owne flockes that sowers of spirituall things which are the greater are well worthy to reape carnal things which are the lesser that they which serue at the altar are worthie to liue by the altar These for their cognisance may fitly giue some rare bird I had almost said the blacke Swan but it shall be the Eagle for she mounteth on hie and falleth not on the ground but to seeke her necessarie food and being satisfied straightway soareth aloft euē so the minds of these are occupied in heauen all superfluous cares being cast apart they indeed wish the prosperity of Ierusalem the happy florishing state of the Church O Lord almightie encrease the number of these and in thy mercy conuert or in iustice confound such Church-robbers as sauor nothing but their own gain as daily indeuour to take away the reward of knowledge are the death of thousand thousands of souls stir vp O Lord thy faithful seruant our dread soueraigne that with Nehemiah she may thrust out all such Eliashibs as abuse the Church in this manner Nehem. 13.14 and euerie Tobiah linked in affinity with them that thy seruants may haue their own portions and that thou maist not be mocked so we thy workmanship and sheep of thy pasture for so great a mercy shal praise thee fer euer Amen CHAPTER 12. The dutie of Christian Magistrates as well Soueraigne as others in hunting and taking the two-legged Foxes THere be two sorts of men which say that the charge of Religion belongeth not to the office of the magistrate First they which vnder pretence of their annointed cleargie and priuiledged priesthood cannot abide to haue their abuses reformed Secondly they which eyther are infected with some heresie or else are willing to dally with heretikes The first sort doe onely require of the magistrate to maintaine and defend their degrees The second sort holdeth that the magistrate ought onely to meddle with the maintenance of publike peace and not to regard what others beleeue or not beleeue But the true Church teacheth that the charge of publike religion doth not in part Charge of religion belongeth to the Magistrate but principally and most of all belong vnto the magistrate which thing the holy scripture approueth Moses the first generall magistrate of the Israelites God gaue the order of religion to Moses not to Aaron who did not represent the person of a priest which was put vnto Aaron but of the superiour power like vnto the authoritie of a king did giue the order of al religion vnto the people appointed vnto Aaron the order of the priests what they should do what they should not do Wherby it appeareth that the care of the order of religiō doth rather belong vnto the superior magistrat then vnto the degree of priesthood I know they will say that Moses did dispose all these things at Gods commaundement It is true but I will be answered againe why God gaue not the commaundement for order of religion vnto Aaron whom he had consecrated to be a priest rather then vnto Moses So then this rather sheweth that the charge of the institution and gouernance belonges vnto the magistrate but the institution charge and ministration belongs vnto the priests Againe after the death of Moses the charge of religion belonged not to Eleasar the Priest but to Iehosua the magistrate who was of the tribe of Ephraim Iosua 5 and not of Leui by whose commaundement the children of Israell were the second time circumcised the Ark of God carried by the priests the altars builded the people sanctified and the rest of the lawes fulfilled which Moses prescribed Againe Iehosua charged them to feare the Lord Iosua 8 and to serue him with an vpright and faithfull heart Iehosua charged them to rid out of the way all straunge gods Iehosua renewed the couenant betweene God and his people and compiled the words of the couenant into the booke of Gods law True it is that the office of magistracie and priesthood both were ioyned together in the person of Samuel 1. Sam. 1. but yet he being at that time the chiefe man in Israell iudged and determined as a magistrate taught and sacrificed as a priest Dauid a patterne for good magistrats The ordering of religion by Dauid and vnto whom Christian rulers ought to haue an eie for godlinesse 2. Sam. 6 had the authority of disposing setting forth true religion 1. Chro. 16 1. Cho. 22.23.24.25 he