through want of supply in such outward helpes some doe sterve others doe steale through which many are hanged God is dishonoured the gospel disgraced the face of good people ashamed and true christian hearts are wounded And are not these the very engins of evill Desiderius Enough Miles the pointe is plaine And I see by these that you might make a whole volume of that argument onely Miles Micklebound But what think you then were it not better that our Clergie would cary theÌ„selves concerning these livings as honest Abraham the father of the faithfull did about the spoiles of Sodome which he recovered from the five Kings who had immediatly before taken them for a spoile from Sodom Of the which Abraham would not take for himself so much as a threed or a shooe latchet lest the King of Sodome should say I haue made that all false and antichristian Ministeries yet reâ—â—yned in the land ought by the Princes authoritie to be rooted out The second That by like authoritie their antichristian idolatrous livings ought to be coÌ„verted to charitable civil uses are not to be given or appropriated to Gods true Ministerie for the maintenance therof neither ought it to receive the same For it stands not with the honour of God that Beth-el Gods house should be garnished and supported with the things belonging to or taken from Beth-aven the house of idols As if the Almightie wanted other meanes for support of his owne house and must needes be beholden to the house of idols to help him and his This sin is in nature somwhat differing from the sin of the Babylonians in stealing away the vessels out of the Lords house to busie in the belching banquets of Belshazzar but it differeth not in substance froÌ„ it Desiderius You call the writing the first part c. which implieth a second likewise But is there so Miles I never saw it but I hope ere my return I shal see Amsterdam and Leyden where I shal make diligent inquiry among the people there But doutful it is that after the Bishops heard of the first part of an intendement of a second that they hastned the authours death to stop the current that began to run so strongly against them Wherfore I exhort you to use this well read it advisedly and the Lord direct thy spirit to the right understanding good use making of all things And so fare ye well till to morow and the day after THE FIRST PART OF THE PLATFORME PENNED BY THAT WORTHY SERVANT OF IESVS CHRIST and blessed witnes of his most holy Ordinances to the losse of life Mr. HENRY BARROVVE 1. THat the offices of Archbishops Lord Bishops Archdeacons c. with all their Courts and under officers ought by the commandement of God to be suppressed by the Princes authoritie and the persons usurping the same hereafter to be compelled to walke in some lawfull calling eyther in the Church or commune wealth as God shall make them fit and call them thereunto 2. That this whole ministery and offices of Deane Sub-deane Prebends c. Parson Vicar Curates Stypendarie Lectorers as the â—aile of the Dragon ought by the Prince to be suppressed and abolished And the persons usurping the same to be compelled froÌ„ henceforth to walk orderly in some lawfull calling or office in Church or coÌ„mon wealth as God maketh them fit calleth them laâ—â—fully thereunto using the gifts that God haâ— given them aright to the glorie of the giveâ— the good of the Church 3. That the Landes and lordly revenues â— these Archbishops Lord Bishops Deane c. togither with the gleabes temporalitie c. ought to be resumed by the Prince anâ— wholly converted to civil uses 4. That the Prince may give unto her suâ—â—jects the owners of them their severall tithâ—â— aswel open as privie or reserve so much 〈◊〉 way of tribute therof as shall seeme good uâ— to her Majestie 5. That the true Ministerie ought not tâ— be mainteyned by such gleabes tithes set stâ—â—pends or by the rated wages of the profanâ— but by the free contribution and dutifull bâ—â—nevolence of the faithful especially of thâ— Congregation unto which they administer 6. That the Prince ought to proclaime â— publish the gospel of Christ with the truâ—â— preaching and sincere practise thereof in aâ—â— things that God shal give knowledge of Anâ— to forbid exterminate all other religionâ— worship ministeries within her dominionâ— SEeing that holy and mighty God of heaven and earth will onely be worshiped served â—n his Church according to his own prescript will in his word and not by any devises of men how holy or expedient soever they may seem to themselves and by that Ministerie onely which his sonne the Lord of the house hath instituted in his last will and testament and not by any other or strange Ministerie Seeing â—o great blessings promises both â—f this life and of the life to come are made to those people churchâ—s that thus worship and serve the Lord according to his owne holy wil as we most plentifully comâ—ortably read in the scriptures and on the contrary such dreadfull plagues fearfull judgments denounâ—ed against executed upon those Nations and people that make a â—hew otherwise to worship serve God according to their owne devises or policies Seing God alwayes speaketh by his owne Ministerie 〈◊〉 his owne people and never by aâ— false Sinistery but alwayes sendeâ— the one in his espetial mercie 〈◊〉 prepare and make fit unto his heâ—â— veny kingdome the other in hâ—â— wrath and displeasure to seduce 〈◊〉 prepare al degrees unto judgemenâ— it behooveth every soule in what 〈◊〉 state soever to look diligently unâ—â— to be well assured of their way wherein they walk and are led Bâ— petially above all it is the offiâ—â— and dutie of Princes and Rulers 〈◊〉 whom the word and sword of Goâ— is therefore committed most carâ—â—fully to advance establish in the dominions the true worship Mâ—â—nisterie of God and to suppresse 〈◊〉 roote out all contrary as they teâ—â—der their owne salvation at that daâ— of all accompts and the salvation 〈◊〉 all that people under their charge Private members howsoever theâ— ought to refraine and to keep theâ—â— soules and bodies undefiled from â— false worship which is imposed suffering rather in all patient and christian manner whatsoever may be inflicted upon them for the same as they that feare more to offend God then men yet ought they not to stretch forth their hand by force to the reformatioÌ„ of any publick enormities which are by the Magistrates authoritie set up For that were to transgresse the limits of their owne place and calling to usurpe and intrude into the Princes royall throne and dignitie Which heynous presumption escapeth not due vengeance either in this life or in the world to come But now howsoever no private subject ought to intermedle with the
qualified with gifts fitting for the same But must also be lawfully called thereunto Even as every civil Magistrate Iudge must not onely be qualified with guifts fitt for the Magistracie and Iudgeship which he exerciseth but must also be lawfully called thereunto and rightly put into the possession thereof But where you say many of the Ministers of England haue great gifts and therupon conclude them to be true Ministers you therein condemne the dumbe ministerie that doe but read their stervice onely and haue no gifts for praying nor preaching Desiderius It is no matter Let them goe undefended For I hold them false Ministers and meddle not with them M. Mick Yet they haue the same Ministerie with those that haue the greatest guiftes So that if the one be false the other is so likewise Again if men haue neuer so good gifts and be called unto a false ministerie they are notwithstanding their giftes false ministers But now to returne to our former point and apply this to the purpose Mariage is the ordinance of God but a false ministery is the ordinance of the Divil And sayth the Apostle I would not that ye should haue fellowship with the Divils 1. Cor. 10.20 These can haue no more communion togither then Light with Darknes Christ with Beleal or the Beleever with the Infidel All which is condemned 2 Cor. 6. Moreover If you would haue no mariages right and lawfull unlesse they be solemnized by a true Minister then you must eyther make the popish minâ—sterie in Q. Maries dayes to be true Ministers or else all that were then so maried to be unlawfull mariages and the children that were begotten of such parents to be illigitimate that is to say bastards But were it not a fowle extremitie to affirme eyther of these Doubtlesse a Mariner that should he so absurd in sayling would soon run his ship upon the sands or break it asunder against the rocks Againe If mariages be onely lawful that are made up in a Church by a Minister then wheresoever there is not a Church and Ministerie there can be no lawful mariage But the Apostle teacheth otherwise and saith that mariage is honourable among all Heb. 13. And therfore not onely where there is a Church and Ministerie but also where there is none So that mariage is Gods ordinance lawful to be performed even among the Pagans Furthermore If mariage be onely right lawful when and where it is done in a Church by the Minister then are all mariages to be condemned that haue been made up in Christian Countreyes civilly before the Magistrates But that they may not be For the word of God gives approbation to such mariages in the mariage of Boaz Ruth wherof we read Ruth 4.9.10.11.12 And on the contrary shew you if you can any one place in all the holy scripture that approveth of mariage to be eyther a sacrament as the blinde Papists would haue it or a Church action for the minister to performe as you and our Protestants doe plead By which plea practise you notably nourish the old popish errour that Mariage is a Sacrament Desiderius I will reason no further in this matter For I perceive that both scripture and reason is against me And when I finde it so down goes the bucklers For I love not to be a proctor in a bad cause M. Mickelh It goes wel where there is so good a conscence But it is not so in the Spirituall Courts which are as worthy to goe downe as your bucklers And had you held out longer you had heard more But here is this briefe writing concerning the point which in likelihood was written by some of that people of the right Christian prosession though I neither know how where nor when I came by it But a special end of it might be in the providence of God for your good Let him that readeth consider THat which the word of God doth approve incoÌ„mend unto us to be good and lawfull that ought all to reverence and obey Yea though the lawes decrees customes of men were to the contrary Much more where any thing is done which both the law of God law of man doth allow to be lawfull none can disallow or speak evill of it except they be such as eyther in bad conscience or great ignorance doe open their mouthes both against heaven and earth Which fearefull sin the Lord keepe all his servants from Now to apply this to a question objected concerning mariage I holde and affirme as followeth Viz. That where a man and a woman that may mary together by the word of God doe take one an other for husband and wife by words of the present tyme before lawfull witnesses using prayer to God to blesse them therein that I say is lawful mariage and allowed both by the word of God and law of man 1. The Word of God By the word of God as may be seene in these scriptures Gen. 2.22.23.24 Ruth 2.9.10.11.12 Math. Prov. 2.17 Rom. 7.3 Gen. 29.21.22.23 compared with 1 Tim. 4.5 Then also by the law of man and that both by the coÌ„mon law of this land and by the civil law also and even the canon law it selfe 2. The law of this land For the common law of this land see the Statute of 32. Henr. 8. chap. 38. revived in the 1. of Q. Eliz. directly and of purpose alloweth and ratifieth all mariages done according to the word of God The words of the Statute are these Wheras heretofore the Bishop of Rome hath alwayes intangled and troubled the mindes of people against the regal power of this Realm of England and also much unquieted the subjects of the same by his usurped power in them as by making that unlawfull which by Gods word is lawfull both in mariages and other things c. And wheras also other prohibitioÌ„s then Gods law admitteth much more debate and suite of law with wrongfull vexation of the innocent party hath bene procured and many just mariages brought in doubt and danger of undooing and also many times undone and lawfull heires disinherited wherof there had never else but for that usurpation been moved any question since freedome in theÌ„ was given us by the law which ought to be most sure certaine c. Be it therefore enacted that no reâ—ervation or prohibition Gods law excepted shall trouble or impeach any mariages without the Leviticall degrees that no person of what estate degree or condition soever hee or shee be shal be admitted within any of the spirituall Courts within this Realme to any proces plea or allegation contrary to this foresayd Act. Againe in Anno 25. Henr. 8. ch 22. the Satute hath these words as followeth The Parliaments Convocations and Vniversities agreed that even in matters of mariage no man of what estate degree or condition soever hath any power to dispence with Gods lawes 3. Book of coÌ„mon prayer Whereto also the Book of Common prayer
ExaminatioÌ„ hath these vvords For I know the doctrine touching the holy Trinitie Nature and Offices of the Lord Iesus Free justification by him both the sacraments c. published by her Majesties authoritie and commanded by her lawes to be the Lords blessed and undoubted truthes without the knowledg and profession wherof no salvation is to be had And sheweth the things that he disliketh and for vvhat cause he durst not partake in the publik assemblies of our land notwithstanding the former truthes there taught and professed And againe in his Confession of faith he sayth The trueth of doctrine touching the holy Trinitie touching the natures and Offices of Christ Iustifying faith Sacraments and Eternall life and the rest established by her Majesties Lawes and professed by her self their Honours and such as have knowledge in the assemblies of this land I acknowledge from my heart to be such as if I mainteyned not the unitie and held not the communion of the same doctrine with them in these points I could not possibly be saved For out of the communion of the true profession which her Majestie hath established in these and the like truthes there is no hope of salvation left But ioyne notwithstanding in the publike assembles of this Land I dare not for the former causes I doe moreover willingly confesse that many both of the Teachers and also of the Professors within these Parish assemblies haue so imbraced this trueth of doctrine established and professed in this Land as the Lord of his infinite goodnes hath granted them the favour to show outwardly many tokens wherby in regard of the Lords election I professe before men and Angels that I judge them to be meÌ„bers of that body whereof the sonne of God Christ Iesus 〈◊〉 the head Onely herein the Lord be merciful unto them as to my self in regard of my synnes that they are not under that outward form of govermeÌ„t which Christ hath left c. And whereas Mr Iacob would father upon this people that they hold every person in England which holdeth the publick faith is no true Christian. Mr Iohnson in his answer pag. 7. sayth thus Touching this point I minde the state of their people two wayes the one concerning their severall persons considered a part from the constitution of your Church the other concerning their estate and standing in that constitution Concerning the former of these that is considering them a part from the coÌ„stitution I acknowledge that in divers of them there appeareth such knowledge and faith of the Gospell with the fruits thereof as they may well be thought in regard of Gods election in Christ to be heires of salvation and in that respect to be true Christians God pardoning unto them their standing under Antichrist which they doe not see or minde But I seare least many more were heretofore partaker of this grace then be now since your Antichristian estate and the unlawfulnes to aâ—ide therein hath been discovered Concerning the latter that is in respect of their estate standing in that constitution of your Church I am perswaded whosoever so stand holding your publikâ— faith and multitude of Antichristian abhominations withall they cannot by the word of God be judged true Christians as touching their outward estate in that Church of yours but stand all subject to wrath God imputing this their sinne unto them And that all therfore whosoever will be assured of Gods mercie and salvation ought with speed to goe out of your Church it still remayning in Antichristian estate c. Thus Desiderius I haue shewed you what divers of them haue written and professed in and about the point by you objected if it be not sufficient I will shew you more Desiderius You may spare that labour for I am fully satisfied Miles And for that cause I was the more large As also that when these things are published others at home abroad may likevvise receive satisfaction And if any of the people themselves have been so overseen as to speak according to the report that you heard they may by this meanes be againe brought to their owne grounds which some through simplenes rashnes or incoÌ„sideratenes may forget offend against the same But the more circumspect and wise are more considerate and wary Thus being somewhat weary I will rest from discoursing a while and in the meane time you may read these three writings which will be worth your paines and the printing And they also will cleare that people and the truth from such clamours as you haue heard concerning theÌ„ The first is a letter which one of them in Ireland wrote unto a Scottish preacher there Ao. 1594. wherein is layd downe sundrie grounds of their separation The other are two Petitions the first whereof was vvritten by Mr Henry Barrovve in the daies of Q. Elizabeth of famous memorie the secoÌ„d by another of their vvriters 〈◊〉 the time of the first Parliament holden in the happy raign of our now Soveraigne King Iames. To Mr Wood. Wisdome and grace from God most high WHereas you seemed very desirous to haue us set downe in writing our faith and profession concerning the true Church togither with the causes of our separation from the English and Irish parish assemblies promising your self either to asseÌ„t unto us or shew sufficient cause of your dislike by writing also with defece of your churches estate c We as willing to render an account of our beleefe and practise unto all men that shall demand the same and desirous of your salvation and fellowship in the holy faith if such be the will of God our selves of further instruction and light by any that can enform us from the word haue condiscended unto your request beleeving confessing concerning this part of the Gospel as followeth That the true Church of God on earth is communion and fellowship of righteous men and women whose harts God hath puâ—ified by saith calling and gathering them â—nto himself and under his true obedience by the scepter of his word and spirit sepaâ—ating them from the world of Infidels Turks â—ewes and false Christians to live togither under his holy covenant obeying and woâ—â—shiping him in spirit and truth keeping thâ— unitie of the Spirit in the band of peace anâ— love and unfeighned That this Church although dispersed amoÌ„g many natioÌ„s over the face of the earth is one as God is one hath one faith Lord religion law and goverment in all places unto it the scriptures and written word oâ— God is given for the direction thereof and edification in all thinges whereunto each member is bound as well Prince as people to observe inviolably whatsoever is therein commanded unto the worlds end and that no man nor the vvhole church it self hath authority to alter change inovate breake abrogate or superordeyne any thing unto or from this Lawe of the Most high neither may the church
or any member thereof receive or obey other constitutions and traditions of men or Angels without incurring the wrath of God That this Church is the bride and body of Christ the citie house of the great King whereinto may enter no profane person oâ— impenitent sinner but onely such as by faith and â—â—pentance have washed away the guilt of their synnes in the blood of the lambe are borne a new by the seed of the word by a willing covenant made with the Lord are under his goverment scepter of grace and so doe lead godly and christian lives That in this House every servant and member hath a like interâ—st and libertie in the word of God by the power thereof to reprove coÌ„demne slay sin in themselves â—â—l other men and are all bound to watch oâ—â—er exhort and admonish one another even their shepherds leaders if need so require That this Church hath power from Christ to censure reprove and cast out of their fellowship all obstinate offenders and wicked men lest by any such the whole body should be infected and perish That they also haue authoritie to elect call and set over them watchmen and shepherds of their soules to break unto them the bread of life whom they are bound again to susteyne with all their temporall goods so farte as their abilities extend and the Ministers duetie shall require That whensoever the whole Church or any member therof wilfully transgresseth the law of the Lord and persisteth obstinate and incorrigible in any sin refusing to heare the voice of Christ they will cease to be the people and servants of God neither can be so esteemed untill they repent That all that wil be saved must joyne themselves to some particular Church of Christ to live therwith in faithful obedience peace order and love forsaking all false and adulterate synagogues of which sort we affirme the ordinarie parish assemblies of our woesull countrie to be and therfore haue abandoned them for these weighty causes 1. They are not a coÌ„munion of Saints called and severed from the world but doe consist of all sorts of men reteyning a multitude of irreligious profane Atheists Blasphemers Idolaters whoremongers and all manner wicked persons within her Majesties dominions 2. They haue not been wonne unto thâ— faith by the preaching of the gospell neyâ—ther ever made willing covenaÌ„t to walk up rightly before the Lord but were drawen by civil force in the beginning of her Majestie reigne 3. Their publick worship of God in theiâ— assemblies is false and idolatrous translateâ— out of the Popes blasphemous Masse book the cursed inventioÌ„ of the man of Sinne imposed both upon the Lord and them 4. The Ministery of Lordly Lord Arch bishops Bishops Deanes Arch Deacons c Parsons Vicars Curates c is not the true Ministery of Christ in his testament neitheâ— accordeth thereto in name office calling entrance administration or maintenance buâ— is the same which was found and left in the Popes Church 5. Their Church is in bondage beaâ—eth the yoke of Antichrist the burdenouâ— traditions ceremonies injunctions of their Lords the Bishops their courts and canons 6. They are obstiâ—ate and incorrigible in these and other their transgressions and wilâ— not be brought unto the true obedience oâ— Christ and practise of his lawes but speakeâ—vil of the trueth and witnesses of the same and of them some they haue killed many imprisoned all persecuted banished and blasphemed Therfore this people in this fearful estate cannot in any just intendement be estemed the childreÌ„ or church of God Neverthelesse the firme foundation of God standeth having this 〈◊〉 seate the Lord knoweth those that aâ—â— his and let every one 〈◊〉 naming the name of the Lord depart froÌ„ iniquâ—yâ— 2 Tim. 2.19 Delivered to Mr Wood a Scottish preacher in Ireland anno 1594. The humble most earnest and lamentable Complaint Supplication of the persecuted proscribed Church and servants of CHRIST falsely called Brownists Vnto the high Court of Parliament THe most high GOD possessor of heaven and earth bringeth at this present before your Lordships and Wisdomes Right Honourable his owne Cause his owne People his owne sworne and most trecherous Enemies togither with the most shamefull usage of his truth and servants that ever hath been heard of in the dayes of Sions professed peace and tranquility His Cause and People he offereth unto your confideration and defence in our Profession and Persons His Enimies and their outrage against his truth and servants in the persons bloody proceedings of the Prelates of this Land and their Complices Wee profosse the same faith and truth of the Gospell which her Majestie which your Honours this whole Land and all the reformed Churches under Heaven this day doe holde and mainteyne Wee goe beyond them being our onely fault even in the judgement of our tyrannicall and most savage Enimies in the detestation of all Popery that most fearfull Antichristian Religion and draw nearer in some pointsby our practise unto CHRISTS holy order and institution This is our Faith this is our Cause right Honourable yea the Lords Cause in our sinfull hands For the profession maintenance of which Faith the forenamed Enemies of GOD deteyne in their hands within the Prisons about London not to speak of other Gaoles throughout the Land about three score twelve persons Men woemen yong and old lying in cold in hunger in dungeons and in yrons Of which number they haue taken the Lords day last being the 3. of this 4. Moneth 1592. about some 56. persons hearing the word of God truly taught praying praysing God for his favors shewed unto us unto her Majestie your Honours and this whole Land and desiring our God to be mercyfull to us unto our gracious Prince countrey Being imployed in these holy actions and no other as the parties who disturbed them can testifie they were taken in the very place where the persecuted Church and Martyrs were enforced to use the like exercises in Queene Maries dayes The former number are now unbaleably coÌ„mitted by the Prelate or Bishop of London unto close for the most part severall prysons As Bryde-well the Lymboe or Dungeon in Newgate the Feete the Marshalsee the Counters the Clyncke the Gatehouse the Wotte-Lyon c. Wherein wee willingly acknowledge the lott and inheritance in this life of our Fore-Fathers and Brethren the holy Martyres of the former age and the entayled Aâ—eldama or bloody succession of the See of London and that whole lynage Well heere our brethren lye how long Lord holy and true thou knowest in Dungeons in hunger in colde in nakednes and all outward distresse For these bloody men will allow them neyther meat drink fyre lodging nor suffer any whose harts the Lord would stirre up for their releife to haue any accesse unto them purposing belike
not availe any thing to shew his judgement concerning them seeing they were put to death and being loath to speake his mind further her Highnes charged him upon his allegiance to speake Whereupon he answered that he vvas perswaded if they had lived they would haue been two as worthy instruments for the Church of God as hath been raised up in this age c Her Maiestie sighed and sayd no more But after that riding to a Parke by the place where they were executed called to mind their suffring of death and being willing to take further information concerning them demanded of the Right Honourable E. of Cumb. that was present when they suffred what end they made He answered A very godly end and prayed for your Maiesti◠the State c. Moreover Mr Philips a preacher famous having both heard and seen Mr. Barrowe his holy speeches and preparation for death sayd Barrowe Barrowe my soule be with thine For thus haue I been credibly informed Desiderius You have saved me a labour for I had thought to haue asked some questions hereabouts but I am satisfied aforehand Yet I pray you tel me the reasō why they printed not this platform heretofore and that espetially against the Kings Maiesties first Parliament in England For that was the time then was the hope Miles Had his Majestie any Arch or Lord Bishop in all his kingdome of Scotland were not all pu◠downe And who would not then haue thought but the like worthy work should haue been done in England after his Highnes coming thither to haue brought those kingdomes and countries into Christian uniformitie This was their hope who sought no praise to themselves but desired that his Majestie should as the instrumentall meanes haue done it of himselfe without any mans soliciting that the whole praise should be primarily unto God the cause of all causes and secundarily unto his Highnes for preferring the will of the HIGHEST in so weightie a point as the abolishing of Bishops converting of their livings unto charitable vses in the common wealth But seeing things fall out contrary to expectation It is in my opinion great pittie that such a work should any longer lye unprinted Wherefore through their neglect I wil cause it to come forth being perswaded it shall tend much to the honour of God and relief of many which is both pietie and pittie And if it prove any losse to proud Prelates the possessors of those overlarge-livings it is but their due demerite and they may all learn therby God giving them such grace to make much spirituall profite for their soules health and comfort wherof they haue farre more need then of that abundance of bodily benefites And in hope to effect the ends premised I intreate all men who shall happen to have any of these coppies to make good use of them both for their own instruction and benefite as also for the common good and that especially against all succeeding Parliaments till the mark aymed at be rightly hit and the goale fully wonne Desid But how know you they stayed the printing of the Plot against the Prelates upon any such desire hope or consideration as you mentioned Miles I had speech with Mr. Francis Iohnson one of the Pastors of that people who came with other his assistants to make thei◠humble sute to the King were readie to enterteyne conference with the Prelates that his Majestie might the more perfectly haue understood the innocēcy of their cause and the evilnes of their adversaries And that same party told me if they should print the foresaid Platforme he thought it would give offence and bee very ill taken inasmuch as it was thought that the King and Councell would doe something of themselves for the abolishing of Bishops c. And so they patiently wayted to see what would be done And wheras God so disposed that Arch Bishop Whitgift at the beginning of the first Parliament after his Majesties coming suddenly died the sayd Mr Iohnson thus spake unto me and others That God had shewed unto the King what he would haue him to doe with the rest of the Bishops in taking away the chiefest of them at such a tyme. And as it was wel observed of him so I doe most earnestly desire that all whom it concerneth will well call it unto minde and duely consider of it for such good use as the GOD of heaven would have to be made by men on earth For seing that he who is the God above all Gods Angels and men did in his wisdome and providence put downe at such a tyme him that was Bishop above al Bishops in the Land and at once turned him out of the Councell Court and Parliament as also frō the Church Ministerie and world it selfe happily it may insinuate that Bishops are unfit for and unworthy of all and every of those places till they be cast in an other moulde and made all new And if there be no use of the highest and chiefest of them and at the chiefest time as God did seem to shewe unto his Majestie and to the body of the land then assembled Then may we think there is as little or lesse use of the inferiour Bishops at any time Desiderius I grant it worthy to be wel considered and seriously thought upon But whiles it is in minde I pray you tell me who penned the second Petition that you shewed me For you named the authour of the first but not of the latter M. Micklebound That was by one yet living who knowes nothing of my purpose in all this busines nor what I am nor how I came by the copie neyther will I make knowne his name without his knowledge and consent Therfore speake no more of that matter Desiderius Yet you may tell me whether ever they were put up according to the direction or no◠Miles I would if I could but I think rather that they were not And otherwise the sinne of the Land was the greater that did them no good upon so weighty so earnest and so christian a suite but left them under the tyranny of such bitter Bishops of whom they are caused so much to complaine If they were not delivered there is the more need to have them published that such whose hearts God shall any way touch thereby may make a holy use thereof to his glory the good of their own soules the staying of Gods wrathful judgments from their nation and for benefite to Gods people for tyme to come So shall it fare better with the latter wltnesses of Christ then it did with the former that stood forth in the forefront of the battel against the Beast Which warre they waged with the losse of their lives but happy they in the life to come For blessed are the dead that die in the Lord even so saith the Spirite For they rest from their labours and their works follow them Desiderius Were ever any of them put to death Miles Yea and that I caused to