of state professors that follow the Emperours religions that they worship not God but the purple robe that is the authority and persons of Prâ—nces Moreouer the church of England hath not Christ for their Mediator because they cannot come vnto God by him nor haue assurance by faith that he maketh intercession for them for that they offer vnto God a worship or seruice which themselues haue made and taken by imâ—tation out of Antâ—christs Massebook which Leitâ—rgie or Diuine seruâ—ce hauing in it also many erroneous superstitious and idolatrous ordiâ—ances rites and ceremonies being not required of God nor warrantable by Christs testament they read out of their book dayly in theâ—r aâ—semblies and offer or obtrude â—t vpon God By meanes whereof they also extinguish the true way of calling vpon God by the help of his spâ—rit as the Apostle teacheth and bring in a fleshly and dead kind of seruice reading other mens words instead of their own praying and calling on the name of the Lord. Which humane devise is contrary to the second commandement that forbiddeth vs to make or submit vnto any similitude or likenes of any thing in heauen earth or vnder the earth in matters concerning the worshâ—p of God And it being against the old couenant or testament which Christ hath confirmed vnto euery â—od and 〈◊〉 against the new testament also which calleth vs vnto a worship of God in spirit and truth hath no promise to be sanctified by Christs Medâ—ation who sanctifieth no idols nor idol seruice or false worshiâ— but contrariweise hath testified their offrings of blood will I not offer nor by make mention of their names with my lipps For asmuch then as the people which worshippeth is not the called iustified sanctâ—fied peâ—ple of Gâ—d but an vnlawfull câ—mmixture 〈◊〉 fall sorts of â—ersâ—ns and forasmuch as the worship it self which they read with and before â—he holy bible and thrust vpon God whither he like it or not is a false dead and vayne inuented worship of their own not commanded of God not iustifiable by his word it cannot be by the doctrine of the scripture or a any promâ—ses therein that Christ should be Mediator for such worship or worshippâ—rs or put any odours vnto such prayers Therâ—fore the church of England is not the true church of God EVery true church of God hath Christ for the Prophet of the same For of 〈◊〉 it is written I will raise them vp a Prophet from among thâ—ir brethren c. and every person which shal not hear that Prophet shal be desered 〈◊〉 the people Dâ—ut 18.18 Act 3 23. But thâ—â—hurch of England hath not Christ for the Prophet of the same Because it hath neyther himself in his own person to teach them for he is now in heaâ—en and there must be vntill the time that all things be restored neyther hath it his appoynted ordinanâ—e of teaching by prophesie or office which if it had Christ were the Prophet of the same as himself sayd if I send any he that receiueth him receiueth me The church of England hâ—th not Christs ordinance of prophesie without office for it is vnknowen vnpractised and vnsufferable among them for priuate men to preach in their aâ—â—emblies they must be ministers allowed by the Ordinary els it is punishable by the law of their church though by the law of Christ all men may prophesie in his church which is to speake to edifying to exhortation and to comfort and all men are exhorted to couet this mâ—re then other spirituall gifts 1. Cor. 14 vers 31.3.1.39 Neyther hath the châ—rch of England Christs appoynted officers to teach which are set down in scripture to be these Apostles Prophets Euangelists Pastors and Teachers Ephe 4.11 Of which the first three serued for the first publishing of the gâ—spel throughout the world the latter two continue stâ—ll vnto the worlds end but in stead of these it hath the hierarchie and ministery of Antichrist to teach the same namely Metropolitan Archbishops Lord Bishâ—ps Deanes c. Priests and Deacons which is none of Christs Ministery eyther in name office calling administration or mayntenance but the very ministery of the man of sinne as he left it in the land and as is to be seen at this day in Rome and other his dominions and in the lawes and canons of the popish church wher ar all the offices that now be in England Thus hauing not the ministery giuen of Christ but a different ministery giuen of Antichrist it followeth also by proportion from Christs words saying he that receiueth him that I send receiueth me and he that receiueth me receiueth him that sent me that the church of England receiuing such as Antichrist the Pope did send hath receiued Antichrist himselfe and so hath intertayned him for their Prophet and not Christ. Now where it is obiected that there are many excellent truthes publikly taught in this church and by this ministery of England it is answered that is not yenough vnlesse it were taught in and according to the ordinance of God For false Prophets teach much truth as is to be seen among Papists Anabaptists Arians and other like heretiks And as the morall good works which heathens doe in honouring their parents and Magistrates giuing almose absteyning from and punishing murder adultery theft c. are not inded good works according to christian religion because they are not done in obedience to Gods word by persons that are called iustified and sanctified by that word and so not done in faith and consequently cannot please God even so the theologicall works which Antichristians doe in preaching the truth praying ministring the sacraments c. are not indeed works pleasing vnto God because they are not done by persons that please him for alwayes the man must be accepted before his work can be and such persons please him not as without his calling and sending presume to administer his holy things It is not therefore the work but the word of God that sanctifieth the work which we must look vnto for as by this the vertuous heroik and religious acts of the Patrâ—archs and other holy men differ from the like acts of Pagans and infidels so also by this the difference iâ— to be put between the works and administrations of trâ—e and false Christians And seing the ministers of England are not by Christ called and sent as the better sort of themselues heretofore haue confessed so haue not his word to warrant their administration whatsoeuer good doctrine they teach it proues them no more to be true ministers then the excellent doctrines and prophesies of the soothsayer Balaam will proue him to be a true minister of God or that the Moabites or Madianites hauing him to sacrifice prophesie and teach among them had an ordinance or prophet of God See Deut. 18 10.11.14.15 c. Agayn Christ is not the Prophet of this
the name of the Lord and 2 of faith by hearing his word 1. Whosoeuer call th upon the name of the Lord shal be saued This we are to understand according to Dauids exposition whosoeuer calleth vpon him in truth Psa. 145 18. for God is a spirit and must be worshiped in spirit and trâ—th Ioh. 4.24 but the worship and calling vpon God which your Church vseth in reading the prayers letanie collects and other like things of your Leiturgie translated out of AntiChrâ—st masse-booke is carnall false Idolatrous for such a manner of diuine service you haue no commandement or warrant in the scriptures And this popish worship begetteth not but destroyeth faith and the true caling on Godâ— name and deceiueth mens sowles for in vayn they worship me sayth Christ teaching fâ—r doctrine the precepts of men Mat. 15.9 and they that wayt vpâ—n lyâ—ng vanâ—ties forsake their own mercy Ionah 1 8 2. For the other poynt Faâ—th is by bearing or by report saith the Apostle and proueth it by Isa. 53.1 Lord who hath beleeued our beâ—ring that is our report Now no man can truly and faithfully report â—nlesse God hath first spoken vnto â—â—m neâ—ther can aâ—y man fruâ—tfully hear other report or doctrine then the Lords and so hearing is by the word of God iâ— the mouthes of such as are sent as he sheweth in the 15 verse But youâ— Ministers are not truly and lawfully sent for they cannot shew eyther calling ordination or office according to Chrâ—sts Testament therefore they cannot truly and lawfully preach his word and consequently cannot beget ordinarily a true sauing faith The next scripture also Mat 28 19 20 playnly condemneth the state of your Church and ministerâ—e for 1. There is a lawfull calling authorizing and sending of ministerâ— from him that hath all power in heauen and in earth saying Goe therfore and teach but such a sending your ministers haue not for as your selues haue sayd they enter not in by Chrict but by a Popish and vnlawfull vâ—cation 2. There is a commandement to teach or make disciples before they be receiued into th' Church by baptisme for oâ— them that ar taught such onely as gladly receiue and beleeue the word are to be baptised and admitted into the Church as the practise of th' Apostle sheweth Act. â— 40 41. but your Church was not thuâ— gathered or plaÌ„ted by th' preaching of the Gospell but by the commandement of the Magistrate neither weâ— onely the willing beleevers receiued and others refused but the whole profane multitudes wer admitted or rather compelled into your church wher they and their seed are still retâ—yned 3. There Gods Ministers are willed to teach Chrâ—stians so baptised to obserue all things whatsoeuer Christ commanded his Apostles verse 20 so they haue his gracious promise and blessing to the end of the world but in your church many things are obserued which Christ neuer commaâ—ded Yea the Ministerie and goâ—erment appoynted in his TestameÌ„t are held and confirmed by practise among you not to be perpetual not necessary nor fitting for your state but an other pompous minâ—stery and Lordly ecclesiastical gouerment after the manner of the court of Rome And as for power and liberâ—y to obserue Christ commandements that is farr from your people which al are in bondage to the Bishops and their courts hauing not chrâ—stian freedom to censure sinne or sinners or practise the ordinances of the Gospel as the Apostles did vnlesse Princes and Parliaments will permit or command them The like may be sayd and returned vpon you from the other scriptures by you alleged all which doâ— concerne the true church and ministerie as your selues will not deny and so will helpe you nothing vntill you proue your church and ministerie such Boast not therefore of a true sauing faith and fruites of the spirit when such bitter fruites and works of the flesh doe reign among you for faith without works 〈◊〉 dâ—ad Iam. 2.26 Now then if you will giue us leaue to consider the state of your Church aright we would mind it thus your Church hath the essentiall notes of a false Church namly a confuse prophane worldly people with an Antichrâ—stian Prelacie and preisthood over them able to beget ordinarily but a vayne and dead faith through want of the true ministery of the word in Christs ordinance and by meanes of the false worship and false doctâ—nes that are in your Church to worke the fruits of the flesh as the idolatries and other sinful actions abounding in your Church doe shew to make a man a very Antichristian by resisting persecuting and blaspheming the true way of Christ and practise of his Gospel which alas too many doe and last of all to destroy him if he repent not of his sinneâ—â—nd find mercie with the Lord. which we desire you all may finde for the saluation of your soules The 3. Consideration OVr Church and ministerie are approved of and rejoyced for of all the pure reformed Churches in the world Our confession by them placed in the Harmonie of Confessions giâ—ing vs the right hand of fellowship as also by all the godly learned and most sound and excellent fathers lights of the churâ—h that euer liued in or meddle with our church Bucer Marâ—yr Fagius Alasio Knoxe who liued â—n our church Caluin Beza Bullinger Gualtâ—r â—ymlâ—r Zanchius Iunius Rolocus c. with others verie many who haue giuen their testimony and approbation to our church and ministerie Wherin if our errors were fundamentall damnable and Antichristian as you terme them these churches and persons had vndoubtedly the spirit of discerning and could not be deceiued all at once 1. Cor. 11 16. 14.33 â— 15 10.15 14.32 37 2. Thes. 1.4 Answer THough you come against vs with horsemen and charrets yet we will â—emember the name of the Lord our God by whose word alone all doctrines must be tried all persons must â—udge and be iudged It is incident to the best men and purest churches to erre and be deceiued wherefore their sentences and approbations must be examined by Gods word If you say otherweise you teach corrupt and popish doctrine With such weapons as these haue the Papists long foâ—ght against you and where you can bring one they can bring many to witnesse for them and their Romish superstitions Antiquity vniversality and sâ—ch lâ—ke popular reasons they seek to vphold their kingdome withall 2. The word of God condemning your church and ministerie as we haue often proued and our proofes ly vpon you yet unanswered though all churches in the world should aâ—proue of you your case wer â—o whit the better for all men are vanity 3. The Iewes obieâ—ted as weighty aâ— argâ—mâ—nâ— agaâ—â—â—t Câ—riâ—t him selfe wheâ— they sayd dâ—th any of the rulers or of the Phariseâ—s 〈◊〉 in him but this people which know not the Law are â—ursed Iâ—h 7 1â— 19 4. If the reformed Church's apâ—roue so well of youâ— Church and
we must be separated thirdly the corruption of nature in our selues the lust of the flesh the lust of the eyes and the pride of life all which are of the world and whâ—ch we must hate and crucifie so turne and become like little children euen borne agayn that we may see the kingdome of God 16. The estate wherevnto God called his church in this life is generally to the communion or fellowhsip of his sonne Iesus Christ as being their onely mediator and Sauiour the Prophet Priest and King of the church which they beleeuâ—ng and professing are alâ—o made partakers in a proportion and in their measure of these three offices with him 17. Iesus Christ is the Prophet raâ—sed vp of God vnto his people to teach them all that God commanded him which also he did both by himselfe and by the Mâ—nistery of his seruants sent of him And as all the treasures of wisdome and knowledge are hid in him so him the church mâ—st hear for all heauenly wisdome and knowledge is to be learned of him and every person which shall not hear this Prophet shall be destroyed out of the people 18 This Prophet call office of Christ he hath communicated with the church by giuing to the same his word for their instruction and comfort and graffing the same within them his spirit also as an Anoynting to teach them all things giuing gifts also or ministers to open and apply the same vnto their sowles likewise power and freedome by witnes profession and practise to hold forth that word of life as lights in the world thereby to preach vnto others the faâ—th of Christ to edâ—fy and build vp one another dayly therein to prouoke vnto loue and to good works to admonish and reprehend for evill and iniquity to forgiue and comfort one another in the bowels of Christ whose word therefore all ought to labour that it may dwel plenteously in them that if any man speak it may be as the words of Gâ—d 19. Iesus the son of God is also the great high priest or Sacrificer of the Church by whose obedience and sacrifice or oblation of hâ—s own body and blood the church is clensed from all sinn and reconciled to God by whose intercession the church with the holy actions oblations of the same are accepted of God and made heires of blessing 20. And this his Prâ—estly office is 〈◊〉 imparted to his church as they haue not onely interest in his death and suffrings whereby they are reconciled to God but also are themselues made a holy priesthood to offer vp spirituall sacriâ—ices acceptable to God by him giuing vp their own bodies a liuing sacrifice mortifying their members whâ—ch are on earth and crucifyâ—ng the flesh with thâ— affections and lâ—sts offring vp contrite and broken hâ—rts with sacrifices of praise confeâ—sing to his name and praying not oâ—â—ly every man for himself but one for another doing good and dâ—stributing to the neceâ—sities of the Saincts suffring afflâ—ction for the Gospell and fynally if they be called therevnto powring out the r soules vnto death fâ—r the truthes sake 21. The Lord Iesus Christ is also the gouernour and king ouer Sion Gods hâ—ly mount and sitteth at his Fathers right hand and reigneth till all his enimies be made his footstool being a King iudge and lawgiuâ—r to hâ—s people commanding and ruling them by his word and spirit jâ—dging them in iustice and equâ—ty preseruing and defendâ—ng them by his almighty power from all their enimies 22. And this his kingly office he so communicateth with hâ—s church as they are by him preserâ—ed and defended from all aduersarie Pâ—wer freed from the dominion of sinne and tyrannie of Satan from subiection to the world and seruitude vnto men and restored to the ioyfull libâ—rty of the Châ—ldren of God the world and all things in it made theirs that howsoeuer they haue still to combate with the Diuill to wraâ—tel against principallities powers to suffer hatred affliction of the world anâ— to warr with the fleshly lusts which fight against the soâ—l yet neither deaâ—h nor life nor Angels nor principallities nor powerâ— nor things present nor things to come nor heigth nor depth nor any other creatâ—re shal be able to separate them from the loue of God which is in Christ Iesus our Lord who hath made them Kâ—ngs and Priâ—sâ—s vnto God even his father and they shall reign on the earth till hâ—uinâ— serâ—ed here theâ—r time they come to reign with him in glorâ— in â—he heauens for euer 2â— Vnto the participation of these promises and heauenly graces are all peoâ—les â—râ—uoked by the Gospell â—reached and such as obey the câ—lâ—â—ng of Gâ—d anâ— come vnto Chrâ—st are vnited vnto him theâ—r head and â—edâ—atâ—r from whomâ— proceedeth the Iustification and sanctificatioâ— of tâ—e Churcâ— 24. Iustification is the partaking of Christs justâ—ce or righteousnes â—n his fulfilling and obeyinâ— the law of God and dâ—schargâ—ng all ouâ— depts and trespasses by his death so freeing vs from the curse and setâ—ing vs in full fauour with God and vnder his blesâ—â—ng which righteousnesse of Christs is fully made ours and impâ—ted to vs by faith for our justification 25. Sanctification is the partakâ—ng of Christs holynes by being graffed with him to the simillâ—tude of his death and resurrection whereby the corruption of nature or old man in vs becometh crucified and buried with him and the new man or image of God is put on and renewed dayly in a holy conuersation 26. Hâ—thâ—rto of the Churches union and communion with Christ her head now followeth the union of the churches memberâ— one with another which is theirâ— couâ—ling togither as one body by the communion of one and the same spirit faith and loue 27. The vnion of the members one with another is to be considered generally or totally and particularly Generally as the châ—rch is called vniuersall or caâ—holik comprehending the whole family of God in heauen and in earth and the fraternity or brotherhood of all Christians which are â—n the world in whome there is but one faith in one and the same God by that one Lord Iesâ—s Christ throuâ—h one Spâ—rit Thus haue they all one Father which is God one mother Ierusalem which is aboue and by the mediation of Chrâ—st are all made one baptised by one spirit into one body and al made to drink into one spirit 28 More Particularly they that are called of God and members oâ—â—he Church vniversall are vnited and gathered into many churches or congregatioÌ„s in several cities countrâ—es every
Eph 4.11.12 14.15 16. 1 Cor. 12 27 28. See also Ioh 10.1 4.5 Act 20 28. Ioh. 21 15 16. But all the ministers of the church of England haue and execute the ministery of a fals church for so by the former argumeÌ„ts that church is proued Therefore they are not the true ministers of Christ and consequently not to be heard or obeyed as shepheards of our soules For the further descrying of the false ministery of this church I referr the good reader to a treatise lately published intituled Reasons and Arguments prouing that it is not lawfull to hear the Ministerie of Engl. And to an other heretofore published called A treatise of the Ministerie of the Church of England I will put enimitie between thee ô Serpent and the woman and between thy seed and her seed He shall crush thy head and thou shalt crush his heel Gen. 3.15 Forasmuch as the children are partakers of flesh and blood he also Christ himselfe likewâ—ise took part of the same that through death he might abolish him that had the power of death that is the Diuil and that he might deliuer them all which foâ— fear of death all their life time were subiect to bondage Heb. 2.14 15. And there was warr in heauen Michael and his Angels warred against the Dragon the Dragon also warred his Angels but preuailed not neither was their place found any more in heauen And cast was the great Dragon that old Serpent called Diuill and Satan that deceaueth the whole world cast was he into the earth and his Angels were cast with him Reu 12.7.8 9. A BRIEF ANSWER TO Mr BERNARDS BOOK INTIâ—VLED The Separatiâ—ts Scâ—isme WHen the former treatise was almost finished among other aduersaries Mr Bernard commeth forth to fight against the truth which but a while since he would needs seem to fauour but things not succeeding to his exspeâ—tation he hath changed his loue into hatred And in the bitternes of his zele he haâ—h sent out a treatise conteyning Disswasions from the practise of the Gospel which he pleaseth to call The separatists schisme or Brownisme Though in his book ther be little weight of reason or truth to be seen nor any thing which may grealy trouble a discreet reader who is but meanely acquainted without cause yet both for the stopping of the mans mouth if it may be who maketh huy and crie after some of vs as in his Prooeme to the reader he proclaymeth and for help of the simple who may be offended at the truth not discerning his frawd I thought it needful to obserue and answer briefly the principall things by him obiected many of which are before in this treatise and in other books more largely refuted and all of â—hem may if need require hereafter by some other be particularly refelled Herein now the Lord giue me wisdom to discouer this adversaries falsehood and thee good reader vnderstanding to discerne it Of his PROBABILITIES THE first meanes whereby Mr BERNARD would disswade from the truth which he calleth Brownisme are Probabilities or likâ—lihoods that the way is not good and they are in number as himselfe hath cast them seuen 1. The Novelty of it 2. The agreement thereof with ancient schismatiks 3. The ill meanes by which it is mayteyned namely by abuse of scripture deceauable reasonning 4. The want of approbation of the reformed Churches 5. The condeâ—nation thereof by all their Diuines vidz of the church of England 6. Gods iudgment against it 7. The â—ll successâ— it hath had Such lâ—kelihoods as these the Papists heretofore with as much colour and truth haue alleged against the church of England heathens and enemies haue in former ages obiected the lâ—ke things to the church of Christ and Mr Ber. speaketh but that which hath been spoken before him fulfillâ—ng the measâ—re of his forefathers But to the particulars The Novâ—lty he maketh to be in differing from all the best reformed churches in Christendome But if a Papist had to deal with him he would bring those reformed churches also within the câ—mpasse of Novelâ—y and then Mr Bern. would flee as his brethren before him haue done to the scriptures for antiquity as he would answer a Papist so wâ—ll I answer him let the scriptures speak for the differences between other churches and vs. But here Mr Bern. is mute and medleth not with thâ—s controversie he thought belike the very name of Noveltie and of the reformed churches would fray the simple If it be Nouelty to differ from the reformed churches then may he blame his own church â—f Engl. more then vs seing it differeth from those churches in mâ—e and weightier poynts then we doe yea it hateth persecuteth sileÌ„ceth excommunicateth those ministers people that stand vp plead for such things as the reformed churches haue and practise Agayn these churches haue reiected and writen against many of the Antichrâ—stian enormities that are now in England So if it be likely we are not in the truth because we dâ—ffer from the churches in few things it is more likely Mr Bern. and his brethren are not in the truth because they differ from them in many Wherefore let him first pull the beam out of his own eye Agayn where he standeth vpon the hard words which some of vs haue vttered of the Presbytery c. if he had not an evill and partial eye he mought haue seen many moe hard reproachful words vsed by his right reverend Fathers and fellow priests against the Presbytery and discipline which the reformed churches haue and the reforming ministers of Engl. would haue That still his weapon entreth into his own bowels His 2 likelihood he maketh to be our agreement with ancient schismatiks yet any poynts wherein we agree with them in evill he nameth not much leâ—â—e proueth but referreth us to Mr Giffords paynes herein who had long since his answer by Mr Greenwood to every particular of that his pretended consimillitude between the Donatists and vs to which answer I râ—ferr the reader Agayn this obiection is such as the Papists make against the church of England for so N. D. compareth Protesâ—â—nts with Donatists and let vs see what answer the Priests of England can make for themselues that will not as well if not better clear vs And to come a little neare to this oâ—r aduersary we could pâ—t Mr Ber. in mind of his own wayes wherein he might see himselfe more like a schismatik then any of vs for we openly professe our departure frâ—m the châ—rch of England as from a false church so proued by evident groâ—nds out of Gâ—ds word whereas Mr Bernard holding it to be a true châ—rch abâ—ding in it yet he and a hundred with him made not long since a pretended coâ—enant togâ—ther whereby they separated from the vnpreaching ministers and all that hate to be reformed Yet are those reaâ—ing priests of as â—ood authority by the Lawes and Canons of that Church as
also command and compell all the world to be ioyned vnto the church And thus the world and the church between whom there hath been perpetuall warr mought soon be reconciled If this be a lawfull and orderly course it is strange that Christ sent forth poor fishermen to conuert sowles by preaching and set not the princes which he could as easily have done seing he had al power in heauen in earth to make disciples by compulsion and penalty Now for the parable they allege it is apparant that the same seruant was sent to compell that was before sent to call the inuited and if this be meant of the Magistrate then kings must leaue gouerning and goe to preaching We finde in the scripture that compulsion is not alwayes by the ciuill sword but sometime by instant and earnest vrging of the word and doctrine as they that compelled the Galatians to be circumcised and he that compelled the Gentiles to Iudaize And from this word compell to vrge or gather a ciuill forced compulsion is with no more reason or colour then as if some factious rebells should take vp armes for to stablish religion and allege how it is written the kingdome of heauen suffreth violence and the violent take it by force For as force and violence here is not ciuill but spiritual so is compulsion to be taken in the parable But a throne sayth Solomon gets vp in a dronkards hand and a parable in the mouth of fools Prou. 26.9 They allege that the first conuersion of our land to the faith of Christ was by preaching of the gospell Whether this were so or not remayneth for them to proue in their next book for in this they doe it not They must I suppose take the preaching of the gospel in a large sense if they will proue it For as it is vncertayn what was the fayth of the ancient Brittaines or how they were converted so for the English Saxons which were conuerred from Paganisme Mr Bale one of their own writers saith that Austen the Roman was sent as an Apostle from Gregory 1. to conuert them to a popish fayth And by an other Chronicler we learne that Pope Gregorie 1. sent this Austen the monk into Engl. with fourty monks moe which entred the ile of Thennet on the east side of Kent with a crosse with banners displayed hauing a crucifix painted vpoÌ„ every one of them singing the Letany with Orate pro nobis to al Angels Archangels Patriarches Prophets Priests Apostles Martyrs Confessors Virgins Monks Nunns Heremites and finally to all hee Saincts and shee Saincts that they might haue good luck and wel to fare in setting forth their Romish religion But howsoeuer the conuersion of English men was then which is not now to be stood vpon till we hear the testimony of the best approued histories which these men say they haue for their assertion it is sure by the scripures that the churches in Rome Corinth and many other places were conuerted by the gospell yet remayn they not true churches still But say these ministers since that time many haue from age to age been called by the same means And so say I hath there been in Rome yet is she a harlot and not Christs spowse Great numbers say they were effuectally called in K. Edwards dayes I answer the whole land was compelled by ciuill force to change their forme of seruice in part and sundry true doctrines were taught in some places which some beleued but many disobeyed and rebelled as before is shewed Neyther was that confuse popish multitude with a few conuers therein a true visible church Mr Fox describeth the estate thereof by a similitude a a new face of things began now sayth he to appear as it were in a stage new players comming in and the old being thrust out Thus vpon that old stage of the popish church came new players to weet new Bishops Priests and the masse was then at first still by law reteyned but the gospel and Epistle read in English yet were not all new players for as is ther noted the preists and clergie that yeilded to the kings lawes were suffred to keep thâ—ir places liuings c. After this the king appoynted the c Archbishop of Cant with other Bishops c. to make one conuenient and meet order rite and fashion of common prayer and administration of Sacraments c. who did so Then in the Parliament following it was agreed that all ministers in the realm should be bound to say and vse the mattins euensong celebrating of the Lords supper c. in such order and form as was mentioned in the sayd book and none other or otherweise But the players it seemeth played not their parts well for after complaint is made how by the cloked contempt wil full winking and stubborne disobedience of Bishops and old Popish curates the book of common prayer was long after the publishing thereof eyther not knowne at all or els very irreverently vsed through many places of the realm Yet was there no great cause why the people should so despise it for as the K. answered to the rebels of Deuonsh if the seruice in the church was good in Latin it remayneth good in English for nothing is altered but to speak with knowledge that which was spoken in ignorance Now let the reader minde what was the estate of the church in those dayes and see if the word of God will approve it But there were say these men great numbers by preaching so effectually called that in Q Maries reign many sealed the truth with their blood I acknowledge it and say also that as there haue many martyrs died heretofore in the Popish church so I doubt not but great numbers at this day are by preaching so effectually called in Rome Spayn c. that if Turks or Pagans should preuayl ouer them they would mainteyn seal Christian religion with their blood rather then submit to Mahomet For as one of your best ministers hath truely sayd God of his infinite goodnesse who câ—lleth thyngs that are not as though they were even in that ministery hath giuen grace vnto his Saincts it was impossible that the man of sinne should so much adulterat the word of God but that it should be to the faithfull a gospel of salvation It is further alleged h there were sundry secret congregations all Q Maries dayes which gladly receiued the gospell offred by Q. Eliz. say thes ministers if it be sayd that they ceased to be the tru churchs of Christ becaus they ioyned became one body with such as were newly come and that not of conscience but for fear onely from idolatrie we answer that they rather that-had fallen from the Gospel in Q. Maries dayes were moued by Q Eliz proclamation to ioyne themselues vnto them that had stood faithfully all that while Here is still building