Marestie viz. that the writings of H. N. or seruice of Loue further true religion and godlinesse are most false and vttered either by some ignorants which know not what the Seruice of Loue meaneth or of policie to bleare his Highnesse eyes that hee should not perceaue the daunger of this pretended Loue Seruice Obserue next their opinion of this their Seruice of Loue as that it is the true safe-making Gods seruice besides which there is not any God seruice more neither in heauen nor yet in earth and that whoso haue not this seruice or withdraw themselues therefrom haue no liuing God and hence coniecture what their thoughts be not onely of the Seruice of the Church of England and all other Christian Churches but of the doctrine also in them professed with all professors of Christianitie ignorant and Aduersaries to H. N. and his newe Seruice Besides it is not to be neglected that the doctrine in the Seruice of Loue deliuered by H. N. in these places is called The newe day The day of the generall Resurrection The day of iudgement of the second comming of Christ of the restoring of all things of the fulfilling of all that which God hath spoken from the beginning of the world through the mouth of his holy Prophets and the Euangelists of his Christ All which plainly demonstrate H. N. his doctrine touching the generall resurrection the day of iudgement the second comming of Christ euerlasting life and finally the accomplishing of GODS promises made vnto the Patriarches Prophets and Church from euerlasting encluded in the writings of H.N. and so in the Seruice of Loue to be most hereticall and damnable This considered impudent and shamelesse are these Familistes that woulde beare the most religious Prince in hand that the writings of H. N. and Seruice of Loue make for the aduancement of godlinesse and honestie when rightly examined it ouerthroweth the very groundes and principles of true Religion without which there can bee no sounde practise of honestie and iustice among men The Family of Loue. TO the end that all people when they heare or read his writinges and doe thereby perceaue their sinnes The end of his writings and estranging from GOD and Christ mought endeuour them to bring forth the due fruictes of Repentance which is reformation and newenesse of life according as all the holy Scriptures doe likewise require the same of euerie one and that they mought in that sort become saued through Iesus CHRIST the onely Sauiour of all the world The Examination HEere reade wee the ende indeede of H. N. his wrightings Against the end of H. N. his wrightings viz. to inuite all men vnto repentance and newenesse of life and yet deserueth hee no praise at all as the Familistes woulde make his Highnesse belieue hee dooth for this exhortation of his For what meaneth hee by Repentance but that all men not yet of his Family should forsake or abiure the Religion which they haue beene brought vp in and vnlearne againe whatsoeuer they haue taken on and learned to themselues out of the Scriptures in the Christian assemblies where GODS word is read preached and hearde VVhat by newenesse of life But that wee become young ones in the Family or house of Loue VVhat by saluation but the state of a Familist which is all pure or of an Elder in the louely being All people sayth H. N. are called and friendly bidden through H. N. to the repentance for their sinnes and to the house of the loue of Iesus Christ the Rest of all the Saints or children of God (a) H.N. Cri voice c. 1. §. 1. Let euery one leaue now his owne word doctrine and taken on knowledge and also the word the doctrine and knowledge of al vnsent Preachers and good-thinking wise where-through yee are seduced c. and come now all to this same Sanctuarie of GOD (b) Ibid. c. 2. §. 5. meaning the house of Loue called before the Rest of all the Saints or children of God Come also now all which through your ignorant knowledge or misunderstanding haue withdrawen your selues sayth H. N. from this same stoole of grace and louely house of the Loue of Iesu Christ and from our Communalty taken occasion of offence at our littlenesse or simplenes at the godly Testimonies of our sayings and euen so made vp your selues as Resisters against vs and our good doctrine and exercises or orders separated your selues from vs and growen to be bitter minded or displeased toward vs together with all yee that haue mistrusted vs also not belieued the holy word of the eternall truth which we through Gods grace administer vnder the obedience of the Loue but doubted therof c. and repent you of your sinnes to your sanctification and to the health of your soules (c) Ibid. §. 7. On the other side saith H. N. All those which loue rather the darknes that the Light cleaue more vnto the world and the worldly thinges than vnto the gracious Worde in the Seruice of Loue heare belieue and followe rather their good thinking than the Testimonies of the holy Spirit of Loue which are set forth and offered vnto them by the Elders in the holy Communaltie of Loue out of the heauenly truth and euen so waxe offended thereat or hold them backe therefrom and resist the Seruice of Loue Those shall all if they turne them not to the Seruice of the Loue nor repent them of their sinnes become broken in pieces and iustly beare their blame or be punished with the euerlasting destruction and bide captiued for euer and euer with the death and mortalitie (d) H. N. Exhort c. 14. §. 10. Vnto this Repentance doth H. N. exhort This is the opinion which H. N. had and his disciples and schollers haue of themselues and their fauorers they are all forsooth in the state of saluation and cannot perish but they who neither bee Familistes nor wel-willers to their doctrine exercises and orders are all vnder the curse of God like eternally to bee damned vnlesse they alter their mindes and renounce their faith and religion thoughe grounded vppon the foundation of the Prophets and Apostles because with H. N. the Diuell is their Father (e) Spirit Land pres §. 9. and they are the children of wrath a cursed people coheires of the euerlasting fire (f) Ibid. §. 10. and shall bee cast into the bottom-lesse pit into the fire of Hell (g) H. N. Prouerbs c. 5. §. 15. Then which conclusions nothing is more Hereticall and accursed and this was it among other thinges why his Maiestie tearmed these Familistes Puritanes and a most vile Secte viz. euen because they deeme all the world besides themselues to bee but abhomination in the sight of God Their H. N. speaketh much of Iesus Christ in his bookes but in no one place that I coulde yet meete withall dooth hee acknowledge Christ to bee eyther true GOD or very man at least not
ye in like manner without Christ and against Christ although yee make great boast of him committe whoredome and deale nor walke not according to the doctrine or requiring of Christ If others thinke hardly and speake badly of these Familistes which are strangers vnto them and none of their societie and his Maiestie tearmeth them a vile Sect let them maruell noe more seeing H. N. the oldest Father of that Familie and priuie to all their actions and dealinges taketh them I meane many euen Almost all of them to bee but an whorish company making the voluptuousnesse of the flesh their freedome or summum bonum neither let them blame others hence forward as iniurious to their good manners For H. N. hath taught vs what they are The Familie of Loue. OR if wee doe varie or swarue from the now established Religion in this Land either in Seruices Ceremonies Sermons or Sacraments The Examination Here would I know what they meane by varying or swaruing from the now established religion in this Land If by varying they vnderstand any outward publique dissenting from the religiō established The Familistes Temporizers or from the Seruices Ceremonies Sacraments and exercises of the same by absenting from the Church or not frequenting and repairing vnto the sacred and approued assemblies then surely can they not he said to varie from our religiō and exercises at all For they neither altogether with the Brownistes nor in any Ceremoniall considerations with the halfe Brownists the Puritanes refuse to communicate with vs in the Seruices Ceremonies and other exercises of our Religion and so they doe or wil doe liued they at Rome as H. N. hath taught and willed them (a) Patterne of the pres Temps The Seruices or Ceremonies shall not saue any one saith H. N. without the good nature of Iesus Christ and of his seruice of Loue nor yet condemne any one in that good nature of IESVS CHRIST nor in the seruice of Loue (b) 3. Refrein §. 6. Hence it is that they neither accuse nor blame any folke for their religion whether the Ministers of the Popish Church or in any other Protestant and reformed Church which minister or vse the Ceremonial Seruices (c) Ibid. §. 2. prouided that they hold them still and suffer the Familists to be quiet and encrease neither striue they at all wheresoeuer they reside nor varie with any one about Religion (d) Patern◠of the pres Temps But this doth not extenuate their fault but aggrauate their offence for that they are pliable and conformable to all religions Seruices and times for their owne ease and aduantage and to shunne persecution and trouble which they will not suffer come of religion what will But if by varying from the now established religion in this Land c. they meane howe in their iudgement they condemne and doe not approue the religion Seruices Ceremonies and Sacraments ratified by the hie and lawfull authoritie of this Church as wherein The Familists most capitall enemies vnto sound Christian religion without the Seruice of their Loue or ministrie of H. N. his doctrine God is not delighted and whereby Christians please not the diuine Maiesty one whit but rather irritate and offend him then surely they doe more varie from the religion Seruices Ceremonies and Sacraments of the Church of England than doth any Brownist or Puritane or other aduersarie of the Church of England whatsoeuer For howsoeuer they showe themselues obedient and externally conformable by repairing vnto our Churches frequenting of Sermons vsing the Sacramentes and the like yet in their hearts and minde both present and absent either as childish they deride or as impious they condemne them all Witnesse H. N who speaking of vs and whosoeuer else bee not of his Familie whom they imagine to soiorne in the land of ignorance They build saith hee in scoffing and odious manner They build diuerse common houses which they name Gods houses And they occupie there manie-manner of foolishnesse or taken on Seruices which they name Religions or Gods seruices to waue or hold forth some thing before the ignorant people to a stay of the consent arising out of their spotted consciences whereby their might set their foolish consciences at peace (e) H.N. Spiritland c. 5. §. 1. Which our meetinges and Seruices elsewhere hee calleth false Exercises or vsages (f) H.N. 1. exhort c. 16. §. 2. which heare a goodly shewe wherewith many ignorant people that knowe not any difference betweene the true and the false light become seduced and deceiued And in another place Therefore cannot the Man whilest that he is not yet wholly Godded in one spirit of the godly Being with God occupie or vse any manner of Freedome that is falser wickeder absurder seducinger arroganter nor horribler against God his vpright Seruice nor yet daungerfuller nor distructionabler to the children of men than this Namely that any man should become so arrogant and free or vnbound of Hart that he out of an appeased Conscience or contented Hart shold dare to teach or set forth any thing through the imagination of the knowledge whether he then haue taken on the same Out of the learnednesse of the Scriptures or out of his good thinking wisedome as a Word or Commaundement of the Lord or yet to iustitute any Seruices Out of the letre of the Scripture accordinge to his good thinkinge and so to plucke or make subiect the hearts of men to destruction thereunder So H. N. (g) Ibid. §. 14. And further No man saith H. N. (h) Ibid. 16. can rightly according to the truth of the holy Scriptures nor according to the spirituall vnderstanding of the godly wisedome deale-in or vse the true Gods seruices nor the seruices of the holy word it becommeth not like wise that any man saith H. N. should take-in hand to busie himselfe thereabout but onlie the illuminated Elders in the godlie wisedome which walke in the House of Loue c. are cuē so Godded with God or incorporated to God in all Loue. With whom also God in one Being and power of his holy spirit is hominified or become Man And then obserue the execrable spirit of these men Therfore it is assuredly all false and lies seducing and deceitfull what the vngodded or vnilluminated Men out of the imagination or riches of their knowledge and out of their learnednesse of the Scriptures bring-forth institute preach and teach They preach indeede the Letter and the Imagination of their knowledge but not the word of the liuing God All this hath H. N their prophet (i) Ibid. §. 17.18 which well may shew that the bodies of his Familistes may be in our Churches and at Seruice Sermons and Sacramēts but their harts doe loath whatsoeuer they doe either see or heare though it be neuer so firmely grounded apparantly deriued frō Gods written word if the same either proceede not neither be vttered by the deified
GOD and man in one person but commonly with him hee is an allegoricall CHRIST meant either by the Sabbaoth day which the Lord commaunded to be alwayes had in remembrance (h) H. N. Enang cap. 13. §. 2. 2 Document-sent c. 3. §. 4. or by the Seruice or doctrine of H. N. which also is CHRIST after the flesh (i) Exhort c. 14. §. 1. as hee vnderstandeth the Scriptures or by the vertuous qualities and Being in godly men (k) Enang c. 13. §. 16. 1. Exhort c. 1 §. 24.25 ca. 20. §. 5. or by the oldest Elder in the Familie which sometimes was H. N. and is now one man now another (l) Euang. c. 31. §. 12.14.16 An obedient and godly life is Christ Iesus saith the Exile (m) Patterne of pres Temps And so are men saued by the doctrine of this Familie either by their owne workes or vertues or by their Oldest Elders or by the doctrine of H N or Seruice of Loue or by the holie Rest but neuer by our Christ acknowledged in the Church of England Thus haue yee the ende of H. N. his writinges suitable certes vnto his method and doctrine for which he is so renowned but to their small comfort and credit among the Familistes The Familie of Loue. NOtwithstanding deare Soueraigne yet hath the said Author and his doctrine a lone time and stillis The Families complaint most shamefully and falsely slandered by our foresaide aduersaries both in this Land and in diuers others as to be replenished with all manner of damnable errors and filthie libertie of the flesh The Examination AFter a long and lothsome narration they come now to a new complaint and that still on the behalfe of their H. N. and his disciples It is not yet an hundred yeares since the said author was borne nor 60. yeares since his doctrine came first to light and was broched nor 50. yeares yet since it arriued in this realme a blessed thing had it beene for many a Christian soule had either H. N. neuer breathed or his doctrine neuer beene hatched But how many yeares soeuer haue passed since his opinions and mysteries came to light if hitherto they bee all knowen through the goodnesse of God yet there is not one of al the Churches Protestant and reformed that fauoureth but all bid open and vtter defiance to H. N. his bookes and errors H. N. himselfe in his life time much complained that all degrees in all Lands abhorred his writings (a) H.N. 1. refrein §. 4. In this Land both H.N. and his lothsome which he calleth Louely Familie of Loue haue beene displaied once confuted often resisted alwayes but shamefully and falsely slandered either by forraine or home-writers it was neuer that hetherto I could heare and so must I thinke till I see the extant writings against them conuicted of vntruthes and disproued as slanderous That H.N. his bookes are replenished with damnable errors it will be iustified and hath alreadie in this examination and else where beene manifested The Familie of Loue. AND wee his wel-willers and fauourers in the vpright drift of his doctrine as aforesaid haue also been by them complained on and accused vnto our late gracious Soueraigne the Magistrates of this Land both long time past and nowe lately againe as to bee a people so infected and stained with all manner of detestable wickednesse and errors that are not worthie to liue vpon the earth but yet would neuer present any of his bookes vnto his Maiestie to peruse nor yet set them forth in any indifferent or true manner to the viewe of the world least their malitious and slanderous reportes and accusations against the same and vs should thereby haue beene reuealed and disproued to their great shame The Examniation NOw complaine they of iniuries offered to themselues The verie drift of H.N. is to thwart or discredit rather whatsoeuer is taught in the Church of England and else-where from the letter of the holy Scriptures and to bring in another Gospell viz. after H. N. Such as are the wil-willers and fauourers of H.N. in the said his drift as the Familists here confesse themselues to be not only deserue to bee complained vppon and accused vnto authoritie but to bee accursed of God and man if they persist in their wicked course as a people infected with most detestable wickednesse and errors and the verie plague and bane of sound religion And those men which haue acquainted authoritie with their errors and impieties haue done good seruice therin and their bounden duties both vnto God his Church and the State Whether any of H. H. his bookes haue beene presented vnto our late most gratious Soueraigne of aie blessed memorie I cannot say but I surely coniecture that shee could not be ignorant of the contents of his writinges when the Lords of her Counsaile as afore hath beene declared censured some of her house-hold seruants for abbetting H. N. and his detestable heresies They which againe doe say that their aduersaries would neuer present any of H. N. his bookes vnto her Maiestie to peruse say more then they can affirme yea which is palpably vntrue For who abhorreth H. N. his bookes or H.N. rather for his hereticall blasphemies but euer were desirous that his said errors contained in his books might in his said bookes be read of her Maiestie that by her authoritie the better they and al such as fauour those bookes containing such errors might condignely be censured When these Familistes dare tell his Maiestie that their aduersaries would neuer present H. N. his bookes nor any of them vnto her Highnesse it appeareth they herein saying true that she had alwayes about her some Familistes or fauourers of that Sect who alwaies related or bare tidinges what was donne or intended against them It is wished that his nowe Maiesties Court were purged from such well willers and fauourers of H. N. in the maine drift of his hellish hereticall doctrine where-with her Maiesties was but too-much replenished How H. N. his bookes by their aduersaries haue beene set-forth the worlde may iudge 26. yeares haue they beene extant a sufficient time for the Familie both to iustifie their H. N. and to discouer the malice slanderous reports of their accusers if there were iust cause Hitherto haue the Familistes beene silent and yet are both confident in their wicked courses not ashamed to expresse so much before his most-Christian and royall Maiestie The Familie of Loue. THrough which their most-odious false complaints against vs the Magistrates did then A new and odious narration and also haue now lately cast diuers of vs into prison to our great hinderance and discredite but yet haue neuer proued against vs by sufficient and true testimonie any one of their many foule accusations as the records in such cases and the magistrates that haue dealt therein can testific but are so vtterly voide of due and lawfull proofe thereof that they
by the hard dealing of our aduersaries For we are a people but fewe in number and yet most of vs very poore in worldly wealth The Examination HIs Maiestie by good aduise and counsell hath ratified the Religion of his immediat Predecessor cōprised in 39. Articles agreed vpon by the whole Clergie of this Realme in a lawful assembly or Conuocation holden Anno. 1562. Hee hath also published his directions (a) Eccles constitut can an 1604. how all and euery his Subiects of England publikely shall carry themselues according to their religion in all places If these Familistes therefore will professe the same religion with him and his truly good Subiectes if they also will frequent orderly the sacred Assemblies and Sacraments if they will demeane themselues as it becommeth sober Christians and laye aside all H. N. his erroneous and detestable writinges if they will approoue the Seruice of the Church of England and finally forsake their conuenticling chaire preachinges and Seruices administred among them by their illuminated and codeified Elders they neede feare no persecution or trouble otherwise why should they not feare the sword when they will not be ordered by the word of God They say they are in number but fewe But herein they abuse his Maiesties royall eares and eyes It is well knowen howe twentie fiue yeares agoe the number of them was great and they dispersed in diuers partes as Surrey Sussex Middlesex Bark-shire Hamshire Essex I le of Eley Cambridge-shire Suffolke Norfolk in the North parts and finally in most shires of this Realme In those daies they did abound were growen to such a number as the displayer of the Secte deliuered howe his heart did rue to speake that which one of the same societie did auouch to him for truth (b) Display pref Not a fewe Ministers of the simple sort were with H. N. his fancies entangled nor the chiefest place of the Realme free from these men (c) Ibid. E. 4. a. Since that they are diminished I heare not but them to bee hugely encreased through rufull conniuence I haue arguments to thinke but that their encrease may be hindered I hope authoritie will take order They say they are also poore or the most of them but if the booke of their names called of them The booke of Life could be seene it would then appeare I doubt not that both the number of them is great and most of them very rich It is further obserued that those poore ones which suffer imprisonment any where for H. N. and his Seruice are well maintained while they are in durance which argueth that good contributions among them are made for the supportation of their Secte which cannot be performed without good store of wealth The Family of Loue. OSacred Prince we humbly pray Their Conclusion that the Almightie will mooue your Princely heart with true iudgement to discerne betwixt the right wrong of our cause according to that most certaine and Christian rule set downe by our Sauiour Christ vnto his disciples Math. 7.12 Yee shall know the tree by his fruites and in our obedience peaceable and honest liues and conuersation to protect vs and in our disobedience and misdemeanor to punish vs as resisters of Gods ordinance or the kingly authority most high office of iustice committed vnto your Maiestie to that purpose towards your subiects Rom. 13. The Examination THey woulde insinuate into his Maiesties heart how they are The good trees In their Courtly deuice they say that the onely difference betwixt them and the learned Preachers whom they take of all others to be their most capitall enemies is That what the said Preachers do say The Familists desire to doe as if they onely and none besides had a desire to doe the will of God But what speake I of desiring to do Gods will They do it indeed and really perform it For they cannot bring-foorth any thing else but all good and Loue (a) Docum sent c. 2. §. 1. nothing is able to plucke them from the Word nor to make them consent to any euill or vanitie (b) Ibid. c. 13. §. 5. That which they know not in the death is now appeared vnto them in euerlasting Life The death is nowe among them swallowed vp in the death the euerlasting Life is come vnto them in the Renewing of their Life The Hell is iudged or condemned to the pit of Hell The Heauen is shewed vnto them in the heauenly Being or forme (c) Spir. Land c. 44. §. 10.12 They are come to the Rest of all the Holy ones and children of God and euen so they eate of the wood of life which standeth in the middest of the pleasant garden and liue eternally (d) Ibid. c. 55. §. 9. They are subiect to no Gods nor lawes or Ceremonies but onely to the Lord their God and to his most-holy Seruice of Loue. They are not likewise subiect in bondage vnto the Creatures neither yet to any created thing but only to the Creator c. All their Life Minde and delight only is in God and God himselfe likewise with his mind Life or Spirit is in them and they are euen so of one Conformitie or substance with each other namely God and his people of peace (e) Ibid. c. 40. §. 1.2.18 There is no wickednesse nor malicious Imaginations among them neither yet vision of euill (f) Ibid. c. 33. §. 9. Holie good are pure are all their workes and thoughts (g) Ibid. c. 34. §. 11. They are Gods habitation (h) 1. Exhort c. 12. §. 38. c. 20. §. 7. the seale of Gods Maiestie (i) Proph. of the Spir. c. 7. §. 15. God his Saints (k) Ibid. c. 19. §. 14. his acceptable people (l) Fidel. decl c. 4. §. 11. the children of the kingdome (m) Spir. land pres §. 7. the holy Cittie of peace the new Ierusalem descended from Heauen (n) Ibid. §. 17. the rest of all the Saints or children of GOD (o) Cri. voice cap. 1. §. 1.3 the bodie of Christ (p) Ibid. c. 3. §. 2. one with GOD and GOD one with them (q) Spir land c. 36. §. 1. they are risen from the death with the Resurrection of the Righteous in the euerlasting Life and liue eternally (r) Ibid. c. 37. §. 2. Infinite such words and places from themselues and their H. N. might be alledged or shewe the heauenly condition of these aboue all other men iustifying his Maiesties words altogether that they are a vile Sect thinking themselues onely pure and in a manner yea altogether many of them without sinne the onely true Church and only worthy to be participant of the Sacraments and all the rest of the world to be but abhomination in the sight of God and so rightly properly and principally the most odious Puritans vnder the coape of Heauen The Almightie and all-prouident God which hath inspired his Maiestie with the
loue raised-up the gracious word according to his promises and elected H.N. thereto for to minister the same c. (c) H. N Prouerbs c. 1. §. 6. And in this Prouerbs againe Through which gracious word and N.N. God reuealed sayth he the appearing of the comming of Christ and the newe day of his righteous iudgement as also the flowing foorth of his holy Spirit of loue to the awaking and raising vp of all his holy-ones out of sleepe to their glorious Lordliness with Iesus Christ and to an euerlasting fast-standing Kingdome of the godly Maiestie vpon earth according to his promises (d) Ibid. §. 17. And afterward Thus hath God declared with H.N. the eight thorough-breaking of his true light vpoÌ„ the earth wherein the Lord the God of heauen restered the former Kingdome with his garnishing together with all that which God hath spoken from the beginning of the World through the mouth of his holy Prophets c. (e) Ibid. §. 18. In his exhortation God hath illuminated him he saith with his light for to illuminate or giue light to them that dwell yet in darknesse vpon the earth (f) 1. Exhor c. 19 §. 8. And finally in his first Epistle All people are called and friendly bidden through H. N. to the repentance for their sinne c. Not alone with his calling but also with all the Scriptures heauenly Testimonies and spirituall voyces of the Eternall Truth which are gone forth from the holy spirit of loue and brought to light through H. N. (g) 1. Epist or Cri. vâ—â—ce c. 1. § 1. And why all this but to the ende that as himselfe aduiseth the young ones in the Family should not distrust nor suspect any manner of euill or vnwisedome by him nor yet in any wise perswade themselues that the Exercises Documents and instructions which are taught or set forth before them by him the Father of the Family of Loue or oldest elder are too childish or too vnwise for the to follow after (h) 1. Exhort c. 13. §. 11. But the childe of God must alwaies haue in remembrance that many false Prophets are gone into the world and therfore is not to belieue whatsoeuer is affirmed but trie the spirits whether they are of God Because men receiue not the loue of the truth that they may be saued God will send them strong delusion that they shall belieue lies that they may be daÌ„ned which belieued not the truth but had pleasure in vnrighteousnesse (i) 2. Thes 2. V. 10.11 The more H. N. boasteth of himself that he is illuminated from aboue the lesse is he to be credited the more to be suspected Let him proue his preparation his election vocation and generall Apostleship from Gods word which he shall neuer doe or let him be accursed yet a because he arrogateth to himselfe the diuine nature and most heretically and blasphemously auoucheth that whatsoeuer the Prophets haue foretold are fulfilled in him and the like and all this to the end that his idle reuelations cloaked vnder his Loue-seruice may the more slily enter into the mindes of wel willing and good meaning people hold him and all that hold with and applaud him and his fanaticall speculations euermore accursed The Family of Loue. O Out of which Seruice or writings we be taught all dutiful obedience * Vntrue towards God and Magistrates The seruice of Loue. and to liue a godly and honest life and to loue God aboue all things and our neighbours as our selues agreeing therein with all the holy Scriptures as wee vnderstand them The Examination ALL this tendeth to the raising vp of credit to H. N. his writings which sheweth of what spirit these men are In their Courtly deuise inscribed vnto the last Earle of Lecester they let not to say that were all the books of H. N. rightly considered of with indifferencie so should they be found Assistants in all to the Religion established in the Church of England and no hinderers Here I take which they grant that the holy Scriptures teach all these things next that the religion established in the Church of England is sound and euery way good and true But that the Seruice of Loue the writings of H. N. truly indeed so teach as they would beare his Maiestie in hand I cannot thinke for diuers reasons 1. They hold That neither before nor without their most holy Seruice of Loue c. the true light hath not been set forth ministred nor taught that there shal likewise no other light nor cleerenes that can be true appeare nor yet come hereafter but the light of loue (a) H. N. 1. â—r doct c. 16. §. 10 which is the new doctrine deuised by H. N. that we so condemne 2. They teach that it is assuredly al false lies seducing deceitful that the vngodly or vnilluminated Men out of the imaginatioÌ„ or riches of their own knowledge out of their learnednesse of the Scriptures bring forth institute and teach (b) Ibid. §. 17. Then is not H. N. his doctrine Seruice of Loue grouÌ„ded vpon the written word of God but vpon I know not what visions Anabaptisticall reuelations and therefore to be held most execrable Thirdly they say There is nothing more needfull to the man at the first where-to enter into life then that he humble himself vnder the obedience of loue meaning the instructions of H. N. so become taught in the Seruice of Loue for to vnlearne againe al what he hath taken on and learned to himselfe (c) Spir. land c. 56 §. 7. which counsayle of vnlearning is rife and euery where as it were the first thing deliuered to the Nouices in the Loues seruice (d) H. N. exhort c. 13. §. 9. Cri. voice c. 1. §. 7. which manifesteth their religion to be newe and singular when the doctrine in our Churches taught and embraced must all be vnlearned and abhominable and corrupt for the entertaining of theirs which they vaunt to be celestiall Fourthly because they may not talke of their secrets either yet vtter their mysteries opeÌ„ly or nakedly in the hearing of their young children disciples (e) H. N. Prouerbs c. 22. §. 15. that is as H. N. sayth til they haue attained the age of 30 yeares and are come to their manly age and haue beardes (f) Ibid. c. 21. §. 1. They might and would talke of their secrets might their exercises and mysteries abide the hearing of godly modest persons as Gods holy word and our doctrine deriued from the sacred Scriptures will Last of al because the Seruice of Loue and books of H. N. so and none otherwise make to the aduancement of godlinesse and furtherance of virtue then they vnderstand the Scriptures And indeed the make od interpretations of Gods word turning light into darkenesse truth into falsehood histories into allegories and sound religion into fancies of men But as others
blessed gift of discerning spirits enhable his Maiestie with spirit and vertue from aboue that hee may remoue these stumbling blockes and causes of diuision if they will not repent and both in heart and hand ioyne with his Church and people For hee beareth not the sword in vaine Rom. 13. The Familie of Loue. AND gratious Soueraigne wee humbly beseech your Highnesse with Princely regard in equitie fauour to pouder and grant the humble sute contained in this most lowely supplication of your loyall true harted faithful afflicted subiects to remember that your Maiestie in your book of Princely graue fatherly aduise to the happie Prince your Royal Sonne doth conclude that Principis est parcere subiectis debellare superbos and then to doubt God will blesse your Highnesse and all your noble off-spring with peace long life and all honors and happinesse long to continue and raigne ouer vs. For the which we will euer pray with incessant prayers to the Almightie The Examination HITHERTO in their Supplication the Familistes haue quarrelled with his Maiestie for calling them Puritanes they haue callenged his Highnesse of vntrueth as vttering that in a publike writing against them which neither himselfe is able to iustifie nor any indifferent man dare auouch they confesse further they haue by them and haue reade certaine bookes which the royall and supreame authoritie of this Realme hath prohibited them either to reade or haue they haue commended to the Starres that monster among men H.N. both for his heauenly vocation calling Office bookes and writinges which not onely all the learned and godly Prelates and Preachers but the whole Church of England yea all Churches Christian as most impious and Antichristian vtterly condemne they haue intimated that neither his Maiestie nor his people vnlesse they submitte themselues vnto the Seruice of Loue deuised by H. N. shall be saued they haue enticed his Highnesse to read and peruse bookes both poysonfull and dangerous they haue condemned all other men in this Realme not siding with them as cursed and vnfruitefull trees and all this willingly studiously professedly and apparantly they haue done the least of these crimes deseruing royall indignation in an hie degree Now what doth our Familie Craue they pardon meekly at his Maiesties hands for these their offences audaciously committed Noe such thing yea they proceede in their disloyall course boldely crauinge though with humble wordes yet with proud hearts what they haue sued for may readily bee graunted them Yea as earst so here they both set out themselues as submisse and duetifull subiectes condemning all others especially their aduersaries as proude and wishing punishment vnto them and aduancement with fauour vnto themselues yea they let not to say how his Maiesty may feare great plagues to light vpon him if hee punish them but shall bee sure both hee and his posteritie of longe life much prosperitie and eternall happinesse if he shewe fauour to the Familie of Loue and their cause A gracelesse and audacious companie The Familie of Loue. MOst-gratious Soueraigne Their Postscript here followeth the briefe rehersall and Confession of the Christian Beliefe and religion of the company that are named the Familie of Loue. Which for the causes therein specified was by them set out in print about that time whē they were first persecuted imprisoned in this Realme for the same profession by their aforesaid aduersaries and by meanes of their false accusations and complaints vnto the Magistrates against them the which we haue thought necessarie to present here with vnto your Maiestie for that you may therby the better vnderstand of our innocent intent and profession whatsoeuer you shall heare reported to the contrarie by our enimies or by any that be ignorant therof humblie beseeching your Highnesse to vouchsafe to read the same and with your vnpartiall and godly wisedome to consider and iudge of vs and our cause in equitie and fauour accordinglie till your Maiestie shall haue further true intelligence thereof The Examination THe confession here mentioned and tendered as they saie I neuer sawe yet haue I heard well thereof It was published in the yeare of our Lord. 1575. That so long ago or since the Familie of Loue were persecuted and imprisoned for the same Confession or professing the same is both an egregious vntruth a slander of the State and a false information It is obserued concerning H. N. that for the propagating of his Loue Seruice hee hath bookes of sundry natures and sorts some for Nouices wel-willing ones and some for the elder sort grown into the manly vnderstanding of the Familie mysteries Of the former be N. N. his Instructions of the vpright Faith and christian Baptisme his Crying voice his First exhortation and such like which may bee confessed among the adulterous and sinnefull generation and the false hearts of the Scripture learned (a) H. N. 1. Exhort c. 6. §. 5.7.8.9 The latter sort containe the Loue secretes or priuie mysteries communicable only with such as are come vnto the manly age and haue Beards (b) H. N. Prou. c. 21. § 1. and sit vpon the seates of the Elders or wise and daiely heare the secret mysteries of all matters (c) Ibid. §. 2. Yee shall not talke of your Secrets either yet vtter your mysteries openly or nakedly saith H. N. vnto these Familists in the hearing of your young children and disciples but spare them not saith hee in the Eares or hearing of the Elders which can vnderstand the same and are able to beare or away with the sound thereof For it is giuen to the Elders to vnderstand the priuie mysteries of the wise and to expounde their parables (d) Ibid. c. 22. §. 15. So these Companions this Familie of Loue they haue among them good bookes after the Scripture learning common with vs and agreeable to the religion professed by his Maiestie and ratified by the lawes of this Realme and they haue also the workes and bookes of H. N. Elidad Fidelitas and other Familie Elders vndermining the found and Christian doctrine comprised in the Confession mentioned This Confession of theirs or ours rather they waus about which worde H. N. vseth in scorne of our Confessions and religion (e) Spirit land cap. 5. §. 5. as Children doe their Banners when they are at play but H. N. and their Familie Elders books are they which they only studie read at their meetings delight in and practice Besides which both Confession of ours and bookes of H. N. and such Illuminates they haue their Conuenticles verball traditions vnwritten or vnprinted verities and priuate exercices through which they growe vp in the Loue according to the Requiring of her Seruice (f) Elidads exhort § 5. where all things needfull to be knowen or declared are alwaies according to the capacitie of their vnderstanding brought and declared vnto thē (g) Ibid. §. 17. viz. vnto the young or newborne Children according to their yongnesse vnto the weake according to their weakenesse vnto the stronge vp-growing Men according to their habilitie or strength and vnto the Elders according to their Dayednes or olde age (h) Ibid. §. 18. where neither some heart All nor all heare some secrets or priuie mysteries of their Sect. It is not for the confession here spoken of it is for H. N. and other Familie books which they detaine by them and studie and for their vnlawfull Loue exercises and meetinges that they are troubled let them leaue burne or deface these bookes of H. N. and cleaue vnto this Confession and then without farther molestation imprisonment or persecution they may enioy the benefites and liberties of his Maiesties good subiects which that they may doe is mine hartie desire and prayer vnto Almightie GOD. FINIS