to call ernestley vpoÌ„ god for delyuerance wythoute or agaynste thys order as thoughe he had begonne or enterprysed that thyng by the wyll and coÌ„maundemente of God he shall auayl no more then Ismael dyd agaynst the Babiloniens in kyllyng Godolias .iiii. of the Kynges .xxv. chapter and Hieremye .xl. chapter But go to we wyl bryng furth out of the armorye and storehouse of the scryptures weyghtye exaumples where by it shall be made manyfeste and plaine bothe by what meanes god delyuereth hys electe and alsoo howe vnfortunatelye and vnluckelye they dyd spede whiche dyd go aboute to delyuer theym selues by boldenes ond tumulte agaynste the wyll of God The people of Israel dydde serue in Egipte certayne hundred yeares beynge oppressed wyth sundrye and dyuers labours and greuouslye afflycted besydes that they were compelled too se howe theyr chyldren and infantes as soone as they were borne were drowned in the ryuer of Nilus By and by as soone as they beganne too call to the Lorde wyth a trewe heart they were hearde of the Lorde For he dydde sende Moises whyche shoulde be a captayne and a delyuerer of the people He dydde carye theym drye shoed thoroughe the redde Sea and dydde drowne Pharao wyth all hys hoste and armye in the botome of the deepe Exodus the fourtene Chapter Saule kynge of the Israelites dyd kyll and murther the Prophetes of God and persecuted the innocente and ryghtuouse Dauid Oh most godly Dauid that we might haue grace in our troubles and affections and when we are most oppressed to ensue folowe thy steppes god graunte we maye Dauid dothe notte reuenge hym selfe nor put hym from hys kyngdome but rather he flyeth him selfe and when he had fallen twyse intoo hys handes he spare hym and dyd suffer hym too goo awaye vnhurte or wythoute harme sayinge The Lorde be mercyfull vntoo mee that I doo not that thynge too my Lorde the anoynted of the Lord that I should lay mine hand vpon him for he is the anointed of the lord The Lorde lyueth that excepte the lorde doth smyte hym or hys daye become that he dye or he goyng downe too battayle do perysshe the lorde be mercyfull vnto me that I do not lay mine hand vpon the anointed of the lord .i. of the kings xxiiij At an other tyme when Abisai did saye The lord hath shutte vp to day thine enemy into thine hands now therfore wil I thrust him thorow with a spear to the ground once it shall be no nede of the seconde time Dauid sayde vnto Abisai Doo not sley him For who shal lay his hands vp on the anointed of the lord shall be vngiltie .i. of the kinges .xxvi. cha These wordes my Simon being wel weighed and pondered do teach vs that we must not folow the blynd affection of our flesshe For when the time was come that the lorde had appointed not Dauid but the lord him self did take Saul away froÌ„ the world with the swerd that he him self had sent dyd set vp Dauid in the roial kingly seat The chyldren of Israel haue bene many times afflicted vnder tirants vngodly kynges as we haue in the history of the iudges no man did go about of his own head or of his owne industry to deliuer them But the lord him self did deliuer them by Gedeon Samson Iephte other like whoÌ„ he him selfe had chosen to suche businesses Who doth by sedition tumult inuade or come vpon the vngodly king Achab. when he doth set vp ydols commaundeth that innocent good man Naboth to be stoned to death keping neither ryght nor equitie slaying the prophetes persecuting Helias tyl that the lord doth styrre vp Eliseus which at the commaundement of god doth anoint Iehu king that he shuld take vengeaunce for the lord of the vngodly .iiii. of the kinges ix.x So Ioâ—ada did vnto Athalia so the king of the Assirians did to Manasses How long time did the Emperours of Rome shede the christian bloud yet notwtstandyng no man goeth about to better it by tumult til Constantinus Magnus did come I could reherse vnto the Thrasibulus a tirant of the Athenienses William Tell Stouffaker tirants of the Heluetians but we wyll be content with the examples of the scripture SI Shalt it then be alwaies lawful to tirants to be vngodly that wtout punishment which of the words of Paul Ro. xiii Do take a cloke a buckeler shielde of their own malice vnder the which they fraude deceiue they steale they robbe they slaye they murther confounde all things they euery foote slea the poor commons to the very bones with new exactyons taxes subsidies being in the mean season giuen to riot and outragyous excesse to drunkennes to vnlawful gaining to whordome and most vniuste warres and therwith committing moste detestable dedes and wycked factes agaynste god and the common weale But I wil shewe to the out of Hieremy .xv. chap that the people is punisshed of god because that they thus suffer tyrauntes and vngodly prynces to kyll and flea without any punishment For after the .iiij. plagues that he doth rehearse there he addeth by and by the cause saying And I wil deliuer theÌ„ vp into the fury of al the kingdoÌ„ of the earthe that is to say I wil styrre vp againste them the fury rage of al the kingdoms of the earth for Manasses sake the sonne of Ezechias the kyng of Iuda for all the wyckednes that he hath done at Ierusalem Se in the .vii. of the kynges .xxi. chapt what wyckednes he did commit if the Iewes had not suffered their kynge thus wtout punishment to be so wycked they shuld not haue bene so greuouslye plagued of god It behoueth to pull oute the offending eie to cast it away likewise of the hand and of the fote IOI Here be .ij. questions The firste is whether the tyraunte must be remoued from his roume or not The seconde howe and by whoÌ„ Therfore I do not deny but that a wycked magystrate must be put downe but not the same way that thou wylte Noo man ought to kyll hym nor to styrre vp warre and sedition against him we must go to worke an other maner of way the matter muste be attempted and assayed by lawful meanes for god hath called vs in peace .i. Corinthians the seuenth chap the tyraunt must be taken away that do I not denye for Samuel dothe depose Saule from hys offyce and doth anoynt Dauid kynge ouer the people of Israel Ioiada putteth furthe Athalia from the ruledome and maketh Ioas a kynge If then a kynge be made by the common assente of all the people and begynneth too be wycked let hym agayne be put downe wyth common assente of the people excepte they wyll all be punysshed wyth hym And yf he be chosen by the coÌ„sent election of fewe princes let the people signifie shew unto them the wycked and vngodly lyfe of thys kinge
yet almighty God which is the searcher of the heartes and of the loynes knoweth what beaste ye nourysshe and beare aboute with you in your heartes Which thyng shall be manifest and open How we mai deliuer our selues from misery and calamitye wheÌ„ the lord shal reuyse the secretes of euery mans hearte Wyll ye then be rydde from the myserye that ye are wrapped in Will ye be deliuered from extorcion tyrannie and oppressyoÌ„ Remoue and put awaye the causes Let vs put awaye these enorme synnes that we are drowned in I meane vnfaythfulnes murmurynge agaynste GOD ingratytude and vnthankefulnesse Let vs banysshe from emonge vs vncleanelynes fornycatyon adulterye dronkennes backbytynge periurye vntrue dealyng vnlawfull othes and blasphemous swearynges Thys done let vs boldelye flye vntoo the Lorde and wyth earneste prayers procedynge from a trewe and an vnfayned faythe call vpon hym for ayde and succoure and wythout doubte he wyll heare vs. For the truthe it selfe dyd saye Psalme l. Call vpon me in the day of thy trouble and I wyll bothe heare and delyuer the that thou mayest gloryfye my name Marke thys well he dothe notte saye In thy trouble that is to say when thou art afflycted and oppressed runne into the fyelde and there mutter make vnlawfull assembles agaynste the magistrates but he sayth Call vpon mee addyng a most comfortable promyse that he wyll bothe heare and delyuer thee Seeke then the meanes that the Lorde hath appoynted the and folowe not thy carnall and flesshelye affectyons for they are blynde Carnalâ—◠〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ly affecâ—â—â—â—â— are blynde and wyll brynge the intoo all kyndes of calamytye and myserye whereas yf thou doest obeye goddes worde and suffer pacyentelye the wronge if any were done vnto that by the hyghe powers and rulers thou mayest be sure that he wyll deliuer the at length thoughe it be not so soone as thou woldest haue it For it is wrytten Psalme ix The poor shall not be forgotten alwayes the pacyente abydynge of the meke shall not perysshe for euer Oh that thys doctryne were prynted in all mennes heartes theÌ„ shoulde we haue lesse tumulte and sedytyon Tumult sedition dothe come of plain ignoraunce of gods worde whych truely doth ryse of nothing elles but of playne ignoraunce of gods worde and heauenlye truthe Were not the chyldren of Israel the chosen and elected people of God a longe season in Egipt beyng by the space of foure score yeres and more so sore afflycted and oppressed by that cruell tyraunte Pharao Exo. i. ii cha that besydes all other myseryes wherewyth they were there ouerwhelmed they were fayne to se all theyr men chyldren as soone as they were borne too be kylled afore theym or elles before theyr â—yen to be drowned in the riuer of Nilus And yet we doo not reade nor heare though they were six hundreth thousand men besides women and chyldren that there was euer anye mutteryng any insurrectioÌ„ or vnlawfull assembles emong them Exo. xiiij cha but dyd abyde styll pacientlye the helpynge hande of the Lorde whiche at lengthe when they did call earnestly vp on hym dyd deliuer them so mightely that without any sweard drawing they were reuenged of their enemyes whyche oppressed them Let vs doo the same let vs abyde paciently the helpyng hande of the Lord let vs put away vice and embrace vertue Praiers are the armure weapons of the christians in affliction Psalme ix callyng night and day vpon oure heauenly father For praiers are the armour and weapons of the christians wheÌ„ they are in affliction and trouble wee maye be sure that he wyll not forget vs the holy Prophete Dauid saying God forgetteth not the complaynt of the poore But yf we go about by vnlawfull meanes and wayes to delyuer our selues besydes that we shall runne as the late experience taughte vs intoo farther thraldome and bondage we shall without all doubt purchase vnto oure selues euerlastyng dampnatyon For why We doo resyst the ordynaunce of god Which to do is most dampnable as the holy Apostle doth testifye Rebelles goo aboute too bring their naturall couÌ„trey to vtter desolatyon Mat. xij chap Nowe let vs se intoo what parell and ieopardye these brayneles and vngodly folkes do most vnnaturally bryng theyr own natural countrey Do not they as much as in them lyeth by theyr sedityous tumulte go about to bryng it to vtter desolatyon Christ our sauyoure the euerlastyng wisedome of the father and eternall truth sayth Euery kyngdome deuided agaynst it selfe shall be brought to naughte And euerye Citie deuided agaynst it selfe shall not stande Wherby it may be gathered that they that seke or make anye diuision within a Realme or countrey do intend nothing els though they falsly pretende an other thyng but to brynge the same Realme or countrey to naught It is vnpossyble that the wordes of our sauyour whych is the truthe it selfe shuld be false Whych to be most true and infallible What Realmes coÌ„mun weales didde fall to decaye by dyuysyon daily experience doth suffycyently teache vs. For what thing I pray did bryng the florysshynge commune weale of the Assirians to naught Diuision What thing did make the Medes Persians and almoste all Asia soo weake that they could not withstande a handfull that came out of Macedonia Diuision What thinge did subuert and turne vpside downe that goodlye and well ordered common weale of the Lacedemonians whych in vertue and manlynes dyd farre excede all other men Dyuision What thyng did bring the Athenienses which were rulers of al Grecia and lordes of the seas to so greate thraldome seruitude and bondage that they could neuer get them selues into libertie agayne Diuision What hath broughte the Romaynes whyche by theyr prowesse had conquered al the wholl world into soo base a state that the lesse kyngdome of Europa is able too compare with them whyche afore made all the wholl world to tremble and quake at the dynt of their sword DiuisioÌ„ To be short what thyng did in tymes passe encourage the Danes and Normans too inuade thys countrey almost to the vtter vndoynge and confusyon of thys noble and florysshing Realme Diuision That I should in the meane season let passe and speake nothynge of the common weale of the Iewes and Israelites whiche after that they were ones deuyded agaynste them selues were neuer able to resyst theyr enemyes In so muche that at lengthe they were brought into perpetuall captiuitye and thraldome Read the holy Bible reade Iosephus Herodotus Iustinus Titus Liuius Sabellicus and for the historyes of Englande Polydorus Virgilius Ye may se nowe that by stirryng vp of diuision ye did brynge your owne naturall countrey into as great a paryll as myghte be God was the defender of this realme in the tyme of insurrction For onlesse God had beene a stronge Bulwarke vntoo thys moste victorious Realme of Englande and a moste fauourable father protectoure and defendoure vntoo oure Virgyn kynge for whose
men women be subiects to the higher powers for ther is no power but of god al the powers that are be ordened of god Therfore whosoeuer doth resyst the power doth resist the ordinaūce of god But they that resist shal receiue to them selues dampnation The fourth Dialogue ¶ Whether it be lawful to resist the magistrate where we do write against them that do rebel against magistrates rulers SIMO Tel Ioiada if there were a magistrat as ther be to mani which shuld do nothing wel nothing soberly nothing iustly according to right which being rebellyous to god his lawes shuld with infynit wrōges oppresse the good not reuenge them that suffer wrong nor yet delyuer them frō the handes of their enemyes were it not lawful to resist him Doth not Esaias cal the wicked maiestrats theues robbers Esai i. Doth not Christ cal them the power of darkenes Paul doth reuile Ananias to his face Actes xxiii calling hym a whited or painted wall IO. To an vngodly wicked magistrate his faultes wicked dedes are to be shewed that he may turne from them to a better life and that ought to be done now in time now out of time The fact of Paul hath some occasyon Be thou lyke to Paul and then imitate and folow Paules dede SIMO What auaileth if the wicked dedes of magistrates and prynces be rebuked sythe that they be wicked stil and amand not It were farre better that they should be roted out of the earth euen as Iehu and other did IO. Why and wherfore dost thou say so my Symon How farre hast thou ouer shoot thy self do not ye Catabaptistes datest and abhorre warrely tumultes But I se what it would be if al thinges should happen and chaunce too you All the doyngs of the Anabaptists do breath and sauour tumult confusion of all thynges accordyng to your owne desires I feare me lest all your doings do breathe and sauour tumulte and confusyon of all thynges Not so my Simon Paul saith i. Cor. vii chapter Let euery man abyde in that vocation that he is called in Arte thou called being a seruaunt Care thou not therfore but also if thou canste be made free vse rather the same SIM Thou dost heare then that he doth preferre fredom and libertie to seruitude bondage and warneth that if it may be done we do seke it IO. I heare that fredom and libertie is to be wisshed for and also yf it may be done conueniently to be embraced but I do not heare Liberti ought not to be sought by sedition and bloud sheding If all thinges were done as we would euery houre tumultes shoulde ryse that it oughte to be desired sought by seditions by tumultes by euyl waies by violence bloude warres Nor the apostles did euer vse such meanes for to be made free or to get thē selues to libertie therefore we muste abstayne also from them If al things were done by our councell euery houre tumultes and seditions should be styrred vp against the magistrate for euerye man as soone as any thing should not come too passe according to his luste inordynate desire shuld begin an vprore tumulte wold say The magistrate is vngodly he hath handled me agenst al right equity Shoulde not thus the christyan name be a cloke of tumults inordinate affections The Libertins go about to make the Chrstian name a cloke of tumultes confusion of al confusion SI Truly thys thynge must be tried proued by hands and by strength for wordes do not auaile wyth those tirauntes By and by as soone as anye manne doth rebuke their tirannye and wycked factes O brayneles Anabaptiste they waxe hote and angrye they threaten they take they caste intoo pryson they spoyle menne of their goodes they banishe they kyll and murther thē that are godly This waie neyther godlynes nor iustice nor good men are sene to Therfore this sore sickenes disease of the cōmon weale can not be holpen but by tumult the swerd that the vngodly may be vtterly destroyed roted out of the earth IO. That thing which to men semeth impossible before god is possible Therfore this high waighty vnsines matter ought to be committed to god with most ernest burning praiers for he saith God dothe neuer forsake hys electe Put or remyt the vēgaunce to me I wil reueng or require It is most sure that god doth neuer forsake his electe and that he doth neuer deny hys helpe vnto them that with a sincere heart and trew faith do call vpon him To them that are godly all thyngs the god doth seme well done Luk. xviii SIM But he doth helpe manye to late IOI To them that are godly in dede nothinge doth seme to soone nothinge to late that the lorde god doth worke They do receyue with a thankful heart what so euer their merciful father doth geue whether it be weale or woo they knowe that they are alwaies in the handes of their most boūteous father from the whiche nothynge can take them awaie They do commyt them selues altogether to this most mercifull father yelding them selues whollye to his will For they do remember the saying of Peter which saith The lord knoweth how to deliuer the godly from temptation how to kepe the vnrighteous to be punished in the day of iudgement Marke these goldē sayings and prynte them in thy mynd who souer thou be the art opressed and so committing thy self holly into the mercy of thyne heauēly father beware of deuylyshe tumult insurrection Also that saying of Dauid stycked in theyr mindes I neuer sawe the righteous forsakē Finally that golden sentence of Paul is neuer from their memory God suffereth not vs to be tempted aboue that we be able to beare maketh a ioyful prosperous ende wyth the temptation Wyth out doubt god doth alwaies deliuer hys trew seruauntes for eyther he doth illuminate and lighten the heartes of the tyraunts princes that they shall fauoure his electe as he dyd to Pharao towarde Ioseph too Cirus toward the Iewes to Xerxes toward Eseras to Artaxerxes towarde Rehemiah to Ahasuerus toward Mardorche to Nabugodonozer toward Daniel that the faithful and godly might haue some respit Or yf he be determined to vtterly destroye the tyrantes and vngodly rulers he begynneth that matter with so great and so notable signes and tokens that no man canne doubt of the good wyll of God and alsoo he doth alwayes atcheue and fynysh the thynge that he hath begon wyth a prosperous ende Now yf any man doth go about any delyueraunce Note thys dreadful example of Ismael whyche killing Godoly as the Babylonians depute dyd bring the remenaunt of the Israelites to vtter confusyon All ye that are oppressed let neuer thys goodly hystory be from your hert and then I truste that ye shall neuer haue mynd to insurrection tumult but rather
that it ought to be borne or suffered no longer let them be coÌ„maunded that haue chosen him to put him doune agayn Now here shall be all the labour What the tyraunt wyll do to them that dare speake against his wicked tirannye for against them the do thys thyng the tyraunt shall exercyse all kynde of crudelytye handlyng them accordynge to hys inordynate luste and whome it shall please hym he wyll sleye and murther But it is a gloryous thing to dye for ryghtuousnes and the truth of God And better it is too be slayne for the defence of iustyce and ryghtuousnes then assentyng vnto vnryghtuousnes It is far better to be put to death for defence of righteousnes then afterwardes to be kylled wyth the vngodly and wycked What we owe to do yf he be come to the kyngdome by the swerde or by enherytaunce or dyssembling to be afterwardes kylled to the vngodly and wicked They that can not awaye wyth thys thynge let theym suffer and beare a vycyous and proude tirannie and wyth hym let theym loke too receyue an extreame punysshemente Yet notwythstandyng the hande of the lorde is stretched furthe and threateneth a plague Finally yf he hath inuaded or come into the kyngdome by anye other chaunce as by strengthe or by enherytaunce we muste beare hym till the lord vouchsafe to delyuer the oppressed leste any commotyon and tumulte be styrred vp by vs for the kingdom of god is rightuousnes peace and gladnes in the holy ghost Romay .xiiii. There be then many waies wherby tiraunts may be taken away and put downe but we do wante a feruent study of rightuousnes and of the truth we do wante the feare of god and deuilish wickednes reigneth eueri where For it could not be possible that a tirant durst do so muche except there were mo wycked by whom he should mainteyne and vphold his tyrannye But fyrst and formest the prophetes that is to say the ministers of gods word must be bold to rebuke the synnes and wycked factes of Prynces rulers Which is the most commodious way to ouercome tyrauntes none other way more commodious to ouercome tirauntes can be then if the preachers of the truthe do once determyne too dye they muste put their bodies lyues to ieopardy Yf Nero Dominitanus Maximianus wyth other could not by murtheringe and sheding of bloud roote out and vtterly destroye the doctrine of Christ muche lesse shall these braynlesse and madde princes yf we do stand vp boldly oppresse the gospel and the truth This is not spoken in derogation of anye godlye prince 〈◊〉 Therfore this is the first and chiefest way that the ouerseers be not blynde that the dogges be not dombe that they put them selues a wall betwixte the synnes of the people and god that they amend vp the broken hedge The second that we do always The lawfull wayes and meanes to get our selues out of myserable oppressyon and without ceassing praye vnto god whych in his wrath and indignation maketh the hypocrytes too reigne for our sinnes Finally and last of all that we thyrst for ryghteousnes that we amend our liues and chaunge our coÌ„dytyons For yf we be godly and righteous it is impossible that a tyraunte do reigne longe SIM All Israel after the death of Salomon did swarue awaye forsake Roboam because he oppressed them to muche that of their own head iii. of the kynges and .xiii. chapter IOI Why doest thou not reade that whiche foloweth Why Goboam dyd not graunt the petityon of the people wherfore he was vtterly forsaken of ten trybes And the kinge did not graunt the people their petytyon because that god hath forsaken hym that he might or should perfourme hys word that he had spoken in the handes of Achias the Silonite to Hieroboam the sonne of Nabate Thou canst not proue by this that it is lawfull for any man to make insurrection of hys own head agaynst tyrants or euil rulers SIM I feare least thys doctrine wyll make men sluggish negligent dastards that if at any time the lorde doth sende a deliuerer they wyl be in doubt of the wil of the lord IOI Care for other thyngs when the lord doth begin and go about so hygh things he calleth not sluggyshe dastards and negligent persons WheÌ„ god wil put doune tyrauntes he doth alwayes styrre vp men meete for the purpose he geueth wisdom confidence boldnes he giueth lustynes of courage and strength bringeth all thinges to the appoynted ende Which thing we may se in Moises Gedeon and other The godly man doth directe al thynges to peace vnitie and concord Again he knoweth that the people is punished if prynces do rule gouerne wickedly The solicitud and care of a godly man These things do make a godly and faithful man heauy ful of thought and kyndell him with a certain studye of godlynes these thinges do make him to beware and circumspect not temerouse rash and ouer bold these thinges do constraine him to pray earnestly to god and to thinke both day and nighte vpon the amendement and redresse of those things that are done and coÌ„mitted against god Then god doth open the waies wherby the desyres of the godly may be fulfilled nor doth forsake theÌ„ that put their truste and confidence in hym nor yet dothe repulse or put them backe that cry and cal vpon him SIM When the tyraunt seeth that he maye do al thinges without punishment he euery day waxeth worse and more hygh minded IOI What so euer he seeth let hym be sure that an vtter destruction doth hang ouer him Who soeuer doth misuse the longe suffraunce of god shall not escape punishment if he wyl continue sâ—yl in his wickednes For no maÌ„ did euer escape wtout punishment that dyd misuse the long suffraunce of god SI Why doo ye then euery where depredicate and say that they are like vnto Iudas the Gaulonite and not christians that wil not obey the magistrates and rulers No godly man doth resiste the magistrate IOI Because that no godly man doth resist the magistrate For sith that the apostles do warne byd vs to obey heathenysh magystrates who doth not se that it is an vnfittely thyng for a christian to shew him selfe disobedient to a christyan magistrate SIM That were wel sayd yf we had a christyan Magistrate Who is to be called a Christyan magystrate IOI I do cal him a christian magistrate whiche is baptyzed in Christe Iesus which beleueth in Christ doth confesse him and heareth hys gospell which he dothe also suffer to be preached emong his subiects nor doth persecute it withstandynge as muche as in him lyeth wickednesse and iniquitie or vnryghteousnes and punysshing the euil doers that do offend openly which doth bend al his care and study to this that the glory of god may increase may be promoted and set forth that men maye lyue godly honestly and quyetly in the common weale And thankes be giuen to god we do not want such now a daies emong the magistrates and high powers which thynge no man can perswade to you The Lybertines Anabaptystes do thynke no man to be a Christyan except he receyueth theyr doctryne and be baptized agayne For ye thinke no man to be a christyan excepte he doth cleaue too you and receyue youre doctryne and at length be baptized again by you though all these things be altogether repugnant to christyan statutes and publyke lawes No tongue can expresse how bytter and venymouse or poysoned railyngs ye do here vomite and spue out against the magistrate SI These thynges neuer pleased me IOI But yet they are done of them They do pycke and gather certain bytter and greuous sayinges oute of the psalmes and prophetes which afterwardes being learned without boke they do vomite againste the magystrates These thinges do please to stubburne disobedient persons The scripture doth call the iudges and magystrates gods because that they be here in the roume stede of god who soeuer then doth ryse or rayle agaynst them God shall punyshe him extremly where as gods word doth forbyd vs to raile against the gods for the holy scripture doth so cal the magistrats and iudges Peter doth liuely set theym furth vnder the name of false prophetes in his latter epistle and .iii. chap. O Citizins say they the magistrate is no chrystian but yet be obedient vnto him And thei their own selues wil not be obedient vnto him in the leste thing of the world What should I say They go aboute to abolish and put downe all magistrates high powers that so they may do what soeuer they list Paul saith If thou wilt not feare the hygh power do that which is iuste but they do fear the hygh power for they go about to abolysh and put it downe ergo they wyll do that which is euyll They are then the felowes of Iudas the Gaulonite and of Siba the son of Bocheri whych both for their hygh treason were worthely put to death Of Iudas the Galonit se Iesephus in the xviii boke of antiquityes and first chap. Actes .v. chapter He dyd styrre sedition emonge the people which he seducynge with hope of liberty did perish at length wyth many Of Siba thou shalt read in the seconde of kynges and .xx. Chapter Suche sedytyous personnes are in the scriptures called the chyldren of Belial Therfore my Symon if thou wylt folow my councel thou shalt leaue this false opinion and afterwardes stycke to the truth and be obedient to the Magistrates and rulers SIM Thou hast well satisfyed my mynd therfore I wyll folowe thy councell FINIS Imprynted the third daye of Aprill Anno. Do. 1551. ¶ At Worceter in the hygh strete by Ihon Ofwen ¶ They be also to sell at Shrewesbury ☞ Cum priuilegio ad imprimendum solum
the pure sede of the gospell The anabaptistes wyll alwayes come too those places where the gospel is preached Mat. xiii cha The anabaptistes Libertins do go aboute to perswade men that the magystrates maye not kyll wyth the swearde What they be the styrre vp commotyon where the Gospell is not preched The oratyon of the papystes too the simple ignoraunte to stirre them vp to tumulte commotion hath bene dyligentlye sowen For there the deuyll whiles men are a slepe is moste busye to sowe in his cockle darnel Which wold god it were diligently weded out by the maiestrates and rulers that these most pestyferous Anabaptistes Libertins mighte ones both feele and know that they do not beare the sword delyuered vnto them of of god in vayne In other places where they do yet for the most parte syt in darkenesse of ignoraunce and shadow of death the popes darlynges are the styrers vp of al myschief For they by there hypocrysye blandiloquence and flattery are so farre sunke in to mens stommackes that they can easely perswade them that both the kyng and al his honorable counsell are vngodly yea starke heretikes Haue they not wyl the shauelinges say to the poore symple folkes of their countrey taken away broken our godly ymages Haue they not abolyshed our holydayes put doune our ceremonyes and disanulled the holy blessed Masse Loke howe vnreuerentlye they do vse the blessed sacrament of the Aulter Doo they not also goo aboute to plucke doune all our holy Aulters Who hauing a christian harte could abide such impiety vngodlynesse Come on therfore neighboures better it were for vs to dye a thousande deathes then to se thys blasphemy Let vs fight for the holy church rytes thereof We may be sure that we shall lyghtly ouercome these ranke herytykes And if we chaunce to haue the ouerthrowe our selues whiche thinge is not lykely syth that we fyghte in gods quarell dye in the fyeld who wolde doubt but that we shall go straighte way vp to heauen Oh false doctrine For Christ whose blessed body and bloud made by the holye handes of the prieste these false heritikes do treade vnder foot hath said Math. x. cha Yet this texte as all other is falsely aleged of them that whosoeuer loseth his life for hys sake and the churche shal fynde it agayne in the resurrection of the deade With suche mistes and iuggelynges of wordes these cleane fyngered gētlemen do vtterlye subuerte the mindes of the simple and ignoraunt people whiche elles if they had trew pastours and good minysters Yf the people had true pastoures they wlold embrace gladlye gods worde woulde wyth all mekenes and due obedyence receyue the heauenlye doctryne mynystred so fatherlye vntoo them by the Kynge and hys honourable counsayle They woulde notte mutter nor open their lippes against the kynges moste godlye procedinges butte would gladly wyth the other subiects of this realme embrace the wholsome doctrine of their saluation and acknowlege that they haue bene hetherto ledde in erroure and blyndnes Who they be that prycke the people forwardes to tumulte and insrrection by these false Antychristes and Pseudoprophetes whome they nowe accepte and embrace as goddes Too be shorte these twoo sortes of men I mean the Libertins and papistes are they that do pricke the people forwardes whyche elles of theymselues are ready inoughe to suche thynges and especially now By greadye mammons that they are so on euerye side pilled and polled too tumultes and insurrections too the vtter confusyon of them selues and vndoing of this honourable countrey and Realme Therfore An exhortatiō to the maiestrates against the libertins Papistes O ye magistrates and rulers whom god hath appointed ouer his chosen and elected people with the swearde of equitie to defende the widdowes and fatherles to maintain the good and righteous and to punisshe the euil and wicked doers it is your parte and duetye to seke oute suche runne agates and withoute any fauoure or mercye to punysshe them that all other may take example by them Put away in this case all folish pitie for as the cōmen prouerbe is folish pytye leseth the countrey besides that better it is the ii or .iii. be thus extremely punished thē thousands All foolyshe pitye is to be ut awaye should through their wycked counsails entisements most miserably and to the great losse of the countrey perisshe Picke out these rauenynge wolues and for goddes sake fauour the people as muche as may be haue that noble capteyn Ioab alwaies before your eyen whych as sone as that trayterous rebell Absalon was by the righteous iudgmente of god ii Regū xviii Chapter most shamefully slayne dyd by by blowe to the retrayte and commaunded to spare the people Do the same and ye shal hyghly please god Call ye the pore vnto you and heare their complayntes paciently o ye gods for so the scripture dothe call you because that ye are in the stede and roume of god here ye the complaynte of the poore I saie and redresse those thynges that are amysse Know of them the causes why they are now contrarye to their old wont and custom An apte similitude so bent to insurrectyon and tumult Yf a phisycion wold go about to heale any disease or syckenesse and not serche out the causes therof wolde not all men and the by good ryght call him an vnkunning phisition The whole body of the common weale is sore sicke it canne in no wise be healed except the cause of this disease and syckenesse be bothe searched out dilygentlye and taken awaye Suffer no longer the louynge subiectes of thys moste victoryous countrey whych by our moste souereygne Lorde the kynge are commytted vnto your charge custodye and protectyon Verelye it is you whyche be heare in the earthe lyeutenauntes and vicayrs of god The magistrates are Gods vycares in the earthe that shoulde reuenge the wronges and iniuries of the people too be eaten and swalowed vp by these gredye Cormorauntes which neuer beynge contente till they haue the deuill brought to them in a sacke ioyne house to house lande to lande but woo be to them saith the prophet although they should dwel alone vpon the earthe Esai v. Chap One of them hath a thousande mens liuinges in hys hands and yet can he scantelye suffer his poore neighbour to dwell in a poore cotage besides hym All that he hath is to little as longe as he seeth any poore man to haue any thinge by him What should I saye A whole shiere is not enough to satisfye his couetouse and vnsasiable minde And why I praye is all thys forsoth that he his wyfe and his children maye go gaye and fare dayntely Yf he can haue that it maketh no matter how many thousand do go a begginge or storne for hunger by him Ah worldlinges worldelinges the hande of god is stretched furth to plague
Haue ye forgotten what the holy prophet saythe Hiere vii cha Because ye are from the lowest vnto the hiest geuen to couetousnesse and fylthy lucre I wyll gyue your wyues vnto other and your fyldes vnto straungers to possesse Hath the lord god geuen you riches to confound the poore therwith to oppresse them and to treade them vnder fete and not rather to helpe and succour them Ye are not the lordes but the stewardes and dyspensatours of riches Se thē that ye be faithful in your stewardshyp or elles youre stewardshyp shall be taken from you and gyuen vntoo an other The Lorde god hath giuen you and dothe daylye gyue you warninges ynowe but ye are soo blynded with worldelye couetousnesse and prosperitie that ye wyll not see Why the worldelinges will not take the warnynges that God giueth them daylye Pro. xi chap. Soph. i. chap. ye are soo pufte vp wyth pryde and hautenesse of mynde that ye thynke that no maner of thing in this world can or is able to bring you doune Marke and note therfore what the scripture of God dothe saye Theyr ryches shall profyte them nothynge in the daye of wrathe and he that trusteth in hys worldlye substaunce shall haue a fall Neyther theyr golde nor syluer shall be able too delyuer theym in the daye of the wrathe of the Lorde Dothe not the exaumple of the ryche glutton make you afrayde Doo not hys cruell paynes and tormentes in hell Luk. xvi chap make youre heartes to quake and tremble for feare of lyke punishmentes The rich glutton was damned for vnmercifulnes And yet he was dampned for the sinne of vnmercifulnesse onely For we canne not fynde nor reade that euer he came by hys goodes vniustly or that he gatte hys ryches by hooke or crooke as the moste parte of you doo Therefore loke for a thousande times more greuous punysshementes then he had For not onelye ye dydde not feede Christe when he was an hungred gyue hym drinke whē he was a thyrste clothe hym Mat. xxv cha when he was naked c. but also ye did spoile him ye dyd pille and polle hym ye did robbe him and most tyrannously oppresse him But I know that ye will saye wyth the vngodly Obiection when dyd we any suche thyng vnto Christe Verelye I saye vnto you Solution that in so muche ye dyd it too the poore neady members of Christe ye dyd it too hym and therefore ye shall heare that dreadfull sentence at length Depart ye from mee O ye cursed creatures intoo euerlastynge fyre whyche is prepared for the deuill and his aungels A godly prayer O mercyfull and heauenlye father graunte I beseche the that all men puttyng away frō their heartes worldly couetousenes and pryde of mynde wherwyth they are holden blynde may haue grace to see howe they came into this world and so too vse the ryches wherewith thou doest indue thē too thy glorye and saluatyon of theyr soules Nowe therfore O christyan magistrates be ye stronge in the lorde take righteousnes for your shield weapon your selfes with vpright and vncorrupted iudgemente God hath ordeined magistrates too reuenge the wronges of the poore and hauing the fear of the lord for youre guyde reuenge manfullye the wronges and iniuryes of the poore for therfore hath the lord god ordeined you Let them both feale and knowe that ye beare a fatherly affection towardes thē and that ye will not se them to suffer any such vilany at these worldlinges handes Se an order for this is your duetie that the riche maye be contente wyth the poore and that the poore maye be suffered too lyue by the riche Seke out the causes of this narre that is nowe betwene the nobilytie and the commens cutte of wyth the swerde of equitie al occasion of strife and debate The gentyllmen and communes of this realme beyng knitte in loue are a wall too the countrey that the gentilmen and commons of thys Realme being knytted in loue agayne maye be as afore tymes a stronge bulwarke and wall vnto this most victoryous countrey of Englande Ye can no better deserue of the common weale then so And yf in the meane season ye fynd any of those wicked Anabaptistes Libertines or anye of those obstynate papistes that go about to subuert seduce intoxycate and poyson the myndes of the people persuadyng them that they may lawfully rise against theyr maiestrates spare theym not roote oute those pernicyouse wedes from amonge the people Better it is that fewe doo peryshe then that all the whole countrey shoulde through theyr wycked perswasion be brought to naught These be they that are the troublers of the common peace Math. vii Chapter Therfore beware of thē O christiā brethren for they come vnto you in shepes clothing but inwardly they are rauening wolfes Trust them not suffer not your selues in anye wyse to be persuaded that ye maye for any maner of cause ryse against the maiestrates All that they go about is to bryng you to vtter confusyon For though the maiestrates were come to that madnesse impietye vngodlynes that they shuld commaund you to do thinges contrarye to gods lawes and his holye worde as the marked monsters of Antichriste Reade the Acts of the Apostles and all whole Eusebius and thou shalt fynd that alwayes the disciples of christ dyd defende them selues with gods worde do go aboute to make you to beleue yet ought ye in no wise to resiste them None other swerd ye haue to fyght agaynst vngodly maiestrates but gods word with the same wepon ought ye alwaies to defend your selues against all kindes of vngodlynes yet it must be done with such sobrietye mansuetude lenitie gentlenes that alwais christian lyke obedience toward the ordinaunce of god shall shine apere in you Marke now this Yf we may not with materiall swerd resiste the maiestrates for the defence of godlines trew relygyon what shall we say by them which for the maintenaunce of false religion do bringe all the world vpon the neckes of godly maiestrates It was not for noughte O christan rulers that the godly kynges of the old Testament when they dyd put doune Idolatry superstition dyd sley and kyl al the priestes and sacrificators of the ydols fals gods weding out the false prophetes from emonge the people to the intente that they should not bryng againe the simple and ignoraunt into errour What I do mean any man that hath wit may vnderstand How be it I wold not haue them to be put to death nor slaine onlesse they be ouer stubburne and obstacle or go aboute some tumult or nouation of thinges but I wold haue thē to be kepte so short tyll they depart hence in peace that they might do no harme in the meane season As for the other I mean the Libertines Anabaptistes they ought in no wise to be spared except we wyll haue the countrey by their