only crauing fauour ease so farre as agreeth to holy scripture the peace of the church and in al that we haue gone about vve haue labored for the good for the beautie and perfection of our Church that it might increase and florish more more to the glory of God to the honour comfort of her M. These meÌ„ the papists haue done cleane contrarie especially since the 10. yeare of her M. happie raigne neuer being without one cruell treason or another sometime by desperate bluddie murderers sometime by open rebellioÌ„ forraineinuasion and procuring of Bulles from Rome sometime by Priests sometime by Iesuites sometime by other meanes as is plainly set foorth in the book called the execution of iustice in the writings of Sir Frauncis Hastings D. Sutliefe D. Fulke and diuers others The things on both sides are so not oriouslie knowne that I need not heere to repeate them in particular I pray God that for our sinnes hee doe not giue vs ouer to blindnes that in such palpable manifest experieÌ„ce of the traiterous hartes of Papistes vvee suffer not our selues to be taken by their wylie flatteries and forsaking our trustie faithfull friendes vvee yeelde ourselues to the bloodie slaughter of enemies CHAP. 8. The Ministers which desire reformation in some things of our Church matters can neuer feare but euer loue her M. and all the godly wise Magistrates vnder her but the Papistes cleane contrarie PRinces saieth the Apostle are not to bee feared for good works but for euill Rom. 13.3 And the euill life of the wicked meÌ„ is the cause that Princes make many good lawes Because he is the Minister of God to take vengeaÌ„ce on him that doth euill Therefore euill men are a fraid of the higher power an euill conscience maketh them desire there were none such to bridle their wickednes Euen as it is saide by the wisedome of God Euerie man that doth euill hateth the light Iohn 3.20 neither commeth to the light least his deedes be reprooued No meruaile then though it bee a principle among traiterous Papistes That euerie man of any faction A traiterous Popish principle desireth the remoouing of the Prince whose lawes are contrarie to his faction For their conscience being euill and defiled with most filthie superstition abhominable idolatrie they can not loue any godly Prince such as is our most deare gratious Soueraigne Queene Elizabeth because a wise King scattereth the wicked causeth the wheel to goe ouer them And verilie there are two things which doe manifest their inward affection prou 20.26 First their doctrine not only because it is in moste of the substantiall points opposite to that which her Maiestie as the true defender of the faith maintaineth and that which her lawes and gouernement commandeth but also because they place another Soueraigne authoritie aboue hers The Papists haue giuen their harts to the Queenes deadlie enemies to whome as vnto an higher Lord and Ruler they preferre their chiefe obedience And looking hoping for ghostly comforte and remission of sinnes at the hands of that man of sinne they can not loue the righteous godly Prince who hath banished his power and abhominable forgeries Neither in truth is it possible For how can they loue her who haue giuen their harte to a stranger euen her most deadly enemie And not onlie that but all men know that as light darknes Christ and Beliall the Temple of God and idols They are as contrarie to her as darknes to light can not agree So her Maiestie being a louer of righteousnes and they of vnrighteousnes She a beleeuer they infidells She a worshipper of the true and liuing God and they of images and diuers sortes of creatures She of the faith of Christ and they of Antechrist seeing God hath put enimitie betweene the seede of the woman and the seed of the serpent it is not possible that they can loue her And they haue cause for their wicked liues treason superstition and idolatrie to feare her righteous lawes and vpright iudgements And she hath great cause to reioyce and glorifie God in this behalf She may reioyce Gods enemies are hers that the enemies of God be her enemies and the mightie God of hoastes is her protector who with his fauour compasseth her as with a shield Secondly their deedes declare no lesse For if a true man bee knowne by his fruite and as our Sauiour Christ saieth Math 7.18 A good tree can not bring forth euill fruite The fruites of Papists shew their hatred to her Majestie neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruite Then if lying dissimulation treacherie treason if false doctrine drawing away the heartes of subiectes from the Prince if procuring of open rebellion and forren inuasion if many cruell and secret conspiracies and murtherous attempts may be iustlie called euill fruites and certaine true markes of disloyall subiects hateing the Prince and desiring her distruction then may we boldlie pronounce that the affection of the Papistes can not be good nor their loue vpright toward her Maiestie What calling or state haue they not caused and made to worke in hostile maner against her First for Popes you haue Pope Pius the fifth and Gregorie the 13. and their successours then for Monarches Princes The King of Spaine and the Queene of Scottes after for Dukes and Noble men The Duke of Northfolke the Duke of Guise the Duke of Alba the Duke of Medina The Earle of Northumberland and I can not tell how manie Earles and Lordes in Ireland from time to time haue taken armes against her Moreouer for Gentilmen there hath bene M. Arden and Someruill ThrockmortoÌ„ Sir William Stanlie Anthonie Babington and his complices Doctor Parrie a ciuilian Doctor Lopez a Physicion for Priestes and Iesuites no man can tell how many and of raskall ruffian murdering verletts not one or two Therefore how is it possible to shewe more plaine euidence of most can kered hatred They proâ—â—â— her milde nature to doe them iustice inueterate malice And yet her Maiestie is a most milde Christian Prince giuen to peace mercie and long suffering neuer vsed anie the least hard dealing towarde any of them saue onlie as conscience and dutie to god did bind her by publike law she put downe all idolatrie superstition and Antichristian primacie otherwise they had all libertie peace quiet freedome as any subiect coulde desire vnder anie Prince whatsoeuer vntill that by their vnnatural vngodly conspiracies and most wicked desighements she was forced to stand vpon her garde to prouide such remedie â—s was fitte for such as vniustly prouoked their lawfull and gracious Soueaigne But they haue so bestirred them selues and prepared so many mischiefs â—o often and so manifolde and continuâ—ll that there are few yeares wherein â—â—e hath not bene driuen to seeke one â—ay or another for her necessarie deâ—ence How
schollers of the Cathari Nouatus Papistes are in deed Puritanes Pelagius and of the Ebionites Donatistes and of all such like Puritane heretickes maye iustlie very fitlie be called Puritanes For they hold that in their regenerate men after Baptisme Concil Trid. less 6. ses 5 there is nothing that maye bee saide to haue the reason of sinne and that they are able to fulfill all the commaundements of God and they affirme that they haue an inherent righteousnesse which they keepe as a pure and immaculate robe to the obtayning of saluation and that they are righteous iustified deserue saluation by their workes that they haue among them deuout and holye men whome they call religious Moncks Test Rhem vpon Luc. 10. Friers Nunnes Iesuits Seminaries Ven. 42. and 2 cor 2. vers 10. and ca. 8. vers 14. Wil. Allen of pardons cap. 11. and 1◠vvho in their religious order liue as they say a Seraphicall and angelicall life being virgins voide of all seculare affayres as pure and chaste votaries in contemplation seruing God day night are able to merit not only for them selues but also for others and of the superaboundancie of their vvorkes of Supererogation they maye communicate to others and the Pope maye by indulgence applie their merites for the reliefe of others out of purgatorie and such like These vndoubtedlie may are properlie to be called Puritanes because they indeed arrogate vnto them selues puritie and holines and despise all others vvhich the true children of God though thus belyed slaundered dare not in any case to doe but contrarilie they crie out vvith the Psalmist vnto God Enter not into iudgement Psal 143 2. Luc. 18.13 And vvith the Publicane Haue mercie vppon mee a sinner 3 But the cause originall and order whereby these reproachful termes vvere giuen to good Christians Howe the name of putitanes came vp in England I finde to bee this In the beginning of her Maiesties most happie raigne whome I humblie pray our God to prolong as long as Sun and Moone endure the Ghospell being published and Preachers ordained to teach the people Manie people vvithin a vvhile feeling some taste of the heauenlye comfort began to delight in hearing of Sermons singing of Psalmes in reading and godlie talke of holye Scriptures vvhich they vvere taught And therevvithal did somwhat refrain prophane and vnprofitable customes and sometime they admonished their neighbours if they did sweare pray them to goe with them to the Sermon The greater sort of the people beeing olde barrels vvhich coulde holde no newe vvine addicted partlie to Poperie partlie to licentiousnesse hauing many of them no other God but their bellie vvoulde deride and scoffe at them and called them holye brethren and holye sisterne saying Hee is one of the pure and vnspotted brethren Godlie excercise scorned by the wicked Diuers Ministers also entring vpō that waightie charge when they beeing learned came to the practise of the communion booke founde them selues troubled in some things some certaine ceremonies were a scruple vnto thē And as it is saide in the preface of the saide booke it was not thought fit at the first to take away all those things which seemed to be superstitious but to take the middle waye to abandon some and to retaine some So by this occasion the Papistes other people not well affected to religion and godlines after a while began to find holes in the Ministers coates Papistes and Atheists pick quarrels with good men and deuised diuers wayes of molestation troubled them not a little They open their cause to the reuerend Bishopes of those times and found great kindnes at their hands at the first they were a good and comfortable shadow vnto them for a season But about the tenth year of her Maiesties raigne the Papists as men which began to shake of the feare wherewith the mightie God protecting blessing her Maiesties most godlie and Christian proceedings had strocken them the Papistes I say began to come foorth of their dennes and as it is well knowne to the state practised diuers treacherous attemptes but amōg other they preferred such greeuous accusations againste the godlie and faithfull Ministers that then and from thence forth they were left naked a great storme fell vpon them and so it continued now and then sharper some time their was a calme men breathed returned to the Lords worke About anno 1571. Subscription came foorth first Anno 1571. as I take it Subscription was first enforced vpon the ministrie for which cause in that time certaine men wrote and admonition to the parlament opening diuers things worthie reformatiō Wherupon arose greate volumes of prouing and defending which are famouslie knowne to all men that vnderstand of these cause But how flesh and blood did in these writings ouer-sway the Christian moderation and mildnes which brethren shuld haue ben verie careful of in contending for trueth by the hote pursuite of either side I reioyce not to rehearse and I am sorie as ofte as I thinke vppon the lamentable effectes hurte of the Church in those times How be it our mercifull God whose vnchaungeable loue doeth swallow vp manye of our infirmities and follies graunted vnto vs in the midst of these fierie contentions a goodlie space of quietnesse about the time that the reuerend father Maister Grindall was Archbishoppe of Canturburie In which time in al the south partes of Englande there was greate concorde among the Ministers and they ioyned in great loue and ioy one with another in the Lords worke So that in the space of 4. or 5. yeares as I remember there were infinit soules brought to the knowledge of Christ the people reioysed for the consolation seing beholding how greatly they were bound to praise God for her Maiesties most christian gouernement vnder whose moste godly proceedings they had sucked and tasted the sweet and vndeceaueble milke of Gods trueth euen the holye faith of Gods elect the doctrine of saluation It was a goldē time full of godly fruit great honour to the Ghospell greate loue and kinde fellowship among all the Ministers preaching the faith the people vnited in the true feare of God and cheerefull reuerence to her Maiestie But this life not affoording constant prosperitie to heauenly loue and growth of godlines After the said Archbishops decease there came foorth a newe and fresh assault of subscription vniuersallie imposed Anno Dom. 1584. the wofull year of subscription and againe enforced vppon all the Ministers in three articles First of the Queenes Maiesties Soueraigne authoritie ouer all persons c. Seconde that the booke of common prayer and of or dayninge Bishoppes Priestes and Deacons containe in it nothing contrarie to the woorde of God c. Thirde to allowe and approue all the articles of religion agreed vpon by the Archbishops and Bishops c. 1562. and to beleeue all
the maintenance of Gods true religion Ghospell In so much as beside all other times and occasions vvhen now a little before the last Paliamēt the pert bragging of popish recusants their fauourers here and there straglinglie scattered thorowe the lande did somewhat amase and trouble the mindes of infinite her Maiesties moste godlie louing obedient faithfull subiectes we yet se by firme experience the holie constancie of her Maiesties vnchangeable faith and the honorable cariadge of their wisedomes to the confusion of such vaine persones in their vndutifull wicked hope and to the exceeding ioy and contentation of millions of godlie Christians who depend vpon her Maiesties most gracious present gouernement and whose life is not deere vnto them so as they may se her in helth ioy comfort and honour being readie to bestow the best blood in their heartes to doe her true and faithfull seruice and euerie day night hower to aduenture all they haue for her safetie and to curbe beate downe all wicked Priestes Papistes treasonable persons what so euer The vnchangeable loue of Queene Elizabeth and her godly subiectes And this I thank God I may to the honour and ioy of her Maiestie boast and glorie with an humble gratefull minde reuerence to the diuine magnificent bountie of oureternall Father that neuer Prince King nor Queene since the foundation of the world had more faithfull loue obedience and chearfull duetie of their subiectes then all the Protestantes of England haue most gladly constantlie and vnchangeablie performed and continued to their most louing and kind-mother Queene Elizabeth and that so manie yeares with so little discontentment and disturbance and her loue and holie affection and constancie in religion hath bounde them most neerlie vnto her And therefore I am verely perswaded that if euer any Prince might esteeme the loue of their subiectes a strong wall and bulwark and garde to their person then certes Queene Elizabeth both may 〈…〉 mak high account of the Protestant in England as the most faithfull and loyall people which will not suffer her Maiestie to haue the least indignity if it lye in them by spending verie many thousands of their liues to doe her good And that shall the Papists Priests Seminaries wel know if euer they goe about to put in executiō their hoped butchery bloody obediēce to the Popes cruel buls And this is not all that bindes vs to their honors The Lords of the counsell a great stay to godly Ministers for in our priuate troubles about the ceremonies and subscription wee the poore and faithfull Ministers of Christ when so euer we haue opened our cause and humbled our selues vnto them we haue found great iustice and equitie and diuers times great reliefe and ease from our troubles No doubt they seing our innocencie that of meere conscience without anye the least inclination to disloyaltie to our Soueraigne we did forbeare to doe those thinges they haue tendered our cause and louingly effected that we might not be to to much ouerburdened Yea my L. G. of Cantur himself though he seeme to be the greatest opposite to our cause by wise experience finding the same thing hath many times and vnto divers men whereof I must confesse my self to be one moderated the extremitie which by other men was hotly and vncharitablie persued God bee thanked And I humblie praye almighty God euermore to blesse them that they may be alwaies the faithful eyes eares and hands of her Maiestie to the continuall safetie of her sacred person the vnchangeable vpholding of religion and the ioy of all faithfull and dutifull subiectes the terror and keeping vnder of all wickednes superstition and idolatry to the saluation of their own soules the bright shining glory of God in this land for euer and euer The ciuil and politike state of this land verie good 4. Now if any man vnderstand by the state the constitution of the common lawes and statutes of this land now presently in force whereby vve are combined into one bodie of a ciuill politike common wealth vnder one head and Monarchicall gouernment in all priuileges duties offices and works of Prince and people and of the whole and repulse and repressing of all domesticall and priuate euill in the whole or any member and for defence against all forren power or Potentate whatsoeuer who shall claime any title iurisdictiō or interest within these her Maiesties Dominions of Englande or Irelande or ells make inuasion against our Noble countrie or Soueraigne or offer violence or anie wrong to her Maiesties person Crowne or dignitie In all these thinges wee the Ministers and people aforesaide doe professe ourselues as happie people as anie vnder the Sunne to be vnder so iust equall and free lawes gouernement and iurisdiction right ordered common wealth And we protest before God that we and all we are bounde both by the law of God and of nature to spend our goods strength life and all we haue for the maintenance preseruation and quiet proceeding execution and florishing prosperitie of the same common wealth and monarchicall gouernement and for the maintenance of her Maiesties supreame authoritie ouer all persons in these her dominions either ecclesiasticall or ciuill and in all causes what so euer next immediatelie vnder God and his holy sonne Iesus Christ the King of glorie And I haue that assurance of our vprightnes in this matter that I trust no man euer did or could neither yet at this time either will or can except it bee some popish Priest or seditious person that maligneth our happinesse in this common wealth challenge accuse charge or suspect vs or any of vs that we are not for our places as obedient faithfull glad of present state as any other English men subiectes in this land without inparagement be it spoken and with reuerence to our superiours what so euer 5 Heere vpon it seemeth to me that the question is truely and naturallie about the Ecclesiasticall state constitutions orders maner of gouernement that if it may appeare that heerein we be not enemies then are we no way to be touched of which point the 2 and 3 chapters doe in some sort intreate and doe thus farre iustifie vs that we seeming in some sorte to goe against the present gouernement for not obseruing some ceremonies and for not subscribing c. are yet verie much warranted by the same constitutions articles proceedings of the same Ecclesiasticall state But we haue many moe honest and iust reasons for the approuing of our doinges which I doubt not but that the reuerende Fathers themselues and all other Christians waying with the balance of truth and equitie will afoord to be of better acceptance then in the cōmon account of our cause many doe esteem or affirme The ecclesiasticall state What. First therfore the ecclesiasticall state is the constitution of our churches reformatiō as we are departed from the apostaticall
manie times hath she bene â—â—rced to make lawes and statutes to curbe bridle them How many times hath she bene forced to sende soldiers and money to preuent them How manie times hath her Nauie and shippes bene drawne out into the seas to meet them How continuallie almost hath shee bene vexed with Irish insurrections and rebellions How many times hath she bene constrained against her owne most gentle and mercifull disposition for treason and rebellion to cut of rotten members with the iust reuenging swearde Yea how often haue wee bene driuen to watch and ward either to resiste domesticall rebels or to waite for forren inuaders So that to declare a most viperous spitefull and vngratious generation and an hereticall and apostaticall malice there can bee nothing added And heere both she and all her louing and Christian subiectes haue verie great matter of reioycing and praysing God For if euer God from heauen God sheweth his Ioue from heauen in the defeÌ„ce of our Queene testified his loue to aâ—â—â— Prince or caused his Angells to watch gard them if euer there were Princâ— made glorious for deliuerance honoâ—rable for constancie in truth famoâ—â— for continuall prosperous successe 〈◊〉 the great admiration of all men and wonderfull happie quietnes and ioy of Gods people if euer God sought against wicked rebels mischieuous traitors bloodie vsurpers and vniust inuaders to defend the innocent iust and vpright in his cause then surelie may wee boldly and ioyfullie both say and sing that God hath openlie and in the sight of all the worlde done all these thinges for his annointed hand-maide Elizabeth our Queene So that she may with the Psalmist confes vnto the Lord They haue often times afflicted me from my youth but they could not preuaile against me Psal 129. â—â— 124. praysed be the Lord which hath not giuen vs as a praye vnto their teeth Our helpe is in the name of the Lord who hath made both heauen earth So let all thine enemies perish O Lord but vpon thy seruant Elizabeth and vpon her throne be peace for euer more and let her and all that loue thy name bee as the Sunne when he riseth in his might and say all way The Lorde be praised But as for the Ministers and people desiring reformation in some thinges they alwaies carefully following the word of God and delighting in the reading preaching and meditation of holy Scripture haue all their ioy comfort in that faith religion which her most Christian Maiestie professeth setteth forth defendeth And hauing libertie of conscience freedom to worshipe God aright protection in well doing with health wealth peace and pleasure of bodie and soule they feele the pleasant sweete and comfortable milke with a most ioyfull refreshing of a tender noursemother vnder the shadow of her most faithfull and constant proceedinges in the Ghospell If euer there were loue betweene Prince and people it is betweene vs. For what Christian subiect can not loue a Christian Ruler What godly childe cannot loue a godly mother What afflicted soule can not loue a sweet and faithfull comforter And what man being in miserie loueth not him that hath deliuered him Shee is our most Christian Prince she is our godlie mother she is our sweete and faithfull comforter our deliuerer and vnder God our assured defence against all our enemies Her ioye is our life her lawe our safetie her safetye our castell her swearde our shielde her peace our wealth her death which God forbid our miserie Therefore we haue counted our selues happie to doe any seruice to her Mai. either in our goods or in our persons or in spending our liues Wee haue willinglye gone in her seruice into Fraunce into the Low Countries and Irelande and into the furthest Seas We haue written disputed aduentured our liues in diuers places to testifie our vnfained loue faithful obedieÌ„ce vnto her And what is there that we could not goe vnder if occasion be offered to doe her any seruice vvhich godly Christians ought to doe to their dread Soueraigne If at anye time the traiterous papists aduance themselues dare presume to attempt their most wicked vngodly desire wishing it shal by Gods grace very wel appeare that her M. hath many thousand Protestants sufficiently able thorow Gods helpe to beate them downe to tame them Our ministriâ— hath brought foorth many good subiects Witnes Anno. 88. whome it hath pleased God by our ministerie to bring vnto the knowledge of the trueth And this I am the bolder to affirme because I saw in our countrie in Anno 88. such bands of honest men so many so well furnished so chearfull to fight for her M. and their Countrie so resolute valiant so forwarde and vnfearfull that it reioyced mine heart to thinke how fruitfull our ministerie had bene in these her goldeÌ„ dayes how happie honourable her M. is who hath by her godlie Christian gouernement breade brought forth nourished broght vp so many so worthye so godly Gentill-men and Yeomen that of meere conscience and loue so willinglie and resolutely could and woulde fight for her safetie preseruation So that if the Papistes would regarde no more but naturall reason though they did forget the mightie hand of God which hath continuallie fought for vs they would quiet themselues be thankful for her Maiesties great clemencie and patience toward them not once dare to broach such treacherous deuises seing they are not able to stand before the mightie forces resolute bands of her Maiesties most louing faithfull subiects true vndoubted Christians which reioyce in her present gouernemeÌ„t desire that it may more and more be perfected after Gods worde and prosper to Gods glory Alace then how should we feare in whose heartes is fixed and grounded such perfect loue We can not feare her whome we loue perfect lie that casteth out all feare We appeale vnto the god of heuen who seeth all secretes and commend our doings sayings writtings to the conscience of all good honest wise harted christians that if there be a false heart in any of vs and not a faithfull loue and reuerence to her Maieste from the verie bottome of our soule that euery such man or woman should be made an ensample and a reproach a byeword for the terror of all wicked hipocrits vnthankful miscreaÌ„ts But wee are not able to giue sufficient thanks to our good God who hath hetherto so mercifullie watched ouer vs that hee hath not suffered anie such wretchednesse to sease vpon vs or to preuaile ouer vs to the dishonoure of his Ghospell or iust discredit of our ministrie and godly cause His name bee glorified for euer Amen Cap. 9. Wherein is plainly shewed 1. That it is most profitable to the present state and gouernement and greatlye for her Maiesties safetie to heare the petitions of the godly Ministers and to tolerate them in their ministrie
to be admonished of these things and that the wise godly taking vsing applying thereof which I hope I shall finde at their hands may be for the good of her Maiestie and the State I would neuer haue aduentured in this sort to medle or to set forth one word at this time in this cause For how foolish were I to procure my self trouble without a warrant from God and his worde and hauing quietlie enioyed my place euer since the forlorne yeare of subscription except that I was at two times suspended some two yeare in peace and quietnes vnder the wise and fatherlie ouersight of the most reuerende Father our Diocesan of Cauntorburie not hauing subscribed in any sort neither vsed all the ceremonies so preciselie as peraduenture some other doe If the loue of the whole Church the necessitie and goodnes of the cause the glorie of God and the good of the whole lande did not in me way downe all reasoning and disputes I coulde easilie fore cast 500. cautions which would mightelie draw me back and make me afeard of such an enterprise vvhich protestation I make choise of rather in this place because doubt this chapter vvill not be altogether defensiue as I suppose the rest be but rather offensiue displeasing but I vvill frame my selfe as neere as I can to giue the least cause that any man should take occasion I vvill medle vvith no mans person onely I propound such reason for the reforming of these things as I hope shall become a Minister of Christ 1. These three thinges The vnpreaching ministrie the absence of the Pastor from his flock and subscription I take to be sin in the sight of God and if that be true then they may rightly be called troublers of the state because it is written Hier. 5.25 Esai 50.2.1 King 18. that Sinne hindreth good things from Gods people and iniquitie maketh a separation betweene God them And to forsake the commandement of the Lord is the cause of trouble to Gods Church The vnpreaching ministrie sinne Let vs first examine the vnpreaching Minister vvhether it bee not sinne Gods commaundement is that euerie Minister should be apt to teach no nouice in knowledge 1. Tim. 3.2.6 one that holdeth fast the faithfull word according to doctrine that he also may be able to exhort with wholsome doctrine Tit 1.9 improue them that say against it If then the breach of Gods commaundement be sinne as Saint Iohn saieth Seing our ministrie vvhich doth not can not preach ◠Ioh. 3.4 is contrarie to this cōmandement it must needs follow that the standing thereof in our Church is sinne so a troubler of the state That vvhich causeth the people to perish is sinne but the vnpreaching ministrie causeth the people to perish therefore it is sinne This argument is testified by manie vvitnesses First Salomon saieth Where there is no visiō Prou. 29.18 the people decay And Christ addeth further If the blinde leade the blinde they shall both fall into the ditch And Oseah the Prophet applyeth the same to euerie vnpreaching Minister saying Mat. 15.14 My people are destroyed for lacke of knowledge Oseah 4.6 because thou hast refused knowledge I will also refuse thee that thou shalt be no Priest to me and seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God I will also forget thy children Looke the booke of orders in the ordayning of Priestes If the vnpreaching ministrie be no sinne why are they ordained to preach the vvord of God vvhy are they made to promise to giue faithfull diligence to minister the doctrine Sacraments and the discipline of Christ as the Lord hath commanded and to vse both publike and priuate monitions and exhortations And why are they at that time exhorted in the name of our Lord Iesus Christ to haue in remembrance to how hie a dignitie and to how chargeable an office they be called that is to say to be the messengers the watchmen the Pastours and stewards of the Lord to teach to premonish to feede prouide for the Lordes familie c. And why is it there also said vnto them Seing that you can not by anye other meanes compasse so waightie a worke pertayning to the saluation of man but with doctrine and exhortation taken out of holy Scripture and with a life agreeable to the same ye perceaue how studious you ought to be in reading learning the holy Scriptures c. And why are wee taught in the booke of common prayer to pray that all Bishoppes Pastours and Curates should set forth Gods true and liuelie worde and rightlie and duelie administer the holy Sacramentes if an vnpreaching ministrie were no sin The conscience heereof no doubt caused that reuerend Father M. D. Fulke to write that hee would not excuse any vnsufficient Minister nor their ordainers Ouerthrow of Stapletons fort cap 8. pag 113. Defens of trans of Engl. lib. cap. 15 pa. 401. And that hee which is voide of giftes is ordained vnworthelie and with great sinne both of him that ordaineth and of him that is ordained Now if these things bee true let wise men consider what daunger it is to suffer or maintaine a knowne sinne fortie three yeare in the Church of Christ and so whether this bee not a iust cause of the troubles of the state by the righteous iudgements of God In the next place let vs looke vpon the learned non-resident Non-residēce sinne examine whether the absence of the Pastour from his flocke and negligence as it is vsed among vs be not sin For a man may bee called by the Church as Epaphroditus was to some speciall work for a tyme Philip. 2.25 for the common good of the whole But our question is whether a man may lie in a cathedrall Church or in the Vniuersitie or dwell in some towne like a Gentilman and ioyne benefice to benefice and liuing to liuing passing his time in wealth and pleasure and his flocke 20.30.40 or 100. miles of more or lesse comming verie rarely or seldome amongst them Heere I will not dispute but onlie I humblye beeseech and adiure all those my reuerend and learned brethren by the name of our Lord Iesus Christ and by the great fearefull day of his comming when all dispensation of men shall be voide and wee shall giue a straight accounts of all our workes which we haue done in our bodies that how so euer I am a verie meane and simple man not worthie to carrie your bookes you would looke into your owne consciences and see how you can answer to God where he saieth Ezech. 34.2 Wee be vnto the sheapheards of Israell that feede them selues shoulde not the sheapheardes feede the flockes c. Take heede vnto your selues and to all the flocke whereof the holye Ghost hath made you ouerseers Act. 20.28 to feede the Church of God which hee hath purchased with his owne blood I charge thee
same For seeing the chiefest cause of their trouble and reproach is their carefull and zealous following of Gods holie vvorde and their tender conscience in offending of God hovv strange and contrarie to reason shoulde it bee that they coulde but thinke anye one euill thought against the holie ordinance of God and the higher powers ordained of him to vvhome they ought to submitte themselues for conscience sake And when the blind man vvho can not see a farre of if he haue anie the leaste discretion muste needes perceaue that in the peace and prosperitie of her Maiestie and of this Realme euerie way consisteth their peace their ioy and happienes Hovv farre shoulde they bee vvithout all grace and feare of God how contrarie to them selues enemies to their ovvne apparant good if they shoulde be enemies to the present state of her Maiesties most Christian and godlie gouernement 2 And here I thank God I can speak boldlie and with the cheerefull testimonie of a good conscience euen in the sight of God For God knovveth and vve humblie acknowledge vvith thanksgiuing to his holye and diuine Maiestie that our gracious Ladie and deare Soueraigne Elizabeth in the tyme of her sister the late Queene Marie Queene Elizabeth persecuted for the Ghospell suffered endured great trobles and reproach and endeuouring to preserue a good conscience and to keepe her selfe a chaste pure Virgine vnto the Lorde Iesus Christ her blessed Sauiour shee was in greate daunger And this not so much in regarde of her owne person as much more as that she was the onelie hope vnder God which all honest good Christians had by whose prayers it pleased his heauenlie goodnes in cōpassion to his poore distressed Church to preserue her sacred person in his due tyme to set her at libertie and to raise her vp to establish her Kingdome to be an hauen of rest and an heauen of ioye to the deare children of God who euerie daye were in a great affliction counted as sheepe readie for the slaughter And this all the world knoweth to be so that god hath made his name glorious by her deliuerance He hath chosen his seruant Elizabeth and taken her out of the iawes of the Lyons made her a ioyfull blessed noursemother to seed the people of his Church and to foster his inheritance By her wee enioy our country our liues our wiues our children our goods our peace prosperitie by her we are garded against enemies a broad inuasions cruell warre and against all domesticall iniuries and wronges at home which euill and vngodly men would bring vpon vs. We sit quietlie euerie man vnder his vine ioyfully reape the fruites of a plentifull land vnder the happie and assured protection of her most blessed gouernement Merueilous great blessings by her Maiesties raigne By her we are deliuered out of the spirituall thraldome and bondage of that proud Prelate of Rome from all Antichristian slauerie of ignorance superstition idolatrie and our shoulders are eased from that moste grieuous burden and importable By her we haue the holie foode of our soules the life of our life the sacred word of God By her we enioy the pleasures of Gods house and enter into his tabernacles with ioye beholding the beautie of God and the glorie of hi◠power By her our minds and our bodies are made secure our mouthe are filled with laughter we cheerfullie sing the new songe of all Gods Saintes Halelu-Iah Saluation and glorie and honour and power to the Lord our God God euen our God the mightie and holie one hath loued her and in the loue honour wherewithall he hath made her name renoumed amongst the mightie nations of the earth hee hath made his greate loue and rich mercie to vs his poore people to bee knowne and admired He hath established her throne in righteousnes made her mountaine most strong against all her our enemies So that she hath bene nowe these 40 and 3 yeares an hiding place for the wind and a refuge for the tempest as riuers of waters in a drie land as the shadow of a great rock in a wearie land The remembrance of her is our comfort her ioy health and honour our glorie her faithfulnes and constancie in religion and godlines our exceeding treasure In one word she is the light of eies the breath of our nostrels the very marrow of our bones and the assured pledge of our reioysing For who knoweth not but that as by her most Christian and godlie raigne we enioye that which is more of price vnto vs then all that we haue yea then our owne liues So when so euer God shal take her from vs vnto his heauenlie glorious kingdome which we pray may not bee till she hath had that fulnes of daies which may make her Crowne perfect in the world to come and the ioy of Christs Church firme stable in this world who shall then lament weep waile and who shall haue cause to greeue sigh and mourne their mother their nourse and faithfull comforter but euen all those Ministers and Christian people who nowe desire that those honourable and holie workes which God hath begun brought to a great perfection by her ministrie might by her also be made absolute entire and fullie compleat Therefore we are so farre from thinking the leaste euill vnto her sacred person that we pray hartely and wish vnfainedly Confounded be all they which desire her hurt and God euen the mightie God strike thorow the loynes of al them that rise vp against her binde thou vp ô mercifull God her soule in the bundell of life with the Lord our God cast out the soule of all her enemies as out of he midle of a slinge and let all faithfull subiects say Amen 3 Next vnto vnder her most royall Maiestie The Lords of counsell greatly to be respected we think vpon the Lords of her Maiesties most honorable coūsell Heere we haue also great matter to moue vs vnto all ioyfull thankfulnes First that they haue wiselie and Christianlie managed the generall state sway of the common wealth principallie for their carefull prudent watch ouer her Maiesties most sacred person in all these most deuilish treacheries and wicked designements of all traiterous Papistes and Popish Seminarie Priestes Iesuites and desperate murdering wretches in all the hidden plottes shameles villenies deuised contriued by our mortall enemies abroad and by all factious Espaniolized and Italianized heads at home That God hath bene with them and prospered them in all their godly counsell foresight Secondly we can not but praise God that their honorable table is and alwaies hath bene a place of refuge a seate of great iustice equitie clemencie to all men howsoeuer otherwise wrongfullie oppressed And tha◠vvhich we most of all reioyce of vv◠blesse our Lord Christ for their constant perseuering in