man can minde and do all things at one and the same time All things as they should be we cannot do all Nor yet to one do Gods gifts wholly fall As Luther himself writes in his Piece de Servo Arbitrio of Enslaved Freewil ripeness of mans knowledge hath and doth still come on by length of time Adde this many things are wanting in some to be supplied by others Thus far Lasitius 78. Now these Transactions with Luther being over writes the same man there came out of France to Bohemia two learned men bringing commendations from the Brethren the Waldenses to acquaint them with the calamities of them which sent them by reason both of the continuance of the Hostile Persecution as also their difference arising amongst themselves that giving them fully to understand the better condition of the Brethren of Bohemia they might receive some consolation and to carry iâ— home to their own To this end they stayed with ours six whole moneths seeing their Order and unity in all matters the diligent care of their Pastors over the flock the observance of the youngers to the Elders and their daily performance of all kinde of labours and services c. as also ours beholding in like manner their pious Conversation and zeal and by these two were able to judge what the rest were And inasmuch as they found them sound in Doctrine and Faith they admitted them into Communion with them So at length the beloved strangers take their leaves of each other with mutual consolation c. 79. The Divines of Strasburg having some counsels in hand for the repairing of Ecclesiastical Discipline amongst themselves write to the Brethren of Bohemia Anno 1433. by the hand of Fabritius Capito and received in writing an answer thereunto again Anno 1540. by the hand of Marvin Bucer then the Brethren send Mathius Erithreus one of their own to them These Transactions are set down by Lasitius but it may suffice here onely to present you with some few Elegancies out of the sayings of the most pious Divine Bucer Ecclesiastical Discipline saith he is the Throne of Christ reigning in the Church And when Mathias entreated him to excuse his impolite speaking Bucer answers â—iety is to be looked at in a Christian not quaintness of speech it is apparently from the Divine hand that you being not so learned have yet so well a governed Church But as for us though we may seem more learned yet because we neglect the care of Discipline we profit very little wherefore we are thinking by all means how to settle it And when Matthias the Divines being now come together to hear his message was relating to them the usual way of the Brethrens Order in the Church Bucer not able to refrain from tears turning to the Divines sitting about him said Now verily this Hierarchy or holy Government is rather Celestial above then Ecclesiastical here on earth He also yet further inserts in his Letter to the Brethren Many with us have shaken off the yoke of Antichrist but yet refuse to take upon them the yoke of Christ c. I am perswaded that you alone are they that at this day are found in all the World amongst whom onely flourishes sound Doctrine pure edifying and wholesome Discipline I have perused the Confession you sentime rejoycing very much to finde amongst you so great a lustre of the Truth and such Order and Purity in your Administration Great indeed is the goodness of God toward you in that you retain the Doctrine so pure and have such disciples as diligently take care to bring back the Discipline into the Church as it were out of banishment Truly we are much ashamed of our selves when we compare at any time our Church with this of yours And publiquely in his Piece against Latomus in print thus That way is surely the most excellent which is observed by the Brethren called the Piccards who alone in all the World again still retain among them together with the purity of Doctrine also the Discipline of Christ in force The thing it self is so plain that we cannot but as give them the commendation thereof so praise the Lord which hath so wrought upon them Howbeit those Brethren are lightly esteemed of some Preposterous though Learned men 80. At the same time there wrote to the Brethren of Bohemia also two other Divines Fabricins Capito and John Calvin Pastor of the banished French Church then at Argentorat Part of Fabricius Letter runs thus The Express of your Faith which came to our hands was very acceptable to us it containing your Church Order absolutely the best that I finde in our generation in that together with a solid Confession of Faith and right use of the Sacraments it beareth the sweet savours of holy Discipline and the watchful Pastoral care among you of your Pastors For Calvins Letter it is extant in the Volumn of his Epistles under this title To the Bohemian Pastors of which these words are a fragment I heartily congratulate your Churches upon which besides sound Doctrine God hath bestowed so many excellent gifts whereof this is none of the least to have such Pastors to govern and order them and such people as are so well affected and disposed towards Government To be constituted in so excellent a sorm adorned with the most excellent Discipline which we worthily call the most excellent yea and the onely bond whereby obedience can be preserved I am sure we finde with us by woful experience what the worth of it is by the want of it nor yet can we any way attain unto it God bless me this very thing makes me often faint in my minde and feeble in the discharge of my Function yea I should quite despair did not this comfort me that the edification of the Church is always none other then the work of the Lord which he himself will carry on by his own power though all help besides fails But yet this is a great and rare blessing to be assisted with other necessary advantages therefore I shall never take our Churches to be in any posture of strength or firm establishment until we can be knit together with that nerve c. This excellent man was not long after by prime choise called to exercise his Ministery in the Church of Geneva where he erected this kinde of Discipline and it is famous at this day in all the World 81. In the year 1542. was made another and that the last application of the Brethren from Bohemia unto Luther and it was not so much by Legates as in the way of a personal friendly Visitation For John Augusta himself the then chief Antistes of the Unity taking with him of the Ministers George Israel and of the Nobility Joachimius Prostibore comes to Witteberg to understand what hopes there were of the Gospel-Churches their receiving and embracing the Discipline which the Strasburg Divines had expressed themselves so much desirous of They being kindely embraced
Batchelors and Masters betake themselves others both Commons and Nobles learned and unlearned elsewhere thereabout in great numbers giving themselves diligently to the reading of the Scriptures prayer and works of piety Their Pastors were of the Calixtines which renounced the superstitions and addressed themselves after the form of the Apostolical simplicity among which Micael Bradacius Pastor of Zamberg a pious and devout old man was the chiefest These all called one another mutually by the common and to the godly dear name of Brethren and Sisters by which means it was that the title of the Brethren of Bohemia is given to them by way of eminency even to this day 51. They began indeed to call themselves The Brethren of the Law of Christ as well to distinguish themselves from the orders of the Papists as also from the Benedictines Franciscans c. as to insist upon the foundation of Mr. Huss viz. That the Law of Christ is sufficient for the Government of the Church Militant c. But afterward when they observed it was drawn into a calumny the adversaries crying that they founded a new Order of Monks they left it off saluting one another not amiss with the title of THE BROTHERLY VNITED CHVRCHES or the VNITY OF THE BRETHREN For as the Church is the company of them which are called out of the world to partake of salvation by Faith in Christ knit together by the Laws of mutual charity even so Vnity Ecclesiastical is with us the company of Churches knit together in the Laws of mutual love for the mutual edification of one another in the common salvation fully according to the mind of the holy Ghost Psal 133. and Ephes 4. and elsewhere set down in the Scriptures 52. But Satan was wroth with those beginnings of the Church undertaking a Reformation according to the Laws of the Gospel he therefore raised a new and horrible tempest to overwhelm it for the fame of this flying all abroad the Priests every where stirred up the people to hate them Choak they cried choak the spark least it grow into a flame Rokysan himself who one would think strange puts on the disposition of an enemy and accuses them of headstrong impiety for there was no want of such as would traduce them to the King and Consistory with variety of imputations 53. Hereupon it came to pass in the year 1461. that our Brother Gregory with some others visiting the Brethren at Prague they being assembled together in a certain house were betrayed and taken Where take notice of this remark of providence The Governor entring stayed at the door of the room where they were met and bespake them in these words of Scripture All you that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution You therefore that are here follow me to prison for he was a good man and meant well to the business of the Brethren but could not do otherwise because of the command of his betters 54. The King by reason of the complaints the wicked made of them to him was perswaded that the Brethren of the Taborites as they called them had some plot in hand therefore he commanded that that holy man Gregory should be put upon the rack but he falling into a deep Trance or extasie felt no pain and so they left him upon the rack by the tormentors for dead Rokyzan his Unkle coming in to him and finding him dead on the wrack lamented over him with many tears redoubling it I would I were in thy place O my Gregory but he afterward coming to himself related the vision which in this wheel he had seen That he was carried into a most pleasant meadow in the midst of which stood a tree loaden with fruit and many kinds of birds sitting on the leaves feeding on it there standing in the middle a youth governing the birds with a cane so that none of them durst get away out of order In which sight without doubt God intended to give the picture of that Church whereof he was as the Patriarch He saw also other three men keeping the same tree which six years after when they were in very deed chosen by vote to be the Superintendents he remembred and assured us that they were the very same by the very lineaments of their faces in that vision 55. So Gregory by the mediation of Rokyzan was dismissed but then Patents came forth by the Kings order inhibiting all the Pastors the ministration of the holy Ordinances without the ceremonies and threatning the punishment of death to any that should dare to adminster without the said ceremonâ—es to the Brethren known by the now odious name of Piccardi The Brethren therefore being reduced to great streights and as sheep bereaved of their shepherd run to Rokyzan beseeching him by the glory of God and his own salvation that he would not desert that cause which he knew to be Gods nor hinder the turning away of many from the way of error which they were earnestly providing for and that he would not by any means with-hold the known truth in unrighteousness That even the chief of all the Clergy in the Kingdom must give an account of all both things and persons wherewith they are intrusted and the like But when they saw he was hardned at length they took their leaves of him inserting these words in their last letter Rokyzan thou art of the world and wilt perish with the world 56. At which words being vexed he exasperated the King again against them and out comes new Patents in the name of thâ— King and Consistory That those execrable persons should not be tolerated in any place of Bohemia or Moravia But howbeit they were not wanting which would have them taken and put to death yet Jodocus Rosenbergius Bishop of Wâ—atislavia disswaded them from it giving this reason that Martyrdom was as half-raw-rosting which easily breeds worms meaning that the faithful multiplied by being diminished by martyrdoms and that they would be better reduced if they were banished in all parts For when they are come to that pass saith he that they know not which way to turn themselves they will return to their sound mind 57. Upon this a sore Inquisition was resolved and executed upon the Brethren and so hot it was that most of them especially the chief being dispersed into the Mountains and woods dwelt in caves or dens neither yet there being sufficiently safe therefore they dared not to make any fire for kitchin use save only in the night least the smoak going forth should betray them and then sitting about the fire in the sharp cold air they would spend their time in reading the Scriptures and holy conferences and as oft as they came forth in the deep snow to provide them necessaries least they should be traced they trod all in the same foot-prints the last man drawing after him a Turpentine bough to cover all that it might seem to be only the track of some Countryman
drawing about some bush-wood From this their dwelling in such lurking places they were afterward in a scoff called Jamnici or Cavers 58. Moreover these Brethren made a certain order among themselves that the Seniors should be chosen by votes and have the ordering of affairs allotted to them and the rest promise to be ordered by them then with the advice and counsel of these the chief of them which were of the dispersion through Bohemia and Moravia being called they held Synods in those mountains and made certain decrees viz. How they should carry it among themselves how towards others friends and foes also Kings and Magistrates and the like often setting apart times of praying and fasting among themselves with the dispersed and consulting out of the word of God about those things which were needful for a reformation of life and Doctrine 59. Their cheif care was for Pastors of souls where they should procure them when they which they now had were deceased that to expect till some of the Roman Ordination should out of love to the truth come over to them was a matter of uncertain hope And they remembred that Rokyzan did often affirm professedly that all things must be reformed to the very foundations that therefore Ordination was to be set on foot at home by that power which Christ hath given to his Church That while they had some ordained among them they should ordain others and they again others still to succeed them and their desires inclined much this way as also their judgements But there was one thing which did strike their hearts with some fear whether that Ordination would be legitimate enough if a Presbyter ordain a Presbyter without a Bishop and how they should be able to defend such ordination if it should be called in question either amongst others or their own 60. At length after many perplexing thoughts for some years together it was agreed in the year 1467. that the eminentest men out of Bohemia and Moravia of about fifty years old should with many tears and prayers poured out to God resolve to make evidence of the will of God by lot that he would be so pleased to declare whether that which was propounded were acceptable to him and seasonable at that time Then they by votes chose from among them nine men which they judged fit before the rest to take the office of the Ministry upon them and they put into the hand of a child called into the Assembly not knowing what was doing twelve hidden lots or schedules and bid him distribute to these nine nine of them were blancks EST It is he being written upon three only whereupon it might have so faln out that all the nine might have had blancks and this was to be the discovery of the negative will of God but so it came to pass that those three that were written on did alight into the hands of three among them viz. Matthias Kunwaldius a most pious person Thomas Prelaucius a very learned person Elias Krenovius eminent for singular diligence and industry 61. They imbracing these with joy as given to them by a Divine hand began to consult about their confirmation even by a new way of Ordination and they knowing that there was some Waldenses in the Borders of Moravia and Austria that they might consult for satisfaction of the scruples of the consciences of others as well as their own both for the present and future they send unto them Michal Zamberg with two others to acquaint them with what they had done and ask their judgement concerning it They light upon Stephen their Bishop then getting another Bishop and some of the Ministers to be present with him declare unto them their original the Articles of their Doctrine and what horrid things they had undergon in Italy and France They also hearing approving and joying them upon the relation they made of their separation from the Pope and the Calixtines Yea moreover creating them three Bishops by imposition of their hands they conferred on them power to ordain Ministers and sent them away 62. Our Brethren were glad to understand these thlngs and being desirous of Christian Unity they deliberate whether they might not fall in to make one people and one Church with the Waldenses They were very much taken with the purity of their Doctrine and their endeavour of a Christian conversation but it displeased them that they concealed the truth and did not profess it freely but studying to evade persecutions frequented the Churches of the Papists and communicated in their Idolatrous worship It was resolved that they would admonish them of this and some other things therefore sending again fit persoâ—â— they acquaint the Waldenses with these things They testified their good liking of their purpose to come into unity with them giving them to understand that as to the faults they charged upon them they were neither ignorant of them nor did they excuse them but confessed they were departed from the ancient purity of their Fathers and would bethink them of amending They agreed on both parts that upon a certain time they would give one another a meeting to take further order about the business but before that time came the Papists this being divulged began to rage against the good Waldenses Stephen their Superintendent at Vienna suffers burning the rest the most of them getting over to Marchia and from thence were scatterd to Moravia and especially Fulneca 63. And from this transaction of the Brethren of Bohemia with the Waldenses it arose that afterward they were also honoured with the name of Waldenses But they would never own it complaining often publickly in their writings That it was given to them through a mistake And herein they alledge for the cause both Truth and necessity Truth because they took not their Doctrine from them nor were they the Authors that founded that Unity nor yet were they reformed by them but they themselves desired to be reformed of their mischievous errors by them Again it was of Necessity because they thought it prudence not to derive upon themselves but rather to decline the Decrees made published by the Magistrates against the Waldenses yet withal that they received from the Waldenses power of Ordination and thereby external Succession they would never deny although for the present time it was their wisdom to pass over even this in silence 64. But it pleased God that the Brethren in Bohemia should be Fellow-sufferers with the Waldenses in the Austrian Persecution For George the King solemnly calling the Estates into a Convention in the year 1468. enacted a bloody Statute against them That every one of the Nobles in their respective Territories of his Principality or Jurisdiction should do his endeavour to apprehend whom soever they could of the Piccardi and severely punish them upon occasion according to their pleasure By this severity to compel the separation Hereupon there were sore Persecutions until the decease of George on March 22.
a matter of necessity that we must give you a meeting for we must absolutely obviate the various attempts of Satan which with all craftiness they make amongst us to disturb the Church and hinder the progress of the Gospel For there are that neither will in all Articles allow our universally received Doctrine nor willingly will submit to Ecclesiastical Discipline we must therefore have mutual consultation to know how to deal with men of this sort and the Lord give his blessing to us that our meeting may not be in vain c. Thus that excellent a Lasco hoped well but was frustrated for they came together to no purpose both this and some years after all the Antitrinitarian Turn-coats as yet hiding their poyson but always bending another way according to that of our Saviour He which doeth evil hateth the light 99. This good old man a Lasco being taken up into his heavenly Countrey another Synod was convened in the Town of Xians 1560. wherein the haters of Truth and Order being very daringly bold affirmed That the Senior or Superintendent was not to be chosen out of the Clergy but out of the Secular men perswading themselves they could more easily instill their poyson into them They pretended two Reasons 1 That the Pastors had enough to do every one with his flock 2. Lest any thing savouring of Popery be still left among them which were separated from the Papacy The Legates of our Churches which were there Laurentius and Rokita not yet founding the depth of Satan in this matter nevertheless being required their opinion said Our custom anciently carries it an other way affirming also that Order with the Authority of Scripture and Arguments To which the Pastors agreed the Nobles dissented and there was a great stir 100. At last the haters of Order broke out to that height to affirm That there was to be had a more perfect Scriptural 〈◊〉 fâ—â—mation of the Church then that of the Brethren of the Waldenses Arguments therefore were drawn up by our men that this very way of Reformation was such as was settled according to the pattern of the ancient Apostolical Church and that the most famous of the Evangelici did attest it to be such at this day nor was this out Reformation rashly made or by any one man but whatever the grave and serious Counsels of many could finde to be best whatever could be learned from experience what the temper of all times could afford or custom could confirm that onely was agreed upon to be admitted why then should we try new and uncertain experiments since that in our experience now for these forty years we have sufficiently been deluded with c. rather then seen by humble and obedient practice any fruit of the Gospel as if the Gospel lay onely in Temples and lips without reformation of life the onely suitable return for so great a light of Truth So true is the Testimony of Speratus Bishop of Pomefania of holy memory now six years agone deceased wherein he finding things then not much otherwise complains We preach saith he and do not our people hear and believe not Well unless the Evangelici of Polonia knit together on all hands in the bands of order nothing will be of any durable standing for Posterity now Order is that some govern and others obey for constant mutual Edification 101. But still they objected That the Brethren did not open their Churches nor had they any full Communion of Saints but administred the Sacrament to some onely which were of their own way at their Devotion To which answer was made Christ for bad to give holy things to them which are not holy and that Christianity must take its beginning at repentance not at receiving the Sacraments nor is it according to the Institution of Christ to pronounce Absolution save onely to them that repent and believe Both of which viz. Repentance and Faith that they be not superficial and counterfeit there must necessarily be a discovery made by examination had to that purpose in some appointed fit season And inasmuch as to attribute salvifical vertue to the naked Elements by reason of the work done is the Basis of all error in the Papacy that that errour cannot be corrected unless by a certain tryal that not huddled over till the secrets of hearts be disclosed and the newly converted be a long time carefully both informed and examined that Cyril well observed that Christ did not presently commit himself to them which made a profession of their faith in him and that Chrysostome called them abortive Christians that were admitted to the use of the Sacraments before they had been learned and taught to renounce all things forbidden in the Decalogue So that 't is the concern of a true Minister of Christ that he makes not abortive Christians to insist upon the fruits meet for repentance as requisite before admission to the Sacrament and that because there be three parts of the Ministery 1 Doctrine 2. Keys and 3. Sacraments The Sacraments may not be administred save onely to such as unfeignedly embrace sound Doctrine and subject their life and conversation to be tryed by the Laws of Discipline If any man refuse this how is he a part of the flock and before he be a member how can he be joyned or received as such are the Constitutions of Order to be disturbed in favour of such Libertines as exempt themselves from all Law of Order 102. The things at that time more largely discussed are well known yet it seems there was then no such force in them as to make the obstinate to yield Yea the conclusions of that Synod were so drawn up that it was plain to be seen that Politique and Carnal Prudence got the better of Divine and Spiritual wisdom For the body of the Church was not formed as the Apostle would have it Eph. 4.16 that by the inward working power it may encrease unto edification of it self in love But it was with them as the Apostle forewarned ver 14. men being unstable as children tossed and carried about with every wind of Doctrine through Satans long experienced craftiness artificially to deceive This I say was apparently the Frenzy-like Arrians spirit everyday more and more impotently putting forth it self and troubling the faith and tranquility of the Church So that at last the Orthodox were fain of necessity to be very watchful to rid themselves of those unquiet spirits to gather up into a more close body by the yet firmer bands of unity in the Spirit 103. For at length the many Counsels of pious and wise men took place so that the Churches of Polonia the less received th Order of the Brethren of Bohemia they constituting out of their number of their Pastors for their own Churches which were scattered all about the Provinces five Bishops or Presbyters of Cracovia of Sendomiria of Lublin of Russia of Belsa and so many Compresbyters with all the Solemn Rites used
Heidelberg then piously solicitous about the erecting of Order in the Churches of the Palatinate under Pious Frederick as appears in their Embassy and Letters to the Brethren of Bohemia for Zech. Vrsin in his to Andreas Stephanus the Antistes of the Brethren writes thus We are fully certified by your Confession both of your consent with us in all the heads of Christian Doctrine and also of your care and diligence to keep up a conversation worthy of a Christian and indeed upon this account we must needs joy you with an happiness far beyond us And we entreat you to help us in your prayers to the Lord that we may obtain his grace for some further attainment of the beauty of Christian Order amongst us also and that we judging our selves may not be condemned of the Lord for notwithstanding our prayers and endeavours many a day have been reaching hereunto that something of better Order may at last be seen amongst us yet because the name of Church-Discipline some imprudently and importunately urging it others bitterly and altogether rejecting it is become so odious that a great part do not onely decline it but would have it demolished and we can scarce hitherto enjoy the name or the least slight shadow of Discipline Therefore with shame and grief we are sensible that you ascribe more to us in your opinion then is to be found amongst us yet this advantage we have by it that from hence we apprehend you ply us as with a spur to quicken us to endeavour to be more answerable the better to answer to that good opinion which you and the rest of the godly conceive of us c. Mart. 19. 1574. 114. Answer hereunto being received the Church of Heidelberg dispatch to the Brethren one Badius with Letters to the same Antistes written by Mr. Olevian to this effect Mr. Vrsin shewed me your Letters and them of Mr. Languet whereby I understand that you of a long time have vigorously laid at that design whereto also we aspire namely to place the beginning middle and end of Religion not in disputing but in doing i. e. in true conversion to God and solid faith in Christ Let me therefore beg of you not onely in mine but in the name of the Brethren which are here in the service of the Church that you would furnish this John Badius with understanding of the whole Oeconomy or Administration of your Church and make him welcome for he is a learned and very pious man Mr. Vrsin and all the Colleagues salute you At Heidelberg April 28. 1574. 115. Now what opinion the Divines of Heidelberg had of those things which Badius observed in the Churches of the Brethren is evident by Olevians Letters again to Stephen given Sept. 6. in these words It cannot be expressed what high thoughts I have of that work of the Lord which he hath not onely began but also carried on so many years in your Churches The extreme corruptions of this age makes me and my Coleagues not a â—ittle desirous to confer with you about the most excellent Government of the Church for we would so build that the building may stand firm for after ages but we see how great differences and what sudden changes there are in those Churches which are deprived of their Priviledge and wholly depend upon the Civil power unless we seasonably obviate these evils many of the godly will think at least in a great part that they have run in vain I mean as to the stability of the building and the preservation and propagation of the whole Oeconomy of the Kingdom of Christ Wherefore we thankfully own what the Lord hath given us and we desire to make more full acknowledgment thereof and beseech the Lord that he would supply us with sufficient means hereunto to that purpose Veriâ—y when I behold the sad face of the Reformed Churches in Germany I am utterly afraid I apprehend that secular powers have been heretofore the Churches entreatments but now in many places they are turned into a kind of Dominion to domineer at their pleasure over the Churches and the heavenly doctrine Of the causes hereof this seems not to be the least that many Churches have too much given up themselves to the Polities of the world as if they were an essential part of the Kingdom of Christ Therefore I cannot but extoll your way of edifying who would have your Churches so subjected to the Polities of this world yea and to all men for good as yet to part with nothing of that liberty which Christ hath purchased for them with his blood 116. Hubert Languet mentioned before was the Elector of Saxonies Legat in Cesars Court at Vienna a man of great authority I find some letters of his to Andreas Stephanus and in one of them these words The Pope fears nothing more then our consent and uniting together which is his sure destruction if it can be effected but we have some unsound Divines amongst us which reject all good counsels and therein do much advance the Popes interest I would have the Churches of Bohemia which you write desire the Augustan Confession first joyn themselves with your Churches But these things are belonging to the good pleasure of God onely unto whom we must earnestly pray that he would defend his Church against them which labour to dissolve it Of the Gentleman D. of Z. I think as you do he seems to me to be of that sort of men which prudently and simply judge of things as nothing at all byassed by their affections of which there are to be found but very few Tho most and those not otherwise wanting parts and ingenuity being so hurried away with their affections that they seem sometimes when they give their judgement to be destitute of common sence At Vienna 15. Feb. 1574. 117. There was come forth before this time an 1572. the famous four-languaged Bible of Benedict Arias Montanus printed at Antwerp and not much after that was the new Latin Translation of the Bible of Francis Junius and Imanuel Tremel printed at Heidelberg This put the Brethren upon preparing in like manner a new version of the Bible in their own language conformable to the Original for all that they had hitherto had was the Latin version they therefore set about this business and in pursuance hereof they send to the Universities of Wittenberg and Basil some Candidates in Divinity to give themselves diligently to the study and thorough-knowledge of the holy Tongues To these was adjoyned a Jew born Lucas Helitz of Posnania a learned and pious man ordained also a Minister of the Gospel among us and that these might be able quietly to attend this sacred work there was assigned them in the heart of Moravia an accommodation for their dwelling together viz. the Castle of Kratlitz a Printing office being there also erected under the patronage of the Right honourable Lord John Baron of Zerotin having his Mansion in the next adjoyning
it securely at their pleasure over the Churches and so over the heavenly Doctrine c. What this means John Valentine of Andreas a choice Divine of the Lutherans in his Auguration Sermon or Speech at Tubinga in the year 1642. tells us in these words The impotent Usurped Power of the Pope over Emperours Kings and all power of State and Magistracy which one may call by an unusually but not an unfitly name Papal-Magistracy with a Divine Spirit of Power set at liberty their Rights Dignities Crowns and Scepters and being restored upheld them by the Authority of the Divine Word Now Satan easily perceived what an incurable wound was given him and how the very foundations of his Kingdom were shaken by this liberty of the Magistrate restored therefore superseding all force and violence he takes to his Arts and Stratagems and attempting that which no man suspected an unworthy return indeed for so great a benefit instead of Papal-Magistracy the Tables being turned he institutes Magistratical-Papacy and foisted it into the Church scarce as yet gotten out of the Roman dungeon Would you know what this word means 'T is sad indeed and that which is very prejudicial to the proceedings of the Church affairs I had rather you should have it in the words of Conrad Schlisselberg formerly an excellent Divine of Ours than in mine own Imperial-Papacy saith he is the confounding of the Church and Civil Power wherein the Secular Lords in Courts and Cities under pretence of keeping both the Tables snatch to themselves the Spiritual Sword and make themselves Lords over the Church and the Ministery of the Word Prescribing Forms of Obligation and of Teaching Praying making Sermons Honouring the Magistrate Taxing offences and Errors Administring the Sacraments and Keyes and setting up Ceremonies in the Church such as are now dangerous doubtful and contrary to the Word of God and they will have to be in their own and their Courtiers and Senates hands the Supreme and Dictator-like power of hearing taking cognizance of and determining all Ecclesiastical causes and of chusing and calling Ministers and dis-officiating the same whom and when they please whether the Church will or no consent hereunto or dissent and all to this end that themselves may not be reproved and admonished by the faithful Preachers from the Spirit of God and that the Civil Peace as they account it may be preserved Thus Schlisselburg And John Valen. of Andreas Printing on purpose a little Book entituled Apap i. e Papa inverted to shew the prodigious abominations and fatal effects of that new Monster Imperial-Papacy That it is the most desperate crafty stratagem of the Devil to frame for himself of Ministers of the Gospel Masters of State and transform the Servants of Christ into Servants of men and to hang fetters upon the Prophets to make them either dumb or fearful to speak lest they should be Reprovers Ezek. 3.25 26. Chrysostome was in the right This is the cause of all evils that the Authority of the Governours of the Church is lost and they be not had in Reverence Honour and Fear Hom. 2. on the 2. of Tim. for verily when the Magistrate will not be reproved neither will the people For Let 's but see th' Mode Royal And who 'll not be Loyal And then the Church becomes such as it was in the time of the Prophets Licentious Contumacious and impatient of all Controul Let no man strive and reprove another for this people is as they that strive with the Priest Hos 4.4 Whence it comes to pass that in those Churches where Imperial Papacy rules one of the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven is neglected despised lost I did not know it the Omniscient is my witness and to this very day for what hath an incurious man to do in another man's charge for ought I know I might have been ignorant of it but that some 14 yeers ago by chance I came to the knowledge of it Excuse me as to the name of place and person and I 'le relate it to you in few words It hapned that in the chief City of Germany I had some speech with the chief Pastor of the Church in that place He told me he had a good while longed for an occasion to know whether a Book which he had read viz. The way of the Discipline and Order of the Churches of the Brethren in Bohemia did contain the true story of that Church or only a Model how a Church should be constituted I asked why he doubted it He answered because I cannot imagine any such Church should or can at this day be found in the world I answered 't was an History not a Fiction there related and that indeed there was really such Orders and Constitutions though they were not enough observed and therefore now we that would not be governed thereby are under the chastisements of the Discipline of heaven Saith he O happy you that had both the Keys we have lost one of them that is the binding Key We are appointed to be such Stewards in the House of God as are bound as it were to set open the Barns Cellars Chests and all Treasuries and not at all to shut them so that we cannot but give holy things to dogs and cast pearls before swine I have known saith he some persons in my Congregation very prophane covetous extortioners drunkards adulterers admitted to Confession and the Supper which must be by me absolved to day and for certain would be found to morrow returning to wallow in the mire I told him they were not to be admitted unless they would engage to reform He answered I tryed that but could not carry it on they defame me as some new Papist or Calvinist my life is bitter to me c. and so began to sigh and weep I tell you a true story before God who is a most faithful witness if haply even by this the enormity and deadly mischief as well of the Imperial-Papacy as the Papal-Empire may be made manifest for by the one as much as by the other is the Order of the Church shaken even in the very foundation fin and judgment being filled up to the measure by such breach of Order Is there not some likeness between the Papal Empire of the Evangelici and that Micah of Mount Ephraim making himself a new God for his House and having a Priest to perform the Service as should be by him prescribed Judg. 17. Doth it not resemble the Policy of Jeroboam setting up Calves to be his Gods and Calvish Priests to be Ministers because forsooth the reason of State so required Mark I beseech you the Founders of the old and new Church and the many Reformers and Transformers their divers and even contrary wayes God will not be mocked that which any man sowes that he shall also reap Aaron the Priest with Miriam the Prophetess go about to shake off the Authority of Moses their Prince and they are punished by God with