offreth it selfe by their ministery to the view of the whole world which afore did but peepe out at the Screene and what the things be which they of meane gifts doe see and our Fathers and the Martyrs Bishops and Preachers both in King Edwards dayes and afterwards knowne and acknowledged to be men of excellent parts either did not see at all or ouersee and what likewise the points of doctrine newly now reuealed their aternum Euangelium which without great danger may not be preached in England no more then the doctrine and Articles of the Church of England may be preached at Rome and for defence whereof they ought to afford euen their very liues were they so many as the haires of euery of their heads is and be they demonstrate themselues to be most childishly vaine and idle in their imaginations which they take yet to bee illuminations of the spirit 13. For all their doings The vncouth doctrine of the factious Brethren and discourses to say the best of them are but to erect a new which they tearme a true ministery and their Discipline among vs. Themselues doe say The controuersie betwixt them and vs is not as the Bishops and their wil-willers they would beare the world in hand for a Cap a Tippet or a Surplesse but for greater matters concerning a true ministery and regiment of the Church according to the word the one whereof that is a true ministery they shall neuer haue till Archbishops and Bishops be put downe and all ministers made equall the other also will neuer be brought to passe till Kings and Queenes doe subiect themselues vnto the Church and submit their scepters and throw downe their Crownes before the Church and lick vp the dust of the feete of the Church and willingly abide the censures of the Church that is of the Presbytery For as the Church is subiect vnto the ciuill magistrate in respect of his civill authority so must the Magistrate the King and Queene subiect themselues and be obedient to the iust and lawfull authority of the Church The ciuill magistrate is none officer at all of the Church For Church-officers be non Magnates aut Tetrarchae not gracious or honorable Lords but Ministers of the Church The Presbytery is the Church and euery Congregation or Church should and must in it haue a Presbytery This is the Light which indeed the Martyrs neuer saw the Religion which our Brethren striue for the Truth which they may not preach not childish doctrine like the Bishops Articles but the wise Gospel the maine and materiall points of Religion now in the dayes last of all yea after the eighth Thorow breaking of H. N. his Euangelium regni reuealed and for furtherance whereof they are to lend and spend euen all their liues if occasion be ministred 14. Strange and strong delusions First to take these and other such assertions for Truths and heauenly mysteries which are but the fancies of troubled braines not grounded nor truly gathered from Gods Word Next to teach one another and all their fauourers how they should be as ready and prepared euen for these matters to give other their liuings and to giue their liues were they as many as the haires of all their heads as Cranmer Ridly Latimer did and Parker Grindall and all other Preachers would and euery Christian man and woman should if they be called thereunto for the Apostolicall and Catholique doctrine of our Church which all Gods people doe know and the Brethren themselues as afore hath bin noted doe confesse is originally from God and his written Word These and many moe too many here to be recapitulated such phantasies of theirs or phrensies rather this first subscription brought first to light and yet happy had it bin for Gods Church and people they had neuer bin broached Of the second Subscription vrged an 84. 15. Semblably the next subscription called for by the last Archb. your L. predecessor an 84. discouered euen the very thoughts and desires of those Brethren before but now stiled faithfull Brethren which haue and doe seeke for the Discipline reformation of the Church Many Treatises afore but now and diuers yeeres ensuing they flew about and abroad like Atomies and by them the same things which afore but in a differing sort and in other words they publish For touching Church officers they name who and how many sorts they be of them viz. Doctors Pastors Gouernors Deacons and Widdowes no moe no fewer They say euery Church must be furnished with a Teacher and a Pastor as with two eyes with elders as with feet with Deacons as with hands Euery Congregation must haue eyes hands and feete and yet neither all nor at all any Congregation is to haue an Head answerable to those Feet Hands and Eyes The Doctor by their doctrine must be a distinct minister from the pastor and onely teach true doctrine and neither exhort nor apply his doctrine according to the times and his auditory nor minister the Sacraments For these things the pastor is to performe Which pastor also whensoeuer he administreth the Sacraments must necessarily make a Sermon or else he committeth Sacriledge And concerning discipline by their doctrine euery Congregation must haue absolute authority to admonish to censure to excommunicate and to anathematize all offending persons yea euen Kings and Princes if they be of the Congregation And no Prince but must be of some Parish and vnder one Presbytery or other alwayes Where this power is not in their iudgements one of the tokens of a true Church is wanting For this Discipline with them is a marke of the Church and numbred among the Articles of their Faith 16. This say they is the great cause the holy cause which they wil neuer leaue suing for though there should be a thousand Parliaments in their dayes vntil either they obtaine it or bring the Lord in vengeance and blood against the State and the whole land for repelling the same The Brethrens diuine conceipts of their Discipline The discipline is Gods holy yoke Gods scepter the kingdome and throne of Christ Our controuersie say they whether Iesus Christ shall be King or no. Againe the end of all our trauell is to build vp the walles of Ierusalem and to set vp thē Throne of Iesus Christ our heauenly King in the midst thereof the aduancing whereof is a testimony vnto vs that we shall haue part in that glory which shall be reuealed hereafter So learne we now from their said bookes learned and demonstratiue discourses which the Fathers and our forefathers neuer saw nor had learned both that their Discipline established and exercised is a visible marke of a true Church and to desire the aduancement of the same an inuisible token of an elect childe of God so as neither is that a Church at least no true Church where their Discipline is not neither they but titular Christians no true Christians indeed which either sigh or seeke not to have it established and Presbyteries in euery parish to be aduanced 17. The Articles of our religion concluded
established which at the Kings first arriuall among vs was so much desired by the Brethren And finally being the same let vs not doubt but perswade our selues that we shal find the Antichristian Church of Rome too the same which for the same doctrine and for none other cause persecuteth al Christian Churches but ours of England especially with sword fire and power in most horrible yea and hellish manner the effect of whose hatred against vs as we have often seene so especially had we felt the same the next yeere after our Kings ratification of these Articles had not our euer mercifull God most miraculously detected both the Treason and Traitors Ann. 1605 For which his fauours his holy Name be glorified of vs and our posterity throughout all generations The Brethren no changelings 36. So our Church is the same But the Brethren the faithfull and godly Brethren too the same now which they haue also beene If they be then will they not deny which An. 72. they writ that we hold the substance of religion with them nor which An. 602. they published and is afore remembred that the true Faith by which we may be saued and the true doctrine of the Sacraments and pure worship of God be truely taught that by publike authority and retained in the booke of Articles And in this Confession I pray God they may constantly perseuere Howbeit euen these men which in a generality doe allow the doctrine of our Church being called by authority to acknowledge their assent vnto every Article thereof in particular they doe not a little debase the estimation of this doctrine of ours and shew themselues but too apparent and professed dissentors from the same And though all of them doe and will approoue some yet not one of them will subscribe vnto all and every of the Articles For vnto the articles of religion and the Kings supremacy they are willing to subscribe And they may subscribe as afore hath beene noted vnto such of them as containe the summe of Christian Faith the doctrine of the Sacraments But vnto the same Articles for number 36. agreed vpon in this Conuocation at London an 62. they neither wil nor dare nor may subscribe For neither the rest of the Articles in that booke nor the Booke of common prayer may be allowed no though a man should be depriued from his ministery for it say the said brethren in a certaine Classicall decree of theirs The late Polititian is not afraid to mooue the high and most honorable Court of Parliament that Impropriation may bee let to Ferme vnto incumbent ministers viz. which faithfully preach in the Churches the true doctrine of the Gospell according to the Articles of Religion concerning faith and Sacraments meaning that such Ministers as preach the same doctrine if they proceed to the rest of the Articles concerning either Conformitie in externall and ceremoniall matters or Vniformitie in other points of doctrine contained in that booke should not be partakers of that benefit or of Benefices Impropriate 31. If it be demanded what the causes may be Why the Br. will subscrib vnto some but not vnto all the Articles why they will vnto some but will not vnto all or why they will vnto those Articles which concerne Faith and the Sacraments but will not vnto the rest subscribe The reasons thereof be two whereof The one is for that in their opinion there is no Law to compell them to subscribe vnto all For say the Brethren resiant I know not where Wee have alwayes beene ready to subscribe to the Articles of Religion concerning the doctrine of Faith and of the Sacraments which is all that is required by Law Also the Brethren in Deuonshire and Cornewall We are ready say they to subscribe to the third which concerneth the Booke of Articles of Religion so farre as wee are bound by Statute concerning the same viz. as they concerne the doctrin of the Sacraments and the confession of the true faith And the 22. London Brethren tell King Iames to his head how the Subscription which he calleth for is more then the Law requireth Their other reason is because as the Lincolnshire doe say sundry as the London Brethren affirme many things in that booke be not agreeable but contrary to Gods Word 32. If these things be true which they doe alleadge surely then are those men to be chronicled for the Faithfull the godly and innocent Brethren indeed whom neither present Benefices can allure nor the angry countenance and displeasure of a King even of the puissant powerful King of great Brittaine can force to doe anything at his becke and pleasure either against Law or for which there is no law and who had rather to forgoe all their earthly commodities liuings yea and to goe from their charges and ministery and to expose themselues their wiues and children to the miseries of this world grieuous for our flesh and blood to endure then to approue any thing fob true sound by their hands which is opposite or not agreeable to the reuealed will and Scriptures of God But if these allegations of theirs be but weake and sinfull surmises or rather apparantly most false scandalous and slanderous imputations to their Prince their mother Church and this State then doubtlesse as they euen Christians now liuing cannot but take them so ages to come will euerlastingly note and censure them both for disloyall Subiects that so traduce a truly and most Christianly religious King ill deseruing children that so abuse their honorable and reuerand Fathers and superiours of State and authority turbulent spirits not peaceable men which raise such broiles troubles and diuisions in the Church and Kingdome the issues whereof no tongue can foretell and are fearefull being thought of without cause and finally neither faithfull nor godly Preachers but vngodly broachers of vntruthes and slanders and the very authors and fautors of horrible confusion and faction in Gods Church whose peace they should seeke and promote euen with their dearest blood 33. Since the Statute for Vniformity in rites and doctrine was first enacted moe then 35. yeeres haue passed in all which space neither the Brethren now being nor the Brethren afore them liuing haue hitherto shewne of the 39. Articles for names and titles Which for number How many the Articles be which Ecclesiasticall Ministers necessarily must how many which they may not or need not vnlesse they list subscribe vnto which I am sure they or some of them at one time or other would have expressed had the Law fauoured there recusancy and they bin able to have justified their Maxime which is That they are not compellable by subscription to approoue them all Againe since the first establishment of that Statute Law the most reuerend Fathers and truly reformed Ministers of this Church sound for iudgement profound for learning zealous for affection sincere for religion faithfull in their Churches painefull in their charges more
profitable many wayes of as tender consciences euery way as any of these Brethren combined according both to their bounden duties and as they are perswaded to the very purport and true intent of the said Statute have alwayes both with their mouthes acknowledged and with their pennes approued the 39. Articles of our religion for truthes not to be doubted of and godly Yea and the Brethren too themselues which now so scrupulously when they are orderly called thereunto doe hold backe their hands and will subscribe but choisely vnto some of them euen they with their mouthes which is equiualent and all one have that according to the Statute or else their liuings be void vpon the first entrance into all and singular their ecclesiasticall benefices openly both read and testified their consent vnto the said Articles for number euen nine and thirty acknowledging them I say all of them to be agreeable to Gods word whereof the people in their seuerall charges be ready witnesses to testifie so much before God and the world 34. Againe of these Brethren that will subscribe but vnto which they please of these Articles there be some who faine would beate into mens heads if they could tell how to make it credible that the Doctrine of our Church is altred from that it was in the raigne of Q. Eli. But this assertion being too grosse egregiously vntrue A late deuice of the Br. to shunne subscription no waies iustifiable they secondly give out and report so industrious be they to inuent new shifts to cloak their inueterate and rooted pertinacy how the purpose if not doctrine of our Church is of late altered from that it was And therefore though they can be well content to allow of the old doctrine and ancient intention yet vnto the old doctrine and new Intention of our Church they cannot subscribe might they either gaine much or lose whatsoeuer they have thereby Besides this new Intendement contrary to the old purpose if not doctrin of our Church is become now the maine and principall obstacle why they cannot subscribe vnto the booke of Common prayer and booke of Ordination as earst they some of them foure times have done when aswell Intention as Doctrine of our Church was pure holy Lastly they seeme not obscurely to intimate vnto the State that were they sure or might be assured that the purpose of our Church were the same which it was neither varied from the doctrine they would be prest and as ready euen foure if not forty times moe to subscribe vnto the forementioned bookes of Common prayer and of ordination as aforetimes they did when they were out of doubt the Intention of our Church was correspondent to her Doctrine that it was found and good I haue foure times subscribed saith a Brother to the booke of Common prayer with limitation and reference of all things therein contained not vnto the purpose onely or doctrine onely but unto the purpose and doctrine of the Church of England Yet cannot the same man with a good conscience so much as once more subscribe which formerly and that with a good conscience had subscribed foure times His reason is Because the purpose if not doctrine of our Church to which he referred his subscription appeareth to him by the late Canons booke of conference and some speeches of men in great place and others to be varied somewhat from that which he before not without reason took it to be The purpose and Doctrine of our Church continue the same 35. The purpose of our Church is best knowne by the doctrine which she doth professe the Doctrine by the 39. Articles established by Act of Parliament the Articles by the words whereby they are expressed and other purpose then the publike Doctrine doth minister and other Doctrine then in the said Articles is contained our Church neither hath nor holdeth and other sense they cannot yeeld then their words doe impart The words be the same and none other then earst and first they were And therefore the sense the same the Articles the same the Doctrine the same and the purpose and Intention of our Church still one and the same If then the purpose be knowne by her Doctrine and Articles and the true sense by their very words needs must the purppose of our Church be the same because her Doctrine and Articles for number words syllables and letters and every way be the very same And so our Churches intention in her publike Doctrine and Articles reuealed being good at the first it is so still For her purpose continuing one and the same cannot be ill at the last which was good and so beleeued and acknowledged even by the Brothers subscription at the first or good in good Queene Elizabeth and ill in illustrious King Iames his dayes 36. If the premisses sufficiently explane not the constancy of our Churches purpose in professing religion sincerely Neither the Doctrine nor purpose of our Church altered then cast we our eyes vpon the Propositions which she publikely maintaineth and if we find them the same which euer they have beene then need we not doubt the Brethren themselves being Iudges but the Articles againe their sence the Doctrine purpose and Intention nf the Church of England the Proposition interpreting as it were the said Articles is the very same it ever was Now that Propositions pregnantly and rightly gathered and arising from the articles be the same for substance vnaltered though vpon good considerations some few bee added to the former and all of them approued for true and Christian by the lawful publike allowance of our Church the Booke here ensuing plainely will declare and so demonstrate withall not the Doctrine onely but intention also of our Church to be the same and not changed and being vnchanged the books then of common prayer and of ordination too considered in the purpose and intention of the Church of England and reduced to the Propositions as the Brethren would haue them be well allowed and authentically approued and the said brethren with as good conscience now againe and afresh may subscribe vnto all the Articles euen concerning the Booke of common prayer and of ordination aswell as of the kings supremacy and of Religion as afore often and alwayes they did 37. For my selfe most reuerend Father in God what my thoughts be of the religion in this Realme at this instant professed and of all these Articles if the premisses doe not that which here followeth will sufficiently demonstrate Twenty yea 22 yeeres agoe voluntarily of mine owne accord altogether vnconstrained I published my subscription vnto them my Faith is not either shaken or altred but what it then was it still is yeeres have made those haires of mine gray which were not and time much reading and experience in Theologicall conflicts and combates have bettred a great deale but not altered one whit my judgement I thanke God Nothing have I denied nothing
ever celebrate with high words and commendations and that God would gard Q. Elizabeth and safegard her person for the good of his people was his daily prayer yea saith the same Gualter orabant idem tecùm pii omnes it was not your prayer onely but all Gods people so prayed besides And their prayers were not made in vaine For both Queene Mary lived not long and Lady Elizabeth was placed in the Royall throne superstition was expulsed and true Religion againe to the singular comfort and multiplication of Gods people in this Kingdome very solemnely restored Notwithstanding an Vniformitie of doctrin to be taught embraced True doctrine restored anno 1558. and an uniformitie of the same established and published an 1562. and professed by authoritie of the Prince and State was not published till certain yeers after the Queenes attaining the kingly Diademe but then Articles of Religion to the number of thirtie nine drawne yet three yeeres afore were commended to the consideration and perusall of the whole Clergy of both Provinces in an orderly and lawfull assembly or Convocation of theirs at London and by a sweet and unanimous readinesse thereupon by them allowed This was effected in the yeer of our Lord 1562. Ann. 1562. the same yeer that the mercilesse massacre at Vassey in France was committed by the Duke of Guize and the same very time also that all the Protestants in that countrey of France for holding and professing the same doctrine were sentenced unto death and destruction by the Parliament at Paris after which their condemnation ensued those horrible and more then savage murders and slaughters of the Religious and onely for their Religion at Carrascone at Tholouse Amiens Towres Sens Agen Aurane and many other Cities Townes and Villages throughout France A principall contriver of this Vniformitie in Religion Arch. Parker and thereby Vnitie among us was another Predecessour of your Graces even D. Parker the first Archbishop of Canterbury in the said Queenes dayes Hereupon Beza from Geneva Doctrinae puritas viget in Anglia purè syncerè Religion flourisheth in England Zanchius from Straâ—borough Per hanc Reginam factam by her meaning Q Elizabeths comming to the Crowne God againe hath restored his doctrine and true worship and Daneus The whole compasse of the world hath never seen any thing more blessed nor more to be wished then is her government So now again flourished those Apostolicall times as I may say of unitie and Vniformitie of doctrine in our Church For then were there no contentions nor dissentions nor thorny and pricking disputations among us about questions of Religion tantum res nobis cum satellitibus quibusdam Pontificiis as Bishop Iewell said we then skirmished onely with the Papists As it was at the building of Salomons Temple so was it with us then We set upon the building of Gods House which is his Church without din without noyse and stirres The adversaries without heard us and heard of our doings abroad by the pens of the learned Iewell Nowell Calfehill and such other Architects of ours to our selves we were comely at Ierusalem to our enemies terrible as an Army of Banners 6. Also what afore viz. an 62. they had agreed upon Subscription required unto the Booke of Art an 1â—â—2 the same at another Assembly at London an 71. and the 13. of Q. Elizabeth according to an Act of Parliament then made the said Clergie of England the Archbishops and Bishops first beginning and giving the example by their several subscriptions with their owne hands most readily did approve An. 1572. Howbeit in the yeere next ensuing sciz an 72. a yeere many wayes memorable especially for the great and general Massacre of above an hundred thousand Protestants in France chiefely in Paris and the countrey thereabout adioyning begun on St. Bartholmewes Eve * Bartholomaeus flet quia Gallicus occubat Atlas for Pope Gregories excommunicating of Q Elizabeth for defending this doctrine and religion which here we speak of and thirdly for the erecting of private Presbyteries now first in England divers of the inferiour Ministers in and about London and else-where in this Kingdome not a little disturbed the quiet of our state and peace some of them by untimely and inconsiderate admonitions pamphlets and Libels others by obstinate refusing to subscribe as both Law did enjoyne and their Fathers in Christ and superiours afore them had done But these men speedily both by learning were answered and by authority censured suspended or deprived Vnitie of doctrine stil continued 7. And yet not one of these Recusants and so not one of Englands Clergie either now or afore did ever oppugne the received publike and Catholike doctrine of our Church but most willingly approved and applauded the same as the truth of God For even the admonitioners themselves which said that they did strive for true Religion and wished the Parliament even with perfect hatred to detest the Church of England whereof notwithstanding they were members even they do say how they meaning the Bishops and their partakers hold the substance of Religion with us and wee with them And againe We all of us confesse one Christ And their Champion doth acknowledge that her Maiestie hath delivered us from the spirituall Egypt of Popery So that for doctrine I means still for the maine points of doctrine there was now a sweet and blessed concord among us which Vnity continued all that holy and Reverend Fathers I meane Archbishop Parkers time which was till the 17. yeere of Queene Elizabeth 8. Archbish Grindall After him succeeded in the said Archiepiscopall chaire B. Grindall a right famous and worthy Prelate and for religion so sound as in K. Edwards dayes had the Prince liued a while longer he had beene promoted vnto the Bishopricke of London vpon the translation of B Ridly vnto Durham for these things had the State then in purpose But God otherwise had decreed for their aduancements as that the one of them should passe through the fire vnto the kingdome of heauen and the other escape the dangers of many stormes and waters before he came unto any preferment at all And so accordingly Ridly was burned and Grindall banished and both of them depriued either of life or liuing or both and that for one and the same cause and doctrine which they had preached and we professe But the tempest being ouerblowne and Q. Elizabeth her selfe hauing likewise escaped the bloody hands of her cruell enemies yea and Gunpowder traines and Treasons too in most barbarous manner laid to haue blown vp her Saint like and sanctified Body and Soule into the heauens and all for her constant fauouring and embracing this very doctrine her Maiestie not forgetfull what he had endured for the cause of Christ and his Church aduanced this zealous Confessour and tryed Souldier vnto the See first of London afore designed him next of Yorke and lastly of Canterbury The care of
vpon by the reuerend Clergie of our Church with these learned The Brâ—renue and continue their base conceits of the publike Art of our religion in comparison of their new Gospell and all-seeing Brethren are but the Bishops decrees the Articles of the Conuocation house and reueale some little truth but these wise Brethren so faithfull haue they bin betweene God and his Church they haue not failed to shew vs the whole counsell of God And yet these faithfull Brethren either through forgetfulnesse or frailty or which I rather think forced thereunto by the power of truth doe plainely confesse that those very decrees of our Bishops and Articles of the Conuocation-house euen that little little part of the Gospell which the said Bishops and Martyrs brought to light and hath enlightned the whole Realme containeth the very fundamentall points of Christianitie Whereof I still gather that had their newly reuealed tearmed learned Discourses Doctrines touching Discipline their Presbyteries howsoeuer with goodly glorious titles to rauish poore hearts with the desire thereof brandished and set out never bin divulged or preached we may be saued but without knowing and beleeuing the Articles or doctrine of our Church which yet is not ours but Gods there is no saluation ordinarily to be looked for of any man so true and of such necessity is this so impertinent vnneedfull the other 18. Octogesimus octavus mirabilis annus it was prophesied to be a wonderfull yeere long afore it came and wil neuer be forgotten now it is past An. 1588. Q. Elizabeth opposeth her authoritie against the Br. their bookes and writings Among the things for which the yeere 88. is famous one and not of least regard is that afore it expired these bookes of the Brethren by a Proclamation from Q. Elizabeth were denounced Schismaticall and seditious and the doctrine in them contained erronious tending to perswade and bring in a monstrous and apparent dangerous Innouation within her dominions and countries and to make a change euen a dangerous change of the forme of doctrine then in vse And therefore the said bookes were commanded to be brought in and deliuered into the hands of authoritie and speciall charge giuen that no moe of that nature should come abroad or be printed Whereby so much as in that blessed Queene whose name with eternall honour shall be recorded these new fancies of the brethren were hissed and exploded out of this Christian kingdom and the articles or publike doctrine of our Church confirmed countenanced and by the royall prerogatiue of that Peerelesse prince more strongly ratified and commended to her awefull and good subiects then afore 19. The zeale of learned and godly men hereupon was inflamed and their courage so increased as whereas afore this time but one or two or a very few the first whereof was your L. immediate Predecessor Most learned and worthy men set themselues against the Br. and the Presbyterian discipline whose memory be alway honourable among the Saints did encounter the Brethren and oppugned their fancies now an army of most valourous and resolute Champions and Challengers rose vp which then and piuers yeeres ensuing among whom as your Grace was the first in time which gaue the onset so are you to be reckoned with the first and best for zeale wisedome and learning did conflict with these Brethren defended the Prelacie stood for the Prince State put the new Doctors to the foile profligated the Elders set vpon the Presbytery and so battered the new Discipline as hitherto they could neuer nor hereafter shall euer fortifie and repaire the decaies thereof 20. Notwithstanding what the brethren wanted in strength and learning they had in wilynesse A Stratagem of the Br. though they lost much one way in the generall maine point of their discipline yet recouered they not a little aduantage another way by an odde and new deuice of theirs in a speciall article of their classicall instructions For while these Worthies of our Church were employing their engins forces partly in defending the present gouernment Ecclesiasticall partly in assaulting the Presbyterie and new Discipline even at that very instant the Brethren knowing themselves too weake either to overthrow our holds and that which we hold Ann. 1595. or to maintaine their owne they abandoned quite the Bulwarkes which they had raised and gave out were impregnable suffering us to beate them downe without any or very small resistance and yet not carelesse of their affaires left not the warres for all that but from an odde corner and after a new fashion which we little thought of such was the cunning set upon us afresh againe by dispersing in printed bookes which for tenne yeares space before they had bin in hammering among themselves to make them compleate their Sabbath speculations and Presbyterian that is more then either Kingly or Popely directions for the observation of the Lords Day This Stratagem of theirs was not observed then neither I feare me is regarded as it should be yet and yet did and since hath and doubtlesse in time to come if it be not timely seene unto with unsound opinions and paradoxes will so poyson many as the whole Church and Common-weale wil find the danger and inconvenience of them so plausibie are they to men either popularly religious or preposterously and injudiciously zealous Certain fruits and effects of the Sabb. doctrine published by consent of the Brethren 21. In this their sally as I said before they set not upon the Bishops their calling their Chancelors c. as Popish and Antichristian they let them alone seeing and knowing they are too well backt for them to subvert but which are of great all and almost of the same antiquitie with Bishops divers of them and I had almost said as necessarie they ruinate and at one blow beate downe all times and daies by just authoritie destined to religious and holy uses besides the Lords Day saying plainly and in peremptorie words that the Church hath none authoritie ordinarily or from yeare to yeare perpetually to sanctifie any other day to those uses but onely the Lords Day They build not Presbyteries expressedly though under hand if it be well marked they doe erect them in their exercises of the Sabbath but they set up a new Idol their Saint Sabbath earst in the dayes of Popish blindnesse S. Sunday in the midst and minds of Gods people By the former they haue opened not a gap but a wide gate vnto all licentiousnesse liberty prophanenesse on the Holy dayes which is readily and greedily apprehended of all sorts of people euery where especially of their fauorites to the high dishonour of God decay of our deuotion hinderance of Christian knowledge and wisdome in all sorts especially in the vulgar multitude and poore seruants aduantage of the common enemies
desired his Majesty to take them out a new Lesson as did the 71 Brethren of Suffolke are not to be liked Neither can we extoll the goodnesse of our God sufficiently toward our King and us all for inspiring his royall heart with holy wisedome to discerne these unstayed and troublesome spirits and inabling his Highnesse with power and graces from above to decree orders and directions for the generall benefit and peace of the whole Church neither suffered he his eyes to sleepe nor his eye-lids to slumber nor the temples of his head to take any rest till he had set them downe afore all other though never so important and weightie affaires of the Crowne and Kingdome King James patronizeth the Doctrine and Religion countenanced by Queene Elizabeth 26 My selfe have read and thousand thousands with an hundred thousand of his Subjects besides have either read or heard of Proclamations after Proclamations to the number of sixe or seven at the least of bookes and open speeches of his Majesty uttered in the Parliament House and all of them made vulgar within a yeare and little more after his happy ingresse into this kingdome and taking the administration of this most famous nourishing Empire upon himself whereby the doctrine in this Land allowed publikely graced and imbraced of all sorts at his entrance into the Realme hath bin not onely acknowledged to be agreeable to Gods Word sincere and the very same which both his Highnesse and the whole Church and kingdome of Scotland yea and the Primitiue Church professed but also by his authoritie Regall and paramont as one of the maine pillers supporting his Estate ratified to continue and all hope either of allowing or tolerating in this kingdome of any other doctrine religion or faction whatsoeuer opposite or any way thwarting the Faith and confession of the Church of England in most plaine pithy and peremptory words and speeches cut off The yeere 92. was not more famous for the Vniformity of doctrin in religion then concluded then the yeere 1604. Domii incarnati An. 1604. is memorable and will be for seconding the same neither got the Clergie in those dayes more credit in composing the Articles of our Vnitie in Faith then did the last Conuocation whereat your Grace then Bishop of London was present and President in ratifying the Acts and Articles of their Antecessors neither was Q Elizabeth more honoured in establishing them at the first then is our K. Iames renowned and more and more will be for approouing vnder the great Seale of England the late and last Constitutions and Canons Ecclesiasticall 27. Subscription the third time vrged Whereby no person shall hereafter bee receiued into the ministery nor neither by Institution or Collation admitted to any Ecclesiasticall liuing nor suffered to Preach to Catechize or to be Lecturer or Reader of Diuinitie in either Vniuersitie or any Cathedrall or Collegiat Church Citie or Market towne Parish Church Chappell or in any other place in this Realme except c. and except he shall first subscribe to these three Articles c. Whereof the third is that he alloweth the booke of Articles of Religion c. Nor any licenced to Preach Reade Lecture or Catechize comming to reside in any Diocesse shall be permitted there to Preach Reade Lecture Catechize or minister the Sacraments or to execute any other Ecclesiasticall function by what authoritie soeuer he be thereunto admitted vnlesse he first consent and subscribe to the three Articles Neither shall any man teach either in publike schoole or in private house except he shall first prescribe to the first and the third Articles simply c. Neither shall any man be admitted a Chancellor Commissary or Officiall to exercise any Ecclesiasticall jurisdiction except c. and shall subscribe to the Articles of Religion agreed upon in the Convocation in the yeare 1562. c. And likewise all Chancellours Commissaries Registers and all other that doe now possesse or execute any places of Ecclesiasticall jurisdiction or service shall before Christmas next in the presence of the Archbishop or Bishop or in open Court under whom or where they execute their offices take the same Oathes and subscribe as before he said or upon refusall so to doe shall be suspended from the execution of their Offices untill they shall take the said Oaths and subscribe as aforesaid 28. In which Constitutions the wisedome of his Highnesse sheweth it selfe to be excellent who indeed as exceeding necessary both for the retaine of peace in the Church and preventing of new doctrine curious speculations and offences which otherwise daily would spring up and intolerably encrease calleth for Subscription in testimony of mens cordiall consent unto the received doctrine of our Church but exacteth not their Oathes as some doe much lesse Oathes Vowes and Subscription too but onely in a particular respect and that of a very few in publike office as our neighbours have done Againe he requireth Subscription but not of civill Magistrates not of the Commons as else where some doe not of every man yea of women aswell as of men as did the persecuted Church at Franckeford in Queene Maries daies not of Noble Gentlemen and Courtiers as in Scotland was Enacted in our Kings minoritie but only of Ecclesiasticall Ministers Teachers and spirituall Officers or of those which would be such Of the Subscription called for and so doe the reformed Churches in France and Germany at this very day Last of all his Majestie calleth for Subscription unto Articles of Religion but they are not either Articles of his own lately deuised or the old newly turkened but the very Articles agreed vpon by the Archbishops and Bishops of both Prouinces and the whole Clergie in the Conuocation holden at London and that in the yeere of our Lord God 1562. a Cant. 2.127 and vnto none other euen the same Articles for number thirtie nine b Ibid. no moe no fewer and for words sillables and letters the very same vnaugmented vndiminished vnaltered 29. And being the same the whole world is to know that the Church of England is not in religion changed The Church of England settled and constant in her Religion or variable like the Moon nor affecteth noueltie or new lessons but holdeth stedfastly conscionably that truth which by the Martyrs and other Ministers in this last age of the world hath bin restored vnto this kingdome and is grounded vpon Gods written Word the onely foundation of our Faith And being the same all men again may see that we are still at Vnitie both among our selues at home and with the neighbour Churches abroad in all matters of chiefest importance and fundamentall points of religion though our aduersaries the Papists would faine beate the contrary into the common peoples heads And being the same there is now as also from the first restauration of the Gospell among vs there hath beene an Vniformitie likewise of doctrine by authoritie
A TREATISE VPON SVNDRY MATTERS CONTAINED IN THE THIRTY NINE Articles of Religion which are professed in the Church of ENGLAND Long since written and published by THOMAS ROGERS Rom. 16. verse 17. I beseech you brethren marke them diligently which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have received and avoide them LONDON Printed by JOHN LEGATT and are to be sold by RICHARD THRALE at the signe of the Crosse-keyes at Pauls Gate 1639. TO THE MOST REVEREND FATHER in God and his Right Honourable good Lord RICHARD by the Divine providence Archb. of Canterbury and Primate of England and Counceller to the most High and Mighty Prince JAMES King of Great Britaine France and Ireland MOst Reverend Father in God there is no one thing in this world that of men truely zealous and Christian in these latter dayes of the world with greater earnestnesse hath bin desired then that by a joynt and common consent of all the Churches rightly and according to the Canons of the sacred Scriptures reformed there might be a draught made and divulged containing and expressing the sum and substance of that Religion which they doe both concordably teach and uniformely maintaine That holy man of happy remembrance D. Cranmer who sometime enjoyed that roome in our Church Arch. Cranmer which your Grace now worthily possesseth in the dayes of that most godly yong Prince K. Edward the sixt employed a great part of his time and study for the effecting of that work and imparted his thoughts with the most principall persons and of rarest note in those dayes for their wisedome piety and credit among the people of God throughout Christendome Mr. Calvin understanding of his intent addressed his letters unto the said Archbishop and offred his service saying That might his labours stand the Church in stead Ne decem quidem maria it would not grieve him to saile over ten Seas to such a purpose But this proving a worke of much difficulty if not altogether impossible in mens eyes especially in those dayes to be brought about Vnity of doctrine in all Churches reformed the next course and resolution was that every Kingdome and free State or Principality which had abandoned the superstitions and Antichristian Religion of the Church of Rome and embraced the Gospell of Christ should divulge a Briefe of that Religion which among themselves was taught and beleeved and whereby through the mercy of God in Christ they did hope to be saved Which to Gods great glory and the singular benefit and comfort of all Churches both present and to come as the extant Harmony of all their confessions doth most sweetly record with no great labour was notably performed This worke of theirs told the Churches in those dayes and doth us and will informe our posterity that not only in every particular State and Kingdom but also throughout Christendome Ab initio reformationis ardebant amore veritatis omnes Politici Ecclesiastici Plebeii Jezler de diutur belli Euchar pag. 49. Vnity of doctrine in the Church of England in King Edward the sixt his dayes where the Gospel was entertained the Primitive and Apostolicall daies of the Church were again restored For the multitudes of them that did beleeve I speake both joyntly of all and severally of each reformed people not of every particular person fantastique false apostles and perverse teachers or professors in any Church who were not wanting even in the Apostles dayes touching the maine and fundamentall points of true Religion were then of one heart and of one soule and did think and speake one thing and live in peace 3. The said Archbishop for unto whom better after God and the King can we ascribe the glory of this worthy Act wrought this Vnity Vniformity of doctrine in this Kingdome in the Halcyon dayes of our English Iosias K. Edward the sixt of that name and the same doctrine so by his meanes established in the time of peace a notable work of peace like a manly heroicall and heavenly Captaine under our Generall Iesus Christ he resolutely even with his heart bloud and in the fiery torments afterwards confirmed in the dayes of persecution A certain learned man Anno 1552. speaking of the Religion here then professed and writing unto the Lords of our late Queenes Councell doth say he meaning the Papist his adversary who charged our Church with discord and disagreements about matters of Religion K. Edward the 6. Hee ought said he if hee had beene able to have brought out the publike Confession and Articles of faith agreed in K. Edwards time and have shewed any in England that professing the Gospel dissenteth from the same So esteemed he and with him many thousands of learned and judicious men of the doctrine then ratified by authority and professed in this Kingdome But those dayes of our Churches peace continued not long through our unthankfulnesse Q. Mary and sinnes neither on the other side was our persecution permanent through the goodnesse of God though for the time exceeding vehement and violent For nubecula fuit citò transiit It vanished away quickly as doe many raging stormes even upon the sudden yet not through the power of Gunpowder and treasons but through the force of ardent prayers unto the Almighty For arma ecclesiae preces 4. We find that Mr. Latimer that sacred The prayers of the persecuted Saints for the reducing of true Religion into the Realme F. Latimer and reverend Father addicted himselfe very seriously in those dayes unto the exercise of prayer and his principall and most usuall prayers were first for himselfe next for the afflicted Church of England and lastly for Lady Elizabeth that deceased King Edwards and Queene Maries sister For himselfe he prayed that as God had made him 〈◊〉 Minister and Preacher of his truth so hee might constantly beare witnesse unto the same and have the grace power to maintain it in the face of the world even till the houre of his death For the Church of England he prayed that God would be pleased once againe to restore the free preaching of the Gospell to this Realme and this with all possible fervency of Spirit he craved at the hands of God And for Lady Elizabeth that he would preserue and make her a comfort to his then comfortlesse people in England And the Almighty and our heavenly Father both heard and granted all and every of his petitions Mr. Gualter that learned painfull and excellent Divine at Tigure dedicating his holy and Christian Comments upon the lesser Prophets unto D. Parkhurst B. Parkhurst Bishop of Norwich who in the dayes of the forementioned Q. Mary voluntarily had exiled himselfe so farre as Switzerland for his preservation if it might be unto better times saith of the said Parkhurst that when he lived in Tigure Lady Elizabeth was ever in his mouth her Faith her wisedome her magnanimous spirit her virgineous and chaste behaviour he would
this Archbishop was great to further the glory of God but through the enuy and malice of his ill-willers his power was but small his place high but himselfe made low through some disgraces by his potent aduersaries which he meekely and patiently endured till his dying day 6. During the time of this mans troubles among other The factious encrease and grow confident two things especially deserue obseruation One is the flocking of Iesuits into the Kingdom who afore then neuer came among vs the other is the insolency boldnes of our home faction The Iesuits indicted Councils summoned Synodes enacted and reuersed orders and exercised Papall iurisdiction among vs wee not witting nor so much as dreaming of any such matter The Brethren for so did they now stile themselues in their Churches and charges would neither pray nor say seruice nor Baptize nor celebrate the L. Supper nor Marry nor Bury nor doe any other Ecclesiasticall duty according to the Law but after their owne deuisings And abroad as if they had bin acquainted with the Iesuitical proceedings or the Iesuites with their practices they had their meetings both classicall and Synodicall they set downe decrees reuersed orders elected Ministers exacted Subscription and executed the censures of suspeâ—â—ision and excommunication where they thought good The Iâ—suâ—es had for their prouinciall first Robert Parsons alias Cowbuck then Weston and lastly Garnet which Garnet continued in that office till the yeere 1605. when he was apprehended and for most horrible and hellish treasons as an arrant Traitor put to death in Pauls Churchyard the fame yeer And the Brethren had their I know not what chiefe men All of these residing in and about London and in speciall fauour both with the Gentiles and vulgar people of their seuerall factions and so continued multiplying their number and growing strong euen head-strong in boldnesse and schisme till the dying day of this most graue and reuerend Archbishop which was in the moneth of Iuly 1583. 10. Some foure moneths afore whose death the said Brethren at a certaine Assembly of their own appointing among other things as I find decreed Vnitie of doctrine still holdeth among vs. An. 1583. that if Subscription unto the booke of Articles of Religion afore mentioned and still meant should againe be vrged the said Brethren might subscribe thereunto according to the Statute Which declareth that what diuersity and disagreement soeuer was about other matters yet abode there still a blessed Vnitie among vs touching the foundation of Christian Religion And this was in 25. yeere of Q. Elizabeth Archbish Whitegift 11. Next vnto him D. Whitegift then Bishop of Worcester a man deseruedly vnto that dignitie promoted and for his manifold paines in writing teaching defending the truth his wisedome in gouerning and his well demeaning of himselfe euery way worthy the double honour which hee did enioy or the State could aduance him vnto from thence was translated vnto the See of Canterbury No sooner was he confirmed in his office but obseruing both the open intolerable contempt in many places of all Church orders by authority prescribed and hearing both of many secret conuenticles and vnlawful assemblies in his Prouince and of the tumults and garboiles abroad and euen at his very admission vnto his charge raised in Scotland and that for the selfe-same cause which by the Brethren here in England was maintained and foreseeing the dangers and troubles likely to ensue for which he should giue an account if in time he sought not meanes to preuent them he thought it his bounden duty for the preseruation of vnity and purity in Religion the preuenting of further schisme and the discouery of mens inclinations either vnto peace or faction that all and euery Minister Ecclesiasticall hauing cure of soules within the Prouince of Canterbury vnder his owne hand and by subscription Subscription the secoÌ„d time called for should testifie his consent both vnto the points of Religion in the Conuocation Ann. 62. approoued and likewise vnto other Articles necessary for concord sake of all euery man Minister especially to be acknowledged and accordingly by due course of Law called then thereunto Which was done the very first yeere of his remoueall and of her Maiesty the 26. Anno 1584. This of the brethren was tearmed the wofull yeere of subscription but that they should so doe there was no cause vnlesse they are grieued that factious spirits and malecontented Ministers and Preachers were discouered and their erroneous and schismaticall opinions brought into light And surely neuer was their subscription hitherto by authority vrged in this land but diuers new fancies held yet for truthes not to bee doubted of among the brethren were thereby detected for Gods people to auoid as monsters neither hath our Church lost by imposing nor the aduersaries gained at the long runne by refusing Subscription 12. In the yeeres 71. and 72. when subscriptiom first was required the whole land will witnesse that many and sundry bookes aswell in Latine How basely the Brethren coÌ„ceiue of the doctrine by the Bishops agreed vpon and established by the Prince as English then and afterward flew abroad In which we read how then and in those dayes the truth of God did in a manner but peepe out as it were at the Screene that Cranmer Parker Grindall and all the other Martyrs Preachers and learned men which first in our age brought the light of the Gospell into this Realme did see a little and had a glimpse of the truth but ouersaw many things which in these dayes of the Sunshine of the Gospell men of meaner gifts doe see and yet may not vtter them without great danger of the Lawes through the iniquity of the times though the said things now seene be comprised in the Booke of God and also be a part of the Gospell yea the very Gospell it selfe so true are they and of such importance as if euery haire of our heads were a life say the Brethren we ought to afford them in defence of these matters the Articles of Religion penned and agreed vpon by the Bishops and Clergy and ratified by the Prince and Parliament in comparison of these things now reuealed and newly come to light are but Childish and toyes Thus write they as your grace best knoweth and I would haue quoted the places where they may be read had I either not written vnto your selfe or did write vnto a man vnacquainted with their bookes And had they here stayed their words had bin able without the more grace of God to haue moued the Parliament and all the people of this land as they have preuail'd but too much already with their too credulous Fauorites to thinke our Church for all the reformation wrought and Vniformity in doctrine established to be much awry and farre from the truth it should professe But setting downe as they haue done and publishing both what the truth is which now breaketh out and
and grosse contempt of the necessary and laudable orders of our Church By the latter they haue introduced a new and more then either Iewish or Popish superstition into the land to no small blemish of our Christian profession and scandall of the true seruants of God and therewith doctrine most erroneous dangerous and Antichristian The summe of the Sabbath doctrine broached by the Brethren 22. Their doctrine summarily may be reduced vnto these two heads whereof the one is that the Lords day euen as the old Sabbath was of the Iewes must necessarily be kept and solemnized of all and euery Christian vnder the paine of eternall condemnation both of body and soule The other that vnder the same penalty it must be kept from the highest to the lowest both of King and people in sort and manner as these Brethren among themselues haue deuised decreed and prescribed The former of these is like that of the false apostles which came from Iudea vnto Antioch and taught the Brethren that vnlesse they were circumcised after the manner of Moses they could not be saved Whom the Apostles Paul and Barnabas first and afterwards Peter Iames and the rest at Ierusalem both zealously did resist and in their Synod or Conuocation powerfully suppresse The latter as bad as that hath bin the mother of many hereticall assertions and horrible conclusions I haue read and many there be aliue which will iustifie it how it was preached in a Market towne in Oxfordshire that to doe any seruile worke or businesse on the Lords day is as great a sinne as to kill a man or to commit adultery It was preached in Somerset-shire that to throw a bowle on the Sabbath day is as great a sinne as to kill a man It was preached in Norfolke that to make a Feast or wedding dinner on the Lords day is as great a sin as for a Father to take a knife and cut his childs throate It was preached in Suffolke I can name the man and I was present when he was convented before his Ordinary for preaching the same that to ring more Bels then one upon the Lords day to call the people unto Church is as great a sinne as to commit murder When these things I read and heard mine heart was strucken with an horror and so is it still when I doe but think of them and calling into mind the Sabbath doctrine at London Printed for I. Porter and T. Man An. 95. which I had read before wherein very many things are to this effect I presently smelt both whose disciples all those preachers are and that the said doctrine had taken deep impression in mens hearts and was dispersed while our watchmen were otherwise busied if not asleepe over the whole Kingdome The Br. Doctrine of the Sa bath called in by authoritie and forbidden any more to be printed 23. It is a comfort unto my soule and will be till my dying houre that I have beene the man and the meanes that the Sabbatarian errors and impieties are brought into light and knowledge of the State whereby whatsoever else sure I am this good hath ensued namely that the said bookes of the Sabbath comprehending the above mentioned and many moe such fearefull and haereticall assertions hath been both called in and forbidden any more to be printed and made common Your Graces predecessor Archb. Whitgift by his letters and Officers at Synods and Visitations An. 99. did the one Ann. 1559. 1600. and Sir Iohn Popham L. chiefe Iustice of England at Bury S. Edmons in Suff. An. 1600. did the other And both these most reverend sage and honourable Personages by their censures have declared if men will take admonition that the Sabbath doctrine of the Brethren agreeth neither with the doctrine of our Church nor with the lawes and orders of this Kingdome disturbeth the peace both of the Common-weale and Church and tendeth unto Schisme in the one and Sedition in the other and therefore neither to be backt nor bolstred by any good Subiect whether he be Church or Common-weale man 24. Thus haue errors and noysome doctrines like byles Purity of doctrine all Qu. Elizabeths raigne maintained in England and Botches euer and anon risen vp to the ouerthrow of our Churches health and safety if it might be but yet such hath beene the Physicke of our discipline as what by launcing purging and other good means vsed the Body still hath heene vpholden and preserued from time to time And well may errors like grosse humors and tumors continue among vs as neuer Church was or will be quite without them while it is militant heere vpon earth yet are they not of the substance at all of our Religion or any part of our Churches Doctrine no more then ill humors which be in are of the Body or dregs in a Vessell of wine be any part either of the Vessell or Wine which remaineth as at the first most sound and vncorrupted and so continued euen vntill the dying day of that most illustrious and religious Princesse Queene Elizabeth The very Brethren themselves doe write that In regard of the common grounds of Religion and of the Ministery We are all one We are all of one Faith one Baptisme one Body one Spirit haue all one Father one Lord Ann. 1601. and be all of one Heart against al wickednes superstition idolatry heresie and we seeke with one Christian desire the aduancement of the pure Religion worship and Honor of God We are Ministers of the Word by one order we administer Prayers and Sacraments by one forme we Preach one Faith and substance of doctrine And we Praise God heartily that the true Faith by which we may be saued and the true doctrine of the Sacraments and the pure Worship of God is truely taught and that by publike authority and retained in the booke of Articles Hitherto the said Brethren And this was their verdict of our Churches doctrine in the last yeere saue one of Q. Elizabeths raigne then which nothing was euer more truely said or written And this Vnity and purity of doctrine she left with vs when she departed this world K. Iames. After Elizabeth raigned King Iames. VVHo found this our Church as all the world knoweth in respect of the grounds of true Religion at Vnitie Anno 1603. and that Vnitie in Veritie and that Veritie confirmed by publike and regall approbation These Ecclesiasticall Ministers therefore though a thousand for number who at his Majesties first comming into this Kingdome either complained unto his Highnesse of I know not what errors King James abused troubled with false informations and petitions of the Brethren and imperfections in our Church even in points of doctrine as if shee erred in matters of Faith or desired that an Vniformitie of doctrine might be prescribed as if the same had not already beene done to his hands or as weary belike of the old by Queene Elizabeth countenanced and continued
gaine-said which afore I deliuered The Propositions are and yet not many moe the method altered quotations added both for the satisfaction of some learned and iudicious friends of mine requesting it at mine hands and for the benefit both of the common and vnlearned and of the studious and learned Reader The whole worke expresseth aswell my detestation and renunciation of all aduersaries errors opposite crossing or contradicting the doctrine professed by vs and protected by our King or any Article or particle of truth of our Religion as my approbation of that truth which in our Church by wholesome Statutes and Ordinances is confirmed There is not an heretike or Schismatike to speake of of any speciall marke that from the Apostles time hitherto hath discouered himselfe his opinions vulgarly in writing or in print against our doctrine but this heresie fancy or phrensie may be here seene against one proposition or other The Sects and Sect-masters aduersaries vnto vs either in the matter or maine points of our doctrine or Discipline to one of our Articles or other wholly or in part which here be discouered to be taken heed of and auoided are many hundreds 38. This and whatsoeuer else here done either to the confirmation of the truth or detestation of heresies and errors I doe very meekely present unto your Grace as after God and our King best meriting the patronage thereof My selfe am much the whole Church of England much more bound vnto your Lordship yea not wee onely now liuing but our successors also and posteritie shall have cause in all ages while the world shal continue to magnifie Almightie God for the inestimable benefits which we have shall receiue from your selfe your late Predecessors D. Whitegift Grindall Parker Cranmer of famous honourable remembrance Bishops of our Church Archbishops of the See of Canterbury for this uniforme doctrine by some of your Lordships drawne and penned by all of you allowed defended and as agreeable to the Faith of the very Apostles of Christ and of the ancient Fathers correspondent to the Confessions of all reformed Churches in Christendome and contrariant in no point unto Gods holy and written Word commended unto us both by your Authoritie and Subscriptions Now the all-mercifull God and heavenly Father which so inspired them and your Lordship with wisedome from above and inabled you all to discerne truth from falshood and found religion from Atheisme idolatry and errors vouchsafe of his infinite goodnesse to encrease his grace more and more upon your Grace to his owne glory the Churches benefit and your owne everlasting comfort And the same God which both mercifully hath brought and miraculously against all hellish and divellish practices of his and our enemies continued the light of his truth among us give us all grace with one heart and consent not onely to embrace the same but also to walke and carry our selves as it beseemeth the Children of light in all peaceablenesse and holinesse of life for his Sonne our Lord and Saviour Christ his sake At Horninger neere S. Edm. Bury in Suff. the 11. of March Ann. 1607. Your Graces poore Chaplaine alwayes at Command THOMAS ROGERS Constitutions and Canons Ecclesiasticall Anno 1604. VVHosoever shall hereafter affirme that the Church of England by Law established under the Kings Majesty is not a true and an Apostolicall Church teaching and maintaining the Doctrine of the Apostles let him be excommunicated ipso facto and not restored but onely by the Archbishop after his repentance and publike revocation of this his wicked error Can. 3. VVhosoever shall hereafter affirme that any of the 39 Articles agreed upon by the Archbishops and Bishops of both Provinces and the whole Clergy in the Convocation holden at London in the yeare of our Lord God 1562. for the avoiding of diversities of opinions and for the establishing of consent touching true Religion are in any part superstitious or erroneous or such as he may not with a good conscience subscribe unto let him be excommunicated ipso facto and not restored but onely by the Archbishop after his repentance and publike revocation of such his wicked errors Can. 5. Whosoever shall hereafter separate themselves from the Communion of Saints as it is approved by the Apostles rules in the Church of England and combine themselves in a new Brother-hood accounting the Christians who are conformable to the Doctrine Government Rites and Ceremonies of the Church of England to be prophane and unmeete for them to joyne with in Christian profession let them be excommunicated ipso facto and not restored but by the Archbishop after their repentance and publike revocation of such their wicked errors Can. 9 The Titles of the thirty nine Articles with the Pages where to finde every of them in this Booke Articles 1 OF faith in the holy Trinity Page 1 Articles 2 Of the Word of God which was made very man Page 7 Articles 3 Of the going downe of Christ into Hell Page 15 Articles 4 Of the Resurrection of Christ Page 17 Articles 5 Of the Holy Ghost Page 21 Articles 6 Of the sufficiency of the Scriptures for salvation Page 26 Articles 7 Of the Old Testament Page 33 Articles 8 Of the three Creeds Page 39 Articles 9 Of Originall or birth sinne Page 41 Articles 10 Of Free-will Page 47 Articles 11 Of the Iustification of man Page 50 Articles 12 Of good workes Page 56 Articles 13 Of workes before Iustification Page 56 Articles 14 Of workes of Supererogation Page 59 Articles 15 Of Christ alone without sinne Page 62 Articles 16 Of sinne without Baptisme Page 65 Articles 17 Of Predestination and Election Page 69 Articles 18 Of obtaining salvation onely by the Name of Christ Page 82 Articles 19 Of the Church Page 86 Articles 20 of the Authoritie of the Church Page 98 Articles 21 Of the Authoritie of generall Councels Page 112 Articles 22 Of Purgatorie Page 118 Articles 23 Of Ministring in the Congregation 131 Articles 24 Of speaking in the Congregation in such a tongue as the people understand not Page 141 Articles 25 Of the Sacraments Page 142 Articles 26 Of the unworthinesse of the Ministers which hinder not the effects of the Sacraments Page 160 Articles 27 Of Baptisme Page 165 Articles 28 Of the Lords Supper Page 170 Articles 29 Of the wicked which doe not eate the Body and bloud of Christ in the use of the Lords Supper Page 178 Articles 30 Of both kindes Page 179 Articles 31 Of the oblation of Christ finished upon the Crosse Page 181 Articles 32 Of mrariage of Priests Page 185 Articles 33 Of Excommunicate persons how they are to be avoided Page 189 Articles 34 Of the traditions of the Church Page 193 Articles 35 Of Homilies Page 194 Articles 36 Of Consecration of Bishops and Ministers Page 196 Articles 37 Of the civill Magistrate Page 201 Articles 38 Of Christian mens goods which are not common Page 215 Articles 39 Of a Christian mans Oath Page 217 FINIS
which affirme that Christ in body soule went some think as it were into Hell when upon the Crosse and elsewhere hee suffered the terrors and torments prophesied of Esay 53. v. 6.10 Psal 116. v. 2. and mentioned Matth. 26. v. 38. or 27. v. 46 Luk. 22. v. 42. some say even into hell the very place destined for the Reprobate which he entred into the very moment of his Resurrection at which time hee shewed and declared himselfe a most glorious Conquerour both of death and Hell the most powerfull enemies Errors and adversaries unto this truth But till wee know the native and undoubted sense of this article and mysterie of religion persist wee adversaries unto them which say That Christ descended not into hell at all calling this article an error and a fable as Carlile doth a Carlile against D Smith p. 18.77 That Christ being dead descended into the place of everlasting torments where in soule he endured for a time the very paines which the damned spirits without intermission doe abide Bannisters error b Treat of Bannisters error That Christ alive upon the crosse humbled himselfe usque ad inferni tremenda tormenta even unto the dreadfull torments of hell c Pagets Catech Latin endured for a time those torments quales reprobi in aeternum sensuri sunt which the reprobates shall everlastingly suffer in hell d Pisc in Luc. 12.10 even despaired of Gods mercy finding God at this time Non patrem sed Tyrannum not a Father but a Tyrant and overcame despaire by despaire death by death hell by hell and Satan by Satan e Ferus in Math. 27. suffered actually all the torments of hell for our redemption and descended into the heauiest torments that Hell could yeeld f Humes Rejoind p. 38. 138. 152. suffered the torments of hell The second death Abiection from God g Houshold Catech. and was made a curse that is had the bitter anguish of Gods wrath in his soule and body which is the fire that shall never bee quenched h Giffords Catech That Christ personally in soule went downe into Lake Lymbo to fetch from thence as Canisius i Canis Catech to lose from thence as Vaux he saith k Vaux Catech. the soules of our forefathers which afore his death as the Papists dreame were shut up in the close prison of Hell l Test Rhem. an Luc. 16.26 That Christ by his descension hath quite turned Hell into Paradise Costerus the Iesuites error m Coster instit l. 5. 4. Article Of the Resurrection of Christ Christ did truly arise againe from death and tooke againe his body with flesh bones and all things appertaining to the perfection of mans nature 2 wherewith he ascended into heaven 3 and there sitteth untill he returne to iudge all men at the last day The Propositions 1. Christ is risen from the dead 2. Christ is ascended into heaven 3. Christ shall come againe at the last day to iudge all men even the quicke and the dead 1. Proposition Christ is risen from the dead The proofe from Gods Word THE Resurrection of Christ may easily be prooved from the holy Scriptures in which it is euident first that Christ should a Thou wilt not suffer thine holy One to see corruption Psal 16.10 After he is killed he shall rise againe the third day Marc 9.31 and 10.34 Luke 9.32 and next that he did rise from death vnto life both by his appearing to Mary Magdalene b Iohn 20.14 to diuers women c Math. 28.9 to two d Luke 24.13.15 30 31. to tenne e Iohn 20.19 to all the Disciples to moe then fiue hundred brethren at once g 1 Cor. 15.6 to sundry persons by the space of forty dayes together h Acts 1.3 and by the testimony also of the Apostles Peter i Acts 1.22 and 2.32 1 Pet. 1.3 and Paul k Acts 17.2 3. Rom. 10.9 1 Cor. 15.4 5 c A truth both beleeved and acknowledged by Gods people from age to age l Symbol Apost Athan. Nicen. Confess Helvet 1. ar 11 and 2. c 11. Basil ar 4. Bohem. c. 6. Gal. 15.16 Belg. ar 20. August ar 3. Suâ—viâ— ar 2. Haâ—mon confess praef Errors and adversaries unto this truth Vtterly false then and vnchristian is the opinion of those men Which vtterly deny the resurrection of any flesh as did the Sadduces a The Sadduces say there is no resurrection Matth. 22.23 they deny there is any resurrection Luk. 20.27 they say there is no resurrection neither angel nor spirit Act. 23.8 the false apostles b How say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead 1 Cor. 15 12â— Simon Magus c Epiphan and the Manichies d August contra Faust l. 4. c. 16. Which would acknowledge no resurrection of Christ as would not nor will the Iewes e Mat. 28.13 15. Iud. Cater l divinor visor nor heretike Hamant f Holinsh chron fol. 1299. nor Dauid George one of which errors was that the flesh of Christ was dissolued into ashes and so rose no more g Hist Dauidis Georg. Which affirme as did Corinthus that Christ shall rise againe but yet is not risen h Philaster Which say how our Sauiour after his resurrection was so deified as he retained no more the parts and properties of his body and soule nor the vnion of both natures but is meerely God So thought the Schwenkfeldians Which take the Resurrection of Christ to be but an allegory and no true certaine history as doe the Family of Love i Display in allens confesse 2. Proposition Christ is ascended into heaven The proofe from Gods Word IN saying how Christ with his body is ascended into heaven and there sitteth and abideth we doe agree with the Prophets a Psal 47 5 68 18.110 1. Euangelists b Maty 23.44.25 65. Act. 1.9 Luk 24.51 and Apostles c Rom. 8 34. Eph. c. 8. with the ancient Fathers d Symb. Apo. Athan. Nicen. and Gods people our brethren throughout all Christendome e Confess Helv 1 ar 1 2. c 1. Basi ar 4. Bohe c 6. Gal. ar 15 Bel. ar 20. Aug ar 3. Saxon ar 3 Suevie ar 2. The Errors and adversaries unto this truth But we alltogether dissent From Hamant the English hereticke which denyed the ascension of Christ a Holinsh chro fol. 1299. Also from Ket the heretike and Apostata which likewise denyed our Sauiours ascension affirming that his humane nature is not in heauen but in Iudea gathering a Church and people Also from the Germane Vbiquitaries and Papists they saying that Christ as man is not onely in heaven but in earth too at this instant wheresoeuer the deity is b Ia. Smidelinus Vbiquitatis Apostolus Beza epist 61. these affirming the humane nature of Christ is wheresoever the Sacrament of the Altar is administred c Ergo
〈◊〉 9. none of which the Familists doe use or allow of 38. Article Of Christian mens goods which are not common The riches and goods of Christians 1 are not common as touching the right title and possession of the same as certaine Anabaptists do falsely boast Notwithstanding 2 every man ought of such things as he possesseth liberally to give almes to the poore according to his ability The Propositions 1. The riches and goods of Christians as touching the right title and possession of the same are not common 2. Every man is to give liberall almes to the poore of that which he possesseth according to his ability 1. Proposition The riches and goods of Christians as touching the title and possession of the same are not common The proofe from Gods Word AGainst community of goods and riches be all those places which are infinite of the holy Scripture that either condemne the unlawful getting keeping or desiring of riches which by Covetousnesse a If any one that is called a brother be a fornicator or covetous c. with such one eate not Covetousnesse let it not be once named among you as it becommeth Saints Eph. 5.3 Theevery b Let none of you suffer as a Theefe c. 1 Pet. 4.15 Extortion With a brother that is an extortioner eate not 1 Cor. 5.11 Neither theeves nor covetous persons nor Extortioners shall inherite the Kingdome of God 1 Cor. 6.10 and the like wicked meanes many doe attaine or doe commend liberality d It is a blessed thing to give rather then to receive Acts 10.35 yea and that thing ye do unto all the Brethren throughout all Macedonia 1 Thes 4.10 If a brother or a sister be naked and destitute of daily food c. notwithstanding ye give them not these things which are needfull to the body what helpeth it Iames 2.15 16. Frugality e If there be any that provideth not for his owne namely for them of his houshold he denieth the faith and is worse then an Infidell 1 Tim. 5.8 free and friendly lending f From him that would borrow of thee turne not away Matth. 5.42 And lend looking for nothing again Luke 6.35 honest labour g Let him that stole steale no more but rather let him labour c. that hee may have to give unto him that needeth Eph. 4.28 Wee warned you that if there were any which would not work that he should not eate 2 Thes 3.8 and lawfull vocations to live and thrive by h Ye know that these hands have ministred unto my necessities and to them that were with me Acts 20.34 We laboured day and night because we should not be chargeable unto any of you 1 Thes 2.9 wee tooke not bread of any man for nought 1 Thes 3.8 All which doe shew that Christians are to have goods of their owne and that riches ought not to be common Of this iudgement be the reformed Churches i Confess Helv. 3. c. 29. Gal. ar 40. Belg. ar 36. Aug. ar 16. Wittemb c. 21. The adversaries unto this truth Of another mind were the Esseis a Heyden des urbis Hierosolym l. 3. c. 3. the Manichies b D. Aug. de mor. eccles Cat. lib. 1. the Pelagians c Magdeb. eccles hist Gen. ◠fol. 586. the Apostolikes d D. Humfr. de Romanae curiae praxi p 39. exl Epiphan and Fratricellians e W. Tho. desc of Italy p. 59. and are the Anabaptists f Sleidan com lib. 6. and Family of Love g Display H. 3 b. Among the Familists saith H.N. none claimeth any thing proper to himselfe for to possesse the same to any owednesse or privatenesse For no man c. can desire to appropriate or challenge any thing to himselfe either yet to make any private use to himselfe from the restward but what is there is free and is also left free in his upright forme h H. N. Spir. laud. c. 35. sect 34. 1. Proposition Every man is to give liberall Almes to the poore of that which he possesseth according to his ability The proofe from Gods Word VNto liberality towards the poore according to our ability we are in the holy Scriptures provoked 1. By the commandements from God by his servants the Prophets a Deut. 15.11 Prov. 5.15 16. Eccles 11.1 2. by his Sonne our Saviour b Matth. 5.42 c. 6.2 3 c. Luk. 9.30 c. and by his Apostles c Rom. 12.13 1 Cor. 1.62 2. By sweet promises of ample blessings d Eccles 11.1 The liberall person shall have plenty and he that watereth shall also have raine Prov. 11.24 Hee that stoppeth his eare at the crying of the poore he shall cry and not be heard Prov. 1.13 3. By threatnings of punishments to the covetous and stony-hearted He that giveth unto the poore shall not lack but he that hideth his eyes shall have many curses Prov. 28.27 4. By the examples of the best men viz. the Apostles and Primitive Church f Acts 11.19 20. Rom. 15.15 1 Cor. 8.1 2 3 c. 2. Cor. 6.2 c. So the Churches g Conf. Helv. 2 c. 2. 3. 28 29. Sax. ar 21. Wittemb c. 18. The adversaries unto this truth Of strange minds therefore and impious are First the Anabaptists which would have no man either to give or receive For all things in their opinion should be common as afore also hath bin said and none among them be either poore to receive or wealthy to minister any almes a Bale myst of Iniq. p 53. Secondly the hypocriticall sectaries who are bountifull only to those which side with them Such were first the Publicans in our Saviour his dayes b Mar. ◠46.47 and after them the Manichies who would minister neither bread nor water unto any hungry and pyning begger unlesse he weare a Manichean c Homini mendico esurienti nisi Manichaeus sit panem aut aquam nō porrigunt Manic D Aug. de Mor. Manc l. 2. And such are the Family of Love who say they are not bound to give almes but to their owne sect and if they doe they give the same to the devill d Dispi H. 7. b. 39. Article Of a Christian mans oath As we confesse that 1 vaine and rash swearing is forbidden Christian men by our Lord Iesus Christ and Iames his Apostle So we judge that 2 Christian Religion doth not prohibit but that a man may sweare when the Magistrate requireth in a cause of faith and charity so it be done according to the Prophets teaching in justice judgement and truth The Propositions 1. We may not sweare vainely and rashly 2. A lawfull oath may be given and taken according to the Word of God in justice judgement and truth 1. Proposition Wee may not sweare vainely and rashly The proofe from Gods Word THE better to avoid vaine and rash oathes and swearing it is good to have in remembrance