King Henry the eighth to imitate his successors by abolishing his authority in England Now then to your third Question How Reformation went on after King Henry the eighth I have shewed you though that King did write against Luther and abolished the Popes power yet he persecuted the Protestants and those that professed Luthers doctrin of which there were many by reason of his books dispersed in England Luther himselfe was much troubled The Pope sends forth his roaring Bull against him he answereth it and appeals to the next generall Councill But his doctrine was very acceptable to good Christians generally though in some points they differed from him He died in Islebia in the County of Mansfelt Febr. 17. 1546. where he was born Mathe. How thrived the Protestant Religion after Luther Phila. Beyond the seas fell out great troubles A Councill was called at Ratisbone to end controversies of Religion but no agreement and so the Emperour referred the controversie to the next generall or provinciall Councill of Germany but still the popish side desired to suppresse Luthers doctrine but yet decrees against Protestants were suspended yet the fire of malice broke out against them for Henry Duke of Brunsick invaded their Cities the Duke of Saxony resists him in the name of all the Protestants confederate at Smalcaldy and won all his dominions The Emperour and the King of France make peace and both covenant to join to restore the Romish Religion which cost France and Germany great troubles for the King of France sent Minerius Governor of Provence against the Waldenses of whom you have heard who dwelt in some part of that Countrie as in Merindol and Cabriere They of Merindol for fear fled into the woods He spoiled and burned their Towns left desolate Cabriere was delivered upon composition but yet none were spared but some killed in Churches some burned in barns some smothered in caves others sent to the Gallies others starved in the woods But God strook Minerius with a sad disease a fire scorched him within his limbs rotted made bloody urine and died in torments The Emperour Charls the fifth by policy suppresseth these Princes that upheld the Protestants as the Duke of Saxony and others as the Landgrave of Hesse About the year 1546. when the Councill of Trent was gathered to convene where the Emperour and the Pope made a league against the protestants and the Pope gave 200000 Crowns to make war against them to the Venetians and maintained an army for a while to cut them off The Emperour laboured hard with many of the Princes to submit to the Councill of Trent as also the free Cities and in hope they would he desired that the Councill of Trent which was carried from Trent to Bononia might come to Trent again which they refused upon which the Emperour disanulled all they did at Bononia and said he would take care of Religion himselfe And to this end consulted with Princes and Bishops about it who drew out a book of Reformation called Interim to which few would consent and many fled away to other Countries because they would not allow it As Musculus preacher of Ausburgh fled to Switzerland Brentius from Suere to the Duke of Wirtembergh Martin Bucer and Paulus Fagius from Germany to England The Pope himselfe would not allow it without correction because it allowed the marriage of Priests and the use of the Sacraments in both kinds though it maintained the rest of the Roman Religion But especially the City of Magdeburgh withstood the book nor acknowledged the Councill of Trent Mathe. How went things now in England Phila. King Edward the sixth now reigning the masse was there forbidden by Parliament and a Book of Common Praier set forth in the English tongue with an order of administration of Sacraments Bonner Bishop of London and Gardiner Bishop of Winchester for their obstinate defence of Romish doctrine were imprisoned But King Edward dying Queen Mary let them out and made great havock of the Protestants and restored the Popes supremacy and the masse in England and got the Parliament to crave absolution of the Pope and Cardinall Pool to absolve the Realm See Fox his Martyrology She neither spared Bishops Ministers nor common people nor spared those who had set her forward to obtain the Crown Her persecution was sharp but God shortned it by her death and Queen Elizabeth whose death was intended succeeded her Mathe. How thrived the Protestants cause now in England and other Countries Phila. In England popish Religion was abolished and the Popes supremacy disanulled King Edwards profession followed Anno 1. Eliza. and his Book of Common Praier allowed again by Parliament But Ferdinand the Emperour succceeding Charls the fift would endure no alteration of Religion and Henry the second King of France would not admit it neither but moved persecution but he being killed by the splinter of a spear at Tilting Francis the second his son succeeds and marrieth Mary Queen of Scots of the Guisian Family which Family endeavoured to abolish the Protestant Religion in France and sent an army into Scotland too for the same purpose which by the aids of Queen Elizabeth was forced to retire This King of France by the advice of the Guisians called a nationall Councill at Orleance under colour to settle Religion But there the Prince of Condie was seized upon and accused of practise against the King But this King shortly died and the Prince of Condie was cleared by a Parliament at Paris and young King Charls the ninth was committed to the care of the Queen Mother and the King of Navar. These governors appoint a disputation by the advice of the States of the Realme at Poyssie 1561. which was four years before Calvin died where Theodore Beza preacher of Geneva and Peter Martyr and Marlorat and the protestant party had the better and the popish side as the Cardinall of Lorain and others concluded with them that Christians do eat in the Sacrament spiritually by faith the body of Christ which died for for us although the Doctors of Sorbon would not agree thereto and so that disputation broke off After which the number of protestants increased and much fear there was of uproars But the Queen Mother assembled the estates at St Germane and made an Edict in January that the professors of the reformed Religion should assemble to hear sermons without the Town and unarmed which grieved the Guisian and popish faction who sought to get the King and Queen Mother into their hands and prevented the King of Navar from the reformed Religion upon hope to have the Kingdome of Navar restored to him againe by Philip King of Spain at the Popes mediation In the mean time the Duke of Guise raiseth an army First Civil war in France and murdered 1500. hundred poor unarmed protestants at Church in the Town of Vassiace neer Champaign Then came to Paris and seized on the King and Queen Mother at Forteblew and
in the same and heareth not the voice of strangers 2. It makes no Lawes without Gods word 3. That the traditions of the Church cannot bind conscience except they be consonant to Gods Word 4. That Christ hath made full satisfaction for sin and he that saith there is any other way to salvation or to abolish sin denieth Christ 5. That Christ is not received corporally in the Sacrament of the Lords Supper 6. That the Masse offered up for the quick and dead is contrary to the Word of God and disgracing the sacrifice of Christ 7. That Christ is only to be invocated as Mediator between God and man 8. That the Scripture sheweth no such place as Purgatory for the purging of soules after death and therefore all popish Ceremonies as Dirges Lamps and Tapers profit not the dead at all 9. That pictures and images of Saints are not to be set up in Churches or to be worshipped 10. That Matrimony is not denied to any order of men but by the word of God permitted to all men and because fornication is forbidden therefore single life is not to be forced upon people All which propositions were defended by Oecolampadius Bucer and others against all opposers and therefore ratified by the Senate and it was decreed that Masses Altars and Images should be abolished In memoriall of this Reformation they caused a pillar to be set up engraven with golden letters with the time when it was done namely 1528. many other Cities as Strousbrough Basil and Geneva followed their example But many other Towns popishly affected did side with Ferdinand the Emperours brother and Deputy in Germany to suppresse this Reformation in Berne and Zurik These Towns were the Lucernates Vrani Suitenses Vnternaldii and Tugiani who much abusing the Reformed Tigurines and Bernatas made them so angry that they stopped the waies to those five Towns that no victuals could come to them Upon this the five unreformed made war upon them and had the better in which skirmishing Zuinglius was slain and his body abused cut in pieces and burned yet the Reformed continued in their religion and peace was concluded by the mediation of the King of France and some Cantons of Switzerland Mathe. But how came England to be Protestants Phila. Henry the seventh King of England had two sons Arthur and Henry Prince Arthur the eldest married Katherine daughter to Ferdinand King of Spain and died without issue Then Henry the eighth his brother being King of England by the advice of his Counsellors and Nobles married the said Lady Katherine that so her dowry might not be carried out of England Which match though contrary to Gods Word was dispensed withall by Pope Julian the second and so continued twenty years Now Charls the fifth Emperour being in England promised to marrie the Lady Mary daughter to Henry the eighth by the said Queen Katherine which the Emperours Councill misliked because that the Lady Mary was begotten by King Henry and his brothers wife and so illegitimate therefore the Emperour forsook the match and married the King of Portugals daughter called Isabel Upon this King Henry's mind began to be troubled and the more because he foresaw that there could be no firm succession to the Crown by children so begotten He propounded therefore this question to all the Universities of Christendome viz. whether his marriage were lawfull they all agreed it was not therefore the King sought a divorce and desired the Popes consent The Pope sent Cardinall Campeius into England who together with Woolsey Cardinall of York was by his authority to judge the businesse Woolsey was inclined to the divorce till he perceived the Kings mind was bent to marry Anne Bulloin who was a Lutheran Of which he advertizing the Pope he sent for his Embassador Campeius who returned to Rome without determining the Kings cause But the King by Doctor Cranmers advice and the Civilians had Queen Katherine divorced therefore the Pope cursed King Henry and his Kingdome of England And the King abolished the Popes authority and tyranny in his Kingdome and enjoined that he should in his dominions only be called Bishop of Rome and that himselfe should be acknowledged supreame head of the Church of England This was the beginning of Reformation of popish abuses as in dissolving of Abbies and Monasteries in England and Wales though Henry the eighth continued in Romish doctrines To the number of 645. vid. Cambden Mr Fox his Martyro p. 2. and many blessed Martyrs were put to death in his time for professing the contrary even after he had abolished the Bishop of Romes authority as Lambert condemned by King Henry himselfe and also of many others by his authority and ministers such as Collins Cowbridge Leiton Puttedew Peke do testifie as also his setting out the six Articles maintaining page 1296. 1. Transubstantiation And secondly that the communion in both kinds is not necessary to be received And thirdly against Priests marriage And fourthly for vowing single life And fifthly Anno 31. regni H. 8. for maintaining the Masse and also sixthly auricular confession to be necessary Which Articles were commended to Commissioners to be put in execution and many good men suffered who held tenets contrary thereunto as Doctor Barns Heirom Garret Marbeck Filmer Testwood and Person and Bennet Kerby Clark Mendelsham and Mistrisse Anne Askew and others burned at Windsor and Ipswich in London and Kent all which shew that though King Henry the eighth did abolish the power of the Pope in Civill and Ecclesiastick matters in England yet popish doctrine was still maintained Mathe. I pray tell me how the Pope came to have such great authority in England in Civil and Ecclesiasticall affairs 2. How Englands Religion came to be corrupted which at first it seems was pure Rom. 1.8 as Romes faith was before the Pope turned Antichristian 3. How the Reformation went on which was revived by King Henry the eight so far as abolishing popish jurisdiction Phila. For the first you may find that the Pope came in by connivance of peaceable and quiet Princes who not discerning the Popes policy after Phocas the Emperour had made him universall Bishop how he did work upon Princes of weak judgement as also upon such as he found to be superstitious or that were litigious and stood in need of his help and so did wind himselfe by intrusion and used his possession with tyranny But this intrusion could never be warranted by any just claime through possession or submission to him in tract of time by custome or prescription the foundation of his first authority being surreptitious for we cannot find any Brittish or Saxon Kings that have obliged themselves or this Kingdome submissively to the Pope But you may find that when Austin the Monk was sent into England by Pope Greg. 1. to bring the Clergy to the ceremonies and service of the Roman Church not to make Christians in England which was done many hundred years before
encouraged the souldiers to kill the rest of the protestants who made havock and killed man woman and child which they could find crying that wicked seed of the protestants should be quite rooted out So all those that attended in the Louver about the King of Navar and the Prince of Condie were commanded to disarm and go forth where they were all slain The King of Navar and the Prince were both brought before the King and threatned to be slain except they would renounce their Religion The King of Navar desired the King to remember the friendship made up between them The Prince of Condie more stoutly said he would not renounce his Religion for fear of his life Some protestants that were lodged in the Fobers of St Germane escaped by flight The Prince of Condie and the King of Navar by perswasion of Rozarius an apostate preacher fell away from the Reformed Religion for a time but afterward that Rozarius repented and testified it to the Prince of Condie This massacre of Paris put to the sword about 10000. people And in Lions and other places within one month 20000. more It was so cruell that many would not beleeve it others colour it over with lies of treason plotted by the protestants Canagnius and Briguemald and some Noble men protestants were tortured for to extort somewhat but they died in the faith and truth and confessed no matter of treason Mathe. Was not the Reformed Religion now extinguished in France Phila. No for though their chiefe Leaders were murthered yet there were certain Towns which were full of protestants as Rochel Mountalban Nimes and Sarsarre Rochel was besieged by the King both by sea and land 1573. in December and endured till June God helped the poor by abundance of fish The fish Surdonnes which were never seen before nor since Liberty of Religion was granted to them and conditions of peace and to their associate Towns Sarsarre was also besieged even to famine yet the people continued firm in Religion but on conditions of peace resigned the Town This King of France died in May 1574. Charls the 9th dieth and much blood issued from many parts of his body as a remembrance of his bloody life Henry the third his brother who was chosen King of Poland Henry the 3d succeedeth succeeded him and was ill affected to the protestants yet at last they obtained another act of pacification and liberty to exercise their Religion in all places save in Paris and some adjacent places They were also declared to be capable of places at Court and places of Judicature and all judgements passed against them were null'd But when they required security for this many waies were offered but the Deputies for the protestants rejected all The Queen Mother said Is not the word of a King sufficient security One did answer No by St Bartholmew Madam for then was the massacre So they had at last eight Towns delivered to them six years for security and the pacification was proclaimed all over the Country May 1576. Mathe. How fared the cause of Religion now in other Countries Phila. The Citizens of Magdenburg Magdenb obtained by the intercession of the Duke of Saxony and the Elector of Brandenburg free exercise of Religion by license of their Archbishop according to the confession of Ausburg called also the Augustan Confession And in 1606. the Embassadors from the Hungarians came to Vienna Hungarians and obtained Articles of peace and that they should use their liberty of conscience throughout all Hungary wherein no Religion should be admitted but the Roman Catholick Lutheran and the Calvinist So likewise about 1608. the Protestants of Austria being denied the free exercise of Religion took up arms but within a little while obtained peace Protestants of Austria Bohemia So in Bohemia the next year following the Protestants stood upon their guard fearing the Roman Catholicks but the Protestants and Catholicks finding the Jesuites to be occasion of these combustions agreed in peace and the Protestants had freedome of Religion and Churches allowed them to preach in their native language Mathe. Did the Protestants in France enjoy the peace concluded in May 1576 Phila. No for still their enemies sollicited the King to break peace with the Protestants and finding him unwilling they assembled at Perone Nemours and Nancy about 1576. and made a league to root out the Protestants because the Protestants did not yield up their cautionary Towns after six yeers expired whereas they had obtained of the King a longer time But the death of Alanzon the Kings brother dying in the Low Countries and the King having no issue and therefore they feared the King of Navars succession made them extream mad upon this League Now the King also perceived that the Leaguers aimed at his life and crown and to set up whom they pleased to succeed him and this he did upon good grounds 1. Because libels were scattered about Paris to his dishonor 2. Because the Duke of Guise raised an army and was made generall of it 3. Because they carried the war rather towards Paris then the Protestant Towns These things put him in so great fear that he desired the Queen Mother to procure the Duke to lay down arms and he would give him any part of his Realm to let him live in peace This made the Leaguers to ask high requests and securities so that the Protestants were prohibited to exercise their religion and to turn Papists or else to depart the Realm Upon this the King of Navar began to oppose himselfe with the Prince of Condy and the Duke Mommerancy And yet although the King of France and the Leaguers were united yet the Pope excommunicates him and declares him uncapable of the Kingdome There came also Embassadors from the Electors of Germany to desire his favour toward the Protestants who received no contenting answer and returned Then the Duke of Guise fearing invasion of France by the Rutters advised the King to set quickly upon the Protestants army under the command of the King of Navar but were discomfited at Contras However the Pope much extolled the Duke of Guise and the preachers of France advanced him above the King with which he was so puffed up that he came to the King at Soissons and after to Paris intending to make him grant many unreasonable requests against his own honor and for the utter ruine of the Protestants which raised such troubles in Paris that the King fled to Chartnesse and to Roan meditating revenge yet he resolves to join with the Leaguers rather then the Protestants and therefore the Protestants could not be heard at Bloyes by the Parliament though the Duke of Guise was there slaine when they petitioned for restoration to their Religion Goods and Liberty But the Leaguers ceased not till they had procucured a declaration from the King and the Assembly to disable the King of Navar from succession to the Crown of France The
the severall magistrates of every Town and Province among themselves The Prince of Orange about the eighteenth of March 1582. was shot in his chamber by a villain through the cheek but he escaped death and the villain was executed and the Frier that set him on to do the work Many other treasons and plots he escaped laied by the Spaniard and the Prince of Parma But at last one Baltazar Gerard pistol'd him at the enticement of one of the Prince of Parmas Councellors as he confessed in hope of a great reward After his death and funerals the States chose his second son Grave Maurice about eighteen years of age to be their head and appointed a Councell to assist him The Prince of Parma recovered now many Towns The French King could not help the Netherlands because he feared the Leaguers who began again to raise troubles in France about 1585. but counselled them to commend their cause to Queen Elizabeth which they did and she assisted them with men and monie and shee had delivered her in caution for the monie Flushing the Castle of Ramekins and Bril and the two sconces This made the Spaniards to use the English hardly that were in his dominions Upon which by Queen Elizabeths commission they recompenced themselves upon the Spaniard at Sea The Pope and the King of Spain therefore Gregor 13. that in England the reformed religion flourished and that the Queen Elizabeth was a great assistant to the Protestant abroad devised how to invade England and depose Queen Elizabeth which plot shewed it selfe some ten years after in the great Armado 1588. called invincible yet by Gods providence the winds scattered it and the English fiered and sunk many so that of an hundred and thirty tall ships scarce thirty returned to carry newes what became of the rest And thus God delivered Queen Elizabeth from this as well as many other particular plots against her roiall person Mathe. Popery being now abolished and even vanquished in England especially did it continue now in peace and unity Phila. No for with hearts griefe I must tell you that those who were protestants by profession yet proved many of them prophane and schismaticall and raised great troubles in the Church Others through surfeting upon peace and the plenty of preaching and printing fell into strange fancies and uncouth opinions to the great dishonour of God and the true Religion Mathe. What were these Phila. In the year 1579. one Matthew Hamont a plough-wright Matthew Hamont maintained horrible heresies against Christ who was burned at Norwich see Stowes chro p. 685. Others fell out with the Church about government and ceremonies as Robert Brown and Harrison by whom and their abetters in Zeland the Church of England was condemned as no Church Others of loose life brought in nicknames upon people more godly then themselves as you shall find hereafter which bred much difference and heart-burnings whispering and evill surmises by which the people have been carried some to prosecute some to persecute one another Mathe. But before we search England resolve me I pray whether or not were the reformed professors quiet and at unity beyond the seas from whom we took fire to reform popery O have not they filled England as well with dissention as at first with Reformation Phila. Heresies and schismes have been in all Churches as tares mong the wheat And so in Germany and the Netherlands ever after reformation strange people sprung up of more strange opinions then faces or fashions As in 1521. Luther having published his doctrine very prosperously whether out of envy to his glory or by mistaking his writings or by misunderstanding Scriptures a strange sect sprung up certainly by Satans instigation in Saxony who boasted that they talked with God and he with them and that he commanded them to kill all the wicked viz. all that would not be of their sect Melancthoâ— The first Author of this sect was one Nicolas Stock Nicholas Stock who pretended that God spake to him by an Angell and revealed his will to him in dreams and promised him the Empire of the world and that the Saints must live alone in the world and he must be their leader to kill all Kings and Princes and clense the Church He said he could discern of spirits and of the elect of God Next to him succeeds his scholler Muncerus Lembertus Hortensius de Anab. Thomas Muncerus who preached in Alset in Thuringia where he gave an oath to his associats who promised to assist him in executing his doctrine which was to kill all the ungodly Princes and Magistrates for which the Duke of Saxony banished him and so he went to Nurenberg and was driven also from thence and so he came to Muthus in Thuringia again and many of his old disciples resorted to him and received his doctrins as oracles especially that part Jo. Sleid. com lib. 5. wherein he declared that all mens goods should be common and all men free and of equall dignity This doctrine brought to him 40000. who fell to pillaging great mens houses and brought away Noble men bound But Count Mansfelt raised an army with other assistants to resist them Muncer preacheth to his company that they should prevaile according to Gods promise namely by abusing some places of Scripture as Psal 68.23 and Psal 149. and perswaded them that they should dip their feet in the blood of the wicked and that their shot could do them no harm Which oration made his followers refuse favor offered them viz. to deliver up the authors of that sedition and return in peace to their dwellings So the Princes discharged their Ordnance upon them and broke their intrenchments of carts and slew many thousands of them upon which they fled and dispersed themselves but most of them to Frankhus whom the Counts army followed and took the Town and Muncer therein and Phifer his associate and executed them and three hundred more Muncerus at his death could shew neither faith nor devotion After him riseth up Melchior Hoffman Melchior Hoffman Ch. Nelles p. 11. who said he was Elias but venting the same errors at Strausburgh was imprisoned and his followers suppressed Then next rose up John Becold John of Leyden a Taylor of Leyden 1533. with many Hollanders he comming to Munster in Wesphalia he kept Conventicles and so seduced many The Magistrates commanded them to depart the City they went out at one gate and came in at another saying they would not desert the cause of God They inticed many neighboring Towns to assist them by fair promises of spirituall wealth and worldly riches and freedome from paying rent tribute or tithes So they turned the Citizens out of the Town plundered the Churches and houses and made orders that the inhabitants should bring in all their mony into the common stock upon pain of death and they burned all books save the Bible One Cniperdolling his vain Prophet Mutus
for fear of death but of the tyranny of sin death and the devill which they had got over mankind Next the great ingratitude of the most part of mankind the dispersion of little flocks the scandall they might take at his death the sad ruine of the Jewes which he foresaw and the wrath of God for mans sin of which now he began to have a sense as being surety for us And all this he suffered without any perturbation of sinfull passion And this was done surely to expiate our sinfull fears and doubts and to encourage us in any terrors that arise from a troubled conscience though they put us into great agonies But these were not all his sufferings For he suffered 1. By the consultation of his adversaries the Priests Scribes and Pharisees who when they should have been preparing for the Passeover they were consulting how to take away the true Paschall Lambs life and would have done it at that time but that they feared the people more then they feared God 2. He suffered by the treason of Judas one of his own disciples whom he made steward of his family and had washed those feet that were so apt to shed his blood And this he suffered 1. That the Scripture might be fulfilled that foretold it Psal and Joh. 13.8 2. To beware of coverousnesse which will make a man even to betray Christ at any rate 3. To fore warn Ministers of all others to take heed of being corrupted this way lest they become like salt that hath lost his savour 4. To teach us to beware of sin under what pretense soever For it is likely that Iudas did not intend to have Christ killed but only to get the mony supposing that he would make an escape which may be argued from that that he was so troubled when he saw he was condemned Also to beware of the smallest beginnings of sin For at the first Iudas his sin was but discontent that he loft the gain of Mary her ointment and she justified in her deed By this the devill entred his heart that he resolved to sell the anointed because he could not sell the ointment His next suffering was by being apprehended by wicked hands to unloose the hold of sin and Satan from us and in a garden to expiate the sin committed in Paradise Then bound to unloose the bands of wickednesse and the works of the devill Then toffed from pillar to post from one High Priest to another Then abused by the souldiers and Jewes Luke 22. who buffeted that face which the holy Patriarchs and Prophers longed to behold Cant. 8.1 And scoffed at his prophecying which never failed But it is no wonder if they that had scorned the Prophet of the Lord did also scoffe the Lord of the Prophets This was done to him to expiate our sinne of mocking God as if he could not see and our losing of his glorious image yet he would not die in a tumult but was solemnly brought before the Judge and there falsely accused to free us from his that accuseth the brethren And received sentence of death unjustly to save us from the sentence of Gods condemnation So he was charged with sedition and blasphemy to free us by his attonement from the guilt of high treason against God To all which he answered not saving to the High Priest that he was the Son of God because he conjured him by the name of God to tell him And to Pilate that he was a King though his Kingdome was not of this world that he might leave the Jewes without excuse and take away the occasion from Pilate of justly condemning him and to fulfill the Scripture Isa 53.7 that he was like a sheep dumb before the shearer and to comfort his people that they have a King in Sion though he regardeth not worldly glory Mathe. Methinks he doth not answer very plainly to Pilate and Herod nothing at all I pray what was the reason Phila. He said he was a King but such an one that meant not to stickle for worldly glory which seemeth strange because God had promised to give him the throne of David Luke 1.32 33. and that he should reign over the house of Jacob for ever but that is meant not literally but spiritually which teacheth not to expect that true Religion should stand in outward glory but pray that the eies of our understanding being opened we may see wherein consists the glory of Christs Kingdome Eph. 1.19 Col. 3.2 and therefore to employ our selves about heavenly things and not earthly things for our trading consisteth in such commodities as appeareth Phil. 3.20 for he never promised any great earthly possessions to his followers as that Impostor Mabomet did but exhorted them to seek the preferments of his spirituall Kingdome 2. He said he came to bear witnesse of the truth which though Pilate scoffed at it saying what is truth yet it was a truth for not submitting to which the Devill was cast down and all men are damned that wil not beleeve it viz. that all creatures that are capable of eternall happinesse must attain to it by dependance upon the Son of God by which we are informed what poor entertainment truth finds in the world that Christ is fain to descend from heaven to avouch it Therefore let us receive the truth with all respect and stand for it to the death for so we shall prove our selves of the truth and to be his subjects Now he would say no more to Pilate in his defence lest he should seem to endeavor to prevent the sentence of death By which silence he satisfieth God for our lavish tongues and that he might meritoriously plead for us in heaven Nor would he confesse himselfe the Son of God to Pilate because Pilate was uncapable of the doctrine of the Trinity and also because it was no time now to reveal his Deity but to die in his humanity This filence did so amaze Pilate that he sought to save him or at least to put his condemnation over to others And therefore first offers to the Jewes to judge him by their law Iohn 18.31 which they refusing brought to passe what Christ had sortold viz. what death he should die namely the Romane death of the Crosse by which we may see that all the policy of men cannot disappoint the purpose of God in his childrens sufferings Upon their refusing Pilate sends him to Herod who set him at naught with his men of war because he would not speak to Herod nor shew any miracle before him Luk. 23.8 9 10 thereby shewing how little he esteemed of Herods greatnesse that would not feed the lightnesse and vanity of his mind by casting his pearls before such a swine This scorn of Herod and his souldiers he suffered that we might be esteemed of God and his holy army of Angels Herod finding no fault in him Luke 23.15 yet he sends back to Pilate and in scorn of his claim to
might have a time to be called to salvation and then it shall come suddenly as a thiefe Secondly there must be such a day because judgement is not fully executed in this world for oftentimes the best men are here oppressed and the worst are exalted but a time must be when God will reward every man according to his works Judgement begins in this world with the house of God but it will end with the wicked 1 Pet. 4.17 So that this day will declare the justice of God which now lyeth hidden Rom. 2.5 and is himselfe censured by men but then he shal overcome in judgement which in part he hath shewed by the fiering of Sodom and will compleat it by being revenged upon the sins of all men as well as theirs Mathe. When shall this day be Phila. As some have thought it would never be so others have been too bold to set the time and so have made people carelesse of their calling and some seeing it did not come to fall away from Religion of these St Paul warneth to take heed 2 Thes 2.1 2 3. and saith that the Kingdome of Antichrist must first come and be destroied also whereas it seemed some thought it would be in the Apostles age by mistaking some Scriptures as Iohn 21.21 that St Iohn should tarry till Christ came Others thought it would be 400. some 500. some 1000 years after Christs Ascension Others have thought 2000 years after Christs Nativity because they say the world was 2000 years before the Law and 2000 under the Law and 2000 years under the Gospell but for the elect sake those daies shall be shortned But the account is false for before the Law was more then 2000 years from the Creation and lesse then so under the Law and therefore who can beleeve what they set down for the future As for the shortning those daies for the elects sake that is spoken of the troubles that fell upon Jerusalem by the Roman army in Vespasian and Titus their time But that there shall be such a day the Scripture tels us Acts 17.31 and God will have it known by preaching of it Acts 10.42 both for the consolation of his people in all their troubles and to leave the wicked without excuse that they had no warning And that this day shall be the last day of the last times wherein men shall depart from the faith 1 Tim. 4.1 Which last times are not they spoken of Heb. 1.1 2 for they were the last times of the fourth and last Monarchy foreseen by Daniel wherein the stone i. Christ should crush to dust all those Monarchies and set a Gospell Kingdome But these last times are the latter times of the Gospell profession wherein men shall give heed to spirits of error and doctrines of devils such as popish heathenisme in worshipping Images Saints and Angels which is nothing else but the renewing of their old superstitions under the colour of Christian Religion But it may be that some may wonder why God should defer the day of Judgement so long after the death of so many faithfull Patriarchs and Prophets and holy Martyrs But they consider not that God hath respect to his own glory in raising and altering things in the world as the Monarchies thereof and the rising and fall of Antichrist the rejection and calling of the Jewes the full comming in of the Gentiles to Gospell profession the gathering of the elect by the means of Gospell-preaching who must have a time to be born and live and hear instruction and perform the works of righteousnesse Nor do they consider that the deferring thereof is for the triall of the elects faith patience and devotion in prayer like the Saints crying under the Altar Rev. 6.10 How long Lord holy and true dost thou defer thy judgement Others it may be will object that seeing that God hath determined this day why will he hide it from us The reason is no doubt because he would have us watch and be prepared like the wise virgins with oile in our lamps and like him that expects a theefe to come suddenly as Christ tels us Mat. 24.43 But some will say it is no wonder that we know it not being that Christ himselfe saith he knew it not Mark 13.32 To which it may be answered that he knew it not so as to make us to know it as God is said to prove Israel that he may know that is that he may make them to know Deut. 13.3 for God knew before what they would do or that he knew it not as he was man in the estate of his humiliation or that he knew it not without revelation from his divinity but now he is glorified he as man knoweth the day and hour But it may be some will be so curious to ask where shall this judgement be Some think in the vallie of Iehosophat from Ioel 3.2 but that place hath only relation to those nations that afflicted Israel and so is but an allusion to this great assizes at the judgement day yet it is probable that Christ may judge where he was judged but we have no certaine proofe from Scripture where it shall be but that he will come in the clouds and every eie shall see him and those that have pierced him and thither the elect shal be caught up to meet him 1 Thes 4.17 even in the aire where the devill now ruleth Eph. 2.2 as a Prince but shall then be judged with the rest of his crue to hell to which place they are not as yet committed Mathe. What may be the signs of his comming to judgement Phila. Some take the preaching of the Gospell to all nations but this was done in the Apostles daies Col. 1.6 Others say the security of men Mat. 24. but that is no sign that hath no distinction for men have ever been so and ever will be so Others say the want of faith love wars and plagues and the rising of false Christs and Prophets but these appeared before the destruction of Jerusalem whatsoever may hereafter for Mat. 24.34 it is said that before that generation passe all these things shall be fulfilled But in the succession of ages there hath been alwaies severall monitory signs of that day ever since the Apostles daies As first the rising up of many Antichrists 1 John 2.18 2 Thes 23. Then a generall apostasie of men from the truth of Religion as in the time of Arrius who denied Christ to be begotten of the substance of the Father and that there was a time wherein the Son was not which heresie was generally received and abetted by Bishops and some Emperors Socrat. l. 2. c. 18 few or none opposing it more openly than good Athanasius excepting the Councill of Nice The next sign is the discovery of Antichrist 2 Thes 2.4 by Gods witnesses namely the Scriptures or some faithfull expounders thereof The next sign is the reviving and publishing the everlasting Gospell and profession of
was learned He like some schismaticks now accounted humane learning heresie and so they may see their error is popish while they condemn learning as if it were popery Next comes Sixtus the fourth Innocentius the eight Alexander the sixt who imprisoned and banished many Cardinals Then followed Pius the third and next Julius the second who by the Emperour Maximilian and the King of Spain and France's aids spoiled the Venetians of many territories yet he received them again into favor and so discontented the Emperour and the King of France that they thought to depose him by their Councill at Pisa But he called another Councill at Rome which disanulled all they did at Pisa He lived in wars all his time Leo the tenth succeeds him He endevoured to suppresse Martin Luther but could not Adrianus the sixt followed and threatned the Duke of Saxony for maintaining Martin Luther Clement the seventh succeeds who poisoned many and was poisoned himselfe Paulus the third followeth whose authority in England was abrogated by King Henry the eighth who called himselfe supreme head in his own dominions in all causes Ecclesiastick and Civill He cursed King Henry the eighth of England therefore and interdicted the Kingdome ratified the order of Jesuites and called a Councill at Trent where the Protestants would not appear because they said that Councill was not lawfully called and the Pope sate Judge who was the party they were to accuse of errors and abusing the Church He carried the Councill to Bononia Iulius the third followed who brought it back again to Trent and sent in Queen Maries daies Cardinall Pool to absolve England from the interdiction of Paul the third But havock was made in England of Protestants Paulus the fourth followed who hated Charls the Emperour who resigned his government to his son Ferdinand and died in a Monastery The Pope approved not this election but Ferdinand esteemed not of his approbation Pius the fourth followed In his time the Councill of Trent called by Paul the third was dissolved which had sate six yeers only of eighteen But before that he sent an Embassador into England to invite the Clergy to that Councill but Queen Elizabeth would not suffer him to land Nor would the Germans send any Scotland also revolted from popery He massacred Protestants at Montalto in Italy to the number of eighty because they met at an house to hear a Sermon They were drawn out one by one and their throats cut but none recanted their Religion Pius the fifth followed who with the Venetians and the King of Spain and his own aids overcame the Turks at Lepanto under the conduct of John of Austria Gregory the thirteenth followed He founded a new Colledge for Jesuites and gave it great revenues to bring up schollers to convert the Germans The Guises faction and the Queen Mother made an horrid massacre in Paris of the Protestants whom they called Huguenots 1572. Which act this Pope commended and sent Charls King of France 40000. Duckats to set forward the war against them This Pope set forth a new Kalender Sixtus the fift followed who excommunicated the King of Navar and the Prince of Condie both Protestants Now was Henry the third killed by a Frier Clement the eighth absolved Henry the fourth King of France from the excommunication of Sixtus the fifth upon his abjuration of the protestation by his Orators which King was slain by a proselyte of the Jesuits called Ravilack Mathe. I desire to know how the Protestant Religion came in and whether it be ancient and how it hath been persecuted by the Pope his adherents whether Princes or Prelates and by what heresies opposed for the Papists still upbraid us that our Religion was begun by Luther who began an innovation in the time of Pope Leo the tenth Against whom Henry the eighth of England did write and obtained the title from the Pope of Defender of the faith Phila. You are to understand that the substantiall points of the Protestant Religion are the same which are grounded upon Scripture and maintained from the Primitive times by the Church Christian but obscured in tract of time by divers heresies and popish traditions which like tares and weeds over-grew the good seed which yet still appeared in divers places of the field of the Catholike Church plain enough to prove a visible being both of the truth and professors of it till the Protestants made a more full declaration of it by refining the old truths from the drosse of heresie and popish superstition Mathe. I desire to have a more plain view of those hereticks that turned from Gospell truths And secondly how the Pope sell off being that the Roman Church did oftentimes excommunicate those hereticks And thirdly how the Protestants came to reform themselves they being once in the bowels of the Romish Church Phila. You know I have shewed many already among the persecuting hereticks yet it shall not be irksome to me if it be not to you to view them a little better especially the Manicheans who sprung up before Arrius with which heresie Augustine was entangled but the Lord God that bringeth good out of evill converted him by the pains of Ambrose Bishop of Millain and he became a great light to Gods people and a confuter of that cursed heresie Manicheus opinions were that there were two beginnings one evil and the other good which is all one as to say there be two Gods No wonder if their patron Manes called himselfe the Holy Ghost Maniches as Montanus did if he proceeded from such principles This Manes forbade flesh and wine neglected the old Testament ascribed the sin of man not to his free will Vid. Aug. cont Mani but necessity because he said mans body was made of the substance of the Prince of darknesse He died a fearfull death Theo. l. 4. c. 4. For as Arrius voided his guts at a draught-house before he came to dispute against the truth so this Manes was sent for being a Persian by the King of Persia to cure his son who died in his hands and he was imprisoned but escaped yet heard of in Mesopotamia was taken and flead Socrat. l. 1. c. 21. and his skin stuffed and set up at the gate of the City Mathe. Sir lest it be too much trouble to you and no great benefit to me to recite all the heresies I desire only the chiefe of them which do directly oppose true Religion Phila. I intend so and therefore first I will shew you the ancient heresies and then the modern that you may see how far the latter are raked out of the former We find some holding God to be like a man because Gen. 1.21 God is said to make man after his image Anthropomorphites but that in the soule and the endowments thereof wisedome and righteousnesse The Author of this heresie was one Ardaeus a Syrian Then followed the Messalians called Euchitae because they thought the whole duty of
by collecting from former Liturgies which kind of form Calvin himselfe approveth and wisheth that there might be such a form from which no Minister might depart Mathe. Yet Calvin and his followers are against the Liturgy and discipline of the Church of England though it be a reformed Church even as the Papists are against Luther and him Phila. It is true Mr Calvins Reformation yet both Luther and he have been great refiners of Christian Religion from drosse and rust of superstition which cleaved thereunto and mud which it collected by running through the dirty channels of Rome that spirituall Babylon It is true that he being bred to the Civill Law yet studied Divinity wherein he proved a great proficient as by his writings appeareth in all which he consenteth with the Protestant truth professed He having occasion to leave France came to Geneva which City had lately been abandoned by the Bishop and Clergy thereof for fear of the people who began to rise against the popish religion there Their civill government was by Magistrates chosen yearly by the people and for Church-government they had then agreed upon none but they chose Calvin for their Preacher and Divinity Lecturer He with two other Ministers perswaded with some ado the people to bind themselves solemnly by oath First never to admit Popery again And secondly to obey such orders in the exercise of Religion as himselfe and the other two had contrived according to the Word of God They consented and yet within a little while repented of it And because Calvin and the other two Ministers would not administer the Communion to those that denied quiet obedience according to their oath those three Calvin and his two associats were banished the Town but within a few years they called him in again He told them that if he undertook to be their Pastor they must admit a compleat form of Church Discipline and should be sworn for ever to observe it The order was that there should be an Ecclesiasticall Court erected which should be alwaies standing that should consist of one Clergy man certaine and two Lay men annually chosen which seemed much to content the people they being alwaies to have the more voices but Calvin knew that the Ministers had ods enough having both art learning and the tongue of perswasion At last the people many of them disliked it and thought it no better then popish tyranny and imagined that Calvin had done all this to please his fantasy as Apelles that pretended to draw the picture of Venus and made it like his beloved Cratina Yet considering the time and place I see not what more acceptable government he could have set up therefore those people thought it better to condescend to him than to dismisse him to their own infamy since they had so importunately recalled him to them yet not many yeers after the Consistory or Ecclesiasticall Court having excommunicated Bertelier the Senate of the Town releaseth him under their common seale But Calvin resolved to withstand that decree at least by refusing to absolve or give the Sacrament to Bertelier which he resolutely did not and in the afternoon on the Lords day after his sermon took his leave of them saying I commend you to God and to the word of his grace and so bid them farewell They of Geneva sent to the Helvetian Churches for their judgement in Calvins discipline and whether they might better change then hold it It was answered that their ordinances were godly and enclined toward the Scripture and that they were better to hold them then to change so Mr Calvins discipline was accepted And as his name grew famous so was his discipline taken up by the French reformed Churches and Scotland and by some exalted in their Sermons so high that they have said that a Minister with his Eldership hath power given from God to excommunicate even Kings and Princes Beza and Erastus hath canvased this point of discipline The first saith that excommunication is a most necessary discipline and Erastus denieth the necessity of Lay Elders to be Ministers thereof By others it hath been cried up for the Lords discipline Mart. Marpr in l. 3. p. 8. yea and that all Christian Churches ought to receive it whether the governors of it will or not And England hath been threatned by libels that since the Brethren cannot prevaile by Petition to Prince Parliament and Councill we must thank our selves if such means be used to bring in discipline as will make all our hearts to ake And I beleeve such hath been used of late years but the disciplinarians have been prevented of their end by men of an higher genius then they have But this hath been the Helena that hath caused so much sharp contentions Mathe. It seemeth that Calvins discipline aimed at a parity of Clergy and Laitie which is the fourth point held by the Anabaptists of which I desire your judgement Phila. Calvin did indeed make them equall in censuring others by his discipline but not as the Anabaptists do for they would have no distinction between Clergy and Lay-men no not in exercising the ministeriall office but that all men perform it that will if gifted But God hath distinguished them as he did Aaron from the Levites and the Levites from the Laity yea before the Law there was that distinction Melchisedech was the Priest of the high God and it seems very nature taught it for Jethro was Priest of Midian And Egypt had Priests too distinct from other men And Christ said to his disciples go yee and teach all nations And St Paul doth plainly distinguish between the Pastor and flock Acts 20.28 and saith they that are taught should communicate to the teacher Gal. 6.6 for all the body must not be an eie or tongue Methinks the judgement that God hath shewed upon men usurping that office should be enough to convince the evill of this opinion as upon Corah Dathan and Abiram Numb 16.31 Upon Miriam Vzza 2 Sam. 6.7 and Vzziah 2 Chro. 26.21 Mathe. They say there is no difference between a gifted Layman and a Clergyman but only ordination which adds no power to a man Phila. Yes it doth for though sufficiency or rather competency of gifts may enable a man to the office yet that ability cannot authorize him to perform the ministry and therefore he is to look for an outward calling by his superiour Rom. 10.15 for how can they preach unlesse they be sent Now they must be sent by such who by a continued succession from the Apostles can derive their ordinations Helver post c. 18. Bohem. Confes c. 9. Aug. Confes art 14. Wittemb Con. art 20. Bern. in Cant. which was long before the Church of Rome fell from the faith even 1600 years ago which calling of Ministers hath been followed by England and the reformed Church who will suffer none to meddle with the administration of holy things without constitution Against whom St Bernard
be rooted out and that their Family of Love shall possesse the earth and their posterity shall remain for ever He made himselfe a greater light then Christ and said that in his light Christ was perfected and that he was codeified in God and God hominified in him and this they count the everlasting Gospell spoken of Rev. 11.15 They said the speech of Christ was made good in H.N. I must walk to day and to morrow Luke 13.32 and the third day I shall be perfected that is by to day is meant the time of Christ by to morrow the time of the Romish Religion and by the third day the time of H.N. and his Family If you demand how this Sect came into England I answer by those that translated the book of David George called the Wonder Book and H. N. his book called the Gospell of the Kingdome So did one Christopher Viret a Joiner in Southwark in Queen Maries daies translated some of them out of Dutch into English If you desire to know more of their blasphemous and abominable errors you may read their confession set down by Mr Knewstub and Henock Claphams book Mr Knewstub Conf. called the error of the right hand and of the left They be made up of many heresies their conversation is full of uncleannesse they partake with the old Adamites of whom St Augustine writeth who in their Conventicles or Paradice made warm by stoves they exercise the rites of their religion in praying hearing of sermons Lamb. Horten. p. 53. Gaftius p. 222. and receiving the Communion all naked both men and women Some of these have begun to practice their naked truth as they call it here in England since the year 1642. Mathe. But it may be Sir I shall not find these books and so shall not be able to discover them when they speake and therefore I pray tell me some of their errors which you can remember Phil. They say every one of their congregation is as perfect as Christ Familists opinions or else he is a devill the latter part whereof I do believe Also that it is lawfull to do whatsoever the higher power commands though it be against Gods command Herein they perform blind obedience like Papists and the Jesuits Novices If a man do so how doth he forsake his father and mother for Christ Or why said the Apostles to the higher powers that it was more fit to obey God then man So they affirm that in saying God the Father God the Son and God the Holy Ghost we acknowledge three Gods not perceiving we call them so because they are all but one God in essence 1 John 5.7 though three distinct persons Here they smell of the old heresie of Noetians that held there was but one person in the Godhead as the Socinians do now They say there is no other heaven nor hell than in this world among us What place then is that to which Christ is gone before to prepare for us or that fire foretold of Christ into which wicked men must depart So that they are not bound to give alms but to their own Sect yet St Paul saith do good to all So that there ought to be no contrary both to the Law and Gospell practice in all ages that there was a world before Adams time this is to be wise above what is written So that they ought not to bury their dead because it is said let the dead bury their dead Mat. 8.22 which he spake not as to have the dead neglected nor despising those that did that charitable work but to warn him that he out of too much care of worldly ceremonies neglect not the blessed state of life to which Christ called him saying follow me Also that they need not say Davids praiers because they have no sin but St John saith 1 John such deceive themselves and the truth is not in them But farther they have blasphemous opinions concerning God as that God hath no other Deity in himselfe but such as men partake of in this life 2 Pet. 1.4 Indeed we are said to partake of the divine nature but that is not by the participation of equality but of quality both of grace and glory not of the divine essence but the holy disposition or conditions thereof So they hold that Christ is not a person God and man but an estate or condition in men common to them only who have received the doctrine of Henry Nicholas So they say that Adam was all that God was and God all that Adam was as if God communicated his whole essence to Adam as to Christ which no man can well beleeve Again they would have none baptized till they be thirty yeers old Indeed Christ was not nor could not till there was one sent to baptize namely John the Baptist They say there was no truth preached since the Apostles times yes even that which they have often heard but perverted because they did not entertain it in a love thereof and so God hath given them up to delusions So they affirm that the resurrection of the body is only a rising from sin and wickednesse But St John tels us of another Rev. 20.5 6. Rev. 20.6 as well as St Paul in the 1 Cor. 15. They account marriage whoredome where the parties married have not true faith Yet surely it is more holy then the copulation of H. N. with the three women in his house clothed all alike and called his Wife Sister and Cousin which Cousin falling sick confessed that he had made unlawfull use of her body and made her beleeve she should never die The Governor hearing of it came to apprehend him but the unclean bird was fled so the Governor seized on his nest in the yeer 1556. even when H. N. was fifty seven yeers of age Knewstub p. 15.27 older than wiser As for their high conceits of H. N. that he could no more erre then Christ and of their great opinions of their illuminated elders I refer you to authors Knewstub p. 15.27 Mathe. Who else hath disturbed the Protestant Church Phila. The Antinomians so called Antinomians because they hold that there is no use of the Law under the Gospel Some say the first author of this Sect was one John Agricola of Isleby who set forth his opinions 1535. But the first that appeared here was John Eaton Curate of St Katherine Colemans Parish in London He writ the book called the Hony-comb wherein he endeavors to prove that God does not nor cannot see any sin in justified people That he seeth no sin to condemn them for is most true as Num. 23.21 He beheld no iniquity in Jacob to bring him under the curse yet he saw enough in Israel to punish them in the wildernesse To think otherwise is to take part with the wicked Psal 10.11 God hideth his face and will not see it and as Psal 50.21 because God winked they thought he was
34 How the Scripturesets out God to us p. 35 Of Gods attributes p. 36 How God is to be considered of before the Creation p. 37 Of Angels their degrees p. 38 46 Their fall and sin p. 47 Of Gods operations in himselfe and to us-ward p. 39 Of predestination p. 40 Of Gods externall works p. 45 The world not eternall nor made by it selfe p. 45 46 The place of evill Angels p. 49 What use of the stars p. 53 Why Christians retain the names of Planets on their week daies as did the heathen p. 54 Of the Creation of man p. 55 Of the souls immortality p. 59 Of mans fall p. 61 How the hope of felicity was given and continued to man p. 63 Of the types of Christ p. 64 Of their analogy with the New Testament p. 65 Of the promises and prophecies of Christs Nativity Death Resurrection and Ascension p. 84 Of the departure of the Scepter from Judah p. 85 The necessity of Christs birth by a Virgin p. 86 Of the spirituall relations that Christs Birth Death Resurrection and Ascension hath to us p. 89 How Christs conception is applied to the Holy Ghost ibid. The effects of that conception upon us p. 90 Of the blessed Virgins conception of Christ p. 92 The spirituall effects of Christs birth upon us p. 95 No sin cleaving to Christs conception p. 93 How Christ suffered being God and man p. 96 How could he being just be put justly to death for the unjust p. 98 Of Christs carriage before Pilate and Herod p. 101 The meaning and end of his sufferings p. 103 The testimony of his Godhead in his sufferings p. 106 The necessity of his death p. 107 Whether Christ died in his nature or his person ibid. How Christ was slain from the beginning of the world and yet toward the end p. 108 The mystery of his bones not broken and his side pierced p. 108 Of his burial p. 109 Of his descending into hell p. 111 The honor he got by his resurrection p. 112 Of reverence due to his name p. 113 The benefits ue have by his resurrection p. 114 By his ascension p. 115 By his session in heaven ibid. And by his comming to judgement p. 116 The necessity of the last judgement and of that day p. 117 Of the signs of it p. 118 Of the trial of men then p. 119 The second part beginning next to 119. but figured by 115. Why the Jewes beleeved not in Christ p. 115 Their punishment p. 116 The transferring of the Gospell to the Gentiles p. 117 Association of Christians p. 119 Their first meeting places of Christians for worship p. 120 Their first Churches p. 121 Their persecutions by the Jewes and some others p. 123 Their persecutions by some Emperors p. 123 Persecutions by Hereticks and some others p. 131 Persecution from the Western Church p. 133 Of the growth of Popedome ibid. Popish succession p. 134 How came in the Protestant Religion p. 145 Of heresie and Hereticks before Corstantine p. 128 Persecutions by Arrians p. 131 And by Eutychians p. 132 A view of ancient heresies and modern p. 146 By whom Protestant doctrines were held before Luther p. 148 How the Protestant Religion came into England p. 156 How the Pope got authority in England p. 157 How Christian Religion was first corrupted in England p. 159 How reformation in Religion went on after H. 8 p. 160 How it thrived in England and in forreign parts p. 161 How the English Church was troubled after reformation p. 169 Of the old and new Anabap. p. 171 Baptisme of Infants p. 178 Rebaptization p. 180 Of Litourgie p. 181 Calvins Church government p. 183 Parity of Clergy and Laity p. 185 Of oaths ibid. Sects troubling the Protestant Church p. 187 Gods punishments on divers Sectaries p. 207 Of Bishops and Presbyters p. 208 Forms of governing in all ages by superiours p. 212 Bishops accounted superiour and Presbyters second p. 221 Of election of Pastours p. 225 Government of Churches by Bishops p. 228 How Bishops derived from Rome or otherwise p. 229 Why some are enemies to Bishops p. 230 Of Litourgies and Ceremonies p. 231 Of requisites in a setled Church p. 239 Of the Holy Ghost and his operations on Church people p. 240 Of the sin against the Holy Ghost p. 242 Of the Church p. 244 Of Abrahams faith p. 250 The marks of a true Christian p. 252 Advancement of sanctification p. 256 Of repentance p. 257 Of the Catholike Church p. 261 Of the Church militant p. 264 Of the Churches head p. 265 Of Antichrist p. 267 Why St Paul so covertly describeth the Antichrist p. 272 Whether hereticks and schismaticks be of the body of the Church militant p. 273 Of the Churches visibility p. 275 Of the notes of a true visible Church p. 276 What Church hath those notes p. 278 The good of a nationall Councill p. 279 Of the Communion of Saints ibid. The reason of two Sacraments p. 280 That parents may with confidence bring children to baptisme p. 280 That men may receive the Lords Supper with a mixed assembly p. 281 Of a fit Communicant p. 282 How Christ is to be remembred in the Sacrament p. 285 What congregation is best to associate ones selfe withall and what Church is the safest p. 286 Of the holiness of the Church or place of Gods worship p. 287 Of the Lords day p. 288 FINIS