synagogue of Rome wherein we haue established an order of Ecclesiasticall ministrie and of liturgie and a confession of faith in articles as neere as wee could for the time to the Canon of holy Scripture Which thing is confirmed and ratified by lawes and actes of Parliament Anno 1 and 13 of the Queene Ordered executed expounded explained and defended by iniunctions Canons and apologeticall writinges Wherein and whereby we haue iustlie separated our selues from the erring sea of Rome because they are fallen from the true faith and doctrine of the primitiue Church as it was taught and planted by Christ and his Apostles according to the Scriptures of the old new Testament And we are vnited into the fellowship of the true Church of God whereof Christ onlie is the head and his word and holy writings the only law Canon and rule Now concerning all these things The Minister and people desiring reformation be louers of the Ecclesiasticall state the Ministers and people which desire reformation doe glorifie God on our behalfe And with all godly quietnes are glade to enioye the benefit and comfort of these things and labour to make the most profit to their soules they can by the vse of the same desiring and labouring onlie for the perfection thereof namelie that such remnants of poperie that remaine thogh in comparison of the other they be not so great altogether might also be abolished The Ministers they doe enioy and execute their ministrie according to the order heereof they accept and acknowledge no other faith and doctrine and vse in their ministrie no other liturgie And that which they doe in requiring reformation in some things is not opposite to any of these things in generall but only tendeth to the further building vp beautifying of our Ecclesiasticall state in particular According to that which is saith let vs follow the truth in loue Ephes 4 15. and in all things grow vp into him which is the head that is Christ In tymes of reformation especiallie when ignorance apostasie and superstition hath raigned so many hundred yeares It is hard to reforme all thinges at the first it is harde and rare that euerie thing shoulde be reformed at the first instant and he that commendeth that which is well done at the first wisheth that men shoulde goe forwarde to doe more more in like sort is he an enemie to the first doeings or a friende Doubtlesse an vpright man voide of a cauilling minde will say he is a friend When the inhabitantes of Iudah and Hierusalem Ezra 3◠first came out of Babylon in the first yeare of Cyria King of Persia built the Altar of God for burnt offeringes they were in state of saluation being entred againe into the couenant of God yet are not they to be called enemies to the state which in the second yeare after laid the foundation of the Temple And in the verie laying of the foundations whereas many shouted for ioy many of the Priests Leuites and the chiefe Fathers auncient men which had seene the first house when the foundation of this house was laid before their eies wept with a loud voice no doubt because it appeared not vnto them so glorious as the other shall they therefore bee reputed enemies to this last house Cap. 47.24 because they desire it were better Which being hindred in the time of Artabshaste by malicious men vntill the second yeare of Darius King of Persia Cap. 3◠at which time Zachariah the Prophet and Haggai called vpon the people and encouraged them to goe forwarde in the building of the Temple and after Ezrah came and taught them the lawe yea euen the Priestes Cap. 7. 9. and caused them to put a way their strange wiues shall wee say that these latter comming manie yeares after were enemies to the state because they endeuoured to bring them to further perfection according to Gods word Lastlie Nehemiah Nehem. 1. and 2. and 3. when they had the Temple and as it should seeme the full and whole worshippe of God yet is he not content but mourned when he hard that the walles of Hierusalem the gates thereof were not built Although he came after and went a bout a thing not done before not onlie in building the wales of Hierusalem but also in taking order for the carefull obseruation of the Sabbath and diuers other things yet is he not called a Puritane which was not content when things were well but his storie is commended to the Church and his example to be imitated of the people of God according to euerie mans calling and place throughout all ages And if wee with the Prophet Haggai doe reprooue the people which say Hag. 1.2.3 The time is not yet come that the Lords house should be builded are we by and by enemies and troublers of the state God forbid If we subscribe that the preaching of the pure word of God is a mark of the true Church of God here vpon desire that all things in the Church euen all our actions should be squared according to the same pure word and nothing left contrarie to the same are we by and by enemies If we be sworne to her Maiesties most lawful supremacie ouer all persons and espie in our Church a Lordelie prelacie a thing brought into the Church by humane inuention by meanes whereof it is apparant that the Pope of Rome hath climed aboue all estates both Ecclesiasticall and ciuill so the Crowne and royall dignitie of this Realme hath in time past bene in bondage to a forraine Potentate euen a proud and vsurping Prelate If now our desire extende it selfe so farre that our Lordlie dignities and power of our Bishoppes might be examined by holy Scripture and brought back a degree or twaine neerer to the Apostolicall practise and Christs institution that so all occasions might be cut of hereafter that this climing vsurpation might neuer take holde vpon England any more are we troublers of the state I protest vnto you before God it hath bene a griefe vnto me when in a simple mind I haue according to the Queenes iniunctions preached and declared the right of her Maiesties authoritie and against the vsurped presumption of the Pope of Rome vsing verilie such arguments as the Apologeticall writings of our learned men haue done agreeing to holie Scriptures I haue bene reprooued as preaching against law and against the reuerend Fathers and Bishopes of our Church Surely if I were an Archbishop or a Lord Bishop I would cast my selfe downe at her Maiesties feet and craue humblie begge of her Highnes that by her Christian wisedome and godlie moderation some meane-way might be foūd profitable for the Church that might in no manner hinder the free course of the preaching of her Maiesties most lawfull authoritie neither euer hereafter leaue such a power in the Ecclesiasticall state as might bee made preiudiciall to the royall preheminēce
yet is it aboue all other vsually hitt in our teeth Namelie they say we are like Papistes enemies to the Church and sometime they say we are worse and it pleaseth the packing Priest to make vs factious and vnderminers of States and Magistrates as the Iesuites comparing vs with them in fiue twentie lies in one place which although in the conscience of all honest men knowing vs and of the reuerend Fathers them selues it be most manifestly false yet because of the present state of things I will bestow a little time in the opening of the same And this I will doe by Gods grace by three arguments Firste by a simple comparison betweene vs al Papists Secondly by the affection vvhich is in them and vs. And thirdly by the likely effects If vve should both haue fauour toleration alike And this I will handle in three seuerall chapters as briefly as I can Not so much for the defeÌ„ce of our innocencie vvhich by that vvhich is alreadie vvritten is sufficieÌ„tly maintained and approued but for the common good of the vvhole Church and namely of our reuerende Fathers and deare brethren which stand so earnestly for conformitie For I can not but thinke that this calumniation hath his first deuise from some glosing Papistes takeing aduantage by our to hott and eager persuite of each other to prepare a vvay by pulling downe raysing the one side vtterly to turne ouer to destroy the vvhole Church of God which I hope and am perswaded our mercifull God vvill neuersuffer him to doe Cap. 7. Wherein is proued that the Ministers seeking reformation falsly called Puritanes are not in any sorte to be compared to Papists in euill much lesse to be equalized with traiterous seminarie priests or Iesuites 1. By their contradictorie doctrine 2. By their contrarie actes and doings ONe part of the sufferinges of our blessed Sauiour Iesus Christ was this that hee was counted with the the transgressors Esai 53.12 therefore as Saint Marke saieth He was crucified betweene two theeues Wee are not then to think it strange to be matched Mare 15.27.28 with Anabaptists Donatistes Papists rebels and I can not tell what For the seruant is not greater then the Maister Ioh. 15.20 And I hope that if wee suffer with him in righteousnes we shall reioyce with him in glorie Let vs then examine this calumniation If we be like or worse then Papistes in euill to the Church of England it is eyther in our doctrine or in our doeings First I will prooue not in our doctrine We hold all the doctrine of faith with the Church of England the Papistes deny it that by two arguments the former is this we hold beleeue and teache all the articles of the Christian faith according to the holy Scriptures euen as the Church of Englande doth a thing so apparant as the Sun at noon daies And the Papistes are heerein directly contrarie to the faith and doctrine of the Church of Englande to the word of God approouing the same Therefore if sound doctrine and faith be the chief mark to know a good man and that the doctrine and faith of England be good true and that the doctrine of the papists be nought wicked and abhominable then are vve vvho follovv the good and true doctrine of the Church of England not to be compared to the Papistes in euill vvho are deadly enemies to the same Secondlie that part of doctrine vvherein we seem to differ from the reuerend Fathers of our Church being such as is before declared as agreeth to the principall Canon of our Church in generall in particulars vvith the vsage of the Apostles and vvith the lawes iniunctions Canons and apologeticall vvritinges of our Church against all vvhich the Papistes most constantly doe warre cauill therefore in this also vve be not to be compared vnto them My latter argument touching our doctrine We holde the Queenes supremacie the Papistes deny it is concerning the ciuill Magistrate We the Ministers a foresaid desiring the abolishing of all Popish remnants doe hold beleeue confesse that all obedience is to bee performed to the ciuill Magistrate although they vvere euill and infidels as the Scripture teacheth And that no Bishop Rom. 13.1 1. Pet. 2.13 Priest or Minister can depriue a King or discharge the subiects of the oath of allegeance And that our Queene Elizabeth God blesse her is supreame gouernour ouer all persons borne in her dominions whether they bee Ecclesiasticall or ciuill that no forren Potentate as namelye the Pope of Rome hath any iurisdiction vvithin her dominions and countries but is a vvicked vsurper ouer Kings Princes But all Papists if they be true catholikes as they terme themselues namelie all Priests secular Seminarie and Iesuite doe holde cleane contradictorie euen manifest treason and rebellion againste the ciuill power ordained of God Therefore there is no comparison to bee made in regarde of doctrine betweene vs the Papistes And that you may perceaue This slaunder is laid vpon all Protestantes that this concerneth all Protestantes as well as the Ministers falslie called Puritanes doe but consider these words of Bristow Of Catholikes thorowlie discharged of their fealtie yet for common humanity for their accustomed vse Motiue 40. for their coÌ„tinual as it were natural institution the Prince is better obeyed serued theÌ„ of Protestants which in hart ar in a maner all Puritanes Note heere that I may vse M. D. Fulks words that Papistes professe them selues to be subiectes Renâ—â— of curteousie not of duetie of custome not of conscience of naturall institution and not of the law of God O Lord and Sauiour sende her M. few such subiectes seruants The currish obedience of Papistes Now this curteous or rather currish obedience is expounded vvhat it is by that beastly bull of Pius the fifth against our noble Soueraigne vvith the facultie granted to Campion Persons Read D. Fulk Auns to P. Frarin de clam pag. 35. by which the Pope licenseth the Papistes to dissemble their obedience vntill publicke execution of that Bull may be had that is to be priuie traytours till with hope of successe they may be open rebels We are obedient quiet the Papistes seditious and rebellious 2 Now for our doings vvhich it hath bene euer since our troubles vve need not to be ashamed to confes vve referre our selues to all men If vve haue committed any indignitie against her M. person Crowne or Soueraignty or had intelligence vvith anie of her enemies or gone about to drawe away the people froÌ„ their obedience or any such like But vve haue done in the knowledge of al men altogether cleane con trarie both by worde and deede in our preaching openly exhortations and example priuately And in our troubles vve haue willingly patiently submitted our selues to the punishmentes which haue bene inflicted vpon vs
of diuision schisme slaughter and miserie then euer by the grace of God is likelie to be a mong vs. 3 And to deale plainely I can not see that the matter betwene vs is such that either they doe or can make a thorowe breach No matters to separate Gods children for euer betweene the children of God For what so euer is agreeing to holye scripture properlie essentially of our religion profession of the Church of England and what so euer is properlie naturallie belonging to the ministerie by the rule and description of holie Scripture maintained by the reuerend Fathers other Prelats of our Church standing for conformitie we the Ministers people who seeke reformation doe hold professe the same As namely the doctrine of faith of the Sacraments and that the booke of common prayer may bee vsed in the chiefe substance thereof and that the Minister of the word ought to preach c. Therfore in regarde of the maine grounds of religion of the ministerie seruice of God we are all one Nowe the thinges which we desire to be reformed they stande earnestlie to maintaine are but accessorie additamentes brought into the Church by humane constitution as the reading of Apocripha Priestly garmentes the crosse in Baptisme Sacramentall signification to Matrimony Confirmation Lordship ciuill iurisdiction in Bishops execution of Discipline by chauncellors cōmissaries and officialls then in other chief Prelates Deanes Prebends Archdeacons non-residence pluralities totquotts the bare reading ministerie and such like If all these or any of these be the holye plantes which God hath planted in his Church then haue we done ill to speak or write against them But if they bee such as being cleane taken away as we verely think the religion The things in controuersie taken a way the Church is whole entire and no hurt to the Church or Bishoppes to depart from them faith administration of Christ the true worship of God as it is now in the Church of England might vvould remaine vvhole entiere vvithout them then doubtles are vve all one according to Christ Iesus in those thinges vvhich in duetie conscience toward God vve ought of necessity to saluation to agree in one although the outwarde appendants make vs seeme to differ one frō another There be two brethren one vveareth a Babylonitish garment is attired in all thinges like vnto them vvhich inhabit the Easterne climate the other goeth in the good wholesome clothes that a Yeomen or citizen of England vsually doth both these being borne of one father in one countrie being of one language and house shal men say that they are not brethrē if they agree in all naturall thinges sauing that one of them hath gottē some new fashions And if the other desire his brother to goe after his owne cuntrie fashion are they straight vvaies enemies Consider I humblie beseech you most deare reuerend fathers brethren the foundatiō of these things for vvhich you stand and vveigh vvith your selues that the departing from these things will bee no hinderance to you nor to the church of God First you know that the holy Scriptures are sufficiēt to make the man of God perfect absolute vnto all good workes 2. Tim. 3. if we grant you whatsoeuer the Lord Christ hath granted in his holy written word what iniurie doe we offer to the church or to your ministerie This you knowe that necessity is laid vpon vs to preach the Ghospell 2. Cor. 9. and vvoe is vnto vs if we preach not the ghospell if we be suters that all the ministers shoulde doe this so avoide Gods curse doe we desire their hurt 2. Cor. 10. you know that Christs kingdome is spirituall if then these thinges which we desire vvere remooued bee carnall the weapons of the carnall man you shall leefe nothing to put off the earthlie carnal to keep onely that vvhich is spirituall You know the grace of our Lord Iesus Christ 2. Cor. 8.9 Philip. 2. that he being rich for your sakes became poore that ye thorow his pouertie might bee made rich yea hee made himselfe for our saluation of no reputatiō tooke on him the forme of a seruant c. Hee humbled himselfe became obedient to the death euen to the death of the crosse vvhat hurt I beseech you would it bee vnto you or to the Church if for his sake you did in some sort follow his example and hauing the same minde which hee had to let goe some of these outward things to maintaine peace to feede the flock of God for which he gaue his owne blood Math. 2. Christ by humbling himselfe became one with vs our Emmanuell And why shoulde these humaine accessories diuide vs his seruants members that we should not be one among our selues which so manifestly are one in him in faith in him in professing of his word in the worship of his name The Apostles forsooke all to follow Christ Mat. 9.27.28 and they followed him in the regeneration namely S. Paul made this choise with his own hands to minister to his necessities to make himfelf a seruant to all men Act. 20. 1. Cor. 9. thogh he were free frō al men so to leefe some parte of his right that he might make the Ghospell free I beseech you consider whether you haue done so and that if you did in some part follow him heerein as he followed Christ whether their would not be a most blessed ioyfull vnitie amongst Gods labourers and a more excellent merueilous freedome of the preaching of heauenly peace 4 If these arguments maye not yet make it manifest that wee are one or ought to striue to bee one there is yet one other argument vvhich is very demonstratiue cannot be denyed but that is not in man to frame Persecution persecution when it hath stripped vs out of all those humane deuises outward things and Gods rodde hath made vs equall and taught vs to bee spirituall then will it be knowne that we are all one I meane such as are not hypocrits nor false brethren that we are brethren and members one of another Christ onely the head Then shal we learne to say one to another Act and monuments pag. 1431. print 1576. * Now my deare brother for as much as I vnderstand that wee throughlie agree and wholy consent together in those thinges which are the groundes and substantiall points of our religion against the which the worlde so furiously rageth in these our dayes howsoeuer in times past in certaine by-matters circumstances of religion your wisedome my simplicitie I graunt hath a little iarred each of vs following the aboundance of his owne sense iudgement nowe I say be you assured that euen with my whole heart God is my witnesse in the bowelles of Christ I loue you in
manie times hath she bene â—â—rced to make lawes and statutes to curbe bridle them How many times hath she bene forced to sende soldiers and money to preuent them How manie times hath her Nauie and shippes bene drawne out into the seas to meet them How continuallie almost hath shee bene vexed with Irish insurrections and rebellions How many times hath she bene constrained against her owne most gentle and mercifull disposition for treason and rebellion to cut of rotten members with the iust reuenging swearde Yea how often haue wee bene driuen to watch and ward either to resiste domesticall rebels or to waite for forren inuaders So that to declare a most viperous spitefull and vngratious generation and an hereticall and apostaticall malice there can bee nothing added And heere both she and all her louing and Christian subiectes haue verie great matter of reioycing and praysing God For if euer God from heauen God sheweth his Ioue from heauen in the defeÌ„ce of our Queene testified his loue to aâ—â—â— Prince or caused his Angells to watch gard them if euer there were Princâ— made glorious for deliuerance honoâ—rable for constancie in truth famoâ—â— for continuall prosperous successe 〈◊〉 the great admiration of all men and wonderfull happie quietnes and ioy of Gods people if euer God sought against wicked rebels mischieuous traitors bloodie vsurpers and vniust inuaders to defend the innocent iust and vpright in his cause then surelie may wee boldly and ioyfullie both say and sing that God hath openlie and in the sight of all the worlde done all these thinges for his annointed hand-maide Elizabeth our Queene So that she may with the Psalmist confes vnto the Lord They haue often times afflicted me from my youth but they could not preuaile against me Psal 129. â—â— 124. praysed be the Lord which hath not giuen vs as a praye vnto their teeth Our helpe is in the name of the Lord who hath made both heauen earth So let all thine enemies perish O Lord but vpon thy seruant Elizabeth and vpon her throne be peace for euer more and let her and all that loue thy name bee as the Sunne when he riseth in his might and say all way The Lorde be praised But as for the Ministers and people desiring reformation in some thinges they alwaies carefully following the word of God and delighting in the reading preaching and meditation of holy Scripture haue all their ioy comfort in that faith religion which her most Christian Maiestie professeth setteth forth defendeth And hauing libertie of conscience freedom to worshipe God aright protection in well doing with health wealth peace and pleasure of bodie and soule they feele the pleasant sweete and comfortable milke with a most ioyfull refreshing of a tender noursemother vnder the shadow of her most faithfull and constant proceedinges in the Ghospell If euer there were loue betweene Prince and people it is betweene vs. For what Christian subiect can not loue a Christian Ruler What godly childe cannot loue a godly mother What afflicted soule can not loue a sweet and faithfull comforter And what man being in miserie loueth not him that hath deliuered him Shee is our most Christian Prince she is our godlie mother she is our sweete and faithfull comforter our deliuerer and vnder God our assured defence against all our enemies Her ioye is our life her lawe our safetie her safetye our castell her swearde our shielde her peace our wealth her death which God forbid our miserie Therefore we haue counted our selues happie to doe any seruice to her Mai. either in our goods or in our persons or in spending our liues Wee haue willinglye gone in her seruice into Fraunce into the Low Countries and Irelande and into the furthest Seas We haue written disputed aduentured our liues in diuers places to testifie our vnfained loue faithful obedieÌ„ce vnto her And what is there that we could not goe vnder if occasion be offered to doe her any seruice vvhich godly Christians ought to doe to their dread Soueraigne If at anye time the traiterous papists aduance themselues dare presume to attempt their most wicked vngodly desire wishing it shal by Gods grace very wel appeare that her M. hath many thousand Protestants sufficiently able thorow Gods helpe to beate them downe to tame them Our ministriâ— hath brought foorth many good subiects Witnes Anno. 88. whome it hath pleased God by our ministerie to bring vnto the knowledge of the trueth And this I am the bolder to affirme because I saw in our countrie in Anno 88. such bands of honest men so many so well furnished so chearfull to fight for her M. and their Countrie so resolute valiant so forwarde and vnfearfull that it reioyced mine heart to thinke how fruitfull our ministerie had bene in these her goldeÌ„ dayes how happie honourable her M. is who hath by her godlie Christian gouernement breade brought forth nourished broght vp so many so worthye so godly Gentill-men and Yeomen that of meere conscience and loue so willinglie and resolutely could and woulde fight for her safetie preseruation So that if the Papistes would regarde no more but naturall reason though they did forget the mightie hand of God which hath continuallie fought for vs they would quiet themselues be thankful for her Maiesties great clemencie and patience toward them not once dare to broach such treacherous deuises seing they are not able to stand before the mightie forces resolute bands of her Maiesties most louing faithfull subiects true vndoubted Christians which reioyce in her present gouernemeÌ„t desire that it may more and more be perfected after Gods worde and prosper to Gods glory Alace then how should we feare in whose heartes is fixed and grounded such perfect loue We can not feare her whome we loue perfect lie that casteth out all feare We appeale vnto the god of heuen who seeth all secretes and commend our doings sayings writtings to the conscience of all good honest wise harted christians that if there be a false heart in any of vs and not a faithfull loue and reuerence to her Maieste from the verie bottome of our soule that euery such man or woman should be made an ensample and a reproach a byeword for the terror of all wicked hipocrits vnthankful miscreaÌ„ts But wee are not able to giue sufficient thanks to our good God who hath hetherto so mercifullie watched ouer vs that hee hath not suffered anie such wretchednesse to sease vpon vs or to preuaile ouer vs to the dishonoure of his Ghospell or iust discredit of our ministrie and godly cause His name bee glorified for euer Amen Cap. 9. Wherein is plainly shewed 1. That it is most profitable to the present state and gouernement and greatlye for her Maiesties safetie to heare the petitions of the godly Ministers and to tolerate them in their ministrie
in danger by this meanes For vvhen the people be so ignorant may not euerie Seminarie entise them as they list and if euer the Papist shoulde set one foote their longed hope Alas hovv coulde the state trust them that vere ignorant that no conscience nor honestie could mooue them but rather the bellie and that part that would vse them best and vvere most liklie to preuaile Where as the Protestant that hath knowledge of his dutie and faith in Christ he stands immoueable thogh all the world would forsake his Prince yet vvould he neuer A mirrour of this had you in Queene Maries daies vvhen the learned Protestante knowing his dutie did patiently and constantly suffer for the truth but the ignorant multitude were quickly turned from God Furthermore the vviser sort of Papists and Atheistes vvhen they see that vve speake against the hedge-Priestes of Poperie and the pride idlenesse and pleasure of their greate and glorious Prelates and that we our selues fall into the same scandall doe they not despise vs and count vs at the least as bad as they yea and verie hypocrites and time-seruers taking the ministrie vpon vs for vvealth and pleasure and not for the feare of God or the loue of his people And so their hartes are hardened and they fall away more more vvhereby the Queene is robbed of her faithfull subiectes and the strength of her estate is effeebled Whereas if vve could be content vvith a measure and that euerie Parish had a godly learned teacher vvee should see a merueilous encrease of good Christian people and an inuincible power of the great King of heauen among vs. Subscription a bar against good preacherâ— and so hurteth the common wealth Then commeuh in subscription and doth as much harme an other way namelie it maketh a barre against manie good and painfull learned Ministers and some it thrustes out And so for vvant of good lightes much people of this lande vvalke in darknes vnto this hower Little doe men think vvhat domage this is to the common wealth For let the neutrall Politician saye vvhat they vvill this I dare aduenture vpon my â—â—fe to auoutch that if the vvhole people of this land vveâ—e in euerie Parish furnished vvith learned and godly teachers the power of the Queene which coÌ„sisteth in the multitud of faithfull people vvould haue bene augmented by vere manie degrees and the enemies exceeding much abated euen in the eyes and knowledge of all men For if the Southern partes of the Realme and the cittie of London bee compared to the other partes where they haue had little or no teaching men shall easilie discerne that which I say to bee true namely if they weigh well the number of Papistes and Recusantes and the manifold dotages of the common people in such places where the godly Preacher hath not continued Therefore in regarde of my loue to my most gratious Soueraigne and natiue countrie I can not passe this ouer so slightly The subscription being vrged and the ceremonies they cause an honest godly painfull Preacher to bee suspended imprisoned and depriued What then The multitude reuerencing as it is meet their superiours presently iudge the godly Preacher to be a naughtie man Againe when they looke vppon the simplicitie of the vnpreaching Minister and the pride and coueteousnes of the non-resident what followeth They esteeme of no Ministers at all they stumble and fall and continue verie Atheistes readie to bee caried awaye after euerye deceauer which maketh a shew of godlines and to be drawne away by these pestilent Seminaries and wicked Priests and I esuites from their allegeance Whereas if the one of these were reformed after the rule of holy Scripture and the other Subscription being taken away c. had the fauour that their labours doe deserue you shoulde see an other maner of working namelie that reuerence to the Ghospell and loue to the Magistrate that no deceauer coulde possible enter into them The fruite of preaching before Subscription was last vrged Some fiue yeares to gether before that vnhappie time that Subscription was so generallye offered vvhich is nowe some 18. yeares past there was such vnitie betweene the Ministers and they ioyned in all places so louingly and diligentlie in laboure that not onely did the vnpreaching Minister and non-resident quake prepare them selues in measure to take paines in the Church but also many thousandes were conuerted from Atheisme poperie and became notable Christians And I am perswaded that the fruite of that time will be able thorow Gods blessing when so euer the Queene shall haue need which I pray God may neuer bee to Maister and calme all the storming Papistes and traitoures what soeuer But when Subscription came abroad how did it shake the heauens darken the skies O Lord mine hart trembleth to think vpon it how manie godly and worthie learned Preachers were silenced depriued and greatly disgraced Howe were the holy Ministers diuided and distracted Howe were the Christian subiectes grieued and offended and the Papistes and wicked men encouraged and emboldened What a dampe brought it to all godlines religion since that time what horrible wickednesse whoordome drunkenesse and al shameles filthienes and what grieuous plagues of God one succeeding an other haue followed eueriegood Christian subiect must needs see lament And the laste degree of these euills shewed it self about the time of the last Parliament so farre and apparant as I thinke manie of the reuerende Fathers were not a little touched with the grief thereof as their zealous preaching did most plainly testifie to the no small reioysing of many good gentilmen and others whoe louing her Maiesties honoure and present gouernement did blesse them in their heartes and with their mouthes praysed God for their zeale and faithfull dealing Now what will follow all this when God hath so long called vnto vs and admonished vs of these three capitall enemies beside all other our sinnes and we still remaine in them and maintaine them and make so little regarde of his faithfull seruantes they which knowe the holie Scriptures may easilye iudge I will saye no more but the Lorde bee mercifull vnto vs and keep farre away his deserued wrath displeasure from vs. 3 Now heere me thinketh I see the scorning Atheist to laugh in his sleeue thinking that all men are fooles but him selfe Atheistes doe thinke them selues the only wise men And some beginne to say that the wiser and greater sort of men make no account of religion but think baselie of it namelie that it serueth but to keepe the simple people in awe Some cause I must confesse they haue this their stumbling when they see the better sort of Christians so diuided But yet by this verye thinge they confute them selues and shewe their naked shame by proouing and fulfilling in thâ—mselues the truth of holy Scripture First they shew the want of faith according to the saying of Christ saying When the Sonne
what offence these thinges might be to Papistes Atheistes and all wicked enemies of the Ghospell Let the spirituall eye heere iudge that God hath blinded vs exceedinglie that we could not containe till the strife did reach euen almost to the spilling of innocent blood And had not God of a singular mercie taken away some persones in the ruffe of their pride and had not her Maiestie by the speciall blessing of God with a most wise and religious care moderate the extreemitie I can not tell how manie of vs by this time had lost our liues in giuing testimonie to the gouernement and Kingdome of Christ as our breethren in tymes past did vnto his sacrifice and Priesthood And yet is there a more chariâ—able consideration of the reuerend Bishops and godly Ministers contention A charitable consideration of the Bishoppes and Ministers doings First the reuerend Fathers might bee induced to thinke howe greatlye wee are bound to God and to her Maiestie that we had obtained so much as wee haue and so greate and excellent libertie in Christ whereof our fore-fathers would haue counted them selues happie if they coulde haue come neere vnto it And the state being setled they might thinke it was wisdome and behoofull to maintaine all least they shoulde offende her Maiestie and the state and iudge it better to leese some few Ministers then to fall into greater inconueniencie And being them selues perswaded that there was no impious thing they might suppose it their duty and a godlie policie by Subscription to bring all men to conformity And when they had some hard and bitter wordes in the admonitions they might deeme the Ministers not so wise nor so godly as they pretended and hauing beene enueighed by continuall complaintes and suggestions of wicked Papists and Atheistes they might conceaue an ill opinion of their breethren and so bee forestalled in iudgement And lastlie being prouoked by wicked Martin they might conclude their cause to be absolutelie good for so much as they were persued by vnlawfull wicked means and so by a verie stronge seeming colour of God they might easilie fall into a selfe weening and despise their good and godlie brethren So on the other side the godlie Ministers no doubt hauing the testimony of their conscience that the thinges they stoode against were worthie to be reformed and that for no other cause but meere conscience they refused to obserue the ceremonies when they had diuers yeares kept themselues close sileÌ„t to be nothing regarded nor pittied but pressed so earnestly to subscribe allow against Gods word all maner of things and as they thought a great deale more then the law did require Then to bee suspended depriued imprisoned and diuers waies in tearmes most vncharitablie prouoked they might gesse that these reuerend Fathers were not Gods Bishops and in their anger they might suppose it lawfull to entertaine them with such sharpe and bitter tearmes as in the admonitions other writtinges perauenture is to bee founde And as concerning Martin it may be at the first they were amased to thinke what it should meane that God had stirred vp such a thinge to disgrace them which stood against the good proceedings of the Ghospell the kingdome of Christ they could not tell whether it were in their part to medle in that matter and seeing and feeling the hotte pursuite of that time to ly heauie vpon them they might easilie forgett something that had beene necessarie for them to haue preuented And for them both I hope I may trulie say that if there were not some secret matter which God knoweth and not I if there were some man of authoritie and reuerence The Bishopps and Ministers may be reconciled who could lay his hande vpon them both they might verie well bee reconciled For both the reuerende Fathers for their part haue and doe beare with many of the godlie Ministers and the Ministers for their parts doe vse all reuerence good cariage toward them Onelie the cause of ceremonies and discipline is reserued on both sides and standeth vnder further tryall Therefore in my iudgement the whole and principall fault is not to be laide vpon the one or the other but that if the people of this lande who by this meanes were verie greatlie punished haue humbled them selues to God by praier fasting and amendement of life and thankfully embraced and carefully practised the holy Ghospell no doubt God would soone haue eased all this griefe and quicklie found out a sweet remedy of brotherly reconciliation But if I may speak according to holie Scripture I thinke it an exceeding mercie of God that he hath suffered vs to haue so many good Preachers and so many daies of the Ghospell as wee haue For if we looke vpon the people wee shall see the grounde of all these thinges How little haue they esteemed the godlie and learned Ministers How content they be with simple and ignorant men How hardly are they drawn to pay duties which law hath appointed How many quarrells they pick against painful Ministers and how little reuerence they giue to any that are faithfull How they follow their couetousnes and pleasures How they fil all sortes of Courtes with brawles foolish and wilfull strifes and sutes demures in law with murders whoordomes dronkennes all disorder For braue buildinges costlie apparell and dainty dyet they haue great plentie but euerie little thing which is bestowed vpon the Church is thought to much nay I woulde they did not vse deuises to diminish the liuinges of the Church and to oppresse poore men when they enter into their charges If the Lord hauing placed his worde among vs beholding their little thankfulnes to him selfe and greate vnkindnes to his seruantes If hee looking for fruite at their hands find nothing but a leaper soare If he finde that they bee in friendshipe with Papistes and Atheistes for worldly wealth and giue more countenance to dronkards and whoormaisters then to the frithfull Ministers of Christ what man iudgeing with a spirituall eie according to the holy Scripture can otherwise deeme but that God hath laid these thinges iustlye vpon vs for our sinnes and for the vngratefulnes of the people So that I may boldly say that although wee haue seene great tentations and God hath outwardlie shaken his rod in the heauens by blasing stars and tempestes windes and vnseasonable weather in the earth by earthquaks and greate dearth in our bodies with pestilence and manie strange sicknesses And beside all this the enemies abroade hath offered to inuade vs. We haue sent out thousandes and there hath come home but hundredes wee haue had almost continuall stirre in Ireland yea we haue had the sweard of sedition displaying it self in our streets and sometime rebellion and now the Papistes lifting vp their beardes to out face vs and yet our swearing lying dronkennes vsurie oppression and whoordomes are without measure may it not be saide that yet these fortie three yeares the Lord hath not giuen vs an heart to perceaue and eies to see and eares to heare vnto this day May wee not looke euerie daye to haue it worse if we continue thus in our wickednesse without true repentance O that it woulde please God to open our eies that euen now at the length euen in this day we could know the things which belong vnto our peace A prayer for concord and conformitie to the Ghospell Seeing then wee are thus wrapped and intangled in the nett of Gods heauie iudgements I doe therefore humblie praye and desire hartely almightie God that hee woulde conuert vs vnto him selfe boeth Ministers people and that we the Ministers of the word would seriouslie remember that we are brethren and howsoeuer we differ in iudgement we woulde be carefull that nothing be done among vs thorowe contention and vaine glorie or desire of preheminence for reuenge of a malicious froward or vvayward minde but that in meeknes of mind euerie man esteeme other better then him selfe that where vnto we are come we may proceede by one rule minding one thing forbearing one an other and forgiuinge one an other euen as hee forgaue vs. And that the reuerende Fathers and learned Prelates for their part following the example of our greate Father Abraham vvould rather yeelde their right then that there shoulde be continued such ciuill dissension so pernicious to the Church common wealth and that the godlie Ministers would be verie carefull to giue no offence by word or deede which iustly might prouoke their displeasure against them and that they woulde ioyne louinglie together in the careful feeding of Gods people And that he would encline the peoples hearte to consider that these thinges are Gods heauie correctiones and by true humiliation and prayer instantlie to God for the forgiuenesse of our sinnes for the prosperitie and long life of her Maiestie for vnitie and encrease of the faithfull Ministers for the aduancement of the Ghospell for the spirit of holie and godlie wisedome in the whole state and for Gods protection against all our enemies both bodelie and ghostelie And by there chearefull obedience to God and thankfull declaration of their loue vnto their Prince and dutifull practise of iustice equitie truth mercie and concord one with an other shewe themselues the true and faithfull professors of Christes most blessed Ghospell Not sufferinge themselues to be carried away with the loue of this world but to labour chiefly for those thinges which concerne the kingdome of God That so his gracious goodnes and holie fauour may alwaie shine vpon vs his mightie arme be our defence his holy spirit our guid and directour his blessed Sonne our Lord Sauiour his couenant of grace be established and confirmed toward vs and our children for euer and euer Amen The Lords name be praised
kingdome If in the stile and maner of doeing they or anye other writing in defence of them Curious and bitter wordes not iustifiable haue ben ouer curious bitter or sharpe by which they haue incensed theÌ„ whome they should haue wonne by milde meeke vsage I for my part doe not reioyce in it I dare not defend anie the least vnsemelie word Howsoeuer I know the hard pursuite vpon them and that being as they verilie thought further and beeyonde the lawe of this Realm did giue them great cause to bee grieued and offended that their consciences should be so straightlie pressed their labors so little regarded and being Ministers of the Ghospell they shoulde bee so smallie esteemed and that the Reuerend Fathers accounting those thinges for which they contend but meere trifles would yet preferre them before the ministery of so many worthy Preachers and prouoke their breethren more and further then they need This doubtlesse vexed their spirit and such is our weaknesse and imperfection in this life that it is an harde thing to keepe measure at all times And when men are perswaded in conscienee that their cause is good their griefe is the more and they are the more confident to speake And it were almost a wonder that in such perplexitie euerie thing should be perfect and without blemish Doe we not know that Moses beeing by the spirite of God Num. 12.3 called a verie meeke man aboue all men that euer were vpon the earth yet God punished him Because his spirite beeing vexed by the people Ps 106.72.73 hee spake vnaduisedlie with his lippes So no merueill though we poore weake soules farre inferiour to that most rare man haue felt the smart of our griefe and zeale I would to God that our brethren fathers coulde be iustified in this matter and that they had not their parte of iuste punishment with vs for that wherein they haue beene ouerseene in their dealing toward vs toward the Church of Englande in these causes And I hartly pray God that they doe not one day confesse and say Wee haue verelye sinned againste our brethren Gen. 42.41 in that wee sawe the anguish of their soules when they besought vs and wee woulde not heare them therefore is this trouble come vpon vs. The Lorde our God euen our mercifull Father bee iudge betweene vs. Touching subscription I haue sufficiently spoken before and there will be occasion after therefore I need not in this place to say any thing Now I come to the second point the cause of our doeing it is saide Because in certaine accidentall poyntes they haue not their fansies and proper deuises If it may appeare that this is an Elench No cause set for A cause and that a good iust and waightie cause founded in Gods word is iniuriously reputed and tearmed accidentall fansie and deuise then I hope godlie and vvise Christians will pittie our estate bee more fauourable iudges of our cause To reade bookes Apocryphall and chapters contayning errours and vntruthes vnder the name of holy scripture is no accidentall pointe vnlesse we will say that our conference with papistes and our apologeticall writtings prouing errours to bee in those bookes and therefore to be no Canonicall Scriptures be accidental points The desire that euerie Minister bee a Preacher of Gods word and to administer discipline is no accidental point vnlesse the chiefest pointe of the Minister office as they are ordained by the â—ooke of orders be but an accidentall â—ointe To desire that Chauncelers Officialls and Commissaries shoulde â—ot administer discipline and nameâ—e excommunication which D. Sutâ—ef saith is against all reason for a laye â—an to do that the Pastour should â—ot be a non-resident which the reueâ—end Fathers say is a pernitious thing â—r to say that God hath consecrated natrimonie to such an excellent myâ—erie that in it is signified and repreâ—ented the spirituall mariage betwixt Christ and his Church which is not â—o to be founde in holye Scripture but 〈◊〉 a belying of his glorious Maiestie â—o saye that these and manye such like â—e accidentall pointes I hope no aduied man that looketh throughly into â—ur cause will aduenture And where 〈◊〉 is saide that wee woulde herein haue â—ur fancies and proper deuises let the â—oste reuerend Father determine for â—s where hee hath these wordes D. Whitg in the preface of the defens of the auns to the admonition The â—ontrouersie is not whether manye of the â—hinges mentioned by the platformers were â—tlie vsed in the Apostles time or may â—ee well vsed in some places yea or hee conueniently vsed in sundrie reformed Churches at this day For none of these branches at denied c. Now if as this reuerend Father saieth manye of the thinges wee desire were fitlie vsed in the Apostleâ— times c. How can they be our fansies proper deuises which were vsed by the Apostles some a thousand fiue hundreth years before we were borne And let it be considered whether the Apostles vsing such thinges haue deserued to be reproached with our fansies and proper deuises who are liuing so manie hundred yeares after them haue our selues learned those thinges out of their holie writings if this bee well looked into and aduisedlie iudged of by an equall and iuste line I hope the ground of this greate and terrible accusation being voide and emptie all the other greeuous inferences will fall and vanish away and that the contrarie will be euident and apparant to the conscience of all men Namelie That for so much as we faithfullie preach the doctrine of faith and sacraments and humblie and quietlie vse our ministrie according to the booke of orders and administer Prayer and Sacraments by no other forme but that of the booke of common prayer and that in our publike preaching priuate talke in all accasions wee doe praise God acknowledge his mercie pray for the continuance thereof and stirre vp others so to doe and therevpon doe humbly present to the reuerend Fathers the whole state verie good waightie points agreeing to holy Scripture needfull to bee considered for the further perfection of our Church and the glorie of God being no fansies of ours or deuises but such as the holye Apostles did vse in the first and purest Churches wee caÌ„ not be said to sett our selues against god frowardly to disquiet the church trouble the common wealth hazarde the whole state of religioÌ„ reioyce the wicked or grieue any godly person whatsoeuer but rather to promote the glorye of God further the present good encrease of our Church to the great benefit comfort and ioye of Gods people And I can not thinke so vndutifullie of her Maiestie or of any other that haue care of gouernement that they would be merueilouslie grieued to se any subiect in humble and dutifull maner sue to be eased of any grieuance according to the auncient custome and vsuall order of this Realme and
that the Ministers of Christ should reuerently admonish the state of some points needfull to be reformed by the holy Scriptures and vsage of the blessed Apostles But aboue all other Imeruaill how this can be to hazard the whole state of Religion except a man would say that to goe about in honest sort to make perfect that which is verie well and excellentlie begun is the high way to destroy all But it may bee the mysterie of this point of this obiection is contained in the seconde The obiectiō of innouation which is also a matter of great consequence Namelie that beeing a setled gouernement of all thinges it is a dangerous thing to goe about to alter the same For all innouationes are dangerous to the state Which as it is an argument not to be despised so is it vrged by some in the hiest degree And wee our selues doe freelie acknowledge that it is worthie due consideration How bee it we verilie thinke that it is not on our part or in cause so heynous as it is made First because as is before shewed we desire not the new forming of the Church but onely the rectifying and perfecting of diuers things in the Church and that euerie thing might agree be according to the doctrine of our Church To make perfect is not to innouate and namelie that holie Canon which saieth All our actions shoulde bee squared after the will of GOD reueiled in his worde In the tyme of King Dauid by vniforme consent of all estates the arke of God was sought after ◠Cor. 13. and to bee brought vnto Hierusalem but they bringing it in a carte God made a breach so as they durst not for that time carrie it further then the house of Obed Edom the Gittite yet after vpon more better examination of Gods worde they brought it by the Priestes Leuites Cap. 15. and found that God made a breach among them for not seeking him in order Heere shall it be saide that this latter was an innouation or not a perfecting of that which of a good and honest minde was begunne before but wanted some part of Gods order So if we craue no alteratiō in religion but onelie that the thinges which are standing as they doe may be brought to the order of the Apostles vse and to the canon of Gods holye woorde in those circumstances which remaine yet vnreformed I hope it will not bee an innouation Iosiah one of the moste excellent Kings of Iudah and Hierusalem 2. Cron. 34. 35. being young in the eight yeare of his raigne began to seeke after the God of his Father and in the twelfth hee beganne to purge Iudah and Hierusalem from the high places and the groues and the carued and molten images then in the eightenth yeare of his raigne hee repaired the house of the Lorde finding the booke of the Lawe caused all estates to couenant vvith God to followe his law keepe his testimonies and statutes and lastly solemnized the feaste of the passeouer Here you see are many and great alterations such as I may boldly say there woulde not be so great if wee had all the things wee desire and yet it proued to be no daungerous innouation And is not God as well able to blesse vs if we goe forward in his Gospell as hee was in prospering them Is it more dangerous to adde a little now religion is setled in mens heartes then it was at the first to make an whole in nouation change of all when men had little or no taste of religion I am perswaded that if the streame did not so mightilie and violentlie runne against vs but that our Reuerend Fathers and others were as willing to come a degree neerer to the Apostles vse If things were reformed the shew of innouation would be small that by the very lawes and orders alreadie established we might haue the most parte brought into good order as partly may appeare by the 2. 3. chapters of this booke partlie by a booke called the Abstract and partly by the authoritie which is giuen to Ministers touching communicants diuers other thinges which I knowe wise and godly men would finde out that in shew there would be no great odds though so much were reformed as might make vp the breach which is betweene vs because wee haue not sought God altogether in perfect order If Subscription were kept within the compasse of law according to the meaning of the statute Anno 13. and the ceremonies made indifferent to vse or not to vse excōmunication execution of Ecclesiastical censurers restored and reserued to the Bishops and Pastours of our Church and if the vnpreaching Minister were tyed to performe his promise in his ordination and the not resident sent to their flockes the wound would be by and by healed and we should be alone ioyfull bretheren together Which thing I vvould not haue touched but that it might appeare that the obiection of innouation is not so materiall and of such waight as it seemeth And I am persvvaded there be of the Reuerend Fathers and others in this lande being as notable men as euer vvere in all Europe that if it vvould please God to encline our heartes to agree in this point to take a brotherlie order for cutting of all contention and for the more straight curbing of the vndermining enemie who would and could by their vvisedome learning doe a great deale more excellentlie that vvay then I poore weake man am able vvho vvell knowing mine owne vvantes and imperfection can vvillinglie set mine handes vnder their feete In the next place it is to be considered vvhether that because the thinges in controuersie are called external we may be called schismaticks Saint Paul mee thinketh doeth helpe vs in this case vvhere hee saith Rom 16.17 I beseech you brethren marke them diligentlie whiche cause diuision and offences contrarie or as the Greeke worde signified beside the doctrine vvhich yee haue learned and auoide them Nowe vvhen it is before declared that the thinges vvee desire and stand for are according to the doctrine vve haue receaued as our reuerend Fathers and Brethren confesse vsed in the Apostles tyme we humbly suing for and teaching these things by the vvord of God vvhatsoeuer terme you giue the things themselues vve can not in any sort be called schismatickes And if I being called into question for one of the leaste ceremonies to the vse vvhereof I can not frame my conscience yet if being in mine owne iudgement weak in cōparison of other learned men whose iudgement I reuerence or in the opnion of some other I be accoūted foolish or as some will say peeuish I bee afeard to offend myne owne conscience and doe choose rather to be suspended or depriued and quietlie submit my selfe to the punishment of law and abide peaceablie in the vnitie and fellowship of the Church I hope I am no schismaticke nor