Selected quad for the lemma: scripture_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
scripture_n	article_n	holy_a	salvation_n	2,633	5	7.5054	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A70635	A cloud of witnesses, or, The sufferers mirrour made up of the swanlike-songs, and other choice passages of several martyrs and confessors to the sixteenth century, in their treatises, speeches, letters, prayers, &c. in their prisons, or exiles, at the bar, or stake, &c. / collected out of the ecclesiastical histories of Eusebius, Fox, Fuller, Petrie, Scotland, and Mr. Samuel Ward's Life of faith in death, &c. and alphabetically disposed by T.M. ...	Mall, Thomas, b. 1629 or 30.; Mall, Thomas, b. 1629 or 30. Offer of farther help to suffering saints.; Ward, Samuel, 1577-1640.	1665 (1665)	Wing M330; Wing M332; ESTC R232057	171,145	273

It may also scandalize many little ones if I a Catholick should require judgement at an Arians hands In the midst of his greatest sufferings he used to say Plura pro Christo toleranda We must suffes more than this for Christ G. Gardiner William Gardiner Fox Vol. 2. pag. 746. an English Merchant in Portugal was so much troubled in spirit at the sight of the Idolatry committed by the Priests in the Mass at the solemnization of the Marriage between the King of Portugal's Son and the King of Spain's Daughter that he could not be quiet till he had though in the presence of the King and of the Nobles and whole City the next Sabbath with one hand snatched away the Cake from the Priest and trod it under his feet and with the other overthrew the Chalice The King asking him how he durst be so bold He answered Most noble King The thing which you have seen was not done nor thought of me for any contumely or reproach to your presence but onely for this purpose as before God I do clearly confess to seek the salvation of this people Being ask'd who set him on He answered He was not moved by any man but by his own Conscience there being no man under Heaven for whose sake he would put himself into so manifest a danger but he owed his service first to God and secondarily to their salvation wherefore if he had done any thing displeasing to them they ought to impute it to themselves who so irreverently used the Sacrament of the Lords Supper unto so great Idolatry not without great ignomony to the Church violation of the Sacrament and the peril of their own souls except they repented For this he was cruelly tormented and burned and in the fire he sung Psal 43. Judge me O God and defend my cause against the unmerciful people Gauderin Christopher Gauderin Fox Vol. 3. Cont. 49. having been a Spend thrist was converted by Lewis Stallins telling him That he ought rather to distribute of his geitings to the poor then to spend them so wastfully for if he continued so God would surely call him to an account for it insomuch that he was chosen a Deacon in the Church in the execution of which Office he was taken and imprisoned and being ask'd how he came to turn Heretick seeing he learned not that of his Master the Abbot he answered I am no Heretick but a right believing Christian which he taught me not indeed but rather other vile qualities which I am ashamed now to rehearse Some objecting to him his youth being about the age of thirty He told them That mans life consisted but of two dayes viz. the day of his birth and the day of his death And for my part said he I am now willing by death to pass into eternal life The morning that he was to be executed He said to his Fellow-Prisoners having put on a clean shirt and washed himself Brethren I am now going to be married I hope before noon to drink of the wine of the Kingdome of Heaven A Frier coming to them as he said to convert them Christopher said unto him Away from us thou seducer of Souls for we have nothing to do with thee One of his Fellow-sufferers as the H●ngman was gagging him said What shall we not have liberty in this our last hour to praise our God with our voice and tongue Brother said Gauderin let not this discourage us for the greater wrong our enemies think to do unto us the more assistance we shall find from God And so he never ceased to comfort them till he was gagged also and burnt June 2. 1568. Gerard. About the year 1160. Clarks Martyrolegy pag. 41. in the reign of Henry the Second came about thirty Waldenses into England Gerardus being their Minister to labour to win Disciples to Christ They were converted before a Council of Bishops at Oxford and Gerard speaking for them all said We are Christians holding and reverencing the Doctrine of the Apostles Being urged with arguments against their Doctrine they answered They believed as they were taught by Gods Word but would not dispute their faith Being admonished to repent and threatned if they did not they despised their Counsel scorned their threats saying Blessed are they that suffer persecution for righteousness sake for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven They were excommunicated burnt in the foreheads for Hereticks Mr. Gerard both in the forehead and cheek their cloaths were cut off to their Girdles and so whipt through Oxford they singing all the while Blessed are ye when men hate you and despitefully use you c. Ghest Laurence Ghest had his wife and seven children brought to him the Bishop hoping to overcome him by his natural affection to them and his wise beginning to exhort him to favour himself Fox Vol. 1. pag. 1012. He desired her not to be a block in his way for that he was in a good course running toward the mark of his salvation Gibson Some of the Articles exhibited against Mr. Richard Gibson Fox Vol. 3 pag. 858. Richard Gibson 3 That he hath commended allowed defended liked both Cranmer Latimer Ridley and all other Hereticks here in this Realm of England according to the Ecclesiastical Laws condemned for Hereticks also liked their Opinions 4 That he hath comforted aided assisted and maintained both by words and otherwise Hereticks and erroneous Persons or at the least suspected and infamed of Heresies c. 5 That he hath affirmed that the Religion now used in this Realm is in no wise agreeable to Gods Word and Commandment c. The Bishop asking him if he knew any cause why the Sentence should not be read against him he said Pa. 859. the Bishop had nothing wherefore justly to condemn him Sentence being read He again admonished Gibson to remember himself and so save his soul Mr. Gibson answered That he would not hear the Bishops babling boldly protesting that he was contrary to them all in his mind though he aforetime kept it secret for fear of the Law And speaking to the Bishop he said Blessed am I that am cursed at your hands We have nothing now but thus will I for as the Bishop saith so it must be And no heresie is it to turn the truth of Gods Word into lies and that do you Mr. Gibson also propounded Nine Articles to Bonner by him to be answered by yea or nay or else by saying he could not tell 1 Whether the Scriptures of God written by Moses and other holy Prophets of God through faith that is in Christ Jesus be available Doctrine to make all men in all things unto salvation learned without the help of any other Doctrine or no 3 Whether the holy Word of God as it is written doth sufficiently teach all men of what dignity estate or calling by Office whatsoever he or they be their full true and lawful duty in their Office and

contrary to the Word of God and their own Laws and Doctors I do not believe saith he that ever God will suffer long so great Tyranny against his Word and so violent Oppressions of Christians as they now use and that in the Name of Christ and his Holy Church Now it is come to that that whoever he be high or low poor or rich wise or foolish that speaketh against them and their vicious living he is either made a Traytor to your Grace or an Heretick against Holy Church as though they were Kings or Gods If there be any men that Preach Dispute or put forth in Writing not any thing touching them though it be never so blasphemous against God the Blood of Christ and his Holy Word they will not once be moved therewith But if any man speak against their Cloaked Hypocrisie or against any thing belonging to them by which their abominations are disclosed nothing can excuse but he must either to open shame or cruel death and that under the accusation of Treason But who is he that would be ● Traitor or maintain a Traitor against your Majesty Sure no man can do it without the great displeasure of the eternal God The Doctrine of the Gospel teacheth all obedience to Rulers and not Sedition and such as have preached the Word of God onely have never been the movers of disobedience or rebellion against Princes but they have been ready to suffer with all patience whatsoever Tyranny any Power would minister unto them giving all people example to do the same whereas the Papists exempt the Pope and Priests from being bound to obey Magistrates Yea as to the people they teach that the words requiring Subjection are a Counsel and not a Command and that the Popes Authority is sufficient to Dispense with all the Commandments of God Wherefore most gracious Prince I lowly and meerly desire your Majesty to Judge between the Bishops and me which of us is truest and faithfullest to God and to your Majesty The following Articles were some of Dr. Barnes his Position in his Sermon which the Bishops condemned for Heresie 1 If thou believe that thou art more bound to serve God to morrow which is Christmas day or on Easter day or on Whitsunday for any holiness that is in one day more than another thou art superstitious 2 Now dare no man preach the Truth and the very Gospel of God especially they that be feeble and fearful but I trust yea I pray to God that it may shortly come that false manifest errours may be plainly shewed c. 3 We make now adayes Martyrs I trust we shall have many more shortly for the Verity could never be preached plainly but persecution followed 6 I will never believe neither can I believe that one man may be by the Law of God a Bishop of two or three Cities yea of a whole Countrey for it is contrary to Saint Paul Tit. 1. who ●aith I have left thee behind to set in every City a Bishop 7 It cannot be proved by Scripture that ● man of the Church should have so great temporal possessions 8 Sure I am that they cannot by ●he Law of God have any Jurisdiction secular 9 They say they be the Successors of Christ and his Apostles but I can see them follow none but Judas for they bear the purse and have all the money To burn me or to destroy me saith he in his Defence of the Two and twentieth Article cannot so greatly profit them for when I am dead the Sun and the Moon and the Stars and the Elements yea and also Stones shall defend this Cause against them rather than the Verity should perish As for me I do promise them here by this present Writing and by the fidelity I owe to my Prince that if they will be bound to our noble Prince after the manner of his Law and after good conscience and right that they shall do me no violence nor wrong but discuss and dispute these Articles and all other that I have written after the holy Word of God and by Christs holy Scripture with me then will I as soon as I may know it present my self unto our most noble Prince to prove these things by Gods Word against you all He also writ unto King Henry the Eighth an excellent Treatise to prove from the Scriptures of Truth and out of the Writings of the Fathers tha● faith onely justifieth before God Prefacing it thus Now if your Grace do not take upon you to hear the Disputation of this Article out of the ground of holy Scripture my Lords the Bishops will condemn it before they read it as their manner is to do with all things that please them not and which they understand not and then cry they Heresie Heresie an Heretick an Heretick he ought no● to be heard c. He writ also several other Treatises as what the Church is what the Keys of the Church be and to whom they were given Against free-will tha● it is lawful for all men to read the holy Scriptures that mens constitutions which are not grounded in Scripture bind not the Conscience c. In which Treatise he tells us there be two manners of Powers a Temporal and a Spiritual Power The Temporal is committed to Magistrates in this Power the King is chief and full Ruler c. Unto this Power must we be obedient in all things that pertain to the ministration of this present life and of the Commonwealth not onely for avoiding of punishment but for conscience sake So that if this Power command any thing of Tyranny against right and law alwayes provided it repugne not against the Gospel nor destroy our Faith our Charity must needs suffer it Nevertheless if he command thee any thing against right or do thee any wrong if thou canst by any reasonable and quiet means without sedition insurrection or breaking of the common Peace save thy self or avoid his Tyranny thou mayest do it with good Conscience But in no wise mayest thou make any resistance with sword or with hand but obey except thou canst avoid as I have shewed thee But now it will be enquired if it please the King to condemn the New Testament in English and to command that none of his Subjects shall have it under displeasure whether they be bound to obey this Command or no To this he answers having shewed why the King should not lay any such Command on his Subjects If the King forbid the New Testament or any of Christs Sacraments or the preaching of the Word of God or any other thing that is against Christ under a temporal pain or under the pain of death men should first make faithful prayers to God and then intercede the King for a release of the Command If he will not do it they shall keep their Testament with all other Ordinances of Christ and let the King exercise his Tyranny if they cannot flee and in no wise under

you persecute This I dare be bold in God to speak which by his Spirit I am moved to say that God will shorten your hand of cruelty that for a time you shall not molest his Church And this shall you in short time perceive my dear Brethren to be most true for after this day in this place shall there not be any by him put to the trial of Fire and Fagot Which accordingly came to pass He was the last burnt in Swithfield Then he began to exhort his Friends to repentance Pa. 878. and to think well of them that suffered for the testimony of the Gospel The day that Mr. Holland and the rest suffered a Proclamation was made that none should be so bold as to speak to them or receive any thing of them upon pain of imprisonment Notwithstanding the people cried out desiring God to strengthen them and they prayed for the people and the restoring of his Word At length Mr. Holland embracing the Stake and the Reeds said Lord I most humbly thank thy Majesty that thou hast called me from the stake of death unto the light of thy heavenly Word and now unto the fellowship of thy Saints that I may sing and say Holy holy holy Lord God of Hosts-Lord into thy hands I commit my spirit Lord bless these thy people and save them from idolatry Hooper Mr. John Hooper in his exile writ a Declaration of Christ and his Office and a Declaration of the holy Commandments of Almighty God c. In his Epistle before his Declaration of Christ and his Office to the Duke of Somerset See his Declar. of Christ and his Office Printed at Zurick An. 1547. Because the right of every just and lawful Heir is half lost and more when his Title and Claim is unknown I have written this little Book containing what Christ is and what his Officeis that every godly man may put to his helping hand to restore him again to his Kingdome who hath fastained open and manifest wrong this many years as it appeareth by his evidence and writings the Gospel sealed with his precious blood In his Declaration ch 3. Jesus Christ in all things executed the true Office of a Bishop to whom it appertained to teach the people which was the chiefest part of the Bishops Office and most diligently and straitly commanded by God As all the Books of Moses and the Prophets teach and Christ commanded Peter John 20. and Paul all the Bishops and Priests of his time Acts 20. Christ left nothing untaught but as a good Doctor manifested unto his Audience all things necessary for the health of man John 4. He gave also his Apostles and Disciples after his resurrection commandment to preach and likewise what they should preach Go into allthe world and preach the Gospel to every creature teaching them is observe what I have commanded Matt. 28. As they did most sincerely and plainly without all glosses or additions of their own inventions and were 〈◊〉 testimon●es of the Truth and not the Authors thereof Alwayes in their Doctrine they ta●ght the thing that Christ first taught and Gods holy Spirit inspired them Gal. 1.2 Cor. 3. Holy Apostles never took upon them to be Christs V●car in the Earth nor to be his Lieutenant But said Let a man so account of us as of the Ministers of Christ and Stewards of the Mysteries of God 1 Cor. 4. 1. And in the same Epistle the Apostle P●● biddeth the Corinthiuns to follow him in nothing but where he followed Christ chap. 11. They ministred not in the Church as though Christ was absent although his most glorious Body was departed into the Heavens above but as present that alwayes governeth his Church with his Spirit of Truth as he promised Matth. ult Behold I will 〈◊〉 with you to the end of the world In the absence of his Body he hath commended the protection and governance of his Church to the Holy Ghost one and the same God with the Father and himself It was no little pain that Christ suffered in washing away the sins of this Church therefore be will not commit the defence thereof to man It is no less glory to defend and keep the thing won by force than it is by force to obtain the victory Therefore he keepeth the defence and governance of the Church onely and solely himself in whom the Devil hath not a jot of right Though the Apostles were instructed in all truth c. they were but Ministers Servants Testimonies and Preachers of this verity and not Christ's Vicars on earth c. but only appointed to approve ●he thing to be good that God's Law commanded and that to be ill which the Word of God condemned Seeing that Christ doth govern his Church alwayes by his holy Spirit and bindeth all the Mi●isters thereof unto the sole Word of God what ●bomination is this that one Bishop of Rome c. ●hould claim to be Christ's Vicar on Earth and ●ake upon him to make any Laws in the Church of God to bind the Conscience beside the Word of God and by their Superstition and Idolatry put be Word of God out of his place All that ●●e not blinded with the smoke of Rome know the ●shop of Rome to be the Beast John describeth in ●e Apocalyps as well as the Logician knoweth that ●ibilitate distinguitur homo a caeteris animantibus ●hrists supremacy and continual presence in the ●hurch admits no Lieutenant nor general Vicar ●kewise it admitteth not the Decrees and Laws of ●en brought into the Church contrary unto the ●ord and Scripture of God which is only suf●ient to teach all verity and tru●h for the salva●n of man ch 4. This Law teacheth man sufficiently as well what he is bound to do unto God as unto the Princes of the world Row 13. 1 Pet. 2. Nothing necessary for man but in this La● it is prescribed Of what decree vocation or calling soever he be his duty is shewed unto hi m● the Scripture And in this it differeth from m●● laws because it is absolutely perfect and never 〈◊〉 be changed nothing to be added to it nor taken from it And the Church of Christ the more i● was and is burdened with mans laws the farther it is from the true and sincere verity of God● Word Though Basil Ambrose Epiphanius A●gustine Bernard and others erred not in any principle Article of the Faith yet they did inordinately and more then enough extol the Doctrine an● Tradition of men and after the death of the Apostles every Doctors time was subject to s●d Ceremonies and manners that were neither pro●fitable nor necessary Unto the writing of Scripture only and on●unto the writings of men God hath bound an● obligated his Church In this passage I admonis● the Christian Reader that I speak not of the Lu●of Magistrates and Princes that daily order ne● Laws for the preservation of their Commonuealth● as they see the necessity of their Realms or

truth Mr. H●● with tears answered Verily as before I have oftentimes done I do take the most high God for my witness that I am ready with my whole heart and mind if the Council can instruct me any better by the Scripture to change my purpose One of the Bishops telling him he should not be so arrogant as to prefer he is own opinion before the judgment of the whole Council Pa. 817. he said If he which is the meanest or least in all this Council can convact me of errour I will with an humble heart and mind do whatsoever the Council shall require of me When they condemned his appeal as heretical Pa. 819. he said O Lord Jesus Christ whose Word is openly condemned here in this Council unto thee again do I appeal which when thou wast evil intreated of thine enemies didst appeal unto God thy Father committing thy Cause unto a most just Judge that by thy example we also being oppressed with manifest wrongs and injuries should flee unto thee Whilst they were reading his Sentence He interrupted them often Pa. 820. and specially when he was charged with obstinacy he said with a loud voice I was never obstinate but as alwayes heretofore even so now again I desire to be taught by the holy Scriptures and I do profess my self to be so de●●ous of the truth that if I might by one only word subvert the errours of all Hereticks I would not refuse to enter into what peril soever it were to speak it When the Sentence was ended kneeling down upon his knees he said Lord Jesus Christ forgive mine enemies by whom thou knowest that I am sa●fly accused c. forgive them for thy great mercies sake When he was degraded he spake to the people ●h●s These Lords and Bishops do exhort and counsel me that I should here confess before you ●ll that I have erred the which thing to do if it might be done with the infamy and reproach of ●an onely they might peradventure easily per●wade me thereunto but now truly I am in the ●ight of the Lord my God without whose great ●gnominy and grudge of mine own conscience I can by no means do that which they require of me With what countenance should I behold the ●eavens With what face should I look upon ●●em whom I have taught where of there is a great number if through me it should come to pass that those things which they have hitherto known to be ●ost certain and sure should now be made uncer●ain Should I by this my example astonish or ●rouble so many souls so many consciences endued with the most firm and certain knowledge of the Scriptures and Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ and his most pure Doctrine armed against all the assaults of Satan I will never do it neither commit any such kind of offence that I should seem more to esteem this vile carcase appointed unto death then their health and salvation When one of the Bishops took from him the Chalice saying O cursed Judas c. We take away from thee this Chalice of thy salvation But I truth said he unto God the Father Omnipotent and my Lord Jesus Christ for whose sake I do suffer these things that he will not take away the Chalice of his Redemption but have a stedfast and firm hope that this day I shall drink thereof in his Kingdome The other Bishops took away the Vestments put upon him and each of them giving him their curse Whereunto he said That he did willingly embrace and hear those blasphemies for the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ Then the Bishops caused to be made a Crown of Paper in which were printed three ugly Devils and this title set over their heads Heresiarchs A Ring-leader of an Heresie and he saw it he said My Lord Jesus Christ for my sake did wear 〈◊〉 Crown of Thorns why should not I then for his sake wear this light Crown be it never so ignominious Truly I will do it and that willingly When it was set upon his head the Bishops said Now we commit thy soul unto the Devil But I said Mr. Hus lifting up his eyes toward Heaven do commit my Spirit into thy hands O Lord Jesus Christ unto thee I commend my Spirit which thou hast redeemed When the people heard his prayers at the Stake Pa. 821. they said What he had done afore we know not but now we see and hear that he doth speak and pray very devoutly and godlily After he had prayed some while being raised by his Tormentors with a loud voice he said Lord Jesus assist and help me that with a constant and patient mind I may bear and suffer this cruel and ignominious death whereunto I am condemned for the preaching of thy most holy Gospel and Word When he beheld the Chain with which his Neck was to be tied to the Stake he smiling said That he would willingly receive the same Chain for Jesus Christs sake who he knew was bound with a far worse Chain The Duke of Bavaria Pa. 822. before the fire was kindled coming to him and exhorting him to be mindful of his safeguard and renounce his errors be answered What error should I renounce when as I know my self guilty of none for as for those things that are falsly alledged against me I know that I never did so much as once think them much less preach them for this was the principal end and purpose of my Doctrine that I might teach all men repentance and remission of sins Clarks first Volume of Lives pag. 217. Leigh 's Saints Encouragements in evil times out of Luther 's Preface before Daniel according to the verity of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the Exposition of the holy Doctors wherefore with a cheerful mind and courage I am here ready to suffer death He told them at his death That out of the ashes of the Goose so Hus in the Bohemian Language signifies an hundred years after God would raise up a Swan so Luther in that Language signifies in Germany whose singing should affright all those Va●tures and who should escape their burning This Prophesie was exactly fulfilled in Luther who rose up just an hundred years after 1415 the year when Mr. Hus was burnt and though he so enraged the Pope and his powerful party he died in his bed In his Letter to the people of Prague Pa. 823. Be circumspect and watchful that ye be not circumvented by the crafty trains of the Devil and the more circumspect ye ought to be for that Antichrist laboureth the more to trouble you The last judgment is near at hand death shall swallow up many but to the elect children of God the Kingdome of God draweth near because for them he gave his own body Fear not death love together one another persevere in understanding the good will of God without ceasing Let the terrible and horrible Day of Judgment be alwayes before your eyes

else not Be not amazed though they speak of never so many years nor name never so many Doctors If either the Authority of Bishops of the greater part should have power to interpret the Scripture the sentence of the Pharisees should have been prefer'd before the sentence of Zachary Simeon Elizabeth or the blessed Virgin Consider the true Church is many time but a small Congregation as Isaiah saith Unless God had left us a remnant we had been as Sodom Therefore the interpretation of the Scripture is not obligated to ordinary power nor the most part Beware of deceit when thou hearest the name of the Church The verity is then assaulted They call the Church of the Devil the holy Church many time Remember Christian Reader that the gift of interpreting the Scripture is the Light of the Holy Ghost given unto the humble and penitent person that seeketh onely to honour God and not unto those persons that claim it by title or place because be is a Bishop or followed by succession Peter o● Paul Remember therefore to examine all Doctrine by the Word of God for such as preach it aright have their infirmities and ignorance they may depart from the Truth or else build some superstition and false Doctrine upon the Gospel of Christ Superstition is to be avoided false Doctrine to be abhorred whosoever be the Author thereof Prince Magistrate or Bishop As the Apostles made answer Acts 5. We ought to obey God rather than man ch 13. The Law is necessary for a justified man to teach him with what works he should exercise his faith will and obedience unto God We may not chuse works of our own wisdome to serve him withal He would have us to be governed by his Word as David saith Thy Word is a light unto my feet And Christ In vain do they worship me by the commands of men In the second Declaration See his Declaration of the holy ten Com. of Almighty God Printed Anne 1548. pag. 8 9. Moses commandeth Deut. 4. that no man should decline from this Law neither to the right nor left hand i.e. That no man should add to or take any thing from it but simply to observe it as it is given or written to us From this right line and true rule of Gods Word man erreth divers wayes Sometimes by ignorance because he knoweth not or will not know that only the express Word of God sufficeth He holdeth with the most part and condemneth the better as it is to be seen at this present day This reason taketh place it is allowed of the most part and established by so many holy and learned Bishops therefore it is true c. Another way that leadeth from the Word of God is many times the power and authority of this world as we see by the Bishop of Rome and all his adherents who give more credit to one Charter and gift of Constantine than to the whole Bible Another erreth by mistaking of the time making his superstition far elder than it is c. One saith thus My Father believed and should I believe the contrary Pag. 11. Whereas no Law at all should be spoken of conscience but the only Word of God which never altered nor can be altered Mat. 5. Luk. 10. Psal 18.119 If Heavens and Earth made by word cannot be altered how much more the Word it self Unto which Law the conscience of man in matters of faith is bound only Pag. 13. Such as can interpret nothing will say I have an ill opinion of God in Heaven and of the superiour Powers on Earth because I damn the Disciples of the false Doctors with the Doctors and take from all Powers on Earth authority to prescribe unto their Subjects any Law touching Religion of the soul As concerning those that be seduced by false Teachers St. Luke c. 6. Ezekiel 3. and 13. judge as I do Both he that leadeth to damnation and he that is led Pag. 14. falleth into the pit Notwithstanding I believe that in the midst of darkness when all the world as far as man might judge had sworn unto the Bishop of Rome Christ had his Elect that never consented to his false Laws as it was in the time of Elias 1 Kings 19. where God saith He had preserved seven thousand that had not bowed the knee to Baal Pag. 15. As many as die before us seduced by false Teachers without repentance the Scripture condemneth As many as believed them not but trusted to the Scripture or else deceived yet repented before they died live eternally in joy and solace and are saved as John saith Rev. 13. in the blood of the Lamb. As touching the superiour Powers of the Earth it is not unknown to all men that have read and marked the Scripture that it pertaineth nothing to their Office to make any Law to govern the consciences of their Subjects in Religion but to reign over them in this case as the Word of God commandeth Pag. 16. Howbeit in their Realms they make what Laws they will and as many as they will command them to be kept as long it pleaseth them and change them at their pleasure as they shall see occasion for the wealth commodity of their Realms Unto the which superiour Powers we owe all obedience both of body and goods and likewise our daily prayer for them to Almighty God c. And as many divers Commonwealths as there be so many divers Laws there may be Howbeit all Christian Kings and Kingdomes with other Magistrates should reign by one Law and govern the Churches of their Realms solely by the Word of God Pag. 17. which is never to be changed Thus Christ commanded his Apostles to teach and their Audience to hear the things he commanded Matth. 28. Mark 16. Pag. 26. Moses prescribeth unto his Audience seven Rules wherewith he prepareth them to the receiving of the ten Commandements 1 A right perswasion of Gods word that God will undoubtedly give the good promised to the good and inflict the evil threatned against the evil Pag. 29. 2 To have a right opinion of the Magistrates and superiour Powers of the Earth to give them no more nor any less honour and reverence than the Word of God commandeth For lack of this preparative the world hath erred from the Truth this many years Men do not look what Gods Word saith but extol the authority of mans Laws preferring the decree of a general or provincial Council before the Word of God Pag. 30. 3 Another preparative is obedience both to God and man It were as good nere read the Law in case we mind not to be obedient Pag. 31. Pag. 32. Pag. 34. 4 To observe jus gentium 5 To esteem the Doctrine of the Commandments as it is worthy 6 A true and right understanding of the Law not to constrain the letter against the mind of the Text but behold alwayes the consent of the Scripture

Pag. 36. 7 To add nothing to this Law neither to take any thing from it If thou judgest that Gods Law containeth one part of such Doctrine as is necessary for mans salvation and the Bishops Laws another part thou contemnest and dishonourest the whole Law and the Giver thereof and offendest against that command Deut. 4.12 and Prov. Pag. 64. 30. Every thing that we do for the honour of God not commanded by his Word is as strange and not accepted by God as all good intentions feigned works by man and all things commanded by general Councils not expressed in the Word of God by the Patriarks Prophets Christ and the Apostles which be and ever were before God the Holy and Catholick Church Whosoever add any thing to their Laws are the Church of Antichrist Deut. 4.12 Revel 22. Nadab and Abihu offered strange fire i.e. such as he commanded not Pag. 68. Read the Commentaries of Tho. Valois and Nicol. in Aug. de Civit. Dei l. 4. and they will tell thee what superstition is if thou believe not the Scripture Superstition say they is a superfluous Religion what wayes soever it be superfluous whether it be of the superfluity of the things honoured or of the things used for Religion or of the manner in Religion This doubtless is understood by the name of Superstition from whence soever the name hath its rise whatsoever thou dost to please God Almighty if it be not commanded in his Word it is superfluous superstition Pag. 70. The purpose end and will of the second Commandment is That Gods pleasure is unto us that we do not profane or dishonour the true Religion or honour of God with superstitious Rites or Ceremonies not commanded by him I am a jealous God q. d. Pag. 77. when we two were married together for the love that I bore unto thee I gave thee certain Rules and Precepts how in all things thou mayest keep my love and good will towards thee and thou promisedst me obedience to my Commandments Exod. 19. So honour me therefore and love me as is standeth written in the Writings and Indentures written between us both I cannot suffer to be otherwise honoured than I have taught in my Tables and Testament Against obeying of Gods Laws Pa. 209. the first Sophism or carnal Objection is when men say it is no place nor time to learn or obey Gods Laws we be not in the Temple c. but in the broad world and must do as other men do and rather serve the place we be in ululare cum lapis bark with the wolf Deut. 29.30 than speak of the Scripture besides it is too dangerous a season let it pass till the world be more quiet c. This Objection Moses breaketh and proveth that the Law should be alwayes received and in every place Those that observed it in the wilderness God fed by miracle from Heaven and preserved all their apparel that it consumed not Pa. 210. nor perished in the wearing for the space of forty years A second Objection is when men put from themselves the obedience of the Law unto others saying Let the Priests c. learn and keep the Law what should a Prince Magistrate or Gentleman be so bound Youth cannot be tie● to so strait Canons it must not be so bridled c. This wicked acceptation of persons Moses destroyeth yea all saith he stand this day before the Lord your God Pa. 211. your Princes your Tribes your Elders your Officers and all men of Israel your children your wives and thy Guest c. No manner of prison is excluded from the League Pa. 212. A third is presumption when men know what is to be done yet against their knowledge presuming of Gods mercy Pa. 213. do the thing that is evil saying If I walk in the imagination of my heart and take my pleasure there is no danger c. But saith Moses the Lord will not favour such an one but then be angry and kindle his ire against him so that every curse written in this Book shall rest on him c. A fourth is Animosity Pa. 218. thus reasoning with ones self who knoweth what his last hour shall be But saith Moses Secret things belong to God but the things that God hath revealed to us and our children for ever Pa. 222. that we do all the precepts of this Law A fifth is Desperation when men think it is in vain for them to observe Gods Laws there is no hope of their salvation c. It is impossible for him to return to God and do all that God requireth c. Moses gives a remedy against this dangerous disease Pa. 224. sheweth the way to God declareth That God is fall of mercy and ready to forgive Pa. 229. c. A sixth is the pretence of Ignorance saying The Scriture the Laws of God have so many mysteries roo hard for our capacities c. Besides the Doctors brawl and chide between themselves and how should the unlearned understand it aright Who can tell saith another whether this be the true Law or not If it were the true Law of God then it should contain all verities and h●ve no deed of mans Laws Now the greatest part of Christians in name say that this Law is not sufficient except it be holp and aided by the Law of the Bishops Moses answereth and saith Pa. 230. This Law is sufficient simple and plain easie to be understood a perfect Doctrine and required of all men the Commandment that I prescribe to thee unto day is not far above thee nor put far from thee c. By which words it appeareth that God hath made his will and pleasure simple and plainly open to his people c. Yea the Law of God to do well by is written naturally in the heart of every man c. Pa. 231. though there were no law written c. mans conscience would tell him when he doth well and when ill Pa. 234. Farewell in our only and sole joy and consolation Christ Jesus This holy Exile parting with Mr. Fox Vol. 3 pag. 145. Bullinger and his friends at Zurick declared that the principal cause of his return to his own Countrey was the matter of Religion c. Be sure said he neither the nature of the Countrey nor pleasure of commodities nor newness of friends shall ever induce me to the oblivion of such friends and Benefactors and therefore you shall be sure from time to time to hear from me how it goes with me but the last news of all I shall not be able to write for there said he taking Mr. Bullinger by the hand where I shall take most pains there shall you hear of me to be burned to ashes and that shall be the last news which I shall not be able to write When he was made Bishop of Worcester and Glocester Pa. 146. the Arms allotted