on the fire for it wil not quench the fire and therefore it will not be consumed by the fire as to say receiue this reformation for it is not repugnant therefore it will abide the triall of the word but the scripture abideth no suche distinction of contrary and diuers for he that is not with me take he the Iewes parte the Turkes the Papistes or the hipocriticall Englishe protestantes parte * he is against me sayth Christe Another he talketh for the Quenes supremacie Out saythe he may not the Queene doe thys and that but you muste 〈…〉 her to a reckening howe allowe you then hir supremacie in Ecclesiasticall things which are in deede to be determined in conferences and councels and that by the warraÌ„t of the worde you will proue very Anabaptistes not suffering Magistrates nor any politique orders besides and so he runneth away with alleaging scriptures that commaunde obedience to magistrates and say things must be done orderly and decently and he deuiseth many foule names and reproches for vs But heere hir Maiestie is to be humbly intreated that of hir clemencie shee will abide vs who are bound by duetie and obedience to God freely to discusse all things as they are set forthe in the woorde of God though her Maiestie otherwise thinke it straunge and also haue in owe to exasperate hir Maiestie against vs pore men who are farre vnable to abide hit displesure and would be sory to offende her if it might please God to encline her Maiesties heart to consider of our cause and not to be turned from vs by the importunatenesse of oure aduersaries nor by other preiudice of oure persones or places but to deale with vs euen according to the truthe of the matters we deale in which are according to the very woorde of almightie God or else if it will not fall out so we will be content to abide hir displeasure and sharp punishment Out if it fal out â—o then as an 〈…〉 oure Magistrate may not take the authoritie of the highest into hys hantes no more may any Magistrate vâ—urpe Gods. To Ce 〈…〉 geue that whych is Cesars to God that whych is hys saythe oure sauioure Nonâ— is so high at her common wealthe as hir maiestie none so vse the sweard but shee and whom shee appointeth vnder hir according to y lawes of thys land so that it be not repugnant to their vocation as to ministers Likewyse none is so hygh in the churche as Christe none to doe any thing nor any thing to be done in hys churche but as it is appointed in hys woorde eyther by precise or generall direction And therfore it is allowed and commaunded to Christian men to trie all * things and to holde that whiche is good whosoeuer forbâ—dde wythoute exception Prince or other so that if we examine euerye thyng done in thys churche of God in Englande by the worde of God and holde that whiche is good though the lawe be offended that lawe is to be reformed and not we to be punished for whatsoeuer our personnes or places be if oure matters we deale in be God 's her maiestie we trust remembreth what the scripture sayth he that despiseth you * despiseth me and he that receyueth you receyueth me As we know thys case to be cleare so we trust and dayly pray that God wyll open her maiesties heart to consider of it and vs But to these men agayne let them shewe vs if they can by what aucthoritie they may enâ—oyne vs if God hys worde beare them to be magistrates to obserue the boke of Common prayers bothe in matter and manner as in theyr laste Canons they forbid theyr ministers to depart from one or other it is wycked to say no worse of it so to attribute to a booke in deede â—ulled out of the vile popish seruice booke with some certaine rubrikes and gloses of their owne deuise suche authoritie as only is due to God hys booke and inditements imprisonments and suche extremities vsed agaynst them which breake it is cruell persecution of the members of Iesus Christe And of all other greeuous enormities layde vppon thys churche of God in England this is the greatest that it is not lawfull to vtter that whych we learne truely oute of the scriptures We must be in daunger of a premunire if we folowe not the lawes of the land thoughe they be agaynste the scriptures and in daunger of a twelue monthes imprisoment if we speake agaynst the booke of common prayer though it be agaynste the word of god In deede if there were order taken for conferences such as the scriptures commendeth to the church for the triall of truthe when it is hard darke then were the dealing not harde but vprighte As for the Conuocation house I tolde you before what it was and what may be looked for at theyr handes and somewhat more shall be sayde of it heereafter If that were sayd for the Bible whych is sayd for the booke of common prayer and whych God sayth in his law for hys woorde then were the dealyng vpryght and and good Now if they meane by not repugnaÌ„t that it is consonante in all and euerye the contents thereof wyth the woorde of God that can they neuer proue But coulde they proue that yet they snare the church of God betweene that boke and other bookes whych they obtrude with straight charge to be obserued whych bookes doe differ amongs themselues as the booke of common prayer and the iniunctions about wafers the boke of common prayer and the aduertisements about the churche vestures the Canons against the pontificall in not ordering of ministers sine titulo the preface of the last boke of homilies and of the last newe Bible agaynst the booke of Common prayer in the manner of reading of the scriptures And in many things the bishops articles in theyr seuerall diocesses differ from thys booke as aboute the standyng of the communioÌ„ table fetchyng the dead to church and such lyke but the courte of Faculties that for marrying wythoute asking the banes and many moe things differeth from it and all other theyr bookes but cheefely from God hys Bible what say we to thys case we are neyther free to folowe the Bible nor out of doubt what to doe by these bookes but to followe God and hys woorde we are so free that we are by the Apostle forbidden to become seruaÌ„ts of men If thys be true as who can denye it then is it your partes to rid our churche of these shrewde encombrances And whereas it was meant to bridle papists make direct lawes against them Further wheras our church yet misseth of the right course of the scriptures in our reformatioÌ„ let youre learned men be driuen to drawe a platforme out of God his boke wher it is descrybed at ful according to hys will in the same reuealed and the examples of the best Churches beyonde
truthe and worde of god Theirs raiseth many douts and questions in religion breedeth many troubles and contentions and wyl haue nothyng examined that they doe but many must abâ—e for the pleasure of some one of them and all must abide the determination of one suche Lordshyp they claime ouer the faithe of their christian brethren The Apostle renouncing it and acknowledging hymselfe to be a helper If they say Lordshyppe of bishops is agreeable to the word of God who may say agaynst them wythout much trouble yea dare say against them yea what preuayleth it to say against them if they hold together to whom it is to swete to say say agaynst it or if my Lords grace Metropolitane of al England holde sticke fast in the matter for so it goeth many must to one so froÌ„ one to one til it come to the Pope of Lambeth as it was wont in the Poâ—ishe church cleane contrary to the course of the scriptures for there is no more ones but only one one to whome all the churche must obey and from him the whole church hath authoritie ouer the membres of the same for so goeth the scriptures you haue but one maister all you are brethren heare him and tell the church thys is the scripture Now except they will followe the Popes rule and bryng the vniuersal churche to be but a particulare place and a particulare man in that place as Rome is the place and the pope is y man or as Caunterbury or Lambeth might be the place and my Lorde hys grace the man the scriptures and their doings will not agree And hys Lordship shall be a Pope and his confederates the Popes vnderlings excepte they leaue their Lordlynesse and submit them selues to the church of God to be ordered by the same according to the woorde And take them for better who shall they are none other but a remnaunt of Antichristes broode and God amende them and forgeue them for else they bid battell to Christ and his church and it must bid the defiance to them all they yeelde And I protest before the eternall God I take them so and thereafter wil I vse my self in my vocation and many moe to no doubt which be careful of God his glory and the churches libertie wyll vse themselues agaynst them as the professed ennemies of the churche of Christ if they proceede in thys course and thus persecute as they doe What talke they of their being beyond y seas in Quene Maries dayes because of the persecution when they in Queene Elizabethes dayes are come home to rayse a persecution They bost they followe the steps of good maister Ridley the martir let them followe hym in the good and not in the badde What man Martyr or other is to be followed in all things why follow they not M. Hooper as well as him who is a martir also or Rogers or Bradforde who are martirs also They say all those good men in Quene Marres dayes died for the booke of common prayer but they slaunder them for they toke not so slender a quarel they dyed for god his boke and for a true faith grounded vpon the same Diuers of those martires would not in those dayes of king Edwarde abide all the orders in that booke but if they had had such a time beyonde the seas in the reformed churches to haue profited and encreased in knowledge of a right reformation as these men had it is not to be doubted but that they would haue done better then he promised y had rather all England were on a fishpoole then he would be brought to matters fâ—r lesse then now of hys owne accorde he wilfully thrusteth hym selfe vpon Why we they not followe the examples which they sawe beyonde y seas In which of the reformed churches saw they a Lord bishop allowed or the Canon lawe to direct church orders or will they translate the boke of common prayer into Latine and their pontilicall and vse the Latine of the popishe portuise manual and pontifical in those matters wherin they haue folowed those bokes and but translated them out of Latin and will they require abide y iudgements of the reformed churches concerning the matters If they be not singulare if they meane plainely lette them doe thus If it will abyde the triall then let them vse it still They shal not be disgraced but we for disquieting of theÌ„ They haue fâ—cendes that will saye for them they are a learned company and neâ—oe not the helpe of any other churches Then let them offer to defende their course by learning Let them neuer goe ouer sea for the matter and yet surely I woulde some toke that translation in hande toke some paynes in the matter to procure the iudgements of those reformed churches but lette them offer free confereÌ„ce heere at home Nay let them take our offer for conference by wryting to auoyde muche brabble if they will and shew themselues ready to the state wythoute cunning practise to stoppe it by their freendes and let vs ioyne in it freely and then we will thincke better of them and yeelde oure selues to haue beene deceiued in them if they deale plainly O Lord that we wer deceiued â—n them That they were not wickedly bent to maintaine that which they are entred into to the great disquieting of thys Churche of Christe in Englande vntill the Maister come which they thinke will deferre hys commyng and disquiet them whome he fynedeth like lordly Epicures eating drynking wyth y worldly drunkardes and beatyng their fellow seruauÌ„ts They that are poore men already beggered by them and which haue many wayes bâ—ne molested and imprysoned some in the Marshalsey some in the white Lion some in the Catchouse at Westmiâ—ster others in the counter or in the Clynke or in the Ficete or in Bridewell or in Newgate they whych haue these many wayes and times bene hampered ill handled by them they stil offer themselues to al their exercinities and therefore put for the their treatises because they passe not howe deare they bought it so they myght redeme our state out of this deforâ—ed reformation to a ryght platforme drawne oute of the scriptures They say such are men pleasers Surely if they soughâ—e aduauntage that way it were best for them to please my Lords They say they are desirous to be sayd to be in pryson that they profite by it they would not then kepe themselues out of the way nor wheÌ„ they are in be suche suters to come toorâ—he nor abide to be stifeled and choked with the stench of the prison but that is an old shift and cunning of he aduersary to say so No no God hys cause is the mater You pretend a reformation and followe not the worde of God nor will be led by that The summe of all therfore is thys that eyther you of the Parliament muste â—ake order to haue all reformed according to
deuise lawes for the preseruation and prosperitie of your common wealth and neglecte God his churche leaue that waste prouide not for that you shall finde as the * Prophet saith yee shall sowe muche and bring in little yee shall eate and not haue inoughe As for the Conuocation house whereof many haue conceiued a maruellous opinion and which should of duetie loke to these matters common experience dothe proue that they doe for the most parte apply them selues to the time and seeke rather to please and followe worldly pollicie then sincerely to promote Gods cause and to publishe his truth And hereof their last conuocations can be good witnesses But you say the Bishops are good men great clearkes they knowe what they haue to doe and possyble some of them doe excepte the God of thys worlde haue blâ—nded their eyes and so did some of the popishe bishops but you were deceiued by them and you are like to be deceiued by these if you truste them so farre as experience teacheth Neuerthelesse you shall die in * your synnes you shal both * fall into the ditche But some will say that the admonition hindered other things As who shuld say that to further Gods cause is to hinder other matters that be profitable for the coÌ„mon wealth doth the knowledge of God and the promoting of hys glory hinder profitable lawes that is a thyng that I would gladly learne for I coulde neuer vnderstand it before VVherfore this may be as a seconde Admonition wyth the like mynde as afore by them to craue redresse of the great abuses in oure Reformation of Religion some being continued from the papistes some deuised by the fantasticall heades of vayne menne and some though not maintayned yet suffered and not reformed vnto thys day yea and further as they afore doe againe appeale to thys hyghe Courte of Parliament from all other Courtes being ready to defende that whych I wryte touching the substance of it againste all men and that vppon the pearill of my lyfe Let me be but vprightly heard and interpreated The matter is Goddes ouerpasse it not lightly for we maye not thoughe you deuised lawes to cutte vs off as by some one byshop you haue bene ere nowe prouoked for oure partes thus leaue it The other bokes are shorte as it was requisite to present to you and therefore they haue not so muche tolde you how to Reforme as what to Reforme They haue tolde you of many things amisse and that very truely they haue tolde you in generall what were to be restored but howe to doe these things as it is the hardest poynte so it requireth as themselues saye a larger discourse I meane therfore to supplie as shortly as I can bicause I wryte as they dyd to you some thing that may make to the expressing of the matter so plainely that you may haue sufficient lyght to proceede by till they whych are endued wyth greater giftes discusse it more exactly or till we our selues who haue begon maye haue further oportunitie to proceede if it be neglected of theyr part which coulde we it better And yet this I dare say for the substance of those Treatises which is it that galleth the aduersaries mooste howe so euer they quarrell with them vpon wordes that it is so grounded vpon the vndoubted truthe of God his booke that the diuell of hell cannot wyth his coloures blemishe it saue he may seeke to suppresse it by violence nor any but he and those whome he hathe deceiued or whome God hath not yet giuen so much light vnto will or can stand against it I would and doe therefore earnestly admonishe them that knowe to knowe as they ought and to doe as they knowe and to beware of the God of this worlde that he deceiue them not for the time will come that this * dung shall be throwne openly in their faces to their euerlasting shame that maintain it like as at this day it hathe befallen to the sencelesse Papistes who will neuer giue ouer til they can neither wil nor chuse with shame inough Next I woulde and doe earnestly adâ—â—onishe those that are ignorant to learne to knowe and to beware of a blinde zeale which is more violent vniust then oughte else carying men headlong to maintain that they haue no reason for and wickedly to gainstand the expresse truth to their endlesse perdition Now to the matter I say that we are so skarce come to the outwarde face of a Churche rightly reformed that although some truth be taught by some preachers yet no preacher may withoute greate danger of the lawes vtter all truthe comprised in the booke of god It is so circumscribed wrapt within the compasse of suche statutes suche penalties suche instâ—uctions suche aduertisements suche articles suche canons suche sober caueats and suche manifoâ—â—e pamphlets that in manner it doth but â—â—epe out from behâ—â—de the screene The lawes of the lande the booke of common prayer the Queenes Iniunctions the Commissioners aduertisements the bishops late Canons Lindwoodes Proumetais euery bishops Articles in his dâ—ocesse my Lord of Canterburies sober caueates in his licences to preachers and hys highe Courte of prerogatiue or graue fatherly faculties these together or the worste of them as some of them be too badde may not be broken or offended against but with more daunger then to offende against the Bible To these subscribing and sub 〈…〉 ing againe and the third subscribing are re 〈…〉 red for these Preachers and others are endi 〈…〉 are fined are prisoâ—ned are excommunicated are banished and haue worse things threatned them and the Bible that muste haue no further sâ—â—pe then by these it is assigned Is this to professe God his worde is this are formation He that could not abide straunge fire in the olde law but burnt * them that vsed it what will he doe to vs in the newe lawe that erect a new and straunge course or worde to rule his church by What did the Pope but so he did suffer God his worde to haue a course as farre as it pleased him so that he might haue the whole authoritie aboue it so dyd the Popishe churche but we say the * worde is aboue the church then surely it is aboue the Englishe churche and aboue all these bookes afore rehearsed If it be so why are not they ouer ruled 〈◊〉 and not it by them Here falleth forthe to be â—â—swered a shift of descant to turne and winde this 〈…〉 er Forsothe these are not repugnant saythe 〈◊〉 to the woorde of God no nor yet say we are 〈◊〉 consonante no more is chaffe like to quenche 〈◊〉 no nor yet can it abide the fire But gold can â—â—uen so are these vnable to quenche the lighte of 〈◊〉 gospell no * nor yet can they â–ª abide the courte oâ— the gospell but true religion abideth the triall of the word of god As wel reasoned it were to say lay hay or stubble
the worde of God whereof already you haue heard a parte and shâ—ll heare breefely the rest by God his grace or else they to bryng your reformation to the trial of the word of God and to ouerthrowe by the same all that we say and al that the other of the â—â—st reformed churches doe vse Well they may conferre and yeelde for neuer shall they ouerthrow the truthe which we vtter and which the reformed churches doe practise nor shall they be able to maintaine their owne doings but by crueltie wl at successe that hath euer had iudge by y scriptures and by the papistes experience For this order of chusing of ministers for their conferences and equalitie therefore you shall proue none to be so good as thys which I haue mentioned nor disproue but that thys oughte to be in a reformed churche Shall I examine their other orders y were infinite but yet for the booke of common prayer which of all other muste not be touched because they haue gotten the state so to beare it out Euen for the very states sake for the princes sake for the churches sake and for conscience sake he hath but a badde conscience that in thys time will holde hys peace and not speake it for feare of trouble knowing y there are suche intollerable abuses in it as it is plaine there are First I say that if it were praying that there were neuer an ill woorde nor sentence in all the prayers yet to appoynt it to be vsed or so to vse it as Papistes did their mattens and euensong for a set seruice to God though the woordes be good the vse is naught The wordes of the fyrst chapter after S. Iohn be good but to be putte in a tablet of golde for a soueraigne thyng to be worne that vse is superstitious and naughte and so is the vse of thys seruice for the order must be kept and that being done they haue serued god And if they alledge that that vse was not meant and that it is an abuse I say and caÌ„ proue it that if it be an abuse it is so setled it wil not be reforâ—ed till there be a reformatioÌ„ of praier Agayne wherelearned they to multiplye vp many prayers of one effect so many times Glorye be to the Father so manye times the Lorde be wyth you so many times let vs pray WheÌ„ce learned they all those needelesse repetitions is it not the popishe Gloria patri their Dominus vobiscum their Oremus Lorde haue mercye vpon vs Christe haue mercy vpon vs is it not kyrie eleeson Christe eleeson their many Pater nosters why vse they them But as though they were at their beades The words be good so were they when they were in Latine but the vse is naught forbidden by oure sauioure you when you pray vse not vaine repetitions as the heathen doe saythe he And then the Collect for the day to be vsed at ende of matâ—ens what shall I call it and afore the epistle and gospel as they call it The boke is suche a peece of worke as it is straunge we will vse it besydes I cannot accompt it praying as they vse it commonly but only reading or saying of prayers eueÌ„ as a childe that learneth to reade if hys lesson be a prayer he readeth a prayer he dothe not pray euen so is it commonly a saying and reading prayers and not praying the childe putteth of hys cap as wel as the minister For thoughe they haue manye guises nowe to knele and nowe to stande these bâ— of course and not of any pricke of conscience â—â— pureing of the heart most commonly One he kneeleth on hys knees and thys way he loketh and that way he loketh another he kneeleth him selfe a sleepe another kneeleth wyth suche deuotion that he is so farre in talk that he forgetteth to arise till hys knee ake or hys talke endeth or seruice is done And why is all thys but y there is no suche praying as should touche the hearte And therfore another hath so little feeling of the common prayer that he bryngeth a booke of hys owne and though he sitte when they sitte stand when they stande kneele when they kneele he may pause sometime also but mosâ—e of all he inâ—endetly hys owne booke is thys praying God graunt vs to feele oure lackes better then thys and to take a better order then thys for prayer it is will be all naught else Againe the Psalmes be all red in forme oâ— prayer they be not all prayers the people seldome marke them and sometime when they marke them they thinke some of them straunge geare and all for that they are buâ— only red and scarse red oftentimes It is a very simple shift that you vse to shift it wyth an Homilie to expounde darke places of scripture for they be darkly expounded that be expounded and many places more darke then you rehearse â—ny whiche are not once touched Simple and homely geare in diuers homelies there is There is none other helpe I came tell you but playne preâ—ching whych is God hys plaine order What reason to sing the chapters of scriptures and yet so they may in a plaine tune Are all the praiers that are â—â—ed agreeable to y scriptures to let passe the Benediâ—tus where I woulde knowehowe I might say in my prayer for thou childe shalt be called the Prophet of the highest and the Magnificat where I woulâ—e knowe howe any man yea or woman eyther might say the tenure of these very wordes for he hathe regarded the low degree of hys handmayde for beholde from henceforthe all gencrations shall call me blessed marke this well and you can neuer answere it well but that it is a palpable follye and vaine praying To let these passe I woulde knowe in what canonicall scripture they fynde thys prayer O all ye workes of the Lorde and what they meane when they say O Anamas Azarias and Misael prayse the Lord which part of prayer is not according to the scripture if all the rest be but the whole thankes geuing is Apochriphall and yet those men that are named were then aliue sayde it themselues if it were truely their prayer and it belongeth not to vs to speake to them nowe that are deade and why to them more then to the virgin Marie Peter or Paule c Let hym that speaketh speake as the woorde of God sayeth the Apostle wyth what truthe can we say that one Collect which is appoynted to be saide from the Natiuitie to New-yeares day which is that vpoÌ„ the natiuitie day I must say that Christe vouchsafed this day to be borne when I read it another day I must say he vouchsafed thys day to be borne and the next day againe this day Surely I lie one of the dayes and suche a prayer is at whitsontide appoynted I would know wher vpon they grouÌ„d their Collect appointed
for the seruice of s Bartholomew for we haue Sametes and Angels and all Hallowes seruice whych the first treatises speake of I wâ—ulde I say knowe whereon they ground that Collect wherein they pray y they may follow Bartholomews sermons seeing there is neuer a sermon of hys extant and so we shall folow we wâ—t not what or y they pray y the church may preach as he did when as they neyther haue his sermones nor yet the whole church may preach but the ministers of y church only Is thys praying God forgeue vs it is a wicked pratling By what scripture haue they Lent seruice A sowedensday seruice thre Collects for that day There is also a Commination grounded vppon great reason if that be well marked which the priest forsothe must say at the entraunce into the matter that is what a peece of Discipline was in former times kept about the holy time of Lent which vntill it be restored would be supplied wyth this Iewishe order But what place of scripture dothe induce them to reduce thys ceremonie or what place of scripture woulde warrante suche a peece of discipline as there they seeme verye desirous to haue restored as who shoulde saye suche deuises of obscruances for dayes and tymes were profitable or sutterable in Christes churche Let them endeuoure to commend god hys discipline whych should be all the dayes and tymes of oure lyfe exercised in Christes churche Let them require that I would knowe what there is in Athanasius Creede that that must be vpon hyghe dayes as they terme them rather then the Apostles Creede I woulde knowe why Venite may not serue at Easter as it must all the yeare afore and after folow Domine labia it is surely a straunge thyng to see the fansies that this boke is full of I ouerpasse the dry Communion as they call it the Epistle the Gospel the Offertorie and because they haue in the former treatises touched many things of the sacrameÌ„ts of matrimonie of confirmation of y rest I y more willingly skippe ouer manye things else saying shortly y the sacraments are wickedly maÌ„gled prophaned But as for Confirmation as it hath no ground out of the scriptures at all so I wold haue their prayer marked how they recken vp y seuenfold grace as the papistes did neither more nor lesse where they haue one grace more then the. 11. of Esay hath which they allude to And again they haue farre fewer then are mentioned in the rest of the scriptures Lorde to seâ— these very follies may not thys booke be altered neyther in matter nor manner Surely then haue you a mannerly sort of ministers that strain curtesie to forbeare to lie and to forbeare superstition when they seeme to present themselues before the Lord which can worse like such seruice then you can to forbeare it I haue thus much further â—xamined the orders that these men vse in prayer beside the generall obseruation that they allowe prayer in publique place without a sermoÌ„ which is rightlye prohibited in Churches reformed Would the word of God thus negligently thus santastically prophanely and heathemshly be preached or the sacraments be so wickedly with out examination at the supper or sinceritie at baptisme be so I say wickedly ministred woulde prayers be made eyther that were so folyshe or so superstitious or so false or y best of them so vndeuoutlye if there were suche righte orders as were in the churches planted by the Apostles as is in the best reformed churches and ought to be in oures What though these men be and wil be taken so learned so right that they neede learne of none other are not these their orders doe they not maintaine them doe they not persecute them that speake agaynste them and yet I praye you are they not starke naught yea and so are diuers of them not onely for their bribing and corruption and their arrogancie their tyrannie but for flat heresie in the sacrament and some bee suspected of the heresy of Pelagius For the first y is concerning the sacrament the bishops are notoriously knowne which erre in it and for Free will not onely they are suspected but others also And in deede the booke of the Articles of christian religion speaketh very daungerously of falling from grace which is to be reformed bicause it too muche enclineth to their erroure Other thyngs there are maintained by some of them whych are not agreeable wyth the Scrypture namely the false interpretation of thys clause in our Creede he descended into hell whych is expresly set downe contrary to the scriptures in the Creede made in meter in these wordes Hys spirite dyd after thys descend into the lower parts to them that loÌ„g in darknesse were the true light of their heartes If they can warrant thys oute of the scriptures then Limbus patrum within a while purgatorie will be founde oute there And yet thys must be priuiledged and suche like diuers matters disagreeing with the scriptures as in the humble sute of a synner it is sayde that the Saintes and Angelles see Christes bloudye woundes as yet and in their last great Bible in the first edition of it such a sight of blasphemous pictures of God the father as what they deserue for it I will referre them to none other iudge then their owne note vppon the. 15. verse of the fourth of Deuteronomie we holde I wotte not what heresies that speake agaynst their pride traditions but they that expresly speake and we againste the scriptures holde nothyng I trowe but 〈◊〉 But lette these guides weyghe the scripture which saythe you strame a gnatte and swallowe downe a Camell Wel now seeing we haue thus farre weyghed partly God his orders for the ministers election for their exercises and for their equalitie that it is better then oure L. Bishops for the continuing of sounde religion and that the order of bishops is contrarye to the scriptures and that they make and maintaine with crueltie agaynst the scriptures many wicked orders let vs nowe come to the other parte which is of the gouernment of the churche to see howe that standeth by the scriptures I haue alreadye made mention of a Consistorie which were to be had in euery congregation That consisteth first of the ministers of the same coÌ„gregation as the guides and mouth of the rest to direct them by y scriptures and to speake at their appoyntment that whych shall be consented vpon amoÌ„gst them all bicause of their giftes place amongst them whych maketh them more fit for those purposes The assistants are they whome the parish shall consent vpon and chuse for their good iudgemeÌ„t in religioÌ„ and godlinesse which they know they be of wherby they are mete for that office vsing the aduise of their ministers therin cheefely and hauing an eye to a prescript forme drawne out of the scriptures at the appointment of
though I wer knowne an hundred â—o wel able to write and speake in the matter Except you will professe to persecute vs whych we hope her maiestie of her wonted rare clemencie will not suffer though no doubt she shal be by many importunately solicited and in manner forced our cause vnheard we do require and humbly beseche you if by these bokes you be not resolued what to do yet to prouide for our safetie giue vs the hearyng They would beare men in hand that we despise authoritie and contemne lawes but they shamefully slaunder vs to you that so say For it is her maiesties authoritie we slye to as the supreme gouernour in all causes ouer all persones within her dominions appoynted by God and we flie to the lawes of this realme the bonds of all peace good orders in thys laÌ„d And we beseche her maiestie to haue y hearing of thys matter of Gods and to take the defence of it vpoÌ„ her And to fortifie it by law that it may be receiued by common order throughout her dominions For though the orders be ought to be drawne out of the booke of God yet it is hir maiestie that by hir princely authoritie shuld see euery of these things put in practise and punish those that neglect them making lawes therfore for the churche maye keepe these orders but neuer in peace except the comfortable and blessed assistance of the states gouerners linke in to see them accepted in their countreys and vsed For otherwise the churche may and must keepe God hys orders but alwayes in troubles and persecution whych is lyke to light vpon vs except a reformation of Religion or a direct Prouiso for vs be made for surely onely thys is God his order ought to be vsed in hys church so y in conscience we are forced to speake for it and to vse it in conscience in the reuerence of God we are forced to speake as we doe of that reformation which we now vse not so much for oughte else as to set out the deformities therof that we might thinke vpon the amending of them It is shewed in the former treatises how we thynke of the time and the persons when and by whome it was first made and aucthorised yea we know that hetherunto y state that now is hath not bene sufficiently instructed in any better then they vse wherfore we lay the fault where the fault is vpon the bishops that sort who are so soft set fat fed that they think they cannot better themselues by god his orders not for worldly ease pompe and therefore they neyther haue dealt nor will deale themselues to chaunge the course nor for ought I see wil suffer any other to deale but their authoritie frendes shall fayle them but they wyll oppresse them They pretend much y her maiestie is sore bent against vs and that it is not so much their doing if y were so then should they themselues deale for vs to her maiestie and cease that course they haue gon But we know because it most toucheth theÌ„ they must hate vs Wherefore we beseeche your godly wisdomes to haue consideration of the matter and not to leaue vs in their daunger nor in danger of such iustices other which be glad to haue a quarell to vs for oure conscience which can finde none in oure liues enditing vs fyneing vs c. Now it is thus propouÌ„ded vnto you if it seeme strange harde to you as no dout to them the are not acquainted with the mater it wil do bicause they are better acquainted wyth another course we beseche you to suffer to procure it to be further discussed by free conference among the learned men in this realme There are many well able to doe it wil be ready to doe it if they were called vpon so shall you haue sufficient light There be that say It wil be troublous to procede in these thyngs by publique authoritie that it cannot be done I wold desire them y say so â–ª to remember how troublous it is and wil be the while to many good consciences how that God cannot but be hyghly displeased in y meane tyme how y he cannot but reuenge thys trouble that is raised against pore men hys faithfull seruaunts There are the say this order cannot be throughout a realme we caÌ„not erect a consistorie in euery towne we caÌ„not finde in euery town faithful men some pâ—â—ish hathe small choise of any kinde of men Surely there would be somewhat thought of the vniting of small parishes in one But yet there is no parish so small but if it haue nede of Christ and to be saued then it hath nede of Christes orders And there is no subiect though in deede it be a raw time for to fynde in moste parishes a competent number of faithfull meÌ„ to deale or to haue skil to deale in these matters there is no subiect I say but if making the best choise he wer chosen as it is directed afore and a great penaltie vpoÌ„ him to deale in it faithfully but he could not chuse but deale in it that trustely wel so that withall there wer drawne certaine general orders to direct him or theÌ„ how to deale an honest learned pastor placed ouer euery sâ—ocke But some say it wil be hard to finde a preacher such a one as I spake of before for euery parish to furnish the realme any thing like To thys I say vse those you haue First place in manner as afore all your bishops in benefices y be of a sound religion and you shall furnish so many benefices as they be in nombre for they haue none Yet they say some of theÌ„ haue some benefices as I sayde before to amende their lyuings wythall Besides vse all you haue abrode which be fit for it and in the vniuersities And let such exercises be taken vp as I haue spoken of and let the towardliest of those that already haue bene in benefices if they wil be content to goe to their bokes afterward be employed vppon the ministerie let them be sent to the vniuersities or such like places and be prouided for by y colleâ—ges y they may procede in learning And you know not the store y God will raise you â—â— short time if you go about this godly purpose throughly Take order y those faithfull ministers which you haue may be placed in the greatest congregations And for the sacraments let those parishes that are yet vnprouided repair to the parishes next adioyning y are prouided of pastoâ—s that they may vse the sacraments as they ought not without the preaching of the word so that they be coÌ„tent to be examined allowed as in that churche wherto they shall resort they shall finde it ordered And in the meane whilâ— til preachers increase to furnish the places vnfurnished if vpon conference among the
learned it be thought meete let the places vnfurnished be appoynted some discrete man or to make some entier prayer publiquely wyth them for all the churche thys realme oure soueraigne the state and the particular occasioÌ„s of that congregation for suche prayer shoulde be made He maiestie and other that haue had the gift of benefices are to be desired to depart with it that in manner as afore the choise of the minister may be free without al corruption the minister being soughte and receyued for hys fytnesse only For the contrary cannot be continued without great tyrannie exercised ouer the Churche of God and many corruptions necessarily â—â—â—oent therupon Thus will I conclude desiring them that thinke I haue bene too round wyth the byshops and that sort to remember howe rounde they are with vs and how cruel and againe how iust my speach is and further how it concerneth them not any longer then they kepe thys trade no more then the vpbraiding of popishe priestes which toucheth not those which haue renouÌ„ced it and I desire those that amongste themselues haue a right remorse of God hys glory and the churches good to giue ouer that we may brotherly ioyne together and be holpen by the good giftes which God hath geueÌ„ them And we shal prayse God for them wyth all our heartes And oure admonitions oure God knoweth hathe no worse meaning And I beseeche him so to blesse our labour and those that deale in this his cause that though our sinnes deserue no increase yet for hys Christes sake pardoning vs we maye euery day be more and more lightned in godlye iudgemeÌ„t and stirred to embrace godlinesse that as we professe to be hys churche we may keepe hym our louing God and father and be kept by hym to be hys obedient seruauntes and sonnes here to serue hym after to inherite with him that crowne purchased and promised vnto vs of hys owne great vnspeakeable mercies in Christ hys sonne our deare sauioure euer to praise and magnifie hym in that eternall blessednesse and glory being God moste hyghe and vnsearchable in hys wisedome and iudgements To whom be all prayse power and dominion ascribed yeelded as is right and due nowe and for euer So be it Galath 6. 7. Be not deceiued God is not mocked for whatsoeuer a man soweth that shall he also reape â—ese mâ—t â—s necesâ—y to â—ther â—own theÌ„â—h 〈…〉 â—eÌ„tonly â—earâ— sayâ—th muche â—rt â—hat we â—ould be â—ad to atâ—yne â—o by â—is suche â—e bokes We haue too many enemies too much hatred already vndeserued Next dooâ— to haÌ„ging Bedlem Newgatâ— their suerâ— and fetteâ— their baÌ„dâ— The authors of tâ— former admonition no rebels our lawe â— by Gods lawe nâ—â—eâ—â—ers Eâ— â—ol â— pa. â— Two 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 against â–ª thâ— former admoniâ—ion â—icenses â— pluraliâ—s non reâ—ence and â—ch like liâ—ses vsed â—oÌ„gs vs a 〈…〉 anyâ—t fallyng â—ay from â—hriste â—eraduenâ—re he forâ—te hym â—fe â—at 18. â—auishe â—lke â—n answer wardes what theâ— dealyng will be is to be seen by that which the haue already donâ— in thys Poyntes to be thought of Seke examination stomacke Geneua Bible Vnpropeâ— applying of Chamâ— examyle Gen. 9. C ham a ribaulde Time serâ—ers take Chams â—rade Gen. 9. 23. These treâ—ses to hot â—r thys â—me aunâ—weared Gods matâ—ers not to â—e minsed Esay 58. â— 2. Esay 30. â— 10. 11. â—2 c. â—al 1. 10. Exod. 32. â—0 20. â— reg 18. â—8 27. Math. 3. â— 8. 9. â— cor 5. 13. Ih. 9. 10 â—at 15 23 â—ordes â—â—ed to the â—atter and â—t to serue â—ction Ioh. 17. 17 A good issue where matters of religioÌ„ are tried by thâ— worde of God it self A craft of the papists to aâ—ase the people with â— shew of authoritie An humbâ— request to her mâ—â—estiâ— Ill wil nâ—uer sayde well Rom. 13. Es 4â— â— 2. chr 19. 5. 6. 7. 8. 1. 〈◊〉 1. 2. 3. 4. Most assured subiectes A single eye a Gen. 4. 8. b Gal. 4. 29. c Ge. 27. 41. d Ge. 37. 23. e Exod. 12. 13. 14. f Iere. 26. 8â— g Ose 6. 8. h Am. 7. 10. i Math. 23. 13. 14. c. k Ioh. 11. 47 l mat 26. 48 m 2. Corinth 11. 26. n Math. 10. 14. 15. o Mat. 6. 33 p Ag. 1. 5. 6. q â—ze 33. 8. r â—at 15. 14 * vnderstaÌ„d this of the deuill as Ioh. 12. 31 Ih. 14. 30. Ephe. 6. 12 2. Cor. 44. Maâ— 2. 2. 3 Rom. 10. 2 Å¿ Leui. 10. 12 Ephe. 2. 20 t 1 Corrin 3. v Mat. 12 30 * Deu. 4. 4 Ios 1. 8. * Math. 11 â–ª 21. y 1. Th. 5 21 z Lu. 10 1â— More sayâ— for this boke then we say for the Bible Cruel persecution Acts. 15. 2 * Deut. 4. 2 Thus shal they be perplexed that follow meÌ„s heades *a 1. Cor. 7 23 Directe lawes agaynst papistes The cause that all 〈…〉 ches â—o noâ— agree Churches may differ in matters of order b Phil. 3. 16 c Eph. 4. 4. d Ro. 10. 14 Sufficient â—rouisyon for the minsteric e â— Cor. 9. 9. 10. 11. 12. c. Deu. 25. 4 â— Ti. 5. 18 Ro. 15. 27. Deu. 18. 1 f mal 3. 8. 9 bestowing of vniuersity liuings mat 10. 17 2. cor 2 67 Ministers maintnaÌ„ce is not to be recouered by excoÌ„munication Vnburdening of benefices Repealing of statutes Act. 1. 31. Act. 6. 3 Act. 14. 23 1. ti 3. 2. 7 Tit. 1. 6. The chusing of ministers 1. ti 4. 14. g mat 9. 38 h mat 18. 17 i Ephes 4â— 11. 12. 13. Two sorts of minysters only The difference of their offyces and wherein they are alyke The vse of the doctors office Vniuersitie doctors and bachilers of diuinitie Heathenish tradition h Mat. 23. 8 â–ª The vse of the pastors office and that it is requisite in euerye congregation The good that ensueth of the erecting of a ryghte ministerie L. bishops take farre more charge vpon them theÌ„ they are able to discharge Respects require â—ather two pâ—stors ouer one flocke then one ouer many n â— cor 9. 16. The pastor maye not â—eaue hys â—lock at hys â—wne pleaâ—ure Ih. 10. 11. Our course â— religyon â—estroyeth â—ys care of Chrystes â—ocke A good statute of y last parliameÌ„t taketh little effecte by y negligence and corruption of the Ordinaries as they call them Reading of Homilyes came in by abuse and maintenieth an â—ooll â—◠〈◊〉 o Ro. 10. 17 The ministery of faith is the preaching of the same p Ro. 10. 15 The waye to bring the ministerie â—nto credite â— estimatioÌ„ q Math. 23. â— 6. 7. 11. â—ur sauior orbiddeth â—ys minyâ—ers to seke â— be noted â— outward â—parel and â—uises The couetous abuses that are too common among the byshops Examination of y byshops doings very expedient The Bishops owne talke and extreme cruelties I wis you shall synde PrecisioÌ„s as you call them better subiects then these as bâ—d as you make them * Luke 22. 25. 26. * Apostles as worthy to
haue ben Lordes as our bishops but they might not being expresly forbidden it Of y lordship of byshops Luke 12. 13. 14. Ioh. 6. 15. Ih. 18. 36. mat 20. 28 mat 20. 27 If bishops â—oe take Lordshyp vpon them others are forbiddeÌ„ to â—iue it theÌ„ 1. Pet. 5. 3 Not one minister to meddle in anothers cure without order 1. Cor. 14 A conference Act. 8. 14. Act. 13. 2. Gala. 2 14 â—f Synode prouincial â—ationall â—â—nersall Ioh. 7. 51 Gal. 2. 14 Mat. 23. 8. 9. Mat. 17. 1. Th. 52 1. Ih. 4. 1 Galat. 1. Act. 15. 12 A comparison betweene the former description of the ministerie and the bishops order Prophane preachers Common places and A pothegmes Merye â—ales Flaunting preachers Long bags â—r 1. 24. â— 23. 8 â— 17. 5 18. 17 â—e him â—ell the â—h Persecâ— raised The mâ—tyrs in Mary oâ— dayes they sufred Turning y â— â—oke oâ— coÌ„â—ion prayer â— the ponâ—ficall unto â—ortuis laâ—iue to try y â— â—â—dgemÄ“â—s â—f y reforâ—ed churâ—hes conâ—rmng theÌ„â—equired There is no persecuâ—tion nâ—we â— they say â— reporte mâ— to these examples Vaine anâ— wicked oâ—iections Booke of common prayer In intollerable abuse of prayer Gloria patri Dominus vobiscum Oremus Kyrieleâ—soÌ„ Many pater nosters Mat. 6. 7. Reading prayers no praying In praying many guises takeÌ„ vp â— vsed rather of custome then of reason knowledge or coÌ„scieÌ„ce â–ª Reading â—t psalmes â—inging of 〈…〉 ers â—enedicâ—s â—agnifiâ— Anani 〈…〉 1. Pe. 4. 11 Collectes at the feast of the natiuitie and Whitiontite A Collecte on Bartho lomewe day Seruice for Lent â— shwedensday * A Commination * Deu. 27 13. 14. * Galat. 4. 9. 10. 11. Athanasius Creede Venite Confirmation A mannery sorte of ministers Iere. 6. 6. 17. 18. 9. 20. 21. Byshops theÌ„selues some of theÌ„ in heresies and some suspected The boke of Articles of christian religion The Crede in meter The humblâ— sute of a synner The last great Bible mat 23. 24 Consistorie wherof it coÌ„sisteth The ministers first 〈◊〉 Who the assistantes must be Howe the assistantes must be chosen wherefore thys consistorie serueth mat 18. 1â— Assent of their whole congregation 1. Tim. 5. 19. Disordeâ—ed cereâ—onies Necessary â—rders â—eude cuâ—omes They may not meddle wyth the ciuil magistrates offyce Vsurie Information and accoumpts of the deacons Who shuâ— repaire to the couÌ„sels for y churches affaires Of excommunicatioÌ„ Shutting out of the churche dore 1. Cor. 5. â— 10. â— Cor. 7. â—2 â—3 No punishment so grâ—uous in this world as ExcommunicatioÌ„ some sharâ— punishmeÌ„t would be prouided bâ— the ciuill magistrate for him y coÌ„temneth excommunication but with lessâ— charge theÌ„ a significauit What a deacon is Act. 6. 3. Luk. 11. 4. 3. h. 13. 29. â—â—t 6. 13. Phil. 1. 1. â— Tâ— 3. 8. The laste statute for the pore Widowes 1. tim 5. 5 â—ore stranâ—ers â—o be â—tyed * Mat. 18. 17. Num. 11. Deu. 31. â— 2. chr 19. â— SynedriuÌ„â— mat 5. 22 â–ª â— 1. tim 5. 1â— 1. Cor. 12. 28. Rom. 11. 6. 7. 8. Act. 14. 2 Act. 20. 1 Math. 18. 15. 16. 17. 2. Thes 3. 14. 15. 1. Cor. 5. 4. 5. 2. Cor. 2. 7. 8. 1. Cor. 11. 16. 1. Cor. 14. 40. Act. 15. What orâ—er wee â—aue and what oure â—ighe preâ—ates maye â—oe by their â—anâ—n lawe â— coÌ„missioÌ„ Bishop in Englande is the only name of a Lord minister but in scrypture â— is no lordeâ— name at all â–ª â—nchaste â—leading A large scope Conuocatio house Clarkes of the parliament house Clarkly deuinâ—s Appeale Vrgent causes The sâ—xe Articles The magistrates authoritie and the lawes we flie to Quarellous iustices Certaine obiectious answered What prayer should be made Patrons presentations iâ—stituâ—ions inductions now vsed must cease CERTAINE Articles collected and taken as it is thought by the Byshops our of a litle boke entituled an admonition to the Parliament wyth an Answere to the same Containing a confirmation of the sayde Booke in shorte notes Esay 5. 20. Woe be vnto them that speake good of euill and euill of good whych put darknesse for light and light for darknesse that putte bytter for sweete and sweete for sower The Prynter to the Reader Thys worke is fynished thankes be to God And he only wil keepe vs from the searchers rod. And though master Day and Toy watch warde We hope the liuing God is our sauegarde Let them seeke loke and doe now what they can It is but inuentions and pollicies of man. But you wil maruel where it was fynished And you shal know perchance when domes day is ended Imprinted we know where and whan Iudge you the place and you can I. C. I. S