marche the fiftene men meete againe vpoÌ„ certeine Articles to whiche excepte one whiche maister Horne and M. Chambers would not subscribe they al subscribed A litle before our departure it was thought profitable that those thinges which we had collected and agreed vppon shulde be brought in to a certeine forme of a booke adding either owte off the olde discipline or by occasion as we were gatheringe theis thiÌ„ges together such things as might seeme profitable Maister horne and maister Chambers beinge intreated that they would gather those things in suche sorte or ells be present to conferre withe other that reade Maister Horne answerethe that he woulde not neither that there was any suche neede The 16. daie of marche they met againe in the churche and there a certeine bill in whiche were writen certeine articles tendinge to discipline is exhibited vnto them that amonge the fiften it might be deliberated vpon and debated maister Isaac spake many things verie sharplie against one Article as verie daungerous and perilous againste those good men through whose liberalitie the poore off the church were susteined and makinge wise as thoughe he woulde knowe the matter better he requested the bil whiche beinge reached vnto him he putteth it vp in his bosome neither woulde he geue it againe And so by this meanes he tooke away the matter for vs to worke vpon sith that we had no other copie Afterwarde the booke in whiche those thinges were written that were agreed vppon amonge the 15. and certeine thinges owte off the olde discipline and other also were gathered in to some order was brought owte amoÌ„ge them to be consulted vpon and beinge redd maister Horne and Maister Chambers fyrste off all complained that booke was gathered they not wittinge theroff and had byn longe beatten vppon amonge certeine of them and therfore that it was reason that a copie shuld be geuen to them and to maister Isaac and a farther tyme also to delyberate maister Isaac affirmed that he neded 2. monethes or one at the leaste to consider off that booke It was answered that although Maister Horne and Chambers complained that they were not admitted to the collectinge off the booke in that they did vs wronge for beinge of vs therunto required they refused it and left it to others In that they required a copie it semed vniuste seinge that the church had decreed that we the 15. shulde debate togâ—ther as concerninge the writinge off the discipline for that thinge tended againe to a newe dissention Againe that they required so longe a tyme to deliberate and especially Maister Isaac it was moste vniuste For seinge the marte was nowe at hande it was profitable or rather necessarie that oure churche shulde with spede be established and oure ministers elected leaste to oure great infamie men comminge hâ—ther owte off all Europe they might also se the broyles off oure churche and so spread them farr abroad amoge all nations more ouer that it woulde fall owte to the great hurte off the poore yff godly men being offended with oure dissentions beinge before beneficiall to the poore withdrawe nowe their liberalitie and that â—herforee there was nede off spedie helpe in pacifiynge and quietinge the churche before the marâ—e beinge nowe at hande Maister Horne answereth that he requireth not to muche tyme 2. or 3. daies shulde be enough for him to delâ—berate notwithstandinge that the copie ought to be graunted for no lesse tyme seinge many thinges were conteined in that booke and some also darke and dowtefull thinges and to him before that tyme vnharde off or at the least vnknowen and that therfore he requested that all shulde be asked maÌ„ by maÌ„ whither they thought not this reasonable aÌ„d iuste that he required For if to the moste it shulde seeme reasonable he would at anie hande hauie a copie off that booke Euery man therfore was asked beginninge at Maister Bentham he aswell forthe causes before alleadged as also that no occasion off wranglinge might arise off the booke and leaste the booke shulde come to the handes off anye other before it were brought to the congregation and for certeine other causes thought it not meete that anie copie shulde be geuen to anie but that the booke shulde be brought foorthe amonge them and all they hearing it that were appointed off the congregation it shulde be after read and that tyme enoughe shulde be geuen to stande vpon euerie decree and sentence and more exactly to examin them and that this seemed to him very iuste and reasonable And this iuâ—gement is condescended to off all the reste and so Maister Horne leaueth off from requestinge the copie Afterwardes the booke is begonne to be redd from the beginnige and in examininge off euerie off the decrees longe time is spente and off some articles in the beginninge mutche disputation and debatinge is had But Maister Horne Maister Chambers and Isaac beinge asked their iudgemeÌ„ts would not answere no not in the moste plainesâ—e maters and knoweÌ„ of all men either to allowe or disalowe as for exaÌ„ple There was one article we professe the selfsame doctrine which is conteined in the Canonicall bookes off all the holie scripture to witt in the bookes off the olde and newe Testamente in whiche is conteined fullie all doctrine necessary for oure saluation To this and suche other beinge moste plaine and manifeste maister Horne answered as to all thother that he woulde answere nothinge with owte great deliberation By whiche his doinges he gaue occasion to all men to wonder And so some other decrees off that booke beinge examined a meetinge off the 15. was appointed againste the nexte daie and so they departed The nexte daie beinge the 17. off march and againe the daie folowinge beinge 18. twelue off the 15. mette For Maister Isaac Maister Horne and Chambers came not Vpon bothe daies the discipline was more diligently read and examined and off eleuen off them whiche were appointed alowed and subscribed vnto Vpon the 20. daie off marche the discipline was offred to the whole congregation that it might of them either in the whole or in parte be alowed or disalowed and the same daie was it twise reade ouer After the readinge Maister Horne and Maister Chambers require a copie off the discipline that at their leasure they might farther deliberate vpoÌ„ it It was answered that it was to be opeÌ„ly read and reade againe bothe to them and others as often as they woulde with time ynough geueÌ„ to euery man more diligently to examine euerie Artikle but seinge the Magistrate had commaunded that we shulde exhibite to them a copie off the discipline turned in to laten so soone as possible might be Therfore we durste not scatter any copice before the Magistrate had seene it Besydes that we feared leaste Maister Horne and Maister Chambers Who were amonge the 15. appointed off the churche for the writinge off the discipline who might also when they woulde not onely he are the discipline but also examine the same diligently
he saied onely by warrant of mans authoritie and no grownde in godds worde for the same and had also a longe tyme verye superstitiously in the masse byn wickedly abused But yff he might not be suffred to minister the Sacraments accordinge to his conscience he then requested that some other might minister the Sacraments and he woulde onely preache Iff nether coulde be admitted be besought them that he might be discharged But to that the congregation woulde in no wise consente Whiles these things were thus in handlinge came maister Leuer before elected who assemblinge the congregation requested that he might withe their consentes appointe suche an order as shulde be bothe Godly withowt respecte off the Booke off Geneua or anye other requestinge farther that for so muche as that office was off so great importaunce aÌ„d that he had not byn in the like before that he might betweene that and Easter haue a triall off them and they off him and so at the ende off that terme either take or refuse whiche time off triall as it was willingly graunted him so when they vnderstoode that the order whiche he woulde place and vse was not altogether suche as was fit for a right reformed churche they woulde in nowise yelde to the same Knox whittingham and others perceyuinge that theis beginnings woulde growe to some what yff it were not staid in time drewe forthe a platt off the whole booke off England into the lattin tonge sendinge the same to maister Caluin off Geneua and requestinge his iudgement therin and shewinge him that some off their countrie men went abowte to force them to the same and woulde admit no other sayinge that it was an order moste absolute and that yff euer they came in to their countrie they woulde do their beste to establishe it againe Nowe folowethe the description A description off the Liturgie or booke off seruice that is vsed in Englande FIrste off all morninge praier offreth it selff The minister hauinge put on a white garment whiche they call a surplesse beginninge withe some sentence off holie scripture as for example â–ª yff we shall saie that we haue no sinne we deceyue oure selues c. or some suche of like sorte Then he takethe in harde the exhortat on whiche stirreth vp to a confession off synnes whiche the minister pronounceth with a loude voice the people sainge after him To this is added an absolution and when these thinges are done he rehersethe the lordes praier and afterward lorde open thow my lyppes and my mouthe shall shewe forth thy praise O god be redie to be my helpe c. Then come and let vs singe vnto th Lorde c. By and by also there folowe 3. Psalmes together at th ende off euery one Then foloweth the first lesson whiche conteinethe a whole chapiâ—er off the olde Testament After this lesson they saie or singe we praise â—he lorde or Blessed be the Lorde c. Then an other lesson owte off the Newe testamente vnlesse peraduenture the solemnization off some highe feast haue other set and apointed lessons Nowe in cathedrall churches they vtter their lessons in plaine songe and theÌ„ afterwards is Benedictus added This booke warnethe that they keepe this order through owte the whole yere Afterwards the crede is pronounced by the Minister all the people in the meane tyme staÌ„ding vp Afterwards fallinge downe vppon their knees the Minister saithe The Lorde be with yow The answere And with thy spirite Then Lorde haue mercy vppon vs Christe haue mercy vppon vs Lorde haue mercy vppon vs c. our father c. pronounced owte alowde off all with all boldnesse Then the Minister when he standeth vpp saithe o lorde shewe vs thy mercy The answere and geue vnto vs thy sauinge helthe O Lorde saue the king In the day wherin we shall call vppon thee Iuduâ— thy Ministers withe righteousnes And make thy chosen people ioyfull O Lorde saue thy people And blesse thyne inheritaunce Geue peace in our tyme o Lorde c. At lenghtâ— Collects are had â—n place off a conclusion the firste for the daie the seconde for peace the laste is for the obteininge off Grace Nowe the eueninge praiers are saide 〈◊〉 manner as the other are sauinge that after the firste lessen foloweth my soule doth magnifie the lorde After the 2. lessen Now Lorde c. and in steed off that collect God whiche arte the Author off peace is vsed o God from whom all holie desiers c. besides there is caution added that all Ministers shall exercise them selues continually aswell in morninge praiers as eueninge praiers except perhapp by studie in dyuinitie or some other busynes they be greatly and necessarely let or hindred· Besides vppon euery Sabothe daie wensdaie and fridaie there is yet in vse certeine suffrages deuised off Pope Gregory whiche beginnethe after this manner O God the father off heauen haue mercy vppon vs miserable synners O God the sonne redemer off the worlde c. onely leauinge owte the inuocation off saincts otherwise we vse a certaine coniuringe off god By the misterie off his incarnation by his holy natiuitie and circumcision by his haptisme fastinge and temptation by his agonie and bloudie sweate c. yea it comprehendethe in plaine wordes a praier to be deliuered from suddain deathe the people answeringe to the ende off euery clause either spare vs good lorde or ells Good Lorde deliuer vs or we beseche thee to heare vs Good Lorde O Lambe off God that taketh awaie the sinnes off the worlde is thrise repeated Then Lorde haue mercy vpon vs thrise and then the Lords praier with this praier also o Lord deale not with vs after our sinnes to the same adioined passinge ouer some things least we shulde seeme to syfte all those drosses which remaine still amonge vs. Nowe the manner off the supper is thus The nomber off three at the leaste is counted a fitt nomber to communicate and yet it is permitted the pestilence or some other common siknes beinge amonge the people the Minister alone maie communicate withe the sicke man in his house First therfore the Minister muste be prepared after this manner in a whit lynnin garmente as in sayinge the other seruice he is apointed and muste stande at the Northeside off the Table Then is had the Lords praier after the custome then he reciteth the collect and after folowe in order the ten commaundements but so notwithstanding that euery one off the people maye answere lorde haue mercy vpon vs and inclyne oure hartes to keepe this lawe After the rehersall off the commandements the collect off the daie as it is called and an other for the kinge is had By and by the Epistle and Gospell folowethe to witt suche as the callender apointethe for that daie And there in this place there is a note that euerie holy daye hathe his collect Epistle and Gospell whiche fill 73. great leaues off the booke â— when the reste fill scarse fiftie For all holy daies
determination and beinge admonished theroff by the Seniors off the congregation he with the rest that came withe him made answere that they woulde do as they had donne in Englande and that they would haue the face off an English churche And the sundaie folowinge one off his company withowt the consent and knowledg off the congregation gate vpp suddainly into the pulpit redd the lettany and D. Cox withe his companie answered alowde wherby the determination off the churche was broken The same sundaie at after noone it came to maister Knox his turne to preache who hauinge passed so farre in Gen. that he was come to Noah as he laie open in his tente he spake theis wordes folowinge As diuers thinges saithe he ought to be kepte secret euen so suche thinges as end to the dishonor off God and disquieting of his churche ought to be disclosed and openly reproued And therupon he shewed howe that after longe trouble and contention amonge them a godly agremente was made and howe that the same that daie was vngodly broken whiche thinge became not as he saied the prowdest off them all to haue atteÌ„pted alleadginge furthermore that like as by the worde off God we muste seeke oure warrant for the establishing off religion and withowt that to thruste nothinge into anie Christian congregation so for as muche as in the Englishe booke were thinges bothe superstitious vnpure and vnperfect which he offred to proue before all men he would not consent that off that churche it shulde be receiued and that in case men woulde go abowte to burthen that free congregation therwith so ofte as he shulde come in that place the texte offringe occasion he woulde not faile to speak againste it He farther affirmed that amonge manye thinges whiche prouoked godds anger againste EnglaÌ„de slacknes to reforme religion when tyme and place was graunted was one And therfore it became them to be circuÌ„specte howe they laid their foundation And where some men ashamed not to saie that there was no let or stopp in Englande but that Religion might be and was already brought to perfection he proued the contrary by the wante off discipline Also by the troubles which maister Hooper Sustained for the Rochet and such like in the booke commanded and allowed And for that one man was permitted to haue 3.4 or 5. benefices to the great slaunder off the gospell and defraudinge off the flock off Christe off their liuely foode and sustenaunce These were the chieff notes off his sermon whiche was so stomaked off some especially off suche as had many liuinges in Englande that he was verye sharplie charged and reproued so soone as he came owte off the pulpit for the same The twesdaie folowinge was appointed to talke off thies thinges more at large When all were assembled earneste requeste was made that D. Coxe with his companie might be admitted to haue voices in the congregation Answere was made by others that the matter yet in controuersie amonge them ought firste to be determined SecoÌ„dly that they shuld subscribe to discipline as others had don before them and farther yt was greatly suspected that they had byn some off them at masse in Englande and others had subscribed to wicked articles as one off them shortly after euen in the pulpit sorowfully confessed For theis considerations and suche like The congregation withstoode the admission off D. Coxe and his companie â–ª Knox'at â—aste began to make intretie that they might haue their â—oâ—ces amonge the reste to whose requeste when certeine had yelded they then became the greater parte and so were by them admitted as members off the churche They thus admitted by the moste parte D. Coxe foorthwith forbad Knox to meddle anye more in that congregation The nexte daie beinge wensdaie whittingham wente to Maister Iohn Glauburge who was the chieff meane in obtaininge the churche and brake the matter vnto him declaringe howe that certeine nowe come owte off Englande had forbidden their minister apointed to preache that daie and intended to set vpp an other whiche he dowted woulde not be well taken And therfore leaste anie inconuenâ—ence shulde happe he thought good to make him priuie therto Wherupon the saied Magistrat sent immediatlie and gaue coÌ„maundement that ther shulde be no sermon that daie Afterwarde he sent for Valeran the frenche Minister commaundinge him that 2. lerned men shulde be appointed off either parte and that he and they shulde consulte and agree vppon some good ordre and to make report vnto him accordingly Then were apointed D. Cox and leuer off the one side and knox and whâ—ttingham on the otherside To decide the matter Valeran was appointed to put downe in writinge what they shulde agree vpon But when in this conference they came to the order off Mattins and that D. Coxe saide Ego volo habere there coulde be no agrement amonge them and so brake off wherupon the congregation drew vp a supplication in latten and presented it to the saied maister Glauburge requestinge him to be a meane that the same might be considered off amonge the Senators The Englishe wheroff was as folowethe The supplication to the Senate Let it not molest yow moste graue and worthie Senators that your affayers are letted with a fewe wordes And leaste we shulde trouble yow with prolixitie yow shall vnderstande the matter briefly When your great and vnspeakable humanitie through the prouidence of god had graunted vs a churche we vndertooke forthwith as became vs to consulte abowte the orders off the same and to set owâ—â— Liturgie And bicause we sawe that in the prolixe and Ceremonious booke of the liturgie of Englande be manie thinges that we maie speake no worse off it not moste perfecte it seemed beste to reduce it to the perfecte rule off the scriptures and to accommodate our selues to the ensamples off that churche where in we teache and to whom we haue subscribed But when this enterprise offended some off oure countriemen althoughe the greatest nomber agreed vnto vs for that we woulde decline from the decrees off our elders here vppon there grewe to vs for a fewe monethes no small trouble At the lenght wheÌ„ there appeared no ende for peace and concordes sake we gaue place to their will and suffred them at their pleasure to pike owte off their booke the chiefest or beste thinges vpon this condition that the same shulde continewe with owte alteration at the leaste vnto the laste daie off Aprill at the whiche daie iff there shulde anie newe contention arise that then all the matter shulde be referred to these 5. notable men Calvin Musculus Martir Bullinger vnd Viret What nedethe manie wordes This condition was willingly accepted and the couenaunte rated on bothe partes A writinge was also theroff to testifie the promesse made off the one to the other Moreouer thankes were geuen to god withe great ioye and common praiers were made for that men thought that daie to be th ende off discorde
in ministers and Elders whiche is described for other offenders and to be donne towardes them rather with more seueritie Now folowith the Discipline reformed and confirmed by the authoritie off the churche and magistrate IT is moste cumlie and godly that Christian people resorte together in place and tyme therunto by common consent appointed yff the persecution off the vngodly will suffer the same and they themselues haue no vrgent cause to the contrary there to heare the pure doctrine off Gods worde taught and them selues openly with their presence and voice to declare the consent off their hartes to the same and to confesse with their mouthe agreablely their belieff and faith vpon god and his holy worde according to the scriptures The congregation thus assembled is a particuler visible churche such as maye be in diuers places off the worlde verye manye And all theis particuler churches ioyned together not in place for that is not possible but by the coniunction off true doctrine and faithe in the same do make one whole churche in this worlde And the electe off God that be in this whole churche and euery parte theroff with all the elect that hath byn from the beginninge off the worlde and shall be to the ende theroff doo altogether make that holy catholike and Apostolike churche the spouse off oure sauiour christe wchiche he hathe purified to him selff in his blood wheroff mention is made in the creede I beleue one holie Catholike and Apostolike churche But at this present oure consideration muste be off the visible and particuler churche The signes and notes off a visible churche are thies Firste true and goldly doctrine Secondly the right ministration and vse off the Sacramentes and common praier Thirdly honest and godly liffe yff not in the whole multitude yet in manie off them fourthly discipline that is the correction off vices but the 2. firste notes are suche as withowt the whiche no forme off anie godly visible churche can possibly be Wherfore they be the principall and chieff notes And therfore we define a particuler churche visible to be the congregation off Christen men whither they be fewe or many assemblinge together in place and time conuenient to heare Christes true Doctrine taught to vse his holy Sacramentes rightly and to make their common praier together in the whiche their appearethe a studie off honest aÌ„d godlye liffe and which hathe in it a godly discipline that is to saye ordinaunces and decrees Ecclesiasticall for the preseruation off comely order and for the correction off vices Off the doctrine off the churche which is the first note The Doctrine whiche we holde and professe in oure church is the same that is taught in the canonicall bookes off the holie bible conteininge the olde testamente and the newe in the whiche is conteined the true and liuelie worde off god and the doctrine off helthe bothe as concerninge faithe and godly liffe at full sufficient for the saluation off all the faithfull that vnfainedly beleue therin The summe off the whiche as concerninge faithe is briefly and truly comprehended in the 3. creeds the common creede commonly called the creed off the Apostells the Nicene creed and the crede off Athanasius And as concerninge godly liffe in the ten commaundementes written in the xx chapter off Exodus Off the Sacramentes and common praier the second note We obserue ad kepe the forme and order off the ministraon off the sacramentes and common praier as it is set foorh by the authoritie off the blessed kinge Edwarde off famous memorye in the laste booke off the English seruice Wheroff notwithstanding in the respecte off tymes and places and other circumstances certeine rites and ceremonies appointed in the sayed booke as thinges in different maie be left owte as we at this present doo The times and houres for the teachinge and hearing off goddes worde and the ministration off the sacramenâ—es and and saying and hearing of the coÌ„mon praier such as be nowe vsed or shall heare afâ—er by common coÌ„sent be thought moste meete to be vsed are to be kept and obserued off all men not hauing lauful cause to the contrary Off the Ministers off the worde Sacra ments and common praier It is thought expedient for the churche at this present to haue 2. Ministers or teachers off the worde elected off dotrine and godly liffe such as the rule off the scripture dothe requyre as muche as maie be And that the sayde 2. Ministers and teachers off the worde shall in all things and points be off like authorite and neither off them superior or inferior to other Item that the saied 2. Ministers shall by themselues or fit persons by them and the Seniors in the name off the whole congregation to be appointed when necessarie cause shall so requyre preach the ordinarie Sermons on wensdaies thursdayes and sondaies before noone and after noone instruct and Heare the examination off the youthe in the Catechisme on sondaye in the after noone at the howre accustomed and shall by them selues or other appointed persons as is afore sayed Minister the Sacramentes dewly saye the common prayers distinctly viset and comfort the sick specially at their last tyme and howre off deathe bury the dead comely and obserue all other comely rites and vges in the churche directing all their behauiour actes and life according to the rule off off their vocation set foorth in the holie scriptures Item that sixe either fewer or more as the habilitie off the churche wilâ— beare such as be godly and haue nede off the helpe off the churche be appointed by the Ministers and Seniors in the name off the whole congregation Wheroff 4. to be well lerned who shall reade and expownde the chapters and shall helpe the two ministers off the worde when nede shall require in the doctrine off the worde Catechisinge off youthe Ministringe off the Sacramentes sainge off common praier and the other two or moo shall ayde also the sayed ministers Seniors and Deacons in visitinge off the sick and seinge to strangers and in callinge off the congregation when nede shall be and in all other necessarie and comelie thinges and rytes to be done in the churche Notwithstandinge anie other godly and lerned men whiche lyue off them selues and be not burthenus to the churche maye helpe the Ministers off the worde in the aboue named Ecclesiastical functions iff they themselues so will and be ther vnto called by the saied ministers and Seniors Item for the further instruction off youâ—he and seruants it is thought good that besides the examination off children in the Catechisme ordinarely vsed the said children and seruants with the whole congregation shulde be all presente at oure ordinarie sermon to be made purposely for them on sondayes at afternoone so lernedly that it be yet for their capacitie most plaine and with all possible perspecuâ—tie and that one tenor off Christian doctrine from the beginninge to the ende be obserued and kepte in