of this Family and their doctrine subscribed with his owne hand is this About the third yeare of Q. Maries raigne An. 1555. at Michaelmas or not much after I Henry Crinell of Willingham in the County of Cābridge came to the towne of Colchester where I happened into a cōmon Inne The cause of my repayre thether at that tyme was that I was desirous to prouide that my conscience should not be entangled with the Popish pitch And beyng then there I met with diuers of myne acquaintaunce as also with straungers who came thether to conferre concernyng the safetie of their conscience where William Rauen of S. Iues who came thether at that tyme with me was my bedfellow hauyng likewise fled beyng in daunger for Religion There we founde at our commyng thether one Christopher Vitels a Ioigner who so farre as I could at that tyme learne held many straunge opinions and also taught diuers pointes of doctrine scarce soūd and to me before vnheard of The which Ioigner as he thē priuily dissembled so since he hath bene noted openly for his runnyng witte and curious phantasies beyng as it seemed weary of his occupation left his craft of Ioigning and tooke vnto him a new trade of lyfe so that of a simple scholer he became a great and learned Scholemaister of the doctrine of a man who liued as he sayd beyond the seas an holy life and an vpright conuersation This man he praysed very much and reported many wonderfull thyngs of his Angellike behauiour whom afterwardes I vnderstode to be one Henry Nicholas a Mercer of Delph in Holland The especiall pointes of Hereticall doctrine that the sayd Ioigner did then and there teach were these 1. Children ought not to be Baptised vntill they come to yeares of discretion 2. He founde fault with the Letany in the booke of Common prayer set forth in King Edwardes tyme affirming that it was not the right seruice of God. 1. Because it was sayd God the Sonne redeemer of the world for sayth he Christ is not God. 2. Because it was sayd Haue mercy vpō vs miserable sinners for the godly sinne not sayth hee and therefore neede they not to vse that prayer He affirmed also that the Pope was not Antichrist but he which doth not that which Gods law commaundeth neither fulfilleth the requiring therof he is Antichrist so are there many Antichristes Furthermore at the same tyme one Iohn Barry seruaunt to M. Laurence of Barnehall in Essex came to the same Inne to reason with the Ioigner about the Diuinitie of Christ whom Vitels denied to be god After they had entred cōference Iohn Barry alledged out of the 2. chap. 5. verse of S. Paule to the Phillipiās Let the same mynde be in you which was in Christ Iesus who beyng in the forme of God thought it no robbery to be equall with God c. Yea quoth Vitels the same mynde must be in you which was in Christ the same mynde must be in you which was in Christ that there he stopped him which wordes so oftē he repeated that thereby he put Barry to silence blankt him so that he had not a word to say to the great offence of diuers but especially of ij women Gospellers which came with Barry to heare him and Vitels conferre about that matter And to say the truth Vitels babling did so astonish diuers there present and my selfe also that I was fully mynded to go to Oxford to aske coūsaile of Byshop Ridley M. Latimer cōcernyng that matter had I not met with some man to satisfie my conscience in the meane season The truth of the report of this conference I referre vnto the remembraunce of the sayd Iohn Barry him selfe if he be aliue as to others also who were present at that conflict The whiche Ioigner since that tyme wandryng vppe and downe the Countrey to visite his Disciples came to the Towne of Willingham where I dwell and sent forme to come and speake with hym at an Alehouse but I sent hym word that I would not come at hym nor haue to doe with him This is very true and so I testifie with myne owne hand By me Henry Orinell of Willingham Thus seest thou gentle Reader so much as yet hath come to my handes concernyng this matter simply set downe to the whiche if the Familie shall reply First that this belongeth nothyng vnto them I aunswere This chiefly doth concerne Vitels their Elder and chief Patriarch who is a great Doctour of their Louely secte and such Doctour such doctrine such tree such fruite c. Secondly if they shall reply that this doctrine was taught by Vitels lōg since and since by him recanted openly and vpon harty repentaunce which then he shewed he hath bene receiued into the Churche and needeth not now to be feared for teachyng of any such doctrine I aunswere albeit the Famely deny that euer he recanted yet seyng many witnesses aliue can auouch it to be true if he since haue bene sory from his hart and vppon his repentaunce be restored into the Church God make him to be a member not a molester of the Church least in the end his repentaunce proue not to be as the sorrow of Simon Magus but as Simon Peters who earnestly and with teares bewayled the deniall of his Maister to whom sith he standeth or falleth I will not iudge him the Lord make hym both to bee and to continue of the number of his children Amen ¶ Notes vpon the booke entituled Euangelium regni gathered by the Reuerend father in Christ I. Y. Byshop of Rochester with the aunswere of the Familie vnto the sayd Notes AS the Latin a is meane so is the stile or b maner of writyng darke and obscure in many places and although the Author had not set to his name yet it should seeme to be of some Friers doyng or some other that fauored the Church of Rome Aunswere of the Familie of Loue. FOr a the first part where ye take exception at the meannes of the Latin which yet perhaps ye would hardly match much lesse better it all thynges considered methinkes ye might out of reasonablenes consider that the meannes of the Latin in any worke is not any hinderaunce to a right and good matter for the more common the Latin is the easier it is to be vnderstanded of the simple Clerkes and therefore that is not worthy of note to take exception at for the single and lowly mynded respect more the intent of a matter then the florished stile or speach c. b Secondly whereas ye finde fault at the obscuritie and darcknes of the Authors writyng I might aunswere that it might séeme so much the more to be the same that it geueth forth it selfe for videl a worke procéedyng from the spirite of the Lord and therfore hard to be vnderstode of all myndes of the flesh and out of the industrious prudencie of the manly
waxed so heate and such dayly dauÌ„ger honge ouer their heades that professed the sinceritie of the Gospel So scorchyng was the flame of those most bloudy tymes that those men whoÌ„ the world was not woorthy of some of them were tryed by bondes and Imprisomnentes some of them by most bitter tormentes of Fire and Fagot such imminent and present perill abode those who professed them selues to be fauorers of Christes truth Which great distresse and calamitie draue diuers of the Children of God to wander from place to place not hauyng where they durst at any tyme rest long together In the which tyme of their continuall tossing sometymes they had ease and comfort by their feruent Prayers and by the participation of the blessed word Sacramentes they got some space to breath them agaynst that fiery triall which hourely they looked for Neither had this affliction albeit it was mighty bene so greuous if Sathan there had stayd his rage but his priuate hatred long concealed brake forth into open enmitie who beyng an old Dragon and subtle Serpent dayly raysed vp some which priuily spake peruerse thynges entanglyng the simple sorte and drawyng such weakelynges after them as they dayly met withall to be their Disciples The auÌ„cient and famous Towne of Colchester was in the troublesome tyme of Queene Maries persecution a sweete and and comfortable mother of the bodyes and a tender nourse of the soules of Gods children which towne was the rather at that tyme frequented because it aforded many godly and zealous Martyrs whiche continually with their bloud watered those seedes whiche by the preachyng of the worde had bene sowne most plentifully in the hartes of Christians in the dayes of good Kyng Edward This towne for the earnest profession of the Gospell became like vnto a Citie vpon an hill and as a candle vpon a candlesticke gaue great light to all those who for the comfort of their conscience came to conferre there from diuers places of the Realme and repairyng to common Innes had by night their Christian exercises whiche in other places could not be gotten For proofe whereof I referre the Reader vnto that whiche is truely reported by M. Foxe in his booke of Actes and Monumentes that at the kynges head in Colchester and at other Innes in the sayd Towne the afflicted Christians had set places appointed for theÌ„ selues to meete at where least Sathan should bee thought to bee idle or his venemous or deadly hatred agaynst Christes poore afflicted members should seeme to bee lesse then his open professed enmitie hee styrred vp diuers Schismaticall spirites whiche euen in that great trouble of the Church sought to be teachers of that wherof they had no vnderstandyng and thereby turned the knowledge of Gods testimonies which in many of them though it was small yet somewhat to vayne and contentious â—anglyng whereby the deare Saintes of God were not a litle disquieted at such tyme especially as some of them beyng coÌ„demned to death looked to tast of the same cup whiche had bene in full measure powred out vnto their brethren For not onely in the priuate assemblies of the godly did these spider catchers swarme together to peruert the right wayes of the Lord but also in diuers prisons in London they kept a continuall haunt where they scattered their deuilish cocle of abhominable Heresie among such as were committed for the loue of the Gospell For the testimony of the truth hereof vouchsafe good reader to read the booke of M. Foxe before alledged where hee reporteth the letter of a wicked Promoter named Thom. Tye the Popish Priest of Muchebently and Steuen Norish a false Iudas and betrayer of Gods Saintes in the tyme of their trouble where he vseth these wordes There is sayth this popish priest one Iohn Kempe and Henry Harte who is the principall of all those that are called Frewil meÌ„ for so they are termed of the Predestinators the sayd Harte hath drawen out xiij Articles to be obserued among his company and as farre as I do beleue there comes none in their brotherhode except he be sworne The other Iohn Kempe is a great trauailer abroad in Kent what his doctrine is I am not hable to say Hetherto M. Foxe And that thou mayest know the better what this Henry Harte was consider I pray thee what is reported of him Where that zealous and faythfull seruaunt of God Iohn Careles in his examination by Doctor Martin verifieth that to bee true whiche in the former place those two were burdened withall by Steuen Norish Of this Henry Harte sayth Iohn Careles it had bene good for him if he had neuer bene borne for many a simple foule hath hee shamefully seduced beguiled and deceiued with his soule Pelagian opinion both in the dayes of kyng Edward and since his departure This Harte write a Confutation of certaine Articles of Christian Religion writte by Iohn Careles and sent vnto William Tyms prisoner in the Kynges Benche The companions also of the same Henry was one M. Gibson who sought to peruert turne froÌ„ the truth xij godly ChristiaÌ„s which were Martyred Of this vngracious coÌ„pany also was one Trewe of Kente who albeit before for the truthes sake he lost his cares for perswadyng the people from goyng to Masse yet afterward happenyng into the coÌ„pany of Pelagians he became deadly enemy to good Iohn Careles as appeareth by Careles his examination whiche he with his owne hand penned before he dyed in prison as in this booke of Martyrs is to be sene at large Now if any man will demaunde what is this to the Familie agaynst whom ye purposely mynde to deale I aunswere that from this preseÌ„t yeare in the which this happened the doctrine of HN. began to pepe out and although it haue a more louely name then the Heresies of the Libertines Anabaptistes and Pellagians had yet it is to him that is disposed to see very certaine by that coÌ„parison which in this booke followeth of all the sectes that the grouÌ„d of all these Heresies were brought into England by Christopher Vitels and his complices out of Delph in Dutchland where it had bene happy for our English Church if with the first Brokers thereof they had bene buryed and forgotten Theire doctrine was then 1. The godly haue in them selues free will to do good 2. They could not away with Predestination Neither caÌ„ this Louely Family abide the most blessed and comfortable doctrine of Predestination as is apparauntly to be sene in their first Epistle to M. Rogers where they vtter this deuilish blasphemous speach Your brethren in Christ for their good faythes cause they haue in your licentious doctrine of Predestination and free election fill all the prisons almost in England But to adde somewhat which is hable by the mouth of a liuyng witnes to be iustified who in Q. Maries tyme was present at the brochyng of this doctrine by Vitels the Ioygner his testimonie
handled more at large And though that those which know not Theophilus bringing vp may by vnséemely and vnciuile speach thinke it to haue ben very rude in that at the first stoppe he breatheth out into this homely phrase that is vntrue and ye vtterly shame your selfe yet being somewhat acquainted and hauing as his phrase is an experimentall knowledge of his modestie I toke him better then he meaneth not measuring him by his owne elwand For I wot well it alwayes will be truth that the ould Oratour sayth to his frend Qui semel vericundiae fines transiliuerit c. He that once hath raunged without the listes of honestye he without all hoe must néedes be impudent To proue that I haue vnderstode amisse and falsified HN. his meaning in my places which I haue set downe Theophilus referreth me to the Lamentable complaint to the same sect which I quoted before thinking belike the if I looked againe I should finde it otherwise in the section 6.7 The words that I misliked in that place are these Euen as partely that same is well knowen and become manifest vnto vs of certaine namely of those which are the auncientest in the scripturlearnednes or principallest in the Ceremonye seruice which haue made vp themselues agaynst the truth of Gods testimonies and his promises agaynst the holy spirite of Christ and agaynst the Loue c. This place whome HN. in playne wordes auoucheth that the Auncientest that is the Bishops and reuerend Fathers and preachers of the word in the Scripture learnednes the principallest in the Ceremonye seruice c. is that wherewith I charged him The same is more euidently also to be sene 1. Exhor cap. 15. sentence 8. and 10. c. which is a slaunderous and a blasphemous section which because it is tedious I refraine to set downe verbatim after HN. his copie And Chapt. 16. sent 3. For certaine take in hand vse out of the imagination of the knowledge whereon they set their hartes at peace false God seruices which they notwithstandyng institute or bryng in for true God seruices Religions Lawes and Commaundementes of God and plant the same knowledge into the people as though they ought of right to be obedient thereunto And sent 14. Dare any man teach or set forth any thyng through the imagination of the knowledge whether he then haue taken on the same out of the learnednesse of the Scriptures or out of his good thinking wisedome as a word or Commaundement of the Lord or yet to institute any seruices out of the letter of the Scripture accordyng to his good thinking and so to plucke or make subiect the hartes of men to dissention thereunder c. sent 15. 16. By all the which places it is manifest what opinion he hath of the preachyng of Gods word that it is but an institute knowledge inuented by mans wit to the bredyng of discord dissētion then the which I say not what Papist what Atheist or Macheuile in the world could write or inuent any thyng more vngodly Besides this I am able to auouch by myne own experiēce that some with whō I haue conferred which haue affirmed that the Scripture is to hard for a simple mā and therfore the bookes of HN. do make a more easie passage and geue a readyer way to the vnderstandyng therof In somuch as when that the Elders haue perswaded any man to become their sectarie they haue for a tyme taken all the bookes of holy Scriptures from him and all other bookes altogether and geue him the bookes of HN. to meditate and be exercised in and this is that which HN. him selfe exhorteth them after this sort Glasse your beyng and minde in the glasse of righteousnes Iam. 1. c. and behold therein how many spottes and wrinkles there are yet in you Wherein he sheweth that he preferreth his booke which he termeth the Glasse of righteousnesse before the word of God in referryng them thereunto for to espy the spottes of sinne cleane contrary to the word of God which teacheth vs that the knowledge of sinne commeth by the law And this he doth not in this place alone but also almost at the end of euery Chapter in his Euang. This horrible treason agaynst God and his word as it would make any Christian hart to melt so is it not for the manifest impietie therof by many argumentes or places so much to be confuted as by the losse of the lyues of such gracelesse Atheistes to be chastised which the sooner shall stay if those to whom the Lord hath committed the care of his Church and gouernaunce of this commō wealth shal by some waight of seuere and sharpe lawes kéepe vnder so horrible impietie and blasphemy agaynst the sonne of god For herein is the infection more pestilent that the bookes of HN. beyng made of equall countenaunce with the word of God the writynges of HN. are receiued as a playne and easie truth the word of God either wholy abandoned and set aside or els read by the ouersight and allowance of their Elders who often tyme dust the beames of the truth by their vayne Allegories and idle Expositions But this is the iudgement of God which is iustly in great measure come vpon vs that whilest diuers of the ministers of the word haue not preached the word as the word of God and the people haue heard it as the word of man it is come to passe I say that our eyes are blynded least we should sée and our eares waxed deafe least we should heare our hartes are waxed dull least we should beleue and so the secret though iust punishment of hardnes of hart is come vpon vs so that thereby euery day we are nearer hell then other For what wickednes can be compared with this or what blasphemie hath the world euer bene witnes of the like that the fonde nature of our flesh as a swift streame hath caryed vs to the depth of such impietie that we should loade and burthen the blessed word of the eternall God with such intemperate and graceles tauntes as to doubt whether the truth be the truth or no. Well I say no more but he that is filthy let him be filthy still And that Argument which S. Paule thinketh to be of such weight to proue his preachyng to haue bene the vndoubted truth of God the same would I vse to perswade all such as wauer in the truth therof Proue your selues whether ye are in the fayth examine your selues knowe ye not your owne selues how that Iesus Christ is in you except ye be cast awayes c. Wherein S. Paule appealeth vnto their owne consciēce to approue the certaintie of his doctrine truth of his Apostleshyp Right so say I vnto the Familie of Loue that whereas they affirme we teach nothyng but our owne good thinkyng I demaunde of them when they heare the word of God preached and their consciences shaken with the terrour thereof
founde whatsoeuer doth disquiet the buildyng vppe of Sion that we may keepe the spirit of vnitie in the bonde of peace and be but one folde vnder the shepheard Iesus Christ our Lord who blesse your Lordshyp with the fulnes of all spirituall blessinges to the honour of his name and profite of his Churche Amen Cambridge September 30. Anno. 1579. Your Lordshyps most humbly bounden William Wilkinson ¶ To the godly and Christian Reader Peace from God the Father and our Lord Iesus Christ THat which auncieÌ„t writers and learned men reporte to be the singular commendation and especiall prayse of a good Historiographer geÌ„tle Reader to coÌ„ceale nothyng of the truth for feare or to vtter any vntruth for for euill will neither yet to flatter or claw for fauour that same me thinkes is necessarily to be required of all those whiche take in hand to testifie of any matter whatsoeuer For els how should we possibly looke for truth of those men whose myndes are wedded to affections whose handes and pennes are let out for lucre and toungues let loose to testifie an vntruth who are wholy blinded with disdayne and beyng egged on with euill will haue set them selues to sale committyng whatsoeuer is vnhonest with vnsatiable greadines CoÌ„cernyng my selfe in simplicitie of hart I testifie and soleÌ„nely protest before the whole world calling God to witnesse whom I know to be a sharpe reuenger and seuere iudge agaynst those which abuse his blessed name to any vntruth agaynst myne owne soule if in this treatise I haue vttered ought for enuie or malice of those people against whose opinions my whole stile and writyng is especially directed I haue truely quoted rightly alledged and faythfully as I am hable reported whatsoeuer I haue either heard by word or read by writyng concernyng the errour of those men who terme themselues to be of the Familie of loue Whiche I haue the rather done beyng thereto required by that dutie that I owe vnto the Churche of Christ whiche is the felowshyp of the faythfull and societie of the Saintes of God â–ª as also beyng by a Christian Magistrate thereunto coÌ„maunded I could not chuse I say but I needes must testifie the truth of that whiche both I haue heard and sene which also I am ready at any tyme to auouch before any person beyng called thereunto either priuately or openly Wherein also I haue not sayd so much as I might truely and could iustly hauyng refrayned for their sakes especially which are my very frendes beyng somewhat ouertaken with the lime of that secte and are bewitched with the blyndnesse of those vnsauery opinions Concernyng my further knowledge in that Heresie I referre thee good reader vnto that which ensueth most humbly beseeching thee to blesse and further me with thy most feruent prayers as I hartly desire the promotion and furtheraunce of Gods true Religion the encrease of a true fayth in the feare of God the quietnesse of our English Church and the vtter ruine and abolishyng of all Papistry Atheisme and Hereticall sectes and Schismes whatsoeuer Cambridge Septemb. 30. Readyng certaine bookes of H.N. and conferring with certaine of that Louely Fam. I was by them requested to set downe vnto them in writyng for my further instruction those doubtes whiche either by meanes of the vnusualnesse of their Methode in writing the noueltie of their farre fetched phrases there wrong and wrested Allegories there Diuinitie not heard of or their rough â—ottyng stile I did not vnderstand I deliuered vnto them in the moneth of August 1578. those Articles which follow hereafter in this booke and desiryng earnestly to be fully satisfied in that behalfe I receiued the aunswere deliuered to the common carrier in London whiche beyng intercepted by my worshypfull frend came not into my handes vntill the third of Aprill last past Anno. 1579. The aunswere whiche I shall set downe if first I shall geue you to vnderstand what I can testifie concernyng them and their Fathers of their monstruous Hereticall opinions ¶ A brief view of the heresies and errours of HN. conteined and confuted in this treatise by pag. as herein they are to be found 1. Article HN. sayth we haue no Church 2. 2. Article HN. sayth we haue no truth 5. 3. Article HN. sayth we haue no Baptisme 11. 4. Article HN. sayth we haue no forgeuenes of sins 12. 5. Article HN. sayth we haue no Ministrie 13. 6. Article Of beyng vnited and Godded with God. 15. 7. Article What HN. sayth of him selfe and his extraordinary callyng Wherein is declared agaynst the Familie that first he was D. George his Scholer secondly he is one of the heretiques whereof Christ and his Apostles did foretell thirdly HN. agréeth with the old heretiques in sundry their heresies and opinions 20. 8. Article What is necessarily required in HN. his Disciple 34. 9. Article Of HN. his Reuelations 44. 10. Artic. Of shrift vsed in HN. his Familie 49. 11. Artic. HN. misliketh the Preachyng of the word and what he termeth it 51. 12. Artic. HN. his Iudgement of Preachers not admitted by his Familie 56. 13. Artic. HN. sayth it is lawfull for one of his Familie to dissemble 61. 14. Artic. HN. maketh God the Author of sinne and the sinner guiltes 63. 22. Articles of the Libertines 66. Theophilus Proofes confuted whereby he proueth HN. his doctrine is the truth 67. ¶ With a brief token how to know an Anabaptist gathered out of Zuinglius Bullinger and Caluin whiche declare the opinions and behauiour of Heretickes from tyme to tyme. ⧠A very brief and true description of the first springing vp of the Heresie termed The Familie of Loue which conteineth the places where and the parties by whom the sayd Heresie was broached WHoâ— as long tyme the singular mercy and leuitie of the Lorde in the happy dayes of good kyng Edward the vj. a Prince of blessed remembraunce was by the carnall profession of many and looâ—e lyfe of the greatest part abused in the end by Gods â—â—st scourge ouer England it came to passe which alwayes ensueth the contempt of so precious pearles that Amos long before Prophesied of the Epicures of Israell there followed a greuous famine not onely of bread for the comfortyng and susteinyng of the outward man but also the foode of the soule whereby our lyfe to Godward is prolonged was taken away And it was a very daungerous thyng to confesse Christ openly not onely for feare of Excommunication but for daunger of the losse of lyfe also And so farre had the Prince of darkenesse confirmed his kyngdome of ignoraunce in this worthy Iseland that the worshyppers which worshypped in spirite and truth durst not openly assemble themselues for feare of the TyraÌ„nous hatred of the Scribes and Pharisies the rest of the oiled broode of the Popishe Sinagogue They were compelled secretly to meete in priuate houses so fearefull a thyng was it for fleshe bloud to abyde the extreme fury of the Romish Baalamites which
such other lyke which by trauailyng from place to place do get their lyuyng They whiche amongest them beare the greatest countenaunce are such as hauyng by their smoth behauiour and gloasing talke deceiued some Iustices of Peace and other worshypfull of coūtrey where they dwel haue gotten Licences to trade for Corne vp downe the countrey and vsing such a romyng kynde of Traffique kéepe not commonly any one certaine abidyng place but runnyng fiskyng frō place to place stay not for the most part any where long together saue where they hit vpon some simple husbandman whose wealth is greater then his wit and his wit greater then a care to kéepe him selfe vp right in God his truth and sincere Religion His house if it be farre from company and stand out of the common walke of the people with whom he dwelleth is a fit neast wherin all the byrdes of that fether vse to méete together Thus did the Anabaptistes in their tyme and I wishe hartely in the loue I beare to some of the Fam. that our Familiers of Loue were far vnlike them And thus much for the maner how and the persons by whom their doctrine is set abroad in the handes of the simple ¶ 3. Token to know an Heretique THirdly concernyng the doctrine which is by all heretiques generally taught in corners S. Iude sayth it maketh sectes S. Peter saith it speaketh euill of the way of truth S. Paul geueth them these titles Men that cause diuision and offences which serue not the Lordes Iesus but their owne bellyes who with fayre speach and flatteryng wordes deceiue the simple Now whether HN. haue made a sect and be author of admission or not the subscription of those letters whiche come from his Schollers with these wordes Your louyng Frendes the Fam. of Loue can sufficiently testifie That HN. speaketh euill of the way of truth is manifest for these be his woordes Whose false beyng vz. of the Preachers which through the false light haue taken on an imagination of knowledge is the Deuill the Antichrist the kingdome of the Maiestie of the Deuill him selfe c. and in the same place the 10. sent hee sayth they are but a neast of Deuils and of all wicked spirites The hearers of the Preachers hee calleth the Sinagogue of Sathan or Schoole of the Deuill What God HN. and his confederates serue I will not Iudge but what speach they vse towardes the simple people in their day communication with them whether they bee flatteryng and swéete wordes they can at large testifie who at any tyme haue vsed their company may easely affirme with what sugred woordes they féede the itchyng eares of those whō they labour to draw into their opinions Furthermore S. Peter he termeth the doctrine of heretiques Welles without water cloudes caried about with the tempest speakyng swellyng wordes of vanitie S. Iude sayth they are corrupt trees without fruite twise dead and pulled vp by the rootes ragyng waues fomyng out their owne shame wandryng starres c. The which excellent Metaphores here vsed by the holy Ghost liuely and to the full describe vnto vs the properties of Schismaticall teachers and their hereticall doctrine For the nature of the cloud is when the earth is parched with heate the fruite thereof for want of moysture begynneth to windell and wither away with gladsome weate and siluer dropes to cherish and relieue the tender plantes whiche by the hardnes of the earth doth hurt their sappy iuice for want of water euen so should the Preachers of Gods word and Ministers of the Gospell with wholesome doctrine and godly exhortations water the consciences and supple the hartes of their hearers which are wounded with the féelyng of their sinnes and inwardly in some measure touched with a conceaued grief because they haue displeased God whiche is their louyng Father and mercyfull redéemer And this is that which S. Paule calleth the Preachers of the word waterers and planters 1. Cor. 3. chap. 6. vers Now in so much as Schismaticall and phantasticall teachers make in worde great boast and to the worlde wardes will néedes cary a countenaunce of planters and waterers Yet when the afflicted soule and tormented hart shall come to such welles to draw thinkyng with their liquor to be relieued when they looke for most succour their comfort is the least and all the hope they haue of moysture is turned into emptines for the least storme that is will soone scatter such cloudes and the smallest heate will so resolue them that when our hope is the greatest our helpe is very small So that in false teachers it is assuredly true whiche the holy Prophet long sithence complained of the halting Israelites their goodnes is like a mornyng cloude and as the dew that goeth early away Now whether HN. his writyngs haue in them ought but swellyng woordes of mans vanitie and beyng fruitles trées and starres that wander without a certaine motion it is a litle further of vs to be considered For to examine the matter conteyned in HN. his bookes it is very small and silly for let the diligent Reader pare and set aside his wrested and violent Allegories his vnusuall and insignificant phrases of beyng Vnited into the perfect beyng of the loue in the spirite incorporatyng into God consubstantiatyng with christ c and such lyke wordes of course he shall finde small substaunce and litle stuffe in matter that may be gathered by the order of readyng by pen or memory and sometyme he shal be so plunged in the wordes and wander for matter that hee shall very hardly or not at all make sence of that hee readeth That this is true they know whiche are occupyed in the perusing of them As for his vayne and idle quotation they are innumerable whiche as Mutes vpon a stage called forth to fill vp a roome and make a shew depart not vtteryng any word at all His cityng of Scriptures sometymes for the phrase wherein his greatest vayne is and wherein oftentymes hee is vaynely occupyed sometymes for one word onely hee clappeth out many places without any further matter sometymes neither for word nor yet for matter Yea sometymes he alledgeth a place for a proofe which cleane ouerturneth the Assertion why he induceth it for As for example 1. Exhortation 6. chap. sent 41. leafe 17. line 16. to proue the resurrection he alledgeth Ezechiell 36. chap. b. there is no such place neither in that whole Chapter any word that maketh mention of the resurrection In the .37 chapter v. vers 4. c. the resurrection is clearely prophecied and by him rightly and to the purpose alledged But Esay 26. c. vers 14. The dead shall not lyue neither shall the dead arise c. Is alledged to the same purpose where the woordes séeme to be cleane contrary where note also what HN. thinketh of the Resurrection beyng meant that the Lord will so scourge the wicked that euen in
this lyfe they shall féele in some measure the torment and worme of the conscience that they shall haue in the world to come when as the godly shall haue all ioye that can possible be thought and more in déede then mortall man can imagine the quietnesse of conscience that passeth all vnderstandyng but this is meant of this lyfe and not to be vnderstanded of the resurrection or the lyfe to come For that in all that Chapter the meanyng scope of the Prophet is not to handle any such matter And thus much for the manner how the personnes whereby and the doctrine that is taught by them whom the scripture termeth an heretique which in my iudgement doth as fitly agrée to HN. and is by S. Peter as fully foretold as if he had liued in HN. his tyme and bin priuie vnto all his dealinges Now in one word concerning HN. his stile and the maner of the deliuerye of his opinions in his bookes His method is take it among ye The thred of his speach is sometymes knotty and sometimes great and sometyme small as vnskilfull spinners vse to afford his grace and giftes in pēning thereof is euen such as Marcion is reported to haue vsed in penning of his hereticall writings Whose whole talke of the spirite was in such a straunge kinde of stile that those which hard or read them at the first did wonder at them And this being a part of that wherein our Familye doe as it were wonderfull loue and make of themselues so that in their speach which they dayly vse in talke with any man if euer they may be gotten to confer of the knowledge of the Scriptures of the law of sinne inner man and regeneration of the humblyng of the soule which are the largest Common Places of their studye straight way by the vnusualnes of their speaches and straūge termes ye may easely vnderstand what way they are enclined So that when I my selfe haue spoken publiquely the great paynes which I haue taken in perusing their bookes haue so acquainted my selfe with HN. his phrases that I vsing them at vnwares haue by diuers which knew me not ben suspected to be priuie vnto their doctrine But concerning the generall noates of an heretique this shall suffice with the perticuler application thereof vnto HN. it remaineth that I confer his opinions with the perticuler fantasies of diuers heretiques with whom we shall finde him so to agrée that it may easely appeare they haue had all but one and the same Scholemaister who hath instructed them in the same principles to ouerthrow and disquiet the Church of God. HN. his opinions compared with Heretiques opinions THe Origianists Nepotians and Priscilianists did altogether peruert the certaintye of the written word of God by turning it into allegoryes so doth HN. Docum sent or Dictatis cap. 3. sent 11. 12. Euang. cap. 8. sent 3. 4. 5. 6. 1. epist. 3. cap. 22. sent and almost in euery side of euery leafe in all his wrightinges 2. The Montanistes Praeputians Donatists Luthusiastes Monkes and Anabaptists boast of reuelations so doth HN. Euang. cap. 2. sent 1. contrary to the Scriptures 1. Gal. 8. ver 3. The Cerdonians Marcionites and Appellites boast of their new Prophets and prefer them before the olde so did the Anabaptistes prefer Thomas Muncer their Arch-heretique before Luther and Zuinglius Bulleng fol. 9. b. Vitels in his reply to M. Rogers display termeth HN. a Prophet in these wordes Ye despise HN. because he sayth he is a Prophet sent of God but the tyme may come that you shall finde his prophesie true and in the same reply he sayth whereas ye say that HN. doth call himselfe Rectorer of all thinges I aunswere that there is no such word writtē by him and yet hath the Lord accomplished according to his promises through the spirite of Christ in him all what he hath spoken through the mouth of his seruauntes the Prophets And agayne ye say we affirme HN. to be the true Prophet of God sent to blow the last trumpe of doctrine which shall be blowne vpon the earth marke what his workes testifie of him and so is he whether it be beleued or not 4. Noetus sayd he was Moses HN. sayth he is Malachias and Iohn Baptist praeface Euang. sent 3. 5. The Heracleonites made a double confession of God wherof either part was equall one was with the hart only and the other with the mouth to auoyd persecution So doth HN. Dictatis 16. chapter 18. sent and 11. epist. cap. 6. sent 3. So sayth Theoph. that the misteries ought not to be reueiled to the withstanders c. contrary to the scripture 1. Pet. 3.15 Heb. 10.23 Phil. 2.11 6. The Messalians taught it was lawfull to deny God and the fayth of Christ Theophilus sayth the beliefe ought to be declared to all men But not the secrets no more thē we ought to cōfesse to a theefe what treasure we haue about vs the Anabaptistes thought it was frée vnto them either to confesse or deny their fayth in persecution the sam opinion held the Priscianistes and the Andiani contrary to the Scriptures Math. 10.33 Luke 9. 26. and 12.8 contrarye to HN. his owne doctrine 1. exhor cap. 5. sent 9. cap. 6. sent 1. cap. 4. sent 5. 7. 8. cap. 12. sent 22. 7. The Hetianites Cerinthians Nazarenes affirmed that Ceremonies of Moses law are to be kept of necessitye so sayd the false Apostles Act. 15.1 so sayth HN. Euang 13. chap. 4. sent contrarye to S. Iohn cap. 19.30 and the whole epist. to the Galatians 8 The Nazarenes had more Gospels then 4. the Papistes had S. Thomas and other gospels HN. hath made a gospell of his owne contrarye to S Paule Gal. 6.8 9 The Basilidians thought that the misteries of Fayth ought to be reuealed to few so thought the Papistes so thinketh the Fam. 10. Hymineus and Menander thought that sanctification and regeneration of the spirite was the resurrection of the flesh cōfounding the first and second resurrection so doth HN. 1. exhor cap. 7 sent 24. 11. epist. cap. 5. sen 10. and Dictat cap. 6. sent 3 he sayth the 15. chap. to the Corinthians verses 50.53.54 are not meant of the earthly body in these wordes Verely the mortall whereof S. Paule witnesseth is not any creature of earthly flesh and bloud but it is the liuing worde or being of God which in the beginning was mortall in the manhode and is in vs for our sinnes cause became mortall 11. The Aerians and Iouinians refused to come to sermōs so doe the Familiers of Loue which be illuminated For sayth HN. As long as the yongons are childish and not yet growne vp into the Elderdome of the perfect being they are yet vnder the ordinaunce of the Lord of his word not that they should alwayes remaine as subiect there vnder but vntell the appoynted tyme vntell the manly olde age in the godly vnderstanding of the holy worde
that is to know to cary an instructiō in memory in memoria habere to Romēber or haue in remembraunce And to cary in vnderstanding intelligentia compraehendere to vnderstand from the which proprieties of speach if either HN. or Theophilus shall séeke to slip they shall straight declare how well they are ouersene in the tounges and common speach So that if vpon all these we shall gather this sentence The Familie must not know remember nor vnderstand the doctrine or instruction whiche the Eldest in the Familie deliuereth forth vnto them which Eldest sayth Theophilus is Christ him selfe and his holy worde How blasphemously and Papistically HN. and Theophilus do play the heretiques is manifest For what man is so blynd that he will not sée or so gracelesse that he will not confesse that The word of God must be knowne remembred and vnderstode of the simple if this be not Popery what is Popery And that First the simple ought to know Secondly vnderstand Thirdly remember these places quoted for proofe out of the Scripture shal be sufficient Furthermore HN. is contrary to his owne doctrine which he him selfe teacheth in his owne bookes whereas for his vsual Embleme he taketh 1. Exhort cap. 12. sent 10. b. this sentence or posie for his cōmon badge whereby his bookes are knowne frō others of his fellow Elders Take it to hart Which is according to the best translations Let thine hart hold fast my wordes Where it is ment that his wordes ought wholly and throughly to be knowne vnderstode and remembred contrary to his former doctrine in the place first alledged But to let passe these two former partes of contrarietie betwixt HN. and the written word of God secondly betwixt him selfe and his owne writynges if we diligently way and consider we shall assuredly finde that this thyrd clause concerning naturall reason and common experience it is as wholly agaynst HN. and impugneth his doctrine as truth is agaynst falsehode and light darknes And herein to vse the same example which the Scripture doth in like matter The wiseman doth very excellently commend the diligence of diuers men in their sundry occupations and seuerall handlabours As the Grauer in his Imagery the Smith at his anuill the Potter at his clay all these sayth the wiseman vse wisedome in their worke whiche they could not do vnlesse their common practise had taught them experience and vse makyng thē perfect they should by remembraunce renew the same from tyme to tyme which they before had learned And to vse yet more familiar example think you that it is lyke that when Vitels Maister instructed him in his Arte of Ioignerie was it not conuenient for him to instruct his Prentice Vitels often in those thynges whereby he might get his liuyng in time to come and was it not Vitels part to cary his maisters Arte and his instructions in his memory and vnderstandyng els if he had not remembred his maisters preceptes how should he hau◠compacted that great knowledge neither haue got the singular cōmendation for to be so skilfull a Ioyner as his Familie doth report of him that he is albeit for greater matters sake he hath lefte that his trade now professeth him selfe a teacher in that his Louely Familie What Schoolemaster vnto his Scholers would so oftē take paynes to inculcate and repeate the selfe same principles with great labour vnto the one and vnpleasauntnes vnto the other if he thought it not expedient that it should be of him remembred And blessed Esay saith Precept must be vpon precept and line vpon line here a litle and there a litle to the end that by often iteratyng the same thyng it might the better be remēbred But séekyng to conuince HN. by the ineuitable and most certaine rule of reason why doe I alledge Scripture seyng that the excellent Philosophers Themistocles Simonides Carneades Sceptius Metrodorus are singularly praysed in prophane writers for the worthy remembraunce which they had in Philosophy and other Sciences and shal we thinke that seyng by the kéepyng of Gods commaundements there is great reward ought we not to remember those thynges for the remēbraunce wherof we shal receaue a reward or how shal we kéepe them if we do not remember them True it is that is wisely remembred by a Heathē Oratour Memoria non modo Philosophiam sed omnē vitae vsum omnesque Artes vna maxime continet Remembraūce doth not onely conteine Philosophy but also the whole practise of mans lyfe yea she alone comprehendeth all other Artes and Sciences whatsoeuer But what should I oppose the iudgement of the wise agaynst him that is witles and the Scriptures diuine testimonies agaynst a prophane and godles Atheiste Whose scope iustly iūpeth with the Romanistes in this to forbyd a particular knowledge in matters of saluation and to teach that if men beleue as the Church beleueth they can not do amisse In the confutation wherof seing that by these thréefold testimonies I haue throughly conuinced HN. his Assertion for this 8. Article and all the partes therof let this be sufficient ARTICLE 9. HN. Of Reuelations FOr vnto the Elders and Fathers God hath reueled his word in this day of loue Publishyng of the peace cap. 1. sent 12. 6. The Lord hath reueled the true beyng vnto me out of Sion and Ierusalem Esay 2. a. Mich. 4. a. 2. Pet. 1. b. HN. sayth the mistery of the kingdome of god Math. 25. d. Actes 16.17 d. Iude. 1. b. his righteous iudgementes and the commyng of Christ now in the last time in the resurrection of the dead Ezech. 37. b. Iohn 5. e. Rom. 8. b. Phil. 3. b. is declared vnto him as vnto an elect vessell house or dwellyng of God from the mouth of God himselfe HN. sayth hee will declare the secret mysteries of God and make relation of thynges that are hidden from the beginnyng of the world William Wilkinson VNto many it may séeme straunge and scarse credible vnto some that there should lyue a people vpon the earth whiche not holdyng them selues content with the written word of God would adde vnto it some tricke of their own deuising which although they agréed as euill as a new péece of clothe vnto an old garment yet fayne would they their toyes were pewefellowes with the sacred truth of God not onely to match but some tymes to geue a checkemate vnto the same Yet vnto him that equally considereth all things with an vnpartiall eye it is easely to be sene that it was not onely the practise of the Popishe Prelacie so to outface the simplicity of the Scripture partly with the bringyng their blynd and vnsauery traditions partly with the burthenyng of the church with the intollerable yoke of their vnwritten verities but the dealyng of the Anabaptistes and Libertines and all other like Heretiques hath agréed in this accord that when the touchstone would not serue and a naked truth would not so much hide
and other idolatours seruice agaynst the which vngodly opinion that excellent ChristiaÌ„ and blessed Martyr of God M. Bradford writ being in prison as in the bookes that he published is to be séene at large The which blind opinion of HN. is most clearely confuted by his owne bookes in the places by me before quoted as also by the holy scripture in diuers places which I refraine to set downe for that I will not be tedious as also desiring the reader to vew these few places by me quoted in the margent for profe sufficient as also let him reade further of his question M. Bulleng agaynst the Anabaptistes 2. boke 5. chapter But to returne to Theophilus who laboreth to salue this sore and stoppe vp this breach with his headles distinction betwixt the beliefe and the misteries of God I would that he knew that neither this wound will be cured with this salue neither this breach stopped vp with this his vntempered head morter For mightier is the shotte which the Lordes péeces affourd them with so smale a shelter they may be succoured For whereas he would séeme not to haue spoken at aduentures but to haue added his aunswere vpon a witty and sober deliberation albeit the other his expositions are very fond and fantasticall yet this his distinction wherein he thought to haue wonne his spurres is so frantique that tâ—â—â—ein he hath both ieoperded the horse and lost the saddâ—e For whereas in a good and artificiall distinction neither part can be affirmed of the other yet in this diuision made by Theophilus both partes are but one neither is there such difference betwixt them as he would beare vs in hand there is For where as he insinuateth that the belief misteries or secrets of god caÌ„not be one thing S. Paule handling that part the chaunging of our bodyes in the resurrection the belief addeth these words Behold I shew you a secret thing we shall not all sleepe but we shal all be chauÌ„ged Here he knitteth together the Article of our beliefe a secret thing makyng theÌ„ but one which Theophilus maketh two And speaking in an other place of the vnion betwixt Christ and his Church wheÌ„ 1. halfe especiall partes of the belief consist straight he addeth This is a great secret Still coupling theÌ„ to one which Theophilus will haue twayne But whereas Theophilus his déepe iudgement alloweth that he will not haue the secrets of God reueiled to the enimies he dealeth with vs euen as he doth with his owne fellow Famblers for he doth not deliuer vnto them all the secrets of God but the beliefe onely at the first wherein he discrieth himselfe at vnawares to be one of those of whome it is sayd by M. Caluine the chiefe and Rabbies doe alwayes keepe backe some point of theyr principall doctrine that they may the better maintaine the opinion that their hangbies haue of theÌ„ This also is the iudgement of Staphilus in his Appollogie that he would haue the word God which is the bread of the soules of Gods people to be cut out and deliuered vnto them by péecemeale The scripture that Theophilus citeth to strengthen his assertion is the same that the Anabaptistes alleadged to the same purpose being writteÌ„ in S. Math. cap. 7. v. 6. Geue not that which is holy vnto dogges neither cast your pearles before swine By dogges in scripture are ment those that are not conteined within the hedges of the church Math. 15.26 c. and open eâ—â—mies which of set purpose persecute a knowne manifest truth which as yet Theophilus hath not proued the doctrine of his Familie to be And by swine are ment those that being once washed returne eftsones to their filth agayne and making no accompt of the Lordes truth become more beastly in lyfe then they were before 2. Pet. 2.22 Pro. 26.11 b. the which place also of S. Math. before alleadged may thus be vnderstode that the word of God ought not to be preached vnto them which sinne agaynst the holy ghost Heb. 6.4 10.26 For that their sinne is so great in the sight of God that is not to be prayed for 1. Iohn 5.16 of the which sinnes if Theophi will say they are guiltye which withstand HN. his Fam. I desire him that he iude not neither to hastely pronounce the sentence til we haue hard the euidence red whereby he would that verdict should be gathered which shall passe agaynst vs. Furthermore whereas Theophi by the way of blinde similitude gathereth that those which séeke to suppres this their scismaticall secte are théeues by the high way and therfore ought not the treasure of Gods word to be opened vnto them I answere that this reason is not so much to be confuted with words as with whips was it euer had or being heard was it euer suffered the Christian magistrates into whose hands the sword of iustice is committed that they should cut downe such wéedes as trouble the growth of good trées in gods vineyard and preachers which haue the sword of the spirite to cutt downe schisme heresie was it euer hard that a graceles heretique as this Theop. is durst terme theÌ„ Theues by the hyway as Theophilus doth in this place God graunt all magistrates to loke to this betimes least vnder this counterfeite cloake of Loue that subiectes be drawne away from the obedience of their lawfull prince when such rebellious wordes as these be blowne abroad in corners by such heretiques and their fellowes ARTICLE 14. of HN. Of Libertie to Sinne. HN In a certaine booke of his entituled Dictata per HN. vpon the 22. chapter of Deutronom vers 27. which sayth if a man rauish a womaÌ„ and she cry she shal be free the meanyng is sayth HN. when sinne commeth to a man and if he cry to God and God helpe him not he is free Theophilus NOw forth whether your chosen out Errours may appeare to be in them selues very good and true sayinges and your partiall additions to be mere lyes we referre that to the iudgement of all those which shal read the text with an vnparciall eye For he doth not say that she that is violently taken c. shall be free videl to commit euill as you would seeme to haue it but she shall be guiltlesse of the transgression videl for beyng condemned for the same William Wilkinson IN the auÌ„sweryng to this Article Theophilus vseth this order In his first clause he maketh a by speach to the collectour of the Article in the secoÌ„d he setteth downe the meanyng of the same Article His first note in his speach is this that they are my chosen out Articles which I vtterly deny for it followeth not I chose out these Articles or errours out of HN. to be resolued of the meanyng of them by the Fami or some of that broode as time should serue therfore these Articles are myne this is a reason beyond all reason that