for one of their preachers called Mast Rob. hath had a writing of mine in his hands above six moneths Now above 12 months and as yet I can get no answer it seemes hee knoweth not how better to hide his errors then by silence and this will bee the case of all false Bishops and Ministers Iohn 3.20 Iohn 3.10 who had rather be mute and dumb then to be drawn into the light with their errors Therefore permission of conscience and liberty of the gospel in our land of great Britain wil mightily further the advancement of the Apostolick faith and chiefly their bookes whereout sufficient matter will be drawn for the convincing of every particular Religion which is against the Religion stablished by Christ and his Apostles who by all meanes lawfull sought the conversion and salvation both of Jewes and Gentiles 1 Cor. 9.20.22 Act. 16.3 And they are unconstant and faith lesse men or at least very ignorant that think error will overcome and prevaile against the truth For the abolishing of such thoughts I desire such men to consider the mighty victory and prevailing of the truth in the time of Christ his Apostles which notwithstanding resisted and disputed against by the most part of the Priests and learned men both of Jewes and Gentiles yet overcame and prevailed against all the errors of the high Priests and great learnedmen both of the Jews and Gentiles and the Apostle faith we cannot do any thing against the truth 2 Cor. 13.8 but for the truth and seeing it is the same truth which all good men would embrace why should wee not hope the same victory by it Did not King Darius all the people both Iew and gentils cry out and say that truth is great and strongest 1 Esd 4.38.41 Why then should those that have the truth and those that would have the truth be afraid of error seeing truth discovereth dark and dangerous wayes of error though abroad in open books even as light discovereth dark and dangerous places though abroad in open high wayes And as the more darke and dangerous the wayes be the more necessary needfull will light be found of all that travel So the more darke and dangerous the errors be the more needfull and profitable wil truth be found of al that would travel to heaven But some may object and say let all this be granted yet it is no wisedom we think to bring dangerous errors into the light that so many men may stumble at them Which being not brought to light would not be so much as known to some I answer no more then a Rock that lyeth hid under water Answer which for want of bringing into the light many men may make Shipwrack there on and so stumble or fall neverthelesse though it be not so much as known to them before Therefore as a Rock in the Seas though not so much as known to some yet for want of being made known many men stumble and fal thereon and so perish both men and goods So an error though not so much as known to some yet for want of being made known many men may stumble and fall thereon and so perish both bodies and soules the which is more lamentable And as Rocks in the Seas the more they manifest themselves So errors in the world the more they manifest themselves the more furtherance in the way to heaven And you shall understand that errors being brought to the light of the word of God will vanish as darknes before the light of a torch even as the chaffe before the winde cannot stand so error before truth cannot abide therefore it is no hinderance but a great furtherance to have all erroneous Rocks in the haven to heaven made knowen and published And a great and sure argument it is Another true signe of false ministers that those Bishops and Ministers have not the truth that publikely dare not dispute or write against error as may be seene in the Bishops ministers in Queen Maries dayes which could not abide to have books written Printed of that which they called error and heresie but caused that if any such were written both them and the Authors to be burned if they could come by them Therefore if permission of conscience and libertie of the Gospel be not granted and burning lawes repealed then the Bishops ministers now may perswade and cause to be burned both the Books the Authors that have the truth instead of heresy and hereticks even as their predecessors have done already The Word of God the onely defender of the faith of Christ and so shed more innocent bloud and also provoke the Lord to further wrath against the King and State It is not the gallowes nor the prisons nor burning nor banishing that can defend the Apostolick faith indeed the King and State may defend Religions peace by their sword civil power but not the faith otherwise then by the word and spirit of God The dutch Princes and Peeres say that force sword gallows in matter of religion is a good meanes to spil bloud and make an uprore in the land but not to bring any man from one faith to another The Pagans will not persecute one another for religion though as I read there be above three thousand sorts among them And you know both King Henry Queen Mary thought themselves defenders of the faith and though they burned hereticks and heresy when they burned Men and their books Idol Bishops and false Ministers authors of persecution Rev. 16.14 but now you see and must acknowledge that they were peesecutors of the faith instead of defenders therof and also that they through the instigation of their bloudy Bishops burned the word of God and those that professed and wrought it instead of heresy and hereticks And thus it will be now if the Bishops and their Ministers may have their wils and therein they as their predecessors fulfill the word of God in gathering Kings of the earth to the battell of the great day of God Almighty For they perswade Kings to force their subjects Rom. 10.14.17 to receive the faith and to be of the Church whereas the word of God teacheth otherwise saying Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God and not by the Kings sword And Christ saith Teach of nations and not force all nations and this teaching is to be understood by the word and writing of the Prophets and Apostles of our Lord and Saviour Christ which is the Word of God For they that wil be of the true Faith and Church must be called thereunto out of the World by the Word of God in every nation and not forced and constrained in every nation as the Bishop of Rome and all other false Bishops and Ministers have and doe perswade Kings Emperors and Magistates And his Majesty and Parliament may please to understand that so to do Mat. 16. 16.
Antichrist from whom they are descended and succeeded both lineally and of great antiquity Mystically Wherefore I humbly beseech the King and Parliament that you will betimes listen unto the holy spirit in the mouth of the prophet which saith Psal 2.10 Be wise now therefore ye Kings be learned or instructed ye Judges of the earth serve the Lord in feare and rejoice in trembling kisse the Son of God lest hee be angry and ye perish in the way of persecution when his wrath shall suddenly burn Let not therefore the Kings of the earth band themselves with the Bishops and Ministers of Antichrist Psal 2. â— 3. 1 Ioh. 2.20 Rev. 17.14 nor Princes assemble themselves together against the Lord and against his amointed that is against Christ and his Church seeing both he and she break your bands and east your cords from them Rev. 12.11 Yea her seed overcommeth you by the bloud of the lamb and by the word of their testimony for they love not their lives unto death Beware then in time lest you offend any more of these little ones that beleeve in Christ seeing Christ saith it were better to have a milstone hanged about the neck Matth. 18.6.10 and drowned in the depth of the Sea then so to do He meaneth that it were better for you to lose your lives then any way to consent to the offence of such little ones that beleeve in Christ See then I pray that they be not despised burned banished hanged and imprisoned For their Angels alwaies behold the face of Christs Father in heaven and remember he saith Matth. 10.38 39. Matth. 11.35.36 the tree is known by his fruit but persecuting of Christians is an evill fruit And that a good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth good things but persecuting of christians is no good thing and that for every idle word men shall speake they shall give accounts at the last day of judgements How much more for every wicked and cruel deed of persecution as burning banishing hanging and imprisoning of those that confesse with the mouth Rom. 10.9 and beleeve with the heart the Lord Iesus and that God raised him from the dead whose laws and ordinances they are carefull to keepe and obey Christ saith that such shall be saved and yet you feare not to burn banish hang and imprison such But if you beleeve that God will avenge his elect Luk 18.9 beware of persecuting his servants that cal on his name specially such as witnesse his truth against the abominations of Antichrist Suffer not your Bishops to destroy those men and women that strive to serve God according to his will in his word Be not your Bishops executioners in burning banishing hanging and imprisoning of harmlesse and peaceable Christians but let them enjoy freedom of the gospel and liberty of conscience that so the apostolick Church which is scattered and driven into the wildernesse and desart of this world may be againe gathered together both of Jews and Gentiles into visible and stablished congregations 2 Thes â— 8 And that the Catholick and universall Church of Antichrist may bee consumed and abolished by his word and spirit as the holy Apostle hath foretold even the uttermost of his arrivall which is the Emperiall and triple Crowne I pray the Lord to give such grace the Sea of Rome may ebbe apate through the triple sea of Rome And again I humbly intreat the King and Parliament to vouchsafe to heare me with patience yet a little further If freedom of the Gospel and permission of conscience might be granted then would not Papists nor any others dissemble their religion to the dishonor of God the destruction of their souls and to the great danger both of King and State seeing they are forced to Church against their consciences may not Popish Priests and Jesuites unawares to the Bishops become the Bishops Ministers seeing the change of their Religion and religious habit differ so little and so by degrees infect the people with more Popish doctrine as occasion shall be Nota. From Popes submission there is great suspition And such men will readily embrace the Bishops Orders and so they shall readily have the Bishops favours by which means they may more easily and speedily have accesse unto the Court and presence of the King and Prince which indeed is very dangerous howsoever not regarded Therefore I doe according to my duty humbly advise his Majesty not to beutifie his Court and presence with any popish stones not with one though it be of Alablaster But permission of conscience and freedom and liberty of the Gospel will no way be dangerous to the King or State if such like rules as these be observed 1. That no people tainted with treason doe beare any office 2. That all sorts of people tainted with treason do at all times from home weare a black hat with two white signs the one before 1 Kin. 2.36 41 42. Rom. 13 1. to 5. the other behind in open sight 3. That no people tainted with treason approach within ten miles of the Court without licence 4. That no people tainted with treason do inhabit the City of London nor yet within ten miles thereof 5. That none tainted with treason do make any assembly or congregation 6. That no person or persons in whatsoever difference by reasoning or disputing do draw any weapon nor give any blow stroke or push in paine and penalty as his Majesty and Parliament thinke meet 7. That for the more peace and quietnes and for the satisfying of the weak and simple among so many persons differing in Religion it bee lawfull for every person or persons yea Jewes and Papists to write dispute confer and reason print and publish any matter touching Religion either for or against whomsoever always provided they alledge no Fathers for proof of any point of religion 2 Tim. 2.24 25 Iames 3.17 but only the holy Scriptures neither yet to reproach or slander one another nor any other person or persons but with all love gentleness and peaceableness informe one another to the glory of God honor of the King and State and to their own good and credit Note A true signe of false Bishops and Ministers by which means both few errors and few books wil be written and printed seeing all false Ministers and most people have little or nothing else besides the Fathers to build their religion and doctrine upon or if it be once stablished by law that none shall confirm their religion and doctrine by the Fathers and by prisons burning and banishing c. but by the holy Scriptures then error will not be written nor disputed except by obstinate persons feared consciences seeing the word of God will be no shelter for any error Yea I know by experience among the people called Brownists that a Man shal not draw them to write though they be desired
are found to do the same yea worse for it is greater tyranny for one Christian to force kil another then for Turks and Pagans to kil a christian for that is no such great wonder seeing it is a paganish part who have no better knowledge but Christians should have better knowledge and more mercy then to play the pagans against christians Note So also the Protestants when they complain of the Papists for their bloody and beastly persecution doe therein condemn themselves seeing they doe the same for which they blame others and so are rebuked of the Scripture which saith Therefore thou are inexcusable O thou man Rom 2.1.3 whosoever thou art that blamest another for in that thou judgest another thou condemnest thy self for thou that judgest doest the same things and thinkest thou this O thou man that judgest them which do such things and thou doest the same that thou shalt escape the judgment of God Fifteenthly because his Majesty and Parliament would not willingly themselves be forc'd against their consciences by the persecution of the Bishop of Rome and his Princes so I beseech them according to the law Christ hath injoyned Christians not by persecution to force other mens consciences against their wills by the irritation of the Bishops of our land Luk. 6 31. Or provocation Sixteenthly because persecution do cause men and women to make shipwrack of faith and good consciences by forcing a Religion upon them even against their minds and consciences and also do send them quick to the devill in their errors if that be heresie for which they are hanged and burned which to do is a most unchristian unnaturall King Edward was an enemy to persecution Act. Mon. pag. 1484. The Christian answer of King Edward Rev. 16.14 cruell and tyrannous deed and I am sure you would not be content to be so dealt withall your selves but indeed the Popish and Idol-bishops are the authors hereof against the people as well as of other persecution against the Princes For antichristian Bishops do draw Kings and Princes hereto against their mind as may appear by Edward the sixt that godly King of famous memory who being urged by his bloody Bishops to subscribe to the burning of a woman called Joane Butcher hee answered will you have me to send her quick to the devill in her error But when his blood-thirsty Bishops would have no nay he said againe to Bishop Cranmer I lay all the charge thereof on you before God and Cranmer said he had never so much to do in all his life as to procure it whereby I doe perceive that godly Kings are drawn to Battail against the Saints by antichristian Bishops and false Prophets who otherwise would rule and reigne more agreeable to the mind of Christ Also hereby may all men perceive that the Councell and Bishops could not satisfie the Kings conscience by their perswasion if they could have shewed him the word of God for burning that Christian it would have prevailed with that godly King and he might then of faith have consented but his answer showeth that he was not of their mind for all that they had said and therfore now if it please you to require of your Bishops warrant from the word of God for the persecuting of Christians or for forcing Prince and people to Church you shall finde not one Bishop yea not all of them together though assisted with their Ministers will be able to shew warrant from Gods word whereby to perswade your consciences thereunto Rom. 14.23 and whatsoever is not of faith is sin and whatsoever is not from Gods word cannot be of faith Seventeenthly because persecution of Christians by Christians doe not onely justifie Papists and teach the Jewes and Pagans to persecute Christians but also do teach the Papists and others that know not the mind of Christ and once get the upperhand to persecute those that persecuted them By Digby Catesby c. Mat. 11.29 Luk. 14 27. yea it is a means as we have had lamentable experience to set such as are forced to Church against their consciences at deadly hatred against the King and State and urgeth all them to treason and rebellion that have not truly learned Christ who himself was persecuted to death whose harmles crosse all true Christians must take up and whose gentle and humble steps they must follow and walk in or else they cannot be his disciples nor sheep of his pasture And neither can the Papists be perswaded that persecution is a sin so long as they and other Christians are also persecuted by the protestants seeing the Papists do build their persecution on the same ground with the protestants but both sorts of Bishops doe erre grosly as shall be shewed God willing when they make their defence except herewith their consciences bee convinced to yeeld as I wish they may for the salvation of their owne souls the peace both of Prince and people and the safety of the King and State In the mean while it is to be observed that those Bishops and Ministers which perswade the King and Parliament to burn banish hang and imprison for difference of Religion are blood-suckers and manslayers and such it cannot be denyed caused Kings Magistrates to be their executioners and tormentors in burning the Martyrs in former times even in the days of King Henry the eight and Qu. Mary as the books of Acts and Monuments will witnesse if they bee not burned and I ask the Bishops and their Ministers Act 4.19 if the martyrs should have obeyed the King and Queen rather then have suffered death And now I must humbly and with all reverence do beseech his Majesty and Parliament advisedly to consider among themselves whether the Prince or Princesse differing with the Church now in matter of conscience and religion The Bps. as the High priests force men to obey man rather then God Note well stablished by law in our land as the right noble Princesse Elizabeth did in Qu. Maries dayes do not incur the danger and cruelty of the law now as that worthy Princesse did then seeing that popish and cruell law standeth still in force in most points of Religion and who dare trust the Bishops and their adherents in such a case the matter lying in their hands Let it be supposed that the Princes heart should be moved by the Lord to embrace the Apostolick faith and discipline shall he be forced to beleeve as the Bishops do against his conscience shall he be constrained to submit to their government and discipline against his conscience shall hee live in vexation and persecution and in danger of his life by the Bishops and law stablished as the Princesse Elizabeth did yea it must be thus with our right noble Prince except there be partiality yea it wil be thus with his princely person except those popish and cruell laws be repealed and extinguished Wherfore I meekly intreat seeing death
therefore Christ commanded his disciples to teach all nations and baptize them that is to preach the word of salvation to every creature of all sorts of nations that are worthy and willing to receive it and such as shal willing gladly receive it he hath commanded to be baptized in the water that is dipped for dead in the water and therefore the Apostle saith Else what shall they do who are baptized for dead 1 Cor. 15.19 Rom. 6.4 Col. 2.12 Luke 8.37 if the dead be not raised why are they baptized for dead And therefore he saith we are buried then with him by baptism c. and it is to be wel observed that when Christ would have preached the word of salvation to the Gadarens he did not compell them when they refused but finding them unwilling to receive him and his word Luk. 9.54.55 he turned from them without hurting them also when James and John saw that some of the Samaritans refused Christ they would have commanded fire from heaven to consume them as Elias did but Christ rebuked them and said Ye Know no of what spirit are for the Son of man is not come to destroy mens lives but to save them By all which it may please his Majesty and Parliament to take knowledg that Christ will have none consumed with fire and sword for not hearing and not receiving his Word And that howsoever it hath been the mind of Antichrist to destroy mens lives for Religion and therein have not spared neither Prince no people yet it is not the mind of Christ that Princes should destroy their subjects nor yet that Subjects should destroy their Princes for difference in Religion And therefore why should Bishops perswade Princes and people and why should King Prince and people be perswaded by their Bishops and Ministers to be contrary minded to Christ verily it is a notorious and plaine token of a false faith and discipline that is defended by fire and sword the power and authority of Princes And they cannot be Christs Bishops and preachers Christs Bps. will not bee Lords ever the consciences that perswade Princes and peoples to such antichristian tyranny and cruelty And it is very evident that those Bishops and Ministers which give over men and women to the Magistrate to be perswaded by persecution doe shew clearly that their doctrine is not good and that they want the word and spirit of God and therefore flee to the Magistrates sword for the forcing of them to their faith and discipline and as the wine is not good which we are forced to drink so those doctrines are not good which we are forced to beleeve But it may be by this time all those Bishops who unfainedly fear God and truly love the King wil haste and make speed to come unto his Majesty for pardon acknowledging the truth of this book confessing their ignorance and arrogance in the knowledge of Gods word and in compelling the people to heare the word preached and for imprisoning burning banishing and hanging for Religion contrary to the mind of Christ and also for stopping the mouths of men and burning their books that preach and write contrary to their minds and wils yea it may be they will also confesse and say Oh most gracious King we beseech your Majesty to shew us mercy and to forgive us our spirituall pride and ambition in that we have thus long usurped the blasphemous titles of spirituall Lords and Lords graces the which titles we now to the glory of God and honor of the King The Bishop â—…oe know in their consciences that this is true Iob. 32.22 Phil 2.9.11 do with unfained hearts confesse to be due and belong onely to Christ himself and that the name and title of spirituall Lord cannot belong to any earthly creature no not to the King or Emperor because it is an heavenly name and title how much lesse can it belong or be due unto us your Majesties unworthy subjects and scholars And for so much as we now understand the Lord be praised therefore that the holy and heavenly name and divine title of spirituall Lord is as much yea as high and great as the name and title of a spirituall God also that it is a name above every name which God the Father hath given unto Christ onely to the end that every knee should how unto that onely and heavenly name and that every tongue should confesse that Iesus is the Messiah the Lord unto the glory of God the Father that in all things Christ might have the preheminence for be alone is the head of the Church Col. 1.18 which is his body the which cannot bee so long as we or any other Bishops do hold and retain that divine high and superexcellent name and title of spirituall Lord because then it cannot be said that God hath so highly exalted him as to give him a name above every name seeing our names and titles are also spirituall and are called spirituall Lords so well as the son of God Iesus the messiah the remembrance hereof most gracious soveraign do make us to tremble before God and the King The Bps. in titles equall to the sonne of God And therefore we must earnestly desire your sacred Majesty and the whole Parliament to discharge and release us of these fearfull names and titles that do onely belong to the son of God Iesus the onely spirituall Lord that God hath given unto his Church Note Gods blessings iâ— expected unles these idols bee rejected who are exalted above all earthly Gods Moreover we do according to the truth acknowledge that if we should any longer retaine these divine and high names of spiritual Lords and Lords graces we should therein be intituled not only with a name equall to our Lord Iesus the onely begotten son of God but also we should be intituled with a name and title above your right excellent Majesty yea above all Emperors Kings and Princes of the earth the which alone we doe acknowledge to bee a sufficient cause to put us down and to deprive us of these usurped names and blasphemous titles Also we do confesse that our pomp and state wherein we now live is more like the Bishops of the Catholick church of Antichrist then any way like the Bishops of the Apostolick Church of Christ unto whom we acknowledge we ought to be made like and also to be qualified with the like gifts and graces of the Spirit or else in no case we can be meet Bishops for the Church of Christ as the Apostle plainely teacheth both to Timothy and Titus c. 1 Tim. 3. Tith 6.9 And we must further acknowledge and confesse that our houses housholds and revenues are more fit and meet for Princes Dukes and Earls then for the Bishops of Christ Wherfore being moved and stirred up hereto by the feare of God we earnestly beseech your Majesty and Parliament also to disburden us of this great