vnderstand them they tend to the supplanting of true religion and ouerthrowe of Gods house which is the Church of God for the erecting of a newe Family whereof they take their name The Family of Loue. AGainst which auctor and his books wee neuer yet heard nor knew any law established in this realm by our late gracious Souereigne but that we mought read theÌ„ without offence whose writings wee suppose vnder your Highnesse correction your Maiestie hath yet neuer seen or perused heard of by any indifferent nor true information The Examination IT Is well knowne there be lawes canons and iniunctions against erroneous and infectious books and that Proclamations houe come out expresly against H. N. and his scandalous inuentions When there be lawes against Sect-masters and Heritickes bee there no lawes shall we thinke against H. N. and his bookes Scarse had I proceeded thus farre in this examination but vpon searche I founde a paper which many yeares hath lyen by mee in my priuate studie conteining a forme of abiuration offered by the Lords of the late Queene ELIZABETHS most honorable priuie Counsayle vnto certaine persons suspected to fauour the vile Heresies of H. N. which forme vvas this Whosoeuer teacheth that the dead which are fallen asleepe in the Lord An abiuration tendred vnto the Familistes the tenth of October An. 1580 by ten of the Lords of Q. Elizabeths priuy Counsel rise vp in this day of his iudgement and appeare vnto vs in godly glorie which shal henceforth liue in vs euerlastingly with Christ and raigne vpon the earth is a detestable Hereticke But H. N. teacheth so Euang. c. 37. Sect. 9. Therefore H. N. is a detestable Heretike Whosoeuer teacheth that to be born of the Virgin Marie out of the seede of Dauid after the flesh is to be expounded of the pure doctrine out of the seede of Loue is a detestable Hereticke But H. N. teacheth so Document sent c. 3. Sect. 5. Therefore H. N. is a detestable Hereticke Whosoeuer teacheth that Iesus Christ is come againe vnto vs according to his promise to the ende that they all which loue God and his righteousnesse and Christ and his perfect Being might presently enter into the true Rest which God hath prepared from the beginning for his his elect and inherit the euerlasting life is a detestable Hereticke But H. N teacheth so Euang. c. 1. Sect. 1. Therefore H. N. is a detestable Hereticke Nauing examined these reasons with the bookes of H. N. wee doe finde that in truth hee holdeth these heresies and we thinke in our hearts and of our owne knowledge affirme that H. N. is in these heresies a detestable Hereticke Promising faithfully before God and your Honors neuer hereafter to haue any dealing with his bookes and doctrine nor to go-about to bring any to the loue liking or reading of them And that we now speake is the true meaning of our hearts as wee looke for mercie at his hands which searcheth the heart Would her Maiesties Councell minister this Abiuration vnto these Familistes euen of her owen Familie had they noe law nor authoritie so to doe Or would the saide Courtiers as before their Honors they did abiure these Heresies if both the said heresies had not been contained in the bookes of H. N. and themselues by Lawe compellable either to abiure or abide the punishment due for obstinate Heretickes And was there Lawe then viz. Anno. 1580. for in that yeare and so long agoe was this donne and is there noe Lawe now Haue they not heard nor knowen of these things by lawfull authoritie performed which were both heard andmade knowen both in Court and CouÌ„trie the parties some of them and the cheifest yet liuing and in Court which so abiured their Children in right auncient place about his Maiesty before whome they abiured But haue they not heard nor knowen as they pretend of any Lawe established in this Realme against H. N. and his bookes by our late gratious Soueraigne Then pray wee vnto God that they may both heare and knowe some lawe to bee established against them by our nowe raigning and gratious Soueraigne the King The rest of this section that his Highnesse as they feare not to say neuer yet hath seene or perused the writings of H. N. nor somuch as heard of them by any indifferent or true information are words derogatorie in an high degree to his Maiesties honour because both his Highnesse hath affirmed vpon his knowledge the Familistes to be a vile sect of Anabaptistes yeelding inuincible reasons of his certaine knowledge which are aboue specified and they say his Maiestie neuer yet sawe nor perused nor so much as heard of H. N. his writinges by any indifferent and true information in the which the points wherewith hee chargeth them are most truely contained The Familie of Loue. FOr the saide H. N. in all his doctrine and writings being as we are crediblie enformed as much matter in volum if they were all compiled together as the whole Bible containeth doth * Vntrue neither take part with nor write against any particular partie or companie whatsoeuer as naming them by their names nor yet prayse or dispraise any of themy by name * Vntrue Hee magnifieth the Church of Rome The Examination THis vain boasting of the bulke of H. N. his writings is verie vsuall among the Familistes About thirtie yeares agoe mine eares heard his disciples much bragge of the multitude of H. N. his bookes as if his greate paines in writing were argument stronge enough to induce men to the liking of his opinions Which if it beeso then haue the Papistes a stronge reason that the trueth is with them on their side the monkes and Friars of whose Religion hauing bestowed infinite paines in writinge and composing of bookes Then haue wee whose doctrine and religion deriued and drawen from Gods word as Scripture learning the Familistes labour to supplant the truth and not the Familistes to whom for multitude of writinges they are not comparable some one of vs as Caluin hauing written so much as noe one man eitherin these or our Fathers daies hath done the like (a) Beza in vit Cal. Musculus and Luther and Erasmus and euerie of these hath written more then any man can read in many score of yeares (b) Bodin in method hist c. 5. which Erasmus composed so many Epistles and Letters as gathered together would neere loade two Cartes or Wagons (c) Eras catal Lucâ—b And therefore equall many Bibles in bulke and bignesse And could not the heretickes in all ages say as much for their founders as the Familistes here doe of H.N. viz. that their bookes were many and themselues as studious and painefull in writing of discourses for the propagating of their inuentions as euer the true and faithful seruants of God were or bee for the implanting of the truth Manes that Arch-hereticke and great grand Father to H. N. his errors was the Father of sundrie
the word the square of their conscience I protest before the great God and since I am here as vpon my Testament it is no place for me to lye in that ye shall neuer find with any Hie-land or border theeues greater ingratitude and moe vile lies and periuries then with these Phanatick spirits And suffer not the principals of them to brooke your land if you like to sit at rest except ye would keepe them for trying your patience as Socrates did an euill wife And for preseruatiue against their poison entertaine and aduance the godly learned and modest men of the Ministrie whom of God be praysed there lacketh not a sufficient nomber and by their promotion to Bishoprickes and benefices annulling that vile acte of Annexation if ye finde it not done to your hand ye shal not only bannish their conceited paritie whereof I haue spoken and their other imaginary groundes which can neither stand with the order of the Church nor the peace of a Common-weale and well ruled monarchie but also shall ye reestablish the old institution of the three Estates in parliament which can no otherwise be done But in this I hope if God spare me dayes to make you a faire entrie alwayes where I leaue followe you my steps And to end my aduise anent the Church estate cherish no man more then a good Pastor hate no man more then a proude Puritane c. These and the like wordes describing the humours of Puritanes and rash headie Preachers which thinke it their honour as his sayd Maiestie in his preface to the sayde booke doth say to contend with Kings and perturbe whole Kingdomes were verie offensiuely taken of the Puritan faction in Scotland against which they were vttered made them to suspect or at least in reuenge of the censure to call his Highnesse profession into question among themselues and to make others doubtfull whether his Maiestie so sincerely fauoured the religion in Scotland established as he did pretend And albeit the whole instruction especially the first booke therof and these words of his Maiesty aboue mentioned in the second booke Entertaine and aduance the godly learned and modest men of the Ministerie whom-of God be praysed there lacketh not a sufficient number And againe Cherish no man more then a good Pastor reuealeth sufficiently the sound and zealous affection that his Maiestie beareth vnto true Religion and may and do satisfie all indifferent men yet if possible it were that no scruple might rest in the minde of any men his Highnesse voluntarily and in ample wordes and fully further explaned his very inwarde conceites of the faction mentioned First then sayth his Maiestie as to the name of Puritans Who Puritans I am not ignorant that the stile therof doth properly belong onely to that vile secte amongst the Anchaptisus called the Family of Loue because they thinke themselus onely pure and in a manner without sinne the onely true Church and onely worthy to bee participant of the Sacraments and all the rest of the World to be but abhomination in the sight of God Of this speciall Secte I principally meane where I speake of Puritanes diuers of them as Browne Penry and others hauing at sundrie times come in Scotland to sowe their popple amongst vs and from my heart I wish they had lefte no schollers behinde them who by their fruits will in the owne time be manifested and partly indeed I giue this stile to such braine-sicke and headie Preachers their disciples and followers as refusing to be called of that Secte yet participate too much with their humours in maintaining the aboue mentioned errors not onely agreeing with the generall rule of Anabaptists in contempt of the ciuill Magistrate and in leaning to their owne dreames and reuelations and particularly with this Secte in accounting all men prophane that sweares not to all their fantasies in making for euery particular question of the policie of the Church as great commotion as if the article of the Trinitie were called in controuersie in making the Scripture to be ruled by their conscience and not their conscience by the Scripture and he that denies the lest iot of their grounds Sit tibi tanquā Ethnicus Publicanus not worthy to enioy the benefit of breathing much lesse to participate with them of the Sacraments and before that any of their grounds be impugned let King people law and all be trode vnder foot Such holy warres are to be preferred to an vngodly peace no in such cases Christian Princes are not onely to be resisted vnto but not to be prayed for For Prayer must come of Fayth and it is reueiled to their conscience that God will heare no prayer for such a Prince Iudge then Christian Reader sayth his Highnesse if I wrong this sort of people in giuing them the stile of that Secte whose errors they imitate and since they are contented to weare their liuerie let them not be ashamed to borrow also their name Whō his Masty meaneth by Puritans in his Booke It is only of this kind of men that in this booke I write so sharpely and whome I wish my Son to punish in case they refuse to obey the lawe and will not cease to stir vp a rebellion whom against I haue writtē the more bitterly in respect of diuers famous Libels and iniurious speeches spread by some of them not onely dishonorably inuectiue against all Christian Princes but euen reproachfull to our profession Religiō in respect they are come out vnder colour therof c. So more to his Maiestie which I would the Family had fully and at large set downe For then it would appeare that his Maiestie most iudiciously speaketh of Puritanes The kindes of Puritanes distinguishing them into two ranks Sects sorts principal lesse principal the principall he sayth properly called Puritans are a vile Sect of the Anabaptists called the Family of Loue with whom in certain main points both Browne Peury and others do conioyne the lesse principall are certaine brain-sicke heady Preachers the disciples followers of Browne Penry and others in their fantasticall conceipts and rebellious complottings I dare say affirm his Maiesty taketh not the Family of Loue to be simply Anabaptists nor the Brownists such like to be simply Familists nor the brain-sicke Preachers and their dependants to be simply Brownists but insome respects wherin they do all concur It is onely of this later kind of men viz. the disciples of Brown Penry such like that in his booke his Maiesty writeth so sharpely and whome he wisheth his Son to punish in case they refuse to obey the law will not cease to stir vp rebellion And yet his Maiesty taketh the Family of Loue to be Puritanes and the chiefest Puritanes and properly though not the only Puritans and a vile Sect among the Annabaptists albeit happily they do vtterly disclaime and detest both the rebellious actions of the braine-sicke Preachers
doubt that our King IAMES may of al be the first is their heartie desire end of their instant perition Hence they humbly beseech his Maiestie to peruse the bookes of their H. N himselfe with an vnpartiall eye as the principall meanes to make him a Familist and a Maister of that household of Loue especially within his owne Realmes and Dominions which he vouchsafing to do they promise by their best endeuour to procure his Maiesty so many of H. N. his bookes as they can and of such their illuminats as they can heare of euer inward with H. N. his doctrine well exercised in his works and perfect in his tongue words phrases and all out of Germany Which is a bold offer of theirs and the more audacious and gracelesse because they confesse here his Ma. to be Scripture-learned we know him among Christian Princes the chiefest Patrone of all men studious and conuersant in the Scriptures of God which kind of men of all others these Familistes cannot brook which Scriptures and Scripture-learned men are most opposite euer haue beene to H. N. his doctrine and his doctrine Seruice of Loue or secrets contrarie nothing more vnto the sayd Scriptures and such learned men For sayth H. N. as hath afore beene alleadged and is neuer by mee mentioned but in detestation of the speech It is assuredly all false and lyes seducing and deceitfull that the vngodded or vnilluminated Men out of the imagination or riches of their owne knowledge and of their learnednesse of the Scriptures bring foorth institute preach and teach Besides what a mockery is it to beare his Highnesse in hand that H. N. his workes and wrightings rightly and with an vnpartiall eye considered are nothing dissonant from the Scriptures of God knowing vnlesse they credit him not herein their oldest Elder and chiefest Illuminate H. N. vtterly as false and lyes seducing and deceitfull to condemne whatsoeuer is grounded vpon the same Scriptures of God The Family of Loue. ANd so vpon such your Highnesse godly aduised consultation and censure thereupon finding the same workes hereticall or sedicious and not agreeable to Gods holy word and testimonies of all the Scriptures to leaue them to take them as your Maiesties lawes shall therin appoint vs hauing no intent nor meaning to contend or resist there-against howsoever it be but dutifully to obey thereunto according to the counsell of the Scriptures and also of the sayd Authors workes The Examination VPon his Maiesties censuring of H. N. his doctrine and vvrightinges they promise obedience vnto his lawes and proceedinges which is conscionably they doe performe then shall they shewe themselues to bee honest and good men But the doctrine of dissimulation and temporizing is so often dispersed and rise in H. N. his wrightinges and the sayde workes of H. N. in all this their supplication so magnified and euen in this their verie petition so expresly acknowledged to proceede euen out of the great grace and loue of God and Christ extended towardes all Kings Princes Rulers and people vpon the vniuersall earth to their saluation c. as it is to be feared that what obedience soeuer they pretēd outwardly to his Maiesties lawes iniunctions constitutions their heart yet dissenteth from his and all Religions else in the world differing from theirs to which notwithstanding for quietnesse sake they will not sticke perhaps outwardly to conforme themselues wheresoeuer they reside in Great Britanie and Ireland to the Kings profession in Spaine at Rome or elsewhere to the Romane superstition and idolatry (a) Pattern of the pres Tēps in externall matters alwayes following the stronger part reseruing their hearts vnto their H. N. and his Seruice of Loue as many Papistes doe vnto the Pope according to the iniunction in like cases where they are too weake Da mihi cor Fili sufficit For our Familistes are Free men and can walke in all freedome among all people (b) H. N. Spir. Land c. 41. § 6. VVhat the religion is which his Maiestie dooth professe and will resolutely as Gods holy and onely truth protect is well knowne to his Highnesse Subiectes yea to the whole World (c) Proclam at Wilt. 27. Octob At Westm 22. Feb. 5. March At the parliam 19. March 163. A Religion grounded vpon the Scriptures aduersant to all humane inuentions and spirituall or diabolicall reuelations and visions whatsoeuer Now put-case his Maiestie will not vouchsafe as good hope is he will not from his most serious weightie affaires of his kingdome to steale opportunitie to suruaie the wrightings of H. N. yea will neither reade them himselfe nor yet like Constantine the great (d) Tripart hist lib. 2. c. 15. suffer his well meaning Subiectes of weake capacities to reade yea nor to deteine such wrightings by them as are opposite contrary or differing from the religion by himselfe professed by Lawe established and which truly embraced will bring men to saluation will not our Family giue ouer their Loue Seruice to serue God as the King and his lawfull subiectes do according to Gods word Their wordes before that they neuer heard nor knew any lawe established in this Realme against H. N. and his bookes and their secret and parlour meetings and administration of their H. N. his Seruices euen from the beginning almost of that blessed Queenes raigne ELIZABETH of fresh and honorable remembrance doth plainly intimate how it is neither the Kings owne writings Proclamations Actes Statutes Ecclesiasticall Canons and Constitutions nor whatsoeuer else hee decreeth for the ratification of one and the same Religion and condemnation of all others contrarie or crossing the same in his Realmes and Dominions that they regarde or will yielde vnto vntill his Highnesse with good discretion hath read and vpon sound aduise disallowed and censured as hereticall seditious or dissonant from Gods holy word the workes and writings of their H. N. For vpon such his Highnesse godly aduised graue consultation and Censures they promise to yielde and leaue the workes bookes and wrightings of their doctor H.N. but not afore The Family of Loue. ANd our further humble sute vnto your Highnesse is Their second Petition that of your gracious fauour and clemencie you will grant and giue order vnto your Maiesties Officers in that behalf that all of vs your faithfull louing Subiects which are now in prison in any part of this your Realme for the same cause may be released vpon such bayle or bonde as we are able to giue and that neither we nor any of that company behauing our selues orderly and obediently vnder your Highnesse Lawes may be any further persecuted or troubled therein vntill such time as your Maiestie and such godly learned and indifferent men of your clergie as your Highnesse shall appoint thereto shall haue aduisedly consuited and determined of the matter whereby that we may not be vtterly wasted by the great charge of imprisonment persecution and
Our Heart is the Mind of God most high Our Beeing amiable as the sweete Lillie Our faith fullnes Loue and Trueth upright Is Gods Light life and Cleernes bright A SVPPLICATION OF THE FAmily of Loue said to be presented into the Kings royall hands knowen to be dispersed among his Loyall Subiectes for grace and fauour Examined and found to be derogatorie in an hie degree vnto the glorie of God the honour of our King and the Religion in this Realme both soundly professed firmly established Reuel 2. Ver. 14.15 I haue a fewe things against thee because thou hast them that mainetaine the doctrine of BALAAM c. Euen so hast thou them that mainetaine the doctrine of the NICOLAITANES which thing I hate Printed for Iohn Legate Printer to the Vniuersitie of Cambridge 1606. TO THE KINGS most excellent Maiestie IAMES the first by the grace of God King of England Scotland France and Ireland defender of the Fayth c. MOST gracious Soueraigne Lord The exordium where there is published in a booke written by your Highnesse as an instruction to your most noble Sonne whome Almightie God blesse with much honour happinesse and long life of a people that are of a vile secte among the Anabaptists called the Family of Loue who doe hold and mainetaine many proud vncharitable vnchristian and most absurd opinions vnto whome your Highnesse doth also giue the name of Puritanes affirming in the say de booke that diuers of them as Browne Penrie and others doe accord with them in their foule erroneous heady and fantasticall opinions which are there set downe at large by your Maiestie aduising your Royall Sonne as is most meet to punish them if they refuse to obey the Lawe and will not cease to stirre vp rebellion The Examination THis is the Families Exordium and containeth an heauie and pitious complaint vnto and of the Kings Maiestie himselfe for that in his booke and Instruction vnto his most noble Sonne hee tearmeth the Familie of Loue a vile Sect amongst the Anabaptists and also giueth them the title of Puritans This goeth to their verie hearts The Exordium quare some that they should be so ranked and stiled and that by his Maiestie and that in a printed booke and that divulged in a knowen tongue ouer his dominions and the same directed vnto his royall and deatest Sonne euermore to continue Hence their quarrell and contention euen with their King hidden yet vnder the faire wordes of an humble petition A memorable Exordium or preface The Familie of Loue. NOw gratious Soueraigne A Propestatiō because it is meete that your Highnesse should vnderstand by their supplication and declaration of the truth herein by themselues of whom your Maiestie hath beene thus informed prostrate at your Princely seete as true faithfull loyall and obedient subiects to all your lawes ordinances ciuil and politique spirituall and temporall they with humble hearts do beseech your Princely Maiestie to vnderstand that the people of the Familie of Loue or of God doe vtterly disclaime and detest all the said absurd and selfe-conceited opinions and disobedient and erroneous Sects of the Anabaptistes Browne Penrie Puritanes and all other proude-minded Sectes and heresies whatsoeuer protesting vpon paine of our liues that we are not of consent nor agreeing with any such brain-sicke Preachers nor their rebellious and disobediet Sectes whatsoeuer but haue been euer wil be truely obediēt to your Highnesse and your lawes to the effusion of our blood and expenses of our goods and lands in your Maiesties seruice highly lauding Almightie God who hath so gratiously peaceablie appointed vnto vs such a vertuous wise religious and noble King and so carefull and vnpartiall a Iusticer to gouerne ouer vs beseeching him daiely to blesse your Highnesse with his godly wisedome and holy vnderstanding to the furtherance of his truth and godlinesse and with all honor happinesse peace long life to iudge rightly betwixt false hood and truth The Examination IN this Section they protest that they are not as the King saith they are a vile Sect but The Familie of Loue Against their Protestation or of God or Gods Familie neither that they doe hold maintain as his Maiestie hath published any much lesse many proud vncharitable vnchristian and most absurd opiniōs yea they doe vtterly disclaime detest al the said absurd and self-conceited opinions as also the disobediēt and erroneous Sectes of the Anabaptistes Browne Penrie Puritanes all other proud-minded Sects heresies whatsoeuer c. And therfore that his Highnes both misconceiueth and misreporteth of them good men In which their Protestation hee that seeth not his most excellent and sacred Maiestie most odiously to be traduced as a publike defamer of Gods people is verie blinde and againe obseruing so much is not grieued thereat sheweth that hee neither carrieth sound affection vnto his Souereigue nor tendereth the honour of his Prince Now forsomuch as both his Maiesties book is extant and this their supplication but more truly infamous Libell in many mens hands especially of the young ones in this Family of Loue for few else can haue so much as a viewe thereof vnlesse they be of the vulgar sorte and withall inclineable to receiue their doctrine of all others the vnfittest to read or heare such dangerous discourses whereby both the Familistes are confirmed in their familiar instructions and his Maiestie by such Libels ignominiously dispersed is not a little wounded it is verie behoouefull somewhat to examine the truth of this their protestation And because they say how the premisses are published in the sayd booke of the Kings it shall not be amisse heere to set downe his Maiesties verie words and the occasion of them expressed by his royall hand to the end that it may appeare who is more abused either the Family who are charged as there is set down by his Highnesse or his Maiestie thus traduced and that to his face by the Family In the second booke therefore of his most Fatherly Kingly and diuine directions vnto the royall Impe of rare hope Prince Henry his best beloued sonne his Maiesty hauing at large set down the diseases of the church and from his owne experience declared how the Puritanes all his raigne and some yeares afore had troubled the quiet of the Scottish kingdome Church opposed themselues against the throne of Maiestie laboured by the peoples fauour and assistance the erection of a gouerment Democraticall by the ruine of the royall State and sought to bring in a parity equalitie of all degrees aswell into the Common-weale as Church in the ende he giueth his aduise and sayth Take heede therefore my Sonne to such Puritanes Puritanes to beauoided very Pestes in the Church and Common-weale whome no desertes can oblige neither oathes or promises binde breathing nothing but sedition and calumnies aspiring without measure railing without reason making their owne imaginations without any warrant of
and diuers bookes (d) Epiphan Photius that pestilent Apostata wrote very manie dscourses both in the Greeke Latine tongue (e) Vnicent Lir. aduers haeres for the propagation of his damnable doctrine Basilides that hell-hound compiled more then 24. volumes (f) Eale myst of iniquitie Appollinaris filled the whole world with his blasphemous pamphlettes (g) Basil magn And Tatianus not inferior to any of the rest not to any else except perhaps to H. N. for impietie his bookes were infinite and innumerable (h) Euseb eccles hist l. 4. c. 29. Which writings notwithstanding were not so applauded by some as they were abhorred of others nor so famous in times past among a few as they are odious now among all men neither were so read and vsed earst as they are at this time both out of sight and out of request yea and out of mind and gon as if they neuer had beene either deuised or vsed in former dayes And so we doubt not shall happen to the writings of H. N. though together they world seeme neuer so great a volume in seuerall be verie many Againe they here commend not their H. N. only for his paines and bringing forth such a volume of theologicall speculations but also for the manner of his writings For he neither tooke part with say they nor writ against any particular partie or companie whatsoeuer as naming them by their names nor yet praised or dispraised any of them by name as if to take part or write against any particular partie or ocmpanie of Heretikes Schismatikes or other vngodly persons and especially in confuting to name them were an hainous fault Little thinke these Familiars by thus and this cōmending their H. N. whom they touch as faultie that haue both taken part in a world of dissentions set themselues against Sectaries and in their writings as to all posterities eternally horrible named the authors and spreaders abroad of hellish errors by their proper names Our Sauiour Christ opposed himselfe professedly against the Pharisies and Sadduces so did the Apostle Peter against the highe Priestes and Rulers of Ierusalem so Paule against Alexander Demas Hymeneus Philetus and such like so the Euangelist Iohn against the Nicolaitans and so the true against the false Apostles Ministers and wicked persons from time to time in all ages whose both errors they haue oppugned and registred their names for an euerlasting remembrance And though this H. H. neither tooke part with nor writ against any particular partie or company whatsoeuer which ye is vntrue as afterward shal be shewen as naming them by their names a thing which lawfully and after the example euen of the best hee might haue done yet which hee cannot iustifie nor aunswere before God hee opposeth himselfe generally against all men which bee not of his fect (a) H.N. 1. Exhor c. 16 §. 2. c. whence it is that all men especially the true Church and seruantes of God are against him and his Familie Againe these Familists still ouer familiar with his Maiestie would beare his Highnesse in hand that the said H.N. in his writings doth neither praise nor dispraise any partie or companie by name which is most vntrue For hee commendeth the Church of Rome with all the orders and officers thereof tearming it The Communion of all Christians the Pope the chiefe annointed the most holy Father the Cardinalls most holy and famous and next the most auncientest and holy Father the Pope in most holy Religion and vnderstanding (b) Euang. cap. 31. §. 1.2 c. and prophecieth of an entire and perfect restauration of the papall Hierarchie (c) Ibid. §. 23. And on the other side he cōdemneth as many as out of the knowledge which they tooke out of the Scriptures as all the protestant and reformed Churches through-out the world haue done brought in certaine seruices and ceremonies in any other wise or order than the Church of Rome Appointed (c) Ibid. c. 32. § 4 He raileth on Gods Preachers and calleth them vnilluminated vnregenerated vnrenewed vngodded vnsent and I wot not what besides (d) Ibid. c. 4. §. 4 to bringe their persons ministerie and profession into vtter hatred and contempt (e) Ibid. c. 28. §. 4. Document sent c. 2. §. 2. And though in his writinges he had neither so praised as he hath done the Pope and his partakers on the one side nor dispraised and to the pit of hell condemned all Ministers and Preachers whom in scorne euerie where hee tearmeth Scripture-learned 1. Exhort c. 15. §. 17.19 yet that maketh him not a commendable writer and regardable For he is aprayser and magnifier of himselfe euerie where in his writings which is the greatest fault that can be in a man whether hee write or speake and bee his praises either true or false but elspecially if they be proudly arrogated and not deseruedly Would you heare a vaunting Bragadine Listen then vnto H. N. The Lord the God of Heauen moued Me in his Minde or Spirit saith H. N. his power incompassed Mee with a Rushing noyse and the glorie of the same God of Heauen became great in my spirite of his Loue in such wise that the great clearenesse of God wholly innironed Mee and shoane round about Mee where-through the sight of mine Eies became clearer than Chrystall and mine vnderstanding brighter than the Sunne (f) H. N. Prophet of the Spir. c. 1. §. 2. the Lorde his Being and Essence spake vnto Mee for the Being of God gaue-forth his sound and voice and spake vnto Mee H. N. through his spirit of Loue all these wordes and saide c. (g) Ibid. §. 5. Here the Essence and Being of God spake vnto him Againe I lament saith H. N. and bewaile verie much your vnfaithfulnesse and all your fainednesse wherewith yee thinke to couer you before Mee yet are neuerthelesse all the Counsailes and falshoodes of your Harts manifested before Me so much the more naked bare before the Eies of my Hart and Spirit (h) Ibid. c. 3. §. 1.2.3 Here hee braggeth that the Counsailes secrets of mans hart knowen onely vnto God are not hidden from him Many saith H. N. could much rather iudge Moses the Prophets of God together with the Apostles of Christ and God his elected Minister H. N. to erre or misse the right than that they would by any meanes confesse and acknowledge that they in the Imagination of their knowledge concerninge the godly matters are ignorant and lying (i) Ibid. c. 13. §. 8. Hee vaunteth here that hee could no more erre than could the Prophets and Apostles yea he preferreth himselfe if his wordes be well obserued before the Apostles and Prophets In his Prouerbes The God of Heauen saith H.N. (k) Chap. 8. §. 3 as the Father himselfe is come downe and He bringeth in the Seruice of his Loue Himselfe with his Christ and Holy Ghost and with all that
GOD and man in one person but commonly with him hee is an allegoricall CHRIST meant either by the Sabbaoth day which the Lord commaunded to be alwayes had in remembrance (h) H. N. Enang cap. 13. §. 2. 2 Document-sent c. 3. §. 4. or by the Seruice or doctrine of H. N. which also is CHRIST after the flesh (i) Exhort c. 14. §. 1. as hee vnderstandeth the Scriptures or by the vertuous qualities and Being in godly men (k) Enang c. 13. §. 16. 1. Exhort c. 1 §. 24.25 ca. 20. §. 5. or by the oldest Elder in the Familie which sometimes was H. N. and is now one man now another (l) Euang. c. 31. §. 12.14.16 An obedient and godly life is Christ Iesus saith the Exile (m) Patterne of pres Temps And so are men saued by the doctrine of this Familie either by their owne workes or vertues or by their Oldest Elders or by the doctrine of H N or Seruice of Loue or by the holie Rest but neuer by our Christ acknowledged in the Church of England Thus haue yee the ende of H. N. his writinges suitable certes vnto his method and doctrine for which he is so renowned but to their small comfort and credit among the Familistes The Familie of Loue. NOtwithstanding deare Soueraigne yet hath the said Author and his doctrine a lone time and stillis The Families complaint most shamefully and falsely slandered by our foresaide aduersaries both in this Land and in diuers others as to be replenished with all manner of damnable errors and filthie libertie of the flesh The Examination AFter a long and lothsome narration they come now to a new complaint and that still on the behalfe of their H. N. and his disciples It is not yet an hundred yeares since the said author was borne nor 60. yeares since his doctrine came first to light and was broched nor 50. yeares yet since it arriued in this realme a blessed thing had it beene for many a Christian soule had either H. N. neuer breathed or his doctrine neuer beene hatched But how many yeares soeuer haue passed since his opinions and mysteries came to light if hitherto they bee all knowen through the goodnesse of God yet there is not one of al the Churches Protestant and reformed that fauoureth but all bid open and vtter defiance to H. N. his bookes and errors H. N. himselfe in his life time much complained that all degrees in all Lands abhorred his writings (a) H.N. 1. refrein §. 4. In this Land both H.N. and his lothsome which he calleth Louely Familie of Loue haue beene displaied once confuted often resisted alwayes but shamefully and falsely slandered either by forraine or home-writers it was neuer that hetherto I could heare and so must I thinke till I see the extant writings against them conuicted of vntruthes and disproued as slanderous That H.N. his bookes are replenished with damnable errors it will be iustified and hath alreadie in this examination and else where beene manifested The Familie of Loue. AND wee his wel-willers and fauourers in the vpright drift of his doctrine as aforesaid haue also been by them complained on and accused vnto our late gracious Soueraigne the Magistrates of this Land both long time past and nowe lately againe as to bee a people so infected and stained with all manner of detestable wickednesse and errors that are not worthie to liue vpon the earth but yet would neuer present any of his bookes vnto his Maiestie to peruse nor yet set them forth in any indifferent or true manner to the viewe of the world least their malitious and slanderous reportes and accusations against the same and vs should thereby haue beene reuealed and disproued to their great shame The Examniation NOw complaine they of iniuries offered to themselues The verie drift of H.N. is to thwart or discredit rather whatsoeuer is taught in the Church of England and else-where from the letter of the holy Scriptures and to bring in another Gospell viz. after H. N. Such as are the wil-willers and fauourers of H.N. in the said his drift as the Familists here confesse themselues to be not only deserue to bee complained vppon and accused vnto authoritie but to bee accursed of God and man if they persist in their wicked course as a people infected with most detestable wickednesse and errors and the verie plague and bane of sound religion And those men which haue acquainted authoritie with their errors and impieties haue done good seruice therin and their bounden duties both vnto God his Church and the State Whether any of H. H. his bookes haue beene presented vnto our late most gratious Soueraigne of aie blessed memorie I cannot say but I surely coniecture that shee could not be ignorant of the contents of his writinges when the Lords of her Counsaile as afore hath beene declared censured some of her house-hold seruants for abbetting H. N. and his detestable heresies They which againe doe say that their aduersaries would neuer present any of H. N. his bookes vnto her Maiestie to peruse say more then they can affirme yea which is palpably vntrue For who abhorreth H. N. his bookes or H.N. rather for his hereticall blasphemies but euer were desirous that his said errors contained in his books might in his said bookes be read of her Maiestie that by her authoritie the better they and al such as fauour those bookes containing such errors might condignely be censured When these Familistes dare tell his Maiestie that their aduersaries would neuer present H. N. his bookes nor any of them vnto her Highnesse it appeareth they herein saying true that she had alwayes about her some Familistes or fauourers of that Sect who alwaies related or bare tidinges what was donne or intended against them It is wished that his nowe Maiesties Court were purged from such well willers and fauourers of H. N. in the maine drift of his hellish hereticall doctrine where-with her Maiesties was but too-much replenished How H. N. his bookes by their aduersaries haue beene set-forth the worlde may iudge 26. yeares haue they beene extant a sufficient time for the Familie both to iustifie their H. N. and to discouer the malice slanderous reports of their accusers if there were iust cause Hitherto haue the Familistes beene silent and yet are both confident in their wicked courses not ashamed to expresse so much before his most-Christian and royall Maiestie The Familie of Loue. THrough which their most-odious false complaints against vs the Magistrates did then A new and odious narration and also haue now lately cast diuers of vs into prison to our great hinderance and discredite but yet haue neuer proued against vs by sufficient and true testimonie any one of their many foule accusations as the records in such cases and the magistrates that haue dealt therein can testific but are so vtterly voide of due and lawfull proofe thereof that they