guift of tongues whereby the same day they spake to the Iewes that were then from all nations assembled at Ierusalem the greatacts and mighty works of God For it is expressly written and that the people maruelled that they heard them speake euery one in the language of the Countrey wherein they had been borne By which miraculous guifr bestowed first vpon the Apostles then after vpon many other and by such vse of it in teaching the people of euery nation in their owne language it is manifest that our Sauiour Christs ordinance is that diuine Seruice should bee administred in a speach vnderstood by all the people This is also confirmed in that the Apostle Paul in his former Epistle to the Corinthians Chap. 14. saith that the ordinances set downe by him in that place amongst which this was one that no man should speake in the Church and Assembly of the people a strange language not vnderstood by them except it were interpreted are the commandements of the Lord that is of Iesus Christ Thus then it appeareth to be the practise and ordinance of Christ that diuine Seruice should be administred in a speech which the people vnderstand Now that the Apostles taught the same is likewise manifest for first that their practise was such appeareth Acts 2. Where hauing receiued the guift of tongues they imployed it rightly to that end for which it was giuen and spake to men of diuers tongues in the language of the Country wherein they were borne And this was the generall practise of the Apostles as appeareth in the booke of their Acts. 1 Cor. 14. Now the Apostle Paul debating this matter at large not onely teacheth manifestly that all diuine Seruice should bee performed in the Church in a speech which the people vnderstand but confirmeth this doctrine by many reasons In which discourse it appeareth that diuine Seruice ought to bee administred to Gods glory verse 47. For it being the Lords coÌ„mandemeÌ„t that it should be so performed as the Apostle there calleth it it is for the glory of God that with all due obedience it be so performed Besides this the reason of this commandement doth likewise proue it which is that by such meanes the knowledge of God is enlarged Acts 2. the great and marueilous workes of God as his Creation Prouidence redemption of the world by his onely begotten Sonne his lawes and his commandements the promises of the Gospell preached in the Word set out in the Sacraments which are of forgiuenâ—sse of sinnes of life and immortality to euery one that beleeueth and such like are made knowne to men to Gods vnspeakeable glory as it was by the Apostles By that meanes also the people vnderstand the prayers and thanksgiuing which are made by the minister yeeld therin consent to such services of God and together with him doe God that honor that thereby they acknowledge all good guifts to come from him and therefore that they ought to be desired of him by prayer and that he is to be glorified for them with all thanksgiuing Therefore that God may be honoured with all this honor it behooueth and is necessary that he be serued in the Church in a speech that the people vnderstand Furthermore the edification of the people doth require the same concerning which it is the Lords expresse commandement 1 Cor. 14.26 That in the Church all things should bee done to their Edification By edification is meant their furtherance in the knowledge of God in the vnderstanding of the Scripture in faith in obedience in comfort and all Christian duties But none of these can be furthered in the people if the Minister vse a language which the people doth not vnderstand Therefore it is necessary for the instruction and comfort of the people that the Scriptures be read and expounded the Sacraments administred the Prayers and thanksgiuing bee made in the Church in a speech that all the people doth vnderstand On the contrary part by administring of diuine Seruice in a speech not vnderstood by the people both God is dishonoured and the people are suffered to perish For touching the first point Gods commandements of the right vse of his guift of tongues of doing all things in the Church to edification are broken God is also highly dishonoured in that the knowledge of him is kept from the people that his name is taken in vaine and Seruice prophaned and his people suffered to perish in ignorance and disobedience Concerning the peoples perishing by this meanes it is plaine in that the blind led by the blind must needes pâ—rish By this meanes they doe remaine in their sinnes and namely in the ignorance of God which howsoeuer the adherents of the Church of Rome teach to bee the mother of deuotion the word of God teacheth to be the iust cause of error disobedience and destruction Math 22.29 For it is said that the seruant that knoweth not the will of his Master shall be beaten it is said indeed with few stripes in comparison of the many stripes wherewith they shall be beaten which know their Masters will and do it not Luke 12.47 48. but by those few stripes are meant euerlasting torments as the Apostle Paul teacheth saying And to you which are troubled 1 Thes 1.7 8 9. rest with vs when the Lord Iesus shall shew himselfe from heauen with his mighty Angels in flaming fire rendering vengeance vnto them that doe not know God and which obey not the Gospell of our Lord Iesus Christ which shall bee punished with euerlasting perdition from the presence of the Lord-and from the glory of his power Now as the Church is edified by him that prophecieth 1 Cor. 14 3 4. receiueth instruction exhortation comfort and direction whereby they may ioyne together in Prayâ—s and thanksgiuing So on the contrary they want all these meanes when diuine Seruice is administred in a strange tongue which they doe not vnderstand For the minister speaketh not to them that is to their vnderstanding and therefore whatsoeuer have heauenly doctrine bee read or deliuered in a strange tongue the people is nothing instucted by it but departeth from the Church as ignorant of God of all godlynes as they came to it And as hee that is ignorant is not instructed in any thing so he that is dull and sloathfull in his duty to God or man according to Gods commandement is not furthered by exhortation nor he that is heauy in heart is not comforted verse 1â— likewise when the minister prayeth or giueth thanks he can neither pray nor giue thanks with him nor answer firly to any thing he pronounceth because he vnderstandeth not what it is that he sayeth For this cause the Apostle saith that their vnderstanding remaineth fruitelesse and that fiue wordes spoken to their vnderstanding were more worth then many thousands in that sort And in respect of the Prophet or minister hee saith that in so doing
all spirituall graces needfull for that seruice so spake of the great workes of God to the Iewes that from all parts of the world were come to Ierusalem that the same day there were added to the Church about 3000. persons Acts 2.41 Acts 8.1 After by reason of the persecution that was raised against those that receiued their doctrine and other occasions that God disposed their doctrine was published in diuerse Countries and at Antioch in Syria so preuailed Acts 11.26 that there first the Disciples were named Christians of Christ whose Religion they receiued of which beginning and proceeding of the Gospell to the time of the Apostle Pauls imprisonment at Rome the Euangelist Luke hath written the vndoubted certainty in his history of the Acts of the Apostles which story is inlarged by that was written also hereof by some of the Apostles themselues in their Epistles and also in the Reuelation By which sacred bookes of the new Testament it most certainly and manifestly appeareth what the religion and doctrine was which our Sauiour Christ and his Apostles taught and Christian Churches after professed that continued in their doctrine And this is summarily that most holy faith and true Christian religion which is now professed in England and established by publique Authority Thus summarily answer is made to that is here desired CHAP. II. The particulars of our Religion professed in England NOw for further satisfaction in the particular points of our Religion now professed in England it is to be vnderstood that there are two bookes established by publique and highest authority amongst vs wherein are declared the particular points of Christian Religion as they now are receiued and professed in England the one of these is intituled the booke of Articles of Christian Religion agreed in the Conuocation in the yeere of our Lord 1562. In which booke is declared shortly in seuerall Articles the whole doctrine of Faith and of the Sacraments which we professe The other is the booke of diuine Seruice and common Prayer wherein is set downe the whole order whereby we serue God publiquely in our Churches In these two or in either of them for substance is contained the declaration of our Religion wherefore if the Religion deliuered in either of these bee prooued to bee the same which Christ and his Apostles taught and that which for any part whereof true Martyrs of ancient time haue suffered then is that prooued which is here desired which proofe at this time it seemeth most conuenient to be made especially of the booke of diuine Seruice For the Law with vs requireth especially to serue God according to such forme as is established by Authority and set downe in the booke of diuine Seruice and common Prayer Therefore to yeeld satisfaction to such Romane Catholique Recusants as are offended at such parts thereof as differ from the Liturgy of the Church of Rome such principall parts of the said diuine Seruice are here to bee iustified to bee established amongst vs according to that Doctrine which our Sauiour Christ and his Apostles haue deliuered For performance whereof it is to be vnderstood that there are sundry points of Religion set downe in the said booke whereof no pretended Catholique is supposed to make any doubt Of this sort it is that the said Booke appointeth the reading of the holy Scriptures of both the Testaments and particularly out of the old Testament of the Law of the two Tables contayning the ten Commandements of Almighty God and out of the new Testament of the Lords Prayer Of like kinde also it is that in the same our faith in many of the highest and most sacred mysteries of Christian Religion is declared and professed in three of the most ancient and notable Confessions of Christian faith that haue beene gathered out of the Scriptures in any former ages Of which Confessions or Creedes as they are commonly called the first and most ancient is that which vsually is called the Apostles Creede because it containeth many principall points of the Doctrine of the Apostles and in a great part followeth from one degree to another the Story of the Gospell concerning the sundry degrees of the humiliation and glory of our Sauiour Christ The other two are somewhat larger declarations of the same points of doctrine that are in the former of which Confessions or Creedes the one is of Athanasius that resolute constant Professor of Christ worthy in honour to be immortall in the Church according to his name The other the Creede set forth by the first and most famous oecumenicall Councell of Nice Besides these though not expressed in this booke the Lawes of England so receiue the holy determinations of all the first foure generall Councels in that they agreeably to the Scriptures determined of the doctrine concerning Christs two natures of God and Man and of the Vnity of his Person and of the Godhead of the holy Ghost against the damnable Heresies of Arius Nestorius Eutyches and Macedonius as they ordaine punishment by death vpon any that shall obstinately maintaine the foresaid Heresies Moreouer the said booke appointeth the order for the administration of both the Sacraments instituted by our Sauiour Christ as signes and seales of the Gospell of Christ and of the righteousnes that is by Faith viz. Baptisme the Sacrament of our new birth and the Lords Supper the Sacrament of our continuall nourishment by him to life euerlasting Finally the same booke containeth besides the Lords prayer the true rule and direction whereby all other are framed many other godly prayers for all estates and degrees and applied to the confession of our sins to the administration of the Sacramenâ—s and other like occasions of the Church Thus farre of such particulars as it is to be thought no Christian doubteth but that thâ—y are from God Wherefore the proofe to bee made seemeth ne dâ—â—ull only in such points as our Church hath reformed in the Religion and Liturgie professed and vsed in the Church of Rome Now therefore the principall things of difference betweene our diuine Seruice and the Liturgie of the Church of Rome follow to be considered in the principall parts thereof after that two points haue beene debated which are to be regarded in them all whereof the former is the subiect or person that is to say who it is that with Seruice of Religion ought to be serued and worshiped by vs * In the Church of England God only is worshipped with diuine s ruice not any creature or dead things as Images reliques such like in England by publique Authority with Diuine seruice the law intendeth that onely the true eternall God the Almighty creatour of heauen and earth and the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ is to be religiously serued and honored by vs. For which cause it is ordained that the word of God be read and expounded that his Sacraments bee administred and that all our prayers be made to God and to
God alone And by like Authority there are learned Homilies set out declaring and prouing that to worship creatures in themselues or in their Images and to haue them in Churches is not lawfull Now in some former time by the authority of the Sea of Rome our Churches Temples in England were wont to bee full of Images some representing God the sacred Mystery of the Persons in the Godhead and some representing Iesus Christ both otherwise and specially as hee was crucified besides these there was also almost an innumerable multitude of Images representing the Saints departed out of this life besides many other of whose Christian vertues there appeared little proofe And as these Images were brought into the Churches so they were by like authority serued and worshiped with garments ornaments kissing kneeling creeping candlelight censing reading their Legends singing Anthemes and making prayers to them and to their honour or at least to their honour that were represented by them Which being so it is to bee considered what our Sauiour Christ and his Apostles taught concerning the subiect of diuine Seruice that so it might appeare that our Râ—ligion and manner of seruing God in England is the same in this respect that was taught by them and that the other of the Sea of Rome is directly contrary to their Doctrine Ioh. 4.23 24. Our Sauiour Chist taught that God is a Spirit and that whosoeuer will worship him aright must worship him in spirit and truth whereby it is plaine that the Godhead or any person of the Godhead cannot be represented by an Image For if no Art of a man can truely represent the soule of a man because it is a spirituall substance which no bodily thing can truly represent much lesse can the spirituall substance of God be represented which without all comparison is more simple Rom. 1. verse 18. to 24 25. For which cause the Apostle saith that the Gentiles representing God by creatures were guilty of lying and turned that which God truely is into a false resemblance In which respect also the Prophets call such Images teachers of lyes Hab. 1.18.19 Ier. 10.8 which is manifest so to be because it is a false represâ—ntation to represent Eternity by that which had a beginning incorruption by that which is corruptible the creator by the creature and that more false then if a man would represent the day by the night light by darkenesse and life by death Rom. 1.24 to the end Moreouer the Apostle there teacheth that God held himselfe so highly dishonoured thereby as for that cause he gaue them ouer to their owne lusts to dishonour themselues with all kinde of shamefull dishonour and abhominable iniquities Whereunto the same Apostle doth adde in another place 1 Cor. 6.9 that Idolaters shall not inherit the Kingdome of God Reuel 21.8 Likewise in the Reuelation it is said that Idolaters together with dogges Inchanters Harlots and Lyers shall not enter into the City of God the heauenly Ierusalem Moreouer our Sauiour Christ teacheth concerning the worship of God agreeably to the Law saying it is written Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and him onely shalt thou serue Math. 4. By which words he declareth it to be vtterly vnlawfull to worship any creature with the worship that is due vnto God and further that all religious kneeling adoration is to be yeelded to God onely Which is agreeable to the ancient commandement that so commandeth God to be worshipped Exod. 20.4 as it forbiddeth by way of Religion to woâ—ship with religious worship the likenes of any creature either in heauen or in earth or in the waters vnder the earth against the transgressors of which commandement the Lord declareth himselfe most prouoked to vengeance in comparing his anger to the anger of a iealous man that will not bee pacified by any meanes but will be auenged vpon the adulterer Likewise in that he addeth further a terrible commination against Idolaters whom he there declareth to hold for his enemies and such as hate him in threatning to visite that is to punish their sinnes in their children and also in their childrens children to the third and fourth generation For which cause the Apostle Iohn exhorteth all Christians to beware of Idols saying 1 Iohn 5.21 Little children keepe your selues from Idols or take ye heede and beware of Images 1 Cor. 10.14 So the Apostle Paul writeth to the Corinthians saying My beloued fly from Idolatry Likewise the same Apostle in al his ministry sought to withdraw as the Corinthians and the Thessalonians 1 Thes 1.9 so all other gentiles from the seruice of Idols to serue the true God Acts 17.16 For which cause also being at Athens and greiued in spirit to see their City wholy addicted to the seruice of Idols did most zealously endeauour both in the Synogogues of the Iewes and in the market place vpon all occasions and in the highest Court of Iustice to disswade them from those vaine and impious seruices and exhort them to worship onely the true God the creator of heauen and earth To which end also in another place he shewing that true Christians because they are the Temples of God ought to haue nothing to doe with Idols saith What participation hath Iustice with iniquitie 2 Cor. 6.14.15 or what communion hath light with darknesse or what communion can Christ haue with Belial or what part can a faithfull man haue with an Infidell or what agreement can the Temple of God haue with Idols Wherefore goe yee out from the middest of them and separate your selues saith the Lord and touch no vncleane thing and then I will receiue you and I will bee your father and you shall be my sonnes and daughters sayth the Lord God Almighty This is that our Sauiour Christ and his Apostles taught concerning the worshiping of God only and the auoyding with all zealous detestation the seruice of Idols and Images and reliques and of any creature Now in times past contrary to this doctrine our Churches were full of Idols and Images and such religious adoration and seruice was yeelded and done vnto them adoration in bodily gestures of vncouering the head vnto them of kissing them and bowing the body and the knee vnto them and such like seruice in couering them with garments adorning them with ornaments incensing of them burning candles before them bestowing gifts vpon them making vowes and going of Pilgrimages vnto them with other such like seruices But the Lord vouchsasing vs mercy stirred vp the spirit of our renowned Princes to reforme such enormities as many vertuous Kings of Iudah had done the like before them and hauing caused the Temples and Churches to bee cleansed from all such Idols and Idolatry straightly charged and commanded all their Subiects abandoning allthese vaine and most impious seruices to Idols to worship the true and liuing God and to yeeld religious adoration and seruice to him
alledging it out of the Psalmes Psal 44.22 Rom. 8.36 For thy sake are wee put to death all the day long wee are accounted as sheepe for the slaughter By these and many other like testimonies it appeareth that a true Martyr dyeth for no other cause but for a good iust and holy cause and namely for witnesse bearing to true Religion as for refusing to worship Idols and for professing himselfe a Christian and one that honoreth Christ and auoweth the Doctrine of the Gospel that hee taught and professeth to belieue to bee saued by him Which being thus proued by these generall testimonies shall bee likewise confirmed by the examples of such true Martyrs to the end that hereby it may appeare that whosoeuer are to bee acknowleged to haue beene true Martyrs haue suffered for bearing witnesse to some principall doctrine of the same Religion that together with all Christendome is professed at this day in England and not for maintenance of any of the errors or false worship maintained by the Sea of Rome and wherein they being fallen away from the truth of the Gospel dissent from many nations of the Christian world They challenge indeed to themselues that all the Martyrs that dyed in the Primitiue Church dyed for their Religion But it is not to bee shewed that they dyed for that Corruption of Christian Religion that is properly called Popery because it hath beene and is still maintained by the authority of Popes but onely for refusing to worship Idols for professing to beleeue in God and in Iesus Christ our Sauiour Which being the holy faith now professed in England and in many other nations of Christendome that agree with vs therein it will appeare that all the Martyrs of the primitiue Church dyed for the maintenance of that Seruice of God and for that faith of Christ which is now professed in England which is the other part that is desired to be proued Now for the proofe let vs first consider of the Martyrs recorded in the new Testament Whereof the first that obtained the Crowne of Martyrdome was Steuen who had beene one of the Seuen Deacons of the Church of Ierusalem Of him it is manifest that hee was stoned to death in a fury of the Iewes after that hee had giuen notable testimony to Iesus Christ First by his great signes and wonders that hee did Secondly his so wise and Zealous reasoning with men of the Synagogues and schools of the Iewes of diuers nations that were in Ierusalem as they were not able to withstand the wisedome and spirit wherewith hee spake Thirdly Act 6.10 Act. 7 2 c. V. 52. V. 55 V. 59 by his notable Apologie which hee made for himselfe before the High-Priest and the whole Consistory his face shining as an Angel concluding it with charging their Fathers to haue slayne the Prophets which had foreshewed the comming of Christ and themselues to haue murdered Christ that iust and righteous Person Fourthly by his constant testimony that hee beheld the heauens open and the Sonne of man standing at the right hand of God Finally by his dying in the inuocation of the name of the Lord Iesus By all which reasons it is plaine that Steuen dyed for no other cause then onely for professing Iesus Christ to bee the Sonne of God and the Sauiour whom God had promised to send for the saluation of his people and this faith our Church in England by Gods mercy doth constantly professe with all that call vpon the name of the Lord Iesus and houldeth it most honorable to dye forbearring witnesse to that most holy faith Which being so it is cleare that Steuen whose head first had the honor to weare the Crowne of Martyrdome dyed for that faith which is at this day professed in England not for the Masse nor the Popes Supremacy nor any other Popish Corruption of Christian faith whatsoeuer The like is to bee sayd of the Apostle Iames whom Herod slew with the sword as it appeareth by that it is said Act. 12.1.2.3 that Herod vexed certaine of rhe Church and that hee saw that the killing of Iames had pleased the Iewes who were the enimies of Christ and by apprehending and committing of the Apostle Peter in like sort In the Acts of the Apostles the like cause appeareth of all the persecution both of the Disciples and of the Apostles Wherefore vpon occasion the Apostle Paul professeth saying I am ready not onely to bee bound Act. 21.13 but also to dye at Ierusalem for the name of the Lord Iesus In the Reuelation the like testimony is giuen of Antipas where it is written I know thy workes and where thou dwellest namely where Sathans throne is Reue. 2.13 I know that thou holdest my name and hast not denied my faith no not in the dayes wherein Antipas my faithfull Martyr was slayne amongst you where Sathan dwelleth Of other Christian Martyrs whose names are not mentioned in the Scriptures the like appeareth both by the prophecies and performances of their sufferings In the second of the Reuelation it is written in the 10 verse Feare nothing of that thou art to suffer Behold the Diuell will cast some of you into prison that yee may bee tryed and yee shall haue affliction for ten dayes Bee faithfull vnto the death and I will giue thee the Crowne of life In the sixt Chapter verse the ninth where the first seale was opened it is sayd I saw vnder tht Altar the soules of those which had beene slayne for the word of God and for the testimony which they maintained After to them crying to God to reuenge their blood it is in the eleuenth verse answered That they should rest yet a little time vntill their fellow seruants their brethren might bee fulfilled which were to bee slayne as well as they In the Chapter eleauenth from the third verse to the twelfth is foreshewed the Martyrdome of the two Witnesses which bare witnesse to the Gospell of Christ for the space of 1260 dayes Finally in Chap 20 verse 4. it is said I saw the soules of those which had beene smitten with the axe for the testimony of Iesus and for the word of God and which haue not worshipped the beast nor the Image of the beast nor haue the marke vpon their foreheads or in their hands and they shall liue and reigne with Christ a thousand yeares These are the Prophecies that make mention of Christian Martyrs by all which places and the comparing them one with another it may euidently appeare that all such Martyrs were to beare witnesse to the Lord Iesus Christ vnto death and to suffer not for any tradition or for any ordinance of the Church of Rome but for the word of God and for refusing to become Idolaters and to take the marke of the beast in their foreheads or in their hands Now the performance of these prophecies that haue beene fulfilled vnto this time doe likewise declare that the
in any degree like the former for the causes aboue menâ—ioned or by the heathen Wiâ—hin the Church there arose indeede great troubles generally by the authority of the Emperours that fauoured the heresy of Arius and by the Arian Bishops and other of that heresy soliciting authority with all importunacy against Athanasius and other that maintained the sound Orthodoxe and holy faith of the Godhead of Christ of one and the same substance with the Father In which worthy cause whatsoeuer was suffered by any and namely by Athanasius worthy to bee immortall and to haue his name preserued for euer in the Church with high regard and honour they and Athanasius suffered for that saith that is also professed by all reformed Churches and namely by our Church in England as may appeare by Athanasius Creede or confession of faith set downe in our booke of common prayer appoynted by publique authority to be openly read in all our Churches Other vniuersall persecutions for any matter of Christian faith wee reade of none And as for such particular troubles as were raised in the Church about any heresy condemned by any of the foure first generall Councels whatsoeuer those Councels decreed against such heresies is receiued and professed by our Church in England Thus it is proued that all the Martyrs of the Primitiue Church suffered for our Religion that is now professed in England And in all ages whatsoeuer true and right Martyrs there haue beene that is which suffered death for bearing witnesse to the word of God and to any part of Christian Religion deliuered by Iesus Christ and by his holy Apostles for it is the cause and not the punishment onely that maketh a Martyr they dyed all for some Article or other of the Religion which is professed in England And of this sort for some laterages especially in this wherein wee liue the barbarous Cruelty of the Romane Catholiques hath beene such as in this age both England in some former times and especially in the reigne of Queene Mary and many other kingdomes and countries of Christendome haue flowed with the Christian blood that hath bene shed by them They boast indeed of Martyrs that haue dyed for the defence of their Religion for which if our Christian Kings and States that haue restored the sincerity of Christian Religion had made lawes for that purpose and put them in execution vpon some turbulent Persons obstinately seeking to depriue vs of the true worship of God and to bring vs back againe to the blindnesse and ignorance superstitions and will worships errours and heresies Idolatries and blasphemies of the Sea of Rome who could iustly reproue such proceedings But it will bee hard to shew that our Christian Princes and States haue yet hitherto so proceeded Possibly in the warres and In the rage of battell and in the fury of victory some outrages may haue bene committed which we do not iustifie But that in time of peace when lawes might be obeyed the Iudges sit quietly vpon their benches it will not be easy to shew that there hath bin any such course Their shamelesse Legendaries report indeed that we haue put men into Beares sâ—innes and set dogges to worry them But they tâ—at wrote â—â—ch things had neither truth nor modesty in so writ ng They complaine much also of some Iesuits Seminaries and other Romane Catholiques adiudged vnto death in this Land And it is true that some such haue beene executed but not any simply for any matter of Religion and diuine Seruice but either for Fellonies and Treasons and that some such as the like were neuer heard of in any age or for such erronious and hereticall poynts of Doctrine as directly impugneth the Soueraignty of the State and inforced a necessity of such Lawes and execution of them vpon some notorious Offendors and seditious practisers to seduce the subiects from their allegeance But this is cleared in many other places and heere it may suffice to shew that which hath beene proued That the Martyrs of the Primitiue Church dyed for that truth which is now professed in England Which hauing beene thus proued by this Treatise there hath beene performed whatsoeuer is desired Which God grant may be of as good vse to such as haue desired it as the writer from his soule doth pray God may vouchsafe them FINIS
by the intercession of Angels and of men This appeareth in like manner in their Letanies Missalls Anthemes Collects and sundry parts of their Liturgie For in them they desire all the Angels and Arch-Angels to pray for them and by name Gabriel Michaell Raphaell They desire the mediation of all the Apostles in generall and of euery one in particular This petition they make also to all the Martyres in common and to diuers by their proper Names to the Doctors of the Church to Confessors to sundry Popes Bishops Abbots and other Canonized Saints both men and women that they would pray for them to God that by their intercession yea and also by their merrits they may bee freed from their sinnes and the punishment due for the same and may obtaine all grace to euerlasting life In so many sundry sorts doe they dishonor the Sonne of God and rob him of that high glory and preheminence of his Priesthood which standeth in making intercession for his people in communicating it with so many others to whom it cannot in any sort belong For it is hee alone that was made the High-Priest of the new Testament and that with an oath and the same for euer for which cause also his Priesthood is sayd to bee 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 such as passeth not from his owne person to any other Hee obtained this honor to enter into heauen Heb. 7.16.17.20.21 Heb 7.23.24 to make prayer and intercession for vs by the shedding of his most pretious blood by the merâ—it whereof hee presenteth himselfe continually in the presence of God to obtaine all grace needfull for his Church Heb 9.7.12 Ver. 12.14 which honor hauing beene obtained by blood it cannot agree to Angels which are only spirits neither haue flesh nor blood This blood whereby hee obtained this honor 1 Pet 1.19 Iohn 1.29.36 Heb 9.14 is the blood of the Lambe immaculate vndefiled without spot or blemish that is of one perfectly innocent and righteous in the sight of God But such is not the state of any man whatsoeuer Esay 53.6 Psal 14.3.2 Wee haue all erred and gone astray saith the Prophet Esay And the Propher Dauid likewise Enter not into Iudgement with thy Seruant O Lord for no flesh shall bee iustified in thy sight Psal 14.1.3 Rom. 3.10 And againe There is none that doth good no not one Which is also the testimony of all the Prophets and Apostles wherefore all men are subiect to death by reason of sinne and are not able to procure fauour for themselues how then should they bee mediators and intercessors to procure fauour for others who themselues stand in neede to bee saued by the intercession and merrits of Iesus Christ But if there were any of them righteous yet the shedding of their blood could no more procure fauour for vs with God then the shedding of the water in the streetes For it is by the blood of God as saith the Apostle whereby the Church is bought and purchased A â— 20.26 by which blood as hee made propitiation for our sinnes so it is by the same blood being of inestimable value because of the infinite dignitie of his person by which hee is entered into the presence of God to make intercession for vs. It is therefore of no vse that is said that hee is the onely mediator of propitiation but not of intercession For as it hath bene shewed by these reasons hee hath as good right to bee honored with this glory to bee the onely intercessor for his Church as hee hath to bee the onely giuer of all satisfaction for our sinnes Finally it behooueth that our intercessor bee God that hee may know the necessities of this people and vnderstand their groanes which cannot bee vttered but this agreeth not to any creature onely much lesse to men Thus then it appeareth in how high degree the Liturgie of the Church of Rome is contrary to the Doctrine of Christ and his Apostles and derogatory to the honor of God and of his onely Sonne in that prayers are made to any other then to God onely and that resting vpon the Prayers and intercession of many others and not onely of Iesus Christ Contrarywise hereby it may appeare that our Religion and diuine Seruice in England in these two last and excellent poynts concerning Prayer is according to the Doctrine of Christ and of his Apostles that wee pray to God onely and that by the onely mediation of Iesus Christ the righteous who is also the propitiation for our sinnes Thus it hath beene shewed both in the word whereunto the Sacraments are annexed and also in prayer in which two parts principally consisteth the whole seruice of God that our Religion professed in England is the same which was taught by Iesus Christ and by his Apostles which was desired to be proued and further that the Liturgie of the Church of Rome in all the poynts heere debated is directly contrary to the Apostolicall Doctrine and that which was deliuered by the Lord Iesus himselfe Which being so performed heere might bee an end â—f this Treatise but that it is further desired to bee shewed if any of the Martyres haue giuen testimony to that Religion which in England is professed For satisfaction wherein here is added that which followeth CHAP. X. Of Martyrs MArtyr is originally a Greeke word and signifieth in English a witnesse which generall signification by an elegancy of speech is vsed by the Church to note such as testifie and beare witnesse of true Religion and of the right Seruice of God and of faith in Iesus Christ euen by the suffering of death rather then to deny the truth of God So as in this sence Martyr is a witnesse of true Religion by his suffering of death for it Such in the time of the Prophets were Daniel and his three noble kinsmen of the tribe of Iudah Dan. 3.20.21 For these three rather then they would worship Nebuchadnezzars golden Image and yeeld to an Idoll the honour due to the onely true God enduâ—ed to bee cast into the furnace of fire From which though God by miracle deliuered them yoâ— are they worthily accounted Martyrs for their most constant resolution Dan. 6.16 Likewise Daniel rather then hee would not yeeld vnto God the honor of prayer endured to bee cast into the denne of Lyons for his noble Profession In the new Testament our Sauiour speaking of Martyrdome saith Math. 5.11 Blessed are yee when men persecute you for righteousnesse and for my sake And sorewarning his Disciples of such Persecution saith Iohn 15.27 Iohn 16.2 You shall beare witnesse of mee and they will put you out of their synagogue and whosoeuer shall kill you shall thinke hee doth God good seruice The Apostle Peter saith If any man suffer because hee is a Christian 1 Pet 4.16 let him not bee ashamed let him rather glorifie God on this behalfe Thus also wrighteth the Apostle Paul