to bring Christian men into bondage that they may not refuse such thinges as are against their conscience Fourthlie if they giue any offence In the which foure things against these garmentes we may take exceptions And for these and such like causes the Apostles forbadde both Iewes and Gentiles euen all the Christians things offered vnto Idolles in their firste Decrees to teach by theyr factes and deedes the same that they had spoken in wordes that the Idolles and al that to them belonged ought to be abhorred of all true Christians And therefore in the same place it is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the filthines of Idolles Bern. Paule giueth leaue to eate y e meate offered vnto Idolles afterwarde Mil. Yea after this there arose a doubte amongest the brethren whether they might eate such fleshe as was solde in the market and so eaten at the tables amongest other meates vnknowne to haue come from anie Idole Which was a farre other thing than the vsing of these thinges about the Sacramentes To this the Apostle aunswereth that as the earth and all that therein is belongeth to the Lord so may man vse al meates creatures receiuing them w t thankes giuing at the Lordes hande to his glorie without anie further care whēce they come so that none be thereby offended But if any man do tell thee that it is a thing once dedicate to the Idolles thou mayest not vse it And hereby it appeareth that the creatures though they haue bin abused that beare no name nor forme of any abuse neither giue offence by the vsing of thē may be reteined But if they haue the forme shewe or name of things Idolatrous they are to be abhorred for two causes The one least we should seeme to haue any part or communion with the Idolaters which were against the glorie of our God The other least the weake brother be boldened to vse the thinges sacrificed to Idolles And so thy weake Brother perishe thorowe thy knowledge for whome Christ died Thus may we note two sortes of Idolothites or things belōging to Idolls Some haue their names and formes chaunged frō common vsage and so by forme name do retaine the memoriall of the idolles whose names and memorie God will haue to be abolished Such are properlie called the monumēts of Idolatrie These ought by Gods lawe and mans lawe here in Englande to be done awaye or with dishonor at te least to be defaced The seconde are such as neither are altered in forme nor name the whiche may still be vsed as the flesh solde in the market and eaten at the table these maye be called indifferent so that in the vse of thē no brother be offended nor against his conscience vrged But the creatures that are called gods are accursed and maye not be vsed All the Idolles were creatures yet by Moyses Paule they are called Diuels Therefore the partaking with them is the partaking with Deuilles and the verie places where the Idolles were worshipped were detestable and are called hell afterwarde Their great Idoll wherevnto King Ahaziah sent in honor called Baalzebub by his worshippers was by the godlie Iewes that hated Idolatrie called the chiefe of the Deuilles and so his name continued Such hatred did they beare to all thinges apperteyning to the Idolles Therefore biddeth Moses to destroye all those Idolatrous monumentes And Isaiah biddeth vs to counte their idolatrous Ephod which was y e chief garment of their Priest as a menstruous cloute and vtterlie defie it Therefore this geare that beareth the names formes still of their Idolothites can not bee named amongest the things indifferent though we graunt the substaunce and matter of them of it selfe indifferent neyther can they bee commaunded to be vsed in the ministerie or Sacramentes which are matters of Religion in any wise Bern. Yes If the Prince commaund it Mil. Gideon was a Prince who made and commaunded an Ephod a riche robe or garment for a Prieste and appoynted it for his citie Ophra But this was the cause of the destruction of him and his house For as we reade Abimelech the sonne of his Concubine did vsurpe the Kingdome and did slaye seuentie and niene of his brethren the sonnes of his Father Gideon vpon one stone Then this Abimelech after hee had thus cruellie slayne his brethren his Mothers kinred that had set him vppe and destroyed the Citie Shechem that had made him King he had his deathes wounde by a Woman yet woulde hee haue his Page to runne him thorowe with his sworde moste desperately so the whole familie perished moste miserablie And no man can alledge any other cause against Gideon but onelie that which the holy Ghoste giueth that hee made this Priestes garment and appoynted it for his Citie without any warraunte of Gods worde of a good intent onely So sore and perillous a thing it is to deale in Gods matters by mans fantasie Nadab and Abihu for the taking of fire which God had not commaunded were sodenlie burned with fire from heauen Vzza was sodainlie slaine because he would helpe forwarde Gods worke by his good intent without Gods warraunte King Saul dealeth in sacrifice a matter of religion without Gods commaundement but by y e same wise policie that is alleadged for the garmentes to reteyne the people together yet for this cause loseth he his kingdome Also King Vzziah is striken with Leprosie and cast out with shame because he dealeth in sacrifices matters of Religion without gods worde by his Princelie authoritie Thus God will haue the Princes to knowe that they are but men therefore that they may not medle in his matters without his word and commaundement For as Samuel said to Saul so saieth he still vnto all Hath the Lorde as great pleasure in Sacrifices as when his voyce is harkened vnto and obeyed Beholde to obeye is better than sacrifice and to hearken is better than the fatte of Rammes For transgression and rebellion against Gods worde is as witchcrafte and idolatrie Wherefore thus saieth God by his seruaunt Moses to Kings to al others That whiche I do commaunde thee that onelie shalt thou do thou shalt put nothing too it nor take nothing from it Loe this is the grounde of true Religion And in matters of policie also ther must be some discretion For the Prince commaunded the two Captaines and their hundred souldiours to fetch Eliiah vnto him a thinge that may seeme indifferent but the fire of God deuoured them So Kings haue their law howe farre they shall commaund And the subiectes by the same may knowe howe to obey For God when he setteth vp Princes hath not giuē ouer his owne right and authoritie They are but his stewardes and Bayliues to see his will executed in al things not their owne lustes and pleasures In euill commaundements therefore to disobey them is none iniurie vnto them Bern. Me thinke I smell a ratte in
5. de consecra cap. De his verò is writteÌ„ that in the yere 310 Clemens primus brought in Confirmation or Bishopping of children This Pope Clement affirmed that he was no christian that wilfullie left this vndone Pope Melciades came after affirmed it to be a more worthie sacrament than the sacrament of Baptisme Volateranus Platina Sabellicus Polidorus these do write that in the yeere 404 Pope Anastasius brought in Standinge at the Gospell Platina D. Barnes H. Pantateon these doo write that in the yere 530 Pope Bonifacius ordained To deuide the Chauncel from the body of the church Platina Durand D. Barnes H. PaÌ„tateon these do write that in the yere 603 pope Sabinian brought in Belles Vertue attributed to Belles First they stirre men to deuotion Secondlie they preserue the fruites Thirdly they keepe both the mindes and bodies of the faithfull from al daungers Fourthly they put to flight the hoastes of our enemies and dispatche all the subtilties of their euill willers Fifthlie they cause the boysterous windes hayle and all sharpe stormes the violent teÌ„pestes the terrible thuÌ„drings to cease Sixtly they driue away all wicked spirits and Deuilles Chronica Chro. Volateranus Platin. these do write that in the yere 653 Pope Vitalianus broght into y e church OrgaÌ„nes Christianus Massaeus Chro. mundi these do write that in the yere 796 pope AdriaÌ„ ordeyned the Surplesses Durandus Platina Volateranus Polidorus these do write that in the yeere 653 pope Gelasius brought in Prickesong pope Gregorie Playnesong pope Vitalianus Descant Platina Sabellicus Polidorus Gratianus these do write that in the yere 119. pope Alexander ordeyned vnleauened breade or rounde Cakes small saying this oblation the lesse it is the better is it Also why it is rounde like a penie Antonius saieth Because Christe was solde for thirtie pen. Durandus saith that it is made rounde because the earth is rounde And another sayth that the outwarde signe may signifie him that wanteth both beginninge ending Durandus Polidorus Pantateon these do write that in the yeere 375 pope Damasus brought in the church The firste prescript order for the seruice in the Quier Durandus Chroni Chron. these do write that in the yeere 1073 pope Gregorie the seueÌ„th brought in The prescript nuÌ„ber of psalmes and lessons Platina Massaeus Polidorus Pantateon these do write that in the yere 444 pope Leo or as some write pope Hillarius ordeyned the Gange dayes or Rogation weeke Durandus sayeth that pope Gregorie or Gelasius ordeyned the Collectes ordinarie Chroni Achil. Fasciculus temp these say that in the yeere 737 pope Zacharias ordeyned priestes Gownes Tippettes and Foure horned Cappes Haue at our Englishe prelates of pride Sabellicus writeth that in the yeere 251 pope Stephanus ordeyned Coapes and Vestimentes This man appointed no garmentes to be vsed in the church but hallowed garmentes In Chroni Graftoni is written that in the yeere 871 Pope Nicholas ConciliuÌ„ did forbid Mariage in Lent and at all other times Paule calleth it the doctrine of Deuils Decreta lib. 3. titul 1. cap. 10. PaÌ„tateon they saye that in the yeere 1214 Pope Honorius ordeyned Kneeling to the sacrament Here the sacrament was made an Idoll as Iewell saith in his first booke against Harding Sabellicus Polidorus Lib. Conciliorum Eusebius these do write that in the yere 139 Pope Telesphorus ordeyned Lent to be fasted before Easter Distinct 76. cap. Tenui Platina Sabellicus Polidorus D. Barnes these do say that in the yeere 206 pope Calixtin ordeined Imber fastes Platina and Volateranus do write that in the yeere 315 Pope Bonifacius ordeyned Wednesdayes Frydayes and Saterdayes fastes Polidorus and Pantateon these do write that in the yeere 425 Pope Bonifacius ordeyned Saintes eues fasted Mat. 26. 63. saith that Caiaphas the high Priest would haue Othes ex officio to wit to make men sweare to accuse them selues When Caiaphas could not get that which would suffise him at the false witnesses mouthes to put Christ to death then hee adiured him by the liuing God to tell if he were Christ Thomas Rudb and Iohan. Capg these do write that in the yeere 1098 Pope Vrbanus ordeyned Caunturburie to be the chiefe patriarchal Seate All popishe holy dayes had the like beginning as by Thomas Beacons booke of Reliques is to be seene All these Popes were Antichristes one after another and there are none of these Ceremonies and Monumentes of Idolatrie but came all from these Antichristes besides the Lordlie gouernement of Bishoppes Popishe Excommunications and Absolutions Pluralities Trialities Tot quots with such other Dispensations and Licenses Institutions Inductions Proxies and Senages c. These all fill the purse and were deuised of Antichriste to holde vp his kingdom All these do the Tradicioners still mainteyne directlie agaynste the commaundementes whiche Samuell as before is saide doeth affirme to bee wickednesse and Idolatrie The true Discipline by Gods word without the whiche no true Religion can be and which true reformed Churches doe holde and mainteyne haue the Traditioners vtterly excluded And therefore they can not truelie affirme and saye That they doe deteste all Antichristian Idolatrie neyther yet that they consent in all pointes of true doctrine with all godlie reformed churches wheÌ„ these mischiefes are mainteined true discipline banished which of necessitie must be ioyned ¶ A Prayer for the Faythefull O Lord God most mercifull Father we beseeche thee for the honour of thy holy Name to defende vs from that Antichrist of Rome and froÌ„ al his detestable enormities manners lawes garments ceremonies Destroye the counsel of al Papistes and Atheistes enemies of thy Gospell of this realme of EnglaÌ„d Disclose their mischiefes and subtill practises confounde their deuices let them be takeÌ„ in their own wylinesses and streÌ„gthen all those that maintayne the cause and quarell of thy Gospell with inuincible force and power of thi holie Spirite so that though they bee destitute at anie tyme of worldlie ayde and comforte that yet they fayle not to proceede and goe forward towardes that true godlinesse commaunded in thy holie worde with all simplicitie and sinceritie to thy honor and glorie the comforte of thine electe and the coÌ„fusion of thine enemies through Christ our Lorde and Sauiour Amen Amen And say from the harte AMEN FINIS A good desire Too true Our B. are Foxes Mat. 15. Phil. 3. Zacha. 13. 1. Reg. 12. 2. Reg 16. Daniel 3. Note this A perilous heresie 2. Tim. 4â— 2. A lamentable defectioÌ„ The request of the godly ministers 1 Cor. 1. 19. 25. 26. 27. Esa 55. 8. 9. Pro. 1. 22. Pro. 1 29. 30. 31. â— Cor. 11. 19 23. 11. Psal 19. 7. Psal 119 9. Fevv such Souldiers Marke this O ye Conformatistes Marke this 2. Pet. 2. Note this ye Magistrates Looke to this O yee Magistrates in time 2. Cor. 6. 17. Esa 52. 11. 1. Pet. 5. 2. Good stuffe for the Popes church 1. Pet. 5. 2. 3. Luk. 22. 26. Marke this good Reader praye for the same vvith vs. As Dios Grauet and such like Such as Parson Taylor Parson Buffin suche like Marke this prety stuffe Marke well Spirituall theeues the vvorste theeues Be vvarned O England Good couÌ„sell and the best policy The name of D. Turners Booke Note The more is the pitie Marke this O ye christian Magistrates and frame your policie to christianitie Note this Looke in the ende of this Booke Act. 4. 19. Marke vvell this and beare it avvaye Those that knovve not God his vvill bee blinde and see nor knovve no-nothing Vnlesse meÌ„ vvill bee blinde they must confesse this Psalm 16. Gen. 3. 14. Marke this ye Vniuersitie men Outvvarde notes to knovve Papistes The Surples may be vsed for a Porters vveede or such like necessarie garment Remember Qu. Maries daies O England and repent in time Looke to this O ye L. Bishops Marke this O yee Gentlemen Mark these similitudes Looke into all other reformed churches VVhat is this but hypocrisie 2. Cor. 6 14 15. 16. Examples of holy meÌ„ vvhiche detested Idolaters and their fashions and rites Iohn 2. 15. One principal question Reade the Tables in the ende of this booke Reue. 18. 4. 1. Cor. 10. 21. No Idolator or his Garmentes to be suffefered To many of this opinion God grauÌ„t vve may do this froÌ„ our hartes These Popish Garmentes refused in K. Edvvardes time Those that haue eies to see let them see Old Robert Bishop of Lincolne They svvarme throughout the laÌ„d God redres it vvhen his vvill is All vpright men coÌ„fesse this to be true Of indifferent things note A Christian aunsvvere and ought to be practised of al true Preachers The Apostles neuer sought to bring any estimation to theword by apparell The defenders of thes ceremonies haue their ovvn coÌ„sciences to vvitnes these things to be true None caÌ„ be to earnest in a good cause for God his Church Papists and the veriest asses moste redie to the ragges of Rome Christes church can not avvaye vvith names of Idolatries muche lesse vvith their ceremonies Indifferent thinges made intollerable four vvayes 1 2 3 4 Note this 1 2 Tvvo sorte of Idolothites 1 2 Nota. Good intenrs vvithout vvarraÌ„t displease God These traditions more vrged then God his coÌ„mauÌ„dementes Patcheries of popishe remnaunts aâ—…to be cast off vvith the Pope him selfe
A PLEASAVNT DIALOGVE Betweene a Souldior of Barwicke and an English Chaplaine Wherein are largely handled laide open such reasons as are brought in for maintenaunce of popishe Traditions in our Eng. Church Also is collected as in a short table 120. particular corruptions yet remaining in our saide Church with sundrie other matters necessarie to be knowen of all persons Togither with a letter of the same Author placed before this booke in vvay of a Preface 1. Cor. 6. v. 15. What cōcord hath Christ with Belial 1581. To my Reuerent Fathers and Brethren in Christ Master Couerdale Mai. Turner M. Whittingham M. Sampson M. Doctor Humphrey M. Leauer M. Crowley and others that labour to roote out the weedes of Poperie Grace and Peace BEcause wee are created for Gods glorie and the edification one of another in Christe and are all bounde to serue therevnto by wealth or woe life or death chieflie they to whom God hath giuen the greater giftes whom he hath called to greater roomes are most boūden to be zealous for gods glorie with godly ielousie to present the church spouse of Christ vnder their charge a pure Virgin to Christ hir husband and that by no subtiltie as the Apostle warneth they should bee corrupted from the simplicitie in Christ Therefore I nothing doubting of your zeale and diligence my reuerende Fathers deare Brethrē who being in authoritie are first called to the battell to striue for Gods glorie and the edification of his people against the Romishe reliques and ragges of Antichrist but that yee will couragiously and constantly in Christ throwe out these ragges of Gods enemies And I do further require you in the name of God so farre as my simplicitie may be bolde to require your wisedomes that ye will by this occasion laye open other as great enormities that we all knowe and labour to race out all the dregges and remnauntes of transformed Poperie that are crept into Englande by the too much lenitie of them that wilbe accounted the Lordes of the Cleargie And for my part by the grace and power of my God though I sinfull wretch haue no such giftes nor authoritie as can much further the cause or comfort you in your godlie trauailes yet shall I and many more with me pray for you and with our simple giftes will desire you that we may ioyne together with you to suffer togither in so good a cause that is so much for gods glorie and the edificatiō of his Church in the pure simplicitie of Christes worde and Sacramentes wherein our enemies and persecutours are straūgly bewitched I wote not by what diuelishe cuppe that they do make such a diuersitie betwixt Christs wordes and his Sacramentes that they can not thinke the worde of God to be safely inough preached honorably inough handled without cappe Cope or surplesse but that the Sacramentes the Marrying the Burying the Churching of women and other church seruice as they call it muste needes be declared with Crossing with Coping with Surplessing with kneeling with prety wafer kakes other knackes of Poperie O Paule that thou wert aliue thou durst tell these politicke gentlemen that there hath bin to much labour bestowed vpon them in vayne Thou durst say vnto them as thou diddest to the Corinthes That they éate not the Lordes supper but playe a pageaunt of their owne to blinde the people and keepe them still in superstition farre from the simplicitie of Christes supper to make the selie soules beleeue that they haue an Englishe Masse and so put no difference betwixt trueth and falshoode betwixt Christ Antichrist betwixt God and the Deuill They are straungly bewitched I saye that will binde their Englishe priesthoode and sacramentes to garments but much more enchaunted that can finde no garments to please them but such as haue bin openly poluted with Poperie superstition and Idolatrie But most of all in this poynt shall their madnes appeare to al posteritie because they make these Antichristes ragges Causa sine qua non in Christes holy Ministerie so that these shall make an English Priest be he neuer such a dolt or villaine as we haue very many and without these Romishe reliques not Paule him selfe as one of them did blaspheme and the reste in effect do plainly affirme Well by Gods power wee haue fought with the wolues for these and such like Popishe chaffe and God hath giuen the victorie wee haue nowe to do with the Foxes let vs not feare There is no crafte cunning or pollicie against the Lorde We haue Christ and his Apostles and al the Prophetes euer stryuing against the hypocrites of their tyme on our side A strawe for Popishe policie We haue the worde of God to warrant vs to roote out all monumentes of superstition and Idolatrie and are charged to abhorre them to count them accursed and to defye them and deteste them as a menstruous cloathe They haue not the worde of God And what wisedome is in them sayeth God by his Prophete Ieremie They talke of obedience and concord but there is no obedience against the Lord nor any concorde to be desired but where Gods glorie and veritie is preferred Else better to haue all the worlde to runne in hurlie burlie and heauen and earth to shake then one iote of Gods glorie should decay so farre as in vs lyeth Wee haue their owne lawes and proclamations to roote out all monumentes of superstition and Idolatrie and their owne wordes are contrarie to these their owne doings They repent the reformatiō proclaimed as did the Israelites They buylde agayne that which they once destroyed And this do they openly that all the worlde may wonder at their follie But what they do secretly God will one day haue declared openly yea they make the name of God and his doctrine that we professe to be euill spoken of already by many of their doinges Their iudgement hasteth that for such causes persecute Gods true Preachers Wherfore let vs not feare their threateninges There can none persecute vs for this trashe but such as are neyther whot nor colde and then they shalbe vomited out vnlesse their zeale increase or they that are Atheistes such as haue no god before their eies but their god is their belly And those are worldpleasers or open Papistes whom God hath giuen vp to a reprobate sense Wherefore we must thus take it that they are gods roddes for our sinnes because wee haue bin no more zealous in Gods cause nor carefull to seeke his glorie That wolfe winchester his butcher Boner fought once against vs. for the groundes of this geare but loe howe the Lorde within two or three yeeres ouerthrew them all to giue vs courage to goe forwarde We are to slacke and negligent That monster remayneth is fedde as the Papistes saye for their sakes And we graunt that his paūche is fedde for some secrete purpose We do crye kill this traytour enemie to the Crowne to the Realme
I do come to the church sometime in the morning and reade a little whiles dinner bee made readie Mil. This is an easie order that thou talkest on if it be as good as it is easie and I pray thee howe might I come into the same order and state with thee Bern. I will tell thee all for old fellowships sake and I will helpe thee to auowe some for money and that is the surest way But if thou haue no money then must thou fawne vppon some Gentleman that either hath some impropriations or other Benefices in his hande or else by other meanes to seeke some little gaine by it or hath some in his gifte Get his letters to the Bishop and thou needest not to doubt of orders Mil. Yes peraduenture the losse of my legge will be a hinderaunce yet I thinke there be thousandes in Englande of whom beuefices are worse bestowed for I will fight for the realme and the holy church as lame as I am Bern. I tell thee thy fighting will not serue thee so much as the want of the comely wearing of thy gowne thy coape and thy surples will hinder thee Mil. Why sayest thou so Such swouping cloathes will hide my stumpe foote Bern. Nay I tell thee my Lordes the Bishops will haue all thinges comlie and thou canst not go in them but thou wilte swinge them on the lame side euill fauouredlie Mil. Why foole all the grace is in swinging and swingeing of them and I can doe that decentlie But I maruaile howe thou wanting thy finger one of thy eyes waste admitted for by the Popes law thou shouldest not haue bin receaued Bern. Yes by dispensation for money and now is lesse daunger for there is no lifting and therefore lesse money will serue Mil. But what is that I yray thee wherof thou saydst thou wouldest admonish me concerning my selfe for I see that thou art come into an high estate aboue me and hast gotten some other spirite and therefore knowest much more now then when thou wast a poore souldier Bern. Thou doest vse to muche to scoffe at our priestly apparell and our Churche geare This must thou leaue or else canst thou neither haue benifice thy selfe nor bee welcome to any man of worship that taketh profite by benifices No thou canst come to no company to be quiet for there are verie few that can agree to the Geneuians fashion to haue nothing in the church but naked walles and a poore fellow in a bare gowne telling a long tale and brauling and chiding with all his auditorie Nay my Lorde my M. will none of that As for my Lorde I hearde him say that he could neuer go to any of these Geneuians Sermons that hée came quiet home but that there was euer somewhat that pricked his conscience hee thought alway that they made their whole Sermon against him But in the hearing of Mattins euensong pricksong at Paules or in my reading of my seruice in his chappell he sayth he feeleth no such thing for he is neuer touched but goeth merilie to his dinner Mil. Thus sayd wicked Ahab by the good Prophet Michaiah but as for mee I vse to say nothing but that I haue hearde good Preachers teache openly in the Pulpet that all popish Priestes apparell are supersticious and such church ware as they did weare is iufected with idolatrie Wherfore as the idolles themselues were detestable and the Pope to all christian men and to all true English hartes execrable So al the monumentes of idolatrie and all the vsuall liueries and garmentes of the idolatrous Priestes and Popes Chaplaines ought to be reiected of the Seruauntes of Christ as abhominable And al that you say agaynst the Geneuians might be broughte against Christ and his disciples in the same wordes and sentences Bern. I know that you haue learned this lesson of the London Ministers But I haue read a Booke of late written by a Proctor for our english Priesthoode which calleth them starke fooles and aunswereth them I warrant you in all pointes I warrant you Miles he is a man of great authoritie that dare so boldly reuile them and handle them like abiectes and my Lordes the Bishops doe take our partes against those busie fellowes and keepe some of them in prison and put other from their liuinges And I may tell thee in secrete if we had not found such a maister to maintain our ceremonies and also vnlesse the Bishops had playde the Lordes in deede these prating Preachers would haue made some of vs to haue turned our tippets and for very shame to haue forsaken our Benifices yea if they had had libertie but a little longer they woulde haue disgraced my Lordes Grace the Archebishop of Caunturburie and haue made all England to beleeue that our gracious Metropolitane whose glorious Grace long might it last for we poore ignoraunt priests shall neuer faile vnlesse he fall had bin but an idoll sheaphearde and an English Pope and which greeued the other Bishops at y e harts thei began shrewdly to shake y e lordly state of all the Cleargie They woulde not haue a Bishop nor a Minister knowne by his apparaile but by his preaching A shamefull heresie They crie Pasce Pasce Pasce I cannot tel what they meane They would haue men such fooles to turne to that poore beggerly estate that was amongst the Apostles and alwayes toyle and trauayle with the people and braule and chide when any thing is amisse But I tell thee playne they had then lost the greatest part of their number a iolie sort of gentlemen swouping in their sarcenets and many other good fellowes too Therefore I doe accounte with maister Examinator all these poore beggerly London Ministers starke doltes and chrise fooles for their preachinges their writings and their beggerly liuing in their offices I tell thee my Lordes the Bishops that were their fellowes beyonde the Seas in Queene Maries daies are now ashamed of them and care not for their companies they are so beggerlie so busie bodies and will allow nothing but Gods worde in the churches Mil. As for the Bishops they are not all so farre gon I trust in God but I pray thee sir Bernards in what part of his Booke doth your M. Examinator cal them fooles Bern. Marie at the first worde and applieth Salomon very eloquētly as I heard Mayster Doctor say to serue his purpose Mil. Is this M. Doctors eloquence hee had neede to haue great corners in his cappe to hide his asses eares Let him not begin his Oration thus among souldiors But what is the cause I pray you that you and your mayster of Ceremonies dare so proudly at the first choppe call Gods Ministers faythful teachers of his holy word in London fooles Let me talke with you a little for olde fellowships sake Is it because they haue laboured so faithfully to feede the flock of Christ which you mock with Pasce Pasce that few can be named comparable to them in
y e thing which they haue taught in wordes for the banishing from their owne bodies at the least such thinges as they knowe not grounded on Gods worde but mans meere inuentions superstitions idolatrical papisticall and therefore very hurtful to Christs flocke committed to their charge because that such traditions are only cloakes to the transgression of Gods commaundementes Now must we the seruauntes of Christ reason with you the proctors of Antichrists inuentions what foolishnesse you can finde in this their request And that wee may agree what is Wisedome and what is Follie and so iudge who is the Foole and who is Wise let vs first consider your own texts of foolishnesse that your Proctor beginneth his preface withall Aunswere not a foole according to his foolishnesse least thou also be like him which may be vnderstand that thou mayst not be like the foole neither in worde nor deede Nowe if I can prooue the Papistes in their religion and their apish apparaile to be fooles then I trust also I shall obtayne that I maye neither defende their cause by word nor deede and he that doth defende them aunswereth to their foolishnesse and is partaker of their follies If the texte be vnderstande that we may not raile against the raging Foole as also the scripture giueth by this texte then may we learne to giue place to those that raile against Christs ministers and not to handle them as their follie deserueth but yet to warne them of their perill and to desire them to beware that they bee not wise in their owne conceites for then is there more hope of a Foole then of such Wisardes Bern. I cannot reason with Scriptures fellow Miles but me thinke that they are starke fooles that wil loose so good liuings for a cappe of two shillinges or a Surples that shall cost them nothing Mil. Oh olde Bernarde thou speakest grosely according to thy capacitie But by the same chapter of Salomon we that fight against Antichrist may exhort you that you be not like dogges turning to your vomite of beggerly traditions and popish trash for so vse the fooles to returne to their foolishnesse sayth Salomon And we counsell you eftsoone to learne of the word of God what is the true wisedome and to imbrace this wisedome once known to striue for it vnto the death as the scripture exhorteth in an other place for hath not God made the wisedome of this world foolishnesse Doth he not say that hee will cast away the wisedome of the wise and destroy it and that he will take the wise in their owne wilines and that the foolishnesse of God is wiser than men and God hath not called many wise after the fleshe but hath chosen the foolish thinges of the world to confound the wise and the weake to confounde the strong and vile thinges in the worlde and despised that no fleshe shoulde reioyce Wherefore we must seeke first of al the true wisedome which resteth not in mans brain but in Gods brest whiche hee hath by his worde vttered vnto man and is otherwise altogether hid from him as the Lorde speaketh by his Prophet Isaiah saying My thoughts are not your thoughtes neither my wayes your wayes sayth the Lorde for as the heauens are higher then the earth so are my waies higher thē your waies and my thoughts aboue your thoughts Then must we runne to the word of God onely to know which is the Wisedome that God alloweth that is to hearken vnto the lawes and ordinaunces that God doth teache and to put nothing to his worde nor take any thing therefrom Therefore crieth this wisdome of God by Salomon O yee foolishe how long will ye loue foolishnesse and the skornefull take pleasure in skorning c. Because they hated knowledge and did not chuse the feare of the Lord they wold none of my counsell but despised all my correction therefore shall they eat of the fruite of their owne wayes and bee filled with their owne deuises Beholde it is the worde of God and therefore the true wisedome that the London Ministers do follow But you and the Papistes following your owne deuises are filled therewith and content your selues and so are yee giuen vp to maintaine superstitious vanities but suche God hateth And for these London Ministers may I say as Paule sayde to the Corinthians You suffer fooles gladly because that you are wise c. You are the Ministers of Christ I speake it as a foole they are more in labours more aboundaunt in stripes aboue measure in prison more plenteouslie and in death oft I could say more Bern. It was neuer good world with vs Priestes since euerie souldier and euery Seruingmā could talk so much of the scripture and these foolishe Ministers are the cause thereof which would make all men as wise as themselues Mil. Of your state and such as you bee which can onely be known by cloutes and garmentes and neither can teache nor will learn we wil speake anon But marke thou this matter that we haue in hande This is the true wisedome allowed before God and all good men to seeke counsell at Gods worde and to suspect our wittes of foolishnesse according to the saying of Salomon That the wise man heareth coūsel though the foole seeke no further but thinke his owne way right Agayne sayeth he Heare counsell and receiue instruction that thou maist be wise in the latter ende For many deuises are in mans harte but the counsell of the Lord shall stande It is the counsell of the Lord his word that bringeth wisedome to the simple saith Dauid This counsell of the Lord teacheth the yong man to direct his wayes and maketh the childe wiser than his teacher that knoweth not the will of the Lorde For as this is the only ground of true wisedome to knowe gods will and therein to reste So is it the cause of all follie to swarue from the same And this is the cause that the foole maketh a mocke of sinne that he walketh in darknesse And the foole thus walking by y e way thinketh al other to be fooles sayth Salomō afterwarde Euen so do you foolishe priests and foolish maintainers of superstitious vanities because you haue none other ground but your owne brayne your owne will and your owne good intentes You thinke that the Lōdon Ministers we that take their parts are so foolish as your selues are y e we should only stay vpō our owne wits wills Nay we settle our consciences herein vpon the expresse commaundement of God and the examples of the most godly in all ages and especially vppon our Mayster Christe and his Apostles And as poore and vnlearned a souldier as I am yet shalt thou know that I haue ynough to say againste them And as the christian souldiers vnder Iulian that wicked Emperor would not yeelde to any shew of superstition not so muche as in the taking of their wages to burne a little
many of vs cannot prophecie nor instructe the people nay many will not take muche paines that way and some dare stop the mouthes of the true Prophets and Preachers because they labour to roote forth the remnaunts and reliques of the false prophets Peter crieth to his fellow Elders to be examples of the flock not following filthie lucre nor shewing themselues as Lordes ouer Gods heritage What filthie gaine seeke you and how many wayes How are you Lords in names in commaundementes in spoyling and robbing true preachers and casting of them into prison Our Maister Christ saith you shall not be such Runne not headlong with the popishe Prelates and sworne enemies from Christ and your Brethren Are those papisticall Garmentes so poisonfull that of persecuted Paules they can make persecuting Saules if they be once cast ouer your shoulders Abhorre such poyson all you that be of God Diuers of the Bishops that now bee did once loue and cherish their Brethren and bare the crosse of Christ with them whome now they molest persecute ioyning hands with the wicked worldlinges What is the cause of this chaunge In whome is this mutabilitie The one sorte remaineth the same men in Apparaile not altered nor in harts chaunged but in worde and deede as they are wont to doe detesting sinne and wickednesse preaching the Gospell with al faythfull diligence Let them take heede which forsake the fellowship of such to ioyn themselues with the contemners of the gospell the fornicators and the couetous with Papistes or with others that walke not with straight steppes but by their halting are turned out of the way and whiche shewing themselues neither hote nor colde must be vomited out These Godly Ministers call vppon the high Prelates for eccleasistical Discipline and to haue the Churche reformed as our Maister Christ appoynteth Your proctors and maintainers will haue none other Discipline than the Pope had which was gainfull to the purse and so groweth the corruption of maners worse and worse These crie for the election of Ministers by their learning and maners according to Pauls rule and that the drunkards and filthy couetous the periured the blasphemers and such like be not suffred in the Ministerie your side will not be so rigorous for then they coulde not haue such chopping Chapleins neither could they themselues keepe in their hands so many Benefices To make an ende of a matter that is infinite and endlesse these Ministers of Christ as they themselues are faythfull Laborers so teache they that hee that laboureth not should not eate of the fatte of the flock your proctors approue and maintain you that be loiterers to deuoure the churche goods the sweat of poore mens labors and doe allowe proprietaries improprietaries drones to sucke the Hony combe yea they maynteyne hogs dogs Wolues Foxes Symoniaks Vsurers men women boyes to spoile the poore lambes of Christ of al foode both spirituall and corporal and vnder the cloake of a few popish ceremonies they couer all carnall filthines as though god could or would be satisfied with ceremonies trifles This is the wisedome wherein your side agaynst Christes Ministers haue to glorie and if this be wisedome that you follow than are the other in greate follie But I doe feare that M. Examinator his side must heare Apage Satan ea quae sunt hominū nō Dei sapit Your humane wisedome that you boaste of is not of god therefore it is diuelish Bern. Did not I tell thee before y t thou couldest be welcome to no good companie neither that thou canst get any substanciall liuing vnlesse thou leaue this rayling Mil. I knowe the olde Prouerbe that flatterie getteth friendes and truth getteth hatred and that the greatest part call good euill and euill good But I care not for such good companie with whom whosoeuer are partakers to cōmunicate with thē in their sinnes they shall haue their portion also of their plagues Thou I haue bin wretched sinners in our youth God hath spared vs long and many times and now hath set his marks vpon vs to call vs euery houre to repentaunce and shall we prouoke him with new and straunge sinnes that where strēgth of body fayleth that wee can no longer follow the lustes of the fleshe we shoulde ioyne our selues with the Papistes the spirituall Sodomites to tempt God worse ten times then before Bern. I pray thee Miles hold thy peace thou makest mee tremble with thy terrible words and by calling old things to remembraunce And I tell thee that though the Papists were Theeues and Robbers and Sodomites and soule quellers and what thou wilt yet are we none such for we do all for policie Mil. Nay all your doinges are not policie Haue you no religion your church seruice is not policie and in the Archebishops aduertisements you haue lawes temporal meere ecclesiasticall your fasting dayes are not mere policie for your Archbishop graūteth dispensations for fortie shillinges that men may eate flesh in the dayes forbidden Sana conscientia as though he had authoritie ouer mens consciences vnlesse they haue his license And vnlesse hypocrisie may be counted policie there bee many thinges in your reformation that will be founde fonde policie for what is this that both the phisition of body and soule must bee consulted withall before you may eate flesh was not this once playne poperie And what is the common babling of the Priestes that cannot read to edification and therefore make all the English seruice like the old Mattins and Masse Is it not that whiche Esaiah speaketh Because this people come neare me with their mouthes and honour mee with their lips but haue remooued their hartes from me and their feare towardes me was taught by the preceptes of men therefore will I worke a wonder amongst this people for the wisedome of their wise men shall perish and the vnderstanding of their prudent shalbe hid And let vs consider to whome God speaketh by his Prophe tthese wordes Is it not to a people that had no open Idolatrie at that present neither yet mumbled their prayers in a tongue not vnderstoode as did the papistes But to y e Iewes that read song the psalmes scriptures in their own mother tongue howbeit they babled onely with the tongue like hypocrits the words were as it were of a booke fast sealed Such trifling is nowe amongest you Englishe Chaplains For when you haue reade ouer one place of the Scripture fortie times yet you and your hearers are neuer the wiser You say you haue done your seruice as sayd the papistes Now if you keepe this hypocriticall shew onely for policie and make it to serue you politikely to win your liuings or for to keepe the people in some feare as Machiuel that Italian dogge doth teache you may perceaue by this Texte of Isaiah that Gods wrath will be the reward of your policie Likewise you keepe Bona ecclesiae by policie and do
purelie as euer men did since the time of the Apostles the verie Bishoppes their enemies being taken to witnesse What though they will not followe them in popishe trifles Is this a iuste cause why Christe by them should not be preached Was there euer the like example in Christes Church that none should preache Christe vnlesse hee woulde weare such a cappe a tippet such a Cope and a Surplesse Of Antichristes munckerie or other corrupte tymes we talke not neyther in a Christian reformation maye they be once looked backe vnto Let them repent therefore that hinder the preaching of Christ for any such cause For Christ wil not suffer it vnaduenged Bernarde Yet because al Bishoppes in Englande and many good Preachers whiche once had refused this apparell yet nowe by occasion haue receyued it agayne and but a fewe there bee that yet still refuse it Therefore it seemeth to be more expedient and lesse daunger of offence in the Church to bringe a fewe of small estimation to a conformitie with the Bishoppes and theyr great number so esteemed than to suffer inferiours to differ from the Bishoppes and chiefe Prelates Mil. When Peter and Paule were at Antioche they both did eat meate with the Gentiles But at the comming of certayne from Iames Peter fearing them of the circumcision withdrew himselfe so that other Iewes there and Barnabas also were brought into the same dissimulation Then Paule withstoode Peter openly as worthy of reproche for giuing of an example to the Gentiles to keepe Iewish obseruations Wherefore if right proceeding in the truth of the Gospel haue made both these parties once to agree in leauing of Popishe apparaile as it did Paule Peter in leauing of Iewish rites and then feare and respect of some persons mooue now the one parte as Peter was mooued to shrink back to rites reiected in such a case the most expediente way to auoyde all daunger is without regarde of person multitude feare or fauour to keepe and maintayn the truth of the gospell with sinceritie and libertie vnseparable from the same as did Paule at that time Bern. But christian obedience requireth the obseruation of all things indifferent cōmaunded by authoritie And these thinges they say are indifferent Mil. Washing of handes amongest the Iewes was a thing much more indifferent of it selfe than this apparaile not so much abused of the Pharisees as this of the papistes Yet this being commaunded and vrged by them that had authoritie our Mayster Christ defēdeth the not obseruing of it and chargeth the maintainers of it with the breaking of Gods commaūdements for their owne traditions and with hipocrisie and the blinde leading the blinde And so concludeth as may appeare euidently that the authoritie and obedience of christians standeth neither in commaunding nor obseruing but rather in rooting vp all superstitious abuses Bern. But the case standeth thus that authoritie will not Nowe if the Prince might be thereto perswaded the Bishops seeme that they would bee glad to abolishe these Garmentes and all such as thou speakest of But if the Prince will force al Ministers to receaue them or else put them from their liuings and ministerie then it seemeth better to keepe the ministerie and liuings and the libertie of sincere doctrine with this apparaill than without it to lose all and to leaue the church destitute and so sore offende the Prince that hath restored the preachers and the preaching of Christs Gospell Mil. Thus haue the London Ministers the hartes consciences of the Bishops of their side by thy graunt Now if y e Bishops and preachers respecting God the cause onlie haue wished and perswaded not to vse this apparel as Ioab did not to number the people and yet respecting y e Princes commaundement cōtrarie to their former mind should yelde indeede as Ioab did then were it to be feared such sequele of plagues ouer y e people with great griefe to the Prince as was then in Iuda These thinges thus considered moue many good preachers to be cōstante and syncere as in minde doctrine so in conuersation and manners reprouing and refusing all popish trashe especially the furniture of that Idolatrous blasphemous and trayterous priesthoode moste pestilent enimie to al christian authoritie Princely dignitie And therefore many good Preachers be rather resolued for preseruation of the Prince and people from the wrath of God by losing of liuings liues to cōfirme their doctrine truelie taught than keeping liuings with flatterie endaungering the Prince people to build bring againe y t which by faithfull preaching they haue destroyed So can not such preachers be put to silēce their dedes stil declaring cōfirming their doctrine nor y e church by thē destitute who are so readie to confirme true doctrine w t syncere rites maners whiche ought to giue no offence to a godly Prince or people whose safetie next vnto gods glorie is chieflie herein sought Bern. I heard M. Doctor say that y e London ministers made many argumentes but they could not proue their Minors I praye thee what meant he by that worde for I vnderstand him not And what were their arguments tell me if thou knowest For I do not so much mislike your side as I did thou doest answere me so fullie to al y t I demaūd Mil. I wil plainly tell thee some of their arguments thou shalt finde in thē so good reason that thou shalt not bee able to denie them whatsoeuer M. Doctor or M. Proctor do say They reason thus as thou mayst see in this Table where thou mayest perceyue the first sentence of the argument to be called the Maior the second the Minor And the Minors for the moste parte are open to the senses and experience of all menne that will not be blinde of wilfulnesse so that they neede no further demonstration but onely Geometricall such as maister Beza vseth with that Asse Heshutius As for the first Minor that this Popishe ordure doeth not edifie we haue the experiēce in all mens sight by Paules Church in London and the glorious shewes there like as in all the Cathedrall Churches in England where these things are most vsed the people are least edified in Christ because they continewe ignoraunt of Christ being satisfied with their olde superstitious shewes and therefore are most vnreadie and vnmeete to receaue anie profite by Christes wordes and Sacramentes Where contrariwise in all suche Churches where these thinges are caste away the people growe more in knowledge and come by greater numbers with greater reuerence to receaue the holy Sacramentes Bern. I heare manie saye so I can not denie Mil. But learne once to see with thyne owne eyes Whether doest thou think that the Copes and the Surplesses the Piping and the singing within Paules Churche or the preaching onely without this geare in the Churchyarde doth more edifie Bern. Truelie no man dare denie but that the worde doth more edifie But these things
to god man whiche burned Gods holy Testament and murthered his Saintes and seruauntes We haue the lawe of god and man for vs. We are answered Nay your selues shalbe compelled to turne your cloathe your coates and cappes and to get you into his liuerie and to be like him in his garmentes O Elias that thou haddest liued or that thy spirit were amongst vs. The Papistes which are in the countreys glorie in theyr assemblies that the whotte gospellers shall now be dryuen to weare their attyres Let vs neuer giue them any cause of ioye though we shuld dye for it Moyses will not yeelde a hoofe of a beast in Gods busines He will not leaue a loupe of a Curtayne vnmade nor make a buttō or a claspe more or lesse Eleazar would not dissemble by eating of vnlawfull meates The faithful Israelites would not receyue so much as an Iuey bushe Cōtrariewise Origen carrying a braunche and professing that he bare it for Christe at the firste was compelled afterwards to open Idolatrie So cursed a thing it is to giue any place to the wicked All the Papistes that say they worship Christe in the crosse and God in the Sacrament doo still vnder these wordes continewe in Idolatrie Beware of deceytfull wordes that couer wicked purposes to drawe vs from Christian simplicitie And let vs stande constantly agaynst all abuses repent for our former coldnes in Religion and other sinnes and call for helpe from aboue For the arme of our Lorde is not shortned Wee are assured that wee seeke Gods glory and our aduersaries may see if they can see any thing that this thing whiche they seeke is not for Gods glory seeing the Papistes the enemies of God do so desire it and glory in it that we whom they most hate can not be safe but vnder their garmentes We are assured that wee seeke Gods glory when wee followe Christe his Apostles and Prophetes who euer dispised these Pharisaicall outward faces and visardes Christe findeth faulte with the garments of the Pharisees Paul counteth all his Pharisaicall shewe to bee dounge Zacharie sayeth that the false Prophete shalbe ashamed of his prophecy and forsake his garmentes wherein he deceyued And shall the true Prophets be faine to creepe into their cowles For by the same authoritie that the Queene commaundeth one she may commaunde any peece of Popery so that she name it policie But Ezechias and Iosias knewe no such authoritie They saye that it is for pollicie and I do easely beleue it that they do care lesse for Christes Religion than for pollicie But let them beware that they follow not Ieroboam that made such like Priestes for policie as would do as he commaunded them Achaz of pollicie brought such an Aultar into Ierusalem as he did see at Damascus where he had ouercome the Idolaters and their Idolles But cursed was his pollicie and so are they all that will retayne any thing of their old Idolatrie Nabuchodonozors Idoll was set vp for vnitie pollicie But without the warraunt of Gods holy word there is neither good vnitie nor pollicie That godly Father Bucer calleth the Tenthes and first Fruites sacriledge and robberie though they bee kept still for pollicie The Crosse and Candlestickes vpon the Queenes altar are superstitious though they bee kept there I wott not for what pollicie The adoration of the Sacrament in the Countreys where they knocke and kneele to a wafer is a Popishe pollicie That VVomen baptize that pluralities tot quots impropriations non residences dispensations suspensions excommunications and absolutions for money are graunted it is euill like as are many other enormities borowed from Rome which remayne in the name of pollicie All these thinges were abhorred as Popishe superstious and Idolatrie among our Englishe Gospellers both Bishoppes and others when they were vnder Goos rodde in pouertie But they haue nowe learned Courtly Diuinitie to grounde all vppon pollicie Humble them agayne O Lorde that they do not forget thee nor thi poore people whom thou hast so dearely bought whiche by these their policies are blinded and careth for no more but that they may haue this superstitious shew which is still so maynteyned Let him mumble as he list if he be thus apparelled all his seruice is good ynough otherwise it is nothing worth Thus cause you them to perishe by your pollicies for whome Christ hath dyed Furthermore if Popery be superstitious and Idolatrous euill and wicked as yet there was neuer a worse thing in the worlde then are we commaunded to absteyne from all participation thereof and from all the shewe thereof Ab omni specie mall that is from all shewe of wickednes These garmentes were the shewe of their blasphemous priesthood herein they dyd sing and saye their superstitious Idolatrous seruice they dyd sence theyr Idolles and helpe forwarde their Idolatrous Masses What pollicie can it bee then to weare this geare but a superstitious wicked Popish pollicie They do it for policie they say that theyr Priests may be knowen and magnified of men Did not the Pharisees vse the same pollicie to do all theyr workes and make all their garmentes both Philacteris vpon theyr heads and theyr wyde and syde Robes and borders that they might be more aspectable and notorious to the people but theyr woo is threatened aboue all other sinners To such hypocrites as beyng voyde of all true holynesse delite in all outwarde shewes theyr curse is most inculcate Their pollicie is that the Priestes shall weare white in the Churches to signifie theyr vertue their purenes holynesse and when they go forth of the Church they muste weare blacke gownes and blacke hornes for contrary pollicies and for diuers significations Our Maister Christes pollicie was expressed in one worde Feede Feede Feede and the Prophetes before and the Apostles afterwarde If Christ be the wisedome of the Father the true Ministers shalbe well ynough knowen by that one marke which he giueth And if he haue not that marke better vnknowen then knowen both for him selfe others therefore lett them not saye for shame that they seeke gods glorie Christes will or the edification of his Church by their pollicie Whyles they threaten and stoppe the spreading of Gods worde and feeding of Christes flocke commaunded by writing to excommunicate the most faythful labourers in the planting of the gospell because they will not weare the ragges of Poperie to expulse the most valiaunt Souldiours agaynst the Romishe Antichrist the most earnest ouerthrowers of the kingdome of Satan which standeth in sinne and blindnes O beware you that wilbe Lordes ouer the flockes that you be not sore punished for your pryde towardes your brethren and your cowardlinesse in gods cause that for Princes pleasures pompose liuings do turne Poperie into pollicie and to become our persecutours vnder the cloake of pollicie It were better to loose your liuings then to displease god in persecuting of your brethren and hinder the course of the
worde But as our duetie is we will praye for you and for all our Brethren in the Ministerie that God of his grace woulde graunt vs more zeale for his glorie than any of vs hath had heretofore more desire to edifie Christes people in pure simplicitie to present them a chaste Virgin vnto Christ then hitherto hath appeared that when the head shephearde shal cal to account wee bee not ashamed but being founde perfecte in all good workes may receyue the Crowne prepared As for you deare brethren whome God hath called into the brunte of the battell the Lord keepe ye constant that ye yeelde neyther to tolleration neyther to any other subtill perswasions of dispensations or licenses whiche were to fortifie theyr Romishe practises but as you fight the Lordes fight be valiaunt God will not leaue you neyther forsake you as you seeke gods glorie god wil glorifie you and as by you Christes Church is edified comforted and confirmed in Christian simplicitie so shal you receyue comfort by Christ your head Captayne when you shalbe called to giue accomptes of your stewardshippes and to be rewarded for your fidelitie The matter is not so small as the worlde doth take it It will appeare before all be ended what an harde thing it is to cut of the ragges of the Hiora of Rome It is beautiful but poysonfull there is no dallying with such a mounster beware of looking backe to Sodome or delight any whit in ther garments of Babilone neither once touche the poysoned Cuppe though it be of golde or glittering Let vs repent of our former sinnes vnfaynedly and then shall we abhorre and stampe vnder our feete these ragges that were appoynted to superstition and Idolatrie Let vs hate the blasphemous Priesthood so iniurious to Christes priesthoode that euery patche and token of it be in execration detestation and accursed and take no parte of it vpon our heades nor backes least we be accursed as it is Let vs not make the heritage of god as a byrde of many colours holding of diuers religions Let vs not mixe the Iewes with the Gentiles Let vs not in no wise mixe this our Religion with any thing of Antichrist Let vs not confirme the blinde in their blindnesse neyther the weake in their superstition But rather let vs take awaye if we can the names memories and al monuments of Poperie and that Antichristes priesthoode Let vs open our windowes with Daniel and professe what we are their crueltie shalbe our glorie Let vs followe Paul that knewe that the true gospell could not be retayned if any Iewishe cerimonies were maintayned Let vs rather neuer weare any garment then we should weare those whereby our brethren should be weakened offended or boldened to take parte with the Idolaters and so through our hautines in knoweledge our weake brethren perishe for whom Christe dyed Beholde and marke well howe they fall backewarde that yeelde in any iote and see howe they are edified and increase in godlines which holde that right way that you go in the which the Lorde increase you and vs all and strengthen vs with his holy Spirite that we may continewe to our lyues end always both by our thoughts wordes and works to aduaunce his glorie and honour dayly more and more nowe and for euer Amen A. G. ¶ Miles Monopodios the Souldiour to his Capitayne Cornelius Theophilus THERE be great controuersies here abroade God turne them to good about the displacing of godly Preachers Vpon the which occasion I falling in talke with Bernarde myne olde fellowe souldiour who is nowe a Lordes Chaplaine thought it at the firste lawfull as Horace teacheth Ridentem dicere verum with myrth to haue passed ouer this lamentable matter and so to haue made but a light skirmishe But when I was once entred our communication waxed more earnest and there followed some bitter wordes Afterwarde we had such argumentes that Sir Bernarde was almost readie to forsake his benefice as a great sorte of that order would doo if they knewe where to finde so easie liuinges they are so despised of all the worlde and some of them so troubled in conscience I sende you the whole discourse something I graunt enlarged publishe it if you please For whosoeuer other men thincke lightlie of it this displacing of Christes true Ministers for Popishe trashe doeth so grieue me at the harte that I can not but speak against it And so would I haue all men to doo that are touched with anie godly zeale so shal we not be guiltie of other mens faultes thorow our silence So long as the Parliament indured wee all had hope of amendement and kept silence but nowe that it is ended and all hope of man is past we must turne to God by prayer and that which we can do by wordes and by writing let vs do it Let vs not ceasse to fight against the remmanauntes of the Romane Antichrist and to labour to breake downe and abolishe if it be possible all his ensignes For it is of necessitie that his lawes should cease seeing his blasphemous priesthoode is renounced Let vs do our diligence in driuing away all Popishe trashe and leaue the successe vnto God Our fathers haue fought the bloodie battle and some of our owne brethren do fight against vs. Howebeit we are yet but in a light combate more is to be feared Let vs resiste the beginnings In this Dialogue that I sende vnto you if I do seeme sometimes pleasaunt knowe that it is not without some bitternes of minde as had the Prophetes when they had to do with halters neutrals whose foolishnes being counted great wisedome in the worlde they did thus deride If I seeme to angrie and to whote and earnest consider that it is not in myne owne cause or quarell but in Gods cause in the cause of his seruauntes in the common cause of this whole Church of Englande For which howe can we be to much carefull earnest and zealous And I do thinke assuredlie that God doth call vs all by this controuersie to a reckoning for our cold and carelesse trifling in Religion by the which Atheisme Papisme and Lutheranisme striue against vs fainte souldiours hoping for the victorie Therefore whom the Lorde findeth neither colde nor whote he will surelie vomit out He that is not with me is against me doeth he say But happie shall he be that fighteth manfully vnder his Captaine Christ against the patched Antichrist whose dregges who soeuer drincketh he is incountinently druncken therewith be it little be it much that he tasteth as we may see by the Lordlie Bishoppes who nowe for the dregges and patches of Poperie despise their fellow ministers and persecute those same persons whom of late they loued as brethren and bare Christes crosse with them in the late persecutions But if this Poperie continewe they wilbe younge Popes doubtlesse and poperie it self will growe vp againe The wounde of the first beast wilbe healed in that that the seconde shall