charge for maintaining the trueth in asmuch as the Bishopps them selues in their allowed translation of the great Bible vppon the fore aleaged place of Act. 17. haue giuen this note namely That the common and vsuall weapons which the wicked vse against the members of Christ are treason and sedition Their wicked slander against al that seeke the reformation of our church and particularly against me haue verified the truth of this doctrine for assoone as any shewe their dislike of these corruptions with a desire to see Christ bearing sway in the church of England by his owne lawes they presently exclaime that these are the men which subuert the state of the Realm and that gainsay the decrees of her maiestie affirming that there is an other Soueraigne whose alone lawes must be harkened vnto and whose alone offices are to be allowed of in the gouernment of the church and that is Christ Iesus th'eternall sonne of the liuing God in deed if to defend the prerogatiue which he ought to haue in appointing th'officers gouernors of his church be sedition and treason I doe confesse in deed that after the way which they cal sedition and treason so serue I the God of my fathers But this is non other treason then that where vnto our Sauiour Christ and his apostles before me haue giuen their hands and consented and none other treason then that wherevpon all Kings and Queenes do firmly lay the foundation of their royall crownes and Scepters And therefore ye of the parliament ought to be so farr from being mooued with these shamefull reportes nowe raised by our Bishops against Christ Iesus against his trueth and his members as ye should not permitt such profane mouthes that presume in this sort to whette their tongues against heauen and him that sitteth therein to escape vnpunnished The forgers of these palpable vntruethes confesse themselues that Treason and Sedition are th'ordinarie weapons of the wicked against the members of Christe which in deede hath bene th'armour wherewith the diuell in all ages hath furnished his champions against the truth And I cannot blame our Bishops for being skilfull in this accusation seeing so many of their predecessors haue in the like cause troaden the like path before them Amos no sooner began to vtter the trueth in Bethel but Amasiah the high priest there presently smelled out his dangerous attempts And therefore like a good subiect in the singular good will he bare vnto his Soueraigne Lord Ieroboam the sonne of Ioash king of Israel he waded farther into the matter and at length found Amos his treason and sedition to be so intollerable as the Land was no longer able to beare it Especially seeing th'enterprises of the prophet were taken in hand even in the middest of the kingdome to stir vp the subiects to innouation in regard whereof the high priest sawe him selfe bound in conscience to send Ieroboam this message Amos hath conspired against thee in the middest of the house of Israel the land is not able to beare his words for he hath openly spoken that which the Lord hath put into his mouth The like treachery in the place before set down did the priests and the prophets finde in Jeremiah yea and such is the care which the lims of Sathan haue of the ciuil maiestrate that rather then kings and princes should be honored with the maintenance of a perfect building of Gods church they can presently finde no lesse then sedition and treason in their purposes that indeuoure to further that worke When Jerusalem began to be reedified in the daies of Artaxerxes the men beyond the riuer knew well enough that the building of Gods church and th'establishing of his true seruice amongst men is straight way a wicked and a rebellious enterprise For which cause they sent word vnto the king that if Jerusalem a city rebellious and wicked should be once built the kings tribute thereby should be diminished and because they had bin brought vp in the kings court and that it was not meet for them to see the kings dishonor they sent him word that if hee would search the booke of the Chronicles of his father he shoulde finde the true Churche of God to haue bene alwaies rebellious noisome vnto kings and princes and to haue mooued seditions of olde for which cause also it had bene destroyed And further they certified him that if he would suffer the church to be reedified by that meanes the portion beyond the riuer should not be his Nor long after this time Nehemias with the Elders of the Iewes strengthened their hands to finish the building of Ierusalem What saith Sanballat and Tobiah a seruant what a thing is this you doe will you rebell against the King As if the building of Gods church could not chuse but be a rebellious interprise You see by these examples right honorable that it is the lotte of Gods seruants to be accounted seditious men and traitors vnto princes and states whensoeuer they doe but set their faces towards the building of the Lords house and you see apparantly by these testimonies that it is no newe found slaunder which the high commissioners haue forged against me but an auncient quarrell of the Diuell in all ages and times against Gods trueth Which may be the better manifested if you doe consider if either they can alleadge no reason of their accusation or the same if they do shewe any is because I afforad my bounden seruice vnto the trueth For thâ—se are infallible markes whereby awicked enemy of the trueth and a slaunderer of the members of Christ may be knowne namely that either he can yeald no reason of his slaunder because he thinketh it sufficient for him in that cause to inuent an vntrueth without any proofe or his reason shalbe because the seruants of God doe faithfully employ them selues in the seruice of their maister Rheum and Geshem accused Ierusalem of rebellioÌ„ so did Sanballat accuse Nehemias and the Elders of the Iewes But how prooued they their accusations They neede not to labour that way because they slaundered the church of God and the true members thereof against whome for the moâ—t part a slaunder without proofe wil be in steed of a thousand witnesses Ieremiah was accounted worthie to die by the prists and prophets in his time and what was their reason Why say they he hath prophesied in the name of the Lord saying This City shalbe made desolate without an inhabitant Lo heer my Ll. the infalliable markes of the slaunders and enemies of Gods children and where you finde these marks giue judgment accordingly Nowe may it please your honors to demaund of the high commission why they account me to be a disturber of the peace of our church and a seditious person Either they wil think them selues not bound to giue any reason of their accusation because against those that seeke the wealth of Ierusalem any vntrueth wilbe admitted or their
euen by vertue of their places cannot chuse but oppresse the church of God are the ready and direct waie not only to kepe my countrimen from eternal life but also to bringe the Lords wrath vppon vs our prince maiestrats people and the whol kingdome So that I am molested for soliciting the cause of God the cause of mens soules the cause of her maiestie and the State with whome the Lord with out speedy repentance is not likely to beare any longer for the manifold corruptions of our church I am molested because I cannot be content that my countrymen should want the means of their saluation and so run headlong to their owne eternall ruine and because I am not silent at the miserable prophanation of Gods sanctuary by swine and vncleane beastes I am molested because I suffer not without any shewe of dislike the holy ministery of the Lord and the sacred gouernment of his church to be a pray vnto such men as are not worthy to liue in any wel ordered common wealth much lesse in a reformed church I am molested because I hold it vnlawful for any man to take vppon him the care charge and ouersight of those soules whome he cannot possibly feede guide and direct in the paths and pastures of eternal life I am molested because with the holy Apostle Peter I think it vnlawfull for any minister to be Lord ouer gods heritage and thinke the judgment of our Sauiour to be sounde who held it vnlawful for his ministers to Rule like Lordes I am molested because I hold that which is set downe Heb. 3. 6. to be true whereby I am inforced to confesse that as non but Moses or some other prophet by the expresse commaundement of God was to ordaine th'officers of the church vnder the lawe So non but our Sauiour Christ or his apostles in the expresse written word are to ordaine the officers of the churche gouernement vnder the newe couenaunt I am also molested because being constrained by the former scripture Hebr. 3. 6. to acknowledge that our Sauiour lefte an externall gouernement of his Church and so is equall with Moses and such a gouernement as cannot be changed by any but himselfe and so is superior vnto Moses I am driuen to confesse this vnchangeable forme of externall church gouernement ordained by him to be a gouernment th' execution whereof is committed to these 4. officers namely Teaching Pastors Doctors gouerning Elders ministring Deacons because I finde non other officers or offices either expressed or included in the Newe Testament Apostles Prophetes and Euangelistes onely excepted which being remooued out of the Churche by the Lord himselfe the boldnes of our Bishops their defenders is intolerable in demanding why Pastors Doctors Elders and deacons should be permanent seeing Apostles Prophets and Euangelists were but temporarie As though the Lord himselfe were not of sufficient wisedome to ordaine what he thought good in the gouerment of his Church or as though he were bounde either to continue Apostles Prophets and Euangelists or to abrogate th'other 4. offices vnder the Gospell to haue no gouerment of his appointment muchlesse vnchangeable I am molested because I made it knowne that to maintaine a Churche gouernement which at the pleasure of man according to the diuers estates of the Church may be changeable is flatly to ouerthrowe the prerogatiue whereby Christe Iesus is aboue Moses in th'ordering of his owne house Th'outwarde regement whereof cannot be held chaungeable vnder the Gospell according to times places countries states but Christ Iesus must be made inferior vnto Moses contrary to th'expresse decree and counsell of th'eternall God Heb. 3. 6. Briefly I am molested because I made it knowen that the gouernment of the Church by L. Bishops and Archbishops being as they themselues graunt a temporarie gouernement fit for the Church in time of peace but not of persecution and neuer ordained by the Lorde but inuented by man to preuent schismes c. is intollerable in Gods Church because it maketh Christ Iesus to haue ordained either a changeable church gouernement of his owne house or none at all and so to be far lesse faithfull in Gods house then Moses was These and such like my Lordes are the causes why th'Archb and his are so bloodily affected towardes me And I haue as mine aduersaries themselues confesse alleadged vnto you the true cause of their hatred and enmitie For if th'Archb c. were demaunded by this honourable assembly why they imprisoned me why they rifeled my studie tooke away my writinges why they now seeke for me their present answere would be that I am an enemie to the present gouernment of the cleargie established by her Majesties prerogatsue and the consent of the State And what is this in effect but because I thinke Christ Iesus to be more faithfull in the gouernment of his owne house then Moses was I know in deed that for this cause they giue out that I am an enemie to her Majesties gouernment a seditious and discontented subject guiltie of many attemptes and practises against her royall prerogatiue and one that intendeth nothing els but the vtter innouation of the state wherein I doe acknowledge th' auncient and perpetuall slaunder of Gods trueth and his seruants in all ages For it hath bene the continuall course and practize of the diuell at all times to laye matter of state vnto their charge that haue gainsaid any of those corruptions which his instruments haue maintained in Gods holy seruice And if our Bishops should new refraine from this slaunder then could they not so manifestly discrie themselues as they doe to be their naturall successors whose roomes in this age they supplie in the defence of the kingdome of darkenesse and ignorance Our Sauiour Christe was guiltie of so many and so outragious practises against the State wherein he liued as Pilate the Iudge could not saue his life and be a friend vnto Cesar This did the high priest openly protest against him Iohn 19. 12. And can we then maruel that his trueth in this age among our high priests is subiect vnto the same obloquie Tertullus th'orator would not be tedious in accusing th'apostle Paule if Felix of his curtesie would but heare him a few words he would briefly lay forth the cause of the Iewes hatred towards the apostle in this sorte Certainly wee haue found this man a pestilent fellowe and a mouer of sedition among the Jewes thorough out the world and a chief mainteiner of the sect of the Nazarites The wicked Iewes also Act. 17. 6. 7. missing of Paul and Silas drew Iason with certaine other brethren vnto the heads of the city crying These are they that haue subuerted the State of the world and here they are that gainsay the decrees of Cesar saying that there is an other king on Jesus c where I do the lesse maruel that sedition and treason is laied to my
Otherwise if a lewd and an vndiscreete turbulent fellowe be armed with this overlarge and vnbrideled commission is not vnlikely but he will abuse halfe the subiects hir maiestie hath And I pray you what is likely to insue thereof Euen this The intolerable vexation and bondage of her maiesties free borne subiects and people and in time it is to be feared the great dishonor if not the contempt of laweful authority it selfe The Archb. of Cant. with his colleagues sendeth abroad his warrant to apprehend whomesoeuer the messenger therein named doth suspect Ought not this waighty charge to be very waightely handeled What choise then make they of the messenger Surely Richard WaltoÌ„ is a man fit for the purpose For they know his good behauiour approued sufficiency and wisdome to be such as for his outragious lewdnes dishonesty and want of gouernment ouer him selfe amongst all the roisters in this land they could not chose a more knowne and notorious lewd person and more vnfit for so waigh ie a charge to be the pursiuant he was somtimes bedle vnto a company in London of the blacke Smithes I thinke The office though but meane yet was that company ashamed to haue a person of that slanderous loose behauiour for their bedle and therefore for his detected crimes heere not to be named they put him out of his place being ashamed to retaine him And yet this is the man Right honorable vnto whose discretion the Archb. of Cant. will commit the molesting and imprisoning of whomsoeuer he shal suspect Admit that among his câ—ppes som of his companions doe bribe him to apprehende the honestest and best affected subiect in a country he may doe it by his commission and for his knowne lewdnes he is not vnlikely to attempt the fact The magistrate is to assist him And when he hath offered you this injury you haue your amends in your hands for he did no more then by his commission he is warranted those who set him a worke are the high commissioners who haue a prerogatiue aboue lawe as they would beare the world in hand May not her maiesties subiects then thinke them selues to be in a good taking when their libertie shal depend vpon the pleasure or disliking of such as are the ofscouring and refuse of men And I doe thinke it neerely concerneth your Hh. of the parliament to see that this abuse of the high commission by these men be no longer tollerated in our state For what care the high commissioners howe tirannously they deale with hir maiesties most louing subiects as long as they hope that no mans accusation and complaint howe just soeuer though in the behalfe of the interest of Christ Iesus can be heard and countenanced against them And therefore they are growne so insolent as they dare enjoine hir maiesties officers either at their commandement to worke impossibilities or vpon the peril to answere the matter before them Form this insolency of theirs it is that of late they haue in their mandatory letters enjoined the Major of Northampton to surcease the execution of his office in the gouernment of that towne vnder hir maiestie and either to become their pursiuant in apprehending one of his neighbours or else personally to appeare before them at London and not to departe their court without special leaue his affaires in her maiesties seruice and the distance of Place betweene Northampton London nothing considered And yet required they of him that which he coulde not bring to passe because the party whome he was to apprehend being wel known to be a dutiful subiect and for the loue he beareth vnto Gods truth to haue bene heeretofore so cruelly dealt with at some of their hands by long imprisonment and so euil dealt with as his cause comming to be heard before the Ll. of her maiesties priuy counsel their Hh. judged the bishops proceeding against him to be against lawe and conscience and so were the meanes of his deliuery the party I say nowe fearing the like injustice that hee sometimes tasted of was compelled with the hinderance of his family to absent himself from his calling And from this hope that their procedings shal neuer com into question it also coÌ„meth to passe that they giue out that I am an Anabaptist an vnderminer of the chair of the magistrat a pestilent a dangerus subiect many waies For otherwise they would neuer haue permitted by their authority any such bookes to be published against me yea but I hold her maiestie with many thousandes of hir best subiects to be vnbaptised and the question betweene master Doctor Some and me is whether such as were and are baptised by popish priests and vnpreaching ministers haue and doe receiue a sacrament If mine aduersarie himselfe had not cleared me of this accusation by his publike writings his slander might at the least haue bin probable wheras nowe his owne writings doe giue him and his allowers the shamelesse vntrueth But howe can they be held no ministers but that the Elements administred by by them should be denied to be sacraments I trust the one may be held the other not denied with better reason by far then the Archb. of Cant. can hold baptim deliuered by women whome al the worlde knowe not to be ministers to be a sacrament And howe wil master D. Some answere himselfe in this point which hath confessed al vnpreching ministers both popish priests and protestant Idoles to be no ministers But it is an Anabaptistical error to account magistracie for an human ordinance As though nothing ordained by man could be Gods ordinance also Or that the places Rom. 12. 1. 1. Pet. 2. 13. were irreconcileable And that it were a more Anabaptisstcal and intollerable error in me to affirme the gouernment and offices of the common wealth to be humaine constitutions which is true then for our Bishops to hould the gouerment and offices of our churches to be the ordinances of man which is most false These and al such accusations laid against me and Gods trueth as by the grace of God in mine answere to master D. Some which are it be long I hope to publish notwithstanding they haue it in their hands they shalbe proued to be palpable slanderers So I do most humbly intreat you of this honorable assembly in regard of the Lords eternal veritie against which these vntrueths are giuen forth to see that either mine accusers shall prooue these crimes wherewith I am charged or cease to slander and trouble me for professing the trueth The cause is the cause of God as I haue proued it is the cause of the church and so the cause of many thousandes of the most trusty most sure most louing subiects that her maiestie hath whose harts by the repelling of this my suite must needes be vtterly discouraged and throwne downe when they shal see the cause of God to haue taken no place in the highest court in the land And