wickidnes can not be as we wolde haue a diuers shewe of aparel to be knoweÌ„ from the comon people so is yt necessary in aparell to haue a shew howe a protestante is to be knowen from a papiste Yt hathe pleasyd God to call vs to preache his heuenly worde to that hye office God geue you grace and vs all to seke hys honor glorie yf we so do with a pure hart and mynde he hath promysed He that honorith me I will glorify him and he that contemnith me I wyll contemne him Let ther be no curtisye made to healpe gods people now they be in danger Call to your remembraunce Quene Easter she begaue to make curtisy to speke in that cause but Mardocheus sayd vnto her Yf thou now hold thy peace God shall delyuer by an other meane yet thou thy fathers house shall peryshe You that can and may do good do it whyle tyme is offerid the tyme will come when it wylbe to late yet god wyll comfort his by some other meane It ys a perilous thinge not to healpe in the tyme of neade not to suffer religion to goe forward in all syncerite and to further gods cause when ye maye when Terenti a good Christian captaine returnid with great triumphe victory the Emperor Valerius bade him are what he wold and he shuld haue it for his good seruice he hauing God before his cyes desyryd nether ryches nether honor but those which had aduentered their liues for true religion might haue a church alowid them to serue their god purely in seueral from the Arrians The Emperour beyng angrie with his request pullyd his supplicacion in pecis and bade him axe som other thing but he gathered vp the pecis of his paper and sayd I haue receuid my rewarde I wyll axe nothinge els God encrece about Princes the small nomber of suche zelous suters promoters of religion and then no doubt gods glorye shall florishe when we seke his dewe honor and not oure owne profyte But to avoide contencion scisme Austen gevith good counsel to godly and quiet men that they mercifully correcte that whiche they can that which they can not paciently beare grone and morne with loue vntil â–ª god ether correct or amend them But how this Christian loue shuld be kept in this church when so manye godlie for so small thinges shal be thruste out also how many already is from the ministery theyr lyuinges yt passyth manye good and godlie wittes to conceyue S. Pauls rule in suche thinges sayth All thinges to me is lawfull but all thinges is not erpedient all thinges to me is lawfull but all thinges edefye not Therfor in this case we must not so suttelly dispute what Christian liberte will suffer vs to do but what is metist and most edefying for Christian charite promoting Christian and pure religion But surely how popishe aparell shuld edefie or set forwarde the gospell of Christ Jesus it can not be seen of the multitude nay it is to much fealt how gredly it reioysith the aduersaries of the truth when they see what we borowe of them contend for the same as thinges necessarie â–ª marke well the bysshopes wearing of their whyte rochets what grounde they fyrste had and from whence they receyuid it Ther was a certayne man namid Sisinius an heriticke bishop of the Noâ—acions and he first begane yt all those other popish trashe hath the lyke foundacions but they haue to long contineuyd pleasyd poperie which is beggerly pacchid vp of al sortes of cerimones that they coulde neuer be routyd out sence no not from manie professors of the gospel Wherfore you that se others that is come to a better perfection grudge not at yt but be thankfull to God though thynges may be borne wythe for a tyme for Christian lybertes sake in hope to winne the weake yet when lyberte is turnyd into necessite yt ys evell no lenger lyberte and that that was for wynning the weake sufferid for a tyme is become the confyrminge of the frowarde in their obstinacie Paul vsyd circuÌ„cision for a tyme as of lyberte but when it was vrgyd of necessite he wold not bende vnto it That famous father Master Bucer when he was aryd why he wolde not weare a square cape made aunswere because hys heade was not foure square wherin surelye he notyd well the comlynes of aparell to be when yt was fassionyd lyke the body a gret folly when a square cape was set on a rounde heade God be mercyfull vnto vs and graunte vs vprightly to seke hys honore wyth all carnestnes simplicite The Lorde comfort his afflictid church graunte that in this oulde age of the worlde we may serue the Lord of hostes in synglenes of hart and laboure to rote out all stomblinge blockes in religion that Christes glorie maye nakydly shyne of yt sealue without all tradicions or inuencions of men as in the begynninge when yt was purest and all such deuyses vnknowen but inuentid of late to bleare the eyes of the ignorant with outwarde shewe of holines God graunt that we may geue all honor to whom al honore is deue both inwardly and outwardly to serve hym vnfaynedlye al the dayes of oure lyfe Fare well deare brethren in the Lorde Jesu who euer kepe vs in hys fayth feare and loue for euer Amen ¶ To my faythfull Brethren now afflycted to all those that vnfaynedly loue the Lorde Jesus the Lorde guyde vs with his holy spret that we maye always serue hym bothe in body and mynde in all synceryte to oure lyues ende WHen I do remember dearly belouyd the great charge inioynyd vnto vs of almyghtie God the strayghte accounte that we shall haue to make for the ryghte vse and dispensacion of his mysteries I fynde no comparison myght iustly moue any Christyan to doubt of the better of those two choyses only that whych makythe a shewe for the mayntenaunce of popishe apparel is the opynion of indifferency marke wel good Christyan whych thynge he that wyll perswade must fyrst proue that it tendythe to Godes glory Concurrythe wythe his worde edefyeth his churche mayntaynyth Christyan lyberte whych condycions circunstances if they wante The thynge whych otherwyse by nature is indifferent dothe degenerat and become hurtfull but howe can Godes glory be auaunced by those popishe garmeÌ„tes whych supersticyous men Antychrist haue inuentyd for the maynteyninge beuty fyinge of Idolatry what agrement can mans supersticious inuencyons haue wythe the eternall worde of God what edifycacion can there be wher the spirit of god is greuyd Christes lytillous discoragyd yâ— weake brethren brought the boÌ„dage of ceremonies what it bringith into doubt of relygyon the wyckyd papists confyrmyd in their errour And adore new set open to all Popish tradycions and Antychristian impietie nether can any man call this Christian lybertie where a yoke is layd vpon the
To my louynge brethren that is troublyd abowt the popishe aparrell two short and comfortable Epistels by Anthony Gilby Be ye constant for the Lorde shall fyght for yow yowrs in Christ 1566. ¶ To all my faithful brethren in Christ Jesu and to all other that labour to weade out the wedes of popery Peace in the Lorde Jesu be with you and make you perfite in all good workes to doe his will working in you that which is pleasant in his sight through Jesus Christ our Lord. DEare Brethren because we are creatid for gods glory the edification one of another in Christ and are bounde to serue thervnto by wealthe or woo lyfe or death and cheifly they to whom God haue geuen the greter gyftes and whom he hath callyd to higher romes are moste bounde to be zelous for gods glory with godly zelousie to profyt the churche and sponse of Christe vnder their charge and that by no subteltye as the Apostel warnithe they shulde be corrupted from the symplicitie of Christ therfore there is no doubt of your good zealle and diligence My good fathers deare brethren who ar first callid to the battel to striue for gods glory and the edification of his people against the Romish reliques and rages of Antichrist I doubt not but that you wyl coragiouslye and constantlye in Christ rape at these rages of Gods enemyes and that you will by this occasion race vp many as grete enormites that we all know labore to race out all the dregges remnants of transformid popery that are crept into England by to much lenite of them that wylbe namid the Lordes of the cleargie what is he that hath the zeale of gods glory before his face that wyl not ioyne both in prayer and in sufferinge with you in so good a cause that is so much for gods glory and the edificacion of gods church in the pure simplicite of Christes word sacramentes wherin our enemies and persecutours are strangely bewitchid I wote not by what Circes cupe that they do make suche a diuersite betwixt Christes worde his sacramentes that they can not thinke the worde of God safelye ynoughe preachid honorably inough handlyd without cap cope surplis But that the sacraments the maryinge the buryinge the churching of wemen other church seruice as they call it muste nedes be decored with crossinge with capping with surplessing with knelinge with preti wafer cakes and other knackes of poperi O Paule that thou were a lyue thou durst tell those politike gentelmen that ther hath bin to much laboure bestoued vpon them in vaine thou durste say vnto them as thou didest to yâ— Corinthians that they eat not the Lordes supper but pley a pagent of their owne to blynde the people and kepe them still in supersticion fare from the symplicite of Christes supper but howe many sely sowles is ther that dothe beleue veryly that they haue an English masse and so put no difference betwene truth falshod betwene Christ and antichrist betwene God and the deuell they are strangely bewitched I say that thus wyll bynde theyr Englyshe presthode sacraments but muche more enchauntid that can fynd no garments to please them But such as haue ben polutid openly with popishe supersticion Idolatry but most of all in this point shall theyr madnes apere to all posterites that they make these Antichristian rages Causam sine qua non that is a cause without which ther is no holy ministery in Christ so that this shall make an Englyshe preste be he neuer suche a dolt or vnlearnid in the knouledge of the scripture as we haue very manye and without these romisshe reliques not Paule hym selfe shal be admittid as one of them dyd blaspheme the rest of them in effecte do affirme well agaynste suche popishe chaffer and popery hathe byne longe agone foughten witheall when the gret captaines of that religion lyuyd and yet God gaue the victory Therfor let vs not fear now although it doth begine to sture agayn for ther is no craft conninge counsell wysdom or policy against the Lord. We haue Christ hys Apostells the Prophetes euer stryuing agaynst the Ipocrites of their time on our syde a stran for popishe polici we haue the worde of God to warant vs to rote out al monuments of supersticion and Idolatry are charged to abhor them to accompt them accursed and to defy them and to detest them as menstreous clowtes they haue not the worde of God for them And what wysdom is in them sayth god by his Prophet Jeremi they talke of obedience concorde but ther is no obedience against the Lorde no nor concorde to be desired but wher gods glory and verite is preserued Els better to haue al the worlde in hurly burleis and heauen earth to shake then one ioyte of gods glory shulde decaie So far forth as in vs leithe we haue theyr owne lawes and proclamacions to rote out all monuments of supersticion and Idolatrye theyr oune wordes are contrarye to theyr doinges Yt shulde apere that they repent their reformation proclamid as did yâ— Isralites they buylde agayn that which ons they haue distroied and this is doue openlye that all the worlde may wonder and behold but what is done secretlye god wyll one daye haue it declarid openly ye they make the name of god this doctrine that we professe to be euell spoken of alredy By many of theyr doinges theyr iudgement hasteth that for such causes persecute Gods true preachers Wherfor let vs not feare theyr threteninges ther can none persecute the godly for this cause trasshe but ether such as are nether hote nor colde and then they shal be vomyted out vnlesse their zeale encrease or such as haue no God before their eies whose god is their bellie or â—is open papists whom god hathe geuen vp â—o a reprobate sense wherfore we must thus â—ake it that they ar gods rodds for oure sinnes because we haue not ben more zelous in Gods cause nether carefull to seke his glorye that wolfe Wynchester blodie bucher Bonar fought once against many godli men for the grounde of this gere and thei had all the power of the Realme seruinge theyr lustes but beholde how the Lorde in short time ouerthrew them al to giue vs coradge to go forwarde the Lord forgeue vs we ar to slacke and neglygent in heauenly thynges this monster Bonar remainithe and is fed as papists say for their sakes it must be grauntyd it is for some purpos althoughe he be a traytor and an enemi to the crowne and realme and bothe to God and man whiche brunnid godes holy testament murderid his saintes and his servaÌ„tes But what the Lord requyrith to be done wythe false Prophetes it is manyfest we haue bothe the lawe of god man for vs But we ar answerid nay you your sealues shal be compellid to turne your coates and cappes and get you
vsyd them for But who so well considerith y◠nature of those thinges shall playnely se that the end which the commander propoundyth dothe not folowe but accordinge to the diuersite of them y◠vse them and them that iudge of them a cleane cōtrary end ensuythe for many popishe prestes vse them to the same supersticious end that they dyd in Popery and greatest of all is y◠multitude of ignorant people that iudgith none otherwyse of them All men Cor. 8. haue not knowledge for some with conscience of the Idole euen yet do eate meate offred to Idoles So Gedcon made an Ephode not that y◠people shulde go a whorynge Jud. 8. after it yet was it the destruction of hym and his howse for euer Secondly it can not serue for order and comlynes Cor. 14. which hath in it no necessary cause of edifying Let all thinges be donne for edifying Nether can it be conuertyd to y◠comlynes of the Christian Churche which is the chaste spowse of Christ which is takē from Antichrist and the fylthye whore of Babylon What cōsent hath Christ with Belyall what porcion hath the faythfull with the infydell or what agrement hath the temple of God with Images Yf the reason of S. Paule be examynyd by the 2. Cor. 6. which he dissuadith the Corynthians frō eating of meate offeryd to Idoles the same may be also extendyd to garmēts consecratyd to Idolatry The nature of cerymonies and rytes is to make the vser to haue felowship with the principall of that religion as the Jewes of the alter Christians with Christ and Gentils with Deuells As manye as are partakers of the breade which we breake are partakers of the bodye of Christe They therfore that eate meate offeryd to Idoles are partakers of deuells And as many as are baptized haue put on Christ it is not to be fearyd leaste as many as weare antychristes robes wil take more yf auctorite comand it neyther dothe the auctoryte of the Christian Magistrat excuse vs except we thinke that Sergius Paulus myght permyte Act. 15. Deut. 12. that S. Paule had forbydden the sentence of Jamys which is that the gentyls shulde abstayne from the polucion of Idoles God will borowe nothynge of Idoles to garnysh or become his religion thou shalt not do so to the Lorde thy god but rather he commandyth vtterly to destroye theyr alters woddes pyllers and theyr very names He forbyddyth them also to brynge any thinge in to theyr howses that belongythe to Idoles Esaye chap. 30. byddyth those that are earnestly turnyd to the worshippe of god to cast awaye the reliques of Idolatrie You shall sayth he put out that is all thing belonging to Idolatry the couerynge of the Imagis of syluer the precious vestymēts of the goldē Imagis and thou shalt caste them awaye lyke a menstrous clowte and saye vnto yt Auawnte or get the hence Fynallye when all godly men abhorre the monstrous apparell of Fryers Monkes Chanons I can not se by what order they shulde exteme the ornaments of Popishe Preastes whose order is as wyckyd as Freyers Monkes or any other which thyng may be sayd of the reste of the Popishe ceremonies which may all with lyke precepte and coloure by as good reason be receuid in the Churches as those But admyttinge that these thynges were neuer so indifferent yet it can not be that we shulde thynke them lawfull for vs to vse them for euē those thinges which by them sealues are lawfull whē an other circumstance is ioynyd to them then become they vnlawfull for a Christian to vse them as in these cases First we can not cast of all doubtfulnes hauing so many reasons on our syde and so manye examples bothe of learnyd men and best reformyd Churches but in all thinges most indifferent Saint Paule chargith euery mā to be certanly persuadyd in his owne mynde which some men vntruly translate Let euery man abownde in his owne sence for he that with doubt of conscience eatyth which of it sealfe is lawfull is condemnyd because he doth it not of fayth Now the assurance of fayth muste be sought no where but in Gods worde Secondlye thowghe we shulde satisfye our consciences yet this man is defylid which is not persuadid by Gods worde but encreased by our examples that he dare do that whereof before he doubted and this is to giue an offence as they cōmonly call it to anger them for they that are best pleasyd with these matters are most offendyd that they stomble and falle we must not do what so euer is lawfull but what so euer also is profytable to edifying nether must we only regarde what lyberte permyttyth but rather what our brothers proffyt requiryth Thyrdlye we maye not altogether neclecte what infydells iudge of vs in the vsynge of thinges lawfull by them sealfes and therefore S. Paule byddeth them that are callyd to the feastes of the gentyls so sone as mencyon is made of meate offeryd to Idoles to abstayne from eatinge of it because of hym that tolde of it and his conscience not of hym sealfe but of an other What the Papistes iudge of vs maye casely be seene by this that Harding for the retayning of those Popishe cerymonies cōteynith hope that popery shal be restoryd what the ignorant people iudge of the reamnants of papistri retaynyd wyse men may well consyder Herunto might haue byne ioynid the sentences of olde Doctors Justinus Jreneus Tertullianus Agustyne Ambros Chrysostums Celestinus almost all the rest for abhorrynge the customes and ryghtes of the Jewes and gentyles and heritykes but Gods truthe nedyth not mans auctoryte except they that be against vs in this cause wyll appeale to the fathers thē shall they perceyue that in nomber both of Doctors and sentences we shall be nothinge inferior to them In the meane tyme this maye suffyce to shew fyrst that the precysians is blameles secondly the garmētes ar not indifferent thyrdly that thowghe they were indifferent yet ther is sufficient reason at this tyme why we shoulde not weare them Come Lord Jesus and make an ende of thys wyckyd wordle that thy sainctes may come to gether that we may synge with the in thy holy hyll for euer He that ouercomith shal be crownyd Pray pray as the Apostell Peter sayth the end of all thinges is at hand ¶ An Answere to a question that was mouyd whi the godly men wold not weare a surples ALthoughe we muste nedes confesse Answere that we haue to much consentyd heretofore with the Papiste in robbing and bereuinge God of his glory honor yet may we not now in the lyght of Gods truthe contynew a partaker with you in the adulteracion of Christes sacramentes cōtrary to our consciences knowledge wherein we iudge our sealues onlye not preiudisynge other mens doinge whō we leaue to God before whō they ether stand or falle For oure partes we must render accompte not obstinatly bent against