education the schoole of all holy knowledge no enemy but a favourer of all lawfull artes and science where the glorie of God and the Lambe are the light thereof where the lively graces of Gods spirite are ever burning and never quēched There are all men of all degrees instructed in their dueties frō the hiest to the lowest And whoso walketh not in the light as Christ is in the light can haue no fellowship or place there Into the Church of Christ entereth no profane ignorāt or ungodly person The Leopard must leave his fiercenes the Cockatrice his poyzon so that the yong kid may feed with the one and the weyned childe play at the hole of the other before they can be received as members And being entred there can no inordinate walking no dissolute or unruly persō be there suffered The Church hath alwayes vengeance ready against all disobedience by the spirituall weapons and judgements of Gods word The governement therof as the Prophet ravished in the contemplation thereof sayth shal be of peace exactors of righteousnes violence shall no more be heard in the Land neyther desolation nor destruction in the borders They shall there break their speares into sithes their swords into mattocks Christs servants are an humble meeke peaceable and obedient people loyally subject and assuredly faithful to any civil government the Lord setteth over them They reverence and willingly obey even their heathen tyrannous Magistrates with out resistance even to the death how much more their Christian faithful loving Magistrates partakers with them of the same comforts hope All power here is yeelded and rendred to the civill Magistrate every soule being subject no part thereof taken away or takē togither with the civil Magistrate as these Princely Prelates with their Palatine royall privileges and these Lordly Bishops with their Courtes and civill jurisdiction Neyther can Satan himself without impudent slaunder accuse the servants of Christ of sedition or disobedience much lesse of such dissolutenes violence atheisme barbaritie No these with infinite other enormities flow frō the false Church from Babylon the mother of all the abominations dissolutenes confusion impietie where all are received feasted blessed even every uncleane byrd and hatefull spirite Their ungodly throne their false and deceitfull ministery which showeth them not the Counsels of God which discovereth not their transgressions neither hath any sprituall weapons or power against any syn be it never so haynouse but war togither in most desperate manner and oppose themselves against the ordināces of Christ his Gospel are the very cause of this impietie prophanenes ignorance and atheisme that aboundeth And this wee say that if Gods ordinance even the Princes lawes and sword which yet punisheth some offences kept not out barbaritie dissolutenes more then their ministery there should be no peace nor order neyther might one live by an other in their Church So that this their Pseudohierarchie is the most pestilent Anarchie that Satan and all his instruments shall ever be able to raise up as wherein he hath bestowed his uttermost power delusions and deceits to suppresse the holy practise of the gospel and to keep Christ out of his kingdome There now remaine certain difficulties impediments which are propounded by way of question and being of no great moment are as soon answered as propounded They demaund If these spirituall Courts of theirs were taken away what order then should be taken for Matrimonies adulteries testaments with which the common lawes of this land meddle not and also how the civilians should then live Wee answer That the triall judgements punishments of these causes and offences belong unto the civil Magistrates office neither to the Church nor to any private men God shall give our Magistrates wisdome if they take counsell at his word to provide for the reformation of these and many other abuses And as to the officers of these Courts they are to be compelled to walk orderly in some lawfull calling There are many godly meanes for them to live by their diligent indeavours in this common wealth but howsoever they may not be suffered to live or to continue in their ungodly trade Neither ought the Prince to stay upon their worldly provision frō executing the wil of God which so nearly concerneth her own salvation and the salvation of all her people They furder demaund If these livings and revenewes of this present Ministery should be quite taken away how then the true Ministery should be mainteyned or these Bishops and Priests hereafter live To the first we haue alreadie answered That the true Ministerie should be mainteyned of the free yet dutifull benevolence of the faithful especially of that flock unto which they attend and administer according to the present abilitie of the one and needes of the other If they here object that if the ministery should haue no more certaine or other maintenance they should then famish the people now generally being so worldly covetous and uncharitable as they will hardly pay that which is by law injoyned much lesse give of their own accord Wee answer that this no way hindereth the maintenance of the true Ministery but bewrayeth rather the unfaithfulnes and impietie both of the people and present Ministerie Of the people in that they no more regard love reverence to their Ministery if so be it were of God Of the Ministery in that they so evill instruct this people standing Ministers and Hierders unto the prophane worldly irreligious multitudes administring or rather sacrilegiously prostituting and selling the most holy things of God as the sacraments c. unto them all in this estate for their tithes and wages which no true Minister of Christ may doe The Ministery of Christ belongeth not unto neyther will take charge over such prophane worldlings there can be no spiritual band or communion betwixt them The true sheep faithfull people of Christ will not onely bestow their earthly goods but even their lives for those that bring unto them these heavenly treasures that tred out the corne and divide the portion unto them that labour for and watch over their soules c. Unpossible then it is that the true Ministers of Christ should want meanes to live whilest they execute their office faithfully especially where the State receiveth favoureth the gospel Neyther are they any longer to be mainteyned then they execute their office faithfully or they any longer bound to the flock or any mēber thereof then they remaine in the faith and obedience of the word of God Thus still breaketh out the corrupt minde coloured covetousnes of these tithing hireling Priests that thus let out their tōgues to hire make merchandise of the word and port sale of their sacraments making their bargain sure beforehand which bindeth them togither howsoever they doe the worke or the people bring fruites
the Common-wealth and neede so require they may serve for support to the state for royaltie of the Court for maintenaÌ„ce of lawfull warres against the enforcings of forreign foes or rebellions of domesticall enemies and a number the like services wherin such livings might be lawfully imployed with comfort and safe conscience all which may seem to be implyed in the former writers word et cetera to be their meaning likewise And wee may read in the Acts and Monuments in the hystories of Iohn Wicleff WilliaÌ„ Swinderby Sr. Iohn Oldcastle Lord Cobham Iohn Claydon and other the Martyrs of Christ who held professed these orders of Archbishops Lordbishops Archdeacons c. to be the Disciples of Antichrist yea very Antichrist theÌ„selves That the possessions and Lordships of the Clergie are the venime of Iudas shed into the Church c. Act. Monum edit 4. p. 150. a 468. b. 562. b. 363. a 6 9. b. Desiderius Why whither will you now run Miles Into the trueth I trust with all faithfull witnesses of the same no further theÌ„ I am taught by the word and spirite of God Desiderius But you haue not alwayes been of this minde that such livings ought not of right to apperteyne to the ministerie of the Gospell Neverthelesse if you haue seene a further light by the opposers of Prelatisme abroade then you had at home it would be good to make your friends and countrey partakers therof Miles Very gladly shall I doe that But first you are to observe this for your selfe that the holy Martyrs and witnesses of Christ were of this minde long before me as I haue shewed and could shewe yet further if need require And for that I haue not alwayes been of this minde it is sufficient that I came vnto it when God gaue me meanes to see that it was the minde of his High Majestie wherunto all men ought to conforme our selves The Apostle Paul was not alwayes of the minde that Iesus oâ— Nazaret was the Christ But some while he persecuted such as professed him til he saw otherwise And then he became a preacher of the same trueth both abroade and in bands unto the death And eveâ— so Lord Iesus just and righteous give me constancy in witnessing this part of thy truth against the Prelates their offices entrance administrations manner of maintenance and large jurisdictions all which are unlawfull and contrary to the scriptures As for your desire or hope of help from abroade I could wish you rather to turne your eyes another way and look nearer home For I am perswaded that there are not greater meanes of helpe to be found in the world for this service then God hath raised up in and unto our owne land of the true borne subjects and naturall children thereof And that both of the forwarder sort of Ministers and learned men in our Church of England as also and more specially of the people called Brownists who by their diligence in the scriptures and advantage of their cause are most strongly furnished against the Prelates against their Antichristian jurisdictions and Lordly livings c. At whose handes if helpe were sought espetially of the learned among them great helpe might be had Desiderius And may not the like helpes be had from the Anabaptists also for they are likewise very opposite to the Bishops Miles They are so And to give them their due many of them are very honest men with all but yet they disadvantage themselves sundry wayes First by their hereticall opinions 2. Because they haue approve and allow of generall Bishops for baptising c. in all their assemblies at least in so many of them as hold one societie and are of one coÌ„munion And so what they condemne and cast downe in others they after a sort doe justifie and hold up in theÌ„selves by their owne practise But the practise professioÌ„ of the other mistermed ones accordeth in one and strengtheneth one another Desiderius I am glad you conceipt the wayes of the Anabaptists no better For I had you in some jealousie concerning them But it is sorow enough that you preferre the Brownists before our forward Ministers Miles I haue good reason in this case so to doe For as they hold it unlawfull for our Ministers of EnglaÌ„d to haue those idolarrous livings aforesaid so they hold it unlawfull for their owne and all other ministeries to haue them but would that they were returned againe to the Common-wealth from whence they were taken But our forward Ministers that with the Prelates downe and their livings to be taken from them would gladly haue them for their owne use as you likewise pleaded for them And I feare they hold it no better then sacrilege if they be otherwise imployed Whereof your owne selfe also made question a litle before But to speak the trueth without respect of persons and to flatter with none these things in thern are meere trifling if not also hypocrisie arising of covetousnes For if they be lawfull for themselves they are lawfull for the superior Ministers also by vvhom these inferior ones were made If they say nay For their inferior Ministerie is a true Ministerie but the Lordly Ministerie is not so therfore these livings belong unto them and not to their Lords Herein they deceive themselves but let them not deceive you nor others For seing the inferiour Ministerie is derived from and made by the superiour eyther then the superiour ministerie must be true or these of their making cannot be true But the other being false that maketh these must needs bee false that are made by them For every creature bringeth forth according to his owne kinde whether it be man or byrds or beasts whether cleane or uncleane And if the roote be holy so are the branches But if the roote be corrupt and impure the branches must needs be so likewise Adam and Eve corrupted brought forth a man in their owne likenes that is one corrupted like themselves But I can shewe you divers wayes whereby you may discerne that the Brownists aâ— you call them are the best Champions to fight this battel and are most likely to win the field Desiderius I cannot tell I am sure they are counted a sâ—ct and are every where evil spoken of Miles But the question is whether it is for evil doing or for weldoing If for well doing they are â—o beare it paciently as partakers of the crosse and suffrings of Christ whose faithfull servants and witnesses of old even in the Apostles dayes were counted a sect likewise even the sect of the Nazarites and were every where evill spoken of in like sorte But did it therefore follow that they were according to the report esteem that was amongst men concerning them Or should men therefore haue rejected them or any good thing among them Let it be farre from you so to think and further off in that sort to speake eyther of those former or yet of these later
ExaminatioÌ„ hath these vvords For I know the doctrine touching the holy Trinitie Nature and Offices of the Lord Iesus Free justification by him both the sacraments c. published by her Majesties authoritie and commanded by her lawes to be the Lords blessed and undoubted truthes without the knowledg and profession wherof no salvation is to be had And sheweth the things that he disliketh and for vvhat cause he durst not partake in the publik assemblies of our land notwithstanding the former truthes there taught and professed And againe in his Confession of faith he sayth The trueth of doctrine touching the holy Trinitie touching the natures and Offices of Christ Iustifying faith Sacraments and Eternall life and the rest established by her Majesties Lawes and professed by her self their Honours and such as have knowledge in the assemblies of this land I acknowledge from my heart to be such as if I mainteyned not the unitie and held not the communion of the same doctrine with them in these points I could not possibly be saved For out of the communion of the true profession which her Majestie hath established in these and the like truthes there is no hope of salvation left But ioyne notwithstanding in the publike assembles of this Land I dare not for the former causes I doe moreover willingly confesse that many both of the Teachers and also of the Professors within these Parish assemblies haue so imbraced this trueth of doctrine established and professed in this Land as the Lord of his infinite goodnes hath granted them the favour to show outwardly many tokens wherby in regard of the Lords election I professe before men and Angels that I judge them to be meÌ„bers of that body whereof the sonne of God Christ Iesus 〈◊〉 the head Onely herein the Lord be merciful unto them as to my self in regard of my synnes that they are not under that outward form of govermeÌ„t which Christ hath left c. And whereas Mr Iacob would father upon this people that they hold every person in England which holdeth the publick faith is no true Christian. Mr Iohnson in his answer pag. 7. sayth thus Touching this point I minde the state of their people two wayes the one concerning their severall persons considered a part from the constitution of your Church the other concerning their estate and standing in that constitution Concerning the former of these that is considering them a part from the coÌ„stitution I acknowledge that in divers of them there appeareth such knowledge and faith of the Gospell with the fruits thereof as they may well be thought in regard of Gods election in Christ to be heires of salvation and in that respect to be true Christians God pardoning unto them their standing under Antichrist which they doe not see or minde But I seare least many more were heretofore partaker of this grace then be now since your Antichristian estate and the unlawfulnes to aâ—ide therein hath been discovered Concerning the latter that is in respect of their estate standing in that constitution of your Church I am perswaded whosoever so stand holding your publikâ— faith and multitude of Antichristian abhominations withall they cannot by the word of God be judged true Christians as touching their outward estate in that Church of yours but stand all subject to wrath God imputing this their sinne unto them And that all therfore whosoever will be assured of Gods mercie and salvation ought with speed to goe out of your Church it still remayning in Antichristian estate c. Thus Desiderius I haue shewed you what divers of them haue written and professed in and about the point by you objected if it be not sufficient I will shew you more Desiderius You may spare that labour for I am fully satisfied Miles And for that cause I was the more large As also that when these things are published others at home abroad may likevvise receive satisfaction And if any of the people themselves have been so overseen as to speak according to the report that you heard they may by this meanes be againe brought to their owne grounds which some through simplenes rashnes or incoÌ„sideratenes may forget offend against the same But the more circumspect and wise are more considerate and wary Thus being somewhat weary I will rest from discoursing a while and in the meane time you may read these three writings which will be worth your paines and the printing And they also will cleare that people and the truth from such clamours as you haue heard concerning theÌ„ The first is a letter which one of them in Ireland wrote unto a Scottish preacher there Ao. 1594. wherein is layd downe sundrie grounds of their separation The other are two Petitions the first whereof was vvritten by Mr Henry Barrovve in the daies of Q. Elizabeth of famous memorie the secoÌ„d by another of their vvriters 〈◊〉 the time of the first Parliament holden in the happy raign of our now Soveraigne King Iames. To Mr Wood. Wisdome and grace from God most high WHereas you seemed very desirous to haue us set downe in writing our faith and profession concerning the true Church togither with the causes of our separation from the English and Irish parish assemblies promising your self either to asseÌ„t unto us or shew sufficient cause of your dislike by writing also with defece of your churches estate c We as willing to render an account of our beleefe and practise unto all men that shall demand the same and desirous of your salvation and fellowship in the holy faith if such be the will of God our selves of further instruction and light by any that can enform us from the word haue condiscended unto your request beleeving confessing concerning this part of the Gospel as followeth That the true Church of God on earth is communion and fellowship of righteous men and women whose harts God hath puâ—ified by saith calling and gathering them â—nto himself and under his true obedience by the scepter of his word and spirit sepaâ—ating them from the world of Infidels Turks â—ewes and false Christians to live togither under his holy covenant obeying and woâ—â—shiping him in spirit and truth keeping thâ— unitie of the Spirit in the band of peace anâ— love and unfeighned That this Church although dispersed amoÌ„g many natioÌ„s over the face of the earth is one as God is one hath one faith Lord religion law and goverment in all places unto it the scriptures and written word oâ— God is given for the direction thereof and edification in all thinges whereunto each member is bound as well Prince as people to observe inviolably whatsoever is therein commanded unto the worlds end and that no man nor the vvhole church it self hath authority to alter change inovate breake abrogate or superordeyne any thing unto or from this Lawe of the Most high neither may the church
or any member thereof receive or obey other constitutions and traditions of men or Angels without incurring the wrath of God That this Church is the bride and body of Christ the citie house of the great King whereinto may enter no profane person oâ— impenitent sinner but onely such as by faith and â—â—pentance have washed away the guilt of their synnes in the blood of the lambe are borne a new by the seed of the word by a willing covenant made with the Lord are under his goverment scepter of grace and so doe lead godly and christian lives That in this House every servant and member hath a like interâ—st and libertie in the word of God by the power thereof to reprove coÌ„demne slay sin in themselves â—â—l other men and are all bound to watch oâ—â—er exhort and admonish one another even their shepherds leaders if need so require That this Church hath power from Christ to censure reprove and cast out of their fellowship all obstinate offenders and wicked men lest by any such the whole body should be infected and perish That they also haue authoritie to elect call and set over them watchmen and shepherds of their soules to break unto them the bread of life whom they are bound again to susteyne with all their temporall goods so farte as their abilities extend and the Ministers duetie shall require That whensoever the whole Church or any member therof wilfully transgresseth the law of the Lord and persisteth obstinate and incorrigible in any sin refusing to heare the voice of Christ they will cease to be the people and servants of God neither can be so esteemed untill they repent That all that wil be saved must joyne themselves to some particular Church of Christ to live therwith in faithful obedience peace order and love forsaking all false and adulterate synagogues of which sort we affirme the ordinarie parish assemblies of our woesull countrie to be and therfore haue abandoned them for these weighty causes 1. They are not a coÌ„munion of Saints called and severed from the world but doe consist of all sorts of men reteyning a multitude of irreligious profane Atheists Blasphemers Idolaters whoremongers and all manner wicked persons within her Majesties dominions 2. They haue not been wonne unto thâ— faith by the preaching of the gospell neyâ—ther ever made willing covenaÌ„t to walk up rightly before the Lord but were drawen by civil force in the beginning of her Majestie reigne 3. Their publick worship of God in theiâ— assemblies is false and idolatrous translateâ— out of the Popes blasphemous Masse book the cursed inventioÌ„ of the man of Sinne imposed both upon the Lord and them 4. The Ministery of Lordly Lord Arch bishops Bishops Deanes Arch Deacons c Parsons Vicars Curates c is not the true Ministery of Christ in his testament neitheâ— accordeth thereto in name office calling entrance administration or maintenance buâ— is the same which was found and left in the Popes Church 5. Their Church is in bondage beaâ—eth the yoke of Antichrist the burdenouâ— traditions ceremonies injunctions of their Lords the Bishops their courts and canons 6. They are obstiâ—ate and incorrigible in these and other their transgressions and wilâ— not be brought unto the true obedience oâ— Christ and practise of his lawes but speakeâ—vil of the trueth and witnesses of the same and of them some they haue killed many imprisoned all persecuted banished and blasphemed Therfore this people in this fearful estate cannot in any just intendement be estemed the childreÌ„ or church of God Neverthelesse the firme foundation of God standeth having this 〈◊〉 seate the Lord knoweth those that aâ—â— his and let every one 〈◊〉 naming the name of the Lord depart froÌ„ iniquâ—yâ— 2 Tim. 2.19 Delivered to Mr Wood a Scottish preacher in Ireland anno 1594. The humble most earnest and lamentable Complaint Supplication of the persecuted proscribed Church and servants of CHRIST falsely called Brownists Vnto the high Court of Parliament THe most high GOD possessor of heaven and earth bringeth at this present before your Lordships and Wisdomes Right Honourable his owne Cause his owne People his owne sworne and most trecherous Enemies togither with the most shamefull usage of his truth and servants that ever hath been heard of in the dayes of Sions professed peace and tranquility His Cause and People he offereth unto your confideration and defence in our Profession and Persons His Enimies and their outrage against his truth and servants in the persons bloody proceedings of the Prelates of this Land and their Complices Wee profosse the same faith and truth of the Gospell which her Majestie which your Honours this whole Land and all the reformed Churches under Heaven this day doe holde and mainteyne Wee goe beyond them being our onely fault even in the judgement of our tyrannicall and most savage Enimies in the detestation of all Popery that most fearfull Antichristian Religion and draw nearer in some pointsby our practise unto CHRISTS holy order and institution This is our Faith this is our Cause right Honourable yea the Lords Cause in our sinfull hands For the profession maintenance of which Faith the forenamed Enemies of GOD deteyne in their hands within the Prisons about London not to speak of other Gaoles throughout the Land about three score twelve persons Men woemen yong and old lying in cold in hunger in dungeons and in yrons Of which number they haue taken the Lords day last being the 3. of this 4. Moneth 1592. about some 56. persons hearing the word of God truly taught praying praysing God for his favors shewed unto us unto her Majestie your Honours and this whole Land and desiring our God to be mercyfull to us unto our gracious Prince countrey Being imployed in these holy actions and no other as the parties who disturbed them can testifie they were taken in the very place where the persecuted Church and Martyrs were enforced to use the like exercises in Queene Maries dayes The former number are now unbaleably coÌ„mitted by the Prelate or Bishop of London unto close for the most part severall prysons As Bryde-well the Lymboe or Dungeon in Newgate the Feete the Marshalsee the Counters the Clyncke the Gatehouse the Wotte-Lyon c. Wherein wee willingly acknowledge the lott and inheritance in this life of our Fore-Fathers and Brethren the holy Martyres of the former age and the entayled Aâ—eldama or bloody succession of the See of London and that whole lynage Well heere our brethren lye how long Lord holy and true thou knowest in Dungeons in hunger in colde in nakednes and all outward distresse For these bloody men will allow them neyther meat drink fyre lodging nor suffer any whose harts the Lord would stirre up for their releife to haue any accesse unto them purposing belike
the prosperity and good estate of this Realme Our onely desire is so to serve God as that we may please him with reverence feare absteyning and keeping our soules and bodies froÌ„ all remnants of the Romane Religion Idolatrie superstition and vaine will worship of what sort soever Wee witnes against the unlawful pompous Hierarchy priest hood of this nation as utterly disagreeing from the Testament of Christ and Ministerie there appointed in their Offices callings administrations and Lordlike livings maintenance Against the confuse prophane and it religious multitude of all sorts of vicious livers baptised into and reteyned in the body of this Church of England without voluntary profession of and holy walking in the faith of the Gospell against their manner of worship service by reading prayers out of a book in stead of true spiritual invocation on the name of the Lord and briefly against all other popish aboses reliques of the man of Syn whatsoever And because this our testimony maketh against the irregular authoritie of the Prelates reproveth their evil actions and disproveth their Pompe statelynes rich revenues stipends c. therefore haue they in all hostile manner set themselves against us persecuting us unto bands exile and death it self reproching us as Schismatiques Donatists Brownists seditious persons c. though they could never coÌ„vince us of these or any the like crimes and though we haue not ceased neyther by Gods grace will cease to wish and procure good to their soules bodies in the Lord. Now therefore our humble request is unto your Majestie Honours and worships that notwithstanding these differences we may be suffered to returne into our native countrey here to live in peace practising the faith of Christ which wee profess and haue long since set forth to the view of the world in our publick Confession wherein none hitherto haue shevved us any errour and seeing that peoples of other nations are by your Majestie and Honours suffered in this Realme though differing from the ecclesiasticall state of the same we hope that your Highnes naturall loyall subjects may finde like favour at your hands For although we cannot but hold and witnes the trueth of God against the corruptions remayning yet hold we â—â— in no vvise lavvfull for our selves or any subjects to attempt the reforming or abolishing of these or any the like abuses for God hath coÌ„mitted the svvord into your Majesties hand alone vvho in his time vvill persvvade vve trust your royall hart to fulfill his vvill and execute his judgements upon the remainders of the spiritual â—abylon vvhich vvill turne to as great honour to God honour to your Majestie and good of this Realme as the abolishing of Abbaâ—s Muncks Fryers Masse Images c. hath â—urned heretofore So the Lord of Lords and King of the Rulers of the earth vvill stablish your Crovvne c Kingdome unto length of dayes And hovvsoever this our suite shal be regarded we vvill not cease in all places of our pilgrimage to pray for and procure the good of your Majestie your Honours vvorships and all our countrey vvhom God Almightie blesse vvith long life happy dayes on earth and crovvne vvith everlasting glorie in the highest heavens Amen Desiderius Now haue I read this Petition also and I thank you for them bothe for me thinks they are able to give content satisfaction and worthyness to speak even in the presence of a Prince A wonder it is if they moved not Magistrates to pitie and compassion save onely that our Lordly Ministers are subtile incensers great resisters God give them repentance unto life if through their malicious sinning they be not appointed unto death But I much lament that our deare Countrie should be so stained with suffering them to exercise such crueltie towardes thoâ—e that witnes the â—ruth in any part thereof It is therefore a much better thing for any to partake of their afflictions then with their persecutors in their oppressing of them For of the people of God afflicted the Apostle sayth It is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you And to you which are troubled rest with us when the Lord Iesus shall shew himself from heaven with his mighty Angels In flaming fyre â—â—â—dring vengeance c. 2 Thess. 1.6.7 c. Miles It is well observed Desiderius For thaâ— day of the Lords coming shal be unto his people weldoers a day of gladnes and much joy but unto the wicked and evill doers it will cause great terrour and feare To them it will be as the Prophet Ioel saith A day of darknes and of blacknes a day of clowdes and obscuritie Ioel 2.2 Then shall they crye hilles and mountaines cover us from the presence of him that suteth on the throne Then shall a good conscience be more worth then a world And whosoever would haue it at that day must labour to haue and to hold to nourish enterteine it all the daies of his life lest when he seeks for it he finde it not And they that once haue it let theÌ„ take heed they make not shipwrack therof But for the comfort of all such as are persecuted for conscience sake and to the terrifyng of their persecutors the Apostle useth this worthy speech And in nothing feare your adversaries which is to them a token of perdition but to you of salvation and that of God Phil. 1.28 Desiderius You began to speak of the unlawfulnes of appropriating such livings to the maintenance of the true Ministerie worship which the idolaters consecrated unto false ministeries false worship I desire you cleare that point further if you can For one would think there can be no use made of them tending more to the honour of God then the imploying of them to his service and worship Miles The same colour might haue be set upon the offring up of divers strange beasâ—es in sacrifice to the Lord which yet might not be done by any man at any time for any cause And this which you object carries no fairer a show with it then did Saul his sparing the fat cattel of Ameleck under the same pretence of offering them in sacrifice to the Lord but not being according to the minde of God manifested by his word but contrary to the same it was imputed unto him for rebellion and transgression which are matched by the Prophet with witchcraft wickednes and idolatrie 1 Sam. 15. For the Lord hath no such pleasure in sacrifice as when his voice is obeyed ibidem And thus may you see that Sauls good intent had as faire a colour as can be set upon the imployments of popish livings to true Church uses yet was this a special cause of his ruyne and cutting off from his kingdome God requires not that to be done which is right in the eyes of man but all that hee commandeth and is according to his will revealed that is to be observed with all
executioÌ„ of any thing that belongeth to the Princes and Magistrates office without the Princes speciall commandement and deputation therunto yet is it the bounden dutie of every true hearted subject and faithfull servant of God to witnes and crie out against all things that ar exalted against the knowledgâ— of God to pray for and by all humâ—ble peaceable and godly meanes tâ— advertise exhort and excite theiâ— Prince and Magistrates to remove and depose all false worship falsâ— ministers in the land For this causâ— haue we the Lord Iesus Christs mosâ— unworthy servants and witnesses hiâ— therto endured in all meeke and paâ—cient manner the great outrage anâ— tyranny which this antichristian Roâ—mish prelacie and clergy haue lonâ— exercised over our poore bodies raâ—ther then to stoope downe eyther tâ— that patched traditionall worshiâ— which they devise and impose oâ— unto that unlawfull power whicâ— they usurp exercise over all men consciences yea at this present â—â—specially upon your honours so grâ—â—cious acceptation we are bould yâ— in all reverence and humilitie tâ— declare our loyall heartes and intiâ— affections as in the sight of Chrisâ— unto our most gratious soveraign Queene Elizabeth and unto this whole State by discovering these deceivers and manifesting these heinous abuses and intollerable inormities which remaine in the Land by their meanes to the high displeasure of God though it be with the present perill and danger of our lives which those Antichristian Bishops armed with such power and hostilitie will soone upon the knowledge that we haue revealed these matters dispatch one way or another But we make no reckning nor speach of these things neyther are our lives deare unto our selves so wee may finish up our testimony and course with joy and by giving warning if Gods will be to prevent the heavie wrath and judgements of God that hangs over this whole land for the hainous prophanation of Gods name contempt of his word and generall impietie even of all degrees All which enormities here to discuss in particular as they flow from them into all estates of the land would require a larger discourse then this present time or purpose will permit Onely in this place it may suffice that we engage our mortall lives undertake upon the losse of the same to make manifest proof unto all men by the undoubted word of God in any free and christian conference either publike or private or to make evident demonstratioÌ„ in writing by the scriptures if wee may be permitted That this whole ministery publike ministration which is by them exercised in the Church of England is false antichristiaÌ„ such as cannot be joyned to the gospell of Christ nor used in the Church of Christ which being proved such then is it the Princes duetie as she tendereth the salvation of her owne soule and the safety of all this people which the Lord hath committed unto her charge to abolish and depose the same Neyther is there cause why her Majesty should make more scruple or delay herein then her most royal Auncestor of famous memorie King Henry the eight did in much lesse light and assurance when he expelled the Pope and suppressed the Abbies c. Especially when it shall be proved that the whole ministerie which now remayneth even from the Primate Archbishop to the lowest Sommoner togither with their Courtes Canons Offices Officers c. are of the same birth belonged to the same apostaticall throne have as litle mention place or use in the testament and Church of Christ as they and therfore ought in like maner togither with their foresayd father and brethren be cast out not to be suffered in the Church or coÌ„mon wealth Neyther can this matter and motion now seeme strange seeing all forreign Churches in all other places haue cast out and changed this ministerie howsoever eyther of ignorance or fleshly policie they might for a tyme give handes thereunto yet except they can shew that Christ hath instituted divers sundry kindes of ministeries and governments unto his Church one in one age and place another in an other or that the Ministerie of the new testament is not certaine permanent and unchangeable the same in all Churches then doubtlesse these so divers ministeries in name office entrance administration as theirs and this are cannot both of them be of God Againe even at home the forward preachers of these present times not to speak of such motions unto the Kings of this land at sundry other times haue a long time sought and sued unto her Majestie and to the Parliaments for a Reformation viz. That these Arch bishops Bishops Arch deacons Deanes c. with all their Courts colleages government and administration might be removed and taken away their ample and great livings converted to the maintenance of sundry poore preachers and that the Church might be restored to that auncient order and governemeÌ„t which Christ hath instituted by them called discipline which matter they neither could nor durst have moved or attempted if the office ministerie goverment of these Lord Bishops c. had not beene wholly antichristian and directly contrary to the testament of Christ For if the office ministery and governement of these Lord Bishops and their accomplices had been of God they ought still of necessitie with all reverence to haue been reserved the corruptions and abuses that had grown therin to be corrected and purged But if their offices ministery governement were the institution and ordinance of Christ what a dangerous execrable motion had it been to perswade the Prince and Parliament to reject and cast out the true Offices Ministery and Government of Christ out of the Church They that should thus reject Christs Ministerie ordinances or any part therof reject Christ himselfe doe violence to his members spoile and ruinate the Church and cannot be of God But these men sought not the reformation or correction of the persons or abuses of these Lordly Bishops their Courts c. but the utter remooving and abolishing of their offices ministery and government for ever out of the land wherby it is manifest these men howsoever they haue since changed their copie tooke them to be Antichristian and such as ought not to be used or suffered in the Church of Christ. And now that these Bishops and their traine their offices ministery government are thus found even by the preachers themselves not to be of God as to any that will further examine theÌ„ by the rules of Christs testament cannot be hid or doubtfull we see not how even these Reformists themselves this choice reserved remnaÌ„t or this rable of Parsons Vicars Vagrant hireling preachers without certaine place office or charge which are but the very taile of the dragon should be exempt from the same judgment seing they all are derived and proceeded from the same apostaticall throne that the Bishops yea even from the throne of the Bishops So that if the Bishops be
verily The Prophets Apostles and Evangelists haue in their authentick writings layd downe the ground â—herof and upon that ground is all their buiding reared up and surely setled Moreover many of the Martyrs both former and latter haue mainteyned it as is to be seen in the Acts and Monuments of the Church Also in the dayes of Queen Elizabeth there was a separated Church wherof Mr Fitz. was Pastor that professed and practised that cause before Mr Browne wrote for it But he being one of the first writers in her Majesties reigne therfore those that followed him or Christ rather thorow his means directing them by Gods word were called Brownists as if they had been baptised into his name Which were falshood to think blasphemie to speake Desiderius The name makes them very odious to others and to say the trueth it caused me to carry some prejudice against them to the forestalling of my judgement in the things they holde Miles There are too many that doe so But let not the name offend you or any for ther was never any trueth brought to light but Satan through his notable craft and cunning hath caused some to paint it out after the names of men that it might seem base and contemptible in the eyes of all and to be â—eceived of none Hereupon haue Christians been called Hussites Hugonotes Lutherans Zuingliaus Calvinists Puritans Brownists and the like But there could be no name more odious then was given to our Maister Christ himself vvhom the vvicked called Belzebub and his people must in their measure be partaker of his reproch Let none therfore seeke to haue a good name by doing any evill thing nor yet for avoiding a bad name neglect any good that God requires at our hands neither let any man mesure any truth by the face that foes doe set upon it Desiderius I perceive by your plea that if these men had their right they should be acknovvledged for true Christians and not to be calumniated by the name of Brovvnists Miles Your perceiving then is good your vvords are just and right for so they ought to be esteemed Desiderius But vvhy then doe you so often call them so your selfe Miles For distinction sake onely but not at all in reproch And if you could alvvayes understand me vvhom I meane vvhen I call them Christians then vvould I give them no other name Desiderius You haue shevved me that many of those people vvere imprisoned some brought there to their end others executed by death and novv I aske vvhether any haue been banished Miles Ye sundry tymes And once in my ovvne sight and hearing at the Sessions in London foure of them vvere enforced to abjure the land and in what sort and manner it may appeare by a vvriting that seemes then to be taken by some that were beholders thereof and affected therewith Which writing was this A Memorandum Anno Domini 1604. IN the Raigne of our now Soveraigne Lord King Iames who is a defender of the Gospel foure persons were inforced to abjure the Land for the Gospels sake who practised the OrdinaÌ„ces therof in obedience to the King Christ whom God set to Raigne in his Church by the scepter of his word separating themselves froÌ„ our Church of England refusing to communicate joyne or partake with the same in the publike Ministerie worship and government ecclesiasticall with many other corruptions derived from Poperie and are still reteyned in the body bosome of the English Church This abjuration was urged upon the Statute of the 35. of Q. Eliz. after they had suffered 3. moneths imprisonment And at the publike Sessions in LoÌ„don it was thus carried That they should take their oathes to depart the Realme within one moneth and not to returne againe into any of the dominions of the late Queene without leave from his Majestie or his Highnes Successors Their chiefe speaker pleaded that they were true and faithfull subjects to his Majestie and had not deserved so to be dealt with and desired to be discharged without an oath and they would both promise and be bound to depart But that not being granted he desired that their oath might be with conditions and not so strictly against returning For sayd hee we may be occasioned to travel by sea to other couÌ„tries by crosse winds be driven again into those dominions contrary to our purpose Or we may be taken at sea and brought hither by force and divers the like and so be forsworne though against our wills Then it was tolde him that all such things was to be borne with But he replyed it could not save their oath from being broken without such things were expected Moreover he told the bench that they held themselves so bound to Parents Prince and Country that if in an other land they heard of any treason it was their duetie to come disclose the same And therefore sayd he I wil never take my oath without conditions Which he affirmed sundry times And when he saw notwithstanding that the oath was strictly administred unto them according to the Statute he adjoyned this speach himselfe But if the performance of any dutie to Prince Countrey Parents or the like doe move me to returne I will then be free of the oath And thus he would haue the Bench to understand he swore but not otherwise And they all keping silence the Towne-Clark answered that in such case they should seeke for leave And the party replyed that the case might require such hast as they could not stay for leave Then were they commanded to pay their fees and to be gone within a moneth ANd was not this a lamentable case Desiderius that in the daies of the gospell men should be thus entreated for the gospels sake and for resistance of the ordinances of Antichrist Desiderius Yes doubtlesse if it were so M. Mick Were so Yes upon the adventure of my best limme or life it selfe it was so And for those things wherein they differ from the opinions and practises in our Church of England I never savve any trueth more cleare in all my life As you also may easily perceive if you scan the difference from point to point by the scriptures And there is no trueth in England but they hold the same dissenting onely from them wherein they dissent from the word of GOD ALMIGHTY which ought to be followed in every jote tittle thereof Now by the Memorandum that I shewed you I remember a saying in the Preface of their Confession of faith at their first publishing of it which sayd They hoped God would raise up another Iohn Fox to compile togither the latter Martyrs and Witnesses of our Lo Iesus in these our dayes And it seemes that the work goes foreward in that God stirreth up some to keep records of such thinges for further use in tyme to come Now for the Statute above mentioned I knowe it was intended against popish Recusants and not against these And
being received into the soule by faith is the true nourishment therof and salvation of the whole man For he hath redeemed us from death destructiō iustified us in the sight of God and procured us life with him All which we apprehend thorow faith But in this trueth I know you are already grounded so as I need not speak further for your instruction and as for them should I speak should I write should I doe all I can it will not profite them For without the extraordinary work of God they must still beleeve as their church beleeves For that cannot erre as they fondly suppose So that it may hold what it vvill and they must hold the same vvithout all triall or mistrust Thus by one error they are fast fettered in many must be left to their blind guides till they fall togither into the ditch For other guides they will not haue Therfore I shall now spare a labour and speake no further of this point Desiderius Thus brought I you out of the way wherin you were shewing the unlawfulnes of kneeling in the sacramēt Yet vvas it not vvithout fruit for even by that vvhich you haue sayd men may playnely see that vvee ought not to conceite or imitate those supersticious idolatrous and absurd Papists vvho are so addicted to their ovvne vvayes and are like those that cried Great is Diana of the Ephesians Act. 19.28 And great vvith these is their goddesse the false church M. Mick But vvhat say you of the Christians whose cause I pleaded for that addict themselves to the wayes and word of God Desiderius I freely acknowledge that such ought to be lovingly respected And you haue brought me to like better of them then ever I did but espetially that you so well cleared their doctrine of faith to be sound and their separation to be but from sin and such outward orders and ordinances that are unsound and sinfull which they therefore forsake that they might doe the will of God according to his written word the light of our feet and lanterne to all our pathes M. Mick You haue sayd ynough to cleare them both from heresie and schisme for he is no heretique that is sound in the faith And he is no schismatique that separates onely from disorder sin For we ought not to communicate in sin either with men or Angels Desiderius And that is the ground whereupon I my selfe neyther doe nor dare communicate in the Church of England with that sinful ordinance of man the service book or book of cōmon prayer M. Mick If you professe so much in England by your practise as you haue here confessed with your mouth you may happen to be called a Brownist if not to tast of other hard intreaty Des. Yet the truth is the truth Which as it appeareth unto me so stand I bound to obey unto it But I pray you why doe the foresayd people solemnize mariage in civil Assemblies or dwellings M. Mick Because it is a civil action and ought civilly to be performed according to the true nature of it Desiderius Why it is the judgment almost of all men to haue it done in the Church by a Minister And in England it is a common received custome to haue it so performed M. Mick I wish rather that for the proofe of it you could haue sayd Thus saith the Lord. And then to haue shewed the chapter and verse where it is so sayd But you haue done nothing lesse neither in deed it is impossible to be done there being no such thing once named or implied in all the scripture And consequently the ground whereon you stand is not rocky and firme but unsure and sandy which shall wash away with the raine every house built upon such a foundation when the flouds come and the windes blowe shall certainly fall as we may learne both by Christs own doctrine in the Gospell and reason it selfe doth shewe the same And if an Argument drawen from a common custome be good then if it be a common custome to haue the Lords holy Sabbaths profaned with Beare and Bull baiting with dicing and carding with May games and morrice dance with laciviousnes and luxurie with rifling or revelling c. then all is good and all may be done sane conscientia But I hope that both you and every childe of God truely sanctified doe defie and abhorre all such things not onely on the Sabbath dayes but every day of the week and of their whole life And is it not a common received custome in England to worship God by their book of cōmon prayer in English as the Papists by their Massebook in Latin and by their Images beades crucifixes and other the like in stead of true invocation upon the Name of God by the work of his Spirite But being all vvithout and against the vvarrant of the vvord of God your self dare neyther practise nor approve them And vvhy then doe you not minde the like in other things no less unvvarrantable As is the solemnization of mariage ecclesiastically and other such like Many abominations might be pleaded for by common custome and multitude of men in that minde But lay aside these sandy grounds and heare the vvords of the Lavve Thou shalt not follow a multitude to doe evill neyther agree in a controversie to decline after many and overthrow the truth Exod. 23.2 Beleeve it for truth That All Church actions are layd dovvne in the scriptures vvhich is the rule of truth But in them vve finde no mention of mariage to be a Church action Therefore it ought not to be so made or used And againe All the dueties of the Ministerie are expressed in the scriptures But in them there is no more mention or vvarrant for the ministers solemnizing of mariages to the living then is for their burying of the dead vvhich is just none at all Ergo they are both unlavvfull and ought not to be done And where you affirme the contrary saying it ought to be done by a Minister doe you meane a minister indefinitely without any respect whether he be true or false Desiderius No But I meane a true Minister onely For no true Christian ought to goe to false minister for any such end M. Mick Your reason is right and good But then the Ministers of England haue no right in that work they being in respect of their offices not true but false Ministers and so proved Desiderius But in respect of their guiftes they may be sayd to be the Ministers of Christ. For many of them haue excellent giftes M. M. So had Balaam likewise who yet was but a false Minister and a Southsayer And so haue many Lawyers others in our Land if they would and might be suffred to exercise their gifts who yet are no Ministers at all Gifts then doe help to make men fit for a Ministerie but doe not make them ministers much lesse true Ministers For every true Minister must not onely be