coepit vt sequeretur Deos alienos id est errores extraneos grauiter disputaret ac scriberet Idem cap. 16. Vincentius Lirenenses sheweth And therefore when Saint Iohn who affirmeth Christ to be the Word had saide of the Father 1. Ioh. 5. Wee are in him that is true in his Sonne Iesus Christ that is true in his Word This viz. this Word this Sonne is very God and eternall life he addeth Babes keepe youre selues from Idols Viz. from all idols as well errours as others For while he saith of the Word which was in the beginning this is verry God it followeth that whosoeuer sets vp a new and contrarie word sets vp an Idoll or false God and is therein an Antichrist for therefore he saith of Cerinthus Ebion and other Hereticks and Deceiuers that brought in a new and contrarie word Chap. 2. euen now are many Antichrists such as would not haue the reuealed Word of God to rule in some matters of faith and saluation but therein giue the Kingdom to the idols of theire owne braine as all Hereticks doe And here because b Iuxta Apostolicam comminationem â—elagiano illi prouenisse cernimusluliano Idem cap. 40. Iulian was a Pelagian take an example in the Pelagians who affirmed that c Ex Aug. de nupt Homo noÌ„ naâ—â—â—tur cum originali peccato peccatuÌ„ originis noÌ„ est peccatuÌ„ quiae non est volun tarium Originall sinne is nothing and doth not make men guiltie of death Contrarie to that Rom. 5.12 By one man sinne entred into the world and death by sinne and so death passed vpon all men for that all haue sinned And vers 16. The iudgement was by one to condemnation Vers 19. By one mans disobedience many were made sinners Also for the free Will of an vnregenerate man to conuersion They affirmed d Epi. Hila. ad Aug. Arbâ—â—riuÌ„ ad hoc liberuÌ„ asseruÌ„t vt velit vel nolit admittere medecinam Eph. 1.19 â— the will to be so free that it can of it owne accord admit or refuse cure and so that those that haue sinned may by the power of nature repens without inward grace from the Spirit Contrarie to that Ephes 2. Ye were dead in trespasses and sinnes Ioh. 5.25 The dead shall beare the voice of the Sonne of God e NoÌ„ quia v. â— vunt audiunt sed audiendo reuiscunt Aug. in 10. t. 19 and they that heare shall liue Beeing borne againe not of corruptible seede but of incorruptible by the Word not of blood c. Which places shew that an vnregenerate man hath noe more power actiuely and of it owne accord to admit or refuse the regenerating power of Gods Word and Spirit then a dead body hath to raise it selfe Ioh. 1.9.13 which might be shewed in the conuersioÌ„ of Paul Indeede there is a passiue power in the elect who by God are made as fit to receiue illumination regeneration by the Word as a kandle vnlighted is to receiue light by another which power is not in blocks and stones but the kandle that is neere the light doth not light it selfe noe more is man lighted but by the Word the true light that lighteth euery man that commeth into the world Which are borne not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man but of God Therefore the Apostle saith * Eph. 2.3 to 10. Ier. 31.33 Ioh. 15.6 Rom. 5.5 Philip. 2. that the exceeding greatnes of his power to vs-ward who beleeue is according to the greatnes of his power which he wrought in Christ when he raised him from the dead that it is of his grace and gift God saith I will put my Law in theire inward parts c. I will giue you a new heart and a new spirit Christ saith Without me ye can doe nothing The loue of God is shed abroade in our hearts by the holy Ghost It is God which worketh in you both to will and to doe of his good pleasure Also touching the signification of the word grace They affirmed a Ex Aug. Epi. 105. gratiam illam quam volebat I'elagius sine vllis praecedentibus meritis dari esse humanaÌ„ naturaÌ„ in quâ— conditi sumus c. By grace is meant nature indued with reason and will contrarie to that Ephes 2. By grace ye are saued through faith and that not of youre selues it is the gift of God Also touching the cause of the increase of grace They affirmed b Ex concilio Diospolitano Gratiam Dei secundum hominuÌ„ meritae dari Aug. de bono perseuer Cap. 2. that by the workes of nature man promeriteth or gaineth the aide of grace Contrarie to that Ro. 9.16 It is not of him that willeth nor of him that runneth but of God that sheweth mercie And 1. Cor. 1.7 Who maketh thee to differ froÌ„ another and what hast thou that thou didst not receiue And thus also they made foreseene faith and good workes to be the c Ex Hilar. Epist Praedestinationem ad id valere conteÌ„dunt vt eos Praedestinauerit vel praesciuerit vel eligere proposuerit qui fuerant Credituri Ex Prosperi Epis ad Aug. Eos Praedestinasse in Regnum suum quos gratis vocatos diguos futuros electione de hac vitae bono fine excessours esse praeuiderat causes of praedestinatioÌ„ Contrarie to the Scriptures which shew faith and good works to be fruits of election and of his free grace in electing vs to be ingrafted into Christ the true vine in whome wee beare fruite Ioh. 15. Eph. 4.5.6 He hath chosen vs in him before the foundation of the world not that wee were but that wee should be holy and vnblamable before him in loue c. 2. Tim. 1.9 He hath saued vs called vs with an holy calling not according to our workes but according to his owne purpose and grace which was giuen vs in Christ Iesus before the world began Rom. 9.11 to 20. The children beeing not yet borne neither haueing donne any good or euill that the purpose of God according to election might stand not of works but of him that calleth c. Thus then they presumpteoufly held against Gods Word which should rule against * Ephes 156. the good pleasure of his will and against the praise of the glorie of his grace that a man is without originall sinne at least that it makes him not guiltie of death that such a man in the state of nature may of his owne free will either resist Gods conuerting power or repent and be regenerated and that without the helpe of Gods grace and Spirit or if by grace or at least by helpe thereof yet by grace in meant nature indued with reason and will or if it be by aide of Gods grace yet by the works of nature man promeriteth that aide of grace and what more is the works of nature viz. the well vsing of free will and
man will I hope be so rash as to conceite that your Maiestie a Christian King should not ouercome a Pagan Prince in that much honoured vertue much lesse so far to forget the duty of a subiect as to infer from this example that we vnder the Gospell of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ haue liued to a time vvhen it should be accounted a crime in any Christian to confesse and defend the faith of Christ crucified IdeÌ„ in orat ad Câ—rol 5. inter Epist Youre Maiestie by youre Roiall title is Defender of the faith and consequently of all those youre Maiesties subiects that professe and maintaine the same Then saith Gueuara is the Prince naturall of the Kingdom when he doth obserue and defend the Gospell of Christ I confesse right high and mightie Monarch youre Maiesties affaires are many important that amonge many things offered to youre Princely coÌ„sideration some may be of greater consequence in the conceite of the preferrers then in true substance and may perhaps be therefore answered with parturiunt montes nascetur rediculus mus or with that Non vacat exiguis rebus adesse Ioui But this Confession amonge other things manifesteth that the successe and safety of temporall Kingdoms depende on the due receiuing and maintenance of Christs and extirpation of all the open secret enemies thereof Knowing then that in this Island Christ hath had a Kingdom theese seauenty yeares or vpwards that there is noe true Christian nor good subiect but would be loth to see it eaten out by Iesuiticall or Pelagian practises what honourable or loial Seruant is there in youreâ— Maiesties Court that if a man Ieh 9.1.30 as weake as he that was blinde from his birth should by Gods assistance pleade Christs cause to the Rulers with good proofes would not take that of our Sauiour into consideration chap. 12.48 He that reiecteth me and receiueth not my words bath one that iudgeth him the Word that I haue spoken the same shall iudge him in the last day The first part vvhich conuinceth the Iewes may seeme at first sight to make nothing for or against any here nor much to coÌ„cerne Christs cause in this Island but as it like a greate wheele moueth all the lesser and like a Roote yealdeth sap and life to all the branches the worke it selfe is but litle and that subiect fills not a fifth part of it vouchsafe therefore greate Kinge youre Roiall and Princely patience and youre Maiestie shall soone see how reuiued heresies doe eate at the roote both of Church and State and that vvith noe ordinarie danger Yet doe I not strike at the Arminians but through the sides of the Pelagians nor soe much at theire tenets as at theire practises nor at them but as they are against the Kingdom of God the honour of youre Maiestie the peace safety and strength of youre Kingdoms Neither is that donne by me but by Christs owne Confession and Complaint and such consequences as necessarily follow froÌ„ the same the examples out of holy writ and other Histories here gathered beeing only Instances of the neuerfailing truth of that which Christ in his Confession denied or affirmed Now therefore the greate God of heauen and earth in whose hands are the hearts of Kings giue youre Maiestie to see embrace and establish the things that belonge to the peace of youre Kingdoms Luk 19 42. and now perplexed subiects which is the thinge herein desired and daily begd of God in continuall prayers by youre Maiesties most humble subiect and Vassall To the Christian Reader CHRISTIAN and Truth-louing Reader I offer here to thy most retired and serious considerations the Confession and Complaint of Christ Iesus our Sauiour with such vndeniable consequences as necessarily follow from the same that so thou maiest obserue from his mouth who is the best Pilote what course to steere in this troublesom and tempestious age to bringe that pretious Iewell Vessell of thine thy yet floting Soule vnto the Hauen of true happines that it may not be surprised by Seducers suffer shipwrack against the Rocks or late sunke Vessels of errour nor runne a ground in the shallowes of ignorance Ephes 4.14 That wee henceforth be noe more children tossed to and fro and carried aboute with euery winde of doctrine by the sleight of men and cunning craftinesse whereby they lie in waite to deceiue But following the Truth in loue may grow vp into him in all things which is the head euen Christ A worke that might haue beene vndertaken by one more experienced in such sacred mysteries and better qualified for them then I am Yet if a man that is but an ordinarie Passenger in a ship shall espie it to be neere a Rocke a Ship sunke or some other Sea marke set vp to discouer a danger who will blame him if while others that should watch are sleeping or otherwise buisied he giue notice thereof to them that are with him embarked in the same Ship or in any other within hearing that the dangers may be auoided Such as beare good will to Sion pray for truly seeke the peace of our Ierusalem will soone perceiue that my indeauours herein are only exercised in seeking the Kingdom of God the honour and safety of our Soueraigne Lord the Kinge the peace and happines of his Maiesties Kingdoms and of Gods Church in them together with the conuiction and amendment of such as haue donne euill offices to any of theese 2. Tim. 2.25 If God peraduenture will giue them repentance to the acknowledging of the Truth and that they may recouer themselues out of the snare of the Deuill who are taken captiue by him at his will But on the other side if any that haue exchanged theire best iudgments for such honours and other gifts of the World as blinde the eyes of the wise or for the hopes of them If any who are Iesuited or poisened with Romish or Pelagian errours finding themselues touched with theese lines shall make a worse construction of them to cleare themselues or theire adherents then can with good Conscience be giuen and framing a minde to me out of theire owne shall therevpon begin to inueigh against this litle tratise or the composer thereof the Booke it selfe will I hope say enough to stop such mens mouthes and if that doe not I know a longe Epistle can not doe it I will therefore leaue all further Apollogies and appealing from them to God to whome all hearts lie open implore his almightie protection In the meane time hopeing such things of thee as accompany saluation and beseeching thee to excuse and correct with thy pen such faults as not without wronge donne to me haue escaped the Printer in the printing I rest Thine in Christ Iesus I. P. CHRISTS CONFESSION AND COMPLAINT Ioh. 18.36.37 Iesus answered My Kingdom is not of this world If my Kingdom were of this worâ—d then would my Servants fight that I should not
Germanie who in mans sight were but weake in respect of theire aduersaries and yet maintaining the preaching of the Gospel and the expulsion of Poperie were maruelously defended and prospered King Edward the Sixth expelled Poperie out of his Kingdom maintained furthered the preaching of the Gospel and though he were but a child how yet did God blesse and defend him from his mightiest enemies Queene Marie leauing the Kingdom Popish Queene Elizabeth againe excluded Poperie See the thankfull Remembrance commanded the preaching of the Gospel punishment of Popish Preists for theire seditious intrusion and yet though she were but a Woman and found the Kingdom in weake estate and had at her entrance greate aduersaries as the Pope Spanie France yea Scotland also besides discontented Popelings and Rebels in her owne Kingdoms of England and Ireland yet she cleauing to Gods cause and maintaining it with all her heart was not only miracalously defended from al forraigne enemies and homebred Conspirators but also acheiued many glorious Victories and grew a terrour to her mightiest aduersaries so truly doth God seeke theire Kingdom that sincerely seeke his as Dauid did And here let noe man obiect the late losses that protestant Princes Kingdoms prouinces haue sustained An obiection of late losses with the Reason of them For if the Word of God had in theese later times beene countenaneed preached and furthered with that sinceritie and zeale of aduancing Christs Kingdom and receiued with that affection ioy reuerence and obedience and that the Princes of the reformed Churches had all stucke to Gods cause and to one another as zealously now as in those former times theese damages could not haue befallen them It is saide of Hezechia that in euery worke 2. Chro. 31.21 that he began in the seruice of the howse of God and in the law and in the commandements to seeke his God he did it with all his heart and prospered If then Princes in doeing the things they did haue not donne them with all theire heart but coldy slowly sparingly not timely nor without greate importunitie and that to stop mens mouthes If in policie or for wordly ends they haue conniued at poperie suffered supplies and materials of warre to goe to theire aduersaries in religion thought they might soe far permit helpe to both sides 2 Chro. 26.2.7 or with Asa haue sought and made lauges with the aduersaries of religion and relied on them noe maiuaile if theire defensiue wars at home and theire vndertakings abroade haue not succeeded well which otherwise must needes haue prospered For if Princes that are men be somtime true and firme to those theire confederates of the same religion that mutually seeke the good of each others Kingdom how much more must God needes be alwaies sure to those that sincerely seeke his Kingdom seeing he is Iustice it selfe and Truth it selfe yea almightie therefore of power to doe more for such as cleaue to his cause then Kings can for those that adhere to them Vorâ— 9. For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole Eareh toshew himselfe stronge in the behalfe of them whose heart is perfit towards him Thus then the due preaching of the Word doth not make the enemies thereof inuade the Nation that hath the same in esteeme or if it doe God turnes the shame losse vpon the Inuadors thereof to the greater honour of such as stick to his cause sincerely and with true zeale as in England in the yeare 1588. Indeede true it is Maintenance or sufferance of Heresies causeth seditions and inuasions that wheÌ„ Rulers hinder God in his ordinances by suffering the preaching and maintenance of errours as that is plainly repugnant to Christs Kingdom to the raigne of the Word reuealed so hath it much infested and disturbed the peace of all such Kingdoms as haue permitted it I might instance in the Iewes Ioh. 11.48 who beeing in polecie hinderers of the Word and suffering and maintaining the opposers of Christs doctrine came the sooner to destruction Howsoeuer this did the Arrian Heresie in the times of the Emperours Constantius Constans and Valens A short time sufficeth not to recount the troubles seditions wars losses and bloodshed that followed therevpon mentioned by Vincentius Lerinensis * Nee enim tantuÌ„ affinitates cognationes amicitiae domus verum etiam vrbes populi prouinciae nationes vniuersum postremò Romanum ImperiuÌ„ funditus concussum emotum est Vin. cont Haer. cap. 6.1 King 4.24 c. Chap. 11.4.9.14 Chap. 12.15 as an example of Gods iudgments following the Suffererers and Supporters of errour And that not only intestine amonge themselues but indeed the Emperours and Rulers permitting such errours and the ambitious rising of the Popish Primacie together with the intrusion of his authority and heathenish superstition who now began to make the Word of God of none effect with his pretended power traditions God in iustice suffered and sent the Gothes Vandals and other heathen Nations to inuade and spoile the Empire and Churches of Christendom according to that which he did to the howse of Salomon who while he walked in the wayes of Dauid his father had peace prospered and grew rich and mightie but when his Wiues turned away his heart after other Gods the Lord was angrie with him and stirred vp Aduersaries vnto SalomoÌ„ Hadad the Edomite Rezon who did him his KingdoÌ„ much harme also Ieroboam the Sonne of Nebat and finally rent tenne Tribes from Rehoboam his Sonne who hearkened not vnto the people for the cause was from the Lord who vsed this his austere answere as a meanes to punish his and his fathers idollatrie Euen as also in the time of the Iudges Iud. 3.7.8 when the children of Israell did euill in the sight of the Lord forgate the Lord theire God and serued Baalim and other Idols it is saide Vers 12. Chap. 4.2 Therefore the Lord sold them into the hands of theire enemies The Lord strengthened Eglon the King of Moab against Israel The Lord sold them into the hand of Iabin Chap. 6.1 The Lord deliuered them into the hand of Midian Againe Chap. 10.7 Againe He sold them into the hands of the Philistines c. Errours are in effect idols Heb. 13.8 And let noe man say here that the maintenance or sufferance of Heresie is a lesse sinne in Princes then the maintenance or sufferance of Idols For Christ is the eternall and vnchangeable Word of God Iesus Christ yesterday and to day the same also for euer Whosoeuer therefore setteth vp any new or contrarie word against the Word of his grace he setteth vp an idoll to be of men beleeued and reuerenced The errours of Hereticks are strange Gods as a Qui sunt Dâ—j alteni nisierrores extranei quos ignorabas id est noui inauditi Vine Lerien aduer haeres cap. 15 Photinus creditaÌ„ sibi plebem Dei persuadere
preaching or writing are called and chosen and faithfull Ioh. 3.8 Called of God whose Spirit bloweth where it listeth * 1. Cor. 12.11 psa 8. mat 21. Luk. 19.40 Reu. 1.6 Diuiding to euerie man seuerally as he will and who out of the mouths of Babes and sucklings ordaineth strength and who would make the Stones to speake if theese should hold theire peace And let noe man obiect theire basenes for he hath made them Kings and preists vnto God his Father and soe much the fitter for this worke They are also Chosen by him For ye see youre calling brethren 1. Cor. 26.27 28.29 saith Paul to the Corinthians how that not many wise men after the flesh not manie mightie not many noble are called But God hath Chosen the foolish things of this world to confound the wise the weake things of the world to confound the mightie c. That noe flesh should glorie in his presence They are also faithfull they doe not bauke the cause of God and for the richers or honours that theese Kings or theire fauorits or the Beast or seducers ofter them they doe not call euill good and good euill put darkenesse for light nor light for darknesse that is errour for truth and truth for errour Isa 5.20 nor doe they iustifie the wicked for a reward and take away the righteousnes of the righteous man from him but with the psalmist they speake the truth that is in theire heart * Reu. 14.5 In theire mouth was found noe guile And with Paul they set themselues against seducers as he against Elimas Act. 13. that sought to turne away the deputie from the faith and to peruert the right way of God And when some of theese Kings and States are conuerted From poperie to Christ that is when a tenth part of the citie seated on many waters fell from the Church of Rome to the Gospell Reu. 11.13.15 or soone after it is saide The Kingdoms of this world are become the Kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ and he shall raigne for euer and euer Because not the Beast but the Word doth now gouerne Soules in them They therefore that are protestant Princes and foe haue giuen theire names to Christ against Antichrist should draw theire swords and not suffer any of theese Kingdoms prouinces or cities to be woÌ„ne againe by the sword or seducers from Christ to poperie but rather indeauour to winne from the Beast and his vpholders and as soone as may be to execute vpon the whore the iudgment written seeing such honour haue all his saints Psa 149.9 Reu. 17. and it is saide they shall make her desolate and naked and burne her with fire and herein they are saide to follow Christ the warre therefore is not bloodie and vniust for it is saide there chap. 19.14 vers 11.13 In righteousnes doth he iudge and make warre and his name is called the Word of God and that the armies followed him vpon white horses clothed in fine liâ—en white and cleane and consequently the blood of theese his enemies doth not defile them for they follow the Word of God and fight for his Kingdom who is the Word against these that oppose the Word and make him and his Kingdom of none effect with theire traditions and errours Therefore though peace can neuer be sufficiently commended yet it can not be good to haue peace with her nor with those Kings that fight her battailes to support and propagate her Kingdom espetially when they are in those warres as in theese dayes striueing to bringe all to her obedience Reu. 19.6 When Rome which is the greate whore is burned a greate voice is heard Saying Alleluia for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth Whereas before not the Word but she gouerned the Soules of thousands in matters of faith and saluation And will they then be slack in giueing theire weapous moneies labours and counsailes to this worke the Papists and theire Princes are not so in theire warres against vs to bringe vs to the Popes obedience Wee are to remember what Christ saith He that is not with me is against me Epis Winton Tortura Torti in Epist And therefore as a greate Prelate saide in a like case This cause is of that kinde where when a man gathereth not with Christ he scattereth with Christs aduersarie where vnlesse one deliuer the faith neither shall he deliuer his soule Also when the common cause is brought into danger let no man be a spectatour but euery one an actour and when the cause of all men is handled there with all power and labour with all studie and indeauour to skirmish stoutly for it And herein in what low state soeuer a man be yet let him be a Christian. Aug. de peecat merit 18. And as Augustine saith Neither is there any midle place for any man that he can be with any other then the deuil who is not with Christ That also is true of Princes in this case of warre They that are with him are called and chosen and faithfull They are not like the children of Ephraim who beeing armed and carrying bowes turned back in the day of battaile Reu. 17.14 Psal 78.8.9 See Character of a Christian Pag. 217. they doe not on euery flight occasion desist and start aside like a broken bow Or which is all one they doe not trust the managing of theese wars and the counsailes thereto belonging to such as are newters lukewarme or temporising Arminians much lesse to any that are apparantly Popish and so will sooner betray forces and counsailes or bringe them to nothing then rightly vse them against the Beast or his supporters but they are like good Souldiers of Christ watchfull and carefull to doe this worke or see it donne with all zeale and diligence and like the Aduersaries they trust none to be commaunders or councellours herein but such as they finde by experience to be truly zealous in the cause of Religion whatsoeuer they doe this way in the worke of the Lord 2. Chron. 31.21 with Hezechiah they doe it with all theire heart and like those first conuerts in the Acts who did things with gladnes and singlenes of heart Act. 2 46 Thus faithfull are they that are with Christ in his warres against the Beast and his adherents But to leaue the further prosecution of this point to a Treatise of Romes Ruin Notwithstanding all theese things and diuers others that might be alleadged to this purpose the Papists without any greate resistance of auxiliarie forces haue acheiued many notable victories and greatly triumph in the Prouinces and Cities they haue reduced to the Romish obedience In diuers Kingdoms Prouinces and Cities where the Gospell of the Kingdom hath beene freely preached where the Word hath raigned they haue in a manner excluded him and his Kingdom and subiected the people to Popish superstition errour and seruitude so that though Christ be now in his