therein contayned to bee agreeable to God When in the visitations and publike meetinges the Ministers were called to subscribe they offered very freely and willingly to subscribe the first article of her Maiesties most lawfull authoritie And for the other two they refused to doe anye further thē by law they were bound name lie according to the statute made for that purpose anno 13. Herevpon manie in diuers Shires were suspended from the execution of their Ministerie and some depriued And great diuision arose in the Church the one suing for reformation and to be eased of such burdens and the other vrging verie straightly the former things punishing such as woulde not be conformable Then came there forth a newe cloude of writing and mennes affections waxing vvhote drawing to the worse it was a verye common name to all these Ministers to be called Puritanes As men which made conscience of many things which the reuerend Fathers and many learned men affirmed to be lawfull In all this time there was much preaching in the Vniuersities aboute nonresidents and vnpreaching ministers and there should you see a plain diuision one sorte called youths and the other sorte which tooke not such libertie were called Precisians And this is growne both in the Vniuersitie in the countrie town and citie that who so feareth an oth or is an ordinary resorter to sermons earnest against excesse ryot poperie or any disorder they are called in the vniuersitie precisians and in other places Puritans 4 And thus as faithfully as I can I haue shewed how this name came vp and whereupon honest godly men haue beene and ar called puritans or precisians here it foloweth to bee considered out these thinges what is their offence and the state of their cause For fower thinges men are called puritanes which may be referred to foure heads 1 scruple in the vse of certaine ceremonies 2 scruple in subscribing beyond the state 3 seeking for reformation of some ceremonies and of some parte of the ecclesiasticall discipline 4 the people do heare sermons talke of the Scriptures singe Psalmes together in priuate houses c. Nowe whether for these causes they be iustlie called puritans troublers of the state c. it remaineth to be examined and discussed For the plaine opening whereof I will first shewe such honest reasons as make for their lawfull excuse proouing manifestlie that they are to be holden as good and faithfull subiectes honest Christians and godlie ministers Secondlie I will open the vanitie of the principall imputations which are vrged against them and thirdlie propound some other such considerations as are necessarilie annexed to both Cap. 2. Wherein is declared 1. That the ministers people which haue desired and sought for reformation of some things in the ecclesiastical state of this land are warranted in their doings by the principall rule and Canon of our Church namely the holy Scriptures 2. Martin Marprelate the Brownistes Hacket stirred vp by Satan to hinder their good cause 3. Preaching against nonresidence and vnpreaching ministers and all the Christian exercises of the people agreeth to the holie Scriptures THe greatest glorie of the militant church is the presence of God Gods presēce the glory of the Church and if GOD forsake them their glorie is departed therefore when hee honoureth his Church he saieth This is my rest for euer here will I dwell Psal 132.14 And this is the glorious renowne of Gods people The Lorde his God is with him and the ioyfull shout of a King is among them Num. 24.21 Cap. 52.7 For which cause as saieth the Prophet Esay The feete of his messen gers bee beautifull vpon the mountaines when they preach these glade tyding saying to the Church Thy God raigneth And there indeede God raigneth where his worde beareth the preheminence For his worde is his Scepter and the rodde of his mouth And this is the great priuiledge of his Church Rom. 3.2 Psal 147 19. that to them be committed the oracles of God He sheweth his worde vnto Iacob his statutes and his iudgmentes vnto Israell hee hath not dealt so with euerie nation c. Heere is my ioy and the precious comfort of all Gods children in this land Queene Elizabeth the ioye of the godlie that the Lord our mercifull and louing God of his rich grace and free fauour hath giuen vs such a vertuous and religious Princes who beeing stirred vp by his spirit and guided by his holie hande in the midst of so many enemies and thorow so many wonderfull daugers hath cheerefullie bouldly and with the Maiestie of the Lordes annoynted proclaimed Gods trueth and aduauncing Gods holye Testamēt hath banished the beggarlie rudiments of this world the traditions and vnwritten falshoodes of men and as a true faithfull Noursemother hath fostered his Church nowe these three fourtie yeares in great plentie and peace vnder his blessed presence and glorious protection So that our enemies beeing Iudges it must needes be confessed that God is with vs of a trueth Therefore as it becommeth the true people and Congregation of GOD the Church of England humblie submitting it selfe to his lawe doth meekelie and constantlie confesse that It is not lawfull for the Church to ordaine any thing that is contrarie to Gods written worde Artic. 20. And for this cause they describe the visible Church of Christ to be A Congregation of faithfull men in the which the pure word of God is preached dutifully trulie affirme Artic. 19. that In our doings that the will of God is to be followed which we haue expreslie declared vnto vs in the worde of God Artic. 17. Now my deare brethren and fathers if I shall shewe that the things we haue done doe answer to his holy Canon of Gods written worde The godlie Ministers guided by the Canon of holy scripture I hope it shall appeare that wee haue not bene against the Church but for the Church And first for the ceremonies they are reputed verie small things and therefore we ought not to trouble the church about them Consider therefore with me Of ceremonies I beseech you that as a verie small thing troubleth the eye of a mans body so is the conscience and faith of a true Christian and especiallie of a faithfull Minister Exod. 10.26 Therefore Moses when he was in greatest danger of life woulde not yeeld that one hoofe should be left behind of that which God had commanded to goe out of Egypt Dan. 6 10. And Daniel when he knew that there was a lawe sealed against him of present death yet would hee not shut his window or leaue of praying to God anye one time of thrise in the day to saue his life Gal. 2.3.4.5 And the Apostle Paule in a matter of Christian libertie woulde not giue place by subiection for the space of one hower And of this precisenes god himself is the
the maintenance of Gods true religion Ghospell In so much as beside all other times and occasions vvhen now a little before the last Paliamēt the pert bragging of popish recusants their fauourers here and there straglinglie scattered thorowe the lande did somewhat amase and trouble the mindes of infinite her Maiesties moste godlie louing obedient faithfull subiectes we yet se by firme experience the holie constancie of her Maiesties vnchangeable faith and the honorable cariadge of their wisedomes to the confusion of such vaine persones in their vndutifull wicked hope and to the exceeding ioy and contentation of millions of godlie Christians who depend vpon her Maiesties most gracious present gouernement and whose life is not deere vnto them so as they may se her in helth ioy comfort and honour being readie to bestow the best blood in their heartes to doe her true and faithfull seruice and euerie day night hower to aduenture all they haue for her safetie and to curbe beate downe all wicked Priestes Papistes treasonable persons what so euer The vnchangeable loue of Queene Elizabeth and her godly subiectes And this I thank God I may to the honour and ioy of her Maiestie boast and glorie with an humble gratefull minde reuerence to the diuine magnificent bountie of oureternall Father that neuer Prince King nor Queene since the foundation of the world had more faithfull loue obedience and chearfull duetie of their subiectes then all the Protestantes of England haue most gladly constantlie and vnchangeablie performed and continued to their most louing and kind-mother Queene Elizabeth and that so manie yeares with so little discontentment and disturbance and her loue and holie affection and constancie in religion hath bounde them most neerlie vnto her And therefore I am verely perswaded that if euer any Prince might esteeme the loue of their subiectes a strong wall and bulwark and garde to their person then certes Queene Elizabeth both may 〈…〉 mak high account of the Protestant in England as the most faithfull and loyall people which will not suffer her Maiestie to haue the least indignity if it lye in them by spending verie many thousands of their liues to doe her good And that shall the Papists Priests Seminaries wel know if euer they goe about to put in executiō their hoped butchery bloody obediēce to the Popes cruel buls And this is not all that bindes vs to their honors The Lords of the counsell a great stay to godly Ministers for in our priuate troubles about the ceremonies and subscription wee the poore and faithfull Ministers of Christ when so euer we haue opened our cause and humbled our selues vnto them we haue found great iustice and equitie and diuers times great reliefe and ease from our troubles No doubt they seing our innocencie that of meere conscience without anye the least inclination to disloyaltie to our Soueraigne we did forbeare to doe those thinges they haue tendered our cause and louingly effected that we might not be to to much ouerburdened Yea my L. G. of Cantur himself though he seeme to be the greatest opposite to our cause by wise experience finding the same thing hath many times and vnto divers men whereof I must confesse my self to be one moderated the extremitie which by other men was hotly and vncharitablie persued God bee thanked And I humblie praye almighty God euermore to blesse them that they may be alwaies the faithful eyes eares and hands of her Maiestie to the continuall safetie of her sacred person the vnchangeable vpholding of religion and the ioy of all faithfull and dutifull subiectes the terror and keeping vnder of all wickednes superstition and idolatry to the saluation of their own soules the bright shining glory of God in this land for euer and euer The ciuil and politike state of this land verie good 4. Now if any man vnderstand by the state the constitution of the common lawes and statutes of this land now presently in force whereby vve are combined into one bodie of a ciuill politike common wealth vnder one head and Monarchicall gouernment in all priuileges duties offices and works of Prince and people and of the whole and repulse and repressing of all domesticall and priuate euill in the whole or any member and for defence against all forren power or Potentate whatsoeuer who shall claime any title iurisdictiō or interest within these her Maiesties Dominions of Englande or Irelande or ells make inuasion against our Noble countrie or Soueraigne or offer violence or anie wrong to her Maiesties person Crowne or dignitie In all these thinges wee the Ministers and people aforesaide doe professe ourselues as happie people as anie vnder the Sunne to be vnder so iust equall and free lawes gouernement and iurisdiction right ordered common wealth And we protest before God that we and all we are bounde both by the law of God and of nature to spend our goods strength life and all we haue for the maintenance preseruation and quiet proceeding execution and florishing prosperitie of the same common wealth and monarchicall gouernement and for the maintenance of her Maiesties supreame authoritie ouer all persons in these her dominions either ecclesiasticall or ciuill and in all causes what so euer next immediatelie vnder God and his holy sonne Iesus Christ the King of glorie And I haue that assurance of our vprightnes in this matter that I trust no man euer did or could neither yet at this time either will or can except it bee some popish Priest or seditious person that maligneth our happinesse in this common wealth challenge accuse charge or suspect vs or any of vs that we are not for our places as obedient faithfull glad of present state as any other English men subiectes in this land without inparagement be it spoken and with reuerence to our superiours what so euer 5 Heere vpon it seemeth to me that the question is truely and naturallie about the Ecclesiasticall state constitutions orders maner of gouernement that if it may appeare that heerein we be not enemies then are we no way to be touched of which point the 2 and 3 chapters doe in some sort intreate and doe thus farre iustifie vs that we seeming in some sorte to goe against the present gouernement for not obseruing some ceremonies and for not subscribing c. are yet verie much warranted by the same constitutions articles proceedings of the same Ecclesiasticall state But we haue many moe honest and iust reasons for the approuing of our doinges which I doubt not but that the reuerende Fathers themselues and all other Christians waying with the balance of truth and equitie will afoord to be of better acceptance then in the cōmon account of our cause many doe esteem or affirme The ecclesiasticall state What. First therfore the ecclesiasticall state is the constitution of our churches reformatiō as we are departed from the apostaticall
that we might haue reformation in these things or at the least such toleration as wee might not be burdened with subscription or the strict obseruation of ceremonies but behauing our selues otherwise peaceable and as good subiectes discreet ministers we might not be troubled nor molested about these things And for this cause we did meet in the Parliament time and at other tymes while our trouble did last to consult and deuise what way wee might take to obtaine fauoure and reconciliation or reformation or releasment of our suspensions or other troubles In all which as I must needes confesse that I was among the Ministers of Kent not one of the hindemost beeing suspended onelie for not subscribing from the last daye of Ianuarie vntill the third day before the natiuitie of Christ So doe I professe to all the worlde that I knowe not anie thing which we did in our meeting or in our supplications or apologeticallwritings but that which was comely for men of our sorte and as our forefathers the faithfull Ministers of Christ in the primitiue Church did in like case before vs. For the Ministers of Christ finding themselues in the testimonie of their consciences to be heauilie burdened with the ordinances of the Church wee liue in humblie to declare their grieuances to the Magistrates in authoritie in tymes and places which may relieue them to shew by publike writings the vprightnes of their cause and by petition to craue some Christian and godlie remedie is doubtles agreeing to all law of God man and therefore I hope I shall not need to vse anie argumentes to prooue the same which we know our aduersaries being in our case would thinke themselues to haue great wrong to be denied Our fault is that we did not cōmend our cause to the Queene But if anie thing bee our fault I take it to be this That wee did not present our cause to the Queenes most excellent M. being a Prince of rare clemencie wisdome and iustice Whome when we did know to be so equal fauourable milde and of such incredible long animitie and that to her greatest aduersaries and deadlie enemies the Papistes who alwaies haue sought mischief against her person Crowne and dignitie we were doubtles much ouerseene that we commended not our cause to her most gracious and Princelie consideration For the goodnes of our cause and the innocencie of our persones being manifested before her Princelie eies it could not haue bene possible but that so prudent Christian a Magistrate vvoulde speedilie haue eased all our sorrovves and ended these vvofull troubles of the Church 2 But vvhile vve partlie fearing partly hoping as though the reuerēd Fathers themselues to vvhome vvee vsed beside our supplications diuers meanes woulde at the length haue ioyned with vs to the ending of these vnvvholsome strifes that vve trusted that our mercifull God pitying his Church vvoulde haue raysed vp some meanes to further his ovvne cause vvhile the time slipt avvay and mens mindes vvauered this vvay that vvay three most greeuous accidents did greatly astonish vs and verie much darken the righteousnes of our cause The first vvas a foolishe iester vvho tearmed himselfe Martin Marprelate and his sonnes Martin Marprelate a filthie Sycophant vvhich vnder counterfeit apish scoffing did play the Sycophant slanderously abused manye persons of reuerend place and note And such was the wisdome of the time that manie filthie and lewd pamphletes came forth against him casting forth much stincking doung and beastlie filth into the faces of honest men to the great contempt of Christes holy Ghospell and the verie apparant disparagement of the faithfull laboures of all godly Ministers on both sides This kindled a meruelous great fire euen that which S. Iames sayeth is set on fire of hell and is a worlde of wickednes Cap 3.6 It beewraied the weaknes of many a man and shewed how hard it is for fleshe and blood to hold in the raines of his own aspiring affections rather to endure reproach then to endamage the Church of God or wiselie to forethinke that we ought rather to suffer wronge then that the glorious Ghospell of our Lord Iesus Christ shoulde be euill spoken of How so euer it was the blame lighted vpon vs and we by it obtained a new name in many pulpites how iustly God knoweth wee are called Martinistes Then did our troubles increase the persuite was hardlie followed against vs the enemie of the Ghospell for slowed not the occasion to make our good iust honest godlie cause to be ill thought of and verie much condemned as if the verie state had taken knowledge that we were wicked men our cause vniust we no longer to be suffered So great hurt is it when an honest lawfull course is begun for foolish hairbraine men to thrust in thēselues to hazard such meanes as God neuer sanctified For God needeth not our follie 1. Cro. 15.13 but will make a breach among vs if we seeke him not in order Howbeit when our cause was left naked and many of vs in great hazard God him self gaue witnes to his truth manifested his iudgements and deliuered his innocent seruants so that it plainly appeared to the wiser discreter sorte that the Deuill was the author of this disgrace In this time also happened the second and third euill the Brownistes tooke offense against both sides The Brownists and Hacket of an euill spirit made a temerarious and wicked separation some two or three men being beewitched with some proud honor by a certaine man frantick spirit lifted vp themselues with hie words of blasphemie whose working this was all wise men know who know the wiles of Sathan How be it these also were drawne vpon vs and made a notable matter to aggrauate our cause But God who seeth in secret and beholdeth the bitter gaule of Simon Magus Act. 8.23 the filthie dissolutenes of Nicholas the freating canker of Hyminaeus Philetus the dogges the euill workers concision and all false Apostles which transforme them selues into Apostles of Christ namelie that these did much mischief and brought great trouble to the first beginning planting of the primitiue Church he euen he knoweth that these things were cunninglie wrought by these deep sleightes and suggestions of that olde serpent too hinder our good cause to hurt the prosperous and godly proceedings of the Church of England For by this meanes we finding the mighty winds and stronge streame against vs were faine to humble our selues vnder Gods mercie and commending our selues our cause to him who iudgeth righteously we reserued ourselues to a better time whē it should please his gracious wisedome to make his owne trueth to appeare and to moue the mindes of our superiours to bee more fauourable 3 Then tooke the idle and vnpreaching Ministers comfort at the heart supposing their standing to be good the non-residents had their mouthes
enlarged it became daungerous both in the Vniversitie and countrie to reproue either of these the people were become conuenticlers if they met together to sing a Psalme or to talk of Gods word And there was not a better way to maintaine an euill cause or to bring any honest man out of fauour then to shew thy selfe an enemie to Puritances and to entitle him whom thou wouldest disgrace with the name of a Puritane Yet let vs see whether this holie Canon of Scripture will not beare vs out to preach speake against these kindes of Prelates or to vse such kind of exercises First the Prophetes call them blind watchmen Esa 56.10.11 dumbe dogges and greedie dogges which can neuer haue inough They cry out vpon them say O idoll sheapheard that leaueth the flocke Zac. 11.17 the sweard shal be vpon his righte arme and vpon his right eye Woe vnto the sheapheardes which feed themselues should not the sheapheardes feed the flockes Ezech. 34.2 And Christ saieth of them Math. 15.14 They be the blind leaders of the blind And the Apostles cal vpon them earnestly saying Take heed vnto your selues to all the flocke whereof the holy Ghost hath made you ouerseers Act. 20.28 to feed the Church of God which he hath purchased with his owne blood And againe Feede the flocke of God which dependeth vpon you 1. Pet. 5.2 c. If wee speake after this Canon of the Prophets Christ the Apostles are wee troublers of the state or are not they who in their actions do contrarie to the reueiled will of God in his word And whē the same holy Scripture exhorteth men and weomen commandeth them to talke of Gods worde in their houses and when they walke in the way and that the same shoulde dwell plentifullie in vs Deut. 6.7 Colos 3.16 in all wisedome teaching admonishing our selues in Psalmes and Hymnes spirituall songs shall honest men and weomē be therefore called Puritans their godlie Christian meetings bee tearmed conuenticles And if Gods spirit say vnto vs Heb 10 20. Consider one another and prouoke vnto loue good works not for saking the fellowship we haue among our selues as the maner of some is but let vs exhort one another c. Shall honest Christians bee reproached for endeuouring the same And if they admonish anie neighbour for swearing or anie other disorder or call them to heare a Sermon are they by and by vile Puritanes I hope all wise and godlie Christians examining these things aright and waying them with the equall ballaunce of Gods sanctuarie wil conclude with me that in al these thinges especiallie in regarde of the matter of our cause howsoeuer perauenture we cannot be or haue not bene all of vs at all times perfectlie wise in the maner of doing wee haue not broken the principall Canon of our Church but faithfullie laboured to square our actiones after the expresse rule of Gods holy worde and therefore falsly and iniuriously called Puritanes Precisians and troublers of the state Cap. III. That the Ministers and people who haue disired reformation in some Church matters haue therein followed the Christian lavves and godlie proceedinges of the Ecclesiasticall estate THAT some fevv should differ from so many reuerend learned and godlie Fathers of the Church it is and hath bene alvvaies in the opinion of naturall men Men iudge by the outwarde shew a very great preiudice and the authority of the greater part ouersvvaieth the lesser sometime the better For men most commonlie iudge by outwarde appearance And therfore Christ him self being void of outward beautie forme Isai 5.3.2 was despised and reiected of men and it was thought a goodlie mightie reason against his doctrine when they coulde say Doth any of the Rulers or of the Pharises beleeue in him How be it in our Ecclesiasticall state there is matter of great consideration that the one side shoulde conster all thinges that were done at the first with great charitie and Christian pietie the other not to bee so straight as to iustifie euerie particuler The Queenes Maiestie God saue her blesse her comming to her Crowne The most Christian magnanimity of Queene Elizabeth in a troublesome and dangerous time when feare seemed to be on all sides her owne subiectes for the most part male contentes and the mightie Potentates all enemies round about her it shewed doubtlesse the wonderfull work of God most Christian royall magnanimitie in her Maiestie especiallie being a tender branch a maiden Queene that she aduentured to goe so far in reformation of religion in setting forth of the puritie of the Ghospell Wee must thinke also that those few godlie learned men who considered examined and penned the bookes not to haue bene alone without some men of greate learning and countenance which woulde sway against trueth as much as might be therefore no doubt verie wislie for the time they did so carrie the matter that the moste waightie part of that they did is without all exception some thinges may haue a verie good interpretation that which is otherwise perauenture was not espied as in a more peaceable time at more leasure and with greater aduise might haue bene And verelie to speak my conscience It is the singular mercie of God that our Church is so well reformed I take it to bee the singular mercie of God that it happened so well and that the books be so pure as they are the doctrine of faith so fullie and so sincerely declared the order of Gods worshipe so free from idolatrie the ministerie so neerelie framed to the Apostolicall times so that euery good Christiā honest subiect hath very great cause highlie to praise God for such exceeding good libertie and to pray continuallie for her Maiesties moste happie preseruation and to be thankfull to those reuerend men who did so wiselie faithfullie discharge their duetie These things being thus at the beginning the Apologetical writings of verie faithfull and learned men in explaning the Christian purpose of our Church and the statutes articles Canons iniunctiōs seemed to aime at this marke That in peace quietnes wee might not onelie enioy that which was first established but also come the neerest that might be to the pure fountaine of Gods word It doth seeme vnto me that either all these thinges which wee desire or the most needfull to bee reformed had bene long ere this amended if the cōmon enemie of mankinde who enuieth that we should haue any thing so well as we haue had not cast in a block of ciuill debate amongst vs. And I maruell not at it seing so many Papists prophane persons did vse all stratagematicall insinuations to kindle the fire and to nourish it being kindled that if God had not moderated the hote furie immoderate stiffenes of some men to maintaine that they had begunne doubtlesse it
there were any likelihood that such men would fauour the enemies of God and of the Queene Libelling Priestes like rogues They are like vnto rogues who in time past woulde recite all the Iustices of peace in the shire by mustering of whose names they would fortifie themselues against all gainsaiers So these vagabund and roguing Priestes abuse the names of worthy men to shadow their diuelish and traiterous designements For I haue great reason to iudge that their malicious Machiauellian drift is no otherwise but to bringe them in hatred with all her Maiesties good and faithfull subiectes And they care not what they say so as they might kindle a fierie faction among vs and they accomplish their moste wicked complottes Can they make vs beleeue that these reuerende men doe fauour such Popish traitors or that they doe not by such grosse and palpable flatterie prepare a net for their feete Doe they not know how these reuerend fathers doe maintaine and alow all learned godly preachers which enueigh against all such wicked seditious persons and all bookes writings which bewray confute destroy their abhominable minable heresies Doe they not know that they stand for defence and promoting of the Ghospel and the execution of all Ecclesiasticall lawes of this land for the vpholding of the same as Fathers Pastours of the Church of England vpon whome the eies of all men are bent expecting and looking that they aboue all other shuld shew them selues zealous for the truth enemies to Antichrist What Doth he thinke them so vnwise that they knowe not where they are or how they are or so childish that they vvill reuolt from the truth vvhich they haue sucked in euen from their cradle or so vnthankefull that they will take part with Gods aduersaries Doth he think them so blind that they will goe contrarie to all the reuerend Bishoppes and learned men which haue writtē euer since her Maiesties raigne against the Romish heresie that now they woulde take a new course to seuer from all Christiā Churches and be content to heare the most excellent lightes of the world to bee so vilie and maliciously traduced Doth he think them so void of all conscience and honestie that they would take the greatest and chiefest promotions of our Church and so farre abuse the trust committed to them by her Maiestie that they woulde vnder-hande deale cleane contrarie to the same What sodaine toy is come into this mans dreaming braines to think that the learned men of other nations Churches hauing now aboue fiftie yeares bene all one with the English Bishoppes and Protestantes English Bishopes readie to helpe the straungers and alwaies readie not onelie by worde and writing but also vvith monie armour and life to helpe one another should now after so many yeares friendship and loue in our religion and true vvorship of God vvithout any breach or alteration be likelie suddenly to be drawne one against another so that it shuld be a pleasure to our reuerend Fathers to heare such godly learned men Christian Churches our deare friendes and brethren in Christ to bee ill spoken of traduced and slaundered None els a man would think but such as braine madd would imagine such a thing A man that had in him no more but meere reason and pollicie might easilie see further into this matter but only that Papists desire nothing but hurlie burlie confusion that if they had no feare of God before their eies yet they might well thinke with them selues that if by their fauour shewed to Priestes Seminaries or Iesuites they shoulde haue accesse to such places or come so neere her Maiestie that anye hurte should happen to her sacred person vvhich God for Christes sake keep farre from her that the oath of association would stirr vp some and the loue wherewith her Maiestie hath bound thousands and thousands of her faithfull subiectes vnto her would constraine both Noble men Knights Gentillmen and all sortes of the commons to bee reuenged vpon them that haue bene meanes of such euill And they can not bee ignorant that if there bee such a thing and that it may bee now for some consideration wincked at yet there may come a time when such things may be ripped vp and called to accountes and then I dare say they woulde not bee willing to take vpon them such Popish treasonable irreligious writings No meruell therefore if they care not what they say against vs poore Ministers when they dare make it by a question answer lawfull to sue for fauour at the hands of so reuerend wise iuditious men whose place is so directlye opposite to such vvicked hypocrites and they stand as vvatchmen to discouer them and as Iudges to punish them But if among all the Protestant writers there bee some one that hath put forth some priuate opinion of his owne concerning the authoritie of Princes are vve to be blamed vvith that where vvith we were neuer acquainted But this is a stale slaunder against all Protestantes Of the differēce between Christ sub part 3. pag. 3.6 Auns to P. Frarine pag 35. ansvvered by M. D. Bilson Doctor Fulk and commeth to late to be laid vpon vs. But heere vve may see their beggerly pouertie or els some secret secular Popish malice that they must bee faine to thrust into the ballance of their false accusation against vs what so euer colour may be deuised against all forren Protestantes to vvay downe the good estimation of a fevve poore Ministers of England Such is the actions of the Anabaptistes of Martin Marprelat Harding auns Artic. 25. diuis 12. frantick Hacket euen as iust as the furious disobedience of these verie Anabaptistes is laid to the charge of all other Protestantes by the malicious wicked Papistes It is now at the least 33. yeare since our troubles began to be verie heauie vpon vs let thē shew how vve haue mooued the least finger against our dread Soueraigne The present toleration of some of the chief vvho haue vvritten in this cause in the conscience of those reuerende honourable wise persons who either haue caused their libertie or effected it themselues may testifie our innocēcie And surely I vvould not desire any fauour if I might be conuicted of the euil cariage of the best of those three Neyther doe I feare that any honest mind not blinded vvith hatred vvill impute anye of their vvicked dealing to anye godlie Minister vvhich desireth the good of our Church The second great slāder touching Gods mercie vpon this land 4 Therfore wil I come to the second sorte of obiections which seeme more neerely to touch vs and our cause The most principal obiection cōmeth within this circle That we acknowledging not this singular benefite proceeding from the mercie of God namelie that all heresies corrupt doctrines all superstitions and papisticall opinions haue bene banished by the Prince Realme c and all
THE PLEA OF THE INNOCENT Wherein is auerred That the Ministers people falslie termed Puritanes are iniuriouslie slaundered for enemies or troublers of the State Published for the common good of the Church and common wealth of this Realme of England AS A COVNTERMVRE Against all Sycophantising Papsts Statising Priestes Neutralising Atheistes and Satanising scorners of all godlinesse trueth and honestie Written By Iosias Nichols a faithfull Minister of the Ghospell of Christ and an humble seruaunt of the English Church Micah 7. vers 8.9 Reioyce not against me O mine enemie though I fall I shall rise when I shall sit in darknes the Lord shall be a light vnto mee I will beare the wrath of the Lorde because I haue sinned against him vntill he pleade my cause and execute iudgement for me he will bring me forth to the light and I shall see his righteousnes 1602. The contentes of this Booke Chapter 1. Wherein is shewed 1 They bee not Puritanes in deede who nowe in Englande are so called Pag. 1. 2 That name is verie fit and proper for all Papistes pag. 4. 3 What are the causes that some of her Maiesties moste faithfull and obedient subiectes are termed Puritanes pag. 5. c. 4 The true state of their cause pag. 12. Capit. 2. Wherein is declared 1 That the Ministers and people which haue desâ—â—d sought reformation of some thinge in the Ecclesiasticall state of this lande are warranted in their doâ—ings by the principall rule and Canon of our Church namelie the holy scriptures pag. 13. 14. c. 2 Martine Marprelate the Brownistes Hacket stirred vp by Satan to hinder their good cause pag. 32. 33. 34. 3 Preaching against Non residentes and the vnpreaching ministerie and all the exercises of the people aggree to holy Scrip. Pag. 35. Cap. 3. That the Ministers and people who haue desired reformation in some church matters haue therein followed the Christian lawes and godlie proceedings of the ecclesiasticall state Pag. 38. 39. c. Chapter 4. Wherein is prooued 1 That it can not bee that the Ministers and people desiring reformation should bee enemies to the state pag. 58. 2 They can not but vnfainedlie loue the Queenes most gracious Maiestie Pag. 60. 3 They doe heartilie reuerence and thankefullie obserue the Lordes of her most honorable priuie Counsell Pag. 65. 4 They reioyce to liue vnder the coÌ„mon lawes and ciuill coÌ„munitie of this Realme Pag. 69. 5 And in all their doeing maintaine the faith and promote the good proceedinge of the state of the Church Pag. 71. 72. c. Chap. 5. This teacheth that the Reuerende Bishoppes and other Prelates of the Church of Englande standing for conformitie such as indeede vnfainedlie doe fauor the present state of the Church and doe faithfully holde and beleeue the true religion and faith of Christ maintayned by publicke authoritie among vs are one and the same with the godlie Ministers and people which desire reformation of some thinges in the Ecclesiasticall state 1 Beeause they doe disagree in some things yet be faithfull brethren Pag. 83. 2 This life affoordeth not absolute and vnchaungeable vnitie Pag. 85. 3 They agree in all substantiall pointes of our Church as it aggreeth with holy Scripture Pag. 90. 4 God by persecution can make them in deed to appeare to be one Pag. 95. Cap 6. Wherein is plainely opened That there can no good reason be shewed that the godlie Ministers seekeing reformation are enemies to the present state 1 Because their consciences is cleare in Gods sight Pag. 99. 2 They defende no euill actions in them selues Pag. 100. 3 They can not bee charged with the faultes of straungers Anabaptistes foolish Martine or of frantick Hacket Pag. 102. 4 Nor with vnthankefull obscuring of Gods mercie for their fansies c. Nor with innouation or schisme Pag. 113. c. 5 They can not bee charged with anie thinge againste her Maiesties Person Crowne or Dignitie Pag. 132. 6 Or that they are againste all Superioritie in Ministers or the true power and honour of the ministerie Pag. 140 Cap. 7. Wherein is proued that the Ministers seeking reformation falsely called Puritanes are not in any sort to bee compared to Papistes in euill much lesse to bee equalized with traitors Seminarie priestes or Iesuites 1 By their contradictorie doctrine Pag. 145. 2 By their contrarie actes doeings Pag. 149. Cap. 8. The Ministers vvhich desire reformation in some thinges of our Church matters can not feare but euer loue her Maiestie and all the godlie wise Magistrates vnder her But the Papistes cleane contrarie Pag. 151.152 c. Cap. 9. Wherein is plainelie shewed 1 That it is most profitable to the present state and gouernement and greatlie for her Maiesties safetie to heare the petitions of the godlie Ministers seeking reformation and to tolerate them in their ministerie Pag. 162. c. 2 To harken to Papistes and to tolerate them is most exceeding daungerous and pernicious Pag. 170.171 c. Cap. 10. Wherein is demonstrated 1 That the vnpreaching Ministrie Non-residencie and subscription are troublers of the state Pag. 184.185 c. 2 They are breeders of Atheisme and Poperie and so ouerthrowers of the whole lande if their be no remedie in time Pag. 212. c. 3 At which the Atheistes laugh to their own confusion Pag. 208. c. Cap. 11. Wherein is discried that neither the reuerend Fathers and learned Prelates standing for conformitie neither the godlie Ministers desiring reformation are the onelie and proper causes of these troublesome dissensions and euils following the same But their are some other thinges more specially to be looked into which may and ought to induce both parties vnto peace and to ioyne louinglie in the building of Gods house and that all English people doe humble themselues by prayer vnto God and carefullie conforme them selues to the Ghospell of Christ Pag. 224.225 c. God saue our most gratious and Christian Queene ELIZABETH To all the Reverend Fathers the Bishops of this lande to all the godly learned Ministers of Iesus Christ to all the true and faithful favourers of the holie faith and religion now publikelie professed and maintayned in Englande IOSIAS NICHOLS the least of the least of all Gods Saintes wisheth all grace peace and ioye in beleeuing A Good name sayeth Salomon is to be chosen aboue greate riches Prou. 22.1 and louing fauour is aboue siluer aboue gold Which then is most excellent when it is founde in the feare of God A good report namely of a minister is a precius thing and our light shineth to the glorie and praise of God But the name of a Minister is yet of more regarde by whose standing and falling many are drawne and the reproach of such men reacheth nerest to the heauens and God is most dishonoured by their dishonour for he hath said I vvill be sanctified in theÌ„ that come neere me Leuit. 10.3 and before all the people
I vvill bee glorified Howbeit the Gospell proclaimeth all them blessed who for Christes sake are reuiled and against whome men doe falslie say all maner of euill For wicked men and infidels speak euill of them which runne not with them to the same excesse of riotte and beastlie men will vtter lewd wordes against those thinges they know not Heereof it commeth that many men fall away beeing not able to be are the reproach yet he which beleeueth as he speaketh knoweth what he beleeueth he suffereth as a Christian and is not ashamed but glorifieth God in this behalfe Notwithstanding when a brother shall reproach his brother Christians to reproach one the other hurtful to the Church and one Christian ill an other and the house of God shall be deuided then is it most dangerous For there will the enemie of mankinde cast in many burning fire brandes and heape on much drye wood that we might be all consumed one of another And such my most reuerend and beloued brethren hath beene our case and condition The state of manie godlie Ministers because we haue desired sought after the good proceeding and perfection of our Church in the seruice and worship of Christ and withholden our hands from doeing and allowing of some thinges in our iudgement hurtfull to the same and contrariant to the Ghospell of trueth Wee haue suffered endured much reproach and contempt which we haue patientlie borne and with great silence for diuers yeares sustayned that on our part the sacred worde of righteousnes might not be ill spoken of and as much as in vs lyeth wee might cut of all occasions to the common aduersarie to preuaile against the holy church of Christ which is among vs. But now it seemeth to me that notwithstanding all this The causes of this treatise the state of thinges is worse then euer before and I can not tell whether our conniuence in suffering all euill speeches against vs hath done the Church harme For nowe the Papist beginne to comfort themselues yea they challeng vnto them the name of honest and true men and good subiectes and by the reproachfullname of Puritan al godlie Protestants are most cunninglie depraued To haue beene called precisian Puritane hoatheaded proud contentious schismatickes and troublers of the Church wee haue borne it patientlie God knowing our innocencie and could yet be are it more so as by our suffring of contempt the Church of England might receaue honour and Gods people reioyce vnder good guiding pastoures But when it is growne so far that we are called accounted worse then Papists enemies to the state worse then Seminarie priestes like Iesuites subuerters of the common wealth enemies to her Maiesties most royall Crowne and dignitie for whose safetie wee doe continuallie and instantlie pray and that this is so farre growne that the traiterous priestes doe brag of extraordinarie fauour and vnder the name of Puritans most frandulentlie and with most grosse and palpable lying and slaundring traduce all Christian Churches so that wee verely thinke that if such thinges goe forward they will in a short time cause a most wofull ouerthrow of the whole state of the Christian Church among vs we cannot now forbeare any longer but that wee must needes shew vnto all the worlde our innocencie that the wrong which by ill false report hath bene done vnto vs thorow our negligēce want of honest defence be not made a strong forge and a close mightie engine to destroy all the happie and godlie proceedinges of her Maiestie turning vp side downe the ioyfull flourishing of the Christian religion Ghospell And we cannot now heale this soare by any priuate doing for it is spread abroad so vniuersall and mens mindes are so vniuersallie possessed therewith that we haue no way to doe good but to come into the open theater of the worlde to pleade for our selues and to make manifest the vprightnes of our cause against all these most false vniust and slanderous imputations Let me therefore intreate you all Reuerend Fathers and Brethren in godly charitie to receaue this our most iust apologie with Christian equitie to consider of it and with heauenlie wisedome waying the estate of the Church and the present necessitie take euerie thing in that meaning as it is written And I doe not doubt but allthough the knowne and professed enemie of all goodnes the popish faction which nowe these three and fortie yeares haue vsed all cunning treacherie and treasonable platformes to bereaue her Maiestie whome God almightie preserue still among vs of this present light and life of this worlde and all this Realm by that meanes of the heauenly light and life of the world to come though I say these vowed enemies of the Ghospell and of this land doe freat chafe and fume yet shall not you my de are brethren neither anie honest Christian and faithful subiect haue anie iust cause to mislike this manner of writing but rather thorow the hande of my God vpon me finde and think it necessarie at this tyme to be published to al Christian people of this English nation For I doe heerein declare and shew what hath beene our cause and maner of proceeding and that as plainelie without concealement The contents of this booke and as faithfullie without partialitie to our selues as I may boldly auoutch euery thing to any mans conscience which wil be content with trueth and all the trueth and secondlie how agreing al our cause doings from time to time hath bene to the present estate and her Maiesties proceedings in the Ghospell Thirdlie in clearing our cause and doings of the greatest accusations and imputations I make it plaine how vnequall and vniust the comparison is betweene vs and the Papist and lastlie I doe a little tourch some other things necessaritie appertaining to the premisses Now it may bee that heerein I shall not satisfie all men Hard satisfie all men paraduenture I shall offend some of the reuerend Bishoppes and some other learned Prelates standing for conformitie and it may bee I shall not perfectlie answer the expectatation of the godly Ministers who desire reformation or of some other wise learned Christians Herein doubtles I haue cause to suspect myne owne insufficiencie For who can tell how to walk perfectly with the Lord and yet auoid all occasions of offence where both the parties haue beene at so hote warre and where there are men of so many contrarie iudgements and affections much lesse a man of so little helpes and so small giftes as I haue How be it I craue the patience and charitable taking of this my writing of them both and I hope they will accept my good will For in an especiall loue toward both parties I haue taken this in hand and haue set God before mine eies before them both that so neere as I coulde and as far as I knowe and am able I vtter that which is right in
schollers of the Cathari Nouatus Papistes are in deed Puritanes Pelagius and of the Ebionites Donatistes and of all such like Puritane heretickes maye iustlie very fitlie be called Puritanes For they hold that in their regenerate men after Baptisme Concil Trid. less 6. ses 5 there is nothing that maye bee saide to haue the reason of sinne and that they are able to fulfill all the commaundements of God and they affirme that they haue an inherent righteousnesse which they keepe as a pure and immaculate robe to the obtayning of saluation and that they are righteous iustified deserue saluation by their workes that they haue among them deuout and holye men whome they call religious Moncks Test Rhem vpon Luc. 10. Friers Nunnes Iesuits Seminaries Ven. 42. and 2 cor 2. vers 10. and ca. 8. vers 14. Wil. Allen of pardons cap. 11. and 1◠vvho in their religious order liue as they say a Seraphicall and angelicall life being virgins voide of all seculare affayres as pure and chaste votaries in contemplation seruing God day night are able to merit not only for them selues but also for others and of the superaboundancie of their vvorkes of Supererogation they maye communicate to others and the Pope maye by indulgence applie their merites for the reliefe of others out of purgatorie and such like These vndoubtedlie may are properlie to be called Puritanes because they indeed arrogate vnto them selues puritie and holines and despise all others vvhich the true children of God though thus belyed slaundered dare not in any case to doe but contrarilie they crie out vvith the Psalmist vnto God Enter not into iudgement Psal 143 2. Luc. 18.13 And vvith the Publicane Haue mercie vppon mee a sinner 3 But the cause originall and order whereby these reproachful termes vvere giuen to good Christians Howe the name of putitanes came vp in England I finde to bee this In the beginning of her Maiesties most happie raigne whome I humblie pray our God to prolong as long as Sun and Moone endure the Ghospell being published and Preachers ordained to teach the people Manie people vvithin a vvhile feeling some taste of the heauenlye comfort began to delight in hearing of Sermons singing of Psalmes in reading and godlie talke of holye Scriptures vvhich they vvere taught And therevvithal did somwhat refrain prophane and vnprofitable customes and sometime they admonished their neighbours if they did sweare pray them to goe with them to the Sermon The greater sort of the people beeing olde barrels vvhich coulde holde no newe vvine addicted partlie to Poperie partlie to licentiousnesse hauing many of them no other God but their bellie vvoulde deride and scoffe at them and called them holye brethren and holye sisterne saying Hee is one of the pure and vnspotted brethren Godlie excercise scorned by the wicked Diuers Ministers also entring vpō that waightie charge when they beeing learned came to the practise of the communion booke founde them selues troubled in some things some certaine ceremonies were a scruple vnto thē And as it is saide in the preface of the saide booke it was not thought fit at the first to take away all those things which seemed to be superstitious but to take the middle waye to abandon some and to retaine some So by this occasion the Papistes other people not well affected to religion and godlines after a while began to find holes in the Ministers coates Papistes and Atheists pick quarrels with good men and deuised diuers wayes of molestation troubled them not a little They open their cause to the reuerend Bishopes of those times and found great kindnes at their hands at the first they were a good and comfortable shadow vnto them for a season But about the tenth year of her Maiesties raigne the Papists as men which began to shake of the feare wherewith the mightie God protecting blessing her Maiesties most godlie and Christian proceedings had strocken them the Papistes I say began to come foorth of their dennes and as it is well knowne to the state practised diuers treacherous attemptes but amōg other they preferred such greeuous accusations againste the godlie and faithfull Ministers that then and from thence forth they were left naked a great storme fell vpon them and so it continued now and then sharper some time their was a calme men breathed returned to the Lords worke About anno 1571. Subscription came foorth first Anno 1571. as I take it Subscription was first enforced vpon the ministrie for which cause in that time certaine men wrote and admonition to the parlament opening diuers things worthie reformatiō Wherupon arose greate volumes of prouing and defending which are famouslie knowne to all men that vnderstand of these cause But how flesh and blood did in these writings ouer-sway the Christian moderation and mildnes which brethren shuld haue ben verie careful of in contending for trueth by the hote pursuite of either side I reioyce not to rehearse and I am sorie as ofte as I thinke vppon the lamentable effectes hurte of the Church in those times How be it our mercifull God whose vnchaungeable loue doeth swallow vp manye of our infirmities and follies graunted vnto vs in the midst of these fierie contentions a goodlie space of quietnesse about the time that the reuerend father Maister Grindall was Archbishoppe of Canturburie In which time in al the south partes of Englande there was greate concorde among the Ministers and they ioyned in great loue and ioy one with another in the Lords worke So that in the space of 4. or 5. yeares as I remember there were infinit soules brought to the knowledge of Christ the people reioysed for the consolation seing beholding how greatly they were bound to praise God for her Maiesties most christian gouernement vnder whose moste godly proceedings they had sucked and tasted the sweet and vndeceaueble milke of Gods trueth euen the holye faith of Gods elect the doctrine of saluation It was a goldē time full of godly fruit great honour to the Ghospell greate loue and kinde fellowship among all the Ministers preaching the faith the people vnited in the true feare of God and cheerefull reuerence to her Maiestie But this life not affoording constant prosperitie to heauenly loue and growth of godlines After the said Archbishops decease there came foorth a newe and fresh assault of subscription vniuersallie imposed Anno Dom. 1584. the wofull year of subscription and againe enforced vppon all the Ministers in three articles First of the Queenes Maiesties Soueraigne authoritie ouer all persons c. Seconde that the booke of common prayer and of or dayninge Bishoppes Priestes and Deacons containe in it nothing contrarie to the woorde of God c. Thirde to allowe and approue all the articles of religion agreed vpon by the Archbishops and Bishops c. 1562. and to beleeue all
and supreame dignitie of the. Prince If our state in the orderinge of Ministers ordaine them to preach are we enemies if we would haue none tolerated but such as can and will preach if our state say the absence of the Pastor from his flock is a pernicious thing in it selfe are we disturbers of the peace if we desire such pernitious thinges to bee abolished altogether And if wee finde that the power to commaunde Ministers and to direct orders of the Church commeth from the statutes of the land made in her Maiesties gracious raigne namelie that they commaund a kinde of subscription giuing authoritie to the Bishoppes and Ordinaries to depriue and keepe out men from Ecclesiasticall promotions who will not so subscribe shall we bee enemies to the state if offering so subscribe according to the statute we humblie craue to be free so farre as the lawes statutes doe free vs And that the reuerend Bishops content themselues with that power which her Maiestie the lawes of the Realme doe giue vnto them If we submitte our selues to that subscription which the lawe commandeth are we disobedient and enemies If we meeklie beseech them not to bee molested for such a subscription as the law and statute doth not commaunde And if the Ecclesiasticall state call vs vnto sermons to sing Psalmes reuerentlie in the feare of God to common about the word of God alas are we Puritanes and vile Precisians conuenticlers schismatikes wicked people if we doe the same I desire therefore all the reuerend Fathers and all other good Christian subiectes to consider of our cause as it is and to take pittie vpon vs and to vse vs as the truth of our cause requireth let them not spare if in deed they find any of vs trulie schismaticall a trobler of the church and an enemie to the state 6 Lastlie let it be examined what hath bin our doings and proceedings from the first great storme that rose against vs The cariage of the Ministers people verie dutifull and peaceable which was about the 10 yeare of her Maiesties raigne when the Papistes begann to aduaunce themselues in their treacherous platformes and euer since that tyme wee haue had more or lesse at one time or another some tryales and namelie verie great was that of subscription and since that time a great while together was there euer any of vs that went about anye treacherous practise had we intelligence with anye other nation against her Maiestie or the state Was not all our doings by humble supplications honest Christian Apologeticall writing and by lowlie and earnest suing and intreating by our friends Neuer did wee iustifie any man neither yet doe if either by word or writing he pas the bonds of comely modestie and not with a meek and quiet spirit constantlie perseuer in following of this good cause And I my selfe should bee right sorie if vnwittinglie I shoulde in this treatise let fall any thing which might be an vniust and vncharitable disgrace to any mans person which vnfainedlie fauour the present state and gouernement And that I may end this chapt with words of peace I meeklie humblie desire the reuerend Fathers and all other good men to iudge whether wee haue not done as good Ministers and Christian subiectes ought to doe when we haue quietlie borne such punishments as haue bene inflicted vpon vs till by great sure and tract of tyme we haue respit or deliueraunce And diuers honest men haue changed their dwellings from vnder vnable and vnpreaching Ministers because they and their families found not that comforte which they did in other places that by this meanes with great losse they might cut a way occasion from them which desired to count them disquiet persons and troublers of the Church And if we be called Puritans for suing to the honourable house of Parliament or the Lords of her Maiesties Councill for any case of our greeuances then may all men of all sortes bee so accounted Let them yeeld vs the libertie of Christians grant vs that freedome which other subiectes haue and there will be but little matter left to make any good ground whereby we should bee called or reputed troublers or enemies to the State Cap. 5. This teacheth that the renowned Fathers and other Prelates of the Church of England standing for conformitie such as vnfainedlie doe fauour the present estate of the Church and doe faithfullie hold and beleeue the true religion and faith of Christ maintained by publike authoritie among vs are one and the same with the godlie Ministers people who desire reformation of some things in the Ecclesiasticall state 1. Because they may disagree in some things and yet be faithfull brethrē 2. This life afoordeth not absolute vnchangeable vnitie 3. They agree in all substantiall pointes of our Church as it agreeth with holie Scripture 4. God by persecution can make them indeed to appeare to be one THIS argument seemeth to bee a strange paradoxe a matter not to be beleeued or hoped for if we remember how greatlie mens affections haue bene alienated and their countenances estranged and now more then euer 1. How be it it is also a false position to say Faithfull brethren may disagree that hote discord should not light sometime betweene friends Who more neerlie ioyned in christian faith and loue then Paule and Barnabas Act. 15 37.3◠and I thinke no man will aduenture to say that they were not alwaies of one faith and loue in Christ Iesus and in their ioynt laboures to further the Ghospell yet fell there out an hotte contention betweene them where neither yeelding to other they separated one from another Yet to declare their vnseparable vnitie Saint Paule doeth giue honourable testimonie of Barnabas 2. Cor. 9 6. Gal. 2.9 concerning their vnited office and laboure in the Ghospell So doe I finde that all our best learned writers doe prooue the vnion of all the reformed Churches although in some things there be happelie some difference betweene them And namelie in this presēt cause I remember Maister D. Fulk hath these words Also the contention of those whome hee calleth Puritanes in Englande is not so great nor about so great matters that anye such deuision is to bee feared which might cause disolation of the kingdom In his reten again Bristow mot 47 in 50. deman Pag. 129. Adde hereunto that Bristow said in the 40. motiue that the Protestants in England be in a maner in heart al Puritans whereby he confesseth against himselfe that there can bee no deadlie contention betweene them that in hart are all one Therefore I hope as that reuerend Father Bb. Iewell calleth Luther and Zuinglius worthie members and learned Fathers of Christs church Reply to Harding Artic. 8. of adoring deuis 17. pag. 396. who disagreeing of the maner of Christes presence in the Sacrament He affirmeth that otherwise their whole he artes were ioyned and bent
together to the disclosing of falshood and hypocrisie and to the aduauncing of Gods glorie so the contention betweene vs being onelie about ceremonies maner of gouernement we are all of one faith one Baptisme one bodie one spirit haue alone Father Lord and be al of one heart against all wickednes superstition idolatrie heresie and we seeke with one Christian desire the aduauncement so the pure religion worship and honour of God We are Ministers of the worde by one order we administer praiers Sacraments by one forme wee preach one faith and substance of doctrine we reioyce both of her Maiesties happie gouernement the freedome of the Gospell and are professed enemies to all her enemies to the enemies of Gods truth and Ghospell In writing against errors and disputing against Papistes we haue bene all one I preaching her M. supremacie confuting Popish primacie and in calling men from sinne disobedience to serue God and her M. we haue beene all one And shall men thinke that this vnhappie diuision shall seuer vs for euer God forbidde This life with out constant vnitie 2 And here me thinks I cannot but murne to think vpō mans frailtie our ignorance self-loue desire to preheminence many times casteth vs headlong into bitter dissention While men are loftie to acknowledge their ouersights therefore labour to keep their estimation by maintayning an errour they cause much disturbance to themselues with little credite among wise faithful men by ouerstrayning them selues to shadowe ouer mens vpright cause they stirre vp much gar-boile confusion in the Church of God And it is not so easilie stayed as it is vnaduisedlie begun Therefore it is verie wiselie said of Solomon The beginning of strife is as one that openeth the waters therefore ere the contention be medled with leaue of Prou. 17.14 Such doe we read to be the ciuil warre of the primitiue Church about Arius which is well known to haue continued many yeares and to be the death of many a faithfull Christian Of which Socrates Scholasticus writeth that in the very beginning it grew so hott Eccles Histor lib. 1. Cap. 6. with such diuision among the Bishoppes and also among the people inveying with such spitefull opprobrius tearmes one against another that it became so haynous shamefull into so lamentable a plight that the Christian Religion was openly derided of all men euen in the publike theaters solemne spectacles And such was the contention of Epiphanius and Iohn Chrysostome both worthy Bishoppes Lib. 6. Cap. 12.13 14. Yea euen in the very infansie of the church that no man shuld stumble at our contention as if it were a new thing when the blessed Apostles by a most excellent and perfite spirite planted the ghospel this humaine fraltie did shew it selfe verie greatlie For what thinke you was the cause of that solemne councill at Hierusalem Act. 15. what was the occasion of the Epist of Paule to the Romanes Corinthians Galathians Philippians Colossians c doe they not bewraye merueilous greate weaknes exceeding great contention some holding of Paul some of Cephas some going to Law and some contending about meate holy dayes some striuing for circumcision and the Lawe of Moyses other denying the resurrection of the bodie others iustification by faith onelie others brought in the worshipping of Angels and other will worshipp and volutarie religion of men in so much that it coste great labour and sweat vnto the Apostles and faithfull Ministers to hold vp the Church to keepe it aliue in the verie birth thereof So great were the waters of contention cōming out of the dragons mouth by the abuse of mans weaknes And this I obserue both in writings disputations of our forefathers of the primitiue ages of the Church also in these latter daies that it is a very rare thing to find any writer thogh he be learned wise sober who in his apologeticall writting can keepe himselfe pure from al gaule bitternes Few writers without bitternes For the vehement desire to defende that he vndertaketh manie times maketh him to sway beyond the mark his penn to breath out filthie smoak and vnsauorie There are manie prettie and wittie thinges which are founde in the studdie of humane learning in these men of great learning haue manie times delight so that when they are in writing of an argument or answer there falleth in some fine ironie or close quib by allusion sometime a bitter sarcasme before they be aware which whē it is red of the aduerse part it raiseth many hott humors vnseemly retaliatiōs which not only hinder the light oftētimes of a good cause but also maketh such a breach as will hardlie bee repaired againe in manie yeares And heere mee seemeth I am taken prisoner and locked vp in a darke and dolesome place to weep mourne to cry and howle for the miserable estate of mankinde thorough sinne How manie stumbling blocks are cast in the way of foolish This contention a plague for Atheists ignorant and peeuish Atheists who refusing the way of truth haue strong delusions of Satan to make them beleeue lyes Yet doth God turne all these contentions too good God turneth it to the good of his elect and his diuine prouidence maketh them profitable to his Church namelie for the elect as it is written There must be heresies euen among you that they which are approued among you 1. Cor. 11.29 may be knowen And this profit hath the Church by the primitiue contentions that in cleare plaine Scripture we se manie things taught as namelie The Christian libertie The doctrine of iustification the rising of the dead and diuers other waightie points which I can not tell if they woulde haue beene otherwise so fully largelie so plainlie written that we may know the loue and power wisdom of our merciful father to ouersway the mightie labours of Sathan which are against the Church to the good of Gods faithfull people Therefore the Apostle is bold to say in the like case I knowe that this shall turne to my saluation And againe We know that all things worke together for the best vnto them that loue God The consideration of this might teach some men to looke vpon themselues and watch ouer their owne corruption to keepe it vnder that they giue no offence other might learne not to stumble at the truth for such a cause which cannot bee altogether auoided And we of our time countrie might vnderstand that we are not by and by seuered into two religions or broken of from being Christian brethren beecause some hote contention hath bene kindled among vs. For then we might say that Friers Monkes Seminarie Priests Iesuites are not Papists yea that Popes Cardinalls and other their great Prelates are no Papistes because those haue stirred vp among themselus most deadlie warre other maner
points of doctrine necessary to saluation and touching the mysterie of our redemption or the right vse of the Sacraments and true maner of worshipping of God are purely perfectly taught by publike authoritie established in the Church of EnglaÌ„d at this day c we are so farre from beeing thankeful for the same from desiring the continuance of it by heartie prayer that by all meanes possible wee seeke rather to obscure it and deface it because in certaine accident all pointes we haue not our fancies proper deuises So that by this we are iudged to set our selues against God frowardlie disquiet the peace of the Church for external things which is schismaticall trouble the happie peace of the common wealth hazard the whole state of religion with no small reioysing of the wicked greate offence of the weake Ghospellers merueilous griefe of the Queenes Maiestie other that haue care of gouernement If this obiection were as true as it is of greate importance as fitlie applied vnto vs as it layeth vpon vs a most heauie imputation then had wee greate cause to wish our tongues to cleaue to the roofe of our mouthes our handes for euer to forget to vvrite If we haue not both by word writing publiklie priuatlie acknowledged the great mercie of God for her M. in the banishing of al heresies superstitions and namely Popery for planting the true Ghospell of faith among vs if we haue not doe not dayly pray both at Church and at home for the continuance of the same for the ioy and comfort of her M. al our godlie Gouernours and Superiours if al men that knowe vs doe not also euerie day see behold that this is our care and studie and that we doe stirre vp others both publiklie and priuatelie to doe the same then let the Lord reward euery man according to his righteousnes and faithfulnes let the wicked feele his iudgementes We can boldlie commend our selues to the testimony of al our neighbours friends and enemies whatsoeuer whom hardned malice hath not so farre ouercome and blinded that they can not vvill not say and confesse that which in the eies eares of al men appeareth plainly euen as the shining of the Sun in the firmament and the sound of many waters to them which trauell by sea by land But the force power of this accusation is in two things first they say That by all means possible we seeke rather to obscure this mercie of God to deface it 2. The reason which is made of this our so doing Because in certaine accidental points we haue not our fansies and proper deuises If in deed these two things might be proued against vs The cheefest force of this accusation then all the other branches of this surmised slaunder vvoulde shrewdlie wring vs otherwise they fall all to peeces as loose members vvithout ioyntes and ligamentes Therefore let these bee examined Firste vvhat meanes at all haue we vsed to obscure Gods mercie We haue in the knowledge of all men that know and heare vs praysed God and prayed for her M. and the state in regarde of this mercie of God vve haue in our Sermons in all our talke as occasion is offered euer defended the doctrine of faith of the Sacraments the abolishing of al heresie superstition and poperie Wee haue writteÌ„ very much for the maintenaÌ„ce therof against the papists Anabaptists familie of loue Brownists some of vs haue ben vsed in conference with other godlie learned men to dispute with the challengers and chieftaines of poperie more would haue done in that behalf if they might haue ben permitted And this to be true we referre our selues to the iudgement of all the world and we hope so well of our bretheren that write against vs that they will not denie it vnto vs what should theÌ„ be all those possible means which we haue vsed to deface or obscure Gods mercies But it may be it is meant beecause we haue not vsed som certaine ceremonies of the church nor subscribed to the bookes of orders and common prayer c. and haue made petitioÌ„ to the Parliament and after by apologetical writings defended these our doings Other things we know not and for these I hope wee neede not be ashamed First it is apparant that in all these thinges wee haue not medled against the doctrine aforsaide nor against the chiefe substance of anie the said bookes and therefore in regard of the matter it can not bee said that wee haâ—â—â—â—irectlie done anie thing tending to oâ—â—cure or deface this mercie of God Secondlie if it be said that by these thinges which I confesse wee haue indirectly vsed meanes c. I answer that in this wee haue done no otherwise then all Christian Ministers both maye and ought to doe For in not vsing the ceremonies when wee founde our selues doubtfull and troubled What could we doe lesse or better then to repaire to the reuerend Bishoppes for counsell and comfort Which for the space of ten yeares or the most part thereof they did in some good measure afoorde vnto vs till as I take it by the relation of such as were in the same broiles the Papistes had cunninglie wrested our good Fathers from vs. that they could and woulde doe no further for vs. Then yet complayning of our case and opening our doubtes vnto them we did as the lawe affoordeth that the cause shoulde bee brought before the Ordinarie in all doubtes about ceremonies of the church established by law and finding not our selues resolued by our ordinaries alas what could we doe lesse then quietly to suffer our selues with great grief bewailing our flockes to bee suspended imprisoned depriued And this hath beene the cause of all them which haue not vsed the ceremonies so fully as some other of their bretheren Secondlie for the petition or admonition to the Parliament wherein are laide open such imperfections as are found in all these bookes and for all other writtinges which haue come forth in defence of the same if it bee ment that the same is the meanes of obscuring and defacing the mercie of God We answer as partlie the admonition doth wee haue alwayes borne with that wee coulde not amend and haue vsed the booke of common praier in our ministerie so farre forth as wee might reuerencing those times and those persons in which and by whome it was first authorized But now being compelled by subscription to allowe the same and to confesse it not to bee against the worde of God in anye point we could not but shew a reason of our refusall it was meet that we shoulde tender to the Parliament our griefes as all other subiects doe in all other cases Because that is the place which by auncient custome of this Realme serueth for the redresse of all things to be reformed and the establishing of all matters in the state of this
kingdome If in the stile and maner of doeing they or anye other writing in defence of them Curious and bitter wordes not iustifiable haue ben ouer curious bitter or sharpe by which they haue incensed theÌ„ whome they should haue wonne by milde meeke vsage I for my part doe not reioyce in it I dare not defend anie the least vnsemelie word Howsoeuer I know the hard pursuite vpon them and that being as they verilie thought further and beeyonde the lawe of this Realm did giue them great cause to bee grieued and offended that their consciences should be so straightlie pressed their labors so little regarded and being Ministers of the Ghospell they shoulde bee so smallie esteemed and that the Reuerend Fathers accounting those thinges for which they contend but meere trifles would yet preferre them before the ministery of so many worthy Preachers and prouoke their breethren more and further then they need This doubtlesse vexed their spirit and such is our weaknesse and imperfection in this life that it is an harde thing to keepe measure at all times And when men are perswaded in conscienee that their cause is good their griefe is the more and they are the more confident to speake And it were almost a wonder that in such perplexitie euerie thing should be perfect and without blemish Doe we not know that Moses beeing by the spirite of God Num. 12.3 called a verie meeke man aboue all men that euer were vpon the earth yet God punished him Because his spirite beeing vexed by the people Ps 106.72.73 hee spake vnaduisedlie with his lippes So no merueill though we poore weake soules farre inferiour to that most rare man haue felt the smart of our griefe and zeale I would to God that our brethren fathers coulde be iustified in this matter and that they had not their parte of iuste punishment with vs for that wherein they haue beene ouerseene in their dealing toward vs toward the Church of Englande in these causes And I hartly pray God that they doe not one day confesse and say Wee haue verelye sinned againste our brethren Gen. 42.41 in that wee sawe the anguish of their soules when they besought vs and wee woulde not heare them therefore is this trouble come vpon vs. The Lorde our God euen our mercifull Father bee iudge betweene vs. Touching subscription I haue sufficiently spoken before and there will be occasion after therefore I need not in this place to say any thing Now I come to the second point the cause of our doeing it is saide Because in certaine accidentall poyntes they haue not their fansies and proper deuises If it may appeare that this is an Elench No cause set for A cause and that a good iust and waightie cause founded in Gods word is iniuriously reputed and tearmed accidentall fansie and deuise then I hope godlie and vvise Christians will pittie our estate bee more fauourable iudges of our cause To reade bookes Apocryphall and chapters contayning errours and vntruthes vnder the name of holy scripture is no accidentall pointe vnlesse we will say that our conference with papistes and our apologeticall writtings prouing errours to bee in those bookes and therefore to be no Canonicall Scriptures be accidental points The desire that euerie Minister bee a Preacher of Gods word and to administer discipline is no accidental point vnlesse the chiefest pointe of the Minister office as they are ordained by the â—ooke of orders be but an accidentall â—ointe To desire that Chauncelers Officialls and Commissaries shoulde â—ot administer discipline and nameâ—e excommunication which D. Sutâ—ef saith is against all reason for a laye â—an to do that the Pastour should â—ot be a non-resident which the reueâ—end Fathers say is a pernitious thing â—r to say that God hath consecrated natrimonie to such an excellent myâ—erie that in it is signified and repreâ—ented the spirituall mariage betwixt Christ and his Church which is not â—o to be founde in holye Scripture but 〈◊〉 a belying of his glorious Maiestie â—o saye that these and manye such like â—e accidentall pointes I hope no aduied man that looketh throughly into â—ur cause will aduenture And where 〈◊〉 is saide that wee woulde herein haue â—ur fancies and proper deuises let the â—oste reuerend Father determine for â—s where hee hath these wordes D. Whitg in the preface of the defens of the auns to the admonition The â—ontrouersie is not whether manye of the â—hinges mentioned by the platformers were â—tlie vsed in the Apostles time or may â—ee well vsed in some places yea or hee conueniently vsed in sundrie reformed Churches at this day For none of these branches at denied c. Now if as this reuerend Father saieth manye of the thinges wee desire were fitlie vsed in the Apostleâ— times c. How can they be our fansies proper deuises which were vsed by the Apostles some a thousand fiue hundreth years before we were borne And let it be considered whether the Apostles vsing such thinges haue deserued to be reproached with our fansies and proper deuises who are liuing so manie hundred yeares after them haue our selues learned those thinges out of their holie writings if this bee well looked into and aduisedlie iudged of by an equall and iuste line I hope the ground of this greate and terrible accusation being voide and emptie all the other greeuous inferences will fall and vanish away and that the contrarie will be euident and apparant to the conscience of all men Namelie That for so much as we faithfullie preach the doctrine of faith and sacraments and humblie and quietlie vse our ministrie according to the booke of orders and administer Prayer and Sacraments by no other forme but that of the booke of common prayer and that in our publike preaching priuate talke in all accasions wee doe praise God acknowledge his mercie pray for the continuance thereof and stirre vp others so to doe and therevpon doe humbly present to the reuerend Fathers the whole state verie good waightie points agreeing to holy Scripture needfull to bee considered for the further perfection of our Church and the glorie of God being no fansies of ours or deuises but such as the holye Apostles did vse in the first and purest Churches wee caÌ„ not be said to sett our selues against god frowardly to disquiet the church trouble the common wealth hazarde the whole state of religioÌ„ reioyce the wicked or grieue any godly person whatsoeuer but rather to promote the glorye of God further the present good encrease of our Church to the great benefit comfort and ioye of Gods people And I can not thinke so vndutifullie of her Maiestie or of any other that haue care of gouernement that they would be merueilouslie grieued to se any subiect in humble and dutifull maner sue to be eased of any grieuance according to the auncient custome and vsuall order of this Realme and
bloodie Spaniards In all which she is as vvorthie and renoomed a Prince as any this day in Europe shevving her selfe to be a true vvorshipper of God and a carefull obseruer of his vvord If vve should offer anye further matter then that is heare shevved to bee her meaning and doeing vve might iustlie haue this accusation laid against vs but that you see hath as easie a denyall as it is a most manifest slaunder But as for the diminishing of her prerogatiue by Elders or that the Pastour should be a Pope I vvonder at the skantling they take should either of these take vpon him any thing diuers from the Scriptures and which he might dare to doe beeing not authorized thereunto by publike order of the Church and confirmed by her Maiesties authoritie And how can a poore Minister bee a Popâ— when his authority should reach butteâ— one parish and that therein he shoulâ— not doe his own mind but be measured by a law and superior authoritie This they know well or may know that obiect these things against vs I merueill they dare hazard their credite to publish such kinde of vncharitable inuentions But we are not to good to come vnder such vniust imputations seeing our Sauiour Christ dranke of the same cupp but our grief is the more to haue such measure from our reuerende Fathers deare brethren The next besitting this kind is that we affect popularitie to bring al to a popular state Thirdly touching populâ—ritie This slaunder seemeth to mee to haue tvvo forckes First in regairde of the peoples choosing of their Pastour and second that vve should bee enemies to Magistrates or Monarchicall gouernement I ansvver in the first vvee leaue not all to the people but onlye vvee vvoulde not haue the people left out but as Act. 6. and 14.23 The Bishopes and Ministers should order and guide the people and both ioyning together the choise might bee free and most for the benefit of the Church Novv vvhen the Bishops of our Church in England before they ordaine a Minister vvill haue him to nominate a place and as I haue seene in practise send their letters to that place to see if any coulde except against him and lastly ordaine him with these words Take authoritie to preach to this congregation meaning as I take it the Parishe which had chosen him alas what popularitie is this This obiection Maister D. Fulke answereth against the Papistes by those words And as for the popular election if you haue red those bookes you make mention of Defen of English transl cap 15. pag. 797. you might perceaue that neither of both partes allow a meere popular election And that Maister Whitgift doth not so much contend what forme of election was vsed in the time of the Apostles c. The other forcke is a meer deuise a deuilish quarell and calumniation against all Protestantes for Bristow saieth Motiue 40 Protestantes be malignoures of the hier powers and hath no colour in the world in any of our doeings writings or practise whatsoeuer therefore I think it not worthie to be answered 6 The other arguments obiections are not of so great a prayse Obiections of more equitie yet wil I answer some few of them that if it be possible the chiefe heads vnto which all other may be referred being found light and vaine all the rest might bee accounted no better then they are First our friends say vnto vs if their be no superior how can there be any good order We answer that we meruil they vnderstand not that wee meane that the lawe and authoritie of the Prince shal be superiour to all the Magistrates and Commissioners as signed by her to see all her good lawes executed And as Maister Fulke saieth wee graunt among the Ministers themselues An ouerthrewe ' of the answ to M. Chark prefaâ— pag. 112. a primacie of order as it was among the Apostles namely according to which Iames was president of the councill at Hierusalem Act. 15. But it is further vrged that the honour of Bd. is more for the protection of the Ministers for their reputation I will not heere for reuerence sake answer all that I can and which miserable experience afordeth only I would such to consider that our armour is spirituall and that the Apostles subdued all the worlde without this earthly honour which this obiection pretendeth But a Christian Magistrate being friend wee haue now lesse cause to feare our reputation if we doe well then they being base and poore fishermen of low estate at that time had when all the power and glorie of the world was against them Therefore the Psalme speakes another maner of conquest Namely that Christ shoulde prosper with his glorie Psal 45 4â— and ride vpon no other pompeous chariot but that of Gods word all laid ouer with golde of trueth and drawne with no other horses but meeknes and righteousnes So am I perswaded that although this great dignitie of our Prelats were takeÌ„ a way yet if we did diligently and faithfully in humble vpright maner teach the people Gods word of truth and saluation it woulde procure vs honour and reputation sufficientlye beseeming Gods Ministers finding that ielous word of God true Them that honour me 1. Sam. 2.30 I will honor c. And lastlie Of sufficient Ministers and maintenance for them it is demaunded where wee will find sufficient Ministers to bee preachers liuing for such worthie men This obiection with many other might be left out for there be God be thanked ynough worthie men if they were sought after both in the Vniuersities other where but while men are suffered to runne and ride and ketch before they fall manye worthie men are passed ouer and not knowne some are faine to be scholemaisters some because of these troubles change their studies Manie are afearde to set their sonnes to schoole seing Ministers so little regarded Littleton Galen and the godly houses of Noble men and Gentlemen woulde helpe to make vp the number And this wee see dailie that there can not be a place void but there be many schollers of reasonable competent giftes to fullfill the same As for maintenaunce God bee praised this Realme aboue all other is to bee commended only the ioyning of smaler liuings and Parishes into one with redeeming of impropriations woulde quickly fill vp that gappe that no man of a moderate gouernement and desire if euerie one be placed after his giftes should haue iust cause to complaine These thinges beeing considered I hope it will appeare to all reasonable men that it can be proued by any good reason that the godlye Ministers desiring reformation are enemies to the state or causes of these troubles which are among vs. But yet there remaineth one imputation which I can not passe ouer Because although it haue not so much as a shadowe of truth The last great flaunder touching Papists and Ieusites
only crauing fauour ease so farre as agreeth to holy scripture the peace of the church and in al that we haue gone about vve haue labored for the good for the beautie and perfection of our Church that it might increase and florish more more to the glory of God to the honour comfort of her M. These meÌ„ the papists haue done cleane contrarie especially since the 10. yeare of her M. happie raigne neuer being without one cruell treason or another sometime by desperate bluddie murderers sometime by open rebellioÌ„ forraineinuasion and procuring of Bulles from Rome sometime by Priests sometime by Iesuites sometime by other meanes as is plainly set foorth in the book called the execution of iustice in the writings of Sir Frauncis Hastings D. Sutliefe D. Fulke and diuers others The things on both sides are so not oriouslie knowne that I need not heere to repeate them in particular I pray God that for our sinnes hee doe not giue vs ouer to blindnes that in such palpable manifest experieÌ„ce of the traiterous hartes of Papistes vvee suffer not our selues to be taken by their wylie flatteries and forsaking our trustie faithfull friendes vvee yeelde ourselues to the bloodie slaughter of enemies CHAP. 8. The Ministers which desire reformation in some things of our Church matters can neuer feare but euer loue her M. and all the godly wise Magistrates vnder her but the Papistes cleane contrarie PRinces saieth the Apostle are not to bee feared for good works but for euill Rom. 13.3 And the euill life of the wicked meÌ„ is the cause that Princes make many good lawes Because he is the Minister of God to take vengeaÌ„ce on him that doth euill Therefore euill men are a fraid of the higher power an euill conscience maketh them desire there were none such to bridle their wickednes Euen as it is saide by the wisedome of God Euerie man that doth euill hateth the light Iohn 3.20 neither commeth to the light least his deedes be reprooued No meruaile then though it bee a principle among traiterous Papistes That euerie man of any faction A traiterous Popish principle desireth the remoouing of the Prince whose lawes are contrarie to his faction For their conscience being euill and defiled with most filthie superstition abhominable idolatrie they can not loue any godly Prince such as is our most deare gratious Soueraigne Queene Elizabeth because a wise King scattereth the wicked causeth the wheel to goe ouer them And verilie there are two things which doe manifest their inward affection prou 20.26 First their doctrine not only because it is in moste of the substantiall points opposite to that which her Maiestie as the true defender of the faith maintaineth and that which her lawes and gouernement commandeth but also because they place another Soueraigne authoritie aboue hers The Papists haue giuen their harts to the Queenes deadlie enemies to whome as vnto an higher Lord and Ruler they preferre their chiefe obedience And looking hoping for ghostly comforte and remission of sinnes at the hands of that man of sinne they can not loue the righteous godly Prince who hath banished his power and abhominable forgeries Neither in truth is it possible For how can they loue her who haue giuen their harte to a stranger euen her most deadly enemie And not onlie that but all men know that as light darknes Christ and Beliall the Temple of God and idols They are as contrarie to her as darknes to light can not agree So her Maiestie being a louer of righteousnes and they of vnrighteousnes She a beleeuer they infidells She a worshipper of the true and liuing God and they of images and diuers sortes of creatures She of the faith of Christ and they of Antechrist seeing God hath put enimitie betweene the seede of the woman and the seed of the serpent it is not possible that they can loue her And they haue cause for their wicked liues treason superstition and idolatrie to feare her righteous lawes and vpright iudgements And she hath great cause to reioyce and glorifie God in this behalf She may reioyce Gods enemies are hers that the enemies of God be her enemies and the mightie God of hoastes is her protector who with his fauour compasseth her as with a shield Secondly their deedes declare no lesse For if a true man bee knowne by his fruite and as our Sauiour Christ saieth Math 7.18 A good tree can not bring forth euill fruite The fruites of Papists shew their hatred to her Majestie neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruite Then if lying dissimulation treacherie treason if false doctrine drawing away the heartes of subiectes from the Prince if procuring of open rebellion and forren inuasion if many cruell and secret conspiracies and murtherous attempts may be iustlie called euill fruites and certaine true markes of disloyall subiects hateing the Prince and desiring her distruction then may we boldlie pronounce that the affection of the Papistes can not be good nor their loue vpright toward her Maiestie What calling or state haue they not caused and made to worke in hostile maner against her First for Popes you haue Pope Pius the fifth and Gregorie the 13. and their successours then for Monarches Princes The King of Spaine and the Queene of Scottes after for Dukes and Noble men The Duke of Northfolke the Duke of Guise the Duke of Alba the Duke of Medina The Earle of Northumberland and I can not tell how manie Earles and Lordes in Ireland from time to time haue taken armes against her Moreouer for Gentilmen there hath bene M. Arden and Someruill ThrockmortoÌ„ Sir William Stanlie Anthonie Babington and his complices Doctor Parrie a ciuilian Doctor Lopez a Physicion for Priestes and Iesuites no man can tell how many and of raskall ruffian murdering verletts not one or two Therefore how is it possible to shewe more plaine euidence of most can kered hatred They proâ—â—â— her milde nature to doe them iustice inueterate malice And yet her Maiestie is a most milde Christian Prince giuen to peace mercie and long suffering neuer vsed anie the least hard dealing towarde any of them saue onlie as conscience and dutie to god did bind her by publike law she put downe all idolatrie superstition and Antichristian primacie otherwise they had all libertie peace quiet freedome as any subiect coulde desire vnder anie Prince whatsoeuer vntill that by their vnnatural vngodly conspiracies and most wicked desighements she was forced to stand vpon her garde to prouide such remedie â—s was fitte for such as vniustly prouoked their lawfull and gracious Soueaigne But they haue so bestirred them selues and prepared so many mischiefs â—o often and so manifolde and continuâ—ll that there are few yeares wherein â—â—e hath not bene driuen to seeke one â—ay or another for her necessarie deâ—ence How
manie times hath she bene â—â—rced to make lawes and statutes to curbe bridle them How many times hath she bene forced to sende soldiers and money to preuent them How manie times hath her Nauie and shippes bene drawne out into the seas to meet them How continuallie almost hath shee bene vexed with Irish insurrections and rebellions How many times hath she bene constrained against her owne most gentle and mercifull disposition for treason and rebellion to cut of rotten members with the iust reuenging swearde Yea how often haue wee bene driuen to watch and ward either to resiste domesticall rebels or to waite for forren inuaders So that to declare a most viperous spitefull and vngratious generation and an hereticall and apostaticall malice there can bee nothing added And heere both she and all her louing and Christian subiectes haue verie great matter of reioycing and praysing God For if euer God from heauen God sheweth his Ioue from heauen in the defeÌ„ce of our Queene testified his loue to aâ—â—â— Prince or caused his Angells to watch gard them if euer there were Princâ— made glorious for deliuerance honoâ—rable for constancie in truth famoâ—â— for continuall prosperous successe 〈◊〉 the great admiration of all men and wonderfull happie quietnes and ioy of Gods people if euer God sought against wicked rebels mischieuous traitors bloodie vsurpers and vniust inuaders to defend the innocent iust and vpright in his cause then surelie may wee boldly and ioyfullie both say and sing that God hath openlie and in the sight of all the worlde done all these thinges for his annointed hand-maide Elizabeth our Queene So that she may with the Psalmist confes vnto the Lord They haue often times afflicted me from my youth but they could not preuaile against me Psal 129. â—â— 124. praysed be the Lord which hath not giuen vs as a praye vnto their teeth Our helpe is in the name of the Lord who hath made both heauen earth So let all thine enemies perish O Lord but vpon thy seruant Elizabeth and vpon her throne be peace for euer more and let her and all that loue thy name bee as the Sunne when he riseth in his might and say all way The Lorde be praised But as for the Ministers and people desiring reformation in some thinges they alwaies carefully following the word of God and delighting in the reading preaching and meditation of holy Scripture haue all their ioy comfort in that faith religion which her most Christian Maiestie professeth setteth forth defendeth And hauing libertie of conscience freedom to worshipe God aright protection in well doing with health wealth peace and pleasure of bodie and soule they feele the pleasant sweete and comfortable milke with a most ioyfull refreshing of a tender noursemother vnder the shadow of her most faithfull and constant proceedinges in the Ghospell If euer there were loue betweene Prince and people it is betweene vs. For what Christian subiect can not loue a Christian Ruler What godly childe cannot loue a godly mother What afflicted soule can not loue a sweet and faithfull comforter And what man being in miserie loueth not him that hath deliuered him Shee is our most Christian Prince she is our godlie mother she is our sweete and faithfull comforter our deliuerer and vnder God our assured defence against all our enemies Her ioye is our life her lawe our safetie her safetye our castell her swearde our shielde her peace our wealth her death which God forbid our miserie Therefore we haue counted our selues happie to doe any seruice to her Mai. either in our goods or in our persons or in spending our liues Wee haue willinglye gone in her seruice into Fraunce into the Low Countries and Irelande and into the furthest Seas We haue written disputed aduentured our liues in diuers places to testifie our vnfained loue faithful obedieÌ„ce vnto her And what is there that we could not goe vnder if occasion be offered to doe her any seruice vvhich godly Christians ought to doe to their dread Soueraigne If at anye time the traiterous papists aduance themselues dare presume to attempt their most wicked vngodly desire wishing it shal by Gods grace very wel appeare that her M. hath many thousand Protestants sufficiently able thorow Gods helpe to beate them downe to tame them Our ministriâ— hath brought foorth many good subiects Witnes Anno. 88. whome it hath pleased God by our ministerie to bring vnto the knowledge of the trueth And this I am the bolder to affirme because I saw in our countrie in Anno 88. such bands of honest men so many so well furnished so chearfull to fight for her M. and their Countrie so resolute valiant so forwarde and vnfearfull that it reioyced mine heart to thinke how fruitfull our ministerie had bene in these her goldeÌ„ dayes how happie honourable her M. is who hath by her godlie Christian gouernement breade brought forth nourished broght vp so many so worthye so godly Gentill-men and Yeomen that of meere conscience and loue so willinglie and resolutely could and woulde fight for her safetie preseruation So that if the Papistes would regarde no more but naturall reason though they did forget the mightie hand of God which hath continuallie fought for vs they would quiet themselues be thankful for her Maiesties great clemencie and patience toward them not once dare to broach such treacherous deuises seing they are not able to stand before the mightie forces resolute bands of her Maiesties most louing faithfull subiects true vndoubted Christians which reioyce in her present gouernemeÌ„t desire that it may more and more be perfected after Gods worde and prosper to Gods glory Alace then how should we feare in whose heartes is fixed and grounded such perfect loue We can not feare her whome we loue perfect lie that casteth out all feare We appeale vnto the god of heuen who seeth all secretes and commend our doings sayings writtings to the conscience of all good honest wise harted christians that if there be a false heart in any of vs and not a faithfull loue and reuerence to her Maieste from the verie bottome of our soule that euery such man or woman should be made an ensample and a reproach a byeword for the terror of all wicked hipocrits vnthankful miscreaÌ„ts But wee are not able to giue sufficient thanks to our good God who hath hetherto so mercifullie watched ouer vs that hee hath not suffered anie such wretchednesse to sease vpon vs or to preuaile ouer vs to the dishonoure of his Ghospell or iust discredit of our ministrie and godly cause His name bee glorified for euer Amen Cap. 9. Wherein is plainly shewed 1. That it is most profitable to the present state and gouernement and greatlye for her Maiesties safetie to heare the petitions of the godly Ministers and to tolerate them in their ministrie
2. That to harken vnto Papistes and to tolerate them is most exceeding dangerous and pernitious A Minister being suspended for omitting a ceremonie made sute to a learned Arch-deacon to speake for him to the Bishop of the diocesse that he might be released and tolerated alleadging for himselfe that their godly wisdome hee hoped would consider that the thing in their opinion being but a trifle although to him it were a grieuous burden they would not for it silence or displace a Minister of the Ghospell which might doe greater good in the Church then the obseruing of a trifling ceremonie but if I be said he a dishonest man and liue not as becommeth a Minister of Christ if I preach not sounde doctrine if I doe not boeth in worde and example teach the people obedience to God and her Maiestie maintaine all peace and quietnes in the place where I haue then I craue no fauour It was answered by the same learned Archdeacon you may be bonus vir but not bonus ciuis that is a good man but not a good cietizen It was replied againe by the Minister that if he could not proue he were a good Cietizen thē he was not to open his mouth in his owne cause therefore he said he would refer the matter to that issue And thus hee pleaded for himself Some lawes statutes of the cittie are such as concerne the state All statutes not a like necessarie safetie benefite of the common wealth and preserue the peace welfare thereof who so euer breaketh such lawes and will not bee reformed may be said to be an euill Cittizen because of the hurt which commeth to the cietie by his deede But there are some things which are enacted in a cittie for the profitte or pleasure of some priuate men and some thinges which are but dependances as for ornament or outward shew which being taken away or broken the common wealth receaueth no damage as if we shoulde make an acte touching cappes or for preseruing of phesants or partriges If a man doe obserue the former order of lawes which concerne the safetie and good of the common wealth breake the latter shall he by by be an euill cietizen then verilie there bee fewe Archdeacons or Bishoppes which can be reputed good cietizens who admitt vnpreaching Ministers into orders and cures when as their ordination is that they should preach If euerie one that breaketh a penall statute should by by be a rebell and an euil subiect then I pray you whome would not the statute for fish and the statutes for apparell conuince to be wicked subiects and rebells to her Maiestie And diuers other statutes there be as the act for artillerie matters of great importance that might touch men of good place if they were pressed vpon as we Ministers be yet they are not at all reputed for euill subiectes What should be the reason then that seeing we breake not the law in any poynt domegable eyther to the Church or cōmon wealth we shuld be so heynouslie prosecuted and impeached we breake the lawe in no point hurtfull to Church or common wealth as rebelles and troublers of the state more then other men What good can the surplice the crosse in baptisme the reading of erroneous bookes the giuing of symbolicall signification to Matrimonie or confirmation or anye such like doe to the Church or common vvealth or vvhat harme if they were taken away surelie none at all But cleane contrarye For the nearer we approach in our actions to the rule of holy Scripture the more vve please God the further vve depart from euill or the appearance of euill the more blessed is our estate vnder the promised assured fauour grace of almightie God Therefore for as much as we breake the law onely in that which can doe no good but hurt to the Church or common wealth if we doe them which if they were altogether takē away would be more acceptable to God and so more likelie of a further encrease of Gods mercies for being contrariant to Gods word they must needs offend God hinder manie good things from vs we can not be rightlye deemed euill citizens for not doeing of them And seeing it is apparant that these things are an offence that iustlie to manye of her Ma. good To discourage wise faithfull subiectes dangerous therefore good to take away the offence wise and faithfull subiects and that it is verie hurtfull to discontent discourage the good and godly citizens and that in long experience these thinges haue beene a great block of stumbling matter of offence how much would it bee beneficiall to the whole state if they wer remoued and Gods faithfull seruants set at libertie from them For we haue had sufficient proofe from the first shining appearing of the Ghospel in King Edwards dayes in this land Queene Maries dayes in Franckford now in her M. raigne these 43. yeares that the offence of these things by tract of time can not be blotted out that thereby manie a worthie preacher hath beene imprisoned silensed depriued to the greate dishonour of almightie God whose seruants they were and to the great damage of the Church and common wealth which in this greate scarsitie of good and learned Ministers did much want their seruice therefore it must needs follow that it would haue bene great benefite both to the Church common wealth if their petitions had bene hard and a remedie prouided that such necessarie seruice had not bene withholden kept back by these vnnecessarie ceremonies Manie benefites by the godly Ministers Moreouer beside that it can not but offende God to see his holie seruantes so lightlie regarded and that euerie beggerlie trifle of mans deuise should bee preferred before his holye commaundements Experience sheweth that neither learning nor religion is of such estimatiō as otherwise doubtlesse it would haue bene if these occasions of euill had not bene maintained Also it is well knowne that where such Ministers haue or doe dwell how many thousands of people haue bene instructed and made verie faithfull subiectes in their heartes and conscience what might this haue wrought if by the troubles about ceremonies such fruitfull teachers had not bene remooued discouraged disgraced Doubtlesse doubtlesse there could not possiblie haue bene so great encrease of Papistes nor anie shew of that brauerie which now they are growne vnto if the happie course of diligent preaching and teaching had not beene greatlie stopped by troubling of these men For this I can avow that no Papist Atheist or wicked man hath any ioy to liue where there is a good teacher but that eather they are brought home by repentance become notable Christians or els they shifte from such places as men with soare eies doe fly the light of the bright shining sunne For if in euerie parish there were a faithful preacher teaching both publikelie
the true iustifying faith of Christ repentance towards God and also did euer and anon make plaine demonstration of the Queenes Maiesties lawfull authoritie and of the Popes most wicked and abhominable vsurpatiō without all questiō the chiefest enemies to our peace and to her Maiesties safetie would bee so diminished dispersed put downe that wee coulde not heare of so many practises and wicked treacheries as we doe and in euerie corner the people woulde cry out vpon them Ministers hated for doing good bewray them and scorne them And this is the cause that the Papistes Popish abetoures doe make so many grieuous accusations against vs and procure so many troublers all vnder colour of fauouring the Queenes proceedinges whith they hate that so the faith of Christ being but little hard of and her Maiesties supremacie but little spoken of both the glorie of Christ and our Queenes honour might bee forgotten and the deuill and Antichrist steale into the hartes of her M. poore seduced people I woulde it were considered how little her Maiesties authoritie and the iustification of Christ by a greate many hath bene taught these 17. or 18. yeares Therefore by iust plaine experience I may boldlie say that great benefit to the common wealth manie good things for her Maiesties safetie would come to pas by fauour shewed vnto these godly teachers faithfull Ministere of Iesus Christ But because perauenture some will say that heerein I proudlie praise our selues like Pharises despise others I doe heere humblie desire that all men would but indifferently way What hath ben our doeings and the labours of our ministrie and the fruite of the same and esteeming vs as baselie as they can doe only set before their eyes Gods glorie the good of this Realme and her Ma. happines Diligent preaching cause of verie great good let them but consider that where there is diligent preaching how wise how honest how iust the people be how dutifull to her Maiestie readie to all seruices how louing among them selues then shall hee easilie conclude that if these ceremonies subscription were abolished or the Ministers not tyed to them nor troubled for them what encrease there woule be of all faithfull labourers how all godlines and vertue would florish among vs lastly how happie how quiet how free from all danger the estate would bee 2. Leauing this therefore to the conscience of all honest men good subiectes who loue God our most gracious Queene I will now enter to speak a little of the great mischiefes and manifold euills which come by toleration or fauour shewed to the Papists These euills come vnder two heades either such as God afflicteth for bearing with or fauouring such persones God will punish fauourers of Papistes or such as they them selues doe bringe alwayes with them In the first kinde we are to consider whether the religion of Poperie bee within the compasse of those things which God hateth I finde in Israell two kinds of idolatrie one in Ahabs time the worshppping of Baall 1. King 18.23 Which beateth against the first commaundement which saieth thou shalt haue no other Gods but mee Another brought in by Hieroboam the Sonne of Nebat 1. King 123 wherefore he is said to make Israell to sinne this was the making of images to worshipe God by as the two calues in Dan and Bethell 28 and this beateth against the second commaundement which saieth thou shalt not make to thy self any grauen images Of the former kinde I woulde willinglie free the Papistes if they would not honour the Pope as God to binde where God openeth to open where God shuteth The Papista most grosse idolaters giuing power to forgiue sins to giue dispensation contrarie to Gods worde dwelling in their hartes as if hee were God if they did not worshippe the Sacrament as verie God and make the image of the Trinitie turning the glorie of the incorruptible God into the image of a corruptible man if they did not ascribe to the Virgin Marie to Peter Paule that which is proper to God alone But the latter kind is without out all expectation one and the same with the Papistes for they haue images to worship God by euen as Hieroboams calues Exoe 32. and as the children of Israell in the Wildernes Now if it be the voyce of God which saieth Confounded bee all they that serue grauen images Psal 97.7 and that glorie in idoles and againe I am the Lord this is my name my glorie will I not giue to another neither my praise to grauen images Esai 42.8 And if hee haue commaunded to put to death euerie man that intiseth to idolatrie and to spare neither brother Deut. 13. Son daughter wife nor the dearest friende and if any cietie be founde guiltie of this crime to put all the inhabitantes to the sweard with their cattell vtterly to rase the same and to make it in an heape for euer If God set such a marke vpon Hieroboam that hee did not only vtterly roote out his seed but also made his name a reproach to all generations as the author of Israels sinn If the children of Israell after they fell into this greate sinne of worshipping images did neuer prosper or be without ciuill or forren warrs till they were vtterly made desolate and if all the greatest plagues that euer Iudah had came principallie by this sinne then may wise men quicklie iudge howe good it will be for England to tolerate Papists Poperie which hath not only this most grieuous trespasse but also innumerable more of moste horrible blasphemies most intolerable both against God and against his Christ and also derogatorie to his holy spirit and testament And this is so well knowne to all the Queenes Christian subiectes and especiallie to the learned sorte and holy Ministers of the Ghospell that I neede not to dispute further of it But if we looke vpon that which they bring with them what is it Papists bring most horrible euills Euen the direct contradictorie learning vnto truth ouerthrowing all the religion faith and order of Gods worship doth abandon her Maiesties royalty supreame dignitie and such as will quickly bring low the verie state of the cōmon welth and ciuill power as Maister Trauers hath verie faithfullie and plainly declared all their religion Answ to the supplication to the Lords of the couns in their seuerall branches is euerie way an enemie and a meanes to turne vp side downe the whole state of the Queenes Maiesties most happie gouernement Moreouer it will bring great occasion of ciuill warre and bloodshed a thing which her M. alwaies abhorred which being once kindled inflamed it will trouble the wisest men in this Realme to quench suddainlie or hastelie For it is well knowne that there is an inueterate hatred betweene these two religions and the opposition is impossible to bee
to be admonished of these things and that the wise godly taking vsing applying thereof which I hope I shall finde at their hands may be for the good of her Maiestie and the State I would neuer haue aduentured in this sort to medle or to set forth one word at this time in this cause For how foolish were I to procure my self trouble without a warrant from God and his worde and hauing quietlie enioyed my place euer since the forlorne yeare of subscription except that I was at two times suspended some two yeare in peace and quietnes vnder the wise and fatherlie ouersight of the most reuerende Father our Diocesan of Cauntorburie not hauing subscribed in any sort neither vsed all the ceremonies so preciselie as peraduenture some other doe If the loue of the whole Church the necessitie and goodnes of the cause the glorie of God and the good of the whole lande did not in me way downe all reasoning and disputes I coulde easilie fore cast 500. cautions which would mightelie draw me back and make me afeard of such an enterprise vvhich protestation I make choise of rather in this place because doubt this chapter vvill not be altogether defensiue as I suppose the rest be but rather offensiue displeasing but I vvill frame my selfe as neere as I can to giue the least cause that any man should take occasion I vvill medle vvith no mans person onely I propound such reason for the reforming of these things as I hope shall become a Minister of Christ 1. These three thinges The vnpreaching ministrie the absence of the Pastor from his flock and subscription I take to be sin in the sight of God and if that be true then they may rightly be called troublers of the state because it is written Hier. 5.25 Esai 50.2.1 King 18. that Sinne hindreth good things from Gods people and iniquitie maketh a separation betweene God them And to forsake the commandement of the Lord is the cause of trouble to Gods Church The vnpreaching ministrie sinne Let vs first examine the vnpreaching Minister vvhether it bee not sinne Gods commaundement is that euerie Minister should be apt to teach no nouice in knowledge 1. Tim. 3.2.6 one that holdeth fast the faithfull word according to doctrine that he also may be able to exhort with wholsome doctrine Tit 1.9 improue them that say against it If then the breach of Gods commaundement be sinne as Saint Iohn saieth Seing our ministrie vvhich doth not can not preach ◠Ioh. 3.4 is contrarie to this cōmandement it must needs follow that the standing thereof in our Church is sinne so a troubler of the state That vvhich causeth the people to perish is sinne but the vnpreaching ministrie causeth the people to perish therefore it is sinne This argument is testified by manie vvitnesses First Salomon saieth Where there is no visiō Prou. 29.18 the people decay And Christ addeth further If the blinde leade the blinde they shall both fall into the ditch And Oseah the Prophet applyeth the same to euerie vnpreaching Minister saying Mat. 15.14 My people are destroyed for lacke of knowledge Oseah 4.6 because thou hast refused knowledge I will also refuse thee that thou shalt be no Priest to me and seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God I will also forget thy children Looke the booke of orders in the ordayning of Priestes If the vnpreaching ministrie be no sinne why are they ordained to preach the vvord of God vvhy are they made to promise to giue faithfull diligence to minister the doctrine Sacraments and the discipline of Christ as the Lord hath commanded and to vse both publike and priuate monitions and exhortations And why are they at that time exhorted in the name of our Lord Iesus Christ to haue in remembrance to how hie a dignitie and to how chargeable an office they be called that is to say to be the messengers the watchmen the Pastours and stewards of the Lord to teach to premonish to feede prouide for the Lordes familie c. And why is it there also said vnto them Seing that you can not by anye other meanes compasse so waightie a worke pertayning to the saluation of man but with doctrine and exhortation taken out of holy Scripture and with a life agreeable to the same ye perceaue how studious you ought to be in reading learning the holy Scriptures c. And why are wee taught in the booke of common prayer to pray that all Bishoppes Pastours and Curates should set forth Gods true and liuelie worde and rightlie and duelie administer the holy Sacramentes if an vnpreaching ministrie were no sin The conscience heereof no doubt caused that reuerend Father M. D. Fulke to write that hee would not excuse any vnsufficient Minister nor their ordainers Ouerthrow of Stapletons fort cap 8. pag 113. Defens of trans of Engl. lib. cap. 15 pa. 401. And that hee which is voide of giftes is ordained vnworthelie and with great sinne both of him that ordaineth and of him that is ordained Now if these things bee true let wise men consider what daunger it is to suffer or maintaine a knowne sinne fortie three yeare in the Church of Christ and so whether this bee not a iust cause of the troubles of the state by the righteous iudgements of God In the next place let vs looke vpon the learned non-resident Non-residēce sinne examine whether the absence of the Pastour from his flocke and negligence as it is vsed among vs be not sin For a man may bee called by the Church as Epaphroditus was to some speciall work for a tyme Philip. 2.25 for the common good of the whole But our question is whether a man may lie in a cathedrall Church or in the Vniuersitie or dwell in some towne like a Gentilman and ioyne benefice to benefice and liuing to liuing passing his time in wealth and pleasure and his flocke 20.30.40 or 100. miles of more or lesse comming verie rarely or seldome amongst them Heere I will not dispute but onlie I humblye beeseech and adiure all those my reuerend and learned brethren by the name of our Lord Iesus Christ and by the great fearefull day of his comming when all dispensation of men shall be voide and wee shall giue a straight accounts of all our workes which we haue done in our bodies that how so euer I am a verie meane and simple man not worthie to carrie your bookes you would looke into your owne consciences and see how you can answer to God where he saieth Ezech. 34.2 Wee be vnto the sheapheards of Israell that feede them selues shoulde not the sheapheardes feede the flockes c. Take heede vnto your selues and to all the flocke whereof the holye Ghost hath made you ouerseers Act. 20.28 to feede the Church of God which hee hath purchased with his owne blood I charge thee
trespasse in the excommunicate thing when this was doone secretlie by one man called Achan Ioshua 7. and if for that one mans fault the wrath of God was iustly kindled against all Israell so that they could not stande before their enemies Howe much more may we thinke The sinne of one man may defile the whole land that the sinnes of our land haue caused the Lords wrath against vs when we see so many of our worthie Fathers godlie Ministers to be greatly smitten by this ciuill diuision When Iob lost his goodes by diuers meanes his oxen taken by the Sabeans Iob. 1. his sheepe burnt by fier from heauen his camells caried away by the Chaldeans his sonns and daughters slaine by the falling of an house he cast his eyes vpon God saying The Lord giueth and the Lord taketh So if we could haue seen the hand of God and that thereby we had bene humbled I verilie think that this grieuous soare had not runne so long nor encreased so much as it hath Sometime the counsell of the Lord by such a thing is to trie the people Deut 13. whether they loue God with all their harts Ezech. 14. sometime when the people set vp idols in their hartes God sendeth them false Prophets to deceaue them and sometyme there must bee heresies in the Church 1. Cor. 11.19 The true causes of our Church troubles that they which be approued may be knowne Therefore there is a further thing to bee looked into then either the persons or the things which hath happened in our Church Who knoweth not how much blood of Gods Saintes was spilte in former ages and how many houses were guilty of blood And when did this land seriouslie and sincerelie humble it selfe and by open repentance make reconciliation for the same Nay rather how many thousandes repined at the happie raigne of her Maiestie for the casting out of the idolatrous and superstitious worshipp of God and for the establishing of the true seruice of his holy name and the libertie of the preaching of the Ghospell And who were they that picked quarrelles against the godlye learned Ministers and caused this diuision but the ignorant and malicious Papist Atheist and Libertines Therefore it is the iust iudgement of God that as we doe but slightlie regard the sinnes of our fore-fathers and contend mightelie for idolatrie and wickednes and light being offered wee loue darknesse more then light so God shoulde giue vs ouer to our owne foolishnes by withholding his blessing and peace among his Ministers For the wicked Papistes and vngodly sinners are glad and take pleasure in the troubles and reproaches of the ministrie Therefore in them is fulfilled that which is written As they regarded not to knowe God so God gaue them ouer too a reprobate minde Rom. 1 2â— And may it not be iustlie said that because we haue not bene more zealous in Gods cause but haue made Mariages with Papistes and Atheistes and done manye other thinges after the course of this worlde shewing a verie cold loue vnto the Ghospell the Papistes and Atheistes haue bene made by this meanes a snare vnto vs a whip vnto our sides and thornes vnto our eies And I assuredly beleeue that had it not bene the wonderfull goodnesse and mercie of God to his poore afflicted Saintes his loue to his elect and that hee woulde make his annointed hande-maide Elizabeth our Queene a most graâ—ious instrument of his saluation glorie in the midst of his church and glorifie him selfe in and by her in the eies of all nations we had felt more grieuous and palpable darknesse and cruell bitternes then wee haue done we had not now come halfe so farre in the knowledge and practise of his most blessed Ghospell idolatrie and superstition shoulde not haue bene so well purged out of this lande nor the pure doctrine of Christ soo rightlye taught Therefore we must thinke that our sinnes and vnthankfulnesse is the cause of our wantes and Gods righteous iudgementes haue brought these things to passe Euen as it came of the Lord 1. King 12. that Rehoboam followed the couÌ„sell of the yong men that for the sinnes of the people idolatrie in Salomons daies the kingdome might be diuided Giue me heere a spirituall eie and behold with me Looke vpon the Bishops with a spirituall eie sorrow vvith me that the Lord our God for our sinnes shuld so hold the eies of the reuerend fathers on the one side that although in their iudgement they were perswaded that the thinges they vrged their brethren vnto were but verie trifles and thereâ—ore not worthie that any one Parish shoulde bee so greatlye punished for them as to leese their faithfull learned and painfull Pastour yet did not onlie enforce the ceremonies vpon them but also not considering the difference of good mens iudgements about such things pressed vpon them to subscribe and for not yeelding to their mindes suspended depriued and imprisoned their learned and godly brethren and in the meane time preferred the triflyng ceremonies beefore the waightie worke of preaching So that as Maister Calfill sayeth Auns to the treatis of â—he crosse artic 5. The people of God be sometime oppressed with traditions and ceremonies and for outward solemnities the inwarde true seruice of God is neglected Let the spirituall eie iudge I say whether it was not a merueilous iudgement of God that they coulde not see all this this while any one thing amisse no not so much as the vnlearned ministrie or non-residencie but defende all and maintaine all to the vtmost And although they had euerie Parliament complaintes of all the Realme humble supplications diuers times made vnto them by their brethren and so many yeares experience of the inconueniencie if not of the vnlawfulnesse of these things that neither the peace of the Church nor the pittie of the congregations nor the loue of so many learned and godlye brethren coulde moue them but that euen nowe fortie three yeare they holde out not reforming any one point On the other side let the spirituall man iudge Looke vpon the Ministers with a spirituall eie what a iudgement of God it was vppon the godlie Ministers that they so fearcelie with so hard and bitter termes in their first admonitions and in manie phrases of their apologeticall writtings did incense and moue vnto wrath the reuerend Fathers that they esteemed them as wayward froward and peeuish persones ioynt enimies of the Church with Papistes and that when that most wicked and blasphemous libeller Martin did most scornfullie abuse manye worthie persons and thrust in him selfe by an vngodlie insinuation that there was no publike instrument on our side so farre as euer I could heare to shew our dislike but that both sides did wink and suffer most filthie and lewd calumniations and slaunders O how were our eies blinded that we saw not howe vncomelie these thinges were for vs and
what offence these thinges might be to Papistes Atheistes and all wicked enemies of the Ghospell Let the spirituall eye heere iudge that God hath blinded vs exceedinglie that we could not containe till the strife did reach euen almost to the spilling of innocent blood And had not God of a singular mercie taken away some persones in the ruffe of their pride and had not her Maiestie by the speciall blessing of God with a most wise and religious care moderate the extreemitie I can not tell how manie of vs by this time had lost our liues in giuing testimonie to the gouernement and Kingdome of Christ as our breethren in tymes past did vnto his sacrifice and Priesthood And yet is there a more chariâ—able consideration of the reuerend Bishops and godly Ministers contention A charitable consideration of the Bishoppes and Ministers doings First the reuerend Fathers might bee induced to thinke howe greatlye wee are bound to God and to her Maiestie that we had obtained so much as wee haue and so greate and excellent libertie in Christ whereof our fore-fathers would haue counted them selues happie if they coulde haue come neere vnto it And the state being setled they might thinke it was wisdome and behoofull to maintaine all least they shoulde offende her Maiestie and the state and iudge it better to leese some few Ministers then to fall into greater inconueniencie And being them selues perswaded that there was no impious thing they might suppose it their duty and a godlie policie by Subscription to bring all men to conformity And when they had some hard and bitter wordes in the admonitions they might deeme the Ministers not so wise nor so godly as they pretended and hauing beene enueighed by continuall complaintes and suggestions of wicked Papists and Atheistes they might conceaue an ill opinion of their breethren and so bee forestalled in iudgement And lastlie being prouoked by wicked Martin they might conclude their cause to be absolutelie good for so much as they were persued by vnlawfull wicked means and so by a verie stronge seeming colour of God they might easilie fall into a selfe weening and despise their good and godlie brethren So on the other side the godlie Ministers no doubt hauing the testimony of their conscience that the thinges they stoode against were worthie to be reformed and that for no other cause but meere conscience they refused to obserue the ceremonies when they had diuers yeares kept themselues close sileÌ„t to be nothing regarded nor pittied but pressed so earnestly to subscribe allow against Gods word all maner of things and as they thought a great deale more then the law did require Then to bee suspended depriued imprisoned and diuers waies in tearmes most vncharitablie prouoked they might gesse that these reuerend Fathers were not Gods Bishops and in their anger they might suppose it lawfull to entertaine them with such sharpe and bitter tearmes as in the admonitions other writtinges perauenture is to bee founde And as concerning Martin it may be at the first they were amased to thinke what it should meane that God had stirred vp such a thinge to disgrace them which stood against the good proceedings of the Ghospell the kingdome of Christ they could not tell whether it were in their part to medle in that matter and seeing and feeling the hotte pursuite of that time to ly heauie vpon them they might easilie forgett something that had beene necessarie for them to haue preuented And for them both I hope I may trulie say that if there were not some secret matter which God knoweth and not I if there were some man of authoritie and reuerence The Bishopps and Ministers may be reconciled who could lay his hande vpon them both they might verie well bee reconciled For both the reuerende Fathers for their part haue and doe beare with many of the godlie Ministers and the Ministers for their parts doe vse all reuerence good cariage toward them Onelie the cause of ceremonies and discipline is reserued on both sides and standeth vnder further tryall Therefore in my iudgement the whole and principall fault is not to be laide vpon the one or the other but that if the people of this lande who by this meanes were verie greatlie punished haue humbled them selues to God by praier fasting and amendement of life and thankfully embraced and carefully practised the holy Ghospell no doubt God would soone haue eased all this griefe and quicklie found out a sweet remedy of brotherly reconciliation But if I may speak according to holie Scripture I thinke it an exceeding mercie of God that he hath suffered vs to haue so many good Preachers and so many daies of the Ghospell as wee haue For if we looke vpon the people wee shall see the grounde of all these thinges How little haue they esteemed the godlie and learned Ministers How content they be with simple and ignorant men How hardly are they drawn to pay duties which law hath appointed How many quarrells they pick against painful Ministers and how little reuerence they giue to any that are faithfull How they follow their couetousnes and pleasures How they fil all sortes of Courtes with brawles foolish and wilfull strifes and sutes demures in law with murders whoordomes dronkennes all disorder For braue buildinges costlie apparell and dainty dyet they haue great plentie but euerie little thing which is bestowed vpon the Church is thought to much nay I woulde they did not vse deuises to diminish the liuinges of the Church and to oppresse poore men when they enter into their charges If the Lord hauing placed his worde among vs beholding their little thankfulnes to him selfe and greate vnkindnes to his seruantes If hee looking for fruite at their hands find nothing but a leaper soare If he finde that they bee in friendshipe with Papistes and Atheistes for worldly wealth and giue more countenance to dronkards and whoormaisters then to the frithfull Ministers of Christ what man iudgeing with a spirituall eie according to the holy Scripture can otherwise deeme but that God hath laid these thinges iustlye vpon vs for our sinnes and for the vngratefulnes of the people So that I may boldly say that although wee haue seene great tentations and God hath outwardlie shaken his rod in the heauens by blasing stars and tempestes windes and vnseasonable weather in the earth by earthquaks and greate dearth in our bodies with pestilence and manie strange sicknesses And beside all this the enemies abroade hath offered to inuade vs. We haue sent out thousandes and there hath come home but hundredes wee haue had almost continuall stirre in Ireland yea we haue had the sweard of sedition displaying it self in our streets and sometime rebellion and now the Papistes lifting vp their beardes to out face vs and yet our swearing lying dronkennes vsurie oppression and whoordomes are without measure may it not be saide that yet these fortie three yeares the Lord hath not giuen vs an heart to perceaue and eies to see and eares to heare vnto this day May wee not looke euerie daye to haue it worse if we continue thus in our wickednesse without true repentance O that it woulde please God to open our eies that euen now at the length euen in this day we could know the things which belong vnto our peace A prayer for concord and conformitie to the Ghospell Seeing then wee are thus wrapped and intangled in the nett of Gods heauie iudgements I doe therefore humblie praye and desire hartely almightie God that hee woulde conuert vs vnto him selfe boeth Ministers people and that we the Ministers of the word would seriouslie remember that we are brethren and howsoeuer we differ in iudgement we woulde be carefull that nothing be done among vs thorowe contention and vaine glorie or desire of preheminence for reuenge of a malicious froward or vvayward minde but that in meeknes of mind euerie man esteeme other better then him selfe that where vnto we are come we may proceede by one rule minding one thing forbearing one an other and forgiuinge one an other euen as hee forgaue vs. And that the reuerende Fathers and learned Prelates for their part following the example of our greate Father Abraham vvould rather yeelde their right then that there shoulde be continued such ciuill dissension so pernicious to the Church common wealth and that the godlie Ministers would be verie carefull to giue no offence by word or deede which iustly might prouoke their displeasure against them and that they woulde ioyne louinglie together in the careful feeding of Gods people And that he would encline the peoples hearte to consider that these thinges are Gods heauie correctiones and by true humiliation and prayer instantlie to God for the forgiuenesse of our sinnes for the prosperitie and long life of her Maiestie for vnitie and encrease of the faithfull Ministers for the aduancement of the Ghospell for the spirit of holie and godlie wisedome in the whole state and for Gods protection against all our enemies both bodelie and ghostelie And by there chearefull obedience to God and thankfull declaration of their loue vnto their Prince and dutifull practise of iustice equitie truth mercie and concord one with an other shewe themselues the true and faithfull professors of Christes most blessed Ghospell Not sufferinge themselues to be carried away with the loue of this world but to labour chiefly for those thinges which concerne the kingdome of God That so his gracious goodnes and holie fauour may alwaie shine vpon vs his mightie arme be our defence his holy spirit our guid and directour his blessed Sonne our Lord Sauiour his couenant of grace be established and confirmed toward vs and our children for euer and euer Amen The Lords name be praised