custom if you would not be offensive to them nor have them so to you Which judgement of Ambrose Augustine saith he always looked on Tanquam coeleste Oraculum As for the state and pomp of that pretended Order which is as the Alder in our Garden I 'll tell you a story There was a Garrison of Souldiers and divers Commanders over them amongst the rest there was one a true Veteran that had been trained up in the School of War under most of the Princes of Christendom This Captain instead of those soft delights other Gentlemen and Commanders wasted their time in spent his inconversing with and training his Souldiers would be upon the Guard when his turn came himself no weather could prevent it his house instead of being furnished with silken beds rare looking-glasses curious pictures was stored with barrels of meal rice pease so placed low that they served instead of chairs and stools his rooms hung with flitches and gammons of Westphaly bacon dried beef fish c. materials with which he kept a constant table and welcomed all his Souldiers in the Sum was always in fight or service and he had these Souldiers close to him they would go through fire and water with him what men soever failed of their duty his never did but were all of a knot and unanimous in their attendance upon him in any service I 'll only apply it thus that would our reverend Fathers of the Church be more upon the guard themselves be employed in the Churches duty and not commit that Solecism in Government which the learned Bacon thinks one of the insolubilia to do their work by deputation of a Chancellor would they instead of keeping distance converse more familiarly with their flocks and step in now and then to a Countrey Minister on a sudden whom it may be they may finde standing sentinel and encourage him in his duty would they instead of giving and forcing on the people Quelchechoses of Forms and Ceremonies give them solid meat and nourishment the pure Word of God in the institutions of Christ suffer that only to be read expunded urged in the Church would they instead of making their houses Lordly Courts to fright poor people and Ministers from coming at them make them Oratories for Prayer and expounding Scripture of Gods institution setting up catechistical and expository Lectures so many days in the week either by themselves or their Chaplains or calling in the assistance of some learned and pious Presbyters would they enquire in their Visitations after prophaneness and censure that more deeply then some have done non-conformity to self-invented will-worship and encourage painful conscientious Ministers more then their Predecessors have done lazy idle drones I durst become their bondman if one or both of thâ—se two things did not follow that all the godly sober religious people in the Land would become their fast friends and strive who should do them most honour or else the Devil and all his Instruments would be as mad against them as they are now again already against the Puritans 3. Once again we see what it is that makes the Church glorious and unanimous viz. living up to the noble principles of Religion in self-denial humility piety in all ranks of people For till the love of the Lord Jesus and the desire of the salvation of souls hath taken more root in the hearts of Pastors and Christians we cannot expect any Settlement Beauty or Order in the Church 'T is not the priding of a mans self in the name of a Son of the Church can advantage Religion no more then the Jews boasting they had Abraham to their Father did promote it among them For our Saviour tells them when that cry was loudest the state of Religion was at the lowest among them No the Church the Spouse of Christ is meek-hearted and lowly full of tenderness and goodness and her children indeed are like her But they which instead of this spirit fall a beating their Brethren or scoffing or envying at them may indeed be in the Church but yet as Cain in Adams and Ishmael in Abrahams family onely the spots and blemishes thereof 4. Yet again I observe the ligaments and soder of these Churches to be their mutual consent in Discipline which we see required not onely of Ministers but of all Christians how necessary this is experience doth demonstrate For the first primitive Church had no other bond nor have the Reformed Churches abroad in many places any other not but that the Patronage of Princes and Magistrates is a great Strength and Bulwark to Religion and that people are bound to bless God exceedingly when he raiseth up such Nursing Fathers for the Church to be over it in the Lord. Yet we see that meer Politique bands do snap asunder and make way for schism and division especially when the Prudential superior Order of the Clergie do ride and the inferior grind for then they are apt to take the first opportunity to unyoke themselves But if a superiority among Ministers in the Church on a prudential account be thought necessary for Humanum institutum episcopatus non damnamus sed tantum negamus a Christo esse Imperatum as we say with Junius let it be set up by the mutual consent and choice of the rest or the Body of the Ministry and their obedience will be more constant in the Lord and more fixed then by any subscription of oaths of Canonical obedience whatsoever In a word let the poyson and what was not from the beginning be taken out of the Ordinances and offices of Christ in the Church and the power of godliness in good earnest endeavoured and this Church which is otherwise giving up the ghost will yet through the blessing of God recover and do well and we shall have great cause to bless God for this true Protestant Bishop Comenius his pious Endeavours in laying this Book at his Majesties feet as an expedient for an Accommodation not with the Romish but the Reformed Churches Which that it may effect is the earnest prayer of him how is Thy Servant in the Work of the Lord JOSHVA TYMARCHVS Books printed for and sold by Tho. Parkhurst at the Three Crowns over against the great Conduit at the lower end of Cheap-side Folio's THe History of the Evangelical Churches of the Valleys of Piedmont containing a most exact Geographical description of the place also a relation of the bloody Massacre 1655 and a Narrative of all Transactions to 1658. Justified partly by divers ancient Manuscripts written many hundred years before Calvin or Luther By Samuel Morland A Commentary upon the holy Writings of Job David and Solomon viz. Job Psalms Proverbs Ecclesiastes and the Song of Songs Being part of those which by the ancients were called Hagiographa Wherein the diverse Translations and Expositions of all the most famous Commentators are propounded examined and censured By John Mayor D.D. To the Church of England Hitherto tossed with divers tempests
Bohemians always getting the better 34. Besides at home also the affairs of the Bohemians were in great confusion For some abetted Caesar and the Pope others maintained the Sacrament cause of the Cup So that both were incensed unto onslaughts on each other with horrible outrage the Papist especially raging against the greatest Zealots against the Superstitious as it is recorded in the History of the Persecutions of the Bohemian Church Chap. 10. where many instances of Martyrdom are recited 35. So that the Bohemians falling into Schisms among themselves the greater part of them which was the worst helped on the Persecution of the true faithful Christians They had been indeed all zealous in opposing Antichrist after the example of Mr. Huss but now by reason of his death they being destitute of some eminent prudent valiant Person to bâ— their Captain which might keep the hurring rout in some good order they fell a pieces one against another and stirred up cruel dissention among themselves for the meaner sort both of the Laity and Clergy onely letting out their strength for the Cup-communion whence they were called Calixtini were securely negligent of the other points of Mr. Luther But the Taborites among whom Wencenslaus Coranda and Nicholaus Episcopius far excelled the rest with a few others attempted to keep up simplicity and purity in all the Articles and Ceremonies The one part cryed we must not separate from the Church in all Rites the other we will not endure any Superstitious Altars 36. Some persons also stept in under an hypocritical disguise which to promote the Kings and the Popes cause widened the breaches and traducing the Abettors of more pure Doctrine with the odious name of Piccardi stirred up the common peoples abhorrence of them Now the Waldenses were called Piccardi who in former time being banished out of France seated themselves in Austria and had been there branded with the name of the foulest Hereticks Nay some also there were that so powerfully wrought upon Zisca the Captain of the Taborites that he came over and adhered to the Calixtini and Persecuted the said Piccardi with fire and sword even as much as the very Pontificians did Thus tumultuously were all things in all places carried 27. So that truly it had been no wonder if the Pontifical Faction had utterly rooted out this people they being at such variance among themselves But wonderful was the goodness of God which so wisely over-ruled Humane folly that neither foes nor friends got any thing of which they could boast themselves For as often as the King came near the self-divided Bohemians with his Army so often did they renewing peace among themselves make good the common cause with common strength Zisca and Procopius both as one Captain of the Taborites having the chief conduct of affairs and God granting them wonderful successes and victories 38. Now therefore the King and Pope seeing they could make no work of it by force of Arms betook themselves to fraud and calling yet another Council to Basil in the year 1432. there very fairly cog the Bohemians into a friendly Treaty about these differences and for their publique security they would give them any satisfaction whatever they would desire The Legates then being sent to the Council among whom of Divines the chief were John Rokyzanus Bishop of Prague and Nicholaus Episcopius Bishop of the Taborites of the Statesmen Procopius Holy Duke of the Taborites Wilhelmus Kostka Baron of Postupira c. They were courteously entertained and their Questions or Positions being demanded they offered four Articles which they desired might be granted them or they were ready to make them good The Articles were thus formed 1. That the use of the Cup ought to be restored to the people and all the holy things to be celebrated in their Mother Tongue 2. That the Clergy must have no secular Government 3. That the Word of God must be freely taught 4. That publique offences must be publiquely reproved The Popes Legate demanding Whether they had any more for he was told that they held that the Orders of the Monks was from the Devil Procopius answered Why whence can it be which is instituted neither by Patriarchs nor Prophets nor by Christ nor his Apostles c. 39. Then appointed they some on both sides to hold the Disputation concerning the Questions given and the Dispute lasted full fifty days Now when they could not confute the Bohemians they came to a friendly Composition and all things were so carried Rokyzan being charmed and he inchanting others with the hope of an Archbishoprick that the said Articles were yielded to the Bohemians onely that they should promise to return to their obedience to the Roman See and to observe the Ceremonies thereof This Transaction they called Compactata i. e. Articles of Agreement or Covenants and so the Legates were dispatched from the Council and the King into Bohemia to acquaint them That the Bohemians were received into the bosom of the Church and esteemed as dear Sons thereof They call a Convention of Estates wherein Rokyzan sets before them in much state of words how that according to their own hearts desire they had now obtained those things for which they had so much wasted the Kingdoms treasure telling them that now they had better thoughts of the King and Pope then sometime afore when they called them the Apocalyptical Whore and Beast 40. It grieved most of them especially the Zelots of Tabor that they should thus swerve from Husses steps and return into the Tents of Antichrist again So that they opposed the agreement what they could and it came to blows again But herein the Taborites were worsted and fain to yield being so grosly beaten out that they could not rally to make any further head or attempt So that they had nothing left to defend themselves withal save onely the Sword of the Word and the Shield of Patience This was done in the year 1434. 41. In year 1435. Rokyzan was solemnly in the Convention of Estates chosen Archbishop but he taking it impatiently that his Consecration with the solemn Rites was put off by the King and he deluded began again together with his Faction to busle against the injustice of the King and State and domineering power of the Pope But fearing the King he withdrew himself from â—rague for three years For a little after this time Sigismund dyed and Albert his Successor also within two years space leaving behinde him his Son Ladislaus who had been brought up with Frederick the Emperour 42. Now here in the interregnum and much more when Ladislaus being deceased George Podebrand whom Rokyzan had fully at his lure succeeded began that prophecy very much to be fulfilled Manassâ—h shall devour Ephraim and Ephraim Manassâ—h and both shall be against Judah For the Pope with Interdicts Censures Execrations raved against George and the Calixtins they banding back again upon the Pope and the Monks even as good as they brought
people as the Waldenses in the world or no. Others exceedingly wondred what should come into the heads of the Scythians all Polonia Russia Moravia Sarmatia to own scarce any other but the Waldenses Confession Fearing no doubt lest they should with their inventions infect and defile the pure and holy Doctrine which they had lately embraced for this cause which indeed is very weighty I thought it incumbent upon me that the Waldensian Confession which at this time was hardly to be found or gotten might be printed and published and I doubt not but all that savour pure Doctrine even at first taste as they say will highly commend not onely their Confession but the Polonians themselves and all others whoever they be that have any where received it into their Church and so be obliged to pray to our heavenly Father that of his infinite goodness he would please to maintain encrease and speed more and more every day the Reformation of the Churches so happily begun amongst them Hereupon I thought good besides the Testimony of Martin Luthâ—r a most reverend and holy man which aprroved and extolled the Church-way of the Waldenses to subjoyn also the deserved attestation of many other persons of very great Learning Piety and Authority especially of Philip Melancthon Martin Bucer Wolfgang Masculus which seem to me to be yet more taken with this same Confession then Luther Howbeit he in very plain and serious words as I said extols it too Now indeed though I know how considerable a person I am yet I warn the Churches in Christ newly replanted these last forty years that they be not taken up with this onely that they have prevailed so far as to root out Popish Superstitions and other Abominations from them but that they would also be diligent and sollicitous to take care for the keeping of Peace and Purity and the genuine Doctrine of the Divinity of the Son of God and our Lord Jesus Christ and not onely so neither but yet further for the introducing of the Discipline and a mortified life as may comport with such Doctrine Hitherto Vegerius 95. Moreover sending the Brethren in Prussia this their Confession he writes thus among other things The Princes in Germany wonder what took me in the head to joyn my self to the Piccards but when they hear me they will supersede their admiring And a little after I hope I have taken such a course that many in a great part of Europe will understand what the Waldensian Confession is and also be in love with it which thing is altogether to be ascribed to God 96. Four years after March 19. 1561. he wrote to the Brethren again in these words As the Spirit of God hath overpowered me to break off from that Adulterate Church of Antichrist that 't is now more then ten years by the grace of God I separated from it So it now still excites me to seek that Church which seems to me the best wherein to lay my bones when I shall return my spirit into the hands of my Heavenly Father I am therefore bound hereunto if it be Gods will not onely upon my own account but also to set a good example for others How mean soever I am I have made my self a president in flying out of the Papacy and indeed I abhor the Doctrine thereof with my whole heart Now I desâ—â—e to make attestation That I do not condemn the Doctrine of the Churches wherein I am but I rather cleave to those Churches wherein Discipline is most strictly observed I say I cannot but approve of the other Churches but I would have withal the other part of the Gospel i. e. Discipline too I profess therefore that I must needs prefer your Churches before all other And least any shâ—uld think me to have been but lately of this judgement I call God to witness I have ever been thus affected towards these Churches since my first taste of the Gospel yea and there be many that bear me witness that I have asserted them to my utmost I might adde there be two actions of mine which shew me as being of this minde The one is that I allayed the fury of the most Sereno King of the Bohemians Maximilian when he was possessed with bitter prejudice against them c. In a word if your Churches please to receive me I will heartily incorporate my self to them and dye with them c. and inasmuch as I have voluntarily renounced outward advantages I seek them not amongst you The hand of the Lord hath touched me sore my affections endeavors and thoughts now run another way 97. â—nd writing in particular to John Rokitam he addes I desire nothing more of my Heavenly Father then that he would transplant me into the bosom of your Church For in brief I prefer it before all other and would freely give publike testimony of this my judgement thereof before them all I doubt not but my Noble Lord James Earl of Ostrorog will communicate to you some writings about the Council of Trent I apprehend the Spirit of God sets it much upon my spirit to go to that Council and truly if they shall give me such security for my passage as I demand I shall not be able to refrain but I must go There is danger indeed lest they should serve me as they did John Huss and Jerome of Prague But I cannot bestow my life better then if I lay it out in martyrdom I desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ I pray do my salutations to our Brothers George and Peter and all the rest of the Ministers of the Word of God I beseech you with my whole heart pray for me Our Heavenly Father encrease the Celestial riches of his Spirit and of Faith in the hearts of all his people through Jesus Christ our Lord Thus far Vigerius But it was not given to this excellent man to compass either of his desires viz. either to be transplanted into the Church of Polonia nor to be crowned with Martyrdom he being a little after by a fair natural death translated unto the Heavenly Mansions 98. The Churches of Polonia the less in the interim as it were still tossed up and down could come to no establishment of Order both a good part of the Nobility and they which were privily proselited from Italy following Arrianism in their judgements and declining the yoke of Discipline Concerning which John a Lasco a Baron of Polonia which two years before laying down Episcopal Dignity in his own Countrey out of love to the truth travelled into other Countreys and having performed the Pastoral office of a Pastor in the Outlandish Churches which sojourned at London Embda Franckfort near by Maine returned being sent for into his Countrey Anno 1566. in his Letter to John Nigran Antistes of the Brethren in Bohemia and his Colleagues Anno 1558. writes thus We have yet nothing here among us in any settled Posture c. but it is plainly
order that the Kings wich should succeed him in the Throne should be bound to the pious observation of those things Finally he restored the power of the Estates to chuse from amongst them certain Patrons to be keepers of this Liberty 122. The Estates then reform the Consistory and for unanimities sake they make choyce of some certain Ministers by suffrage viz. Three of the Hussites three of the Brethren and as many of the other Evangelici and adjoyned to them three Professors of the University and enjoyn to these Twelve select persons the whole care of Ecclesiastical matters in all the Kingdom and inasmuch as it was now agreed on all hands that the things formerly agreed called the Compactata should be abrogated and that the Churches should be governed according to the rule of the Divine Law only There was chosen to be cheif Administrator for the Hussites Elias Scuda de Semanin afterward to be also chosen by the General Assembly of the Deacons As for the Brethren to whom was permitted their way of Discipline for the better accord it was resolved that they should have the Administrator's next Colleague for their Senior yet with their good leave and consent as long as the distinction of that order should last To whom also as being genuine issue of Huss the Church called Bethleem and famous for Husses pâ—eaching there was granted by the University All which things were done to the publick satisfaction and joy of all good men and all places were filled with divine praises It being generally written upon the Church doors Gods House stands open the Lions play whilst Ralph Blest Maximilian pays this truth to th' Faith 123. After this Religion grew more pure false Hussitism being by degrees removed throughout the whole Kingdom that there was found scarce one of an hundred but made profession of the Evangelical Doctrine But alas with the liberty of Religion as it uses to be there thrust up also under it by little and little licentiousness of life and the bonds of Discipline even where before it had been in force to good purpose were now loosed in a wonderful manner whereupon the godly most what did not like that liberty which drew with it carnal security and some began to presage evil hereupon and so it was for that horrible tempest under Ferdinando overwhelmed us and that prophesie was fulfilled The bitterest bitterness is found in the sweetest Peace 124. For the Enemies of the Gospel being filled with rancor turned to their accustomed stratagems and treacheries making and placing an Engine in secret which breaking forth we were utterly overthrown even that whole Church of Bohemia which had so many generations grappled with that Nimrod the Pope so that she must now take up her lamentation with the discomfited Daughter of Sion My Enemies hunted me as a bird they have cast my life into the pit and covered me with stones they have drowned me in the deep and I am gone Lam 3.52 c. for Rudolph the Assertor of our liberty being taken away and counsels being on foot for the bringing about of the Council of Trent that they must begin with the Bohemians they so handle the matter as by extreme vexations in incroaching upon their sacred Laws and Priviledges they might be provoked to impatience and so to arms that so if they could bring them to that they might have a just colour to come upon them and suppress them with all the forces of the whole Catholick League as Rebels against his Supreme Majestie And so it was our sins prevailing against the righteousness of our cause and God permitting the Enemies at last to fill up their whole measure of cruelty against his Saints among us 125. For a victory being obtained anno 1620. the choice of the Nobility were partly put to death and partly dispersed the Pastors of the Churches as the Authors of Rebellion by a general Edict all banished they then attempt first by glozing to charm the people unto a change of their Religion and after it by sundry terrors and torments they force them at length when they had for full six years handled a few in this manner in the year 1627. they banish out their Countrey the whole Nobility of the Evangelici and go about to compel the people by prisons and tortures to renounce the Cup and promise obedience to the Pope at which time indeed there were very many ready and also desirous rather to spill their blood then their souls but they derided this resolution and purpose of theirs those new Sword-bearing Apostles crying out Caesar thirsteth not after your blood but the salvation of your souls For it was concluded at Rome that inasmuch as by the experience of an whole age it was apparent that letting blood to cure the feavor of the Lutheran Heresie hath done no good another course is now to be taken by the means or benefit of a Diet i. e. by exile prisons and lingering distresses of all kindes 126. By this Diet in the space of forty years it was come to that pass that in all Bohemia and Moravia there was left to the Evangelici neither Church nor School nor any private exercise of Religion nor the Holy Bible their holy Books being all burned and all other Books helpful to promote the service of God where ever they could be found and for those that for the keeping of the Faith of their Covenant with God inviolable were fled out of their Countrey and scattered through the Neighbouring Kingdoms being many thousands either through the calamities of a banished condition had their hearts broken so that they superseded their constant minde or by reason of the continuance of their distress were so wasted away that the remainder of us here and there are very small as two or three bunches after the vintage is done or two or three berries on the uppermost top bough after the shaking of the Olive Jer. 17.5 6. All our lovers forsaking us and not enquiring after us yea even when we enquired after them they hardned their hearts against us Jer. 30.4 127. And we indeed endure the wrath of the Omnipotent which we have justly brought upon our Nation 2 Mal. 7. but shall they justifie their actions before God which forgetting the common cause of the Gospel and their former ancient Covenants do not onely not help them which perish for the common cause but also stir up and encourage the Babylonians against their Brethren and Neighbours and crying out as the Idumeans of old Psal 173.7 Raze them raze them to the very Foundation Neither do others which promise and procure to themselves peace remember that the Bohemians having both first and for so many ages hitherto constantly maintained the common cause against Antichrist are such as whose cause in like manner at this time ought to be pleaded by common joynt help so far at least as that the light of the Gospel where it was first lighted and held forth in a