a protestate is to be knowen from a papiste Yt hathe pleasyd God to call vs to preache his heuenly worde to that hye office God geue you grace and vs all to seke hys honor glorie yf we so do with a pure hart and mynde he hath promysed He that honorith me I will glorify him and he that contemnith me I wyll contemne him Let ther be no curtisye made to healpe gods people now they be in danger Call to your remembraunce Quene Easter she begane to make curtisy to speke in y t cause but Mardocheus sayd vnto her Yf thou now hold thy peace God shall delyuer by an other meane yet thou thy fathers house shall peryshe You that can and may do good do it whyle tyme is offerid the tyme will come when it wylbe to late yet god wyll comfort his by some other meane It ys a perilous thinge not to healpe in the tyme of neade not to suffer religion to goe forward in all syncerite and to further gods cause when ye maye when Terenti a good Christian captaine returnid with great triumphe victory the Emperor Valerius bade him axe what he wold and he shuld haue it for his good seruice he hauing God before his eyes desyryd nether ryches nether honor but those which had aduentered their liues for true religion might haue a church alowid them to serue their god purely in seueral from the Arrians The Emperour beyng angrie with his request pullyd his supplicacion in pecis and bade him axe som other thing but he gathered vp the pecis of his paper and sayd I haue receuid my rewarde I wyll axe nothinge els God encrece about Princes the small nomber of suche zelous futers promoters of religion and then no doubt gods glorye shall florishe when we seke his dewe honor and not oure owne profyte But to avoide contencion scisme Austen gevith good counsel to godly and quiet men that they mercifully correcte that whiche they can that which they can not paciently beare grone and morne with loue vntil god ether correct or amend them But how this Christian loue shuld be kept in this church when so manye godlie for so small thinges shalbe thruste out also how many already is from the ministery theyr lyuinges yt passyth manye good and godlie wittes to conceyue S. Pauls rule in suche thinges sayth All thinges to me is lawfull but all thinges is not expedient all thinges to me is lawfull but all thinges edefye not Therfor in this case we must not so suttelly dispute what Christian liberte will suffer vs to do but what is metist and most edefying for Christian charite promoting Christian and pure religion But surely how popishe aparell shuld edefie or set forwarde the gospell of Christ Jesus it can not be seen of the multitude nay it is to much fealt how gredly it reioysith the aduersaries of the truth when they see what we borowe of them contend for the same as thinges necessarie marke well the bysshopes wearing of their whyte rochets what grounde they fyrste had and from whence they receyuid it Ther was a certayne man namid Sisinius an heriticke bishop of the Novaâ—ions and he first begane yt all those other popish trashe hath the lyke foundaâ—ions but they haue to long contineuyd pleasyd poperie which is beggerly pacchid vp of al sortes of cerimones that they coulde neuer be routyd out sence no not from manie professors of the gospel Wherfore you that se others that is come to a better perfection grudge not at yt but be thankfull to God though thynges may be borne wythe for a tyme for Christian lybertes sake in hope to winne the weake yet when lyberte is turnyd into necessite yt ys evell no lenger lyberte and that that was for wynning the weake sufferid for a tyme is become the confyrminge of the frowarde in their obstinacie Paul vsyd circuÌ„cision for a tyme as of lyberte but when it was vrgyd of necessite he wold not bende vnto it That famous father Master Bucer when he was axyd why he wolde not weare a square cape made aunswere because hys heade was not foure square wherin surelye he notyd well the comlynes of aparell to be when yt was fassionyd lyke the body a gret folly when a square cape was set on a rounde heade God be mercyfull vnto vs and graunte vs vprightly to seke hys honore wyth all earnestnes simplicite The Lorde comfort his afflictid church graunte that in this oulde age of the worlde we may serue the Lord of hostes in synglenes of hart and laboure to rote out all stomblinge blockes in religion that Christes glorie maye nakydly shyne of yt sealue without all tradicions or inuencions of men as in the begynninge when yt was purest and all such deuyses vnknowen but inuentid of late to bleare the eyes of the ignorant with outwarde shewe of holines God graunt that we may geue all honor to whom al honore is deue both inwardly and outwardly to serve hym vnfaynedlye al the dayes of oure lyfe Fare well deare brethren in the Lorde Jesu who euer kepe vs in hys fayth feare and loue for euer Amen ¶ To my faythfull Brethren now afflycted to all those that vnfaynedly loue the Lorde Jesus the Lorde guyde vs with his holy spret that we maye always serue hym bothe in body and mynde in all synceryte to oure lyues ende WHen I do remember dearly belouyd the great charge inioynyd vnto vs of almyghtie God the strayghte accounte that we shall haue to make for the ryghte vse and dispensacion of his mysteries I fynde no comparison myght iustly moue any Christyan to doubt of the better of those two choyses only that whych makythe a shewe for the mayntenaunce of popishe apparel is the opynion of indifferency whych thynge he y t wyll perswade must fyrst proue that it tendythe to Godes glory Concurrythe wythe his worde edefyeth his churche mayntaynyth Christyan lyberte whych condycions circumstances if they wante The thynge whych otherwyse by nature is indifferent dothe degenerat and become hurtfull but howe can Godes glory be auaunced by those popishe garmeÌ„tes whych supersticyous men Antychrist haue inuentyd for the maynteyninge beutyfyinge of Idolatry what agrement can mans supersticious inuencyons haue wythe the eternall worde of God what edifycacion can there be wher the spirit of god is greuyd Christes lytillous discoragyd y e weake brethren brought into doubt of relygyon the wyckyd papists confyrmyd in their errour And adore new set open to all Popish tradycions and Antychristian impietie nether can any man call this Christian lybertie where a yoke is layd vpon the dysciples neckes where the consciens is cloggyd true preachers thretenyd the curse of Godes worde stayed the congregacyons spoylyd of godlye and learnyd pastors the Sacramentes brought vnder subieccyon of Idolators supersticious vestiments therefore where either the
To my louynge brethren that is troublyd abowt the popishe aparrell two short and comfortable Epistels Be ye constant for the Lorde shall fyght for yow yowrs in Christ. ¶ To all my faithful brethren in Christ Jesu and to all other that labour to weade out the wedes of popery Peace in the Lorde Jesu be with you and make you perfite in all good workes to doe his will working in you that which is pleasant in his sight through Jesus Christ our Lord. DEare Brethren because we are creatid for gods glory the edification one of another in Christ and are bounde to serue thervnto by wealthe or woo lyfe or death and cheifly they to whom God haue geuen the greter gyftes and whom he hath callyd to higher romes are moste bounde to be zelous for gods glory with godly zelousie to profyt the churche and sponse of Christe vnder their charge and that by no subteltye as the Apostel warnithe they shulde be corrupted from the symplicitie of Christ therfore there is no doubt of your good zealle and diligence My good fathers deare brethren who ar first callid to the battel to striue for gods glory and the edification of his people against the Romish reliques and rages of Antichrist I doubt not but that you wyl coragiouslye and constantlye in Christ rape at these rages of Gods enemyes and that you will by this occasion race vp many as grete enormites that we all know labore to race out all the dregges remnants of transformid popery that are crept into England by to much lenite of them that wylbe namid the Lordes of the cleargie what is he that hath the zeale of gods glory before his face that wyl not ioyne both in prayer and in sufferinge with you in so good a cause that is so much for gods glory and the edification of gods church in the pure simplicite of Christes word sacramentes wherin our enemies and persecutours are strangely bewitchid I wote not by what Circes cupe that they do make suche a diuersite betwixt Christes worde his sacramentes that they can not thinke the worde of God safelye ynoughe preachid honorably inough handlyd without cap cope surplis But that the sacraments the maryinge the buryinge the churching of wemen other church seruice as they call it muste nedes be decored with crossinge with capping w t surplessing with knelinge with preti wafer cakes and other knackes of poperi O Paule that thou were a lyue thou durst tell those politike gentelmen that ther hath bin to much laboure bestoued vpon them in vaine thou durste say vnto them as thou didest to y e Corinthians that they eat not the Lordes supper but pley a pagent of their owne to blynde the people and kepe them still in supersticion fare from the symplicite of Christes supper but howe many sely sowles is ther that dothe beleue veryly that they haue an English masse and so put no difference betwene truth falshod betwene Christ and antichrist betwene God and the deuell they are strangely bewitched I say that thus wyll bynde theyr Englyshe presthode sacraments but muche more enchauntid that can fynd no garments to please them But such as haue ben polutid openly with popishe supersticion Idolatry but most of all in this point shall theyr madnes apere to all posterites that they make these Antichristian rages Causam sine qua non that is a cause without which ther is no holy ministery in Christ so that this shall make an Englyshe preste be he neuer suche a dolt or vnlearnid in the knouledge of the scripture as we haue very manye and without these romisshe reliques not Paule hym selfe shalbe admittid as one of them dyd blaspheme the rest of them in effecte do affirme well agaynste suche popishe chaffer and popery hathe byne longe agone foughten witheall when the gret captaines of that religion lyuyd and yet God gaue the victory Therfor let vs not fear now although it doth begine to sture agayn for ther is no craft conninge counsell wysdom or policy against the Lord. We haue Christ hys Apostells the Prophetes euer stryuing agaynst the Ipocrites of their time oâ— our â—yde a strau for popishe polici we haue the worde of God to warant vs to rote out al monuments of supersticion and Idolatry are charged to abhor them to accompt them accursed and to defy them and to detest them as menstreous clowtes they haue not the worde of God for them And what wysdom is in them sayth god by his Prophet Jeremi they talke of obedience concorde but ther is no obedience against the Lorde no nor concorde to be desired but wher gods glory and verite is preserued Els better to haue al the worlde in hurly burleis and heauen earth to shake then one ioyte of gods glory shulde decaie So far forth as in vs leithe we haue theyr owne lawes and proclamacions to rote out all monuments of supersticion and Idolatrye theyr oune wordes are contrarye to theyr doinges Yt shulde apere that they repent their reformacion proclamid as did y e Isralites they buylde agayn that which ons they haue distroied and this is doue openlye that all the worlde may wonder and behold but what is done secretlye god wyll one daye haue it declarid openly ye they make the name of god this doctrine that we professe to be euell spoken of alredy By many of theyr doinges theyr iudgement hasteth that for such causes persecute Gods true preachers Wherfore let vs â—ot feare theyr threteninges ther can none â—ersecute the godly for this cause trasshe â—ut ether such as are nether hote nor colde â—nd then they shalbe vomyted out vnlesse â—heir zeale encrease or such as haue no God before their eies whose god is their bellie or â—ls open papists whom god hathe geuen vp â—o a reprobate sense wherfore we must thus take it that they ar gods rodds for oure sinnes because we haue not ben more zelous in Gods cause nether carefull to seke his glorye that wolfe Wynchester blodie bucher Bonar fought once against many godli men for the grounde of this gere and thei had all the power of the Realme seruinge theyr lustes but beholde how the Lorde in short time ouerthrew them al to giue vs coradge to go forwarde the Lord forgeue vs we ar to slacke and neglygent in heauenly thynges this monster Bonar remainithe and is fed as papists say for their sakes it must be grauntyd it is for some purpos althoughe he be a traytor and an enemi to the crowne and realme and bothe to God and man whiche brunnid godes holy testament murderid his saintes and his servaÌ„tes But what the Lord requyrith to be done wythe false Prophetes it is manyfest we haue bothe the lawe of god man for vs But we ar answerid nay you your sealues shalbe compellid to turne your coates and cappes and get you into his leueris and
formar condycion wante or this latter be annexsyd yt can not be callyd a thynge mere indifferent Augustine vpon indifferent thyngs saythe Those thynges that are not contrarye to faythe nether yet contrarye to good manners and haue somwhat to exhorte to the amendemeÌ„t of lyfe whersoeuer we se such thynges commaundyd or do know to be institutid we do not only alowe but also we will folow them in praysynge and imytatinge them yf the infyrmyte of some do not let that yt shuld be a further detrimente or damage here Augustine requiryth two poynts in thyngs indifferent First that they induce to a better lyfe do serue to edyfycacion next that we beware lest any offence come therbye or any weake consciens be hynderyd in y e curse of religion Christ hym selfe geuyth a good warning saynge wo be to offences there myght be brought dyuers examples and testymonies to proue that thynges whych of them selues haue byne or are indiffereÌ„t by circunstaÌ„ce abusinge becom euel what thynge is more requirid for sondry causis in this lyfe then fastinge and for the dayes tymes what thynges can be more indifferent yet yf by y e obseruacion of dayes and appoyntinge of tyme we shuld confirme the opinion of the wyckyd so gyue consente to them we were worthely to be blamyd reprouyd as Augustine wytnessith wryting after this sort To faste on the Sonday is a great offence cheflye after y t detestable heresye of the Manichees whych is planlye contrary to the Catholyke fayth of manye the scriptures of God dyd shew it selfe whych coÌ„stitutyd to their hearers to fast on y e Sonday was a most mete daye Tertulian in his boke De corona militis defendyth the cause of a soudyar that was zelous for the glory of god wold not weare a garlonde on his heade as y e rest of his felowes dyd lest he shuld seame to consent with y e Idolators so bringe true relygion into doubt wheras many of the ChristiaÌ„s myslykid of this soudyars facte which for so smal a tryfill wolde hasarde the Emperors fauor and so auenture his lyfe seinge to weare the garlonde was not agaynste y e scriptures Tertullian who iustifyed this zelous acte answerethe on this soudiars behalfe sayinge Yf for this cause it may be sayd y t he myght lawfully be crownyd because the scriptures do not forbyd it by this same reason it shalbe answered that therfor he ought not to be crounyd because y e scriptures doth not commande it The Counsel of Toletane ordenyd that in Baptymse shulde be vsyd but one dyppynge lest they shuld seame to consente with the heretiks whiche vsed to dypp the child thryse sendynge to Gregory for his counsell herein they receuyd this answere for the eschewinge of the sclaunder of scisme and tradycion of the heritikes let vs hold the symple vse of Baptisme lest they whiche amoÌ„gest vs do vse to dypp thryse to allowe the assercyon of the heretykes whyle y â— folow not onlye to holde the Idoll as accursyd but also that we vtterlye abhorre and accounte moste abhominable thynges that apperteyne ther unto and haue nothynge to do with it least we be snaryd with it rede we not in the Machabees howe the Lorde distroyd all those that had any stuff of the Idolls and howe was Achan plagyd for reseruynge those thynges whych the Lorde wold haue dystroyd and accursyd we reade that Julianus the apostata causyd the heathen to accomodat them selues to the maners of the Christyans and theyr vsages thynkyng by this meanes to entice them to Paganisme and yf we compell the godlye to conforme them selues to the Papistes I greatlye feare least we fall into Papisme alas that such compulsyon shuld be vsyd toward vs and so great lenite towards the Papistes how many Papistes inioye lyberte lyuyngs whyche neyther haue sworne obedyenc to the Quenes maiestie nether do yet anye parte of deutye towardes theyr miserable flockes those mysers laughe and triumphe to se vs thus delt wythe not ashamyd here vpon to bragg that they truste that the rest of theyr thynges wyll folow But he that sittyth in the heauens shal laughe them to skorne and at leangthe shal geue an end to oure depe syghinges and delyuer vs from all heuynes sorowes and myseris wherfore let vs neuer yealde to this tryumphe of the Pope agaynst Christe Lorde Jesus be mercyfull vnto vs and let thy wrathe be pouryd vpon them that call not on the name of the Lorde yf true reformacyon can not be had Yet lett Christyan lybertie preuayle agaynst compulsion to euell lett not the Papistes abuse vs as the Jewys dyd the Christyans when they had the temporall sworde on theyr syde pytey y e dyssolate churches heare the cryes and gronyns of so manye thousandes of godes pore children that hunger and thyrst for sprituall fode we neade not to apealle to godes worde to the prymatiue church to the iust plages whyche hath byne pouryd and is pouryd contynuallye vpon the wordle for lacke of true reformacyon of relygyon but let your owne conscience iudge betwene oure cause and oure enemyes and yf we seke nothynge but godes glorye craue equitie and ryght desyre Christyan lybertie labor to ouerthrowe Idolatry and to wyne soulys vnto Christe why shulde we not be harde why are we so vncharitably dealt with all the Lorde moue youre hartes and open your eies that we may all prayse gloryfy his holy name that when the end of oure pylgrymage shalbe endyd most ioyfullye we maye test with hym in his euerlastinge glory through Christ oure sauyour to whome wyth the Father and the Holygost be all prayse glorye and honor for euer ¶ To the Reader TO my faythfull Brethren we geue thankes to God for your constancie and vpryght delynge in this gret controuersie now raysyd by packynge of enemys about the wearinge of popish apparell and as ye haue well begonne ther is no doubt but the Lorde in mercy shall kepe ye pure and blameles to the ende It hathe byne no small ioye and comfort to many godlye and good Churches which dayly and howerly prayeth for your perseueraÌ„ce and that it wolde please God to ease it wheÌ„ his good will and pleasure is So on the other syde muche lamentynge the blyndnes of those that goeth about to defende it but especiallye those that are become persecutors of their godly faithfull brethren but as charite requireth we desyre God neuer laye it to theyr charge but geue them grace to ryse agayne vnto whom we leâ—e them wether they stande or falle Let Lottes wyfe be a warnynge in tyme to take hede Moses that blessyd seruant of God wolde not alter the valew of a curten or a lytill pyne in the Arcke so zelous was he in the Lordes worke nor neuer brought any thynge out of his owne heade to the people But had always the warrant of the worde for hym to coÌ„clude what so