see not what is to turne back againe from whence men came if this be not c But if those things â—e true which I thincke are not lykely to wit that the Metropolytanes retayne in vse those most filâ—hy abuses then which the Church of Antichrist hath not any thing more intollerable namely pruralyties of benefyces lycences of non residency lâ—cences to mary and eat flesh and other the lyke this were certâ—nly which I speake with horrour not a corruption of Christianity but a manifest defection from Christ and therfore they not to be condemned but commended rather which oppose them selves to such endevours c. These and many other the lyke sayings he hath in his epistles and other bookes publyshed Now as touching the things which he thought not to be so much as lykely we know them to be most true neyther these only but almost an hundreth the lyke as we have touched in the preface of our Confession Among which we besâ—ecâ— you consider these three specially yet so as you turne not your eyes away froÌ„ the rest the confirmation of such aâ— have beâ—â— baptised when nowe they are waxen older administred by the Prelats themselves vnto this day Their holy Orders of Clergy The discipline and sanctions of the CannoÌ„ Law as they call it yet reteyned in that Churche and tell vs we pray you freely and syncerely what now you think of the estate of that Church and of our separation â—erily if we conceive you right your self expound the marke the name and the nomber of the name of the Beast to be vnderstood of these three last aforesaid abhomynations of Antichrist In your exposition of Rev. 13. ver 16.17.18 And to receive these you know also well iâ— forbydden vnto all vnder payne of eternall damnation Rev. 14.9.10 11. and 18.4.5 But to returne to M. Beza agayne in him there are many thinges coÌ„cerning our cause to be carefully observed first that his private epistles he set forth in publyck secondly that in tâ—â— he diâ— not dissemble but freely and ingeniously declare his iudgment of the estate of the Church of England thirdly that yet he was nâ— busibody or vnwise which would clime into thâ—â— seate or by provoking that church made his cause the worse with good meÌ„ etc. fourthly if ther were nothing els yet by this we may well think that what you say of your self is not the answer of the other brethreÌ„ which are in any place in Churches and Vniversityes lastly that he should not have burst if he had dissembled these things nor yet while he wrote the godly and faythfully was factious vnciuill or sowed any â—aâ—es but haâ—e witnes to the truth of the Gospel of Christ and did truly shew that â—e trod in the steps of the Apostle who wryteth and testifyet thus of himself and of all the faithful servaÌ„ts of Christ we caÌ„not â—o any thing against the truth but for the truth 2 Cor. 13.8 But these things by the way Yet so as you may well consider with your self beloved Brother whether the things which here and ther in your letter you seem to insinuate against vs fal not vpoÌ„ the very head of that most godly maÌ„ Mr. Beza by lyke right or rather indeed by lyke wroÌ„g Of other lyke godly and learned 〈◊〉 we will not now speake it shall suffice here to have mencioned him alone And where you seem to acknowledg for true Pastors the Prelats and Priests by theÌ„ created such as the English ministery is knoweÌ„ to be mynd how well you have done this and how agreably with the Spirit of God which calleth such Locusts false Prophets the whores marchants c. But touching that which you speak of Christ our Saviour how he brought iudgment to victory not by crying out and filling the streets with clamours but by blowing softly vpon the smoking flax and handling tenderly the brused reed This we do indeed most willingly acknowledg and pray that we may alwayes followe this his most sacred example Neverthelesse this also must be remembred that Christ dealt after one maner with the weack of whome here the speach is after an other with the * Scribes and Pharisees and other the like sworne enemyes of the truth such as at this day be the Prelats and their complices which who is it that doth not know who is it that doth not acknowledg The same also may be seeÌ„ in the Apostles of Christ and in their dealing with Simon Magus Elymas Hymenaeus Alexander Philetus Diotrephes c. Which things being so we humbly besech you reverend and beloved Sr. by that most holy name of Christ which you professe by the mercyes of God wherewith he hath loved vs in Christ that you would thnik of another course then such as yet it seemeth you allow that you would take an other way for discovering and destroying the defection of Antichrist for setting forward the salvation edificatioÌ„ and peace both of vs and others Hold on to defend the true fayth as now a good while you have done with great praise and fruit of the godly and discover errours maynteyne good causes and forsake evill Strive for Christ and the truth of his Gospell and fight against Antichrist and the remnants of his Apostasy Let it be manifest to all what your mynd and judgment is not only concerning the fayth of Christ but also concerning the mystery Apostasy and iniquity of Antichrist ffinally as touching our selves in specyall if you wryte agayne we do humbly and earnestly entreat if any where we have erred in our fayth and chuse that you vouchsafe to shew it vs by the light of Gods word Otherwise it wil be suspected seing you bestow so much paynes in discussing these things which concerne the maÌ„ner and not the matter it self that eyther you do dissemble your iudgment what soever it be or that in very deed you are of the same mynd with vs specially seing now you have wrytten that you do not any preiudice at all to our cause and have spoken this religiously before the Lord. Pityâ— we pray you our Church here exiled every where reproched eaten vp in a maner with deep poverty despised and afflicted wel nere of al against which sathan hath now a long tyme attempted all vtmost extremyties Pity them from whome we have departed who vnder pretence of the Gospell contynew still in Antichristian defection and do so stifley hold and eagerly maynteyne it as there is scant any among them that dare so much as hisse against it Pity these Churches among whome we sejourne in which wheter you look at the publyck prayers or the Administration of the Sacraments or the execution of discipline there be sundry â—aâ—es if they may be called â—ares or rather corruptions and those also not of small moment at which as is reported the Anabaptists and others not a few that lyve here do stumble of which also we have heretofore conferred frendly with the ministers of these Churches
Certayne Letters translated into English being first written in Latine Two by the reverend and learned Mr. Francis Iunius Divinitie Reader at Leyden in Holland The other by the exiled English Church abiding for the present at Amsterdam in Holland Together with the Confession of faith prefixed where vpon the said letters were first written Esa 53.1 Who beleveth our report and to whom is the arme of the Lord revealed Printed in the yeare 1602. R.G. the translatour of M. Iunius his letters To the Christian Reader SVch as of late yeares have rent themselues from the holie service of God used im the publique congregations and Churches of England being destitute of any sound warrant from the worde of God have sought from time to time so much the more earnestly as the manner of such is to shroude themselves vnder the shadowe of humane authoritie HeÌ„ce it came to passe that Master Francis Iunius a maÌ„ of great learning and godlinesse was solicited by some of them as may appeare by these letters ensuing in the yeare 99. to be a favourer of their erronious opinions and of their vnchristian disordered and vndutifull proceedings whose answere being delivered by himselfe to a religious and worshipful knight and so comming to my handes I have presumed to communicate with thee by the motion of some godly and well disposed hoping that through the blessing of God and thy prayers it may proove a good meanes to stay such as are wavering to confirme such as doe stand and to recover such as are fallen For although he doe not enter into an exact discussing of the question with arguments objections and answeres yet he vseth a very grave and godly admonition which is oftentimes of greater fruite then a long and learned disputation And whosoever doth diligently studie the booke of God shal finde that the holy Prophets Apostles do in manie places insist upoÌ„ a plaine simple asleveâ—ation of the truth rather then vpon multitude of proof arguments Besides if we observe the story of the holy Martyrs of our own Church others we may preceive that by the sound profession of their faith and suffering for the same they have glorified God and advanced the kingdome of Iesus Christ aswel as others have done by arguments and reasons And yet notwithstanding if thou do well obserue these letters of Master Iunius thou shalt finde in them not vaine and emptie wordes but waightie and sounde reasons grounded upon the holie Scriptures of God Thus praying thee to take these first fruites of my poore laboures in this kinde in good part and beseching god to give a blessing hereunto I bid thee heartily farewel in the Lord. Thyne in the Lord R.G. The Answer to R.G. his Epistle prefixed before Mr. Iunius letters SUch as have separated themselves from the corrupt service of God vsed in the publick congregations and parishes of England being persecuted with afâ—lictions reproches and slanders both at home and in the land wheâ— now they live exiles have ben constreyned to publish to the world the confession of their Christian faith and causes of their departure from the foresayd English synagogues for clearing of the truth of God and witnesses of the same both which were much and many wayes calumniated More specially they dedicated that litle book to al Christian vniversities neer about to be discussed approved or reproved by the godly learned in them And sending one in particular to the hands of M.H. Iunius a man of great learning and godlines dwelling neer vnto them to be by him and the rest of his brethreÌ„ of the vniversitie at Leyden judged of they received from him a letter lately by one R.G. traÌ„slated and printed in English whether with the authors consent or not is yet vnknowne but the copy as the publisher sayth was given out by the author himself who might had done wel to have given a copy of the answer likewise or if he did the translator hath not dealt indifferently to publish one and not an other How ever it were al men may see how just and necessary occasion those eriled Christians now have to print their answer also which vpoÌ„ the receipt of his Letter they sent vnto him but hitherto have spared to give out any one copy either of his or theirs whether for doubt of their owne cause or reverend regard rather of that maÌ„ let the sequel declare and let the discrete reader by it judge whether party hath most advantage As for the translators censure that they sought to shrowd themselves vnder the shadow of humane authoritie this brief narratioÌ„ of the cariage of the matter and the plaine apologie which they make vnto Mr. Iunius of their proceedings wil shew it vnto al godly wyse to be but the surmise of a malicious hart And were it not that the weaknes and badnes of their cause compelleth them thus to doe it might seem strange that any of the church of England would publish such a writing as this in their owne defence as if it approved their estate and condeÌ„ned those foresayd Christian exiles when any whose eyes ar in his head may see by Mr Iunius his writing vnto them as Christian brethren and refusing at al to vndertake the maintenance of those English parishes or conviction of such as separate from them how far it is froÌ„ justifying those synagogues estate Yea al wiseharted may and will we doubt not easily discerne how naked and helplesse they be which neither by their friends at home nor the most learned abroad can otherwise be â—elieved then by such things as hitherto they have printed Or howsoever this present generation shall judge of these things yet the ages to come which wil be lesse partial wil easily give sentence The better to certify thee good reader of the whole cause and cariage therof here is with these Lecters set forth also their Confession of faith with the Episâ—le and preface as it is in Latine And wheras ther is since that time published also a second epistle of Mr. Iunius ther is now the answer to it set forth likewise which answer was presently written vpon the receipt of his Letter but not then sent for causes partly before noted and now more fully signified and sent to Mr. Iunius himself The things which here are mentioned of corruptions in some other churches and dealings that have passed about theÌ„ ar yet spared from being published in print at large til further occasion and provocation be Onely the general and brief hâ—â—ds of the matter in controversie at now printed as they were sent vnto Mr. Iunius although we were loth to do it but that their was necessarie occasion given by things which passed in the Letters as al meÌ„ may see Moreover it is not to be omitted how in the printed copy of Mr. Iunius Letter some things were corrupted by alteration omission and c. Otherwise then in the original by himself first sent they do stand and ar yet to
it staÌ„deth we have truly and as briefly as we could related them in the Preface to the Reader hereafter following and therefore thought here to omit the repetition of them The Lord Iesus alway preserve you and your Vniversityes to the praise of his name the ornameÌ„t of good learning the propagation and maintenance of his pure Religion From Amsterdam in the low countreyes The yeare of the last patience of the saints 1598. The preface to the Christian Reader IT may seeme strange vnto thee Christian Reader that any off the Englysh nation should for the truth of the Gospell be forced to forsake their natyve contrye and lyve in exile especially in these dayes when the Gospell seemeth to have free passage and florish in that land And for this cause have our exile bene hardly thought of by many and evil spoken of by some who know not as it seemeth eyther the trewe estate of the Church of England or causes of our forsaking and separating from the same but hearing this sect as they call it to be every where spoken against have with out at all further search accounted and divulged vs as heretickes or Schismatickes at the least Yea some and such as worst might have sought the increase of our afflictions even here also yf they could which thinge they have both secretly and openly attempted This hath Sathan added vnto all our former sorrowes envying that we should have rest in any part of the inhabyted world and therfor ceaseth not to make warre with the remnant of the womans seed which keepe the commaundemeÌ„ts of God and have the testimony of Iesus Christ But the Lord that brought his former Israell out off Egypt and when they walked aboute from nation to natioÌ„ from one Kingdome to an other people suffered no man to do them wronge but reproved kinges for their sakes the same Lord yet lyveth to maynteyne the right off his afflicted servantes whome he hath severed and dayly gathereth out off the world to be vnto himselff a chosen generatioÌ„ a royall priesthood a peculiar people and Israell off God He is our hope and strength and helpe in trobles ready to be found he will hyde vs vnder his winges and vnder his feathers we shall be sure vntyll these myseries be over past And though we could for our partes well have borne this rebuke off Christ in silence and left our cause to him who iudgeth iustly all the children off men yet for the manyfestation and clearing of the truth off God from reproche off men and for the bringing off others togither with our selves to the same knouwledge and fellowship off the Gospell we have thought it needfull and our duty to make knowen vnto the world our vnfeyghned fayth in God and loyall obedience towardes our Prince and all Governours set over vs in the Lord together with the reasons off our leaving the ministery worship and Church off England Which are not as they pretend for some fewe faultes and corruptions remayning such as we acknowledge man be found in the perfectest Church on earth Neyther count we it lawfull for any member to forsake the fellowship off the Church for blemyshes and imperfections which every one according to his calling should studeously seeke to cure and to exspect and further it vntyll eyther there followe redresse or the disease be growen incureable and the candlestick be moved out off the place But we having through Gods mercy learned to discerne betwixt the true worship off God and the Antichristian leitourgie the true ministerie off Christ and Antichristian priesthood and prelacy the ordinances off Christes testament and popysh cannons have also learned to leave the evill and choose the good to forsake Babell the land off our captyvitie and get vs vnto Sion the mount of the Lordes holynes and place where his honour dwelleth But first we desyre thee good Reader to vnderstand and mynde that we have not in any dislyke of the civill estate and politicke goverment in that common wealth which we much lyke and love seperated our selves from that Churche Neyther have we shaken of our alleageance and dutyfull obedyence to our Soveraigne Prince Elezabeth her honorable Consellers and other Magistrates set over vs but have alwayes and still do reverence love and obey them every one in the Lord opposing our selves against al enemyes forreigne or domesticall against all invasions insurrections treasons or conspiracies by whome soever intended against her Majestie and the State and are ready to adveÌ„ture our lyves in their defence iff need require Neiter have our greatest adversaryes ever bene able to attaint vs of the least disloyalty in this regarde And though now we be exiled yet do we dayly pray and will for the preservation peace and prosperity off her Majestie and all her domynions And wheras we have bene accused off intrusion into the Magistrates office as goeing about our selves to reforme the abuses in that land it is a mere malicious calumnie which our adversaries have forged out of their owne hart We have alwayes both by word and practise shewed the contrary neyther ever attempted or purposed any such thinge but have indevored thus onely to reforme our selves and our lyves according to the rule off Gods word by absteyning from all evyll and keeping the commandements off Iesus leaving the suppressing and casting out off those remnants of Idolatry vnto the Magistrates to whome it belongeth And further we testifye by these presents vnto all men and desyre them to take knowledge herof that we have not forsaken any one poynt of the true ancient catholicke and apostolicke fayth professed in our land but hold the same groundes of Christian religion with them still agreeing lykewise herein with the Dutch Scottysh Germane French Heldetian and all other Christian reformed Churches round about vs whose confessions publyshed we call to witnes our agrement with them in matters of greatest moment being coÌ„ferred with these articles of our fayth following The thinges then onely against which we contend and which we mislyke in the Englysh parish assemblyes are many reliques of that man off Synne whome they pretend to have abandoned yet reteyned among them and with a high hand maynteyned vpholden and imposed The particiâ—ers wherof being almost infinite cannot well off vs besett downe and would be tedious and yrksome to thee good Reader But the principall heades we wil truely relate and that so briefely as in so large and confuse a subject we can First in the planting and constituting of their Churche at the begining of our Queene Elizabets reigne they receved at once into the body of that Churche as members the whole land which generally then stood for the most part professed Papistes who had revolted from the profession which they made in the dayes of king Edward off happy memorye and shed much blood off many Christian Martyrs in Queene Maryes dayes This people yet standinge in this fearfull
never allowed and which never entred in to his hart yea which he hath so severely for bydden with fearefull judgements threatned vnto all hat shall so do But because we have bene very grievously slaÌ„dred in our owne nation and the bruit thereoff hath followed vs vnto this land wherby we have bene hardly deemed of by many without cause we have bene forced at length to publysh this briefe but true confession of our fayth for the cleering of our selves from sclander and satisfying of many who desyred to knowe the thinges we hold Wherein if in any thinge we erre as who is so perfit that he erreth not we reade good reader thy Christian brotherly censure and information promysing alwayes through the grace of God to yeild vnto the truth when it shall be further shewed vs and leave our errors when by the light of his word they shal be reproved In lyke manner it shall be thy part and duty to acknowledge and submytt vnto the truth by whome soever it is professed looking allwayes rather to the preciousnes of the treasure it self then to the basenes of the vessells which conteyne it or the infirmities of those that witnes the same in whose mortall bodyes thow shalt see nothing but the markes and dyeing of our lord Ihesus Christ But hold not thy fayth in respect of mens persons neyther be thow moved at the evyl reports wich have bene raised of vs Here hast thow the trewe summe of our Christian fayth try all thinges by the true light of Gods word and if thou shalt reape and profit by these our labours gyve God the glory and remember vs vnto him in thy prayers Farewell in Christ Iesus 1596. THE CONFESSION OF FAITH OF CERTAINE ENGLISH PEOPLE IN THE LOW COvNTREYES EXILED Weâ— beleeue with the heart confes with the mouth THat there is but one God one Christ one Spirit one Church one truth one Faith one true Religion one rule of godlines and obedience for all Christians in all places at all tymes to be observed 2 God is a Spirit whose beeing is of himself and giveth beeing moving and preservation to all other thingâ— beeing himself eternal most holy every way infinitâ— in greatnes wisdome power goodnes iustice truth etc. In this Godhead there be three distinct persons coeternall coequall and coessentiall beeing every one of them one and the same God and therefore not divided but distinguished one from another by theyr severall and peculiar propertie The Father of whom are the other persons but he of none the Sonne begotten of the Father from everlasting the holy Ghost proceeding from the Father and the Sonne before all beginnings 3 God hath decreed in himself from everlasting touching all things and the very least circumstances of every thing effectually to work and dispose them according to the counsell of his owne will to the glory of his name And touching his cheefest creatures GOD hath in Christ before the foundation of the world according to the good pleasure of his will foreordeyned some â—en and Angels to eternall lyfe to be accomplished through Iesus Christ to the â— prayse of the glorie of his grace 〈◊〉 hath also of alâ— according to his iust purpose foreappointed other both â—â—xesâ— and uiâ—â— to eternall condemnation to be accomplished through their owne corruptioÌ„ and desert to the praise of his iustice In the beginning God made al things of nothing veri good and created 〈◊〉 after his owne image and liknes in righteousnes aÌ„d holines of truth But streight ways after by the subtiltrie of the serpeÌ„t which Sathan vsed as his instrument himself with his Angels having sinned before and not kept their first esstate but left their owne habitation first Eva then Adam being seduced did wittingly and willingly fall into disobedience and traÌ„sgressioÌ„ of the coâ—mnaundâ—â—â—nt of God For the which death came vpon all and reigneth over all pea euen over infants also which have not sinned after the like maner of the trangression of Adam that is actually Hence also it is that all since the fall of Adam are begotten in his owne liknes after his image being conceyved and formed in iniquitie and so by nature children of wrath and servants of sinne and subiect to death and al other calamities due vnto sinne in this world and for ever 5 All mankind being thus fallen and become altogether dead in sinne and subiect to the eternall wrath of God both by originall and actuall corruption Yet the elect all and onely are redeemed quickned raysed vp and saved againe not of themselves neyther by works lest anie man should boast him self but wholly and only by GOD of his free grace and mercy through faith in Christ Iesus who of God is made vnto vs wisdome and rights aâ—sâ—es and sanctification and redemption that according as it is written Hee that resorceth may reioâ—ce in the Lord. 6 This therfort is lyfe eternall to know the only true God and whom hee hath sent into the world Iesus Christ And on the contrarie the Lord will render vengeance in â—laming fire vnto than that know not God and which over not the Gospell of our Lord Iesus Christ 7 How the rule of this â—nowledge faith and obedieÌ„câ— concerning the worship aÌ„d service of God and all other christiaÌ„ dinityes is not mens opinions devises lawes constitutions or traditions wâ—ritten whatsoeuer of men but onely the written word of God conteyned in the canonicall bookes of the old and new Testament 8 In this word Iesus Christ hath plainely reveled whatsoever his father thought needfull for vs to know beleeue and acknowledge as touching his person and Office in whom all the promises of God are yea and in whom they are Amen to the prayse of God through vs. 9 Touching his person the Lord Iesus of whom Moses and the Prophets wrote and whom the Apostlâ—s preached is the everlasting Sonne of God the father by eternall generation the brightnes of his glorie and the engraueÌ„ forthe of his Person coeffitiall coâ—qual and coeternall God with him and with the holy Ghost Ioy whoÌ„ hee made the worlds vp whoÌ„ hee vpholdeth and governeth all the works hee hath made Who also wheÌ„ the fulnes of tyme was come was made man of a woman of the Tribe of Iudah of the seed of Dauid and Abraham to wyt of Mary that blessed Virgin by the holy Ghost comming vpon hir and the power of the most high ouershadowing hir and was also in al things lyke vnto vs sinne only excepted 10 Touching his Office Iesus Christ only iâ— made the Mediâ—tor of the new TestameÌ„t even of the everlasting Couenant of grace betweeÌ„ God maÌ„ to be perâ—â—câ—ly and fully the Prophet Priest and King of the Church of God for evermore 11 Vnto this office hee was from everlasting by the
may tarry in it without ship wracke of faith and conscience or take from it the name of a Church especially seeing euery Church consisteth of Pastors and flocke which if some Pastors or Prelates trouble yet it is vnmeete that this name either should be taken away from the other Pastors which Christ doth witnesse by the doctrine of truth or from the flocke which Christ hath purchased with his owne bloode and doth daily sanctifie with the washing of the newe birth by the worde This ought to be sufficient for you if any thing have offended you at home that now the fatherly mercifull providence of God hath provided for you elsewhere Certainely whiles yee inueigh against those Churches yee shal make that your cause neuer the better neither more probable with good men which thing if yee have not yet considered and conceived by my aduise and counsell and by the admonition of those which wish you wel experience it selfe at last God grant it be not to late and he informe you in good will prooue all thâ—se things vnto you For by the trueth of doctrine holinesse of life by the worke of faith and patience and by the dueties of charitie euen towards them of whome yee professe that ye are wronged yee shal rather approove your selves and your cause theÌ„ by outcryes and publishing of writings euen as our Sauiour is saide to bring iudgement to victorie not by filling the streetes with shouting and clamours but by blowing gently into the smoking flax and tender handling the bruised reede Which thinges seeing they be so I beseech you most louing brethreÌ„ in Christ by that most holi name of Christ which ye profese by those bowels mercie wherewith Christ hath embraced vs froÌ„ on high that yee would thinke of another course that yee would take another way to salvation to edificatioÌ„ to peace If there be consent shake not your faith which is not to be winnowed againe by new reasons This course is suspitious But if it must needs be sifted let it suffice you that it be first approved by those servants of God among whome yee dwell this is certainnly a lawfull course Forgiue the former iniuries if any have beene by Christian charitie to them from whom yee have received the same hide them froÌ„ others by ChristiaÌ„ wisdome There is no feare that by so doing yee should be burst God will enlarge your harts by the spirite of charitie most coÌ„modiously Looke to your selues that overcomming al sharpnesse and al bitternesse of minde yee may be acceptable to Christ and profitable to the Church and that the sweet odour of your pietie may be spread in speach in life in order to all the godly without the stench of enmitie and schisme Iudge not that yee be not iudged But abstaine from those heavie determinations and conclusions as they call them against othermen neither labour either to get Abetters or partakers in that your former iudgement which would be saide in you to be a spice of faction in them of imprudencie or else to drawe them to an vnseasonable vncivill inconvenient and dangerous deliuerie of opinions Pitie your selues I beseech you most louing brethren and the whole flocke which is gathered among you Haue pittie of them whome thorough error infirmitie yee cry out be hurt Pitie your entertainers among whome it were a most iâ—iurious thing that ye should sowe these tates especially being admonished And it would be a greate indignitie by clamours and writings to brede in them suspicions and sinister opinions eyther of your selves or of those your adversaries as you count them or els of both Finally pitie the Church of Christ which verily it is not comely nor expedient neither in any case tolerable amoÌ„g so many and greeuous wounds which are universally given vnto it to be further galled with this particular wound So let God almightie loue you and Iesus Christ that most mercifull Lord and our Sauiour be mercifull vnto you And if I shall be able to doe any good in the publicke cause and yours assure your selves that I will spare no diligence no labour no paines that you with vs and all togither may be filled with saÌ„ctimony without which none shal se God with the good things of the Lord in his house and before his face And the God of peace which hath raised from the dead our Lord Iesus that great sheepeheard of the sheepe by the blood of the eternall couenant make you perfect in euery good worke to doe his will working in you that which is acceptable in his sight by Iesus Christ to whom be glorie for ever and ever Amen And I pray you brethren suffer this word of exhortation which I have briefely writteÌ„ vnto you The grace of God be with you all Amen From Leyden this Saturday the 9. of Ianuary 1599. Yours in the Lord Francis Iunius The answer to the Letter aforesaid To the Reverend and learned Mr. Francis Iunius our beloved brother in Christ At Leyden in Holland GRace and peace from God the Father and the Lord Iesus Christ our Saviour Reverend Sr. and beloved brother in Christ we have lately received your letter which you sent vnsealed to the Ministers of the Dutch and freÌ„ch Churches that it might first be read of theÌ„ and them be delyvered to vs. We have also read and weighed it and thought it meet to wryte agayne partly to thank you that vouched safe to write vnto vs partly to satisfy you if we can in some thinges wherein we see you are mistaken In the wryting wherof we humbly request that speaking freely that which the thing it self requireth you would take it in good part as you are wooÌ„t Many thinges indeed you have wrytten which we do willingly acknowledg and consent therein with you Those we will not touch at all The rest we will prosequute in the same order as by your self â—hey are propounded Whereas there was a litle booke exhibited vnto you by one of vs it is not so to be takeÌ„ as if you were called vpoÌ„ alone or apart from others For the brother which delyvered you the booke certified vs that this passed betwene you that by you it should be communicated with your Colleagues the governours of that Vniversity and that you tooke vpon you to do it Now if you have so done how is it that you alone wryte back againe why also do you so often repeat and seeme to reprehend that you you we say alone apart are called vpon If you have not done it mynde then on whome the blame lyeth that it is not communicated with theÌ„ in that Vniversity to whome by vs it was dedicated And we do now agayne entreat you that being myndfull of your promyse you would performe it that so you with the other learned and godly men and brethren there may eyther convynce our fayth and cause of errour or els together with vs conted for this sayth once gyven to
that knowledg and evidence as now is had of the fulfilling throughout severall ages of those prophecyes which are in the Scriptures of the Beast of the false Prophet of Antichrist of his mystery exaltation tyranny marchants discovery fall etc. How should from their owne Acts the adversaryes mouthes be so stopped as now we see heare and read is dayly done by the martyrs and servants of Christ Lastly how could your self and other learned men have so expounded that divine book of the Revelation not to speak of other Scriptures lykewise interpreted as you have now already done which great fruit and gratulation of all the godly Of the end which here againe you vrge we have spoken both before in this letter and in the epistles prefixed to the book it self Adde herevnto that if the Prelats and other adversaryes of the truth be not by these and the lyke wrytinges amended they shall yet doubtlesse be made the more vnexcuseable The visard also by which they have deceyved you as it seemeth and almost all others was to be pulled of But this could not be donne for the knowledg of all as was meeâ— otherwise then by publyck wryting To omytt others we appeale vnto your conscience learned S. whether you did think the estate of that Church and of those Prelats to be such in any measure touching their Antichristian constitution leitourgy ministery Hierarchy which your self acknowledg to be that other beast in Rev. 13 11.18 as now for certeyne you heare and see it in that book as it were paynted out before your eyes But of these things ynough is sayd in the book it self Surely these and the lyke their vnfruitfull workes of darknes were to be reprooved not dissembled not allowed especyally seing they are so stiffely by them retayned defended vrged and that vnder a pretence of the Gospell with which they have no more agreement then darknes hath with light Beliall with Christ Neyther is this to take vp burthens of Accusations but to take away the visard of Antichristian apostasy and to witnes the truth of Iesus Christ against Antichrist which duty our Lord and Saviour Christ requireth of you of vs of all the godly the Lord we say who in these latter tymes hath begunne to discover that lawles man of sinne and will at length consume him with the spirit of his mouth by the word of the testimony of his servants So far of is it that they should be accounted busy bodyes which performe this duty to Christ or that we herein have don you any iniury So far of also is it that we should think what you speak of your self the same to be answered vs by the rest of the bretheren that are any where els in Churches in Vniversityes Not to speak of others we know that Mr. Beza that worthy servant of God hath in causes not much vnlyke answered otherwise But of this matter more herafter In the meane tyme that we also may deale syncerely and brotherly with you mynd we pray you whether you have not done your self iniury whiles you have climed into this seate so confidentâ—â— to pronounce that of others wherof as we think you cannot any way have certaine knowledg yea whiles you alone determyne of that matter which to use your owne wordes requireth serious consultation and holy communication Touching the event we commit it to God who we certeynly hope will worck al these things for good both to vs and to theÌ„ by whom we are exiled and to these amonge whom we sojorne and to the Church of God every where And to whom we pray you would it not be good if that were done which we desâ—er ffor our selves if we erre let the righteous smyte and reprove vs it shal be a benefyt and precious oyntment vnto vs. For our adversaries if they be the more estraunged it shal be their own fault not ours nor theirs that shall godlyly and freely testifie what they see in this cause And who knoweth whether by this meanes they may be brought to consider more then heretofore both of the vnlawfull constitution of that Church and of their outragious cruelty and therevpon seriously endevour a godly redressing of the former and an vtter repressing of the latter For the good among whom we sojourne they shall have better knowledg of our fayth and cause they may also grow vp together more strongly in the truth of the Gospell whiles thus they are stirred vp more carefully to endevour that the corruptions wherewith their Churches yet are faulty may be duly abolyshed and whiles such as are seduced by the errours of the Papists Anabaptists and other hereticks troubling these Churches are vpon this occasion drawne from such estate and stirred vp to search knowe and embrace the truth of Gospell Fynally for the whole Church we hope it shall hence also receive much profyt if this fayth and cause which now a long tyme hath ben condempned for schisme and heresy if also that Antichristian Apostasy which now a long tyme vnder the visard of godlynes hath deceived the world in the mystery of iniquity if these things we say being of so great moment be examyned and discussed by the canon of the Scriptures of so many and so worthy men furnyshed with learning godlynes judgment wisdome And thus much of the second poynt which was concerning the fact The third you say is of the conclusion inferred vpon comparing together the doctrine and fact aforesaid Here first you affirme you withâ—â—ould your self in suspence in this cause Be it so It is God that can reveale this also vnto you and perswade your conscience by his Spirit and word Then you annex some things concerning the doctrine and consent of the fathers and all wise men in all ages but you propound them so doubtfully that as touching our cause we cannot perceive what your meaning is Your wordes may so be vnderstood as we most willingly consent with you in this matter agayne they may be so taken as we dissent from you not a lytle nor without cause We are perswaded that separation should not be made from any Church eyther rashly or at all so long as we may remayne with sound fayth and coÌ„science You must therfore speak more playnely what you think of our separation if you suppose we have erred in this behalf all those things being discussed by the word of God which we have mencâ—oned in the preface and Confession aforesaid In the meane tyme heare and ponder well we pray you what Mr. Beza that learned man and well deserving of the Church of Christ hath wrytten and publyshed some while since concerning this question Thus he hath in his epistles publyshed in the right epistle sent to Ed Grir dall heretofore Pâ—elate of London wherein wryting of the state and corruptioÌ„s of the Churche of England he sayeth If it be trew which is commoÌ„ly reported and wherof my self am not yet perswaded that private Baptisme is there permitted to women I
men indeed learned and our bretheren beloved but hitherto we do not accord therein yet hope for better consent herafter by the blessing of God and throug the help of you and other godly men Finally pity the whole Church of Christ which verily it is not meet nor expedient neyther indeed ought among so many and grievous woundes of hers vniversally inflicted to be further galled with this particular wound that you should not take it in good part to have by vs the true faith of Christ publyshed and the remnants of Antichrists Apostasy discovered And thus have we wrytten freely and boldly vnto you good Sr whom we do vnfeynedly acknowledg to be godly learned and well deserving of the Church of Christ For we had rather that men should fynd fault with our boldnes then that Christ should reprove vs for leaving his cause Neyther doubt we but your self according to your wonted and commendable humanity wil pardon vs this fault whereinto we have ben drawen not with a mynd to contradict but with love of verity and affection of charity And God himself even our father which hath loved and called vs in Christ and hath given vs eternall consolation and good hope through grace fulfill in you all the gratious pleasure of his goodnes and the work of fayth with power that the name of our Lord Iesus Christ may bee glorified in you and you in him The grace of our God and Lord Iesus Christ be with your spirit Amen From Amsterdam the 19 of the second moneth called February 1599. Yours in the Lord most addicted Francis Iohson â—aniel Studley Stanshall Mercer Henry Ainsworth Georg Knyveton Christopher Bewman And the rest of the English people exiled for the Gospell sake and at this present remayning at Amsterdam Mr. Iunius his second Epistle To his beloved brethren the English people at Amsterdam Grace and peace from the Lord. YOur Letters loving Brethren I received yesterday and read If your messeÌ„ger had shewed mee before to whome or whither I should have written the matter had beene other wise caried but I sought and wayted a whole moneth being vncertaine to whom I might send If any thing were done otherwise then we would it was your owne fault That ye giue no place to false suspition I did nothing without the knowledge of my brethreÌ„ and Colleagues To you I gave counsell if it please you not you may let it alone for me it becommeth not vs to be contentious for it is not our custome nor the custome of the Churches of God Now that Messenger of yours spake onely to me without letters and called not on any of my Colleages What theÌ„ is the blame you lay vpoÌ„ me none forbad me to give counsel alone You asked indeed about a matter of faith but wee thought good rather to deale about giving you coÌ„sell What if a maÌ„ answere not according to your prescript is it by and by an iniurie Give vs leave brethreÌ„ I pray you to use our own iudgement we thought it fitter to give you counsell then to make an answere to your demaundes and that this wee might doe vnto you in brotherly dutie If we might not yet will wee bee more indifferent towards yow you may for vs abstaine you may rent the Letters and we also will concele it I wrote as touching counsell because I thought ther was need of it I wrote not of the question because I thought the time was not for it Otherwise I had neuer thought of you or your matters no not so much as in my dream so greatly doe I shunne to bee a medler in other meÌ„s matters You will say why wâ—s not the time for it Surely because the matter was not cleere to me to have beene handled in order and good maner Wherunto by giving you counsell I called you backe For if you kept good manner and order yow might hav shewed it if you kept it not you might have returned vnto it and observe it I knewe nothing at all either by you or by any other which I speake to the ende that you suspect none that is innocent Our manner is to make answere in order to them that aske according unto order if any aske not in order our manner is to call them backe to order as is meete yea if any vrge vs a hundred times besides order we will call him backe an hundred times vnto order or else by silence take order for our owne quietnesse and securitie Will you therefore take the thing in question for graunted Pardon meâ— deare brethren this is more theÌ„ either yâ—ririe or charitie doth teach Hee that speaketh a thing different speaketh neither this not that of the questioÌ„ but he who vppon advice dooth speake a different thing dooth deferre his iudgement giving sentence on neither side If you will not permit mee to do this which euerie man may lawfully doe I will take this one thing as my right to keepe silence that I may free my speach from cauillations Hee that shall say I coÌ„fesse the thing shall wittingly offend against the truth Others have set forth confessions I know it and I commend it for eyther they seemed and were sayd to stagger in the hands of their persecutors or else moved of conscieÌ„ce they did it orderly with the consend and approbation of the Church but he who writeth with a mind to dissent writeth against order and sifteth the soares of the Church against the law of charitie But you professe that if there be any dissention you do not dissemble it Surely in your confession I see no token wherby I may be certainely perswaded of it Haue me excused my senses are to dull to smell out things that are so secret And yet now I thaÌ„ke you eueÌ„ for this that you acknowledge your dissent in some things from the ministers of the Church of Amsterdam and I thanke God which moued mee to suspend my iudgement Therefore I did well who beeing altogether ignorant of your matters did yet so write that I prevented a thing by you dissembled or at least obscurely set down by whole some counsel The end which is the cleering of your selves although I knew nothing of you you shall sooner attaine in one day by dealing with the Church wherein you are then in an hundred yeare if you should live so long by writing to other Churches hither and thither You do not yet perswade me that you have dealt orderly if we sticke constantly to order and you dislike it at least beare with vs. For whereas you say that you are euery where proclaimed heretickes c. I knewe nothing of you neither should yet have knowne any thing if you had held your peace so strongly are my eares stopped against al rumors Of the fact of the English Churches I have not certaine knowledge why would you have vs speake You might have been silent as I admonished you by my letters and will you not
let vs be so You may if so be you know the thing so well have the iudgemeÌ„t of it with your selves but to publish it among the people to call for abettors of it and to exact like iudgement of vs you cannot Keepe your confidence to your selves and leave vs our modesty who have resolved not to speake of other mens matters except we know them thoroughly You thinke that other good meÌ„ will say otherwise but I think better of them who in my perswasion are furnished with knowledge skill and wisedome from heaven that they would sooner subscribe to our modestie then to this your iudiciall confidence To looke to the event is a point of wisdome which if you regard not I pray God the author of all wisedome to give you discretion Touching the conclusion Bretheren what shall I say otherwise then I haue said I verily have resolved neither for you nor for any mortall man to bee headie and inconsiderate in iudging especially when it neither belongeth to me to do it neither can it bee done with any fruit If you can doe it rightly wee doe not hinder you but let vs who cannot professe this one thing to you that we can be no iudges Touching others whome we knowe we have spoken else where but touching them because we knowe theÌ„ not wee do not yet speak CoÌ„cerning Beza how excellent a man that which you often say take heede Brethren you bee not deceived He spake by way of supposition which you expresse in your letters we because we see and experience doth teach vs that his wordes being spoken by way of supposition are vnderstoode of many as spoken simply dare not so much as answere by way of supposition Is this such an hainous and capitall fault with you bee it farre from you Brethren bee it farre from you to take that course with good men which God reason and the times haue taught vs to be daungerous Rash and headie iudgements are not to be required not to bee endured not to be heard That God of truth might iustly punish vs if casting a side discretion which is most needefull in these times wee should answere alwayes to all questions according to the lawes prescribed by such as propounde the same These three things according to God and vnder him are a lawe to vs veritie charitie and discretion If any one of these bewanting we are afraid to offend We crave of you brethreÌ„ that at least you woulde leave vs this our religious feare till all thinges bee made more plaine and easie vnto vs and if you thinke your selves more stroÌ„g in iudging beare with vs as with weake ones til by godly quietnes and holy studie we may attaine to more high and certaine thinges That which wee may doe truely godlily brotherly wisely we will neuer be slacke to doe if wee may profite you and the Church of Christ The Lorde furnish you beloued Brethren with his Spirit and direct you to veritie and charitie in holy wisedome and faith to the glorie of his name the edification of his bodie and obtayning of your owne salvation Amen Leyden Wednesday the 10 of March 1599. Yours vnfeynedly Fran Iunius The answer to Mr. Iunius his second Letter To the learned and our beloved Brother in Christ Mr. Francis Iunius at Leyden in Holland GRace and peace from God the Father and our Lord Iesus Christ RevereÌ„d Sr. your letters were delyvered vs which when we had read we thought thus with our selves If we wryte againe it wil be thought perhaps â—ontentious if we hold our peace it may prove hurtfull to the truth What is then to be done We must absteyne from contending yet so as the truth be not forsaken for which the Apostle exhorteth even to â—omesty Thus then worthy Sr. receive our answer briefly In that you did nothing in this matter without the knowledg of your brethren and Colleagues we therefore give you thanckes for now you have had consultatioÌ„ together yet shew you nor any one errour in our fayth and cause Touching that we rested not in your counsell we had many and waighty reasons so to move vs which we signifyed to you in our former letters but you have herâ— in silence passed by them Vntyll you take them away we think it cannot be shewed that in this matter we have done any thing otherwise then in good mannerâ— and order meet and needfull Publyck infamy requireth publick apology Others that have set forth their Confessions are by you acknowledged and commended We belyke only have offended in so doing aâ—d that which every Church man lawfully do and almost every man vpoÌ„ iust cause yet to vs and our Church you will not permit it So indifferent are nou towards vs. Neyther when they set forth their Confessions did the whole Caâ—holick Church consent and if you speak of â—â—e consent and approbaâ—â—on of a particular Church so also was our Confession publyshed But they wrote dissenting from the Church of Rome and the like being moved of conscience And the very same thing have we lykewise done dissenting from a daughter of the Romysh Church touching her Leitourgy hierarchy constitution to wit the Church of England Yet they thus wryting neyther wrote agâ—inst order nor sifted the soares of the Church against the law of charity Noâ—noâ— we neythre And touching he dissention not conceale what need we wryte otherwise then as before we have done It is with the Church of EnglaÌ„d that we had and still have to deale in this behalf and that difference we did by name and vnder certayn hâ—adâ—â— particularly relate as both the thing it self and our exile did necessarily require Now although in some thinges we differ from the ministers of these Churches yet were they not before they despise admonition to be dealt with in lyke sorte Else you might indeed some what rightly vrge order and the lawe of câ—â—rity if their names and peâ—uliar descriptioÌ„ of that differeÌ„ce had beÌ„ by vs particvlarly specifyed in that book Nevertheles whosoever know and consider the practise of these â—hurches and of such only we speak they may by that practise and our Confessâ—on coÌ„pared together peâ—ceive there is difference betwene them and vs Yea we know that some have so observed Otherwyse if it be as you pretend that in our Confession you see not aâ—y token whereby you may â—eâ— certainly perswaded there of how is it tâ—at in so great agreement they should by so many be judged as true Churches in the right fayth we as hereticks Besydes that even by this you do also grannt that you see not but they consent in one with vs touching the corruptions of the Church of England and our separation from them seing he that hath but half an eye man there see these most playnly propounded In which behalf we give thancks both to you and to God that hath brought you to give this judgment and testimony For this is the very thing wherein we
desyred your opinion And by this appeareth also how needfull it was for vs to set forth the Confession of our fayth as now we have done in respect of the Church of England with which we have to doe and from which for that we dissent we are accused as hereticks and schismaticks yll reported of and dryven into crile Touchinge the end fact and event they being all in our former letters discussed we will now speake no more of them agayne save this only that in the Preface besydes other thinges we noted this that we therfore publyshed the Confession of our fayth to the end the truth of God what lay in vs might be cleared from reproch of men and that others might be brought together with our selves to the same knowledg and fellowship of the Gospell Of the lyke wrytings and acts of others approved by all the godly we need say nothing Neyther will we speake more of the many and grievous afflictions which for this fayth now a long tyme we have susteyned Only we will mention because you do thus vrge vs agayne a litle booke wrytten by your self of your owne lyfe In which you relate many troubles and afflictions which heretofore you have suffered for religioÌ„ sake being pursued by the enemyes of Christ and his truth Now if any should obiect against you That many godly men knew not these things concerning you neyther should yet have knowen them if you â—ad held your peace that you have given place and have passed ouer into another Court that former injuryes if any have bene should by your self be borne in silence and hope be forgiven by ChristiaÌ„ charity to those from whom you received them and hid from others by Christian wisdome that there is no feare least by so doing you should be burst that every one should rather approve him self and his cause by dueryes of piety and charity then by outcryes and publyshing of wrytings that the adversaries are noâ— by this meanes made better but more provoked by such a grievous sting that you might if so be you knew the thing so well have the judgment of it with yoâ—r self and not publysh it abroade that you should not take vp burthâ—ens of accusations nor have judiciall confidence that it is a point of wisdome to look to the event that rash and heady judgments are not to be required not to be endured not to be heard c. If any we say should object these thinges against you which you do against vs would you not think it were vnjustly done of theÌ„ Why then do you that to others which you would not have done to your self Why vrge you these thinges so vnjustly against this Church of Christ and all the members of it which hath suffered mo afflictions of all sortes mo reproches imprisonments losses banishments deathes then your self and divers other good men yea though your troubles were teÌ„ tymes doubled whose particular storyes notwithstanding are wrytten publyshed and approved But we will let these thinges passe for neyther do we lyke this course of aunting disdayning wynding away from the point in hand so often used by you in your letters vnworthely Neyther do we deny but your aflictions were as you have related heavy and to be lamented which also if you contynew fayth full to the end the Captaine of our faith and beholder of our warfare will abundantly reward in the heavens even Iesus Christ to whome we commytt and commend this whole cause The Conclusion also hath ben debated before And now what others think of our cause we referre to themselues eyther by silence to be insinuated or other wise as they think best to be expressed In the meane tyme we cannot omit M Bezaes modest and yet confident judgment whose supposition because it is knowne to be of things most true and certaâ—ne it is all one as if it had bâ—n simply propounded And thus to collect we are perswaded is neyther to deale â—ll with good men neyther hath God reason or the tymes ever taught it to be daungerous Nay this rather do all these teach vs to be full of daunger wheÌ„ as men are content to wink at the defection and remnants of Antichrist and do not so much as by way of supâ—osition beare witnes to the truth of Christ against them being called intoâ— question And here if you please ponder with your self the first originall of that Antichrist his growth his exaltation Which Beza considering judged 〈…〉 daungerous as in the same epistle he professeth that it putteth him ingreat hoâ—rour and feare as often as he thinketh of these things and foreseeth the same or indeed more grievous punishments to hang over the heads of many people who at first did gladly reâ—ive the Goâ—pell â—to which now by litle and litle they fall away As touchinge our selves we are not then who eyther can or will prescribe laâ—es vnto others We are of al men the meanest and weakest And this wâ— do freely and syncerely professe and by all meanes we desyre to absteyne from to much confidence and to follow after an holy modesty And now of you learned Sr. and of other lyke godly learned strong discreet men we desyre to be instructed and informed yea to be brought agayne into the way if any where we be found to erre in our fayth and cause This also do those three things which according to God and vnder him ought to be a law to all men verity charity and discretion instantly call for at your handes In which respect we exhort pray and beseech you by the most sacred name of Christ that you come to help the Lord among the mighty Religious feare which in all and every where is commendable will nothing hinder this Day it will further rather whiles we coÌ„sider that we are so to feare least we offend as we do still remember withall that God hath not gyven vs the spirit of fearefulnes but of strength and love and soundnes of mynde that we should not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord neyther of them that be his prisoners exiles witnesses 2 Tim. 1.7.8 Pardon we pray you that we wryte thus freely vnto you The regard of the truth and love of you wringeth it from vs. For we are studious of the truth of God and also of your name and estimation If there be any thing wherein we may be serviceable vnto you without hinderance of the truth and love you shall commaund vs. And we trust you will require nothing of vs otherwise Farewell in Christ Iesus to whome we do hartely commend your holy and profitable labours and studyes Amsterdam the 18 of March 1599. Yours with entier affection in the Lord The brethren of the English Church at Amsterdam exiles of Iesus Christ Another letter of the same Church to Mr. Francis Iunius wherin their second aforesaid was included and sent vnto him HEre included learned Sir we send the answer to your second letter longe synce delyvered
rightly to be observed among them 5. They worship God in the Idol temples of Antichrist Exod. 20.4 with Deut. 12 2 3. 2. King 10 26 27 28. and 18 4. Act. 17 23. Rev. 18 11 12 c 6 The Ministers have their set mayntenance after another manner then Christ hath ordeyned 1. Cor 9 14. And that also such as by which any Ministery at all whether popish or other whatsoever might be maynteyned 7. Their elders chaunge yearly and do not continew in their office according to the doctrine of the Apostles and practise of the Primitive Churches Rom. 12 4 5 6 7 8. 1. Cor. 12 11 12 c Act 20.17.28 1. Pet. 5.1 2.3 4 See also Numb 8.24 c. 8. They celebrate Mariage in the Church as if it were a part of the Ecclesiasticall administration wheras it is in the nature of it merely civill Ruth 4. chap. 9. They vse a new censure of Suspension which Christ hath not appointed Mat. 28.20 Gal. 3.15 2. Tim. 3.16 17. 10. They observe dayes and tymes consecrating certeyn dayes in the yeare to the Nativity Resurrection Ascension of Christ etc. Exod. 20. commaundement 2. and 4. Rev. 1.10 1 Cor. 1â— 1.4.2 Act 20.7 Col. 2 16.17 Esa 66 23. Gal 10.11 11 They receiâ—e vnrepeÌ„tant excommunicates to be membres of their Church which by this meanes becometh one body with such as be delivered vnto SathaÌ„ 1. Cor. 5.5 1. Tim. 1.20 These among other are the corruptions of the church aforesaid which they are neyther able to defend nor willing to forsake Herein therfore we differ from them as they which knowe this estate of theirs may perceive by our confession compared with their errours noted before which the Lord give them to see and mynd And for your self good Sir take you heed in godlynes that in this cause you do not in any respect with hold the duty which you ow vnto them or defence which you ow vnto the truth So let God almighty also love you and Christ our Saviour be mercifull vnto you And this you may do truly Godlye brotherly wisely with great profit to vs and the Church of Christ every where Therfore we exhort and beseech you in the lord that you be carefull alwayes to help no way to hurt the Church and cause of Christ by your studyes endevâ—urs labours which being thus directed the Lord Iesus blesse to the glory of his name and your owne comfort for ever Amen Amsterdam The first day of the seventh moneth called Iuly 1602. Yours in Christ by whose grace we witnesse the truth of his Gospellâ— against the will worship and remnants of Antichrist what soever Francis â—ohnson Stanshall Mercer David Bresâ—o Henry Ainsworth Câ—ristophâ—r Boman Daniel Studley Thomas Bishop With the rest of the brethren of the English Church now living as straungers at Amsterdam A third letter written by Mr. Iunius vpon receipt of the last aforesaid and of his tvvo former imprinted before in England and therevpon by vs sent vnto him included withall To his beloved brethren in Christ the English people at Amsterdam Salutations in Christ AN huge bundell of letters beloved brethren I received from you yesterday in the evening I gave you counsell to rest from questioÌ„s you commaund me to enter into questions I continew still in my purpose for I esteem more of peace in the Church then of the seeds of strife they that are fedde with these seeds shall reap the fruit Where you conclude and pronounce that I do therefore assent vnto you it is a false conclusion As towching the matter I have enjoyned my self silence and although I be an hundred tymes called vpon by letters I will continew still in the argument of counsell till I see another course taken If it like you not let it alone neyther do I like the handling of questions in this tyme. It is more according to God that I be silent from questions in this estate of things then that I powre forth my self and you together into them You move many things in your letters I wil rest froÌ„ those things and will occupy my self religiously in the work of the Lord. Christian wisdome will never suffer me to speak of questioÌ„s controverted the one party being vnheard That my letters vnto you were translated into English I have now first knowen it by you I knew not that it was done You object that my letters were not shewed by you I beleev it for both by letters and reports of many I have ben certifyed that they were not shewed If it please you shew them for me you may All shall see how false reports have ben given forth concerning theÌ„ I neyther am ashamed of them neyther ever will be But I pitty you I speak it vnfeynedly who for my letters give forth in publick your conclusions With good men good dealing should be used That the copyes of my letters were carryed into England your selves may easily coÌ„jecture by what meanes it came to passe About teÌ„ moneths synce the Soveraign Quenes Ambassadour was there and two of your company dined with him What hapned at that dinner you can remember He came hither vnto me he marveled at the fact of your departure I told him that I had writteÌ„ vnto you he desired a copy To you I gave counsell whosoever gave it forth in publick hath done it without my knouwledg I will not answer for an others doing but for myne owne In the meane while I will pray God that he frame your mynds vnto the truth wisdome love and peace and all our mynds vnto his glory Farewell in the Lord. From Leyden in Holland The 16. day of Iuly 1602. Yours vnfeynedly Fr. Iunius The Answer to Mr. Iunius his third letter To the reverend and our beloued brother in Christ Mr. Fr. Iunius at Leyden in Holland Grace and peace in Iesus Christ YOur third and very brief letter beloved Sir we received this last week They were your letters imprinted and included that made the â—uge bundell if so it were It is not well said of you that terme the Confession of Christian faith and defeÌ„ce of publishing it to be questioÌ„s and seâ—ds of strife nor that you say we coÌ„manâ— you to enter into questions For the conclusâ—on whether it be true or false now let others judge which shall see your letters together with ours Towching the matter you have enjoyned your self silence Yea and towching the maner and other things also where you can fynd no answer neyther Yet for the matter it self if so be that with the Papists Anabaptists or any the like we did erre froÌ„ the true faith we doubt not but you would open your mouth to answer to refute to convince But because in our faith you can shew no errour and yet in this tyme and estate of things like not â—o stand for vs and this cause it is safest to be silent Wisely done in deed but not according to God who denouÌ„cing by the Prophet hath said Cursed be