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
Heidelberg then piously solicitous about the erecting of Order in the Churches of the Palatinate under Pious Frederick as appears in their Embassy and Letters to the Brethren of Bohemia for Zech. Vrsin in his to Andreas Stephanus the Antistes of the Brethren writes thus We are fully certified by your Confession both of your consent with us in all the heads of Christian Doctrine and also of your care and diligence to keep up a conversation worthy of a Christian and indeed upon this account we must needs joy you with an happiness far beyond us And we entreat you to help us in your prayers to the Lord that we may obtain his grace for some further attainment of the beauty of Christian Order amongst us also and that we judging our selves may not be condemned of the Lord for notwithstanding our prayers and endeavours many a day have been reaching hereunto that something of better Order may at last be seen amongst us yet because the name of Church-Discipline some imprudently and importunately urging it others bitterly and altogether rejecting it is become so odious that a great part do not onely decline it but would have it demolished and we can scarce hitherto enjoy the name or the least slight shadow of Discipline Therefore with shame and grief we are sensible that you ascribe more to us in your opinion then is to be found amongst us yet this advantage we have by it that from hence we apprehend you ply us as with a spur to quicken us to endeavour to be more answerable the better to answer to that good opinion which you and the rest of the godly conceive of us c. Mart. 19. 1574. 114. Answer hereunto being received the Church of Heidelberg dispatch to the Brethren one Badius with Letters to the same Antistes written by Mr. Olevian to this effect Mr. Vrsin shewed me your Letters and them of Mr. Languet whereby I understand that you of a long time have vigorously laid at that design whereto also we aspire namely to place the beginning middle and end of Religion not in disputing but in doing i. e. in true conversion to God and solid faith in Christ Let me therefore beg of you not onely in mine but in the name of the Brethren which are here in the service of the Church that you would furnish this John Badius with understanding of the whole Oeconomy or Administration of your Church and make him welcome for he is a learned and very pious man Mr. Vrsin and all the Colleagues salute you At Heidelberg April 28. 1574. 115. Now what opinion the Divines of Heidelberg had of those things which Badius observed in the Churches of the Brethren is evident by Olevians Letters again to Stephen given Sept. 6. in these words It cannot be expressed what high thoughts I have of that work of the Lord which he hath not onely began but also carried on so many years in your Churches The extreme corruptions of this age makes me and my Coleagues not a â—ittle desirous to confer with you about the most excellent Government of the Church for we would so build that the building may stand firm for after ages but we see how great differences and what sudden changes there are in those Churches which are deprived of their Priviledge and wholly depend upon the Civil power unless we seasonably obviate these evils many of the godly will think at least in a great part that they have run in vain I mean as to the stability of the building and the preservation and propagation of the whole Oeconomy of the Kingdom of Christ Wherefore we thankfully own what the Lord hath given us and we desire to make more full acknowledgment thereof and beseech the Lord that he would supply us with sufficient means hereunto to that purpose Veriâ—y when I behold the sad face of the Reformed Churches in Germany I am utterly afraid I apprehend that secular powers have been heretofore the Churches entreatments but now in many places they are turned into a kind of Dominion to domineer at their pleasure over the Churches and the heavenly doctrine Of the causes hereof this seems not to be the least that many Churches have too much given up themselves to the Polities of the world as if they were an essential part of the Kingdom of Christ Therefore I cannot but extoll your way of edifying who would have your Churches so subjected to the Polities of this world yea and to all men for good as yet to part with nothing of that liberty which Christ hath purchased for them with his blood 116. Hubert Languet mentioned before was the Elector of Saxonies Legat in Cesars Court at Vienna a man of great authority I find some letters of his to Andreas Stephanus and in one of them these words The Pope fears nothing more then our consent and uniting together which is his sure destruction if it can be effected but we have some unsound Divines amongst us which reject all good counsels and therein do much advance the Popes interest I would have the Churches of Bohemia which you write desire the Augustan Confession first joyn themselves with your Churches But these things are belonging to the good pleasure of God onely unto whom we must earnestly pray that he would defend his Church against them which labour to dissolve it Of the Gentleman D. of Z. I think as you do he seems to me to be of that sort of men which prudently and simply judge of things as nothing at all byassed by their affections of which there are to be found but very few Tho most and those not otherwise wanting parts and ingenuity being so hurried away with their affections that they seem sometimes when they give their judgement to be destitute of common sence At Vienna 15. Feb. 1574. 117. There was come forth before this time an 1572. the famous four-languaged Bible of Benedict Arias Montanus printed at Antwerp and not much after that was the new Latin Translation of the Bible of Francis Junius and Imanuel Tremel printed at Heidelberg This put the Brethren upon preparing in like manner a new version of the Bible in their own language conformable to the Original for all that they had hitherto had was the Latin version they therefore set about this business and in pursuance hereof they send to the Universities of Wittenberg and Basil some Candidates in Divinity to give themselves diligently to the study and thorough-knowledge of the holy Tongues To these was adjoyned a Jew born Lucas Helitz of Posnania a learned and pious man ordained also a Minister of the Gospel among us and that these might be able quietly to attend this sacred work there was assigned them in the heart of Moravia an accommodation for their dwelling together viz. the Castle of Kratlitz a Printing office being there also erected under the patronage of the Right honourable Lord John Baron of Zerotin having his Mansion in the next adjoyning
to you as there to them O! O you Corinthians that are wise that are rich that raign without us ver 4 8. For truly the things for which you contend are only of this life Rank Eminency Possessions Revenues Authority Repute and the like Prerogatives but how small a thing is all this for you which shall judge the world v 2. 3. which are in expectation of the Throne of Christ and his blessed Kingdom to Eternity Apoc. 3.21 So that whilst you that are so great contend about things so small behold God sets before you some that are contemptible and of the lowest form that you may begin even of them to learn to do better Those I mean which groaning under Christ's Cross may thus address to you that shine in glory God hath set forth unto you us as appointed unto death for we are made a spectacle unto the world to Angels and to men we are fools for Christ and you are wise in Christ we are weak but you are strong ye are honourable but we are vilified to this very time we both hunger and thirst and are naked and buffeted and have no certain dwelling place and labour working with our own hands being reviled we bless being made as the filth of the World and the off-scouring of all things c. 1 Cor. 4.9 c. Thus Paul minds them of these things in 1 Epist to Cor. and what heed they gave to him herein appears in the second Epistle where he once and again reproves them that they despised his Apostolical meanness and suffered themselves to be led away from the simplicity of Christ by them which were addicted to pomp and great swelling words and full fed with large fat morsels and no wonder for so it was with the Lord of the Prophets and Apostles that by reason of this meanness and meekness â— Jsa 42.1 2. his cross and afflictions he was so contemned that he was counted unworthy to be lookt upon Jsa 53.2 3. the World alwayes looking after nothing but power pomp and splendor doth so love to deceive it self and let the Godly take heed and beware of it For the foolishness of God is wiser then men and the weakness of God is stronger then men I God making choice of those things which are base to the world and nothing worth yea even those things which are not to abolish those that are that no flesh might glory in his sight 1 Cor. 15.28 29. However then I heartily wish you O! you great Sticklers in the great Churches some great Joseph which may bespeak his brethren with authority why fall ye out in the way of Heaven Gen. 45.24 or a Moses to cry out to you men and brethren why do ye wrong to one another Acts 7.26 or an Hezekiah to charge you as he did with royal Majesty the Levites and Priests My sons do not swerve any more for God hath chosen you c. 2 Chron. 29.11 Or else a great Constantine who gently reproving his Bishops the Ministers of Christ burned all the books of controversies Yet what forbids that I should not tread in the footsteps of Christ and setting before you great Apostles a little child in the midst and shew you what lesson you must learn of him What hinders also but that the Apostles counsel may be urged that quarrel being arisen among you about those things which concern this life only the judgement hereof may be committed to them that are the lowest in the Church This will be of Divine right whatever otherwise reason of State may suggest to them which understand not nor will understand the State of the Kingdom of Christ In confidence then of this Divine right the Bohemian though the least of all Churches and oppressed intreats You the Churches of greater Magnitude to supersede your contentions about matters so small so fading and of no value What will you contend for the Prerogative of Place and dignity when Christ did so straightly forbid his own all desire of honour and commanded that he that affected the primacy should be thrust back to the last place Mat. 20.26 23.11 12. for titles when the meekest Lord condemned the Phylacteries in the Pharisees as a piece of stinking pride ib. 5. and would have his own count themselves sufficiently honoured with the mutual compellation of Brethren ver 8. Do you strive about the higher understanding of the Mysteries when we are here all but infants scarce understanding the least part of that which by the goodness of God we shall know when we come to the state of Perfection Why may not the one of them that have an imperfection in speech have a good understanding of the other or at least bare with him Doe you contend for the right of Prebends when Christ affirmes it better to give then to receive Act. 20. and interdicts all his own which he sent forth to preach the Gospel the charge of the purse Math. 10.9 subjoyning this rule ye have received freely give freely And verily that was matter of glorying to the Apostles that they preached the Gospel gratis even to the richest Corinthians that they might not be burdensome to any 2 Cor. 11.7 9. and it was the Character of a mercenary Preacher to strive to be rich of the Gospel ib. 20. and elsewhere often Let the sincere Servants of Christ then imitating Christ and the Successors of the Apostles treading in the steps of the Apostles glory in the Lord. If you still stick at our smallnesse we must say with Syrac The Bee is small among winged creatures yet the fruit thereof is the beginning of sweetness Syrac 11.3 What more despicable then the Aunt yet how often are we sent to her as the Mistress of Prudence And may not a little Common-wealth be in greatest Order and so a mirrour to another which is greater Be the boat greater or less I am only but one still and the same as any understanding man will say Verily bigness is of no vertue unless happily to sink with its own weight all action flowes from the forme My Predecessors did adventure in the contentions of the Brethren of the Evangelici in Germany Helvetia Polonia in a brotherly way to interpose and by the assistance of God did there doe some good Why may not we the relicts of them cry out against the Relicts of contentioners They durst move Maximilian the Emperour to a Reformation of the Church Hist 108. why may not we the last reduced to the last entreat the same Our blessed Martyrs Hus and Hieron in the midst of the flames sung Psalmes unto God in confidence of the goodness of their Cause Why may not we be as them which inherit the same Cause to the last man being to triumph with Christ by his power not only in the Babâ—lonian flames but beyond them also and the last flamâ—s of the World in the Judgment day But what would you have may some say I answer compassion Compassion I