the seas as Geneua Fraunce c. And the only cause why our church differeth from the churches reformed of the straūgers or amongs our selues or they amongs themselues is because one church suffereth not it selfe so to be directed by the course of the scriptures as an other doth except it be in those things of order wherin one parishe may many times differ from an other wythout offence folowing the generall rules of the scripture for order as in appoynting tyme and place for prayers and so forth So that we are so farre off from singularitie wherwyth we are commonly charged that we desire to drawe by one line with the primitiue churche and the churches best reformed at thys day for we say there is but one * line throughout all coūtreis and at all times as the scripture speaketh there is one * body one spirite one hope one Lorde one fayth one baptisme one God and Father of all which is aboue all and through al and in vs all The persons and causes that are to deale and to be dealt with in the church are certayne and expressed in the scriptures The lyfe of the worde is the ministerie of the same howe shall they heare wythout a * preacher sayth the Apostle The former tretises therfore haue rightly spoken against the bastard idol and vnpreaching ministerie of thys church And therefore thys I say that first you must prouide a suffycient mayntenance for the ministerie that in euery parishe they may haue a preaching pastor one or moe that may only entend that charge Is not the scripture plaine Thou shalt not * mousel the mouth of the Oxe ▪ that treadeth out the corne for our sakes no doubt thys is wrytten that he that careth should care in hope that they whych sowe you spirituall things myght reape of you temporall things whych is no bad exchaunge for you Nowe to your handes oure auncestors haue raised a maintenance which is not so embeseled away nor the propertie so altered but that though mennes deuotion be colde to the ministers the state may easely by law restore the same prouision againe without losse in manner to any partie If none other way may be founde then haue the bishops and cathedrall churches temporalties inough to redeme those liuings that be impropriated or otherwyse out and to better those liuings whych are too small and as I thynke to be employed to other good vses of the church also But we will not stande wyth you so muche in the manner of the raisyng of theyr prouision for raise it as it shall please God to put you in minde so y you prouide sufficiently for your ministers that they maye be of abilitie to maintaine their charge and to bestowe vpon fitte furniture of bokes and honest hospitalitie But in the meane while vntill a sufficient prouision be made it is no better then sacrileage and spoyling of God to kepe backe any way the prouision which hath bene made in that respecte and the cursse of God threatned by Malachie to those that spoiled y * Leuites then of their prouision belongeth and wil light vpon our spoilers nowe vpon them in whose hands it is to redresse it if they doe it not Also there must be orders taken and looked vnto for the bestowing of the liuings prouided in the vniuersities now dennes of many theeuish non-residentes not to the greedy vse of many cormorant masters of colledges and at theyr wicked pleasure as they are but to the brynging vp for the moste parte of such as wil be content to be employed vpon the charge of the ministerie whē as the church shall haue nede of them and to take from them that haue moe liuings all saue one and that to except they will be resident and be able and willyng to discharge it hauing besides the allowāce which afterwards shal be spoken of by God hys grace And thys prouisiō must so sufficiently be established that it may be paide wythoute adoe and not to be sought for or worme by suspensions or * excommunication which are applied by y scriptures to a farre more proper and spirituall vse not at all to thys And also there are many charges going out of benefices wherof they shoulde be vnburdened Next you must repeale your statute or statutes whereby you haue authorised that ministerie that now is making your estate partly to consist of Lordes spiritual as you cal them and making one minister hygher then another appoynting also an order to ordayne ministers which order is cleane differing from the * scriptures wherefore you muste haue the order for these things drawne oute of the scriptures which order is this When any parishe is destitute of a pastor or of a teacher the same parish may haue recourse to the next conferēce and to them make it knowne that they maye procure cheefely from the one of the vniuersities or if otherwise a man learned of good report whome after triall of hys gyftes had in theyr conference they may present vnto the paryshe which before had bene wyth them aboute that matter but yet so that the same parishe haue him a certaine time amōgst them that they may be acquainted wyth his gifts and behauioure and geue their consentes for his stay amongste them if they can alleage no iust cause to the cōtrary for he may not be sent away again which is so sent to a parishe except a iust cause of misliking the cause alleaged being iustly proued against hym either amongst themselues in theyr owne consistorie so that he will appeale no further for hys triall or els in the next conference or counsell prouinciall or nationall vnto which from one to another he may appeale if he fynde hymselfe cleare and if he geue ouer they maye proceede as afore for another And when suche an one is founde to whome the parishe muste geue consent bicause there is no iust cause to be alleaged agaynste him the nexte conference by whose meanes he was procured shall be certified of the parishes liking wherupon they shall amongst themselues agree vpon one of the ministers which shall be sent by them to the same parishe and after a sermon made according to the occasion and earnest prayer to God wyth fasting according to the example of the scriptures made by that congregation to God the it would please him to direct them in theyr choise and to blesse that man whome they choose he shall require to know their consent which being graūted he the elders shall lay their hāds on him to signifie to him that he is lawfully called to that parishe to be pastor there or teacher Now for as much as I haue made mētion of a pastor and a teacher of a consistory in each parish of a cōference and of a counsell prouincial and national I wil as brefely as I can declare what eache of these meaneth and what the vse of them is
the Prince and state by the godly learned menne of thys realme bâ—cause of y rawnesse of this people yet and also vsing earnest prayers wyth fasting as in the choise of the minister hauing made their choise thereafter they shall publishe their agreement in their parishe and after a sermon by their minister at their appoyntment and vppon their consent the minister may lay hys handes vppon euery of them to testify to them their admission This consistorie is for that onely congregation and must doe that which they we wyntly in any common cause of the churche And these are to employe themselues and to be employed by that congregation vpon the necessary and vrgent affaires of the same churche These are they in y church to whome our sauiour coÌ„maundeth them that haue twise or oftner admonished an offender and he heareth them not to vtter such an offender when he sayth tell the church These are they whose last admonition he of that church or they which regarde not shall be taken as a publicane or heathen These are they that shall admonishe all suche in that congregation as they knowe to liue with offence to the church or as be presented to them by good testimonie of their offence committed These be they which shall excommunicate the stubburne making the whole church priuie to their doings and shall vpon repentaÌ„ce take order for the receiuing such an one in againe making open profession of hys or their repentance to the satisfying of y congregation Yet euer so must they excommunicate receiue the excommunicate in againe that they require the assent of their whole congregation shewing the greuousnesse of hys fact and howe they haue proceeded wyth him by admonition and hys contempt whych they shall doe bothe bicause their vpright dealing may appeare to y who le church and bicause they may not vsurpe authoritie ouer the whole churche whereby we might caste out the tirannie of the bishops bryng in a new tyrannie of theirs who are appointed by good order to haue the examination of matters the rest of the dealing in the name of the whole congregation Neuerthelesse what they do wel the congregation cannot alter neither shall the congregation put them or any of them out but vpoÌ„ iust cause proued either in that consistorie or in some one of the counsels and the cause accepted for sufficient Neither may they or any of them leaue to deale in that turne except they can shew good cause to that consistorie and it to be approued by them wyth the consent of the whole congregation and good liking For neyther muste they lightly be broughte into suspition nor they must not lightly cast of so waighty a calling and function of suche importance no more then the ministers may They also shall examine all disordered ceremonies vsed in place of prayer and abolishe those which they finde euill or vnprofitable and bring in suche orders as their congregation shall haue neede of so they befew and apparant necessary both for edifying and profite decent order prouing it plainely to the whole church that it is so And in like sorte shall they suffer no lewd customes to remaine in their parishe either in gaâ—es or otherwise but hauing conferred of suche things amongste themselues they shall admonish him or them brotherly that he or they vse them not any more as vnseming to Christian men to vse the lyke or if they be common they shall geue open admonition and it shall be left In all these things in all things of the church they shall not meddle wyth the ciuill magistrates office nor wyth any other punishment but admonition and excommunication of the obstinate Yet this they must doe that he which hath lyued with offence to that congregation although he hath suffred the punishment of the law for hys offence against it yet he shall by them be admonished to satisfie the congregation to whom he hath geuen offence amongs whoÌ„ he dwelleth As for example he that hath vsurie proued agaynst him so that he lose hys principal for taking aboue ten in the hundred yet shall he also for committing so hamous offence agaynste God and hys churche to the very ill example of others not be allowed to the Sacraments vntill he shewe hymselfe repentaunt for the faulte and study thereby to satisfie the congregation so offended by him These shal receiue the informations of the deacons for the releefe of the pore their accomptes for that which they shal lay out that way and of their diligeÌ„ce in visiting them that the congregations maye by the Consistorie be certefyed of all thyngs concerning the poore bothe y there may be made prouision accordingly and that the prouision made may be wel husbanded and the pore may by the deacons be visited comforted and releeued accordyng to their lack Lastly one or moe of these assistants with one of the ministers a deacon or deacons shall be those y shall at their churches charges meete at the prouincial councell or nationall if there be any businesse that concerneth their churche Especially one of the ministers shall not faile and one of this assistance to be parties in any generall cause of all the churches that may be dealte in there whether it be concerning doctryne or manners Now a word or two of excommunication and deacons because I haue made meÌ„tion of them and then I will shew vpon what scriptures these orders are grosâ—â—ed and a little compare them wyth those which we vse and some certaine matters incident to these then I will draw to an ende by God hys grace Excommunicatâ—on may not be vsed but after sondrye brotherly and sharpe admonitions too great occasions offences and contemptes shewed as the scripture is plaâ—e And in these cases they are by the persons and order asore not shut oute of the church dore as we vse but oâ—t of the churche of God and communion and felowshippe of the saintes they are deliuered to sathan and to be esteemed and to be no more taken for Christian men till they repent then Heathens or Turkes are saue that as they may be allowed yea and procured if it may be to come to heare sermons so also they may be conferred with by the brethren to bryng them to repentance But they shall not be allowed to the sacrament the pledge of Christ hys league with hys church vntill by repentaÌ„ce they may be admitted as afore is sayde into the fellowship of the church againe Neyther shall any brother or sister vse hys or their companie but to admonishe them and exhort them to repeÌ„tance or as he or she may the heatheÌ„s company for their necessary affaires in the world as they may haue dealing together or as a wife whych may not depart from her husband if he wil abide with her and yet shee may be admitted to the felowship of the
deuise lawes for the preseruation and prosperitie of your common wealth and neglecte God his churche leaue that waste prouide not for that you shall finde as the * Prophet saith yee shall sowe muche and bring in little yee shall eate and not haue inoughe As for the Conuocation house whereof many haue conceiued a maruellous opinion and which should of duetie loke to these matters common experience dothe proue that they doe for the most parte apply them selues to the time and seeke rather to please and followe worldly pollicie then sincerely to promote Gods cause and to publishe his truth And hereof their last conuocations can be good witnesses But you say the Bishops are good men great clearkes they knowe what they haue to doe and possyble some of them doe excepte the God of thys worlde haue blâ—nded their eyes and so did some of the popishe bishops but you were deceiued by them and you are like to be deceiued by these if you truste them so farre as experience teacheth Neuerthelesse you shall die in * your synnes you shal both * fall into the ditche But some will say that the admonition hindered other things As who shuld say that to further Gods cause is to hinder other matters that be profitable for the coÌ„mon wealth doth the knowledge of God and the promoting of hys glory hinder profitable lawes that is a thyng that I would gladly learne for I coulde neuer vnderstand it before VVherfore this may be as a seconde Admonition wyth the like mynde as afore by them to craue redresse of the great abuses in oure Reformation of Religion some being continued from the papistes some deuised by the fantasticall heades of vayne menne and some though not maintayned yet suffered and not reformed vnto thys day yea and further as they afore doe againe appeale to thys hyghe Courte of Parliament from all other Courtes being ready to defende that whych I wryte touching the substance of it againste all men and that vppon the pearill of my lyfe Let me be but vprightly heard and interpreated The matter is Goddes ouerpasse it not lightly for we maye not thoughe you deuised lawes to cutte vs off as by some one byshop you haue bene ere nowe prouoked for oure partes thus leaue it The other bokes are shorte as it was requisite to present to you and therefore they haue not so muche tolde you how to Reforme as what to Reforme They haue tolde you of many things amisse and that very truely they haue tolde you in generall what were to be restored but howe to doe these things as it is the hardest poynte so it requireth as themselues saye a larger discourse I meane therfore to supplie as shortly as I can bicause I wryte as they dyd to you some thing that may make to the expressing of the matter so plainely that you may haue sufficient lyght to proceede by till they whych are endued wyth greater giftes discusse it more exactly or till we our selues who haue begon maye haue further oportunitie to proceede if it be neglected of theyr part which coulde we it better And yet this I dare say for the substance of those Treatises which is it that galleth the aduersaries mooste howe so euer they quarrell with them vpon wordes that it is so grounded vpon the vndoubted truthe of God his booke that the diuell of hell cannot wyth his coloures blemishe it saue he may seeke to suppresse it by violence nor any but he and those whome he hathe deceiued or whome God hath not yet giuen so much light vnto will or can stand against it I would and doe therefore earnestly admonishe them that knowe to knowe as they ought and to doe as they knowe and to beware of the God of this worlde that he deceiue them not for the time will come that this * dung shall be throwne openly in their faces to their euerlasting shame that maintain it like as at this day it hathe befallen to the sencelesse Papistes who will neuer giue ouer til they can neither wil nor chuse with shame inough Next I woulde and doe earnestly adâ—â—onishe those that are ignorant to learne to knowe and to beware of a blinde zeale which is more violent vniust then oughte else carying men headlong to maintain that they haue no reason for and wickedly to gainstand the expresse truth to their endlesse perdition Now to the matter I say that we are so skarce come to the outwarde face of a Churche rightly reformed that although some truth be taught by some preachers yet no preacher may withoute greate danger of the lawes vtter all truthe comprised in the booke of god It is so circumscribed wrapt within the compasse of suche statutes suche penalties suche instâ—uctions suche aduertisements suche articles suche canons suche sober caueats and suche manifoâ—â—e pamphlets that in manner it doth but â—â—epe out from behâ—â—de the screene The lawes of the lande the booke of common prayer the Queenes Iniunctions the Commissioners aduertisements the bishops late Canons Lindwoodes Proumetais euery bishops Articles in his dâ—ocesse my Lord of Canterburies sober caueates in his licences to preachers and hys highe Courte of prerogatiue or graue fatherly faculties these together or the worste of them as some of them be too badde may not be broken or offended against but with more daunger then to offende against the Bible To these subscribing and sub 〈…〉 ing againe and the third subscribing are re 〈…〉 red for these Preachers and others are endi 〈…〉 are fined are prisoâ—ned are excommunicated are banished and haue worse things threatned them and the Bible that muste haue no further sâ—â—pe then by these it is assigned Is this to professe God his worde is this are formation He that could not abide straunge fire in the olde law but burnt * them that vsed it what will he doe to vs in the newe lawe that erect a new and straunge course or worde to rule his church by What did the Pope but so he did suffer God his worde to haue a course as farre as it pleased him so that he might haue the whole authoritie aboue it so dyd the Popishe churche but we say the * worde is aboue the church then surely it is aboue the Englishe churche and aboue all these bookes afore rehearsed If it be so why are not they ouer ruled 〈◊〉 and not it by them Here falleth forthe to be â—â—swered a shift of descant to turne and winde this 〈…〉 er Forsothe these are not repugnant saythe 〈◊〉 to the woorde of God no nor yet say we are 〈◊〉 consonante no more is chaffe like to quenche 〈◊〉 no nor yet can it abide the fire But gold can â—â—uen so are these vnable to quenche the lighte of 〈◊〉 gospell no * nor yet can they â–ª abide the courte oâ— the gospell but true religion abideth the triall of the word of god As wel reasoned it were to say lay hay or stubble
on their garmentes loued to be greeted and to be called Rabbi whyche thyngs by our sauioure are forbidden his ministers and an order enioyned that they which loke for it shuld not haue it but be least esteemed Thys is true reade the scriptures youre selues I pray you if you finde it not so disproue vs if it be founde so strengthen vs by your authorities and lette the worde of God haue the free course that it ought to haue They be but pretences to serue the glorious course that some of oure ministers are entred into when they say it is the credyte of the ministerie and the vpholding of the same and thys way of oures is the discrediting and ouerthrowing of the ministerie of all good orders and to bring confusion into the churche and as they pretende playne Anabaptistrie But they are no better but pretences and flat vntruthes for it is God hys owne order set by our sauioure and hys Apostles in his church and I trust as breefely as I can to make it appeare to be God his order and the lest order and the onely order which should be in the churche of god And as for the order whych they pretend to be maintained by them it may be that they knowe their order when they ride in their scarlet roaâ—es before the Queene and howe to poll their cleargye as they call them and all other in their diocesses howe to lease oute benefices to the patrones or by the persone or vicare and patrones meanes royally to lease them out to some other or to alienate the house or the gleebe for a round summe of money to their Lordships chestes or brybes to their wiues or to their children or to their offycers or seruauntes that they may haue their share thereby or how to kepe their courtes and gette them officers for their best aduauntage or howe to rattle vp these new fellowes these yong boyes that will not obey at a becke to their articles aduertisements canons caueates and such lyke stuffe of their owne forging or whatsoeuer proceedeth or is from or for their Lordly estate and degree or howe to pleasure their frende or frendes or freendes freende with a Benefice or wyth a Pr 〈…〉 so that it maye bee a good turne to themselues comming by simonie away or howe to lease out their owne temporaltyes of their bishopprickes yea possible akenate them from their successors and howe to matche their sonnes and their daughters together with great summes of money passing betweene them and how to purchase lands and leases in their wiues childrens names bicause if they were priests their children cannot inherite nor are legitimate by the lawes and howe to raise fines and rentes and many suche good orders moe they are verye skilfull in and keepe very diligently I woulde for experience some of their doings were examined and then no doubt we shoulde see manye of these goodly orders brought to lyght And tyll it be examined I would that they whych are honest men woulde bryng to lyghte their doings whych they knowe for as finely as they haue haÌ„dled the matters there are some which know inough and I trust they will impatt it ere long to the state y they whych are of so sharp a sight to see who offende them may themselues lie opeÌ„ and shew how they offend God and his church and howe vtterly vnnecessary they are and to be remoued from their roumes and their roumes from the churche whych by them are continued to stall the popishe Bishops in their pompe againe if euer their tyme serue them heere For good orders lette vs heare any one they make but euen as the lawe directeth them which any other temporall officers myght and woulde doe as well as they if the lawes dyd not prohibite it And there is none other but lawes with them no God his booke no brotherly talke with them they will not runne in a premunire for any of all their brethren nor for any of God hys matters neyther they will not haue the Queenes displeasure for any of them all they wil not be defaced whatsoeuer commeth of it nay they wil raile vpon and reuyle their brethren they will persecute and prisone them they will stirre her maiestie and all other agaynst them they will sterue stiffle and pine them to death Howe many good mennes deathes haue they bene the cause of by an inwarde sorrowe conceyued of their doings howe sodainly dyed master Pullen after they began to rage M. Horton M. Caruell and many others and howe did they kill y good mannes heart olde good M. Couerdale although they pretended they wold prouide for him after much adoe from the counsell and as they say from the Queene to them yet they allotted hym a small portion and paide hym by fittes and sometymes wyth base golde and mony if they had any worse then other whych I haue heard very crediblye reported Olde D. Turner was muche beholding to them being a good man an auncient preacher neuer shauen nor greased yet he had no small stirre by them M. Leauer M. Samson and some other at this day learned godly howe haue they greeued their good heartes vtterly leauing some of them wythout lyuing to the wyde worlde to shifte as they can And yet they may not shyfte some of them by those giftes whych God hath giuen them they may neyther preache nor teache chyldren publikely nor priuately And they that are in some liuings what sorowe doe they holde them wythall and howe ticklishly doe they holde them to euermore in daÌ„ger of being called before the hyghe Commissioners and to loose those liuings How many haue they driuen to leaue the ministerie and to liue by Phisicke and other suche meanes or to leaue their countrey Howe many students haue they discouraged from the studie of diuinitie and to chaunge their mindes since they sawe their dealings and to chaunge their studies also Howe many poore Artificers and other commoners in this citie and elsewhere haue they ill entreated brought vp slauÌ„ders vpon and by their ill vsage and lacke of diligent conference haue they not suffered to fall but haue bene the cause that they haue fallen into errors Contrarywise what incouragement and fauor haue they shewed to papists how haue they opened their eares to their complaints against the ministers and shut their eares when Papists haue bene complained vpon or slightly ouerpassed it Yea some of them haue sayde that coÌ„formable Papistes were more tollerable then these precisians and godlye men that seeke for reformation Hanson of Oxforde whych amoÌ„gst other articles was charged iustly and is yet to be proued that he sayde Storie was an honest man was put to death wrongfully and had frendes alyue would reuenge hys death one day howe slightly dyd the Byshop of Canterbury vse hym what frendshippe founde Thurlbie in hys house may poore preachers be halfe so wel vsed or such other poore men
honourable worshipfull and others by whose meanes they are heere supported and maintained And I am sure of it we all fare the better for it at God hys handes And I beseche the whole state beseeche God that the whole stare may bend theÌ„selues to haue more and more care for the godly straungers y are of the churches in deede and not to be greeued that they are so many but to pitte their present persecution and to comforte them For the other swine that are not of the churches I pray God they may fynde litle fauoure except they repent ioyne themselues to the churches Thus muche also of the Leacons Thys order of the church gouernment is grounded vpon that saying of our sauioure Tei the churche wherin it is certayne he alludeth to that consistorie of the Iewes and the scriptures that directe their gouernement And it is so certain that such a consistory they had and such elders as it shall not nede further to examine those scryptures but to come to the practise of the Apostles the churches plaÌ„ted by them The apostle noteth y there are in the church bearing offyce ruling which should be had in estimation for their offyce two sortes of elders and rulers wherof the one sort also ruleth but they laboure in the woorde and doctrine to and their offyce is the principall He distinguisheth them to the Corinthes the teachers and the gouernoures because all gouernoures are not teachers but because al teachers are gouernoures as to Timothie before is said so to the Romaines deuiding the offyces of the churche into two sortes gouernment and ministring to the pore To the first office he assigneth doctors pastors and gouernors calling them by these names teachers exhorters and rulers and to the second offyce he assigneth deacons widowes callyng the first those that minyster and the widowes those that shew mercy Of the widowes I will say no further but vpon lyke decasyon it is God hys order But for the other orders they must be in all well ordered churches of Christians The Apostle Paul and Barnabas set suche order in the churches whyche they planted It was so in the churches of Rome of Cornith of Ephesus An order is sette downe what meÌ„ they must be How they are to be chosen the ministers the assistantes the deacons yea and the widowes is declared in the Actes of the Apostles and the epistle to Timothie as â— sore is noted Howe they are to procede against offenders is declared by our sauioure and practised amoÌ„g the Thessalonians the Corinths and likewyse of the receiuing agayne of an excommunicate persone and howe they should vse hym while he abydeth excommunicate And the ordering of things comely and remouing abuses euery one to keepe hymselfe wythin his vocation so playne y places be that it nedeth no more but that it would please you to reade them and waighe them And in lyke sorte for conferences and councels to dâ—ale for the stay of the churches in true doctrine and in godly order and quyetnesse to the Corinthes it is plaine and the councell at Ierusalem wherein is dealt for all those causes of the churches at once The persons that were sent to the councel the persons that chefely dealt and how and the generall consent of the Apostles Elders and brethren would be well obserued as geuing great light for many purposes Well now who are our doers in this church gouernment how are they chosen what causes doe they deale in and how do they deale In euery parishe a consistorie there is not nor in euery great towne containing many paryshes nor in euery shire but onely one in a diocesse whych contayneth diuers shires I may peraduenture dâ— deceyued for there may be so many in adiocesse as there are Archdeaconries besydes the graund consistorie of y byshop or his suâ—stitute the Chauncellor for they say the Archdeacon or his substitute y officiall may visite oftner then y bishop kepe courts oftner then y Chancellor there are in some diocesse diuers ArchdeacoÌ„s But what of all thys whence haue they their aucthoritie who called them what causes deale they in and how of God they haue not their authoritie they hold it by the Canon lawe and by the bishop And some of them pay the bishop full well for it they say And so they say that Chancellors offyces are so gainfull that some of them are in fee wyth their byshops for them yea they say some bishops haue payed for their byshoppricks other wayes though not to the Quene and that some of them haue large fees going out of their bishopprickes to their frends that holpe them to their preferments These are not rightly called And whereas there is a statute to auouche thys calling and aucthoritie that the byshops vsurpe the statute may make it good by lawe to holde suche titles and dignities but not before god I haue spoken of it before and seeing ministers must be equall and the order must be that some must be gouerned by all and not all by some in the church gouernment then y same argument is of force against Archdeacons and all such highe prelates which is agaynst Lorde byshops Lord byshops I say for the name bishop is not the name of a Lord but of a painfull minister and pastor or teacher and yet in deede in England euery byshop is a Lorde I knowe the common people would maruel yea and ioly wyse men too if they heard their pastor say I am your byshop a byshoppe on God hys name when were you made Lorde and so take him to be proude for no man is a byshop heere but he is also a Lord whych thyng I say because I doe not meane that the scripture alloweth not a byshop but not a Lord byshop A byshop or ouerseer or pastor and teacher in euery congregation the scripture doth allowe and hym or them to be the principal of the consistorie of their congregation it doth allowe but thys hyghe Prelacie it alloweth not but forbiddeth it vtterly Nowe then seeing they haue no lawfull callyng howe can they deale in any causes lawfully but yet they doe deale though not lawfully before God and that in infinite causes And the proctors and doctors of that law say the studie of the lawe is infinite because the causes are infinite one I trow en gendering another and so surely are the delayes and fees of those courtes infinite They haue to examine all transgressions agaynste the boke of common prayer the iniunctions the aduertisements the canons the metropoliticall articles the bishops articles of the diocesse all the spirituall causes as they call them of the whole diocesse or euery Archdeacon of hys circuite and the Archbishop of hys prouince and the Arches of the whole realme and for certayne causes the prerogatiue court of my Lord his grace of Canterburie is ouer the realme also Also of spirituall yea and many carnall
causes also and that so handled that it woulde greeue a chaste earc to heare the bawdie pleading of many proctors and doctors in those courtes and the sumners yea and the registers themselues master Archdeacon and master Chauncellor are eiten faine to laughe it oute many times when they can keepe their countenance no longer An vnchast kinde of pleading of vnchast maters They haue much adoe in marriage matters when folke maye not marrie what degrees may not marrie and much more adoe about diuorcements then either God or equitie would restraining bothe parties from marriage as long as they bothe are aliue togyther Besides they haue the triall of titles to benefices and trial of tithes trial of testaments and by their high commissyon they may do many moe things and vse other then spirituall coertion as they call it they may do what they will sauing life I thinke beat prison punysh by the purse banishe I wot not what All persons dicares and curates all church wardens all side men sworne men and many forsworne and all paryshes are at their commaundement They may commaund al Matres Bailiffes Constables and such like officers All persons are open to them all iaylors obay them receiue their prysoners and hamper them as they enioyne them They haue good causes and bad brought before them and punish both sometimes but the worst seldomest least and the best oftenest and moste Many of their causes much of their dealings are declared in the former treatises therefore I wil be but brefe And thus I say y neither they nor any order we haue in EnglaÌ„d this day doth or can do that which only God his order can do and was appoynted to do Neither their prouincials nor the whole course of their canon lawe nor their articles nor commissions can rightly order Christes church nor any statute auaileth therevnto but only that lawe which bindeth the whole land to God hys orders for the gouerning of hys church And therfore to make lawes it auayleth not saue mere ciuil as in thys case which they count spiritual for the prouisyon of the ministery a law to stablysh a ryght reformatioÌ„ drawn out of the scriptures I would leaue to speake any further of their conuocation house bicause the force of it depeÌ„deth vpon the other houses of parliament and my lords the bishops pleasures for nothyng they doe but for a fashion vntyll they come to the subsidie and they haue had prety deuises to stop their doing they haue had an order ere now to speake nothing but latin which was the way for many to tell but short tales for fear of shame But yet among abuses of these clergye men thys is a great one the whole house is a great abuse but the polling of their cleargye for their clarkes fees and theyr disorderous chusing of their clarkes may be numbred among the rest of their enormities following none other order but for the face of a thyng sauing only my Lord byshops pleasure or else he will know why and yet it shal be as he wil when at is done for either his Archdeacon shal haue one roume to beare his charges wythall whych otherwise must be there Ex officio so ware hys owne charges or some other of hys frends shall haue that roume hys Chancellor shall haue the other to pleasure hym wyth not for any pleasure commonly y the ChaÌ„cellor can do in thys house who ca scarse say as they say shue to a goose and if they had neede of a deuines answer or hym wing most commonly a dudging Canonist sometime a Doctor But when he is best best is to bad Thus I say for thys matter the byshop dealeth or to testowe it vpon hys chapleyne whych shall wayte at the stirrop or at y brydle to buy hym a new gowne somewhat wyth but as vnfit for the house as the former commonly but the byshop wyll haue the apoynting of bothe roâ—meâ— O the tyrannie that they vse many many wayes I haue thus brefely as I could and handling matters as I ought passed through many abuses in the ministery and gouernment of the church of Christ in England and I haue accordyng to my pore talent declared what shoulde be the state of a well ordered and reformed church How many sortes of ministers how they shuld be called to y function what their effice is what order should be amongst them what metings conferences there should be for the continuing of true religion and for them to increase in knowledge by And in like sorte I haue waded in declaring what offycers there should be in the gouernment what stroke they may bâ—are so it be by the coÌ„gregation what a consistorie is what excommunication is what prouision there shuld be made for the pore what the deacons office is and or al other orders of the consistorie which it pleased God that I had in mynde and thought most profitable to vtter It remayneth for me now to returne agayne to the state To the Queenes most excellent maiestie the hou 〈…〉 able Co 〈…〉 rs all the Nobilitie all the worshypfull Commons of thys realme And I humbly â—eseeche her Maiestie in principall to vouchsafe the hearyng of vs and lyke as 〈◊〉 make our appeare from the L. byshops to be vprightly heard what may be sayd of our partes further and more 〈…〉 ghly in thys matter of Gods by diuers oâ— no small learning and iudgement 〈…〉 tie of liâ—e so it will please her maiestie and you all â—erem to accept our appeale y not only we may 〈◊〉 jus be oppressed wrung as we are against all equale and conscience but also that God hys cause should not iâ— so troden vnder foote the benefite of hys churche so lyttle regarded suche daily contentions raised by and not pacified such greeuing of godly mennes consciences they not releeued In so quiera raigne of our soueraigne that Papists for pitie are not much disquieted and yet there should be a persecution of pore christians and the professors of the gospel suffered not farre vnlike to the sâ—â—e articles whych cratty heades deuised and prought y king her noble father vnto as they wold do her maiestie how That we should haue God his cause by vs truely and faithfully propounded by others wyckedly oppugned and withstode yet it may not by vs againe be maintained wythout great perâ—l We beseeche you to pitie thys case and to prouide for it It is the case already of manye a thousand in this land yea it is the case of as many as seeke the Lord aright desire to haue hys owne orders restored Great troubles will come of it if it be not prouided for euen the same God that hath stirred me a man vnknowne to speake thoughe those poore men which are locked vp in Newgate neither do nor caÌ„ be suffred to speake wil dayly stir vp moas yet vnknown
though I wer knowne an hundred â—o wel able to write and speake in the matter Except you will professe to persecute vs whych we hope her maiestie of her wonted rare clemencie will not suffer though no doubt she shal be by many importunately solicited and in manner forced our cause vnheard we do require and humbly beseche you if by these bokes you be not resolued what to do yet to prouide for our safetie giue vs the hearyng They would beare men in hand that we despise authoritie and contemne lawes but they shamefully slaunder vs to you that so say For it is her maiesties authoritie we slye to as the supreme gouernour in all causes ouer all persones within her dominions appoynted by God and we flie to the lawes of this realme the bonds of all peace good orders in thys laÌ„d And we beseche her maiestie to haue y hearing of thys matter of Gods and to take the defence of it vpoÌ„ her And to fortifie it by law that it may be receiued by common order throughout her dominions For though the orders be ought to be drawne out of the booke of God yet it is hir maiestie that by hir princely authoritie shuld see euery of these things put in practise and punish those that neglect them making lawes therfore for the churche maye keepe these orders but neuer in peace except the comfortable and blessed assistance of the states gouerners linke in to see them accepted in their countreys and vsed For otherwise the churche may and must keepe God hys orders but alwayes in troubles and persecution whych is lyke to light vpon vs except a reformation of Religion or a direct Prouiso for vs be made for surely onely thys is God his order ought to be vsed in hys church so y in conscience we are forced to speake for it and to vse it in conscience in the reuerence of God we are forced to speake as we doe of that reformation which we now vse not so much for oughte else as to set out the deformities therof that we might thinke vpon the amending of them It is shewed in the former treatises how we thynke of the time and the persons when and by whome it was first made and aucthorised yea we know that hetherunto y state that now is hath not bene sufficiently instructed in any better then they vse wherfore we lay the fault where the fault is vpon the bishops that sort who are so soft set fat fed that they think they cannot better themselues by god his orders not for worldly ease pompe and therefore they neyther haue dealt nor will deale themselues to chaunge the course nor for ought I see wil suffer any other to deale but their authoritie frendes shall fayle them but they wyll oppresse them They pretend much y her maiestie is sore bent against vs and that it is not so much their doing if y were so then should they themselues deale for vs to her maiestie and cease that course they haue gon But we know because it most toucheth theÌ„ they must hate vs Wherefore we beseeche your godly wisdomes to haue consideration of the matter and not to leaue vs in their daunger nor in danger of such iustices other which be glad to haue a quarell to vs for oure conscience which can finde none in oure liues enditing vs fyneing vs c. Now it is thus propouÌ„ded vnto you if it seeme strange harde to you as no dout to them the are not acquainted with the mater it wil do bicause they are better acquainted wyth another course we beseche you to suffer to procure it to be further discussed by free conference among the learned men in this realme There are many well able to doe it wil be ready to doe it if they were called vpon so shall you haue sufficient light There be that say It wil be troublous to procede in these thyngs by publique authoritie that it cannot be done I wold desire them y say so â–ª to remember how troublous it is and wil be the while to many good consciences how that God cannot but be hyghly displeased in y meane tyme how y he cannot but reuenge thys trouble that is raised against pore men hys faithfull seruaunts There are the say this order cannot be throughout a realme we caÌ„not erect a consistorie in euery towne we caÌ„not finde in euery town faithful men some pâ—â—ish hathe small choise of any kinde of men Surely there would be somewhat thought of the vniting of small parishes in one But yet there is no parish so small but if it haue nede of Christ and to be saued then it hath nede of Christes orders And there is no subiect though in deede it be a raw time for to fynde in moste parishes a competent number of faithfull meÌ„ to deale or to haue skil to deale in these matters there is no subiect I say but if making the best choise he wer chosen as it is directed afore and a great penaltie vpoÌ„ him to deale in it faithfully but he could not chuse but deale in it that trustely wel so that withall there wer drawne certaine general orders to direct him or theÌ„ how to deale an honest learned pastor placed ouer euery sâ—ocke But some say it wil be hard to finde a preacher such a one as I spake of before for euery parish to furnish the realme any thing like To thys I say vse those you haue First place in manner as afore all your bishops in benefices y be of a sound religion and you shall furnish so many benefices as they be in nombre for they haue none Yet they say some of theÌ„ haue some benefices as I sayde before to amende their lyuings wythall Besides vse all you haue abrode which be fit for it and in the vniuersities And let such exercises be taken vp as I haue spoken of and let the towardliest of those that already haue bene in benefices if they wil be content to goe to their bokes afterward be employed vppon the ministerie let them be sent to the vniuersities or such like places and be prouided for by y colleâ—ges y they may procede in learning And you know not the store y God will raise you â—â— short time if you go about this godly purpose throughly Take order y those faithfull ministers which you haue may be placed in the greatest congregations And for the sacraments let those parishes that are yet vnprouided repair to the parishes next adioyning y are prouided of pastoâ—s that they may vse the sacraments as they ought not without the preaching of the word so that they be coÌ„tent to be examined allowed as in that churche wherto they shall resort they shall finde it ordered And in the meane whilâ— til preachers increase to furnish the places vnfurnished if vpon conference among the
learned it be thought meete let the places vnfurnished be appoynted some discrete man or to make some entier prayer publiquely wyth them for all the churche thys realme oure soueraigne the state and the particular occasioÌ„s of that congregation for suche prayer shoulde be made He maiestie and other that haue had the gift of benefices are to be desired to depart with it that in manner as afore the choise of the minister may be free without al corruption the minister being soughte and receyued for hys fytnesse only For the contrary cannot be continued without great tyrannie exercised ouer the Churche of God and many corruptions necessarily â—â—â—oent therupon Thus will I conclude desiring them that thinke I haue bene too round wyth the byshops and that sort to remember howe rounde they are with vs and how cruel and againe how iust my speach is and further how it concerneth them not any longer then they kepe thys trade no more then the vpbraiding of popishe priestes which toucheth not those which haue renouÌ„ced it and I desire those that amongste themselues haue a right remorse of God hys glory and the churches good to giue ouer that we may brotherly ioyne together and be holpen by the good giftes which God hath geueÌ„ them And we shal prayse God for them wyth all our heartes And oure admonitions oure God knoweth hathe no worse meaning And I beseeche him so to blesse our labour and those that deale in this his cause that though our sinnes deserue no increase yet for hys Christes sake pardoning vs we maye euery day be more and more lightned in godlye iudgemeÌ„t and stirred to embrace godlinesse that as we professe to be hys churche we may keepe hym our louing God and father and be kept by hym to be hys obedient seruauntes and sonnes here to serue hym after to inherite with him that crowne purchased and promised vnto vs of hys owne great vnspeakeable mercies in Christ hys sonne our deare sauioure euer to praise and magnifie hym in that eternall blessednesse and glory being God moste hyghe and vnsearchable in hys wisedome and iudgements To whom be all prayse power and dominion ascribed yeelded as is right and due nowe and for euer So be it Galath 6. 7. Be not deceiued God is not mocked for whatsoeuer a man soweth that shall he also reape â—ese mâ—t â—s necesâ—y to â—ther â—own theÌ„â—h 〈…〉 â—eÌ„tonly â—earâ— sayâ—th muche â—rt â—hat we â—ould be â—ad to atâ—yne â—o by â—is suche â—e bokes We haue too many enemies too much hatred already vndeserued Next dooâ— to haÌ„ging Bedlem Newgatâ— their suerâ— and fetteâ— their baÌ„dâ— The authors of tâ— former admonition no rebels our lawe â— by Gods lawe nâ—â—eâ—â—ers Eâ— â—ol â— pa. â— Two 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 against â–ª thâ— former admoniâ—ion â—icenses â— pluraliâ—s non reâ—ence and â—ch like liâ—ses vsed â—oÌ„gs vs a 〈…〉 anyâ—t fallyng â—ay from â—hriste â—eraduenâ—re he forâ—te hym â—fe â—at 18. â—auishe â—lke â—n answer wardes what theâ— dealyng will be is to be seen by that which the haue already donâ— in thys Poyntes to be thought of Seke examination stomacke Geneua Bible Vnpropeâ— applying of Chamâ— examyle Gen. 9. C ham a ribaulde Time serâ—ers take Chams â—rade Gen. 9. 23. These treâ—ses to hot â—r thys â—me aunâ—weared Gods matâ—ers not to â—e minsed Esay 58. â— 2. Esay 30. â— 10. 11. â—2 c. â—al 1. 10. Exod. 32. â—0 20. â— reg 18. â—8 27. Math. 3. â— 8. 9. â— cor 5. 13. Ih. 9. 10 â—at 15 23 â—ordes â—â—ed to the â—atter and â—t to serue â—ction Ioh. 17. 17 A good issue where matters of religioÌ„ are tried by thâ— worde of God it self A craft of the papists to aâ—ase the people with â— shew of authoritie An humbâ— request to her mâ—â—estiâ— Ill wil nâ—uer sayde well Rom. 13. Es 4â— â— 2. chr 19. 5. 6. 7. 8. 1. 〈◊〉 1. 2. 3. 4. Most assured subiectes A single eye a Gen. 4. 8. b Gal. 4. 29. c Ge. 27. 41. d Ge. 37. 23. e Exod. 12. 13. 14. f Iere. 26. 8â— g Ose 6. 8. h Am. 7. 10. i Math. 23. 13. 14. c. k Ioh. 11. 47 l mat 26. 48 m 2. Corinth 11. 26. n Math. 10. 14. 15. o Mat. 6. 33 p Ag. 1. 5. 6. q â—ze 33. 8. r â—at 15. 14 * vnderstaÌ„d this of the deuill as Ioh. 12. 31 Ih. 14. 30. Ephe. 6. 12 2. Cor. 44. Maâ— 2. 2. 3 Rom. 10. 2 Å¿ Leui. 10. 12 Ephe. 2. 20 t 1 Corrin 3. v Mat. 12 30 * Deu. 4. 4 Ios 1. 8. * Math. 11 â–ª 21. y 1. Th. 5 21 z Lu. 10 1â— More sayâ— for this boke then we say for the Bible Cruel persecution Acts. 15. 2 * Deut. 4. 2 Thus shal they be perplexed that follow meÌ„s heades *a 1. Cor. 7 23 Directe lawes agaynst papistes The cause that all 〈…〉 ches â—o noâ— agree Churches may differ in matters of order b Phil. 3. 16 c Eph. 4. 4. d Ro. 10. 14 Sufficient â—rouisyon for the minsteric e â— Cor. 9. 9. 10. 11. 12. c. Deu. 25. 4 â— Ti. 5. 18 Ro. 15. 27. Deu. 18. 1 f mal 3. 8. 9 bestowing of vniuersity liuings mat 10. 17 2. cor 2 67 Ministers maintnaÌ„ce is not to be recouered by excoÌ„munication Vnburdening of benefices Repealing of statutes Act. 1. 31. Act. 6. 3 Act. 14. 23 1. ti 3. 2. 7 Tit. 1. 6. The chusing of ministers 1. ti 4. 14. g mat 9. 38 h mat 18. 17 i Ephes 4â— 11. 12. 13. Two sorts of minysters only The difference of their offyces and wherein they are alyke The vse of the doctors office Vniuersitie doctors and bachilers of diuinitie Heathenish tradition h Mat. 23. 8 â–ª The vse of the pastors office and that it is requisite in euerye congregation The good that ensueth of the erecting of a ryghte ministerie L. bishops take farre more charge vpon them theÌ„ they are able to discharge Respects require â—ather two pâ—stors ouer one flocke then one ouer many n â— cor 9. 16. The pastor maye not â—eaue hys â—lock at hys â—wne pleaâ—ure Ih. 10. 11. Our course â— religyon â—estroyeth â—ys care of Chrystes â—ocke A good statute of y last parliameÌ„t taketh little effecte by y negligence and corruption of the Ordinaries as they call them Reading of Homilyes came in by abuse and maintenieth an â—ooll â—◠〈◊〉 o Ro. 10. 17 The ministery of faith is the preaching of the same p Ro. 10. 15 The waye to bring the ministerie â—nto credite â— estimatioÌ„ q Math. 23. â— 6. 7. 11. â—ur sauior orbiddeth â—ys minyâ—ers to seke â— be noted â— outward â—parel and â—uises The couetous abuses that are too common among the byshops Examination of y byshops doings very expedient The Bishops owne talke and extreme cruelties I wis you shall synde PrecisioÌ„s as you call them better subiects then these as bâ—d as you make them * Luke 22. 25. 26. * Apostles as worthy to
haue ben Lordes as our bishops but they might not being expresly forbidden it Of y lordship of byshops Luke 12. 13. 14. Ioh. 6. 15. Ih. 18. 36. mat 20. 28 mat 20. 27 If bishops â—oe take Lordshyp vpon them others are forbiddeÌ„ to â—iue it theÌ„ 1. Pet. 5. 3 Not one minister to meddle in anothers cure without order 1. Cor. 14 A conference Act. 8. 14. Act. 13. 2. Gala. 2 14 â—f Synode prouincial â—ationall â—â—nersall Ioh. 7. 51 Gal. 2. 14 Mat. 23. 8. 9. Mat. 17. 1. Th. 52 1. Ih. 4. 1 Galat. 1. Act. 15. 12 A comparison betweene the former description of the ministerie and the bishops order Prophane preachers Common places and A pothegmes Merye â—ales Flaunting preachers Long bags â—r 1. 24. â— 23. 8 â— 17. 5 18. 17 â—e him â—ell the â—h Persecâ— raised The mâ—tyrs in Mary oâ— dayes they sufred Turning y â— â—oke oâ— coÌ„â—ion prayer â— the ponâ—ficall unto â—ortuis laâ—iue to try y â— â—â—dgemÄ“â—s â—f y reforâ—ed churâ—hes conâ—rmng theÌ„â—equired There is no persecuâ—tion nâ—we â— they say â— reporte mâ— to these examples Vaine anâ— wicked oâ—iections Booke of common prayer In intollerable abuse of prayer Gloria patri Dominus vobiscum Oremus Kyrieleâ—soÌ„ Many pater nosters Mat. 6. 7. Reading prayers no praying In praying many guises takeÌ„ vp â— vsed rather of custome then of reason knowledge or coÌ„scieÌ„ce â–ª Reading â—t psalmes â—inging of 〈…〉 ers â—enedicâ—s â—agnifiâ— Anani 〈…〉 1. Pe. 4. 11 Collectes at the feast of the natiuitie and Whitiontite A Collecte on Bartho lomewe day Seruice for Lent â— shwedensday * A Commination * Deu. 27 13. 14. * Galat. 4. 9. 10. 11. Athanasius Creede Venite Confirmation A mannery sorte of ministers Iere. 6. 6. 17. 18. 9. 20. 21. Byshops theÌ„selues some of theÌ„ in heresies and some suspected The boke of Articles of christian religion The Crede in meter The humblâ— sute of a synner The last great Bible mat 23. 24 Consistorie wherof it coÌ„sisteth The ministers first 〈◊〉 Who the assistantes must be Howe the assistantes must be chosen wherefore thys consistorie serueth mat 18. 1â— Assent of their whole congregation 1. Tim. 5. 19. Disordeâ—ed cereâ—onies Necessary â—rders â—eude cuâ—omes They may not meddle wyth the ciuil magistrates offyce Vsurie Information and accoumpts of the deacons Who shuâ— repaire to the couÌ„sels for y churches affaires Of excommunicatioÌ„ Shutting out of the churche dore 1. Cor. 5. â— 10. â— Cor. 7. â—2 â—3 No punishment so grâ—uous in this world as ExcommunicatioÌ„ some sharâ— punishmeÌ„t would be prouided bâ— the ciuill magistrate for him y coÌ„temneth excommunication but with lessâ— charge theÌ„ a significauit What a deacon is Act. 6. 3. Luk. 11. 4. 3. h. 13. 29. â—â—t 6. 13. Phil. 1. 1. â— Tâ— 3. 8. The laste statute for the pore Widowes 1. tim 5. 5 â—ore stranâ—ers â—o be â—tyed * Mat. 18. 17. Num. 11. Deu. 31. â— 2. chr 19. â— SynedriuÌ„â— mat 5. 22 â–ª â— 1. tim 5. 1â— 1. Cor. 12. 28. Rom. 11. 6. 7. 8. Act. 14. 2 Act. 20. 1 Math. 18. 15. 16. 17. 2. Thes 3. 14. 15. 1. Cor. 5. 4. 5. 2. Cor. 2. 7. 8. 1. Cor. 11. 16. 1. Cor. 14. 40. Act. 15. What orâ—er wee â—aue and what oure â—ighe preâ—ates maye â—oe by their â—anâ—n lawe â— coÌ„missioÌ„ Bishop in Englande is the only name of a Lord minister but in scrypture â— is no lordeâ— name at all â–ª â—nchaste â—leading A large scope Conuocatio house Clarkes of the parliament house Clarkly deuinâ—s Appeale Vrgent causes The sâ—xe Articles The magistrates authoritie and the lawes we flie to Quarellous iustices Certaine obiectious answered What prayer should be made Patrons presentations iâ—stituâ—ions inductions now vsed must cease CERTAINE Articles collected and taken as it is thought by the Byshops our of a litle boke entituled an admonition to the Parliament wyth an Answere to the same Containing a confirmation of the sayde Booke in shorte notes Esay 5. 20. Woe be vnto them that speake good of euill and euill of good whych put darknesse for light and light for darknesse that putte bytter for sweete and sweete for sower The Prynter to the Reader Thys worke is fynished thankes be to God And he only wil keepe vs from the searchers rod. And though master Day and Toy watch warde We hope the liuing God is our sauegarde Let them seeke loke and doe now what they can It is but inuentions and pollicies of man. But you wil maruel where it was fynished And you shal know perchance when domes day is ended Imprinted we know where and whan Iudge you the place and you can I. C. I. S