wee are in ourselues I yet let man know that in the strength of our God we are so far from being dismayed with the wisedom countenance or power of whatsoeuer is made of flesh that for mine owne part I cannot sufficiently wonder that any creature dares be so bold as to proclaime war against vs for this cause And therefore whatsoever enemies the Lorde bath raised vp against me a contemptible worme for the maintenāce of his truth be they noble or vnnoble counsellors or inferiour men I am so far from fearing their power that the more I see them rage the greater strength I see reached vnto me by the Lords free mercies to stand to that truth which they raue against And by how much the more I see them banded against the sonne of God by so muche the greater hope do I conceaue that the case wherein I stand shal get the vpper hande over them whether they wil or not I beleeue and therefore I am forced to speak these things In the vttering whereof as I thank my God I haue a feeling of mine own great wants and imperfections so I am not with out some comfortable assurance of his hand with me in this cause to seale whatsoever truth I shal vtter heerin according to his word In respect wherof I do warne and admonish those counsellors with whom and against whome especially I deale in this treatise to repent them of their great insolency whereby they haue bene puffed vp with Senacharib to magnifie and oppose themselues against the cause and people of the Lord of Hostes 2. Chron. 32.19 Zeph. 2.8.9 10. as against the religion and people of some of the gods of the earth Otherwayes they are to feare least the Lord hauing raysed vp many of them out of meane places into the throne of justice meaneth to shew his power and great name by making them examples of his feareful wrath as he did Pharaoh who wrought his owne ouerthrow as the * text expresly noteth Exod. 9.17 by exalting him self against the people of the Lord. For assuredly the Lord wil not forget his churche for ever but at the * appointed time psal 75.3.8.11 he wil break the horne of the wicked and the righteous shal be exalted If men wil wonder that wee being so contemptible in the sight of the world dare yet be so bold as to controle great states and mighty men and to challenge them of iniustice against the sonne of God and his members who wil not stick to bragge with Pilate that they haue power to crucifie Christ Iohn 19.10 and to absolue him they are to vnderstand that we know of no power but from aboue therefore of no power that is able to beare out iniustice and wrong the hilles of the robbers we grant to be high Iob. 5.3 and vnassaileable in the sight of an eye of flesh but we haue learned of the holy man to account the habitation of the wicked to be accursed even when he semeth to be best rooted for we know that the steppes of his strength shal bee restrained Iob. 18.7 and that his owne counsel shal cast him downe And as for our selues we confes that we are but base worms and we would to God that we were lower in our own eyes such as liue not according vnto outward appearance because our life is hid with Christ in God Col. 3.3 But yet least me should take occasiō to persecute vs because they know not with whom they deale because they are ignorant whence wee are or whether wee intend seing by our walking they may truly judge vs to be descended of some other race than themselues are and to look for an other dwelling place than any we can enjoy here They are to vnderstand that we are borne not of mortal but of immortal seede 1. Pet. 1.23 by the liuelye worde of God and that we are the servants of that Lord who is not ashamed to be called our God Heb. 11.16 And we are so far from hunting after the wages of vnrighteousnes with them that we freely confes our selues to bee but pilgrimes and straungers vpon earth and therefore travell towardes that heavenly city which our God hath prepared for vs. To be briefe we are the law full successors of those men who through faith quenched the violence of fire Heb. 11.34 36 escaped the edge of the sword Of weake were made strong who were tryed by mockings and scornings yea moreover by bondes and improsonments who were stoned hewen a sunder slaine with the sword wandered vp and down in sheep skinnes being destitute afflicted and tormented and yet in al these distresses were more then conquerers through the power of their God VVherrwith also we hope to be assisted whensoever it shal please the Lord to giue our enemies leaue to try our pacience To conclude we are those vnto whom the Lord made this promise Heb. 13 5.6 I wil not fayle thee nor forsake thee So that we may boldly say the lord is mine helper neither wil I feare what man can do vnto me If then our counsellers and great men wil not provoke this God against their owne soules they are to be exhorted before they deale any farther against the procurers of reformation to betake them vnto their second thoughtes and acknowledge their temeritye in lifting vp their handes against God and those whome hee accounteth of as the apple of his owne eye Zachar. 2. For in fighting against vs they labor very strongly we grant to aggrauat hasten their owne damnation but their purposes are they neuer able to effect To come vnto you beloved for whose strengthening and comforting I haue especially taken paines in this treatise if God hath called any of you to suffer for this cause think it an exceding preferment that he hath vouchsaued you to be partakers of the afflictions of the gospel 2. Tim. 1.8 and in any case be not dismaied at your trobles The cause is proued to be such as for the which you may not onely suffer with a good conscience but such as in the defence wherof you may expect for the affistāce of Gods comforting spirit and such as wherein al christians are bound to suffer when they are thervnto called I haue also shewed it to be that cause which is compassed about with a cloude of wi nesses and made commendable and bewtiful vnto al christians with the blood of the holye Martyrs of Christ The same spirit which assisted them vnto the end wil not leaue you in any of your temptations So that by your prayers you seek vnto the Lord for strength Obedience and be careful to learne obedience by the things which you suffer As we are taught by his example who by sufferings was made vnto vs the author of aeternal salvation Be therfore humbled vnder the hād of your God Heb. 5.8.9 know that you stand neither by your owne strength nor by the
goodnes of that cause wherein you suffer Heb. 12.28.29 but onelye by the assistance of his spirite who requireth a great care in all his children to please him in reverence and feare for even our God is a consuming fire Concerning such of you as the Lord hath not tryed with any afflictioÌ„ for this cause I beseech you be not ashamed of the chaine of your brethren mourne with those that lament for the cause of God VVhen they are imprisoned think your selues to be in bondes And I do especially and aboue al thinges beseech those that fauor the reformation to labour more and more in the reforming of themselues and such as be long vnto them VVe know that considering the season it is now time to rest from sleep Rom. 13.12 For now is our salvation neerer than when we firste beleved It might haue bene something tollerable in times past for a sincere professor to haue an ignorant an vntaughte and a vnreformed family but in this cleare light Phil. 1.27 1. cor 13.5.13 Zeph. 1.8 Ephes 5.11 Col. 1.6 and in a profession of so great sincerity to continew in these sinnes is altogether vnbeseeming the gospel of Christ Long haire great ruffes laying out of wemens haire and strange attyre is a participating with the vnfruitful works of darknesse and a token that the gospel hath not beene faithfully receaued And therefore let it be no longer tolle rated among the reformed professours of England Vow and performe with the holye man Dauid Psal 111.12 that you wil sing mercy and judgement walke in the vprightnes of your harts in the midst of your families Iob. 22.22.23 and if you wil make peace indeede with the Lord follow the counsel of the holye ghost in removing iniquitye far not only from yourselues but also from your tabernacles hou ses Shew what reformation can do in a whole kingdome by the practise thereof in your owne persons and families And that wil be the best argument both to confute the aduersary and to draw the indifferent to lyke the cause And as the Lord shal giue vnto any of you accesse either vnto hir Maiesty or any of their Honors so be careful to promote this truth VVe haue al of vs we must confes be ne so carelesse and secure in these points and therefore it is that by the juste judgement of God our Bishops are at this day so insolent against the truth And vnles we labour more strongly to haue these Cananits rooted out we may write vpon it that they wil be prickes in our eyes Nomb. 33.55.56 thornes in our sides stil vexe vs as they do at this day VVhere I say that professors should labour strongly to haue our hierarchy and contemptible Idoles rooted out of our Church my meaning is not that any priuate strength should so much as lift vp a hand muche lesse vse any violence against these caterpillers but I meane that we should more vehemeÌ„tly labour with the Lord by prayers and by the reforming ourselues our families and deale earnestly with hir Maiesty their Honors that our cause may be aequally heard My meaning in the former point I thought needful to expresse because I know what sclanders would otherwise be raised against me to the hurt of the cause by those that are enemies therevnto whose madnes I doubte not will shortlye appeare vnto all men And I trust in the Lord that he wil one day giue hir Maiesty a descerning ey to judge aright between them and vs and then shal it appeare whether we or they do seek the peace and quietnes of hir kingdome In the meane time we wil content our selues with the eye of our God Yet one thing I would wish to be considered of by hir right excellent Maiesty namely whether it be not an inconvenient season when our fortaine enemies are at the dores publikly to traduce hir beste and most trusty snbiects as enemies to hir state For if the Spainyard shal heare that besids the popish faction the fore-wardest professors of the gospel in Englande are but her Maiesties half frendes Mark the issue what wil not the hope of a threfold discorde in our state moue him to attempt I doe therefore feare that many of the forwardest enemies of reformation are not the backwardest friends that the King of Spaine hath in England at this day But least the enemy should deceaue himself with a golden dreame I am to make it knowen vnto al Spaniards and Spanish practisers that we are such enemies vnto Queene Elizabeth The enmity which the favorers of reformation beare vnto hir Maiesty and the state as we do not onely pray day and nighte for the state of hir Kingdome and hir person but also wee are readye to stande in the defence of hir royal person and right to the losse not onely of our goods and blood but even of our lyues and that against men and Angels even al creatures without exception Thus much my good brethren I may boldly set down in the name of you al because I know by what spirit you are guided And as for your sakes nexte vnto the defence of the truth I haue taken this labour in hand So I do with the Apostle humbly entreat the Lord Rom. 15.31 that my service herein may be acceptable vnto the Saints throughout England VVales Ireland whome together with my self and al the Lords elect I commit vnto his hand who is able to reserue vs vnto the day of redemption TO THE READER ¶ M.D. Anno 12. or 13 Elizab. Haddon deliuered in Parliament a Latine book concerning church discipline written in the dayes of king Ed. 6. by M. Cranmer Sir Iohn Cheek knight c. This book was committed by the house to be translated vnto the said M. Hadon M. George Bromely M. Norton c. If thou canst good reader help me or any other that labour in the cause vnto the said book I hope though I never saw it that in so doing thou shalt doe good service vnto the Lord and his Church REFORMATION NO enemie to her Maiestie and the State ALthough it be most true that our Saviour Christ Iesus doth vouchesafe vnto nations and kingdomes All Kingdomes are bound to fram a theâ—â— stâ—tes according to the doctrine of the gospell Match 10.34 Luk. 12.51 52 the fruition vse of his holy worde and gospell vpon no other condition theÌ„ that all men of all degrees and callings as well high as low wil be content to haue their states altered and changed at the pleasure appointment and determination of his wil worde yet notwithstanding it is as true that the said word and gospel of his bringeth nothing with it that can possible be an enemie to anye state eyther priuate or publike whatsoever The which point I take to be so cleare and manifest that no state-men can deny it saue only those who haue made a leagne
with the diuell a covenant with hell by vertue wherof they stand bound to account the Lord and al his holy wayes to be enemies vnto them and their cursed proceedings For no man can pretend the gospel and word of God to be his enemie but he must needs also confesse that he hath bidden defyance vnto the Lord of heauen earth who accounteth himselfe to be loved and hated of men according vnto the affectiō which they bear vnto his a Luk. 12 26. Iohn 14.23.15 1. Iohn 2.5 word This hatred of God his word because th' aduersaries of reformation in England dare not avowe therefore as a foundation of the whole treatize following I lay downe this ground which they themselues wil not call in question Namely That the reformation whiche at this daye wee endevour to bringe into our Churche is moste vnjustly and wrongfully accounted an enemie vnto our state if it can bee prooved to be a matter approoued off and maintayned by the worde and gospell of IESVS CHRISTE Where I would gladly knowe two thinges of them First whether they judge that which we labour for to be according to to the worde or no They must answere that they cannot so thinke of it for if they did they woulde not stand against vs as they doe Secondly if they thought our cause to be good that is if they thought it to be according vnto Gods word I demaund of them whether notwithstanding the goodnes of our cause they woulde yet thinke vs that labor in the same to be enemies vnto the state or no Wee make no question but they haue a better opinion of vs. For whatsoeuer they saye of the cause they can report no otherwise of the favourers thereof thē of those that haue alwayes shewed themselues most faythfull and trustie towards their prince and cuntrie For although within these 31. yeres there haue bin many seditious and treasonable attempts vndertaken against her Majestie and the state by men of all sortes and degrees yet by the goodnes of God it cannot be shewed that any one hath had a hande in any of these practises and conspiracies who euer opened his mouth for reformation or any wise fauored the same And as for attempting any vndutifull or disloyall action in the promoting of the cause it selfe we haue bene so farre from being guiltye in that point D. Bancroft that one of the most shamelesse most impudent slanderers that are amongst al our aduersaries intending of set purpose to stain the cause and the fauorers of reformation with sedition and treason was enforced to passe by vs and to suffer the venime of his lying and slaunderous tongue to light vpon our brethren in the kingdom of Scotland which he would neuer haue done if with any couler he could haue fastened his slanderous vntruethes vpon vs the professors of his own cuntrie So that if we could discharge our hands of the cause we defend we doubt not but our aduersaries themselues would pronounce vs guiltles of all disloyaltie against our prince and cuntrie Seeing then it is cleare that reformation is therfore accounted an enemie vnto our state because it is supposed to haue no grounde in the worde of God and seeing the fauorers thereof are thought to be turbulent men not for anye thing that in a good matter they haue seditiously attempted but inasmuch as they labor to promote a cause that of it selfe is an enterprise daungerous vnto her Majesties crowne and dignitie we are for the clearing of the one and the other to see whether the endeuors of those who desire to haue the Churche of England otherwise reformed then hither to it hath bene be such as they require nothing in that whol worke but onely that whiche the worde of God commandeth to be put in execution The whiche course if they be founde to take then also doth it follow that neither they nor the cause maintained by them can with any couler be accounted enmity vnto the kingdome wherein they liue And here if I should demaund of the most that condemne both vs the cause wherein we stand what that is which is sought to be reformed in our Church VVhat equall judges our aduersaries are I dare be bolde to say that there is not one amongst ten of them that knoweth whether it be blacke or white that we would haue Wherein they do not onely shewe themselues to weigh the most precious and weightie jewell vnder the sunne with a most vn-eauen hande but also if we beleeue the holy Apostle to claim inheritance in the wages of vnrighteousnes 2. Pet. 2.12 inasmuch as they speake euil of those things which they know not The which course if they stil holde on the same Apostle telleth them the they shall perish through their owne corruption To the ende then it may appeare what that reformation is which we seeke for and which these men do account the enemie of our state it is to be vnderstood What we mean by reformation that by reformation we meane nothing els but the remouing of all those vnlawfull callings which are maintained in our Church and ministerie contrarie vnto the reuealed will and written word of the Lord our God and the restoring thervnto of all such offices and ministeries as the same God vnder the paine of his heauie displeasure requireth to be planted in his church when or whersoeuer hee raiseth fit men for those functions To speake more plainly by reformation we mean first the rooting out of our Church of al dumb and vnpreaching ministers all nonresidents Lord Archbishops and bishops commissaries officials chancellors and all the rest of the wicked offices that depend vpon that vngodly and tyrannous hierarchie of Lord Byshops together with their gouernment and whatsoeuer maim deformitie or want there is in our Church by meanes of them their plaees Secondly by reformation we meane the placing in euerie congregation within England as far as possiblie able men can be provided of preaching pastors and Doctors gouerning elders ministring Deacons with whatsoeuer health comlinesse and good order the Lorde by the faythfull labours of these officers would haue brought into his church And these are the onely matters that we meane by the reformation of our Church The which cause in both the parts therof is made so just and aequall by the word of God that the promoting of it can bee accounted the disturbing of no state that hath not determined with it selfe to maintaine the kingdome of Sathan and his prerogatiue For the word of God maketh it out of controuersie that neyther the expelling of dumb ministers L. Bishops c. out of the Churche nor the inducing of Pastors Doctors Elders and Deacons into the same can be burdened with any thing contrarie vnto the welfare of princes and common-wealths vnlesse they wil also charge the Majestie of God with the same accusation And here we appeale from our aduersaries to the word are
justice betweene man and man inso muche as they bend al their forces to beceaue Christ Iesus of that right which he hath to the governement of his Church Their Honors The which vngodly and wicked course as they haue held on ever since the beginning of hir Maiesties 〈◊〉 so at this day they haue taken greater boldne and growen more rebellious against the Lord and his cause then ever they were Insomuch as their Honors in token of their thankfulnes to him that hath exalted them dare now charge the cause of reformation to be an enemy vnto our state and such as fauour the same to be vnquiet and factious men disturbers of the common peace and quietnes and sowers of sedition among the subiects This euil dealing of their Honors with the Lords truth and vs that profes the same within England haue enforced me to take some paines in the writing of this treatise The whiche in regard of mine owne weakenesse and the waight of the matter I would haue left most willingly vnto the handling of some that had beene of greater guiftes than my self it the cause being more depelye charged with the former crimes in my person then in any other that I can hear off at this present did not require my weak labours and endeuours for the clearing of the same from so godlesse and vntrue an accusation For the farther vnderstanidng of this particular occasion mouing me to write thou art to vnderstand beloued in the Lord that within these fewe moneths a warrant vnder six counsellors hands hath beene given out from their Honors and sent by publick messengers vnto al such places of the Land as ther was any lykelihood of mine abode The effect whereof was this So Amasiah â—â—ew Amos to be a traytor That if men haue not hitherto knowne so much their Honors whose names were hereunto adioined doe assure them of their owne knowledge that one Iohn Penry is an enemie to the state and if they haue not taken him for such heretofore they should now take knowledge and information thereof from them so henceforth account of him In which regarde they should be so farre from aiding consorting or releuing of him that if they can by anye meanes apprehend or lay hould of him they shal therein do her Maiestie good service The names of their Honors who haue by these letters proclaimed themselues to be of their nomber that shal lend their shoulders to vphold the kingdome of darknes I doe for the reverence whiche I owe vnto hir Maiesties government conceale saue only Iohn Cant. as he writeth himself whome both in respecte of his Antichristian Prelacve ouer Gods Church and for the notable hatred which he hath euer bewrayed towardes the Lord and his truth I thinke one of the dishe norablest creatures vnder he auen and accordingly doe account of him Desiring the Lord if it be his wil to conuert both him and al other the detected enemies of Sion that their soules may be saued or if he hath appointed them to damnation and meaneth not otherwise to be glorified by them speedelye to disburden the earthe of suche reprobate cast-awayes But to returne again vnto our purpose if the accusation wherwith I am vniustly charged in the former warrant reached no farther then my owne person it were my dutye in regarde of the quietnes of our state to put it vp But seing that it doth not touch me at al any further then I haue bene an instrument to promote the cause of Christs governmeÌ„t and wholly striketh at that truth in the defence whereof it pleased the Lord to vse my weake and polluted hands I do make it knowen vnto the worlde Firste that I am accounted an enemye vnto our state for no other suspition and colour but onely because I haue by publicke writing laboured to defend and induce in our churche that vniforme order of church regiment which our Sauiour Christ hath ordained in his word to continue perpetually therein and also haue endeuored to seek the vtter ruine and ouerthrow of that wicked hierarchye of lorde Bishops together with whatsoever corruption dependeth therevpon Nowe that I cannot bee charged of enmitye to our state for any other cause than this which I haue expressed I make it clear in that my bringing vp hauing bene al the dayes of my life at my studies I never as yet delt in any cause more or lesse that any wayes concerneth the civil state and government And as for attempting any thing against hir maiesties person I know the diuel himself dares not be so shameles as to intende any accusation against me in that point The case then being thus manifest and cleare that I am thought an enemye to the state not for intermedling with any civill action but only for seeking the wealthe of Sion I do in the second place make it known by this present treatise that the sincere handling of this cause is so far from being an enemye vnto our state that they do notably detect their impiety against God and their enmity to the kingdom of his sonne Christ Our persecuters are enemies to the state of Christs kingdome whosoever they be that dare presume to burden either the cause or the sincere professors thereof with so palpable and manifest a sclaunder And as for the iniury that heerein they offer vnto hir Maiestye who woulde by these sclaunders enforce hir to lay down hir peaceable scepter and to take vp a bloody sword against hir best subiects our bloud though they never haue power to spill it which they thirst after shal in the day of judgement testify the same to their condemnation except they repent And hir Maiesty if shee giue eare vnto such counsellors is to feare leaste in the Lords just judgement the day maye come vpon hir and hir Lande which in thy mercies Lord remoue far from hir wherein she shal full bitterly lament and bewaile Enemies to hir Maiesty that in time she tooke not greater tryall of our loyaity who now are reckened within the nomber of hir moste dangerous subiects So that the iniury by the former vniust accusatioÌ„ offered vnto Gods cause and vs his people stryketh also at hir Maiessies owne estate And the Lord vouchafe hir an harte to consider thereof before it bee too late For assuredly those that are our enemies for the profession of the truth cannot be hir sure fiends whatsoever they may pretend And because I see that we be fallen into those times wherein Sathan worketh the defacing of the waye of truthe and supporteth his owne kingdome by instrumentes of no meane countenance and also perceaue that base man beginneth to take strength vnto himselfe againste his maker I haue purposely framed my selfe to make it knowne vnto Sathan and his complices that all their might and power in oppugning vs for this cause is spent in vaine For although the cause bee stood vnto by weake and sinful men if respect bee had to that which
content eyther to be condemned or acquited by the judgment thereof vpon whose judgement also they dare not but professe themselues to relie First then we holde it intollerable that the holy ministerie of the worde and Sacraments and the charge of soules The desire of remoouing the dumb ministerie no vndutifull attempt should in our Church be committed vnto such men as are no more able to teach vs what belongeth to the pure worshipp of god then can many a childe of sixe yeres old And we would know whether by the worde we may be accounted for this position to bee enemies eyther vnto our most deare prince or vnto our most louing cuntry What doth it determine in this matter are wee thereby acquited or condemned for this our assertion Surely acquited And that by the voyce of the Sonne of God himselfe who openly declareth that the miserie of that people is vnspeakably pitifull where the * Math. 15.14 Iuk 6.69 blinde leadeth the blinde who also by his owne * Matth. 9.36 mark 6.34 example hath taught vs what compassion we ought to haue of our brethren that are scattered as sheep without a sheepheard hauing none to leade them nor feede them in the way of aeternall life And therefore is so far from disliking this care of ours towardes the saluation of our brethren cuntrimen that he hath enjoyned vs when we see our brethren thicke and threefold to fall into the ditch of blindnes and ignorance and so into the pit of aeternall wo destruction * Matth. 9.34 to pray vnto the Lord that he would raise vp meet guides who may leade his people in the true and vpright waye that leadeth vnto life Before we go any farther behold here how the case standeth betweene vs and our aduersaries and judge vprightly Our Sauiour Christe IESVS teacheth vs to be mooued with pitie and compassion when we see the blinde lead the blinde and our owne fleshe perishe for want of the true knowledge of God We see this lamentable sight in our land euery where we may heare the blood of ignorant soules crie day and night in the eares of the Lorde for juste vengeaunce to bee powred vpon their blind leaders and such as maintaine them What shall we do in this case shall we not be touched with any remorse at all Farre be it but we should We are therefore mooued therewith and as christian duetie bindeth vs we doe endevor both by our prayers vnto the Lorde and by our petitions and suits vnto our Majestrates and euerye other way that become Christians to haue these murtherers remooued and to haue those placed in their roomes who bring with them faithfully execute this great and high cōmission wherof the Apostle speaketh in the person of al true ministers Now then are we Embassadors for Christ 2. Cor. 5.20 as though God did beseeche you through vs we pray you in Christes stead that you be reconciled vnto God But what say the aduersaries vnto vs for the performing of so necessarie a duetie Verely their censure is that in so doing we are enemies vnto the state We reply vpon them againe that the word of God doth cleare vs of their vnjust accusation which doth not so much light vpon vs as vppon the worde and docttine of the sonne of God For they that condemne the disciples of sedition for practizing that whiche their master enjoyned them must needs passe sentence against the master as a teacher of seditious doctrine And therefore we are so far from being moued with the vnaequall dealing that we wish them whosoeuer they be to giue eare vnto the inditement which the Psalmiste frameth against them in these wordes psal 15.19.20 You haue giuen your mouthes to euill and with your tongs you forge deceit You sit and speake against your brethren and you haue slaundered the sonnes of your mother psal 54 5. You haue encouraged your selues in a wicked purpose and common together howe to lay snares priuily and say who shall see You haue taken craftie counsell against the people of the Lord and consulted against his secrete ones psal 83.3 And because they must needs confesse themselues guiltie of this accusation in euery point therefore we doe also aduise them by true and speedie repentaunce to betake them vnto the Lorde least as it is in the Psalme He teare them in pieces and there be none that can deliuer them psal 50.12 And we entreat them that are in authoritie to weigh the state of the people of this land with the worde of God and then we doubt not but they shall see the motion of remoouing the dumbe ministery out of our Church and the planting of careful teachers to be the best piece of seruice one of them that euer was attempted vnder their gouernment If to redresse the wantes of the pure worshipp of God and to remooue the condemnation both of the bodies the soules of men be thought a seruice worthie to be vndertaken For alas by meanes of the false and loytering guides which haue kept out the true and painfull watche-men the seruice of God hath nowe for the space of 31. yeares continued at that miserable stay in our kingdom that in the most congregarions not of miserable Wales and Ireland onely but euen of England it self The lamentab'e state of religion in England we want not some necessary member but euen all the vitall partes as the heart lyfeblood yea and soule of true religion namely the word preached euen the very seed without which men can neyther be begotten vnto nor nourished in the hope of aeternall blisse and happines Again by reason of this desolation of our Churche the most of our people within all our prouinces wandering as blinde men in the darke know no means eyther how to yeeld the Lorde any part of his true worshipp or howe they shall be saued in the day of wrath Here your Hh. of hir Majesties priuie counsell who professe your selues aduersaries vnto reformation and therefore vpholders of our ignorant ministerie are cited before the tribunall seate of God and required in his name to consider the injurie that you offer vnto his Majestie both in the maintenance of these blinde guides also in your proceedings herein for both which you are sure one day to be called to a reckoning First by maintayning these idoles you countenance and mayntaine the ruines defectes and profanation of Gods true seruice together with the damnation of mens soules Secondly your proceedings in the maintenance of the blooddie cause is suche as vnder the profession of true religion I thinke the like hath bin seldome seene For you thinke it a small matter for you thus to bereaue the Lorde of his true honor to lend your authoritie might and power vnto Sathan to vphold ignorance and blindnes vnles also as a testimonie of your perseuerance in this damnable way you do account of them that seek to bring