his yonger son Iacob when he felte hym arayed in the garments of his brother Esau Therefore when man hathe obtained this honour nowe standeth hée no more in feare of Gods terrible examples againste synners his seuere and straight iudgements but perceiueth Christ to be appointed by God a iudge of all meÌ„ who is ioyned vnto man by a strong faith for what sentence may wée thinke in reason that the redemer of the whole bodye will giue against his owne members when as this aucthoritie of life and death is not committed vnto him of our mercifull father not to destroy and condempne those that put their truste in him but to saue and preserue them rather and to enriche them wyth the benefite of euerlastyng life Hée therefore takyng vppon hym the partes both of an aduocate and a iudge vnto man doth easyly absolue vs of all our offences and pronounceth them iust for whose sake hee offered hymselfe vnto death that hée might satisfye the iustice of man notwithstandyng this pardon procéedeth not of anye mans merits or good workes for all that be borne of the olde Adam are guiltie of disobedience rebelling agaynste God nor of anye fastings or watchings or pilgrimages or satisfactions or offrings or masses or merites of holye men or holye women muche lesse of Monkes or Nunnes for what are anye of all these able to perfourme that is not of hys owne nature damnable and simply to be abhorred but it is that alonly swéete and comfortable voice Thy faith hath saued thée departe in peace and securitie and beware henceforthe and sinne no more leaste a worse thing fall to thée whiche is as muche to saye that after thou hast receiued grace from heauen and doste beléeue that thou arte partaker of my redemption be thou farre from al guilte and crime and from the paine due for the same and that of frée grace and mercy wythout all respecte of deserte yet in suche sort that thou haue earnest consideration howe dearely thou oughtest to estéeme that bonde whereby thou arte fast ioyned vnto me in whych respect thou arte adopted vnto the number of the children of my father to be an inheritour of the kingdome of heauen a member of my bodye and a partaker of my righteousnesse and therefore sée thou bring forth the fruites of innocencie and of repentaunce such as shal bée agreable vnto the roote of liuely faith and returne not to thy olde naughtinesse least some worse thyng happen vnto thée Loe thys is the sentence of Christe moste gratious soueraigne whiche the faithfull here pronounced and doe receiue by faith wherevppon they receiue such solace and comforte in their minds that if they happen to be troubled in conscience with remorse of theyr sinnes they séeke none other remedy than out of the worde of God whence perfect healthe is onely to bée soughte and founde The whyche doctrine so necessary and comfortable moste mightie Prince hath so inflamed the hearts of your Maiesties subiectes in the lowe countreis with such a feruent zeale of pietie and godlinesse that vnderstaÌ„ding howe shamefully they haue bene abused in a matter of so greate importance they make this humble petition vnto youre Maiestie that it woulde please the same to permit vnto them onely the libertie of theyr consciences and the preachyng of the Gospell whereby they might without pillage or tiranny be conducted the safe and ready way to eternall saluation And surely it séemeth a very vnreasonable matter that so honest and godly a zeale shoulde bée persecuted with so greuous exactions and penalties and not rather be both fauoured and furthered with his due praise coÌ„mendatioÌ„ And therfore your maiestie hath earnestly to consider howe almightie God wâ—ll deale with those persoÌ„s which do so cruelly tormeÌ„t and murder meÌ„ that are both created after his owne likenes and redemed with the most precious bloud of his only son for none other cause but onely for that they professe this heauenly doctrine Of the doctrine of Iustification as the Popishe Church doth teach it FOr the better vnderstanding of thys whole matter and the cause of the greate diuersitye of opinions hereabout I will with as muche breuitie as I can declare the determinations of the Papistes concerning Iustification Fyrste they define it in this wise that Iustification is the passage of a synner from vnrighteousnesse vnto righteousnesse wherof they say there be foure partes that is to saye motion of fréewill contrition infusion of grace remission of sinne The two firste to procéede from him that is to bée Iustified The latter two from the Iustifier and those two first to be as it were the causes preparing the harte of man to receiue the grace of god Moreouer they say that there bée thrée principall causes which concurre in the Iustification of sinners namely God the sinner and the Church God which poureth out his mercies wherby the sinne is forgiuen and sheweth his iustice exacting a satisfaction eyther in this life or after that is to saye in Purgatorie the which â—oo vertues as they glose are signified 〈◊〉 those two disciples which Christ sent â—efore hym into euerye Citie and place â—hether he himselfe shuld come Luk. 10. â—or that say they which then was done â—rporally is now perfourmed spiritualâ— Also on the behalfe of the sinner there â—â—e twoo thinges required loue and sorâ—we the which say they are lyke the â—ones of the Mille wherewith sinne iâ—â—ound as was figured in Deutero 24. â—ikewise there be two things that come â—â—om the Church The merits of Christe â—nd of the Saintes holy men and holye â—omen who forasmuche as they hadde â—ore store of good works than they stoode 〈◊〉 néed of themselues left the surplusage 〈◊〉 the custodye of the Churche that they â—ight be destributed among such as waÌ„â—ed SecoÌ„darily the church by the hands â—f the Pope and of Byshops graunteth â—ardons and indulgences vnto sinners â—uaileable so farre as the wordes of the â—ame doe purporte And yet among these â—octours there haue béene some whiche haue affirmed faith to be the foundation of oure Iustification and yet seruing vs in steade of a preparatiue to apprehende and receiue the fauour and loue of God wherof righteousnesse doth procéede the which he gyueth vs in coÌ„sideratioÌ„ of our loue towardes him Here I omit an infinite number of curious questioÌ„s which rather make the doctrine of our iustificatioÌ„ obscure than bring any light to the vnderstaÌ„ding therof specially to such as being indued with the spirit of god séeke after true righteousnes with the whole affection of their heart as may appeare most euidently aswel by the councel of Trent as also by the Interim offered vnto the Protestantes It shall bée sufficient to touche onely by name the palpable mists wherewithall the schoolemen blinde the eies of the simple people As when they dispute whether a man bée iustified in a moment or it require a long processe
¶ A Supplication exhibited to the moste Mightie Prince Philip king of Spain c. VVherin is contained the summe of our Christian Religion for the profession whereof the Protestants in the lowe Countries of Flaunders c. doe suffer persecution vvyth the meanes to acquiet and appease the troubles in those partes THERE IS ANNEXED AN Epistle written to the Ministers of Antwerpe which are called of the Confession of Auspurge concerning the Supper of our Sauiour Iesus Christ VVRITTEN IN FRENCH AND Latine by Anthonie Corranus of Siuill professor of Diuinitie ¶ Imprinted at London by Francis Coldocke and Henrie Bynneman ANNO. 1577. ¶ To the Christian and vnaffectionate Reader THE Author was determined to prefixe before these treatises an Apology wherin he declareth and defendeth certaine places specially chalenged in theÌ„ which his defence for certaine respectes he hath reserued to be imprinted with the Latine Copie which by Gods grace shall shortlye come forth and in the mean time referreth this as it is to the iudgement of the learned and vnpartiall Reader To the most mightie and most victorious Philip King of Spayne HAuing had certayne intelligence aswel by coÌ„mon report as the speciall letters of diuers Citizens of Antwerpe most migâ—tie Prince and my most dread soueraigne how miraculously farre beyond the exspectatioÌ„ of man God had made a way for the frée passage preaching of his holy Gospell in your Maiesties lowe countreys I determined with my selfe at the earnest persuasion of my friends setting all my other businesse aside to take my iourney thither both that I might be partaker with many others seruing God there sincerely and truely of that great ioy and coÌ„solation which â—hey receiued and enioyed through the â—xcéeding mercie and goodnesse of almighty God powred vpoÌ„ your graces subiects withall to my simple power further as much as in me lay this spiritual buylding of Gods house coÌ„sidering that God had appointed me to this vocatioÌ„ For since my departure out of Spaine which is now .xij. yéeres past I protest vnto your highnesse truely sincerely that there was nothing in the whole world that I more earnestly desired prayed for than that which at this present I behold sée before mine eies trusting that this singular grace benefit of God shal not alwayes be conteyned in this so smal a couÌ„trie but froÌ„ thence in processe of time shall be deriued into your M. whole realme of Spayne so that the true sincere knowledge of Iesu Christe may there likewise shine be manifested therwith al superstition all blinde false worshipping of God banished exiled which by the wilfull ignorance of men for wante of the knowledge of Gods worde were crept into our religion and like wéedes had quite ouergrowen it Finally I haue good hope that this chaunge alteratioÌ„ of the world shal stir vp your Maiestie to heare the pitiful coÌ„playnts lamentatioÌ„s of your faithful obedient subiects to haue compassion of the calamities of so many miserable soules as being your most faithful and obedient subiects are notwithstanding oppressed with diuers kindes of tormeÌ„ts persecutions banishment confiscation of goods landes that more is to be lameÌ„ted are before their cause lawfully heard against right reason coÌ„deÌ„ned executed most horribly by the moste extreme cruell kindes of death that caÌ„ be deuised As for the iudges which sitte in this coÌ„mission of life and death in this wise condemne the poore innocents they beare your grace in haÌ„d that the determinations of these causes dothe not appertaine to Kings or Princes notwithstanding that the holy Scriptures teach the contrary and shewe that it is the office and duetie of Kings Princes and all other rulers and Magistrates chiefly and before all other things to sette foorth good true doctrine accordyng to the lawes conteyned in the first table and the same so set forth to authorise and cause to be published and consequently to gouerne their subiectes with Iustice and with equitie to defend them The whiche thing it is vnpossible for any euer to performe without the true knowledge of Gods diuine Maiestie as the very HeatheÌ„s theÌ„selues iudge which were only learned instructed after the law of nature Justitia sayth Tully nec in regno nec in Repub retineri aut conseruari potest nisi iactis ante verae pietatis fundamentis Vnneth can iustice be kept or maintayned either in kingdome or coÌ„moÌ„wealth but where true religion is first of all planted and rooted And truly this is the very same true doctrine seruice of God which I sée preached in your Maiesties low countreys which causeth me assuredly to hope that all other thinges will haue like happie successe that your Maiestie by this occasion will vnderstande and determine this cause and purge Christian religioÌ„ in banishing and rooting out all the abuses and errours which haue crepte in by little litle and corrupted al Christendome Wherefore most noble Prince vpon my comming to Antwerpe many meÌ„ did greatly meruayle thinking it a thing scarse credible that one of the Spanish nation borne bredde there shoulde embrace the Gospell so desirously and so earnestly maintayne it that he boldly durst professe himselfe a publicke Preacher of the same And forasmuch as the bruite of this strange noueltie was so common that it came to your Maiesties eares as I coniecture and perhaps many a false slaunder and misreporte added therewith all I thought it not amisse for me to take occasion of this my comming to Antwerpe to breake this long silence whiche I haue kepte these whole .xij. yéeres to the entent to purge my selfe vnto your Maiestie and to iustifie the doctrine which I professe and that by writing Wherefore in most humble maner I beséeche your highnesse my gracious soueraigne to take in good parte this writing of mine your most humble and faithfull subiect wherin I haue declared the causes aswell that moued me to departe out of Spayne as to resort hither into your countrey of FlauÌ„ders For I take God to witnesse my comming to your Maiesties citie of Antwerpe was not for any desire of newfanglenesse or to disquiet the state but by the preaching of the Gospell to pacifie them that were offended to make a quiet end of quarels and controuersies that were risen among them to my power to caulme appease the hurlyburly whiche was nowe begon to cause vnitie peace where was discorde and dissention and to discharge the duetie whiche I ought bothe to God and to your Maiestie as I doubt not but your highnesse shal in tyme right well perceiue But chiefly my desire was in very déede to professe openly and to preach the doctrine of our Lorde and Sauiour Iesus Christe accordyng to the measure of his grace the knowledge that he had giuen me therin And now concerning the first point that I haue purposed to entreate of I wil â—eclarâ— vnto your Maiestie
the causes that enforced me to departe out of your most flourishing realme of Spayne For I am not ignorant that the time of my departing is very well knowen and much noted of many men aswell for the number of vs that fled at the same tyme as for the colour that was made to our Countrymen of our necessarie departure but yet without allegation of any cause certayne Many had good cause to meruayle most of all at meâ— that I among the reste so voluntarily departed into exile considering there was not onely no apparaunt cause of feare for mée of any open accusation for Religion to be had agaynst mée but not so muche as any suspition at all yea rather beyng in so good credite with diuers personages bothe Worshipfull and Honorable as fewe menne of my cote and callyng were so that this my necessarie departure is not to bée termed a constraynt or enforcement beyng not dryuen therevnto by any Officer or Inquisitour who liked of my presence and company very wel and gaue me friendly entertaynemeÌ„t but it was my conscieÌ„ce that vrged me therevnto which by the beyng lightned by Gods spirite did séeme to be in continuall torment and felte as it were a hell in it selfe to be miserably ouerlayed with so huge a Masse of superstition and idolatrie as long time and much labour would not suffise to declare Wherefore of many things I will shewe to your Maiestie a few in excuse of my selfe for mine owne purgation moste humbly beséeching the same to encline your gracious eares with patience to heare this my declaration to the ende that your grace may of your selfe the better iudge of my cause and descerne whether this my departure out of your graces Realme of Spayne deserue blame and condemnation and not rather pardon and coÌ„mendation Secondarily that I might shew some proofe of my Faith doctrine to your highnesse I will briefly declare vnto you certaine articles of our religion and for the residue will at all times at â—ur Maiesties commaundement be â—ost ready to do the like And first to â—ppe vp vnto your grace all thinges â—â—om the very beginning I will shew you how miraculously and after how â—â—range a maner the Lorde did open â—he eyes of my soule and made me to â—ée the truth What time the Empeâ—our your Maiesties Father of famous memory had nominated D. Aeâ—idio the chiefe chanon preacher in the Cathedrall churche in Ciuil to bée Bishop of Tortose the Monkes of Civil beganne so greatly to enuy it or rather so furiously to rage thereat that whereas they were not in any wise able to hinder him of that preferment wherevnto the Emperours maiestie had aduaunced him they conspired togither in what sorte they might beste accuse him for a sower of heretical doctrine after he had obtayned the Bishopricke For vntill that time D. Aegidio for his preaching was thought to be an Apostle and for his godly coÌ„uersation and life iudged of his very enimies to bée a paterne for all othâ—â— Preachers to folow direct theÌ„seluâ—â— by After this conspiracie was put 〈◊〉 practise whole thrée yéeres were speâ—â— in quarrelling entring billes of coâ—playnts against him during al which 〈◊〉 time good maÌ„ he lay in pryson pacieÌ„â—ly and manfully abyding all kinde oâ— affliction and miseries that were layd vpon him At what time for mine owne parte whensoeuer I either behold his estate or heard it spoken of I thought in my conscience that he was well and worthily serued and I also meruellously abhorred to heare him yea but once named as one commoÌ„ly reported to be a sower of Luthers heresies and a sworne enimie agaynst the Pope In this opinion or error rather I remayned a long time till one of the Inquisitours to whom his cause was specially recommended by priuate letters sente from the Emperour began to make his complaint to me of the iniurious dealings wicked demeanour of certeÌ„ of his felowes that were ioyned togither with him in commission aswel concerning other matters whiche pertayned to their ofâ—â—ce as especially in their procéeding agaynst D. Aegidio who as he sayde was both a good man and a true christian better learned by a great deale than his aduersaries for all their glorious tithes of Doctorship declaring moreouer that he vnderstoode right well out of what forge these quarrels and false accusatioÌ„s were coyned and that the MoÌ„kes durst neuer haue bene so bolde as to attempt so to set themselues against him but that they were bolstered vpholden by a certen Bishop Beside this he made report vnto me particularly in how many things the holy InquisitioÌ„ as they call it had dealt very cruelly with suche as were accused The whiche things it were requisite and necessarie for your Maiestie most rightuous prince throughly to vnderstande that your Grace might knowe the common Prouerbe in your tong to be true No es todo orâ— lo que reluze It is not al gold that glistereth and that this highe consistory and holy house of Inquisition as the terme it is most wicked and voyde 〈◊〉 all holinesse For whiche consideratioÌ„ he tolde me further that he had both dispatched himselfe out of the chargâ— of that office and refused the fée therof to the end that he might haue his frée election to be present onely in special matters at his pleasure beyng now farre stroken in age he might not be compelled to deale in all affayres And yet to the end that he might be an ayde and succour to some whom otherwise his companions would with tiranny haue oppressed he was content to be named in commission and reteyne the authoritie still For suche was their madnesse and furor sayde he ioyned with frowardnesse of minde that they would procéede to condemnation of meÌ„ innocent guiltlesse without hearing and debating their cause Whereof he sayd there was euidence sufficient in the cause of D. Aegidio wherein forasmuch as they were ignorant theÌ„selues and vnderstoode not what was right what was wrong what was in religioÌ„ true and what false they did therefore all the Monkes to counsell that they â—ight weigh the causes and by preiuâ—ice giue their verdites whiche they â—ommonly call the Qualifications beâ—ng knowen to be moste enuious enimies against that good man to beare hote malice towardes him stil boyling in their brestes And as for D. Aegidio truely sayd he if he be an heretike as his aduersaries do reporte him I confesse that I am an Heretike also For I am fully persuaded in my conscieÌ„ce that he teacheth no other doctrine than the very woorde of God in the whiche opinion his good life and conuersation agréeing with his doctrine doth the rather coÌ„firme me neither thinke I any Preacher of them all within the whole Citie that doth more euidently both in woorde and déede expresse true pietie godlinesse than he doth For whiche of all the Canons in the whole Colledge bestoweth his yéerely pention more
their vnderstaÌ„dyng Who senses also and vnderstaÌ„dyngs they daâ— go about to blind and to captiuate leaâ— happily they shoulde espie their iugling and treacheries naye plucke their eyâ— rather out of their heads molest vex diâ—quiet torment kill and slea those by finâ— and sworde and by all kind of torments whome God accompteth to bée of hyâ— flocke and hathe béene maruellously carefull and tender ouer to bryng them vppe to foster and cherishe them and 〈◊〉 encrease their number and for whose â—ke Iesus Christe the euerlasting sonne 〈◊〉 the almightye father hath shedde hys â—oste precious bloude to worke their reâ—â—emption and saluation And then began 〈◊〉 thus to thinke secretely wyth my selfe What meaning haue these fellows with â—â—em If wée bée heretikes as they acâ—ompt vs to be why haue they no comâ—assion of our soules forasmuch as they â—éeke not only not to saue our bodies but work our vtter destructioÌ„ Why do they putte vs to death perseuering in oure opinions and iudgementes whyche they â—all Hereticall especiallye beyng perâ—waded as they are that our opinions be damnable Why labour they not raâ—her to teache vs the truthe and to bring vs backe into the ryghte pathe agayne Why are they not contented to spoyle vs of oure lyues but imagine howe they maye doe it in moste despitefull and cruell sorte that can bée deuised to the ende that they myght driue men into desperation whose saluation they might driue men into desperation whose saluation ought of Christian charitie to be moste deare vnto them Nowâ— surely so it hath pleased God to order it that these men shoulde bestirre them iâ— this sorte like furies and helhounds that they maye declare themselues to bée thâ— séede and generatioÌ„ of Sathan their Sire who hath bene a murtherer from the very beginning the broode of Cain subiecte to the curse of whome God in the laste daye at his comming to iudgement will aske a strayghte accompte for the innocent bloud of his Saints shedde here in earth by them and reuenge al the whole from innocent Abel to the very laste of his Prophets and Martyres As our sauiour Christe doth moste manifestly declare speakyng to the Pharisies Verily I saye vnto you it shal come vpon thys generation from the bloud of iust Abel to the bloude of Zacharias the sonne of Barachias whome you haue slaine betwixte the Temple and the Aultar Wherefore in most humble manner I pray and beséech your Maiestie most gracious soueraigne not to defile nor embrewe your â—ndes with the bloud of your moste inâ—cent subiects nor to permit and suffer â—y longer that these limmes and miniâ—ers of the Deuill the deadly enimies 〈◊〉 God shoulde abuse your gentlenesse â—nd good inclination any longer Let not 〈◊〉 great and so horrible cruelties be praâ—ised and countenaunced wyth your auâ—horitie Cast not the shéepe committed â—nto you by God into the mouthes of â—hose moste rauening Wolues leaue not â—ehinde you so lamentable a memoriall to your posteritie that your grace should be registred among them that voluntaâ—ily and after their owne luste and pleasure haue by all meanes persecuted the true Christians the children of God and put them to death lette it neuer be saide that good men haue bene vniustly oppressed without cause knowen but only pretended contrary both to Gods lawe and mans and that in your Maiesties moste Princely throne and consistory For besides that this corrupte kinde of dealyng in the seate of iudgement will séeme most monstrous most detestable and most vnreasonable to theÌ„ that shall follow there is a worse thing greately to bée feared least God the Lord of hostes the moste myghtye and strong defence of Israell will laye so greate and so horrible Plagues vpon these moste cruell and vniust Iudges and vppon their issue theyr realms and dominions that it shal remain as an example for al posterity that shall come after the memory of them shal not be worne out while the world endureth No more then is the memory of Pharao that was drouned in the depth of the sea or of Nabuchodonozor that was transformed into a brute beaste or at the leaste whyche is as much in effect giuen ouer to brutish and beastly delyghts and exercises or of Holofernes whose heade was striken from his shoulders by the hands of a séely woman or of Herode that was eaten vp with wormes of Nero Caligula Iulianus other like tyraÌ„ts It is therfore a good lessoÌ„ in this case to beware to be wise by other mens exaÌ„ples For it is a great grace of God to learne by the mishaps of other men as it were at the handes of a scolemaster what is best for our owne behoofes The whiche your grace may easily learne most mighty prince if it may plese you to cast your eie aside to behold the miserable calamities whiche in youre memorie haue hapned vnto them that haue persecuted and vexed the church of god Nam tua res agitur paries cuÌ„ proxmus ardet as the common saying is When thy neighbours house is on fire take héed of thine owne But to returne to my purpose these are the chiefe occasions that enforced me to leaue Spayne and to betake my selfe to the wide worlde and to wander as a Pilgrime and stranger in forrain countreyes In the whiche trauayle for the space of tenne yeares besides great sicknesse I haue suffered extreme Pouertie and haue bene constrayned to becom as an infant again and to learne to speak straÌ„ge languages to be able to vnderstand others to expresse mine owne mynde The which things notwithstanding trusting in the mercies of God I haue bothe willingly and paciently accepted and suffered knowing assuredly that the Disciples souldiours of Christ cannot be in better estate and condition than their Maister and Captaine hathe bin And this is the cause why the world that is naturally enclined to malice and spight refuseth to be at league with me For if I were a worldling then surely woulde the worlde embrace me as one of his broode would commend and extoll me would sette me alofte in honour and authoritie would endue me with riches and would yéeld me at full al other commodities and pleasures as it is accustomed to do to his own But I for my part render vnto almighty God moste hartye thanks for that it hath pleased him fréely and of his mere grace without anye desert of mine to imprinte in my hearte true and perfecte faith by the which I do not onely stedfastly beléeue in his dearly beloued sonne and in his Gospel but also do manifestly abide suffer al thinges for his name sake and am made partaker of his Crosse Howbeit in all thys my long trauayle there is nothyng that séemeth to me so vnséemely as that suche as be aboute your Maiestie and of your Counsel shoulde vse suche diligence sparing neyther for labour and coste to apprehend and to clappe in prison a number of vs Spaniards that haue fled your Realme and
concupiscences but if a man strike with the scabbarde it hurts not onely the stroke maketh a sounde and wouÌ„deth not And truly if the course of our life wer in this wise and thus appointed it were nothing but a shadowe a counterfaite a vizarde of hipocrisie whiche happeneth not to the children of God who being indued with Gods holy spirite are able to iudge and estéeme all things and are themselues notwithstanding iudged of none For they haue the perfecte knowledge of Gods holye wyll depely imprinted in their minds the whiche the spirite of God hathe ingrauen in their heartes by the reading of his holy and sacred worde And hereof doe arise moste mightie Prince so sundry sectes of religion hereof growe daily innumerable questions and controuersies and herevpon do the â—nquisitours bende their force agaynste â—os as against heretikes and seducers of others wheras we on the contrary side are certainly perswaded that they walke in moste horrible darkenesse being enimies to the glorye of God and earnest promoters of their owne vayne glorye corrupters and deprauers of the word of God the which bicause they vnderstand not aright by the direction of his holy spirite they referre to their owne commoditie and aduauntage and make it serue their owne ambition and moste filthye abhominations What can be then more shamefull than to appoint suche iudges for the deciding and determination of the causes of Gods children whome so good a father hathe so well instructed in his precepts and commaundements that they haue not learned it according to the dead letter but in spirite and truth that and haue after a sorte put on Christe by whose Gospell they are assured that they are reconciled both to him and to his father It resteth nowe to compare the doctrine of the true children of God that are guided by his spirite with theirs who as they are very hipocrites indéede so do moste falsely affirme that they wholy depende vpon the aucthoritie of the holye scriptures such is their blindnesse and ignorance that hauing learned of the wisedome of the flesh as it were at the hands of a schoolemaister nothing but that whiche is worldly and carnall yet notwithstanding they brag of themselues moste arrogantlye and impudentlye that they haue the true knowledge and vnderstanding of scriptures the whyche they doe daily more and more corrupte depraue with their sophisticall gloses and philosophie or to speake more truly with their own dreames and fantasies Of the creation of man and of his estate in innocencie and fall into synne THe children of God and such as are taught by his spirite out of his word doe confesse that God in the beginning â—reated man of nothyng to hys owne Image and likenesse that hée shoulde bée â—ufre and vpright and zelous of his glorye In the whiche estate of originall iustice as they call it he continued vntill he of his owne accorde abusing that frée will whiche God had giuen him that hée mighte be perfecte in his kinde and nature did swarue and decline from God and being deceiued by the flattery of the SerpeÌ„t made himselfe thrall to that wicked and tempting spirite And this voluntarye transgressing of Gods holye lawe and wyll bothe broughte man into a moste miserable condicion and remoued him from the estate he was in in honour and defaced the image of God in him that is to saye made him vniust vnfaithfull an enimy and a rebel against God and spoiled him of the other graces and ornaments he had bestowed vpon him in his former estate Of originall synne and howe it is conueied throughout the whole posteritie of man. BVt this calamitie and misery restâ—â— not alonely in the firste man woman and there stayed but by reason thaâ— they were the séede and stocke whence issued all mankinde the blemishes anâ— corruptions of oure firste parents doe sâ— sticke in vs and from them are conueyed to al their posteritie that al the of spring and issue of Adam is no lesse defiled with his corruption and filthines than if they had bene both parties and guiltie to the offences committed by theyr fyrste parents And for this cause also is that called originall synne that is deriued and descended from our firste parents to all the posteritie both bycause it is oure owne and caste vppon vs as by discent and inheritaunce from oure auncestours and is the roote and originall of all other vices whether they be generall infirmities common to all men or proper and peculiar to singular persons The force and strength whereof is such and so greate â—at it maketh a man rude and ignorant 〈◊〉 the holye misteries of God voide of â—e heauenlye light resty and stiffe necâ—â—d against the will of God vnkind and â—nthankefull towardes a moste merciâ—ll and louing father and finally in the â—erformaunce and fulfillyng of hys will â—nd commaundement not onely weake â—nd féeble but as it were vnapt and vnâ—ble And to the ende we maye beholde the â—uely image and patern of that maÌ„ that â—eing borne of Adam is not regenerate â—n Christe sée howe Paule describeth â—uche a manner of man vnto vs Al saith hée bothe Iewes and Grecians are entangled in the snares and bonds of sinne there is not one iust man to be founde among them there is none that vnderstandeth any thing none séeketh after God all are gone astraye and giuen to iniquitye there is not one that embraceth righteousnesse Their throate is like an open sepulcher that deuoureth men aliue with their mouth they speake leasing and flatter with their tongue theâ— lippes are annointed wyth the poyson 〈◊〉 Adders Their talke is ful of cursing aâ—â— bitternesse their féete moste swifte 〈◊〉 shead innocent bloud finally their whâ—â— life is moste miserable that care neythâ— for godlynesse nor good religion Lo thâ— is the beste description that can be maâ— of man and therefore no man may be 〈◊〉 bolde vnlesse he be altogither shamelesâ— as once to whisper a worde of mans frâ— will to good of workes preparatiue 〈◊〉 they terme them merits deserued ex congruo condigno and suche other sophistical and Dunsical deuises except he wyâ— altogither flatter and deceiue hymselfe and séeke to draw other into like destruction But to speake the same in more plainâ— termes without any curiositie wée sayâ— that in man is the whole bodye of synnâ— as the very wordes of the Apostle are whyche like vnto a leafe of paper whervppon if neuer so little filthye and stinking oyle be dropped by little and little â—preadeth so into al parts that the wholâ—â—d euery parte thereof is ouerspreade â—th the filthinesse of the same euen so â—e say that originall sinne is not a hurte â—â—ime or griefe in any speciall parte in â—an but an vniuersall blindenesse or â—rkenesse in the witte and vnderstanâ—ng of man as touching the knowledge 〈◊〉 God and suche as bréedeth in man a â—aywardneâ—â—e against the will of God â—nd an imbecilitie and weaknesse to perâ—urme those thyngs whyche
mid day to go on pilgremageâ—sing Masses such execrable workes of superstitioÌ„ Of which things this saying of Esai may wel and aptly be verified against them that vse theÌ„ Who hath required these things at your hands that not without a cause for this kind of seruice is so far from being acceptable vnto him that they are most odious hatefull vnto him as may appeare by the many fold plagues punishmeÌ„ts which he layeth daily vpon vs that most worthily Therfore if our aduersaries finde fault â—ith vs bicause we teach not the people 〈◊〉 do such works we are very wel conâ—nt to sustein that accusation of theirs â—or let theÌ„ denounce against vs coÌ„demâ—tion neuer so great nor so oft our god â—ne doubt not will absolue vs let them â—rsecute vs neuer so extremely he will 〈◊〉 our defence and buckler let them put 〈◊〉 to most cruel deaths almightie God â—il restore vs vnto life again thorough â—hriste Iesus who is our only life Fiâ—ally though they burne vs to ashes he â—hat raysed Iesus Christe from death â—ill likewise rayse vp again oure bodies â—ute of duste and ashes for the spirites â—ake that dwelleth in vs Rom. 8. Of the good woorkes of a man that is iustifyed FIrste we protest and affirme that our aduersaries do most falsly slander vs where they say of vs that we coÌ„temne the doing of good works and that we persuade the people that they ar made holy and righteous in Christe and thâ— it skilleth not how they liue For we prâ—teste the contrary that that doctrine 〈◊〉 neyther the doctrine of the Gospell 〈◊〉 our doctrine forasmuche as it appeareth manifestlye in scripture that a good tâ—â— muste bring forth good fruite whereby 〈◊〉 may appere that the roote therof is god â–ª And the Apostle doth plainely teache 〈◊〉 the cause why Christe hathe deliuereâ— vs from the tiranny of sinne and by hâ—â— righteousnesse made vs righteous wheâ— he saith on this wise For wee also somâ— time were madde stubberne wandering out of the waye seruing diuers lusts anâ— vanities liuing in malice enuie hatefull one at deadly hatred wyth anotherâ— but after that the goodnesse and abundanâ— loue of oure Lorde and Sauiour Iesus Christe was manifested towardes men he saued vs not for the good workes that we our selues had done but of hys owâ— frée grace and mercie by the fountain of regeneration and by the renouation of the holy Spirite the whiche he poured vpon vs abundaÌ„tly by his sonne Christ that being iustified through his grace we shoulde bée made heyres of euerlastyng life according to hope Also in an other place he saith that the grace of Almightie God our sauiour was declared that men laying aparte all worldly pleasures shuld wholy bende themselues to true and perfecte goodlinesse righteousnesse and sobernesse looking for the happy hope and the glorious comming of our lorde god If these things then be true as we beléeue them to be moste true what impudencie were it to affirme that a man shuld liue idelly in the houshold of God truely wée affirme that a man not indued wyth the spirit of regeneration or berefte of that grace is altogither vnable to do or speak any thing that can please God yea so muche as to acknowledge Iesus Christe in his hearte vnlesse hée haue in hym Gods holy spirite and therfore we déeme those things that haue béene declared by vs as touching merits of congruence and of condignitie and suche other lyke fonde and foolishe distinctions to be méere deuises of mans vaine heade to make sinners become hipocrites and counterfaiters of holinesse whiles they vnderstand not the darke mistes of their ignorance and bée senselesse as touching their owne misery and destructioÌ„ which they cannot escape neither by these works preparatorie nor by any diligence or worldly wisedome but by the onely goodnesse and mercye of God whiles hée moueth oure mindes with forcible motions and openeth oure eies that wée should sée the most miserable estate and condition we be in wade out of this moste filthy puddell and sinke of all sinne where we are almost drewned and be washed with the moste precious bloud of the immaculate lambe that we may our selues be new creatures the whiche thing we call properly regeneration and newe birth or sanctification rather if ye liste so to terme it And after wée bée iustified and thus renued wée are so vnited and knitte in Christ with the band of his holy spirit that our works that we do afterwards ought to be accoÌ„pted Christes works in that respect are most acceptable in the sight of God but least any should fondly vainely imagine and dreame hereof with himselfe when he heareth vs speake of thys coniunction felowship with Christe we do not hereby mean any kind of transformation or transsubstantiation of the bodye of Christe into oure bodies as if it were néedful that the true humilitie of Christ shoulde be laide aside and vanish awaye God forbid But for the true and right vnderstanding of thys misterye wée requyre a spirituall man suche one as hathe bene instructed by the holy spirite to discerne and iudge of things rightely and as they ought to be in due place and order so that he maye be able to conceiue and comprehend in the vnderstanding of his mind Iesus Christ our redemer the son of god very God and very man glorified and sitting at the right hand of his heauenly father hauyng all power committed vnto hym bothe in heauen and in earth the whiche throughe faith hath hys continuall abode and dwelling in the heartes of hys elect chosen people And who so is iustified on this sorte occupy not themselues in buildyng of Chappell 's in saying of Masses in wandering on pilgrimage nor spende their whole life in such like superstitious exercises but referre all their actions and enterprises and cogitations to that seruice whiche they knowe God requireth at our handes speciallye they endeuour themselues firmly to retaine in their myndes the perpetuall and continuall meditation of the wonderfull coniunction they haue with Christe whose spirite witnesseth vnto our spirit that we are the children of God brethren and heires annexed with Christe the whych testimony is a strong assurance and most certaine earneste and seale of oure election and of Gods gratious goodnes as Esaias doth teache vs of the couenaunte which God hath entred with vs Neither is there anye other meanes to retaine this affiance and adoption than the continuall calling vppon the name of God ioyned with the reading and meditation of holy scriptures and the mortifying of our olde Adam and extending charitable almes towardes our neighboure And to the intent we may orderly learne whiche be the good workes of him that is regenerate and borne againe in Christ they may be referred to these thrée principall pointes the encrease of faith the desire of mortification of the fleshe and the societie of man consisting
and determinations oughte tâ— bée of suche force and power wherein they claime vnto themselues as it were by a speciall prerogatiue an authoritie and iurisdiction aboue al Christian princes and Emperours by vertue whereof they might commaund Princes and rob and spoile their subiectes bothe of life and liuing at theyr pleasure howe muche more conuenient wer it to follow the example of Constantine who hauing intelligence of the great quarrells controuersies that were betwixte the Arrians and the Christians did not refer the matter to the aucthoritie of the Pope but by hys owne authoritie called a councell frée for euery man to resorte vnto and sate himselfe meane betwixte two parts as an equall indifferent iudge and arbitratour betwixt them when he had caste all the voices senteÌ„ces of euery particular maÌ„ into one barrell hée set theÌ„ on fire declaring himselfe to be chiefe head of the couÌ„cell wheÌ„ the matter had bin long time debated on both sides he found a means to bring al to an vnitie til Sathan began to stur in the same matter so set theÌ„ at variance raised new troubles again But if it be a matter of impossibility or of great difficultie to call a generall couÌ„cell togither yet surely it is the office duty of euery christiaÌ„ prince by some coÌ„uenieÌ„t sufficient asseÌ„bly of his own subiects to procure peace traÌ„quilitie vnto the church by taking away al superstitioÌ„ and idolatry which corrupt the puritie simplicitie of Christian religion and are cause of mucâ— vexation vnquietnesse in the same Anâ— therefore nowe it behoueth all our kingâ— and Princes to followe the good examplâ— of theyr predecessors in employing theiâ— care and study about preseruing and restoring the true worshippe and seruice oâ— God as did diuers Christian Emperors namely Theodosius Iustinianus Charles the great and sundry others whose diligencâ— is singulerly and highlye commended oâ— the auntient Fathers specially of Augustine in the booke of the reproofe of the Donatistes Pope Leo in hys .73 epistle doeth earnestly aduise the Emperor so to esteme of his princely estate and dignitie as coÌ„mitted vnto hym not only for the gouernaunce of Cities by ciuile pollicie but also for the defence and aduauncement of the Churche by ecclesiasticall discipline Gregorye the firste dydde maruellouslye commende the diligence vsed by Ricaredus king of the Gotthes in rooting out the heresie of the Arrians Isidore sometyme Bishoppe of Siuill as Gratian reporteth said that princes shall be plagued in time to come for suffering the Churche to goe â—o ruine which god committed vnto them â—o foster and cherishe as saith the spirite â—f God by the mouth of his holy prophete Esay And there is no maÌ„ that doubteth â—ut that the Pope will doe all that lyeth â—n him to hinder the assemble of prouinciâ—ll counsells Whereby hee doeth manifestly bewray bothe the weakenesse of his â—wne cause the vanitie and corruption of his doctrine and the dispaire he hathe in â—che of both For who knoweth not or hath not hearde tell of the greate comminations which Paule the third sometime thundred partely by letters and partely by his Legates agaynste the Emperoure your Maiesties father of famous memorye onely bycause hée determined to call a Nationall councell of the states of Germany to the intent to reconcile and bring to vnitie the Princes of Germany whose religion and profession we teache maintaine in your Maiesties lowe countries but if the Pope doe truste to the equitie and right of his cause why is he so loath to haue it bearde and debated so fearefull to put it to comprimise and arbitrâ—ment of Princes Why trauaileth he tâ— haue their bookes burned of whome he 〈◊〉 accused For if oure accusations beâ— vaine bée false and fained what causâ— hathe hée to feare them Doubtlesse theâ— woulde fall of themselues wythout any force Forsooth the Pope and his clergy and the Inquisitors perceiue right well that the people whyche in tyme to forâ— haue bin blinde and ignorat haue nowâ— their eies and vnderstandings opened tâ— sée and perceiue their iuggling trickes and moste horrible abuses and thereforâ— they haue no care nor zeale at all of promoting true religion but onely laboureâ— to suppresse oure writings and to stoppe the passage vnto Princes eares that the people cannot haue frée accesse to make their complaint to the soueraigne prince practising all meanes they can deuise to entangle the consciences of men in theyr moste durtie dregges of superstitious ceremonies and treading vnder their féete the moste comfortable Gospell of oure sauiour Christe It maye please your Maiestie therefore to consider and weighe â—hat greate profite can arise to youre â—ealme by these their cruell and horrible â—dictes and proclamations For admitte â—hat youre graces Subiects do embrace â—he Romish religion by force and coertioÌ„ â—urely those that loue true Religion sinâ—erely and from their heartes will suffer all extremitie before they will submit themselues vnder that yoke of Tiranny againe But if you doe still licence the inquisitors to vse their accustomed crueltie towardes them howe déepely shall youre grace heape vengeaunce vppon youre owne heade in suffering so manye of youre Subiectes to perishe for whose cause Almightye God doeth so bountifully blesse all nations and multiplye the fruites thereof infinitelye for their sustentation and nourishement as for their soules they are frée notwythstanding from sense of any of these torments whiche the bodye endureth as maye appeare moste manifestly by that notable saying written in the book of wisedom The soules of the righteous be in the haÌ„ds of the L. ther is no tormeÌ„t that toucheth theÌ„ Verily in the iudgemente of the foolish 〈◊〉 they séeme to dye and their ende is thoughte to be euill and their departure froâ— among vs to be miserable where as 〈◊〉 very déede they are in safetie For thougâ— they be tormented in the sight of men yeâ— great is their hope of immortalitie anâ— for a little punishment suffered here theâ— attaine to merueilous greate benefites 〈◊〉 for God dothe trye them like as golde iâ— tried in the fornace and finding them fiâ— for hym accepteth them as a pure and 〈◊〉 perfecte sacrifice And therefore at suche 〈◊〉 time as god shall take care of them they 〈◊〉 shall shine shall run like sparkes of fire in dry réedes they shal iudge the nations 〈◊〉 gouerne the people and be vnder the perpetuall protection and safegarde of God vppon whom whosoeuer repose theyr truste they shall vnderstande the truthe and of louing affection cleaue vnto hym wyth all faythfulnesse for grace and peace shall happen vnto hys holy ones and hys Electe shall bée hadde in regarde but the wicked and vngodly shall bée punished according to their owne deâ—tes for neglecting the truth and godâ—â—nesse and forsaking the Lorde For they â—at despise wisedome and learning are â—iserable and their hope is vaine theyr â—â—oure loste and their workes fruitlesse â—nd vnprofitable Thus farre that
them to embrace and to professe the Gospell when they themselues deale more indifferently with vs in the lyke cases For those whome they haue ouercome they either permit to departe paying theyr raunsom or kéepe them in prison vntouched But wée false harted and Pharisaicall Christians leaue no barbarous and deuillishe tyrannye vnpractised towardes oure bretâ—ren and euen Christians onely bycause they will not embrace the Romishe religion but cleaue faste to the commandemeÌ„ts and doctrine of almightie god And what more Forsooth the whole Citie of Antwarpe riche in treasure beautifull in buildings very populous and of greate resorte was in great daunger and perill of vtter subuersion if almightie God of hys goodnesse had not put to hys helping hande at that instant and preserued the citie For the protestants being touched with that vnworthy fight of the miserable slaughter of their parents brethren kinsemen allies and friendes put themselues in armour to the number of fiftéene thousand and to helpe them in this distresse some practised to open the gates of the Citie and to issue oute and rescue them some placed men in array in the streates other filled the houses wyth armoure and armed meÌ„ to be in a readinesse for defence that they myghte saue themselues and the Citie from the ennimy if they should offer anye violence yea some of theÌ„ were in suche a furye and rage that they moste desperatly broke into the common armory and store house of the citie and into those places where were certaine péeces specially mounted to kepe off the ennimye In whiche greate confusion and hurlye hurly of the whole citie what feare think you the whole Citizens wer in for mine owne parte I wot what I then thought and thinke yet that I neuer sawe a more horrible and lamentable sighte in all my life than to sée euery man readye to run another through without respecte or choice In the which tumultuous sedition what profitte coulde youre maiestie hope shuld growe vnto you or what woulde the ouerthrowe and destruction of the Citie haue auailed you beyng either the chiefe Citie vnder youre Maiesties dominion or at the leaste not inferiour to the beste and chiefest whatsoeuer But to let these thinges passe and to consider diligentlye wyth oure selues what is the iudgement of God in these our affaires for we must doubtlesse one day al appere before hys dreadefull seate of Iudgement and giue an accompte of our déedes be they good or bad And what shall it auaile vs if we flatter our selues in oure owne deedes or pleade not guiltie to the facte and the Iudge find vs giltie and pronounce sentence vpon vs of euerlasting paine and woe Neyther doe I speake these things as allowing the rashe vnaduised attempts of these Protestantes which go about to resiste force by force as it wer to driue backe one naile wyth another For I know I thanke God of hys grace therfore howe greate pacience lowlinesse and humilitie the Gospell requyreth of them that will be professours thereof but I bring it in rather to this ende and purpose to giue your Maiestie to vnderstand howe perillous and dangerous a matter it is for Princes that their subiects shuld bée driuen to extreme desperation It is an olde sayde sawe The multitude is a monster wyth manye heades whyche beyng distressed and in despaire of life forgetteth both himselfe and hys duty towardes God and rayseth manye tymes greate tumultes and vproares And therfore many mightie Princes and Monarches haue oftentimes either pardoned or winked at those matters wherein the whole multitude hathe bene faultie bycause as saith the Poet They haue no other hope but boldely giue the aduenture and trye extremities when all extremities are feared So that a common errour séemeth as it were of good righte to challenge a generall pardon althoughe the prince wer very well able to reuenge and punishe the same As wée acknowledge your Maiestie to be but that god of his infinite goodnesse and prouidence hath endued your grace with such méekenesse and mercifulnesse that if there were anye that were obstinate and rebelling againste you you were not onely able to subdue them with youre maiesties might and power but also to win them by your moste gracious vertues and bounties Albeit in this case here is neither feare nor suspition of any rebellion when as youre Maiesties subiectes for the auoyding of present perill doe flée their countrey desiring nothing more hartily than that they might haue accesse to your maiestie and pleade their cause before you and professe the Christian religion and shewe their dutifull and obedient hartes to your maiesty as vnto their most dread and redoubted soueraigne But what thing should be of greater force to moue youre maiestie than the example of the Emperoure your father who perceiuing ciuile war to bée a bréeding al Spaine in a tumulte not muche after he was crowned king woulde neyther bée auenged of the iniuries of the people nor chastise them by his lawe but established the Lawe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and made open proclamation that al shoulde be bothe forgiuen and forgotten whereby he gatte suche good will and so obtayned the heartes of his people that the remeÌ„braunce of his excéeding loue and clemencie towardes his subiectes will endure while the world lasteth As I doubt not but youre Maiesties subiectes of the lowe countries woulde in lyke case doe if they might haue experience of lyke clemencye and pardon at youre graces handes But perhappes some of youre counsellors aboute you hearing mée speake so muche in commendation of a generall pardon will suspecte that I goe aboute craftylye to insinuate my selfe into youre graces fauour and thinke that I pleade not so muche the common cause of my Countreymenne as mine owne priuate case for the satisfying of whom and to the intent that they maye plainelye vnderstande my verye hearte and conscience I aunswere in this wise wythout all dissimulation That I haue a greate desyre and an earnest affection towardes my deare countrey and my dearely beloued parents and friends and féele the lacke of them by being absente from them and wishe with all my hearte that almightie God would vouchsafe so to shine vppon youre Realme of Spaine with the beames brightnesse of his gospell that al Idolatry superstitioÌ„ might be remoued theÌ„ce quite abandoned so that al we whych are banished and liue in exile from oure natural countrey mighte returne thither in safetie againe for otherwise as the case is at thys present wée ought rather choose to remayne in pouertie penurie néede persecution banishement and to suffer al other extremities that shall betide vs patiently than to defile oure soules with wicked and superstitious Idolatrie And for mine own part I haue much to giue God thanks for and by his grace will be alwaies mindefull of hys greate Graces and bountyes towardes mée that hathe of his prouidence so aided and assisted me in al this my pilgrimage that suche as