the maintenance of Gods true religion Ghospell In so much as beside all other times and occasions vvhen now a little before the last Paliamēt the pert bragging of popish recusants their fauourers here and there straglinglie scattered thorowe the lande did somewhat amase and trouble the mindes of infinite her Maiesties moste godlie louing obedient faithfull subiectes we yet se by firme experience the holie constancie of her Maiesties vnchangeable faith and the honorable cariadge of their wisedomes to the confusion of such vaine persones in their vndutifull wicked hope and to the exceeding ioy and contentation of millions of godlie Christians who depend vpon her Maiesties most gracious present gouernement and whose life is not deere vnto them so as they may se her in helth ioy comfort and honour being readie to bestow the best blood in their heartes to doe her true and faithfull seruice and euerie day night hower to aduenture all they haue for her safetie and to curbe beate downe all wicked Priestes Papistes treasonable persons what so euer The vnchangeable loue of Queene Elizabeth and her godly subiectes And this I thank God I may to the honour and ioy of her Maiestie boast and glorie with an humble gratefull minde reuerence to the diuine magnificent bountie of oureternall Father that neuer Prince King nor Queene since the foundation of the world had more faithfull loue obedience and chearfull duetie of their subiectes then all the Protestantes of England haue most gladly constantlie and vnchangeablie performed and continued to their most louing and kind-mother Queene Elizabeth and that so manie yeares with so little discontentment and disturbance and her loue and holie affection and constancie in religion hath bounde them most neerlie vnto her And therefore I am verely perswaded that if euer any Prince might esteeme the loue of their subiectes a strong wall and bulwark and garde to their person then certes Queene Elizabeth both may 〈…〉 mak high account of the Protestant in England as the most faithfull and loyall people which will not suffer her Maiestie to haue the least indignity if it lye in them by spending verie many thousands of their liues to doe her good And that shall the Papists Priests Seminaries wel know if euer they goe about to put in executiō their hoped butchery bloody obediēce to the Popes cruel buls And this is not all that bindes vs to their honors The Lords of the counsell a great stay to godly Ministers for in our priuate troubles about the ceremonies and subscription wee the poore and faithfull Ministers of Christ when so euer we haue opened our cause and humbled our selues vnto them we haue found great iustice and equitie and diuers times great reliefe and ease from our troubles No doubt they seing our innocencie that of meere conscience without anye the least inclination to disloyaltie to our Soueraigne we did forbeare to doe those thinges they haue tendered our cause and louingly effected that we might not be to to much ouerburdened Yea my L. G. of Cantur himself though he seeme to be the greatest opposite to our cause by wise experience finding the same thing hath many times and vnto divers men whereof I must confesse my self to be one moderated the extremitie which by other men was hotly and vncharitablie persued God bee thanked And I humblie praye almighty God euermore to blesse them that they may be alwaies the faithful eyes eares and hands of her Maiestie to the continuall safetie of her sacred person the vnchangeable vpholding of religion and the ioy of all faithfull and dutifull subiectes the terror and keeping vnder of all wickednes superstition and idolatry to the saluation of their own soules the bright shining glory of God in this land for euer and euer The ciuil and politike state of this land verie good 4. Now if any man vnderstand by the state the constitution of the common lawes and statutes of this land now presently in force whereby vve are combined into one bodie of a ciuill politike common wealth vnder one head and Monarchicall gouernment in all priuileges duties offices and works of Prince and people and of the whole and repulse and repressing of all domesticall and priuate euill in the whole or any member and for defence against all forren power or Potentate whatsoeuer who shall claime any title iurisdictiō or interest within these her Maiesties Dominions of Englande or Irelande or ells make inuasion against our Noble countrie or Soueraigne or offer violence or anie wrong to her Maiesties person Crowne or dignitie In all these thinges wee the Ministers and people aforesaide doe professe ourselues as happie people as anie vnder the Sunne to be vnder so iust equall and free lawes gouernement and iurisdiction right ordered common wealth And we protest before God that we and all we are bounde both by the law of God and of nature to spend our goods strength life and all we haue for the maintenance preseruation and quiet proceeding execution and florishing prosperitie of the same common wealth and monarchicall gouernement and for the maintenance of her Maiesties supreame authoritie ouer all persons in these her dominions either ecclesiasticall or ciuill and in all causes what so euer next immediatelie vnder God and his holy sonne Iesus Christ the King of glorie And I haue that assurance of our vprightnes in this matter that I trust no man euer did or could neither yet at this time either will or can except it bee some popish Priest or seditious person that maligneth our happinesse in this common wealth challenge accuse charge or suspect vs or any of vs that we are not for our places as obedient faithfull glad of present state as any other English men subiectes in this land without inparagement be it spoken and with reuerence to our superiours what so euer 5 Heere vpon it seemeth to me that the question is truely and naturallie about the Ecclesiasticall state constitutions orders maner of gouernement that if it may appeare that heerein we be not enemies then are we no way to be touched of which point the 2 and 3 chapters doe in some sort intreate and doe thus farre iustifie vs that we seeming in some sorte to goe against the present gouernement for not obseruing some ceremonies and for not subscribing c. are yet verie much warranted by the same constitutions articles proceedings of the same Ecclesiasticall state But we haue many moe honest and iust reasons for the approuing of our doinges which I doubt not but that the reuerende Fathers themselues and all other Christians waying with the balance of truth and equitie will afoord to be of better acceptance then in the cōmon account of our cause many doe esteem or affirme The ecclesiasticall state What. First therfore the ecclesiasticall state is the constitution of our churches reformatiō as we are departed from the apostaticall
in danger by this meanes For vvhen the people be so ignorant may not euerie Seminarie entise them as they list and if euer the Papist shoulde set one foote their longed hope Alas hovv coulde the state trust them that vere ignorant that no conscience nor honestie could mooue them but rather the bellie and that part that would vse them best and vvere most liklie to preuaile Where as the Protestant that hath knowledge of his dutie and faith in Christ he stands immoueable thogh all the world would forsake his Prince yet vvould he neuer A mirrour of this had you in Queene Maries daies vvhen the learned Protestante knowing his dutie did patiently and constantly suffer for the truth but the ignorant multitude were quickly turned from God Furthermore the vviser sort of Papists and Atheistes vvhen they see that vve speake against the hedge-Priestes of Poperie and the pride idlenesse and pleasure of their greate and glorious Prelates and that we our selues fall into the same scandall doe they not despise vs and count vs at the least as bad as they yea and verie hypocrites and time-seruers taking the ministrie vpon vs for vvealth and pleasure and not for the feare of God or the loue of his people And so their hartes are hardened and they fall away more more vvhereby the Queene is robbed of her faithfull subiectes and the strength of her estate is effeebled Whereas if vve could be content vvith a measure and that euerie Parish had a godly learned teacher vvee should see a merueilous encrease of good Christian people and an inuincible power of the great King of heauen among vs. Subscription a bar against good preacherâ— and so hurteth the common wealth Then commeuh in subscription and doth as much harme an other way namelie it maketh a barre against manie good and painfull learned Ministers and some it thrustes out And so for vvant of good lightes much people of this lande vvalke in darknes vnto this hower Little doe men think vvhat domage this is to the common wealth For let the neutrall Politician saye vvhat they vvill this I dare aduenture vpon my â—â—fe to auoutch that if the vvhole people of this land vveâ—e in euerie Parish furnished vvith learned and godly teachers the power of the Queene which coÌ„sisteth in the multitud of faithfull people vvould haue bene augmented by vere manie degrees and the enemies exceeding much abated euen in the eyes and knowledge of all men For if the Southern partes of the Realme and the cittie of London bee compared to the other partes where they haue had little or no teaching men shall easilie discerne that which I say to bee true namely if they weigh well the number of Papistes and Recusantes and the manifold dotages of the common people in such places where the godly Preacher hath not continued Therefore in regarde of my loue to my most gratious Soueraigne and natiue countrie I can not passe this ouer so slightly The subscription being vrged and the ceremonies they cause an honest godly painfull Preacher to bee suspended imprisoned and depriued What then The multitude reuerencing as it is meet their superiours presently iudge the godly Preacher to be a naughtie man Againe when they looke vppon the simplicitie of the vnpreaching Minister and the pride and coueteousnes of the non-resident what followeth They esteeme of no Ministers at all they stumble and fall and continue verie Atheistes readie to bee caried awaye after euerye deceauer which maketh a shew of godlines and to be drawne away by these pestilent Seminaries and wicked Priests and I esuites from their allegeance Whereas if the one of these were reformed after the rule of holy Scripture and the other Subscription being taken away c. had the fauour that their labours doe deserue you shoulde see an other maner of working namelie that reuerence to the Ghospell and loue to the Magistrate that no deceauer coulde possible enter into them The fruite of preaching before Subscription was last vrged Some fiue yeares to gether before that vnhappie time that Subscription was so generallye offered vvhich is nowe some 18. yeares past there was such vnitie betweene the Ministers and they ioyned in all places so louingly and diligentlie in laboure that not onely did the vnpreaching Minister and non-resident quake prepare them selues in measure to take paines in the Church but also many thousandes were conuerted from Atheisme poperie and became notable Christians And I am perswaded that the fruite of that time will be able thorow Gods blessing when so euer the Queene shall haue need which I pray God may neuer bee to Maister and calme all the storming Papistes and traitoures what soeuer But when Subscription came abroad how did it shake the heauens darken the skies O Lord mine hart trembleth to think vpon it how manie godly and worthie learned Preachers were silenced depriued and greatly disgraced Howe were the holy Ministers diuided and distracted Howe were the Christian subiectes grieued and offended and the Papistes and wicked men encouraged and emboldened What a dampe brought it to all godlines religion since that time what horrible wickednesse whoordome drunkenesse and al shameles filthienes and what grieuous plagues of God one succeeding an other haue followed eueriegood Christian subiect must needs see lament And the laste degree of these euills shewed it self about the time of the last Parliament so farre and apparant as I thinke manie of the reuerende Fathers were not a little touched with the grief thereof as their zealous preaching did most plainly testifie to the no small reioysing of many good gentilmen and others whoe louing her Maiesties honoure and present gouernement did blesse them in their heartes and with their mouthes praysed God for their zeale and faithfull dealing Now what will follow all this when God hath so long called vnto vs and admonished vs of these three capitall enemies beside all other our sinnes and we still remaine in them and maintaine them and make so little regarde of his faithfull seruantes they which knowe the holie Scriptures may easilye iudge I will saye no more but the Lorde bee mercifull vnto vs and keep farre away his deserued wrath displeasure from vs. 3 Now heere me thinketh I see the scorning Atheist to laugh in his sleeue thinking that all men are fooles but him selfe Atheistes doe thinke them selues the only wise men And some beginne to say that the wiser and greater sort of men make no account of religion but think baselie of it namelie that it serueth but to keepe the simple people in awe Some cause I must confesse they haue this their stumbling when they see the better sort of Christians so diuided But yet by this verye thinge they confute them selues and shewe their naked shame by proouing and fulfilling in thâ—mselues the truth of holy Scripture First they shew the want of faith according to the saying of Christ saying When the Sonne
that we might haue reformation in these things or at the least such toleration as wee might not be burdened with subscription or the strict obseruation of ceremonies but behauing our selues otherwise peaceable and as good subiectes discreet ministers we might not be troubled nor molested about these things And for this cause we did meet in the Parliament time and at other tymes while our trouble did last to consult and deuise what way wee might take to obtaine fauoure and reconciliation or reformation or releasment of our suspensions or other troubles In all which as I must needes confesse that I was among the Ministers of Kent not one of the hindemost beeing suspended onelie for not subscribing from the last daye of Ianuarie vntill the third day before the natiuitie of Christ So doe I professe to all the worlde that I knowe not anie thing which we did in our meeting or in our supplications or apologeticallwritings but that which was comely for men of our sorte and as our forefathers the faithfull Ministers of Christ in the primitiue Church did in like case before vs. For the Ministers of Christ finding themselues in the testimonie of their consciences to be heauilie burdened with the ordinances of the Church wee liue in humblie to declare their grieuances to the Magistrates in authoritie in tymes and places which may relieue them to shew by publike writings the vprightnes of their cause and by petition to craue some Christian and godlie remedie is doubtles agreeing to all law of God man and therefore I hope I shall not need to vse anie argumentes to prooue the same which we know our aduersaries being in our case would thinke themselues to haue great wrong to be denied Our fault is that we did not cōmend our cause to the Queene But if anie thing bee our fault I take it to be this That wee did not present our cause to the Queenes most excellent M. being a Prince of rare clemencie wisdome and iustice Whome when we did know to be so equal fauourable milde and of such incredible long animitie and that to her greatest aduersaries and deadlie enemies the Papistes who alwaies haue sought mischief against her person Crowne and dignitie we were doubtles much ouerseene that we commended not our cause to her most gracious and Princelie consideration For the goodnes of our cause and the innocencie of our persones being manifested before her Princelie eies it could not haue bene possible but that so prudent Christian a Magistrate vvoulde speedilie haue eased all our sorrovves and ended these vvofull troubles of the Church 2 But vvhile vve partlie fearing partly hoping as though the reuerēd Fathers themselues to vvhome vvee vsed beside our supplications diuers meanes woulde at the length haue ioyned with vs to the ending of these vnvvholsome strifes that vve trusted that our mercifull God pitying his Church vvoulde haue raysed vp some meanes to further his ovvne cause vvhile the time slipt avvay and mens mindes vvauered this vvay that vvay three most greeuous accidents did greatly astonish vs and verie much darken the righteousnes of our cause The first vvas a foolishe iester vvho tearmed himselfe Martin Marprelate and his sonnes Martin Marprelate a filthie Sycophant vvhich vnder counterfeit apish scoffing did play the Sycophant slanderously abused manye persons of reuerend place and note And such was the wisdome of the time that manie filthie and lewd pamphletes came forth against him casting forth much stincking doung and beastlie filth into the faces of honest men to the great contempt of Christes holy Ghospell and the verie apparant disparagement of the faithfull laboures of all godly Ministers on both sides This kindled a meruelous great fire euen that which S. Iames sayeth is set on fire of hell and is a worlde of wickednes Cap 3.6 It beewraied the weaknes of many a man and shewed how hard it is for fleshe and blood to hold in the raines of his own aspiring affections rather to endure reproach then to endamage the Church of God or wiselie to forethinke that we ought rather to suffer wronge then that the glorious Ghospell of our Lord Iesus Christ shoulde be euill spoken of How so euer it was the blame lighted vpon vs and we by it obtained a new name in many pulpites how iustly God knoweth wee are called Martinistes Then did our troubles increase the persuite was hardlie followed against vs the enemie of the Ghospell for slowed not the occasion to make our good iust honest godlie cause to be ill thought of and verie much condemned as if the verie state had taken knowledge that we were wicked men our cause vniust we no longer to be suffered So great hurt is it when an honest lawfull course is begun for foolish hairbraine men to thrust in thēselues to hazard such meanes as God neuer sanctified For God needeth not our follie 1. Cro. 15.13 but will make a breach among vs if we seeke him not in order Howbeit when our cause was left naked and many of vs in great hazard God him self gaue witnes to his truth manifested his iudgements and deliuered his innocent seruants so that it plainly appeared to the wiser discreter sorte that the Deuill was the author of this disgrace In this time also happened the second and third euill the Brownistes tooke offense against both sides The Brownists and Hacket of an euill spirit made a temerarious and wicked separation some two or three men being beewitched with some proud honor by a certaine man frantick spirit lifted vp themselues with hie words of blasphemie whose working this was all wise men know who know the wiles of Sathan How be it these also were drawne vpon vs and made a notable matter to aggrauate our cause But God who seeth in secret and beholdeth the bitter gaule of Simon Magus Act. 8.23 the filthie dissolutenes of Nicholas the freating canker of Hyminaeus Philetus the dogges the euill workers concision and all false Apostles which transforme them selues into Apostles of Christ namelie that these did much mischief and brought great trouble to the first beginning planting of the primitiue Church he euen he knoweth that these things were cunninglie wrought by these deep sleightes and suggestions of that olde serpent too hinder our good cause to hurt the prosperous and godly proceedings of the Church of England For by this meanes we finding the mighty winds and stronge streame against vs were faine to humble our selues vnder Gods mercie and commending our selues our cause to him who iudgeth righteously we reserued ourselues to a better time whē it should please his gracious wisedome to make his owne trueth to appeare and to moue the mindes of our superiours to bee more fauourable 3 Then tooke the idle and vnpreaching Ministers comfort at the heart supposing their standing to be good the non-residents had their mouthes
enlarged it became daungerous both in the Vniversitie and countrie to reproue either of these the people were become conuenticlers if they met together to sing a Psalme or to talk of Gods word And there was not a better way to maintaine an euill cause or to bring any honest man out of fauour then to shew thy selfe an enemie to Puritances and to entitle him whom thou wouldest disgrace with the name of a Puritane Yet let vs see whether this holie Canon of Scripture will not beare vs out to preach speake against these kindes of Prelates or to vse such kind of exercises First the Prophetes call them blind watchmen Esa 56.10.11 dumbe dogges and greedie dogges which can neuer haue inough They cry out vpon them say O idoll sheapheard that leaueth the flocke Zac. 11.17 the sweard shal be vpon his righte arme and vpon his right eye Woe vnto the sheapheardes which feed themselues should not the sheapheardes feed the flockes Ezech. 34.2 And Christ saieth of them Math. 15.14 They be the blind leaders of the blind And the Apostles cal vpon them earnestly saying Take heed vnto your selues to all the flocke whereof the holy Ghost hath made you ouerseers Act. 20.28 to feed the Church of God which he hath purchased with his owne blood And againe Feede the flocke of God which dependeth vpon you 1. Pet. 5.2 c. If wee speake after this Canon of the Prophets Christ the Apostles are wee troublers of the state or are not they who in their actions do contrarie to the reueiled will of God in his word And whē the same holy Scripture exhorteth men and weomen commandeth them to talke of Gods worde in their houses and when they walke in the way and that the same shoulde dwell plentifullie in vs Deut. 6.7 Colos 3.16 in all wisedome teaching admonishing our selues in Psalmes and Hymnes spirituall songs shall honest men and weomē be therefore called Puritans their godlie Christian meetings bee tearmed conuenticles And if Gods spirit say vnto vs Heb 10 20. Consider one another and prouoke vnto loue good works not for saking the fellowship we haue among our selues as the maner of some is but let vs exhort one another c. Shall honest Christians bee reproached for endeuouring the same And if they admonish anie neighbour for swearing or anie other disorder or call them to heare a Sermon are they by and by vile Puritanes I hope all wise and godlie Christians examining these things aright and waying them with the equall ballaunce of Gods sanctuarie wil conclude with me that in al these thinges especiallie in regarde of the matter of our cause howsoeuer perauenture we cannot be or haue not bene all of vs at all times perfectlie wise in the maner of doing wee haue not broken the principall Canon of our Church but faithfullie laboured to square our actiones after the expresse rule of Gods holy worde and therefore falsly and iniuriously called Puritanes Precisians and troublers of the state Cap. III. That the Ministers and people who haue disired reformation in some Church matters haue therein followed the Christian lavves and godlie proceedinges of the Ecclesiasticall estate THAT some fevv should differ from so many reuerend learned and godlie Fathers of the Church it is and hath bene alvvaies in the opinion of naturall men Men iudge by the outwarde shew a very great preiudice and the authority of the greater part ouersvvaieth the lesser sometime the better For men most commonlie iudge by outwarde appearance And therfore Christ him self being void of outward beautie forme Isai 5.3.2 was despised and reiected of men and it was thought a goodlie mightie reason against his doctrine when they coulde say Doth any of the Rulers or of the Pharises beleeue in him How be it in our Ecclesiasticall state there is matter of great consideration that the one side shoulde conster all thinges that were done at the first with great charitie and Christian pietie the other not to bee so straight as to iustifie euerie particuler The Queenes Maiestie God saue her blesse her comming to her Crowne The most Christian magnanimity of Queene Elizabeth in a troublesome and dangerous time when feare seemed to be on all sides her owne subiectes for the most part male contentes and the mightie Potentates all enemies round about her it shewed doubtlesse the wonderfull work of God most Christian royall magnanimitie in her Maiestie especiallie being a tender branch a maiden Queene that she aduentured to goe so far in reformation of religion in setting forth of the puritie of the Ghospell Wee must thinke also that those few godlie learned men who considered examined and penned the bookes not to haue bene alone without some men of greate learning and countenance which woulde sway against trueth as much as might be therefore no doubt verie wislie for the time they did so carrie the matter that the moste waightie part of that they did is without all exception some thinges may haue a verie good interpretation that which is otherwise perauenture was not espied as in a more peaceable time at more leasure and with greater aduise might haue bene And verelie to speak my conscience It is the singular mercie of God that our Church is so well reformed I take it to bee the singular mercie of God that it happened so well and that the books be so pure as they are the doctrine of faith so fullie and so sincerely declared the order of Gods worshipe so free from idolatrie the ministerie so neerelie framed to the Apostolicall times so that euery good Christiā honest subiect hath very great cause highlie to praise God for such exceeding good libertie and to pray continuallie for her Maiesties moste happie preseruation and to be thankfull to those reuerend men who did so wiselie faithfullie discharge their duetie These things being thus at the beginning the Apologetical writings of verie faithfull and learned men in explaning the Christian purpose of our Church and the statutes articles Canons iniunctiōs seemed to aime at this marke That in peace quietnes wee might not onelie enioy that which was first established but also come the neerest that might be to the pure fountaine of Gods word It doth seeme vnto me that either all these thinges which wee desire or the most needfull to bee reformed had bene long ere this amended if the cōmon enemie of mankinde who enuieth that we should haue any thing so well as we haue had not cast in a block of ciuill debate amongst vs. And I maruell not at it seing so many Papists prophane persons did vse all stratagematicall insinuations to kindle the fire and to nourish it being kindled that if God had not moderated the hote furie immoderate stiffenes of some men to maintaine that they had begunne doubtlesse it
kingdome If in the stile and maner of doeing they or anye other writing in defence of them Curious and bitter wordes not iustifiable haue ben ouer curious bitter or sharpe by which they haue incensed theÌ„ whome they should haue wonne by milde meeke vsage I for my part doe not reioyce in it I dare not defend anie the least vnsemelie word Howsoeuer I know the hard pursuite vpon them and that being as they verilie thought further and beeyonde the lawe of this Realm did giue them great cause to bee grieued and offended that their consciences should be so straightlie pressed their labors so little regarded and being Ministers of the Ghospell they shoulde bee so smallie esteemed and that the Reuerend Fathers accounting those thinges for which they contend but meere trifles would yet preferre them before the ministery of so many worthy Preachers and prouoke their breethren more and further then they need This doubtlesse vexed their spirit and such is our weaknesse and imperfection in this life that it is an harde thing to keepe measure at all times And when men are perswaded in conscienee that their cause is good their griefe is the more and they are the more confident to speake And it were almost a wonder that in such perplexitie euerie thing should be perfect and without blemish Doe we not know that Moses beeing by the spirite of God Num. 12.3 called a verie meeke man aboue all men that euer were vpon the earth yet God punished him Because his spirite beeing vexed by the people Ps 106.72.73 hee spake vnaduisedlie with his lippes So no merueill though we poore weake soules farre inferiour to that most rare man haue felt the smart of our griefe and zeale I would to God that our brethren fathers coulde be iustified in this matter and that they had not their parte of iuste punishment with vs for that wherein they haue beene ouerseene in their dealing toward vs toward the Church of Englande in these causes And I hartly pray God that they doe not one day confesse and say Wee haue verelye sinned againste our brethren Gen. 42.41 in that wee sawe the anguish of their soules when they besought vs and wee woulde not heare them therefore is this trouble come vpon vs. The Lorde our God euen our mercifull Father bee iudge betweene vs. Touching subscription I haue sufficiently spoken before and there will be occasion after therefore I need not in this place to say any thing Now I come to the second point the cause of our doeing it is saide Because in certaine accidentall poyntes they haue not their fansies and proper deuises If it may appeare that this is an Elench No cause set for A cause and that a good iust and waightie cause founded in Gods word is iniuriously reputed and tearmed accidentall fansie and deuise then I hope godlie and vvise Christians will pittie our estate bee more fauourable iudges of our cause To reade bookes Apocryphall and chapters contayning errours and vntruthes vnder the name of holy scripture is no accidentall pointe vnlesse we will say that our conference with papistes and our apologeticall writtings prouing errours to bee in those bookes and therefore to be no Canonicall Scriptures be accidental points The desire that euerie Minister bee a Preacher of Gods word and to administer discipline is no accidental point vnlesse the chiefest pointe of the Minister office as they are ordained by the â—ooke of orders be but an accidentall â—ointe To desire that Chauncelers Officialls and Commissaries shoulde â—ot administer discipline and nameâ—e excommunication which D. Sutâ—ef saith is against all reason for a laye â—an to do that the Pastour should â—ot be a non-resident which the reueâ—end Fathers say is a pernitious thing â—r to say that God hath consecrated natrimonie to such an excellent myâ—erie that in it is signified and repreâ—ented the spirituall mariage betwixt Christ and his Church which is not â—o to be founde in holye Scripture but 〈◊〉 a belying of his glorious Maiestie â—o saye that these and manye such like â—e accidentall pointes I hope no aduied man that looketh throughly into â—ur cause will aduenture And where 〈◊〉 is saide that wee woulde herein haue â—ur fancies and proper deuises let the â—oste reuerend Father determine for â—s where hee hath these wordes D. Whitg in the preface of the defens of the auns to the admonition The â—ontrouersie is not whether manye of the â—hinges mentioned by the platformers were â—tlie vsed in the Apostles time or may â—ee well vsed in some places yea or hee conueniently vsed in sundrie reformed Churches at this day For none of these branches at denied c. Now if as this reuerend Father saieth manye of the thinges wee desire were fitlie vsed in the Apostleâ— times c. How can they be our fansies proper deuises which were vsed by the Apostles some a thousand fiue hundreth years before we were borne And let it be considered whether the Apostles vsing such thinges haue deserued to be reproached with our fansies and proper deuises who are liuing so manie hundred yeares after them haue our selues learned those thinges out of their holie writings if this bee well looked into and aduisedlie iudged of by an equall and iuste line I hope the ground of this greate and terrible accusation being voide and emptie all the other greeuous inferences will fall and vanish away and that the contrarie will be euident and apparant to the conscience of all men Namelie That for so much as we faithfullie preach the doctrine of faith and sacraments and humblie and quietlie vse our ministrie according to the booke of orders and administer Prayer and Sacraments by no other forme but that of the booke of common prayer and that in our publike preaching priuate talke in all accasions wee doe praise God acknowledge his mercie pray for the continuance thereof and stirre vp others so to doe and therevpon doe humbly present to the reuerend Fathers the whole state verie good waightie points agreeing to holy Scripture needfull to bee considered for the further perfection of our Church and the glorie of God being no fansies of ours or deuises but such as the holye Apostles did vse in the first and purest Churches wee caÌ„ not be said to sett our selues against god frowardly to disquiet the church trouble the common wealth hazarde the whole state of religioÌ„ reioyce the wicked or grieue any godly person whatsoeuer but rather to promote the glorye of God further the present good encrease of our Church to the great benefit comfort and ioye of Gods people And I can not thinke so vndutifullie of her Maiestie or of any other that haue care of gouernement that they would be merueilouslie grieued to se any subiect in humble and dutifull maner sue to be eased of any grieuance according to the auncient custome and vsuall order of this Realme and
THE PLEA OF THE INNOCENT Wherein is auerred That the Ministers people falslie termed Puritanes are iniuriouslie slaundered for enemies or troublers of the State Published for the common good of the Church and common wealth of this Realme of England AS A COVNTERMVRE Against all Sycophantising Papsts Statising Priestes Neutralising Atheistes and Satanising scorners of all godlinesse trueth and honestie Written By Iosias Nichols a faithfull Minister of the Ghospell of Christ and an humble seruaunt of the English Church Micah 7. vers 8.9 Reioyce not against me O mine enemie though I fall I shall rise when I shall sit in darknes the Lord shall be a light vnto mee I will beare the wrath of the Lorde because I haue sinned against him vntill he pleade my cause and execute iudgement for me he will bring me forth to the light and I shall see his righteousnes 1602. The contentes of this Booke Chapter 1. Wherein is shewed 1 They bee not Puritanes in deede who nowe in Englande are so called Pag. 1. 2 That name is verie fit and proper for all Papistes pag. 4. 3 What are the causes that some of her Maiesties moste faithfull and obedient subiectes are termed Puritanes pag. 5. c. 4 The true state of their cause pag. 12. Capit. 2. Wherein is declared 1 That the Ministers and people which haue desâ—â—d sought reformation of some thinge in the Ecclesiasticall state of this lande are warranted in their doâ—ings by the principall rule and Canon of our Church namelie the holy scriptures pag. 13. 14. c. 2 Martine Marprelate the Brownistes Hacket stirred vp by Satan to hinder their good cause pag. 32. 33. 34. 3 Preaching against Non residentes and the vnpreaching ministerie and all the exercises of the people aggree to holy Scrip. Pag. 35. Cap. 3. That the Ministers and people who haue desired reformation in some church matters haue therein followed the Christian lawes and godlie proceedings of the ecclesiasticall state Pag. 38. 39. c. Chapter 4. Wherein is prooued 1 That it can not bee that the Ministers and people desiring reformation should bee enemies to the state pag. 58. 2 They can not but vnfainedlie loue the Queenes most gracious Maiestie Pag. 60. 3 They doe heartilie reuerence and thankefullie obserue the Lordes of her most honorable priuie Counsell Pag. 65. 4 They reioyce to liue vnder the coÌ„mon lawes and ciuill coÌ„munitie of this Realme Pag. 69. 5 And in all their doeing maintaine the faith and promote the good proceedinge of the state of the Church Pag. 71. 72. c. Chap. 5. This teacheth that the Reuerende Bishoppes and other Prelates of the Church of Englande standing for conformitie such as indeede vnfainedlie doe fauor the present state of the Church and doe faithfully holde and beleeue the true religion and faith of Christ maintayned by publicke authoritie among vs are one and the same with the godlie Ministers and people which desire reformation of some thinges in the Ecclesiasticall state 1 Beeause they doe disagree in some things yet be faithfull brethren Pag. 83. 2 This life affoordeth not absolute and vnchaungeable vnitie Pag. 85. 3 They agree in all substantiall pointes of our Church as it aggreeth with holy Scripture Pag. 90. 4 God by persecution can make them in deed to appeare to be one Pag. 95. Cap 6. Wherein is plainely opened That there can no good reason be shewed that the godlie Ministers seekeing reformation are enemies to the present state 1 Because their consciences is cleare in Gods sight Pag. 99. 2 They defende no euill actions in them selues Pag. 100. 3 They can not bee charged with the faultes of straungers Anabaptistes foolish Martine or of frantick Hacket Pag. 102. 4 Nor with vnthankefull obscuring of Gods mercie for their fansies c. Nor with innouation or schisme Pag. 113. c. 5 They can not bee charged with anie thinge againste her Maiesties Person Crowne or Dignitie Pag. 132. 6 Or that they are againste all Superioritie in Ministers or the true power and honour of the ministerie Pag. 140 Cap. 7. Wherein is proued that the Ministers seeking reformation falsely called Puritanes are not in any sort to bee compared to Papistes in euill much lesse to bee equalized with traitors Seminarie priestes or Iesuites 1 By their contradictorie doctrine Pag. 145. 2 By their contrarie actes doeings Pag. 149. Cap. 8. The Ministers vvhich desire reformation in some thinges of our Church matters can not feare but euer loue her Maiestie and all the godlie wise Magistrates vnder her But the Papistes cleane contrarie Pag. 151.152 c. Cap. 9. Wherein is plainelie shewed 1 That it is most profitable to the present state and gouernement and greatlie for her Maiesties safetie to heare the petitions of the godlie Ministers seeking reformation and to tolerate them in their ministerie Pag. 162. c. 2 To harken to Papistes and to tolerate them is most exceeding daungerous and pernicious Pag. 170.171 c. Cap. 10. Wherein is demonstrated 1 That the vnpreaching Ministrie Non-residencie and subscription are troublers of the state Pag. 184.185 c. 2 They are breeders of Atheisme and Poperie and so ouerthrowers of the whole lande if their be no remedie in time Pag. 212. c. 3 At which the Atheistes laugh to their own confusion Pag. 208. c. Cap. 11. Wherein is discried that neither the reuerend Fathers and learned Prelates standing for conformitie neither the godlie Ministers desiring reformation are the onelie and proper causes of these troublesome dissensions and euils following the same But their are some other thinges more specially to be looked into which may and ought to induce both parties vnto peace and to ioyne louinglie in the building of Gods house and that all English people doe humble themselues by prayer vnto God and carefullie conforme them selues to the Ghospell of Christ Pag. 224.225 c. God saue our most gratious and Christian Queene ELIZABETH To all the Reverend Fathers the Bishops of this lande to all the godly learned Ministers of Iesus Christ to all the true and faithful favourers of the holie faith and religion now publikelie professed and maintayned in Englande IOSIAS NICHOLS the least of the least of all Gods Saintes wisheth all grace peace and ioye in beleeuing A Good name sayeth Salomon is to be chosen aboue greate riches Prou. 22.1 and louing fauour is aboue siluer aboue gold Which then is most excellent when it is founde in the feare of God A good report namely of a minister is a precius thing and our light shineth to the glorie and praise of God But the name of a Minister is yet of more regarde by whose standing and falling many are drawne and the reproach of such men reacheth nerest to the heauens and God is most dishonoured by their dishonour for he hath said I vvill be sanctified in theÌ„ that come neere me Leuit. 10.3 and before all the people
schollers of the Cathari Nouatus Papistes are in deed Puritanes Pelagius and of the Ebionites Donatistes and of all such like Puritane heretickes maye iustlie very fitlie be called Puritanes For they hold that in their regenerate men after Baptisme Concil Trid. less 6. ses 5 there is nothing that maye bee saide to haue the reason of sinne and that they are able to fulfill all the commaundements of God and they affirme that they haue an inherent righteousnesse which they keepe as a pure and immaculate robe to the obtayning of saluation and that they are righteous iustified deserue saluation by their workes that they haue among them deuout and holye men whome they call religious Moncks Test Rhem vpon Luc. 10. Friers Nunnes Iesuits Seminaries Ven. 42. and 2 cor 2. vers 10. and ca. 8. vers 14. Wil. Allen of pardons cap. 11. and 1◠vvho in their religious order liue as they say a Seraphicall and angelicall life being virgins voide of all seculare affayres as pure and chaste votaries in contemplation seruing God day night are able to merit not only for them selues but also for others and of the superaboundancie of their vvorkes of Supererogation they maye communicate to others and the Pope maye by indulgence applie their merites for the reliefe of others out of purgatorie and such like These vndoubtedlie may are properlie to be called Puritanes because they indeed arrogate vnto them selues puritie and holines and despise all others vvhich the true children of God though thus belyed slaundered dare not in any case to doe but contrarilie they crie out vvith the Psalmist vnto God Enter not into iudgement Psal 143 2. Luc. 18.13 And vvith the Publicane Haue mercie vppon mee a sinner 3 But the cause originall and order whereby these reproachful termes vvere giuen to good Christians Howe the name of putitanes came vp in England I finde to bee this In the beginning of her Maiesties most happie raigne whome I humblie pray our God to prolong as long as Sun and Moone endure the Ghospell being published and Preachers ordained to teach the people Manie people vvithin a vvhile feeling some taste of the heauenlye comfort began to delight in hearing of Sermons singing of Psalmes in reading and godlie talke of holye Scriptures vvhich they vvere taught And therevvithal did somwhat refrain prophane and vnprofitable customes and sometime they admonished their neighbours if they did sweare pray them to goe with them to the Sermon The greater sort of the people beeing olde barrels vvhich coulde holde no newe vvine addicted partlie to Poperie partlie to licentiousnesse hauing many of them no other God but their bellie vvoulde deride and scoffe at them and called them holye brethren and holye sisterne saying Hee is one of the pure and vnspotted brethren Godlie excercise scorned by the wicked Diuers Ministers also entring vpō that waightie charge when they beeing learned came to the practise of the communion booke founde them selues troubled in some things some certaine ceremonies were a scruple vnto thē And as it is saide in the preface of the saide booke it was not thought fit at the first to take away all those things which seemed to be superstitious but to take the middle waye to abandon some and to retaine some So by this occasion the Papistes other people not well affected to religion and godlines after a while began to find holes in the Ministers coates Papistes and Atheists pick quarrels with good men and deuised diuers wayes of molestation troubled them not a little They open their cause to the reuerend Bishopes of those times and found great kindnes at their hands at the first they were a good and comfortable shadow vnto them for a season But about the tenth year of her Maiesties raigne the Papists as men which began to shake of the feare wherewith the mightie God protecting blessing her Maiesties most godlie and Christian proceedings had strocken them the Papistes I say began to come foorth of their dennes and as it is well knowne to the state practised diuers treacherous attemptes but amōg other they preferred such greeuous accusations againste the godlie and faithfull Ministers that then and from thence forth they were left naked a great storme fell vpon them and so it continued now and then sharper some time their was a calme men breathed returned to the Lords worke About anno 1571. Subscription came foorth first Anno 1571. as I take it Subscription was first enforced vpon the ministrie for which cause in that time certaine men wrote and admonition to the parlament opening diuers things worthie reformatiō Wherupon arose greate volumes of prouing and defending which are famouslie knowne to all men that vnderstand of these cause But how flesh and blood did in these writings ouer-sway the Christian moderation and mildnes which brethren shuld haue ben verie careful of in contending for trueth by the hote pursuite of either side I reioyce not to rehearse and I am sorie as ofte as I thinke vppon the lamentable effectes hurte of the Church in those times How be it our mercifull God whose vnchaungeable loue doeth swallow vp manye of our infirmities and follies graunted vnto vs in the midst of these fierie contentions a goodlie space of quietnesse about the time that the reuerend father Maister Grindall was Archbishoppe of Canturburie In which time in al the south partes of Englande there was greate concorde among the Ministers and they ioyned in great loue and ioy one with another in the Lords worke So that in the space of 4. or 5. yeares as I remember there were infinit soules brought to the knowledge of Christ the people reioysed for the consolation seing beholding how greatly they were bound to praise God for her Maiesties most christian gouernement vnder whose moste godly proceedings they had sucked and tasted the sweet and vndeceaueble milke of Gods trueth euen the holye faith of Gods elect the doctrine of saluation It was a goldē time full of godly fruit great honour to the Ghospell greate loue and kinde fellowship among all the Ministers preaching the faith the people vnited in the true feare of God and cheerefull reuerence to her Maiestie But this life not affoording constant prosperitie to heauenly loue and growth of godlines After the said Archbishops decease there came foorth a newe and fresh assault of subscription vniuersallie imposed Anno Dom. 1584. the wofull year of subscription and againe enforced vppon all the Ministers in three articles First of the Queenes Maiesties Soueraigne authoritie ouer all persons c. Seconde that the booke of common prayer and of or dayninge Bishoppes Priestes and Deacons containe in it nothing contrarie to the woorde of God c. Thirde to allowe and approue all the articles of religion agreed vpon by the Archbishops and Bishops c. 1562. and to beleeue all
the trueth and for the truthes sake which abideth in vs as I am perswaded shall by the grace of God abide in vs for euermore And because the world as I perceiue brother ceaseth not to play his pageant and busilie conspireth against Christ our Sauiour with all possible force power exalting hie thinges againste the knowledge of God let vs ioyne hands together in Christ if we can not ouerthrow yet to our power as much as in vs lyeth let vs shake those hie altitudes not with carnall but with spirituall weapons c. I pray God open our eyes to see consider in time of this matter and to frame our hearts vnto those things which concerne peace that we may walke as spirituall men and not as carnall and casting awaye all desire of vaine glory wee may cease to prouoke one another and neuer to enuie one another Cap. 6. Wherein is plainlie opened that there can no good reason be shewed that the godlie Ministers seeking reformation are enemies to the present state because 1. their conscience is cleare in Gods sight 2. They desend no euill actions in them selues 3. They cannot be charged with the faultes of strangers Anabaptistes foolishe Martin or frantick Hacket 4. Nor with vnthankfull obscuring of Gods mercies for their fansies nor with innouation or schisme 5. They cannot bee charged with anie thing against her Maiesties person Crowne or Dignitie 6. Or that they are against all superioritie in Ministers or the true power honour of the ministerie c. IT is an easie matter to finde a bate to beate a dogge and when mens mindes are incensed the wit of man will and doth seek out all aduantages As where the hedge is lowe euerie one will tread it downe so the naturall man can easilie depraue him which is in affliction And all men will harken to them which are in outward credite and praise the rich But the wisedome of the poore is despised and his wordes are not barde Therefore it commeth to passe sometime that men of countenance place thinke it a sufficient proofe against the innoceÌ„t to say If he were not an euill doer we woulde not haue deliuered him vnto thee Ioh. 18.30 For this cause Salomon saieth That he is foolish that will beleeue euerie thing Prou. 14.15 and that the prudent man will consider his stepps But as touching our cause me thinketh it fareth with vs as the same Salomon saieth in an other place Cap. 18.17 He that is first in his cause is iust then commeth his neighbour and maketh inquiry of him So verilie there are manie things preiudiciallie passed against vs in the mouthes and pennes of diuers men which wee could easilie haue borne so as our reproache might haue bene to the good of the Church referring our selues to Gods protection and that our deedes should trie vs. But now we finde it farre otherwise that the false vniust imputation laid vpon vs is made a kinde of shooing-horne to bring on all wickednes and a craftie colour for the fauour of Papistes so that not onlie we but also the whole Church is in some forte endammaged our reuerende Fathers and Christian brethren which stande for conformitie are in as great daunger as we of which thing the reason that stirred them vp so zealouslie to preach at the beginning of the Parliament laste might easilie enforme them Therefore and for other no smal inconueniences grown thorow our silence I haue written this booke as to make inquirie of our neighbours brethrens information And in this chapter to examin those heauie obiections which doe principallie seeme to beare down our cause make vs poore innocent men to bee verie odious contemptible perswading my selfe that if these be fullie answered there can be no reason brought against vs to any purpose 1 And although vvee can boldly in the sight of God protest our innocency say vnto God as the Psalmist O Lord my God if I haue done this thing or if there be any wickednes in mine hand Psal 7.3 if I haue rewarded euil vnto him that had peace with me Then let the enemie persecute my soule take it yea let him tread my life downe vppon the earth lay mine honour in the dust Although I saye our conscience doth not accuse vs yet is it expedient to declare our iustice and to answere what is said against vs. What we defend 2 There are two things for which I must needes in this chapter craue pardon being such as I can not neither dare take vpon me First I will not defend all the vvordes spoken or written of euerie man who hath seemed to fauour our cause neither wil I iustifie the verie best writings as thogh their were no escape nor any clause sauouring of humaine follie weaknes For who so euer is best greatest among vs vvee doe acknowledge to be sinfull men as others that our knowledge is vnperfect vve are subiect to the like passions vvhich other men are Therefore vve desire as other men to be charitablie vnderstood Phil. 3.13.14 as men not perfect ne pure but onely endeuouring towards the mark of the price of the hie calling of God And it is not vnknowne that many ignorant rash headed persons haue thurst in themselues vvhose indiscretion vnciuill vsage vvee can no vvay commend And some haue beene among vs as we haue thought of sober stayed minds vvho notwithstanding great vvords protestations such as other were afraid to vse haue presently turned the heele gone cleane another vvay If these vvere set to spie out our libertie or to adde more to our affliction or othervvise vve leaue it to Gods righteous iudgements onely this I dare not defend all that haue seemed to fauour our cause But this is my purpose for the cause it selfe and for such Ministers as haue soberly and vvisely sought by honest supplication learned apologeticall vvritinges to giue vvitnesse to the trueth and to declare their ovvne innocencie and to obtaine fauour or libertie or reformation by yâ— orderly maner custom of this land as al other subiects do may doe in their seueral causes troubles that doe and may-befall them Thus farre I hope I may presume to defend and I trust it doth alreadie partlie hereafter shall more plainlie appeare that such arguments as are laide against vs are disagreeing to our cause to our doings and vve and our honest and iust cause are vvickedly slaundered and can not be touched by them The second thing â—s that I can not answer all obiections that are made against vs for then I must make a verie great booke handle all controuersies at large vvhich is not the purpose of this shorte treatise And in truth I finde it needlesse For I verily think that there are 500 vvhich any man but meanly acquainted vvith our cause and maner of life vvill easily perceaue of
there were any likelihood that such men would fauour the enemies of God and of the Queene Libelling Priestes like rogues They are like vnto rogues who in time past woulde recite all the Iustices of peace in the shire by mustering of whose names they would fortifie themselues against all gainsaiers So these vagabund and roguing Priestes abuse the names of worthy men to shadow their diuelish and traiterous designements For I haue great reason to iudge that their malicious Machiauellian drift is no otherwise but to bringe them in hatred with all her Maiesties good and faithfull subiectes And they care not what they say so as they might kindle a fierie faction among vs and they accomplish their moste wicked complottes Can they make vs beleeue that these reuerende men doe fauour such Popish traitors or that they doe not by such grosse and palpable flatterie prepare a net for their feete Doe they not know how these reuerend fathers doe maintaine and alow all learned godly preachers which enueigh against all such wicked seditious persons and all bookes writings which bewray confute destroy their abhominable minable heresies Doe they not know that they stand for defence and promoting of the Ghospel and the execution of all Ecclesiasticall lawes of this land for the vpholding of the same as Fathers Pastours of the Church of England vpon whome the eies of all men are bent expecting and looking that they aboue all other shuld shew them selues zealous for the truth enemies to Antichrist What Doth he thinke them so vnwise that they knowe not where they are or how they are or so childish that they vvill reuolt from the truth vvhich they haue sucked in euen from their cradle or so vnthankefull that they will take part with Gods aduersaries Doth he think them so blind that they will goe contrarie to all the reuerend Bishoppes and learned men which haue writtē euer since her Maiesties raigne against the Romish heresie that now they woulde take a new course to seuer from all Christiā Churches and be content to heare the most excellent lightes of the world to bee so vilie and maliciously traduced Doth he think them so void of all conscience and honestie that they would take the greatest and chiefest promotions of our Church and so farre abuse the trust committed to them by her Maiestie that they woulde vnder-hande deale cleane contrarie to the same What sodaine toy is come into this mans dreaming braines to think that the learned men of other nations Churches hauing now aboue fiftie yeares bene all one with the English Bishoppes and Protestantes English Bishopes readie to helpe the straungers and alwaies readie not onelie by worde and writing but also vvith monie armour and life to helpe one another should now after so many yeares friendship and loue in our religion and true vvorship of God vvithout any breach or alteration be likelie suddenly to be drawne one against another so that it shuld be a pleasure to our reuerend Fathers to heare such godly learned men Christian Churches our deare friendes and brethren in Christ to bee ill spoken of traduced and slaundered None els a man would think but such as braine madd would imagine such a thing A man that had in him no more but meere reason and pollicie might easilie see further into this matter but only that Papists desire nothing but hurlie burlie confusion that if they had no feare of God before their eies yet they might well thinke with them selues that if by their fauour shewed to Priestes Seminaries or Iesuites they shoulde haue accesse to such places or come so neere her Maiestie that anye hurte should happen to her sacred person vvhich God for Christes sake keep farre from her that the oath of association would stirr vp some and the loue wherewith her Maiestie hath bound thousands and thousands of her faithfull subiectes vnto her would constraine both Noble men Knights Gentillmen and all sortes of the commons to bee reuenged vpon them that haue bene meanes of such euill And they can not bee ignorant that if there bee such a thing and that it may bee now for some consideration wincked at yet there may come a time when such things may be ripped vp and called to accountes and then I dare say they woulde not bee willing to take vpon them such Popish treasonable irreligious writings No meruell therefore if they care not what they say against vs poore Ministers when they dare make it by a question answer lawfull to sue for fauour at the hands of so reuerend wise iuditious men whose place is so directlye opposite to such vvicked hypocrites and they stand as vvatchmen to discouer them and as Iudges to punish them But if among all the Protestant writers there bee some one that hath put forth some priuate opinion of his owne concerning the authoritie of Princes are vve to be blamed vvith that where vvith we were neuer acquainted But this is a stale slaunder against all Protestantes Of the differēce between Christ sub part 3. pag. 3.6 Auns to P. Frarine pag 35. ansvvered by M. D. Bilson Doctor Fulk and commeth to late to be laid vpon vs. But heere vve may see their beggerly pouertie or els some secret secular Popish malice that they must bee faine to thrust into the ballance of their false accusation against vs what so euer colour may be deuised against all forren Protestantes to vvay downe the good estimation of a fevve poore Ministers of England Such is the actions of the Anabaptistes of Martin Marprelat Harding auns Artic. 25. diuis 12. frantick Hacket euen as iust as the furious disobedience of these verie Anabaptistes is laid to the charge of all other Protestantes by the malicious wicked Papistes It is now at the least 33. yeare since our troubles began to be verie heauie vpon vs let thē shew how vve haue mooued the least finger against our dread Soueraigne The present toleration of some of the chief vvho haue vvritten in this cause in the conscience of those reuerende honourable wise persons who either haue caused their libertie or effected it themselues may testifie our innocēcie And surely I vvould not desire any fauour if I might be conuicted of the euil cariage of the best of those three Neyther doe I feare that any honest mind not blinded vvith hatred vvill impute anye of their vvicked dealing to anye godlie Minister vvhich desireth the good of our Church The second great slāder touching Gods mercie vpon this land 4 Therfore wil I come to the second sorte of obiections which seeme more neerely to touch vs and our cause The most principal obiection cōmeth within this circle That we acknowledging not this singular benefite proceeding from the mercie of God namelie that all heresies corrupt doctrines all superstitions and papisticall opinions haue bene banished by the Prince Realme c and all
points of doctrine necessary to saluation and touching the mysterie of our redemption or the right vse of the Sacraments and true maner of worshipping of God are purely perfectly taught by publike authoritie established in the Church of EnglaÌ„d at this day c we are so farre from beeing thankeful for the same from desiring the continuance of it by heartie prayer that by all meanes possible wee seeke rather to obscure it and deface it because in certaine accident all pointes we haue not our fancies proper deuises So that by this we are iudged to set our selues against God frowardlie disquiet the peace of the Church for external things which is schismaticall trouble the happie peace of the common wealth hazard the whole state of religion with no small reioysing of the wicked greate offence of the weake Ghospellers merueilous griefe of the Queenes Maiestie other that haue care of gouernement If this obiection were as true as it is of greate importance as fitlie applied vnto vs as it layeth vpon vs a most heauie imputation then had wee greate cause to wish our tongues to cleaue to the roofe of our mouthes our handes for euer to forget to vvrite If we haue not both by word writing publiklie priuatlie acknowledged the great mercie of God for her M. in the banishing of al heresies superstitions and namely Popery for planting the true Ghospell of faith among vs if we haue not doe not dayly pray both at Church and at home for the continuance of the same for the ioy and comfort of her M. al our godlie Gouernours and Superiours if al men that knowe vs doe not also euerie day see behold that this is our care and studie and that we doe stirre vp others both publiklie and priuatelie to doe the same then let the Lord reward euery man according to his righteousnes and faithfulnes let the wicked feele his iudgementes We can boldlie commend our selues to the testimony of al our neighbours friends and enemies whatsoeuer whom hardned malice hath not so farre ouercome and blinded that they can not vvill not say and confesse that which in the eies eares of al men appeareth plainly euen as the shining of the Sun in the firmament and the sound of many waters to them which trauell by sea by land But the force power of this accusation is in two things first they say That by all means possible we seeke rather to obscure this mercie of God to deface it 2. The reason which is made of this our so doing Because in certaine accidental points we haue not our fansies and proper deuises If in deed these two things might be proued against vs The cheefest force of this accusation then all the other branches of this surmised slaunder vvoulde shrewdlie wring vs otherwise they fall all to peeces as loose members vvithout ioyntes and ligamentes Therefore let these bee examined Firste vvhat meanes at all haue we vsed to obscure Gods mercie We haue in the knowledge of all men that know and heare vs praysed God and prayed for her M. and the state in regarde of this mercie of God vve haue in our Sermons in all our talke as occasion is offered euer defended the doctrine of faith of the Sacraments the abolishing of al heresie superstition and poperie Wee haue writteÌ„ very much for the maintenaÌ„ce therof against the papists Anabaptists familie of loue Brownists some of vs haue ben vsed in conference with other godlie learned men to dispute with the challengers and chieftaines of poperie more would haue done in that behalf if they might haue ben permitted And this to be true we referre our selues to the iudgement of all the world and we hope so well of our bretheren that write against vs that they will not denie it vnto vs what should theÌ„ be all those possible means which we haue vsed to deface or obscure Gods mercies But it may be it is meant beecause we haue not vsed som certaine ceremonies of the church nor subscribed to the bookes of orders and common prayer c. and haue made petitioÌ„ to the Parliament and after by apologetical writings defended these our doings Other things we know not and for these I hope wee neede not be ashamed First it is apparant that in all these thinges wee haue not medled against the doctrine aforsaide nor against the chiefe substance of anie the said bookes and therefore in regard of the matter it can not bee said that wee haâ—â—â—â—irectlie done anie thing tending to oâ—â—cure or deface this mercie of God Secondlie if it be said that by these thinges which I confesse wee haue indirectly vsed meanes c. I answer that in this wee haue done no otherwise then all Christian Ministers both maye and ought to doe For in not vsing the ceremonies when wee founde our selues doubtfull and troubled What could we doe lesse or better then to repaire to the reuerend Bishoppes for counsell and comfort Which for the space of ten yeares or the most part thereof they did in some good measure afoorde vnto vs till as I take it by the relation of such as were in the same broiles the Papistes had cunninglie wrested our good Fathers from vs. that they could and woulde doe no further for vs. Then yet complayning of our case and opening our doubtes vnto them we did as the lawe affoordeth that the cause shoulde bee brought before the Ordinarie in all doubtes about ceremonies of the church established by law and finding not our selues resolued by our ordinaries alas what could we doe lesse then quietly to suffer our selues with great grief bewailing our flockes to bee suspended imprisoned depriued And this hath beene the cause of all them which haue not vsed the ceremonies so fully as some other of their bretheren Secondlie for the petition or admonition to the Parliament wherein are laide open such imperfections as are found in all these bookes and for all other writtinges which haue come forth in defence of the same if it bee ment that the same is the meanes of obscuring and defacing the mercie of God We answer as partlie the admonition doth wee haue alwayes borne with that wee coulde not amend and haue vsed the booke of common praier in our ministerie so farre forth as wee might reuerencing those times and those persons in which and by whome it was first authorized But now being compelled by subscription to allowe the same and to confesse it not to bee against the worde of God in anye point we could not but shew a reason of our refusall it was meet that we shoulde tender to the Parliament our griefes as all other subiects doe in all other cases Because that is the place which by auncient custome of this Realme serueth for the redresse of all things to be reformed and the establishing of all matters in the state of this
only crauing fauour ease so farre as agreeth to holy scripture the peace of the church and in al that we haue gone about vve haue labored for the good for the beautie and perfection of our Church that it might increase and florish more more to the glory of God to the honour comfort of her M. These meÌ„ the papists haue done cleane contrarie especially since the 10. yeare of her M. happie raigne neuer being without one cruell treason or another sometime by desperate bluddie murderers sometime by open rebellioÌ„ forraineinuasion and procuring of Bulles from Rome sometime by Priests sometime by Iesuites sometime by other meanes as is plainly set foorth in the book called the execution of iustice in the writings of Sir Frauncis Hastings D. Sutliefe D. Fulke and diuers others The things on both sides are so not oriouslie knowne that I need not heere to repeate them in particular I pray God that for our sinnes hee doe not giue vs ouer to blindnes that in such palpable manifest experieÌ„ce of the traiterous hartes of Papistes vvee suffer not our selues to be taken by their wylie flatteries and forsaking our trustie faithfull friendes vvee yeelde ourselues to the bloodie slaughter of enemies CHAP. 8. The Ministers which desire reformation in some things of our Church matters can neuer feare but euer loue her M. and all the godly wise Magistrates vnder her but the Papistes cleane contrarie PRinces saieth the Apostle are not to bee feared for good works but for euill Rom. 13.3 And the euill life of the wicked meÌ„ is the cause that Princes make many good lawes Because he is the Minister of God to take vengeaÌ„ce on him that doth euill Therefore euill men are a fraid of the higher power an euill conscience maketh them desire there were none such to bridle their wickednes Euen as it is saide by the wisedome of God Euerie man that doth euill hateth the light Iohn 3.20 neither commeth to the light least his deedes be reprooued No meruaile then though it bee a principle among traiterous Papistes That euerie man of any faction A traiterous Popish principle desireth the remoouing of the Prince whose lawes are contrarie to his faction For their conscience being euill and defiled with most filthie superstition abhominable idolatrie they can not loue any godly Prince such as is our most deare gratious Soueraigne Queene Elizabeth because a wise King scattereth the wicked causeth the wheel to goe ouer them And verilie there are two things which doe manifest their inward affection prou 20.26 First their doctrine not only because it is in moste of the substantiall points opposite to that which her Maiestie as the true defender of the faith maintaineth and that which her lawes and gouernement commandeth but also because they place another Soueraigne authoritie aboue hers The Papists haue giuen their harts to the Queenes deadlie enemies to whome as vnto an higher Lord and Ruler they preferre their chiefe obedience And looking hoping for ghostly comforte and remission of sinnes at the hands of that man of sinne they can not loue the righteous godly Prince who hath banished his power and abhominable forgeries Neither in truth is it possible For how can they loue her who haue giuen their harte to a stranger euen her most deadly enemie And not onlie that but all men know that as light darknes Christ and Beliall the Temple of God and idols They are as contrarie to her as darknes to light can not agree So her Maiestie being a louer of righteousnes and they of vnrighteousnes She a beleeuer they infidells She a worshipper of the true and liuing God and they of images and diuers sortes of creatures She of the faith of Christ and they of Antechrist seeing God hath put enimitie betweene the seede of the woman and the seed of the serpent it is not possible that they can loue her And they haue cause for their wicked liues treason superstition and idolatrie to feare her righteous lawes and vpright iudgements And she hath great cause to reioyce and glorifie God in this behalf She may reioyce Gods enemies are hers that the enemies of God be her enemies and the mightie God of hoastes is her protector who with his fauour compasseth her as with a shield Secondly their deedes declare no lesse For if a true man bee knowne by his fruite and as our Sauiour Christ saieth Math 7.18 A good tree can not bring forth euill fruite The fruites of Papists shew their hatred to her Majestie neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruite Then if lying dissimulation treacherie treason if false doctrine drawing away the heartes of subiectes from the Prince if procuring of open rebellion and forren inuasion if many cruell and secret conspiracies and murtherous attempts may be iustlie called euill fruites and certaine true markes of disloyall subiects hateing the Prince and desiring her distruction then may we boldlie pronounce that the affection of the Papistes can not be good nor their loue vpright toward her Maiestie What calling or state haue they not caused and made to worke in hostile maner against her First for Popes you haue Pope Pius the fifth and Gregorie the 13. and their successours then for Monarches Princes The King of Spaine and the Queene of Scottes after for Dukes and Noble men The Duke of Northfolke the Duke of Guise the Duke of Alba the Duke of Medina The Earle of Northumberland and I can not tell how manie Earles and Lordes in Ireland from time to time haue taken armes against her Moreouer for Gentilmen there hath bene M. Arden and Someruill ThrockmortoÌ„ Sir William Stanlie Anthonie Babington and his complices Doctor Parrie a ciuilian Doctor Lopez a Physicion for Priestes and Iesuites no man can tell how many and of raskall ruffian murdering verletts not one or two Therefore how is it possible to shewe more plaine euidence of most can kered hatred They proâ—â—â— her milde nature to doe them iustice inueterate malice And yet her Maiestie is a most milde Christian Prince giuen to peace mercie and long suffering neuer vsed anie the least hard dealing towarde any of them saue onlie as conscience and dutie to god did bind her by publike law she put downe all idolatrie superstition and Antichristian primacie otherwise they had all libertie peace quiet freedome as any subiect coulde desire vnder anie Prince whatsoeuer vntill that by their vnnatural vngodly conspiracies and most wicked desighements she was forced to stand vpon her garde to prouide such remedie â—s was fitte for such as vniustly prouoked their lawfull and gracious Soueaigne But they haue so bestirred them selues and prepared so many mischiefs â—o often and so manifolde and continuâ—ll that there are few yeares wherein â—â—e hath not bene driuen to seeke one â—ay or another for her necessarie deâ—ence How
manie times hath she bene â—â—rced to make lawes and statutes to curbe bridle them How many times hath she bene forced to sende soldiers and money to preuent them How manie times hath her Nauie and shippes bene drawne out into the seas to meet them How continuallie almost hath shee bene vexed with Irish insurrections and rebellions How many times hath she bene constrained against her owne most gentle and mercifull disposition for treason and rebellion to cut of rotten members with the iust reuenging swearde Yea how often haue wee bene driuen to watch and ward either to resiste domesticall rebels or to waite for forren inuaders So that to declare a most viperous spitefull and vngratious generation and an hereticall and apostaticall malice there can bee nothing added And heere both she and all her louing and Christian subiectes haue verie great matter of reioycing and praysing God For if euer God from heauen God sheweth his Ioue from heauen in the defeÌ„ce of our Queene testified his loue to aâ—â—â— Prince or caused his Angells to watch gard them if euer there were Princâ— made glorious for deliuerance honoâ—rable for constancie in truth famoâ—â— for continuall prosperous successe 〈◊〉 the great admiration of all men and wonderfull happie quietnes and ioy of Gods people if euer God sought against wicked rebels mischieuous traitors bloodie vsurpers and vniust inuaders to defend the innocent iust and vpright in his cause then surelie may wee boldly and ioyfullie both say and sing that God hath openlie and in the sight of all the worlde done all these thinges for his annointed hand-maide Elizabeth our Queene So that she may with the Psalmist confes vnto the Lord They haue often times afflicted me from my youth but they could not preuaile against me Psal 129. â—â— 124. praysed be the Lord which hath not giuen vs as a praye vnto their teeth Our helpe is in the name of the Lord who hath made both heauen earth So let all thine enemies perish O Lord but vpon thy seruant Elizabeth and vpon her throne be peace for euer more and let her and all that loue thy name bee as the Sunne when he riseth in his might and say all way The Lorde be praised But as for the Ministers and people desiring reformation in some thinges they alwaies carefully following the word of God and delighting in the reading preaching and meditation of holy Scripture haue all their ioy comfort in that faith religion which her most Christian Maiestie professeth setteth forth defendeth And hauing libertie of conscience freedom to worshipe God aright protection in well doing with health wealth peace and pleasure of bodie and soule they feele the pleasant sweete and comfortable milke with a most ioyfull refreshing of a tender noursemother vnder the shadow of her most faithfull and constant proceedinges in the Ghospell If euer there were loue betweene Prince and people it is betweene vs. For what Christian subiect can not loue a Christian Ruler What godly childe cannot loue a godly mother What afflicted soule can not loue a sweet and faithfull comforter And what man being in miserie loueth not him that hath deliuered him Shee is our most Christian Prince she is our godlie mother she is our sweete and faithfull comforter our deliuerer and vnder God our assured defence against all our enemies Her ioye is our life her lawe our safetie her safetye our castell her swearde our shielde her peace our wealth her death which God forbid our miserie Therefore we haue counted our selues happie to doe any seruice to her Mai. either in our goods or in our persons or in spending our liues Wee haue willinglye gone in her seruice into Fraunce into the Low Countries and Irelande and into the furthest Seas We haue written disputed aduentured our liues in diuers places to testifie our vnfained loue faithful obedieÌ„ce vnto her And what is there that we could not goe vnder if occasion be offered to doe her any seruice vvhich godly Christians ought to doe to their dread Soueraigne If at anye time the traiterous papists aduance themselues dare presume to attempt their most wicked vngodly desire wishing it shal by Gods grace very wel appeare that her M. hath many thousand Protestants sufficiently able thorow Gods helpe to beate them downe to tame them Our ministriâ— hath brought foorth many good subiects Witnes Anno. 88. whome it hath pleased God by our ministerie to bring vnto the knowledge of the trueth And this I am the bolder to affirme because I saw in our countrie in Anno 88. such bands of honest men so many so well furnished so chearfull to fight for her M. and their Countrie so resolute valiant so forwarde and vnfearfull that it reioyced mine heart to thinke how fruitfull our ministerie had bene in these her goldeÌ„ dayes how happie honourable her M. is who hath by her godlie Christian gouernement breade brought forth nourished broght vp so many so worthye so godly Gentill-men and Yeomen that of meere conscience and loue so willinglie and resolutely could and woulde fight for her safetie preseruation So that if the Papistes would regarde no more but naturall reason though they did forget the mightie hand of God which hath continuallie fought for vs they would quiet themselues be thankful for her Maiesties great clemencie and patience toward them not once dare to broach such treacherous deuises seing they are not able to stand before the mightie forces resolute bands of her Maiesties most louing faithfull subiects true vndoubted Christians which reioyce in her present gouernemeÌ„t desire that it may more and more be perfected after Gods worde and prosper to Gods glory Alace then how should we feare in whose heartes is fixed and grounded such perfect loue We can not feare her whome we loue perfect lie that casteth out all feare We appeale vnto the god of heuen who seeth all secretes and commend our doings sayings writtings to the conscience of all good honest wise harted christians that if there be a false heart in any of vs and not a faithfull loue and reuerence to her Maieste from the verie bottome of our soule that euery such man or woman should be made an ensample and a reproach a byeword for the terror of all wicked hipocrits vnthankful miscreaÌ„ts But wee are not able to giue sufficient thanks to our good God who hath hetherto so mercifullie watched ouer vs that hee hath not suffered anie such wretchednesse to sease vpon vs or to preuaile ouer vs to the dishonoure of his Ghospell or iust discredit of our ministrie and godly cause His name bee glorified for euer Amen Cap. 9. Wherein is plainly shewed 1. That it is most profitable to the present state and gouernement and greatlye for her Maiesties safetie to heare the petitions of the godly Ministers and to tolerate them in their ministrie
to be admonished of these things and that the wise godly taking vsing applying thereof which I hope I shall finde at their hands may be for the good of her Maiestie and the State I would neuer haue aduentured in this sort to medle or to set forth one word at this time in this cause For how foolish were I to procure my self trouble without a warrant from God and his worde and hauing quietlie enioyed my place euer since the forlorne yeare of subscription except that I was at two times suspended some two yeare in peace and quietnes vnder the wise and fatherlie ouersight of the most reuerende Father our Diocesan of Cauntorburie not hauing subscribed in any sort neither vsed all the ceremonies so preciselie as peraduenture some other doe If the loue of the whole Church the necessitie and goodnes of the cause the glorie of God and the good of the whole lande did not in me way downe all reasoning and disputes I coulde easilie fore cast 500. cautions which would mightelie draw me back and make me afeard of such an enterprise vvhich protestation I make choise of rather in this place because doubt this chapter vvill not be altogether defensiue as I suppose the rest be but rather offensiue displeasing but I vvill frame my selfe as neere as I can to giue the least cause that any man should take occasion I vvill medle vvith no mans person onely I propound such reason for the reforming of these things as I hope shall become a Minister of Christ 1. These three thinges The vnpreaching ministrie the absence of the Pastor from his flock and subscription I take to be sin in the sight of God and if that be true then they may rightly be called troublers of the state because it is written Hier. 5.25 Esai 50.2.1 King 18. that Sinne hindreth good things from Gods people and iniquitie maketh a separation betweene God them And to forsake the commandement of the Lord is the cause of trouble to Gods Church The vnpreaching ministrie sinne Let vs first examine the vnpreaching Minister vvhether it bee not sinne Gods commaundement is that euerie Minister should be apt to teach no nouice in knowledge 1. Tim. 3.2.6 one that holdeth fast the faithfull word according to doctrine that he also may be able to exhort with wholsome doctrine Tit 1.9 improue them that say against it If then the breach of Gods commaundement be sinne as Saint Iohn saieth Seing our ministrie vvhich doth not can not preach ◠Ioh. 3.4 is contrarie to this cōmandement it must needs follow that the standing thereof in our Church is sinne so a troubler of the state That vvhich causeth the people to perish is sinne but the vnpreaching ministrie causeth the people to perish therefore it is sinne This argument is testified by manie vvitnesses First Salomon saieth Where there is no visiō Prou. 29.18 the people decay And Christ addeth further If the blinde leade the blinde they shall both fall into the ditch And Oseah the Prophet applyeth the same to euerie vnpreaching Minister saying Mat. 15.14 My people are destroyed for lacke of knowledge Oseah 4.6 because thou hast refused knowledge I will also refuse thee that thou shalt be no Priest to me and seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God I will also forget thy children Looke the booke of orders in the ordayning of Priestes If the vnpreaching ministrie be no sinne why are they ordained to preach the vvord of God vvhy are they made to promise to giue faithfull diligence to minister the doctrine Sacraments and the discipline of Christ as the Lord hath commanded and to vse both publike and priuate monitions and exhortations And why are they at that time exhorted in the name of our Lord Iesus Christ to haue in remembrance to how hie a dignitie and to how chargeable an office they be called that is to say to be the messengers the watchmen the Pastours and stewards of the Lord to teach to premonish to feede prouide for the Lordes familie c. And why is it there also said vnto them Seing that you can not by anye other meanes compasse so waightie a worke pertayning to the saluation of man but with doctrine and exhortation taken out of holy Scripture and with a life agreeable to the same ye perceaue how studious you ought to be in reading learning the holy Scriptures c. And why are wee taught in the booke of common prayer to pray that all Bishoppes Pastours and Curates should set forth Gods true and liuelie worde and rightlie and duelie administer the holy Sacramentes if an vnpreaching ministrie were no sin The conscience heereof no doubt caused that reuerend Father M. D. Fulke to write that hee would not excuse any vnsufficient Minister nor their ordainers Ouerthrow of Stapletons fort cap 8. pag 113. Defens of trans of Engl. lib. cap. 15 pa. 401. And that hee which is voide of giftes is ordained vnworthelie and with great sinne both of him that ordaineth and of him that is ordained Now if these things bee true let wise men consider what daunger it is to suffer or maintaine a knowne sinne fortie three yeare in the Church of Christ and so whether this bee not a iust cause of the troubles of the state by the righteous iudgements of God In the next place let vs looke vpon the learned non-resident Non-residēce sinne examine whether the absence of the Pastour from his flocke and negligence as it is vsed among vs be not sin For a man may bee called by the Church as Epaphroditus was to some speciall work for a tyme Philip. 2.25 for the common good of the whole But our question is whether a man may lie in a cathedrall Church or in the Vniuersitie or dwell in some towne like a Gentilman and ioyne benefice to benefice and liuing to liuing passing his time in wealth and pleasure and his flocke 20.30.40 or 100. miles of more or lesse comming verie rarely or seldome amongst them Heere I will not dispute but onlie I humblye beeseech and adiure all those my reuerend and learned brethren by the name of our Lord Iesus Christ and by the great fearefull day of his comming when all dispensation of men shall be voide and wee shall giue a straight accounts of all our workes which we haue done in our bodies that how so euer I am a verie meane and simple man not worthie to carrie your bookes you would looke into your owne consciences and see how you can answer to God where he saieth Ezech. 34.2 Wee be vnto the sheapheards of Israell that feede them selues shoulde not the sheapheardes feede the flockes c. Take heede vnto your selues and to all the flocke whereof the holye Ghost hath made you ouerseers Act. 20.28 to feede the Church of God which hee hath purchased with his owne blood I charge thee
preacheth wh re he seeth good Therefore seeing that these things are so apparātlie to be allowed by subscriptiō it must needes be sinne Moreouer euerie action which maketh the Minister of God in one and the same particular thing to say 2. Cor 1.17 Math. 5.37 Yea nay So that his yea is not yea only or his nay nay but his yea is nay and his nay yea Doubtles euery such action is sinne For we are commanded To speake the truth Zach. 8.16 euery man to his neighbour Which we can not doe if we say I and no in one and the same particular Therefore Saint Paule acknowledgeth him selfe an offender if he should so doe where he sayeth Gal. 2.18 Artic. 6. de diuinisscrip in the rubric shewing how the text of holie scripture should be red Artic. 19. If I build againe the things I haue destroyed I make my selfe a trespasser So by our subscription we build in the booke of articles that the canonicall bookes of the old and new testament are to bee named the holy Scripture And we destroy it againe in the booke of common prayer calling the Apocrypha holie Scripture In the said booke of articles we build That the visible church of Christ is a company of faithfull people among whome the pure worde of God is preached Then in the booke of cōmon prayer we destroy that againe Because wee preach if some say trulie that reading is preaching some chapters which containe vntruthes and absurdities as is before shewed Againe in the same booke of articles we build Cap. 2. Artic. 2 that the Sacraments of the Lords Supper and Baptisme are certaine sure testimonies and effectuall signes of grace and of the good will of God and wee exclude confirmation Matrimony and all other thinges from hauing anie such nature But in the booke of common praier we destroy the same againe When we giue such symbolicall signification to the crosse in Baptisme and affirme that by imposition of handes and prayer men may haue strength and defence against all temptation to sinne that In the rubrick before confir In the exhortation before matrimonie Matrimonie signifieth vnto vs the mysticall vnion that is betwixt Christ and his Church In the booke of orders wee build that a Priest should preach and he is there exhorted ordained and made to promise so to doe But in the book of common prayer this is destroyed for there is prouided exhortations sentences of Scripture and homilies to be red vpon all occasions so that hee neede not preach except hee coulde or woulde Therefore I can not see but that this subscription as it is vrged by the reuerend Fathers in the two last articles is sinne and a great offence to God For which cause I quake and tremble as oft as I think vpon it that so many worthy Pastours as are in our Church can not enter to serue in Gods house but by doing so fearfull a sinne Most humblie entreating the reuerend Fathers of our Church to consider wiselie and in the feare of God what euill they bring vpon this land and the Church If they haue not compassion vpon their brethren but suffer the holie ones of God which come neere vnto him so greatly to sinne Now whether this be not one of the troublers of the state a great offence to God to prouoke him to power downe his plagues vpon vs I refer it to the conscience of all men which can doe looke into this cause with a single eye Nowe these three troublers of the state A ring of three enemies to the state are like a band of men cast into a ring The first making way for the second the second supplying the first and the last supporting them both For the vnpreaching ministrie giueth occasion that the learned men should haue the greater promotions and preferment that they might preach here and there as they see cause where there is neede and the non-resident is willing or driuen to haue such an vnpreaching Minister vnder him that he may liue as he list Subscription warranteth them both because they are conformable to the law and order The vnpreaching Minister giueth honour to the non-resident calling him a good gentilman a learned diuine and the non-resident doth giue credite to the other saying hee is a verie honest quiet man liuing orderlie with his neighbours And subscription doth ratifie their sayings by keeping out many painfull and learned men which preach against them both The vnpreaching Minister reioyceth beecause the learned non-resident accountes of him as worthie of the holie ministrie though hee be simple haue no learning the non-resident is made the more worshipfull when hee can haue such to serue him croutch vnto him and subscription making all other men disobedient and troublers of the state and such as the Church hath neede of which if they could come in without subscription woulde bee diligent to feede Gods flock doth comfort them both as honest men orderly and peceably and louers of the state while these three doe take hands are lincked one with in another they are a threefold cord which can not bee broken And hauing alway a fayre shining reflex one vpon the other their eyes are dazeled that they see no further and so they doe not perceaue that they measure them selues with them selues 2. Cor. 10.12.81 and compare them selues with them selues And that Hee which prayseth him selfe is not allowed but hee whome the Lorde praiseth The string which holdeth vp the vnpreaching ministrie is The stringe whereon the vnpreaching minister doth hang. that hee is perswaded that God requireth of him no more then he is able and hee thinketh the reuerend Fathers would not suffer him if this standing were sinne And therefore it is nowe come to this passe that if some men finde fault with their course they are said to bring the ministrie into contempt which ought not to be suffered So is the poore man bolstered in his sinne and the Church is damnified for lack of a good teacher To whome in the feare of God loue I haue to his soule I answer thus First that he is to consider whether God alloweth anie man to enter into the ministrie that is vnable to preach which if it be not to be found as verilie it can not be as I haue shewed before then is it sinne for him to enter in and it is the heaping vp of sin to continue for liuing sake in that calling God hath ioyned the preaching of the word and the administation of the sacraments in one office Math. 18.19 he that giueth him selfe to the prayers giueth him selfe to the ministration of the worde Act. 6.4 consider then O thou vnpreaching Minister if man can put asunder that which God hath ioyned God saieth not that he which doth what hee can shall liue by the Ghospell but that he which preacheth the Ghospell should liue by the Ghospell 1. Cor. 9.