the Saints The one of these we take it must needes be donne And we gather it by comparing together Iam. 5.19.12 with Iude ver 3. This also is the very thing which we did desire and still do desire in that Epistle dedicatory And let these thinges once spoken suffyce we pray you for the crimination of calling on you apar◠which in this letter of yours you have so oftē objected and repeated Next you propound three tinges to be considered in the booke it self of which you promyse to speake briefly and brotherly what you thinke 1. The first head you say is of the doctrine which we professe in our booke Be it so indeed Here we expected because you purpose to wryte of the doctrine we professe that you would have discussed the articles of our fayth and reproved the errours if there be any by the light of Gods word And who would not have expected this But behold there is not a word of the doctrine and fayth it self What may this meane Is it because your self beleeu this faith to be trew-sound groūded on the word of God and agreable thervnto If so why thē wryting these thinges do you not professe it Why do you dissemble it specially whē you heare that this fayth is traduced as schisme as heresy but you see perhaps that in the doctrine of faith we erre from the truth If it be so why then wryte you and yet shew not the errours why do you not as much as in you is bring into the way such as do erre Do not whē request is made that the errours may be shewed by the light of the holy Scripture Certainly your godlynes perswadeth otherwise yea God himself requireth otherwise Iam. 5.19.20 Yet now when you touch not the doctrine it self what is it that you wryte in this behalf Even this only that you would perswade we have erred herein that we have publyshed the confession of our faith First of al this concerneth the maner not the matter it self But yet let vs weigh your reasons If say you there be a certayne consent of doctrine then there was no need that we should set forth a new Confession in this agreement of holy and ancient doctrine Doe you indeed speak as you thinke How is it then that some while synce when the Germane and French Churches had before publyshed their Confessions of fayth yet afterward the Belgick Scotish and other Churches set forth theirs also notwitstanding that they agreed with them in the holy and anncient doctrine Yea tell vs we pray you what you think of that godly and learned Mr. Beza his pryvate Confession of fayth lately publyshed Not to speake of many other wrytten and divulged by many of the martyrs also in their severall ages Do not all these agree in the holy and anncyent doctrine of Godlynes Or should not therfore these Confessions have bene publyshed What soever you shall say for them mynd the same also as spoken for vs. Secondly you say if there be any dissention in doctrine that ought not to be dissembled c. But what is this to vs who have playnely shewed and reckned vp the thinges wherein we dissent from the Church of England with whom we have to do in this behalf Neyther that only but have also in our Confession not obscurely signified concerning the thinges wherein the other Churches of this city and ours as yet do not agree After these thinges you come to discusse the end and fact of our publyshing this Confession Touching the end we have shewed it in the epistle and preface set before the booke it self And we answer further that we did this to the same end that all the reformed Churches of late did publysh theirs For proof wherof let the preface of the Harmony of Confessions compared with ours speak for vs. If you take away the reasons by both alleadged we yeeld But if you cannot then see whether both here and other where often in this letter you do not through our sydes strike at all these Churches lykewise Our cause and cleering we commyt to God and to all godly that love the truth Such as before knewe not our cause they may now by this meanes have knowledg therof Such as be enemyes of God of the Church of the truth have nothing by this book of ours wherof to rejoyce They will rather be grieved when thus they shall see Antichrist that man of synne to be more and more discovered whom the Lord in the end will wholy consume and abolysh with the spirit of his mouth in the testimony not in the silence of his servants 2. Thes 2.8 with Rev. 12.11 and 14 6 7 8. and 20.4 Fynally such as be weak and by reason of the stink of schismes know not the true body of Christ whervnto they should joyne themselves they may by this meanes be better instructed and induced more certainly to know and imbrace the true Church and fayth of Christ Thus desyre we that the publyck good of the Church be holye forward that Christ may have the preeminence over all And thus have we spoken of the end in which as yet we see not any mistaking or errour Touching the fact we answer in lyke maner as before concerning the end Yea and the thinges which here you bring for not doing it in publyck you may vrge the very same lykewise against all the reformed Churches against Athanasius Origen Augustine Tertullian and others of the fathers against Zuinglius Luther Calvine Beza and many other of these ages godly men and divers of them also Martyrs of Iesus Christ who have set forth in publyck their Confessions of fayth private their apologies complaynts disputations yea and their letters concerning matters in religion publyckly controverted But these things perhaps came not in your mynd whiles there was before your eyes only the contemplation of our particular cause which thing your self we trust will perceive if you turne your eyes a lytle from vs vnto others approved by your self Moreover howsoever the evill wherof you wryte do prevayte in publyck yet alwayes and every where wisdome is justified of her children as Christ hath taught Mat. 11.16.19 And this shall suffice vs and all that are godly Lastly in a case of such weight and necessity who should rather be called vpon then the students of the holy Scriptures in Christian vniversityes Who we pray you are esteemed to be of better or sounder judgment Whome doth it more concerne to take knowledg of the truth and errours in religion Who should better instruct in the truth or convince falshoold And to conclude who can or ought to attend more to the discussing of these things But you object that seeing we have here found place of rest here also we must receive the judgment of our doctrine and fayth if we will have the same lawfully knowen and approved c. Here come many things to be considered First what if the rest and breathing which here we enjoye come
rightly to be observed among them 5. They worship God in the Idol temples of Antichrist Exod. 20.4 with Deut. 12 2 3. 2. King 10 26 27 28. and 18 4. Act. 17 23. Rev. 18 11 12 c 6 The Ministers have their set mayntenance after another manner then Christ hath ordeyned 1. Cor 9 14. And that also such as by which any Ministery at all whether popish or other whatsoever might be maynteyned 7. Their elders chaunge yearly and do not continew in their office according to the doctrine of the Apostles and practise of the Primitive Churches Rom. 12 4 5 6 7 8. 1. Cor. 12 11 12 c Act 20.17.28 1. Pet. 5.1 2.3 4 See also Numb 8.24 c. 8. They celebrate Mariage in the Church as if it were a part of the Ecclesiasticall administration wheras it is in the nature of it merely civill Ruth 4. chap. 9. They vse a new censure of Suspension which Christ hath not appointed Mat. 28.20 Gal. 3.15 2. Tim. 3.16 17. 10. They observe dayes and tymes consecrating certeyn dayes in the yeare to the Nativity Resurrection Ascension of Christ etc. Exod. 20. commaundement 2. and 4. Rev. 1.10 1 Cor. 1â— 1.4.2 Act 20.7 Col. 2 16.17 Esa 66 23. Gal 10.11 11 They receiâ—e vnrepeÌ„tant excommunicates to be membres of their Church which by this meanes becometh one body with such as be delivered vnto SathaÌ„ 1. Cor. 5.5 1. Tim. 1.20 These among other are the corruptions of the church aforesaid which they are neyther able to defend nor willing to forsake Herein therfore we differ from them as they which knowe this estate of theirs may perceive by our confession compared with their errours noted before which the Lord give them to see and mynd And for your self good Sir take you heed in godlynes that in this cause you do not in any respect with hold the duty which you ow vnto them or defence which you ow vnto the truth So let God almighty also love you and Christ our Saviour be mercifull vnto you And this you may do truly Godlye brotherly wisely with great profit to vs and the Church of Christ every where Therfore we exhort and beseech you in the lord that you be carefull alwayes to help no way to hurt the Church and cause of Christ by your studyes endevâ—urs labours which being thus directed the Lord Iesus blesse to the glory of his name and your owne comfort for ever Amen Amsterdam The first day of the seventh moneth called Iuly 1602. Yours in Christ by whose grace we witnesse the truth of his Gospellâ— against the will worship and remnants of Antichrist what soever Francis â—ohnson Stanshall Mercer David Bresâ—o Henry Ainsworth Câ—ristophâ—r Boman Daniel Studley Thomas Bishop With the rest of the brethren of the English Church now living as straungers at Amsterdam A third letter written by Mr. Iunius vpon receipt of the last aforesaid and of his tvvo former imprinted before in England and therevpon by vs sent vnto him included withall To his beloved brethren in Christ the English people at Amsterdam Salutations in Christ AN huge bundell of letters beloved brethren I received from you yesterday in the evening I gave you counsell to rest from questioÌ„s you commaund me to enter into questions I continew still in my purpose for I esteem more of peace in the Church then of the seeds of strife they that are fedde with these seeds shall reap the fruit Where you conclude and pronounce that I do therefore assent vnto you it is a false conclusion As towching the matter I have enjoyned my self silence and although I be an hundred tymes called vpon by letters I will continew still in the argument of counsell till I see another course taken If it like you not let it alone neyther do I like the handling of questions in this tyme. It is more according to God that I be silent from questions in this estate of things then that I powre forth my self and you together into them You move many things in your letters I wil rest froÌ„ those things and will occupy my self religiously in the work of the Lord. Christian wisdome will never suffer me to speak of questioÌ„s controverted the one party being vnheard That my letters vnto you were translated into English I have now first knowen it by you I knew not that it was done You object that my letters were not shewed by you I beleev it for both by letters and reports of many I have ben certifyed that they were not shewed If it please you shew them for me you may All shall see how false reports have ben given forth concerning theÌ„ I neyther am ashamed of them neyther ever will be But I pitty you I speak it vnfeynedly who for my letters give forth in publick your conclusions With good men good dealing should be used That the copyes of my letters were carryed into England your selves may easily coÌ„jecture by what meanes it came to passe About teÌ„ moneths synce the Soveraign Quenes Ambassadour was there and two of your company dined with him What hapned at that dinner you can remember He came hither vnto me he marveled at the fact of your departure I told him that I had writteÌ„ vnto you he desired a copy To you I gave counsell whosoever gave it forth in publick hath done it without my knouwledg I will not answer for an others doing but for myne owne In the meane while I will pray God that he frame your mynds vnto the truth wisdome love and peace and all our mynds vnto his glory Farewell in the Lord. From Leyden in Holland The 16. day of Iuly 1602. Yours vnfeynedly Fr. Iunius The Answer to Mr. Iunius his third letter To the reverend and our beloued brother in Christ Mr. Fr. Iunius at Leyden in Holland Grace and peace in Iesus Christ YOur third and very brief letter beloved Sir we received this last week They were your letters imprinted and included that made the â—uge bundell if so it were It is not well said of you that terme the Confession of Christian faith and defeÌ„ce of publishing it to be questioÌ„s and seâ—ds of strife nor that you say we coÌ„manâ— you to enter into questions For the conclusâ—on whether it be true or false now let others judge which shall see your letters together with ours Towching the matter you have enjoyned your self silence Yea and towching the maner and other things also where you can fynd no answer neyther Yet for the matter it self if so be that with the Papists Anabaptists or any the like we did erre froÌ„ the true faith we doubt not but you would open your mouth to answer to refute to convince But because in our faith you can shew no errour and yet in this tyme and estate of things like not â—o stand for vs and this cause it is safest to be silent Wisely done in deed but not according to God who denouÌ„cing by the Prophet hath said Cursed be
the commandement commission and promise of our Saviour Christ who as hee hath all power in heaven and in earth so hath also promised if we keep his commandements which he hath given without limitation of tyme place Magistrates allowance or disallowance to be with vs vnto the end of the world and when we have finished our course and kept the faith to give vs the crowne of righteousnes which is layd vp for all that love his appearing 43 Vnto all men is to be given whatsoever is due vnto them Tributes Customes and all other such lawfull and accustomed dutyes ought willingly and orderly to be payed and performed Our lands goods and bodyes to be submitted in the Lord to the Magistrates pleasure And the Magistrates themselves every way to be acknowledged reverenced and obeyed according to godlines not because of wrath only but also for conscience sake And finally all men so to be esteemed and regarded as is due and meet for their place age estate and condition 44 And thus wee labour to give vnto God that which is Gods and vnto Cesar that which is Cesars and vnto all men that which be longeth vnto them Endevoring our selves to have alwayes a cleare conscience towards God and towards men And having hope in God that the resurrection of the dead shal be of the iust vnto life and of the vniust vnto condemnation everlasting Now if any take this to be heresie then do wee with the Apostle freely confesse that after the way which they call heresie wee worship God the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ beleeving all things that are written in the Law and in the Prophets and Apostles And what soever is according to this rule of truth published by this State or holdē by anie reformed Churches in their Confessions abrode in the world We do also reiect and detest all straunge and hereticall opinions and doctrines of all Hereticks both old and new whatsoever 45 Finally wheras wee are much flandered and traduced as if we denyed or misliked that forme of prayer commonly called the Lords prayer wee thought it needfull here also concerning it to make known that we beleeve ād acknowledg it to be a most absolute and most excellent forme of prayer such as no men nor Angels can set downe the like And that it was taught and appointed by our Lord Iesus Christ not that we should be tyed to the vse of those very words but that we should according to that rule make all our requests and thanksgyuing vnto God forasmuch as it is a perfect forme and paterne conteining in it plaine and sufficient directions of prayer for all occasions and necessities that have ben are or shal be to the Church of God or any member therof to the end of the world Now vnto him that is able to keep vs that wee fall not and to present vs faltlesse before the presence of his glorie with ioy that is to God only wise our Saviour be glory and maiestie and dominion power both now for ever Amen MAISTER IVNIVS HIS FIRST LETTER CONCERNING THE CONFESSION OF FAITH AFORESAID To his beloved in Christ the Brethren of the English Church now abiding at Amsterdam GRace mercie and peace from God the Father and our Saviour Iesus Christ I have received of late belooved Brethren in Christ a little booke by one of your companie which is intituled The confession of faith of some English men banished in Belgia and have knowne your desire partly by the speach of the same messenger partly by the preface of the writing But as concerning my selfe beloved brethren whom for nearnes sake peradventure yee have thought meete to be called vpon a part I verily see not how much I can doe in this cause or how I can fit your purpose For I knowe that now long since euery man doth abound in his owne sense and that those that are other wise minded are with a brotherly mynd so fare to be borne with holding the heade and fundation til the Lord reveale things further vnto them I know it is my part not to play the busie body but that I should serve the truth and charitie in my standing and measure which the Lord hath bestowed vpon me in Christian modestie and simplicitie as farre as my skil and abilitie wil stretch vnto Certainely when I considered this cause more diligently I thought nothing more commodious or more safe for the publick and for you and my selfe in all this matter thē that we should embrace a holy silēce if there be any thing wherein we be offended and that we commit our cause to the Lord the author of our faith and righter of our cause But because after a sort you will not suffer mee to be silent and to cōdole in secret for the woundes of the Church which is rent more then inough by actions especially being thrust forth in publik in this our age I wil declare faith fully and with a good cōscience before God what I thinke beseeching him who is author of truth and peace that he would leade both you and me alike into all truth according to his promise also dispose each of our mindes and affections to interpret brotherly one anothers requestes answeres admonitions and finally all our duties although as it commeth to passe and is incident to man disagreeing from our sense and taste I obserue therefore that there are three heads or chief poynts in your little booke wherein you desire our counsell and iudgement The first head is of doctrine which you professe in your little booke The secōd is of fact whereof yee accuse the English Churches Lastly the third is of the conclusion which you inferre by comparing that your doctrine with that practise of England namely that yee cannot with good conscience entertaine a communiō with those Churches but that yee doe abhorre them with all your heartes Therefore I will speak briefely of these 3. things what I think entreating you brotherly to take my answere in good part I marvell that the point of doctrine or little booke of your confession beloved brethrē is sent ouer to me I marvell that it was sent ouer to all the students of holy Scriptures in all Christian Vniuersities for if there be a certaine consent of doctrine as you pretend it truely I do not see what need there was that you should set forth a newe confession in this consent of holy and auncient doctrine But if there be a dissention peradventure in the doctrine or rather a differēce that in deed ought not to bee dissembled if so be that yee thought it necessarie that your doctrine should be declared Besides in that you send to mee yea that you send to publicke viewe your confession I marvell brethren yea I greatly maruell what your meaning should bee both in respect of the ende and the fact For if ye haue set it foorth to that end that yee might
may tarry in it without ship wracke of faith and conscience or take from it the name of a Church especially seeing euery Church consisteth of Pastors and flocke which if some Pastors or Prelates trouble yet it is vnmeete that this name either should be taken away from the other Pastors which Christ doth witnesse by the doctrine of truth or from the flocke which Christ hath purchased with his owne bloode and doth daily sanctifie with the washing of the newe birth by the worde This ought to be sufficient for you if any thing have offended you at home that now the fatherly mercifull providence of God hath provided for you elsewhere Certainely whiles yee inueigh against those Churches yee shal make that your cause neuer the better neither more probable with good men which thing if yee have not yet considered and conceived by my aduise and counsell and by the admonition of those which wish you wel experience it selfe at last God grant it be not to late and he informe you in good will prooue all thâ—se things vnto you For by the trueth of doctrine holinesse of life by the worke of faith and patience and by the dueties of charitie euen towards them of whome yee professe that ye are wronged yee shal rather approove your selves and your cause theÌ„ by outcryes and publishing of writings euen as our Sauiour is saide to bring iudgement to victorie not by filling the streetes with shouting and clamours but by blowing gently into the smoking flax and tender handling the bruised reede Which thinges seeing they be so I beseech you most louing brethreÌ„ in Christ by that most holi name of Christ which ye profese by those bowels mercie wherewith Christ hath embraced vs froÌ„ on high that yee would thinke of another course that yee would take another way to salvation to edificatioÌ„ to peace If there be consent shake not your faith which is not to be winnowed againe by new reasons This course is suspitious But if it must needs be sifted let it suffice you that it be first approved by those servants of God among whome yee dwell this is certainnly a lawfull course Forgiue the former iniuries if any have beene by Christian charitie to them from whom yee have received the same hide them froÌ„ others by ChristiaÌ„ wisdome There is no feare that by so doing yee should be burst God will enlarge your harts by the spirite of charitie most coÌ„modiously Looke to your selues that overcomming al sharpnesse and al bitternesse of minde yee may be acceptable to Christ and profitable to the Church and that the sweet odour of your pietie may be spread in speach in life in order to all the godly without the stench of enmitie and schisme Iudge not that yee be not iudged But abstaine from those heavie determinations and conclusions as they call them against othermen neither labour either to get Abetters or partakers in that your former iudgement which would be saide in you to be a spice of faction in them of imprudencie or else to drawe them to an vnseasonable vncivill inconvenient and dangerous deliuerie of opinions Pitie your selues I beseech you most louing brethren and the whole flocke which is gathered among you Haue pittie of them whome thorough error infirmitie yee cry out be hurt Pitie your entertainers among whome it were a most iâ—iurious thing that ye should sowe these tates especially being admonished And it would be a greate indignitie by clamours and writings to brede in them suspicions and sinister opinions eyther of your selves or of those your adversaries as you count them or els of both Finally pitie the Church of Christ which verily it is not comely nor expedient neither in any case tolerable amoÌ„g so many and greeuous wounds which are universally given vnto it to be further galled with this particular wound So let God almightie loue you and Iesus Christ that most mercifull Lord and our Sauiour be mercifull vnto you And if I shall be able to doe any good in the publicke cause and yours assure your selves that I will spare no diligence no labour no paines that you with vs and all togither may be filled with saÌ„ctimony without which none shal se God with the good things of the Lord in his house and before his face And the God of peace which hath raised from the dead our Lord Iesus that great sheepeheard of the sheepe by the blood of the eternall couenant make you perfect in euery good worke to doe his will working in you that which is acceptable in his sight by Iesus Christ to whom be glorie for ever and ever Amen And I pray you brethren suffer this word of exhortation which I have briefely writteÌ„ vnto you The grace of God be with you all Amen From Leyden this Saturday the 9. of Ianuary 1599. Yours in the Lord Francis Iunius The answer to the Letter aforesaid To the Reverend and learned Mr. Francis Iunius our beloved brother in Christ At Leyden in Holland GRace and peace from God the Father and the Lord Iesus Christ our Saviour Reverend Sr. and beloved brother in Christ we have lately received your letter which you sent vnsealed to the Ministers of the Dutch and freÌ„ch Churches that it might first be read of theÌ„ and them be delyvered to vs. We have also read and weighed it and thought it meet to wryte agayne partly to thank you that vouched safe to write vnto vs partly to satisfy you if we can in some thinges wherein we see you are mistaken In the wryting wherof we humbly request that speaking freely that which the thing it self requireth you would take it in good part as you are wooÌ„t Many thinges indeed you have wrytten which we do willingly acknowledg and consent therein with you Those we will not touch at all The rest we will prosequute in the same order as by your self â—hey are propounded Whereas there was a litle booke exhibited vnto you by one of vs it is not so to be takeÌ„ as if you were called vpoÌ„ alone or apart from others For the brother which delyvered you the booke certified vs that this passed betwene you that by you it should be communicated with your Colleagues the governours of that Vniversity and that you tooke vpon you to do it Now if you have so done how is it that you alone wryte back againe why also do you so often repeat and seeme to reprehend that you you we say alone apart are called vpon If you have not done it mynde then on whome the blame lyeth that it is not communicated with theÌ„ in that Vniversity to whome by vs it was dedicated And we do now agayne entreat you that being myndfull of your promyse you would performe it that so you with the other learned and godly men and brethren there may eyther convynce our fayth and cause of errour or els together with vs conted for this sayth once gyven to
he that doth the worck of the Lord frauduleÌ„tly and cursed be he that kepeth back his sword from blooâ— On the contrary Blessed be he that shall reward thee as thou hast rewarded vs o daughter of Babel to be destroyed Blessed be he that shall take and scattering dash thy children against the stones If this against Moab and the materiall BabyloÌ„ how much more against Antichrist and the spirituall Babylon with al the daughters and abominatioÌ„s thereof If this against the shadow and type how much more against the substance and body it self Of the argument of coâ—nsell ynough is said If you repeat it a thousand tymes and yet take not away our answer and reasons alledged in our first letters we will alwayes repeat the same answer againe Those many things which are conteyned in your letters and ours do now come forth in publick Neyther doubt we but this is the work of the Lord. See therefore that you be occupied therein religiously That any should speak of things controverted we desier not otherwise then the reformed Churches and those godly meÌ„ and Martyrs of Iesus who with like purpose have published their confessions of faith and causes of their troubles being so constreyned That your letters were not shewed by vs we wrote not but this that we gave not a copy of them to any for what cause we wrote in our former Shewed they were and read in the publick meeting of our Church If your mynd were to have them shewed to others that knew we not But now that you write this is your mynd we shall shew them together with ours publickly vnto all And if any have giveÌ„ forth any false reports conâ—erning them let theÌ„ now be ashamed In the meane time your self provided by sending yours at first vnsealed that they should be shewed to others and be read also of others before vs. Neyther doth it excuse the matter which you wrote in your second that â—â—e messenger shewed you not to wâ—oÌ„er whither you should have written and that therefore you sought and wayted an whole moneth being vncertayne thereof For we did signify both these expressely in the Epistle dedicatory prefixed before that book which by the messenger was delivered vnto you Els how knew you at the moneths end more theÌ„ before whither and to whoÌ„ to send Or when you knew why did you not seale your letters Was it because you would have the shewed We beleev it as also that for the same cause the copyes of theÌ„ were caryed into England And this too we knew before they were translated in English but we held our peace wayting to see what would follow therevpon Now your self see they are translated and given forth in publick For them therefore and with them we traÌ„slate and publish ours by which will appeare that we have dealt well with good men You may call them as you please it skilleth vs litle this is the very thing we desier and endevour that the simplicity of the Gospell of Christ the iniquity of the defectioÌ„ of Antichrist may more and more be made knowen vnto all If for this thing you pity vs we will beare it praying that God in Christ would pitty you Where you write that two of our company dined with that honorable Ambassadour it is not true that we know of Neyther can we cell what hapned at that dinner He sent not for vs to come vnto him neyther did we like to intrude our selves If by vs he would have ben certifyed of our cause we would have done it willingly and syncerely And you also when he demaunded of you might have shewed our letters with your owne and the coÌ„fession of our faith and given also copyes of both the letters So might the Translatour have given forth both in publick So had you provided that sentence should not be given the one party being vnheard Which thing Christian wisdome your self say suffreth not â—o be done in questions controverted In this behalf therfore you have erred and this by you is to be answered notwithstaÌ„ding that for his doing himself is to answer that translated and published yours without your knowledg For our selves if any where we erre shew it we pray you agayne and agayne by the word of God that is by the onely rule of truth and we shal yeeld most willingly And thus we pray God that he would guyde you together with vs and all his alway vnto Iesus Christ and that he would keep vs in him who onely is the way the truth and the life Whose name be blessed for ever Amen Amsterdam Iuly 21. 1602. Yours in the truth and peace of the Gospell of Christ F. Io. H. Ains D. St. S. Mer. C. Bom. T. Bis D. Bre. Together with the other brethren of the English Church at Amsterdam * For proof herof see Mr. Iunius owne words noted in the margine of his letter herafter folowing and compare also this edition of it with the translators before published Act. 28 22 b Rev. 12. c Psal 105 13 14. d 1 Pet 2.9 e Psal 46.1 f Apoc. 2 5. gap 2 Cor 6 14 15 c. Psal 9â— 20. 2 Thes 2 3. h Psa 37 27 Ier. 51 6. Rev. 18 4. 14 1. Neh. 6 6.7.8 Harmon of confess i 1 Pet. 2 5. Ier. 51 26 k Act. 2 38 40 41 8 36 37 15 9. Ioh. 10 3.4 5. Esa 35 8.9 l Ioh. 15 2.5 Mat â—8 15 17 Lev. 13 46. Numb 4.13 m Ioh 15 19. and 17.14 16. Mat. 3 12 Lev. 20.24 26. 1. Ioh. 4.5.6 About forty ecclesiastical popish offices are at this daye in the Churche of EnglaÌ„d never a one appointed by Christ in his testament Apoc. 13. vvith what words rites in what habit gesture these things are to be done they are taught in their rubâ—ik Some of them in certaine English books seâ— forth have reckned aboue 100. popish corruptions yet reteyned in this church o Rom. 12 1. Cor. 12. Eph. 4. p Iohn 4 24 Mat 15 9 q Deu 6 4 5 Mat. 16 6 2. Cor. 6 14 15 Psal 106 34 35.36 s Iude ver 3 t 2 Cor. 6 17. u Eph. 5 11. w Reb. 18 4 14 10 11. Mat. 6 24. x 2. King 16 10 11 12. Apoc 13 12 14 15. y Ier. 51 6. Mich. 2 10. Rev. 18 4. 2 Cor. 6 17. Act. 2 40. z Ps 9.12 Heb. 13 3 A Gal. 4.4.5 6. 5.1.2 Heb. 8. 9 10. chap. 2 Cor. 4 7 Iam. 2 1 * Deut. 6.4 1. Tim 2.5 Ephe. 4.4.5.6 1 Cor. 8.6 12.4.5.6.13 Ier. 6.16 Ioh. 14.6 ‡ 1 Tim. 6.3.13.14 Mat. 15.9 28.20 Deut. 4.2.6 12.32 1 cor 4.17 14.33 2 Tim. 3.15.16.17 Gal. 1.8.9 Reâ—el 22.18.19 * Ioh. 4.24 ‡ Exod. 3.14 Rom. 11.36 Act. 17.28 ☽ 1 Tim. 1.17 Esa 6.3 66.1.2 1 Ioh. 5.7 Mat. 28.19 Prou. 8.22 Heb. 1.3 Phil. 2.6 1 Cor. 8.6 Micah 5.2 Psal 2.7 Gal. 4.6 Ioh. 1.1.2.18 10.30.38 15.26 Heb. â— 14 * Ioh.
Certayne Letters translated into English being first written in Latine Two by the reverend and learned Mr. Francis Iunius Divinitie Reader at Leyden in Holland The other by the exiled English Church abiding for the present at Amsterdam in Holland Together with the Confession of faith prefixed where vpon the said letters were first written Esa 53.1 Who beleveth our report and to whom is the arme of the Lord revealed Printed in the yeare 1602. R.G. the translatour of M. Iunius his letters To the Christian Reader SVch as of late yeares have rent themselues from the holie service of God used im the publique congregations and Churches of England being destitute of any sound warrant from the worde of God have sought from time to time so much the more earnestly as the manner of such is to shroude themselves vnder the shadowe of humane authoritie HeÌ„ce it came to passe that Master Francis Iunius a maÌ„ of great learning and godlinesse was solicited by some of them as may appeare by these letters ensuing in the yeare 99. to be a favourer of their erronious opinions and of their vnchristian disordered and vndutifull proceedings whose answere being delivered by himselfe to a religious and worshipful knight and so comming to my handes I have presumed to communicate with thee by the motion of some godly and well disposed hoping that through the blessing of God and thy prayers it may proove a good meanes to stay such as are wavering to confirme such as doe stand and to recover such as are fallen For although he doe not enter into an exact discussing of the question with arguments objections and answeres yet he vseth a very grave and godly admonition which is oftentimes of greater fruite then a long and learned disputation And whosoever doth diligently studie the booke of God shal finde that the holy Prophets Apostles do in manie places insist upoÌ„ a plaine simple asleveâ—ation of the truth rather then vpon multitude of proof arguments Besides if we observe the story of the holy Martyrs of our own Church others we may preceive that by the sound profession of their faith and suffering for the same they have glorified God and advanced the kingdome of Iesus Christ aswel as others have done by arguments and reasons And yet notwithstanding if thou do well obserue these letters of Master Iunius thou shalt finde in them not vaine and emptie wordes but waightie and sounde reasons grounded upon the holie Scriptures of God Thus praying thee to take these first fruites of my poore laboures in this kinde in good part and beseching god to give a blessing hereunto I bid thee heartily farewel in the Lord. Thyne in the Lord R.G. The Answer to R.G. his Epistle prefixed before Mr. Iunius letters SUch as have separated themselves from the corrupt service of God vsed in the publick congregations and parishes of England being persecuted with afâ—lictions reproches and slanders both at home and in the land wheâ— now they live exiles have ben constreyned to publish to the world the confession of their Christian faith and causes of their departure from the foresayd English synagogues for clearing of the truth of God and witnesses of the same both which were much and many wayes calumniated More specially they dedicated that litle book to al Christian vniversities neer about to be discussed approved or reproved by the godly learned in them And sending one in particular to the hands of M.H. Iunius a man of great learning and godlines dwelling neer vnto them to be by him and the rest of his brethreÌ„ of the vniversitie at Leyden judged of they received from him a letter lately by one R.G. traÌ„slated and printed in English whether with the authors consent or not is yet vnknowne but the copy as the publisher sayth was given out by the author himself who might had done wel to have given a copy of the answer likewise or if he did the translator hath not dealt indifferently to publish one and not an other How ever it were al men may see how just and necessary occasion those eriled Christians now have to print their answer also which vpoÌ„ the receipt of his Letter they sent vnto him but hitherto have spared to give out any one copy either of his or theirs whether for doubt of their owne cause or reverend regard rather of that maÌ„ let the sequel declare and let the discrete reader by it judge whether party hath most advantage As for the translators censure that they sought to shrowd themselves vnder the shadow of humane authoritie this brief narratioÌ„ of the cariage of the matter and the plaine apologie which they make vnto Mr. Iunius of their proceedings wil shew it vnto al godly wyse to be but the surmise of a malicious hart And were it not that the weaknes and badnes of their cause compelleth them thus to doe it might seem strange that any of the church of England would publish such a writing as this in their owne defence as if it approved their estate and condeÌ„ned those foresayd Christian exiles when any whose eyes ar in his head may see by Mr Iunius his writing vnto them as Christian brethren and refusing at al to vndertake the maintenance of those English parishes or conviction of such as separate from them how far it is froÌ„ justifying those synagogues estate Yea al wiseharted may and will we doubt not easily discerne how naked and helplesse they be which neither by their friends at home nor the most learned abroad can otherwise be â—elieved then by such things as hitherto they have printed Or howsoever this present generation shall judge of these things yet the ages to come which wil be lesse partial wil easily give sentence The better to certify thee good reader of the whole cause and cariage therof here is with these Lecters set forth also their Confession of faith with the Episâ—le and preface as it is in Latine And wheras ther is since that time published also a second epistle of Mr. Iunius ther is now the answer to it set forth likewise which answer was presently written vpon the receipt of his Letter but not then sent for causes partly before noted and now more fully signified and sent to Mr. Iunius himself The things which here are mentioned of corruptions in some other churches and dealings that have passed about theÌ„ ar yet spared from being published in print at large til further occasion and provocation be Onely the general and brief hâ—â—ds of the matter in controversie at now printed as they were sent vnto Mr. Iunius although we were loth to do it but that their was necessarie occasion given by things which passed in the Letters as al meÌ„ may see Moreover it is not to be omitted how in the printed copy of Mr. Iunius Letter some things were corrupted by alteration omission and c. Otherwise then in the original by himself first sent they do stand and ar yet to
it staÌ„deth we have truly and as briefly as we could related them in the Preface to the Reader hereafter following and therefore thought here to omit the repetition of them The Lord Iesus alway preserve you and your Vniversityes to the praise of his name the ornameÌ„t of good learning the propagation and maintenance of his pure Religion From Amsterdam in the low countreyes The yeare of the last patience of the saints 1598. The preface to the Christian Reader IT may seeme strange vnto thee Christian Reader that any off the Englysh nation should for the truth of the Gospell be forced to forsake their natyve contrye and lyve in exile especially in these dayes when the Gospell seemeth to have free passage and florish in that land And for this cause have our exile bene hardly thought of by many and evil spoken of by some who know not as it seemeth eyther the trewe estate of the Church of England or causes of our forsaking and separating from the same but hearing this sect as they call it to be every where spoken against have with out at all further search accounted and divulged vs as heretickes or Schismatickes at the least Yea some and such as worst might have sought the increase of our afflictions even here also yf they could which thinge they have both secretly and openly attempted This hath Sathan added vnto all our former sorrowes envying that we should have rest in any part of the inhabyted world and therfor ceaseth not to make warre with the remnant of the womans seed which keepe the commaundemeÌ„ts of God and have the testimony of Iesus Christ But the Lord that brought his former Israell out off Egypt and when they walked aboute from nation to natioÌ„ from one Kingdome to an other people suffered no man to do them wronge but reproved kinges for their sakes the same Lord yet lyveth to maynteyne the right off his afflicted servantes whome he hath severed and dayly gathereth out off the world to be vnto himselff a chosen generatioÌ„ a royall priesthood a peculiar people and Israell off God He is our hope and strength and helpe in trobles ready to be found he will hyde vs vnder his winges and vnder his feathers we shall be sure vntyll these myseries be over past And though we could for our partes well have borne this rebuke off Christ in silence and left our cause to him who iudgeth iustly all the children off men yet for the manyfestation and clearing of the truth off God from reproche off men and for the bringing off others togither with our selves to the same knouwledge and fellowship off the Gospell we have thought it needfull and our duty to make knowen vnto the world our vnfeyghned fayth in God and loyall obedience towardes our Prince and all Governours set over vs in the Lord together with the reasons off our leaving the ministery worship and Church off England Which are not as they pretend for some fewe faultes and corruptions remayning such as we acknowledge man be found in the perfectest Church on earth Neyther count we it lawfull for any member to forsake the fellowship off the Church for blemyshes and imperfections which every one according to his calling should studeously seeke to cure and to exspect and further it vntyll eyther there followe redresse or the disease be growen incureable and the candlestick be moved out off the place But we having through Gods mercy learned to discerne betwixt the true worship off God and the Antichristian leitourgie the true ministerie off Christ and Antichristian priesthood and prelacy the ordinances off Christes testament and popysh cannons have also learned to leave the evill and choose the good to forsake Babell the land off our captyvitie and get vs vnto Sion the mount of the Lordes holynes and place where his honour dwelleth But first we desyre thee good Reader to vnderstand and mynde that we have not in any dislyke of the civill estate and politicke goverment in that common wealth which we much lyke and love seperated our selves from that Churche Neyther have we shaken of our alleageance and dutyfull obedyence to our Soveraigne Prince Elezabeth her honorable Consellers and other Magistrates set over vs but have alwayes and still do reverence love and obey them every one in the Lord opposing our selves against al enemyes forreigne or domesticall against all invasions insurrections treasons or conspiracies by whome soever intended against her Majestie and the State and are ready to adveÌ„ture our lyves in their defence iff need require Neiter have our greatest adversaryes ever bene able to attaint vs of the least disloyalty in this regarde And though now we be exiled yet do we dayly pray and will for the preservation peace and prosperity off her Majestie and all her domynions And wheras we have bene accused off intrusion into the Magistrates office as goeing about our selves to reforme the abuses in that land it is a mere malicious calumnie which our adversaries have forged out of their owne hart We have alwayes both by word and practise shewed the contrary neyther ever attempted or purposed any such thinge but have indevored thus onely to reforme our selves and our lyves according to the rule off Gods word by absteyning from all evyll and keeping the commandements off Iesus leaving the suppressing and casting out off those remnants of Idolatry vnto the Magistrates to whome it belongeth And further we testifye by these presents vnto all men and desyre them to take knowledge herof that we have not forsaken any one poynt of the true ancient catholicke and apostolicke fayth professed in our land but hold the same groundes of Christian religion with them still agreeing lykewise herein with the Dutch Scottysh Germane French Heldetian and all other Christian reformed Churches round about vs whose confessions publyshed we call to witnes our agrement with them in matters of greatest moment being coÌ„ferred with these articles of our fayth following The thinges then onely against which we contend and which we mislyke in the Englysh parish assemblyes are many reliques of that man off Synne whome they pretend to have abandoned yet reteyned among them and with a high hand maynteyned vpholden and imposed The particiâ—ers wherof being almost infinite cannot well off vs besett downe and would be tedious and yrksome to thee good Reader But the principall heades we wil truely relate and that so briefely as in so large and confuse a subject we can First in the planting and constituting of their Churche at the begining of our Queene Elizabets reigne they receved at once into the body of that Churche as members the whole land which generally then stood for the most part professed Papistes who had revolted from the profession which they made in the dayes of king Edward off happy memorye and shed much blood off many Christian Martyrs in Queene Maryes dayes This people yet standinge in this fearfull
prudent part if thou abstaine from stirring the evill that is well appeased an impotent thing if thou doe contrariwise And to what end I pray you is it To the end that you might purge your selues But here is no man that doth repeate anew or lay these accusations against you Wherefore serueth this purgatioÌ„ that yee may be euen with them against whom yee coÌ„plaine But this is not the part of a Christian I doe not thinke that this is your meaning Is it to reforme them This indeed is an holy endeuour But if yee could not doe this when yee were present coÌ„sider what yee can doe when yee are absent But first of all consider with your selues by what meanes yee take this way namely to accuse to me to others to the publike in the theatre of the Church in the circle of the world Ah beloued brethren was it euer heard of that any priuate man to say nothing of a great communitie was euer amended by this course Further consider I pray you before whom yee bring these things I will speak of my selfe to whom alone yee would commit this your little booke I know not whether in this your little booke yee call upon me as an intercessor or examiner or a Iudge For if as an intercessor were it not better that your coÌ„plainâ—s were kept secret then layed open which tendeth to reproch and the Church of Christ innumerable soules weake strangers to be beaten with the types of your impression It is most manifest that they against whom yee deale wil be more prouoked by this grieuous sting If as an examiner by what right can I doe it who haue no lawful authority from God from the Church from the Magistrate or froÌ„ both the parties neither if it should be committed would I easily accept it I am so privie to my selfe of my owne insufficiencie for who am I or what am I that I should be able throughly to see euery particular thing concerning you and them which are required to a iust examination And this the right course of examination doth require otherwise as Seneca wisely saith he that judgeth one party being not heard albeit he iudgeth that which is right yet he is vniust Yee are not a little deceiued in this your iudgement beloued brethren Yee almost do me an iniury when ye call me to be a busie body or think that I wil take upon me the part of an examiner or that which is more subject to envie and farre from duetie of a Iudge And brethreÌ„ that which I say of my selfe thinke that is the answere of the other brethren which are any where els in Churches and Vniversities No wise man will rashly goe downe these steps or clime vp to this seate of judgement In deed concerning your faith and doctrine something may be said if you expound it and if the thing be done in order But touching the accusatioÌ„ of your couÌ„treymen and of mattets passed to and fro no wise man by my consent wil on this condition take vpon him the burthen of iudging And for Gods sake consider the event of this fact For I pray you whom would it profit if that were done which yee desire Certainly neither would it profit you nor theÌ„ nor these with whom ye soiourne nor the Church of God Contrariwise whom would it not hurt This thing would set you more on fire as contentions are woont the more to make hote the more they are stirred It would more alienate them whom yee pretend to be to injuriously enstranged from you For this is not the way of teaching nor of informing nor of seeking reconciliation It would rent asunder the good men whose hospitality yee doe now commodiously vse either froÌ„ you or amongst themselues which duetie they have not deserved of you by their hospitalitie It would set a more grievous fier on the whole Church and spread through all her ioynts which God turne away And that vnwise maÌ„ which should vsurpe this authority it would make a scorne to ill toÌ„gues while good men would pittie his vaine labour and your expectation Lastly that I may also adde this and marke brethren how sincerely and brotherly I deale with you albeit I might and would lawfully give sentence both of your faith which yee declare and also of the fact of accusatioÌ„ which yee bend against your countreymen Yet yee by this course and maner of dealing have taken from me the authority of doing that which yee require touching your fact your selves by this maner of request do hinder your owne desier Ye will marvalle perhaps at that which I say and yet it is so For you doe so require my iudgement as you doe also with all require the iudgement of all Vniversities and Students If you request this in common then you doe not desire that I should doe it alone but if particularly doe you thinke that any of vs will be so mad that when the judgement of so many good men and diligence is desired some one Palamon should take vpon him the chiefest parts and should by him selfe speake of that thing which is required of so many as learned yea better learned and better furnished with piâ—â—ie judgement and experience which requireth a serious consultation an holy communication and a ripe inoffensive judgment But now of the third thing what shal I say your selves I think beloved brethren do mynd that if I cannot on this condition neyther ought to give answer concerning the two points a foresaid it would be vtterly vnjust if I should as yet determine any thing on eyther side towching the coÌ„clusion which you draw froÌ„ thence that is from those premisses But I verily suspeÌ„d my iudgemeÌ„t brethreÌ„ I suspend my iudgemeÌ„t in this cause even as God nature reason and al lawes command me to do Ye know I think the causes by these things which ye haue now read shal learne besides by other things which God shal minister vnto you I hope by the spirit of trueth and wisdome I ought not to iudge with my selfe of matters vnknowne at least not so evident neither yet with such forward boldnesse to pronouÌ„ce among you or others the matter being not sufficiently manifest to my selfe God knoweth and iudgeth to whom stand or fall as many as are his servants Otherwise I trust yee are not ignoraÌ„t that there are three things which eueÌ„ froÌ„ the verie infancie of the Church the holy fathers would haue to be distinguished by the word of God among the people of God namely faith or doctrine conversation or manners and the order of discipline And all wise men haue taught this with one consent and delivered it to posteritie that where the foundation of the truth of doctrine remaineth which is the piller of saluation although with most corrupt manners and discipline there the Church remaineth that no man ought rashly to separate himselfe from that Church whiles he
vnto vs not by the Ministers of whome you speak but by the Magistrats which we do alwayes and every where acknowledg with thanckes Secondly what if these ministers men indeed learned and wise should be of the same mynd with you that they would not heare or speake any thing concerning our fayth and cause inasmuch as they would not be eyther intercessours or examiners or Iudges Furthermore what if our Confession of fayth have ben exhibited to them above three yeares synce that by them it might eyther be approved or the errours if there be any convinced What if some of them have denounced vs as hereticks and schismaticks What if they have received certayne articles full of lyes and sclaunders spread abroad against vs and yet to this daye have not gyven vs a copy of them no though they were desyred What if vpon occasion offered we have dealt with them touching certaine corruptions yet remayning in their Churches which notwithstanding they would not so much as acknowledg And finally what if we after the concealing and not regarding of all these thinges have now agayne this last yeare delyvered them the Confession of our fayth in wryting before it was put forth in print You see what we could answer in this behalf but we would rather have burned these thinges in forgetfulnes if you had not so vrged vs as from you they might not now be concealed Pardon you therfore and let them also we intreat pardon vs that we speak freely for you would have vs speak yea you constreyne vs against our will to wryte these things which we would have covered in silence hoping hereafter for better Besydes these we answer also that in the preface before our Confession is signified that not here only but almost every where we are traduced as heretickes and schismaticks and that therfore it concerned vs to declare our fayth and cause not to these only but vnto all The very thing which before vs on lyke occasion as is aforesaid both dyvers of the ffathers have don of old and in later wines almost all the reformed Churches and of the Martyrs not a few And hitherto of your reasons alleadged against the publyshing of our our fayth Which how weak they are now judg your self But suppose they were strong and that therfore herein we had erred that our Confession came forth in publyck yet now it is publyshed the errours if any be found in it are certeynly to be shewed and convinced by the word of God Otherwise you may easily gather that we shall be more coÌ„firmed in this fayth And seing you Learned Sr. do purposely wryte coÌ„cerning the Doctrine which we professe and yet shew not any one errour in the Doctrine consider wel what you have done Will you be ready to help them who erre as you think in the manner and circumstaÌ„ces and will you afford no help at all in the matter and fayth it self Far be this from you from your godlynes learning wisdome charity And thus much of the first poynt which you noted concerning doctrine 2 The second head is of the fact wherof as you say we accuse the Englysh Churches Here also we expected that you would have discussed those fower poynts which are particularly rehearsed in the preface of this book and which we shewed to be done and vsed by them dayly in their divine worship for which also we testifyed that we are banished and have departed from them But of these neyther have you not one word And yet this was the specyall fact which we noted for to be considered in that Church That other of the Prelats tyranny and persecution of vs we touched but by the way and in a few wordes We marvell therfore yea and greatly marvell that these thinges which directly concerne the matter and cause it self should thus every where be let passe by you who yet pretend to bring into the way such as do erre But les vs see nevertheles what the thinges are which you do here so much vrge The first is that those Churches from which we have departed should not by vs be accused About the word accusation we will not contend Onely this we say we vse it noâ— that we remember except wheÌ„ we treat of our owne cause who by them are accused of heresy schisme sedition etc. Of which for asmuch as we are accused among them here and every where what good man will deny vnto vs place of defence But you say no man desyreth to know why we came thence and that the injury also hath left to prosequute vs being departed from them How these things escaped you we marvell For in both of them you wryte other wise then the thing is For both many do dayly desier to know why we came thence and the injury hath prosequuted vs being departed into this place to this very day Of the former we need cyte no witnesses for they are almost infinite Of the latter besydes the Latine bookes publyshed at home by our owne contreymen besydes the libels which they have sparsed against vs in this city besydes the sclaunders wherewith then do also pursue vs every where besydes all these we say the Ministers them selves of the Churches Dutch and FreÌ„ch both here at Amsterdam and at Dordrecht are able to testifye they have received as we said afore certeyne articles full of lyes and sclaunders wrytten against vs and yet still they have them for ought we know Moreover if none of these things had falleÌ„ out opeÌ„ly before the world yet who knoweth not that Antichrists retinew such as be the Prelats do still resemble the nature and conditions of the Dragon who out of his mouth cast waters like a flood after the woman that he might cause her to be caryed away of the flood whom being present he could not devoure Rev. 12. and 13 chap. As for that you annexe of concealing injuryes it hath ben observed by vs as much as we could For neyther have we in particular related them neyther can we if we would We have noted only in generall that these Prelats have done the very things which the Scripture foretold should by the Beast and Antichrist be commytted Neyther are we in this kind of writing eyther the first or alone Thus heretofore have many of the servants of God wrytten who in their severall countries have ben many wayes veâ—ed by Antichrist Neyther that only but they have also noted downe the particuler persons names places tymes martyrdomes causes actions injuryes Search if you please the ecclesiasticall writers almost of everye age search the Acts and momments of the martyrs in this countrey in ours in Scotland in France in the other countryes almost all here about yea search the Acts of the Apostles and see if such particular historyes be not there also recorded Yet further tell vs we pray you if this course had ben held by all which you seem to exact of vs from whence then could you or any other have
that knowledg and evidence as now is had of the fulfilling throughout severall ages of those prophecyes which are in the Scriptures of the Beast of the false Prophet of Antichrist of his mystery exaltation tyranny marchants discovery fall etc. How should from their owne Acts the adversaryes mouthes be so stopped as now we see heare and read is dayly done by the martyrs and servants of Christ Lastly how could your self and other learned men have so expounded that divine book of the Revelation not to speak of other Scriptures lykewise interpreted as you have now already done which great fruit and gratulation of all the godly Of the end which here againe you vrge we have spoken both before in this letter and in the epistles prefixed to the book it self Adde herevnto that if the Prelats and other adversaryes of the truth be not by these and the lyke wrytinges amended they shall yet doubtlesse be made the more vnexcuseable The visard also by which they have deceyved you as it seemeth and almost all others was to be pulled of But this could not be donne for the knowledg of all as was meeâ— otherwise then by publyck wryting To omytt others we appeale vnto your conscience learned S. whether you did think the estate of that Church and of those Prelats to be such in any measure touching their Antichristian constitution leitourgy ministery Hierarchy which your self acknowledg to be that other beast in Rev. 13 11.18 as now for certeyne you heare and see it in that book as it were paynted out before your eyes But of these things ynough is sayd in the book it self Surely these and the lyke their vnfruitfull workes of darknes were to be reprooved not dissembled not allowed especyally seing they are so stiffely by them retayned defended vrged and that vnder a pretence of the Gospell with which they have no more agreement then darknes hath with light Beliall with Christ Neyther is this to take vp burthens of Accusations but to take away the visard of Antichristian apostasy and to witnes the truth of Iesus Christ against Antichrist which duty our Lord and Saviour Christ requireth of you of vs of all the godly the Lord we say who in these latter tymes hath begunne to discover that lawles man of sinne and will at length consume him with the spirit of his mouth by the word of the testimony of his servants So far of is it that they should be accounted busy bodyes which performe this duty to Christ or that we herein have don you any iniury So far of also is it that we should think what you speak of your self the same to be answered vs by the rest of the bretheren that are any where els in Churches in Vniversityes Not to speak of others we know that Mr. Beza that worthy servant of God hath in causes not much vnlyke answered otherwise But of this matter more herafter In the meane tyme that we also may deale syncerely and brotherly with you mynd we pray you whether you have not done your self iniury whiles you have climed into this seate so confidentâ—â— to pronounce that of others wherof as we think you cannot any way have certaine knowledg yea whiles you alone determyne of that matter which to use your owne wordes requireth serious consultation and holy communication Touching the event we commit it to God who we certeynly hope will worck al these things for good both to vs and to theÌ„ by whom we are exiled and to these amonge whom we sojorne and to the Church of God every where And to whom we pray you would it not be good if that were done which we desâ—er ffor our selves if we erre let the righteous smyte and reprove vs it shal be a benefyt and precious oyntment vnto vs. For our adversaries if they be the more estraunged it shal be their own fault not ours nor theirs that shall godlyly and freely testifie what they see in this cause And who knoweth whether by this meanes they may be brought to consider more then heretofore both of the vnlawfull constitution of that Church and of their outragious cruelty and therevpon seriously endevour a godly redressing of the former and an vtter repressing of the latter For the good among whom we sojourne they shall have better knowledg of our fayth and cause they may also grow vp together more strongly in the truth of the Gospell whiles thus they are stirred vp more carefully to endevour that the corruptions wherewith their Churches yet are faulty may be duly abolyshed and whiles such as are seduced by the errours of the Papists Anabaptists and other hereticks troubling these Churches are vpon this occasion drawne from such estate and stirred vp to search knowe and embrace the truth of Gospell Fynally for the whole Church we hope it shall hence also receive much profyt if this fayth and cause which now a long tyme hath ben condempned for schisme and heresy if also that Antichristian Apostasy which now a long tyme vnder the visard of godlynes hath deceived the world in the mystery of iniquity if these things we say being of so great moment be examyned and discussed by the canon of the Scriptures of so many and so worthy men furnyshed with learning godlynes judgment wisdome And thus much of the second poynt which was concerning the fact The third you say is of the conclusion inferred vpon comparing together the doctrine and fact aforesaid Here first you affirme you withâ—â—ould your self in suspence in this cause Be it so It is God that can reveale this also vnto you and perswade your conscience by his Spirit and word Then you annex some things concerning the doctrine and consent of the fathers and all wise men in all ages but you propound them so doubtfully that as touching our cause we cannot perceive what your meaning is Your wordes may so be vnderstood as we most willingly consent with you in this matter agayne they may be so taken as we dissent from you not a lytle nor without cause We are perswaded that separation should not be made from any Church eyther rashly or at all so long as we may remayne with sound fayth and coÌ„science You must therfore speak more playnely what you think of our separation if you suppose we have erred in this behalf all those things being discussed by the word of God which we have mencâ—oned in the preface and Confession aforesaid In the meane tyme heare and ponder well we pray you what Mr. Beza that learned man and well deserving of the Church of Christ hath wrytten and publyshed some while since concerning this question Thus he hath in his epistles publyshed in the right epistle sent to Ed Grir dall heretofore Pâ—elate of London wherein wryting of the state and corruptioÌ„s of the Churche of England he sayeth If it be trew which is commoÌ„ly reported and wherof my self am not yet perswaded that private Baptisme is there permitted to women I
see not what is to turne back againe from whence men came if this be not c But if those things â—e true which I thincke are not lykely to wit that the Metropolytanes retayne in vse those most filâ—hy abuses then which the Church of Antichrist hath not any thing more intollerable namely pruralyties of benefyces lycences of non residency lâ—cences to mary and eat flesh and other the lyke this were certâ—nly which I speake with horrour not a corruption of Christianity but a manifest defection from Christ and therfore they not to be condemned but commended rather which oppose them selves to such endevours c. These and many other the lyke sayings he hath in his epistles and other bookes publyshed Now as touching the things which he thought not to be so much as lykely we know them to be most true neyther these only but almost an hundreth the lyke as we have touched in the preface of our Confession Among which we besâ—ecâ— you consider these three specially yet so as you turne not your eyes away froÌ„ the rest the confirmation of such aâ— have beâ—â— baptised when nowe they are waxen older administred by the Prelats themselves vnto this day Their holy Orders of Clergy The discipline and sanctions of the CannoÌ„ Law as they call it yet reteyned in that Churche and tell vs we pray you freely and syncerely what now you think of the estate of that Church and of our separation â—erily if we conceive you right your self expound the marke the name and the nomber of the name of the Beast to be vnderstood of these three last aforesaid abhomynations of Antichrist In your exposition of Rev. 13. ver 16.17.18 And to receive these you know also well iâ— forbydden vnto all vnder payne of eternall damnation Rev. 14.9.10 11. and 18.4.5 But to returne to M. Beza agayne in him there are many thinges coÌ„cerning our cause to be carefully observed first that his private epistles he set forth in publyck secondly that in tâ—â— he diâ— not dissemble but freely and ingeniously declare his iudgment of the estate of the Church of England thirdly that yet he was nâ— busibody or vnwise which would clime into thâ—â— seate or by provoking that church made his cause the worse with good meÌ„ etc. fourthly if ther were nothing els yet by this we may well think that what you say of your self is not the answer of the other brethreÌ„ which are in any place in Churches and Vniversityes lastly that he should not have burst if he had dissembled these things nor yet while he wrote the godly and faythfully was factious vnciuill or sowed any â—aâ—es but haâ—e witnes to the truth of the Gospel of Christ and did truly shew that â—e trod in the steps of the Apostle who wryteth and testifyet thus of himself and of all the faithful servaÌ„ts of Christ we caÌ„not â—o any thing against the truth but for the truth 2 Cor. 13.8 But these things by the way Yet so as you may well consider with your self beloved Brother whether the things which here and ther in your letter you seem to insinuate against vs fal not vpoÌ„ the very head of that most godly maÌ„ Mr. Beza by lyke right or rather indeed by lyke wroÌ„g Of other lyke godly and learned 〈◊〉 we will not now speake it shall suffice here to have mencioned him alone And where you seem to acknowledg for true Pastors the Prelats and Priests by theÌ„ created such as the English ministery is knoweÌ„ to be mynd how well you have done this and how agreably with the Spirit of God which calleth such Locusts false Prophets the whores marchants c. But touching that which you speak of Christ our Saviour how he brought iudgment to victory not by crying out and filling the streets with clamours but by blowing softly vpon the smoking flax and handling tenderly the brused reed This we do indeed most willingly acknowledg and pray that we may alwayes followe this his most sacred example Neverthelesse this also must be remembred that Christ dealt after one maner with the weack of whome here the speach is after an other with the * Scribes and Pharisees and other the like sworne enemyes of the truth such as at this day be the Prelats and their complices which who is it that doth not know who is it that doth not acknowledg The same also may be seeÌ„ in the Apostles of Christ and in their dealing with Simon Magus Elymas Hymenaeus Alexander Philetus Diotrephes c. Which things being so we humbly besech you reverend and beloved Sr. by that most holy name of Christ which you professe by the mercyes of God wherewith he hath loved vs in Christ that you would thnik of another course then such as yet it seemeth you allow that you would take an other way for discovering and destroying the defection of Antichrist for setting forward the salvation edificatioÌ„ and peace both of vs and others Hold on to defend the true fayth as now a good while you have done with great praise and fruit of the godly and discover errours maynteyne good causes and forsake evill Strive for Christ and the truth of his Gospell and fight against Antichrist and the remnants of his Apostasy Let it be manifest to all what your mynd and judgment is not only concerning the fayth of Christ but also concerning the mystery Apostasy and iniquity of Antichrist ffinally as touching our selves in specyall if you wryte agayne we do humbly and earnestly entreat if any where we have erred in our fayth and chuse that you vouchsafe to shew it vs by the light of Gods word Otherwise it wil be suspected seing you bestow so much paynes in discussing these things which concerne the maÌ„ner and not the matter it self that eyther you do dissemble your iudgment what soever it be or that in very deed you are of the same mynd with vs specially seing now you have wrytten that you do not any preiudice at all to our cause and have spoken this religiously before the Lord. Pityâ— we pray you our Church here exiled every where reproched eaten vp in a maner with deep poverty despised and afflicted wel nere of al against which sathan hath now a long tyme attempted all vtmost extremyties Pity them from whome we have departed who vnder pretence of the Gospell contynew still in Antichristian defection and do so stifley hold and eagerly maynteyne it as there is scant any among them that dare so much as hisse against it Pity these Churches among whome we sejourne in which wheter you look at the publyck prayers or the Administration of the Sacraments or the execution of discipline there be sundry â—aâ—es if they may be called â—ares or rather corruptions and those also not of small moment at which as is reported the Anabaptists and others not a few that lyve here do stumble of which also we have heretofore conferred frendly with the ministers of these Churches