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
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
I vvill bee glorified Howbeit the Gospell proclaimeth all them blessed who for Christes sake are reuiled and against whome men doe falslie say all maner of euill For wicked men and infidels speak euill of them which runne not with them to the same excesse of riotte and beastlie men will vtter lewd wordes against those thinges they know not Heereof it commeth that many men fall away beeing not able to be are the reproach yet he which beleeueth as he speaketh knoweth what he beleeueth he suffereth as a Christian and is not ashamed but glorifieth God in this behalfe Notwithstanding when a brother shall reproach his brother Christians to reproach one the other hurtful to the Church and one Christian ill an other and the house of God shall be deuided then is it most dangerous For there will the enemie of mankinde cast in many burning fire brandes and heape on much drye wood that we might be all consumed one of another And such my most reuerend and beloued brethren hath beene our case and condition The state of manie godlie Ministers because we haue desired sought after the good proceeding and perfection of our Church in the seruice and worship of Christ and withholden our hands from doeing and allowing of some thinges in our iudgement hurtfull to the same and contrariant to the Ghospell of trueth Wee haue suffered endured much reproach and contempt which we haue patientlie borne and with great silence for diuers yeares sustayned that on our part the sacred worde of righteousnes might not be ill spoken of and as much as in vs lyeth wee might cut of all occasions to the common aduersarie to preuaile against the holy church of Christ which is among vs. But now it seemeth to me that notwithstanding all this The causes of this treatise the state of thinges is worse then euer before and I can not tell whether our conniuence in suffering all euill speeches against vs hath done the Church harme For nowe the Papist beginne to comfort themselues yea they challeng vnto them the name of honest and true men and good subiectes and by the reproachfullname of Puritan al godlie Protestants are most cunninglie depraued To haue beene called precisian Puritane hoatheaded proud contentious schismatickes and troublers of the Church wee haue borne it patientlie God knowing our innocencie and could yet be are it more so as by our suffring of contempt the Church of England might receaue honour and Gods people reioyce vnder good guiding pastoures But when it is growne so far that we are called accounted worse then Papists enemies to the state worse then Seminarie priestes like Iesuites subuerters of the common wealth enemies to her Maiesties most royall Crowne and dignitie for whose safetie wee doe continuallie and instantlie pray and that this is so farre growne that the traiterous priestes doe brag of extraordinarie fauour and vnder the name of Puritans most frandulentlie and with most grosse and palpable lying and slaundring traduce all Christian Churches so that wee verely thinke that if such thinges goe forward they will in a short time cause a most wofull ouerthrow of the whole state of the Christian Church among vs we cannot now forbeare any longer but that wee must needes shew vnto all the worlde our innocencie that the wrong which by ill false report hath bene done vnto vs thorow our negligēce want of honest defence be not made a strong forge and a close mightie engine to destroy all the happie and godlie proceedinges of her Maiestie turning vp side downe the ioyfull flourishing of the Christian religion Ghospell And we cannot now heale this soare by any priuate doing for it is spread abroad so vniuersall and mens mindes are so vniuersallie possessed therewith that we haue no way to doe good but to come into the open theater of the worlde to pleade for our selues and to make manifest the vprightnes of our cause against all these most false vniust and slanderous imputations Let me therefore intreate you all Reuerend Fathers and Brethren in godly charitie to receaue this our most iust apologie with Christian equitie to consider of it and with heauenlie wisedome waying the estate of the Church and the present necessitie take euerie thing in that meaning as it is written And I doe not doubt but allthough the knowne and professed enemie of all goodnes the popish faction which nowe these three and fortie yeares haue vsed all cunning treacherie and treasonable platformes to bereaue her Maiestie whome God almightie preserue still among vs of this present light and life of this worlde and all this Realm by that meanes of the heauenly light and life of the world to come though I say these vowed enemies of the Ghospell and of this land doe freat chafe and fume yet shall not you my de are brethren neither anie honest Christian and faithful subiect haue anie iust cause to mislike this manner of writing but rather thorow the hande of my God vpon me finde and think it necessarie at this tyme to be published to al Christian people of this English nation For I doe heerein declare and shew what hath beene our cause and maner of proceeding and that as plainelie without concealement The contents of this booke and as faithfullie without partialitie to our selues as I may boldly auoutch euery thing to any mans conscience which wil be content with trueth and all the trueth and secondlie how agreing al our cause doings from time to time hath bene to the present estate and her Maiesties proceedings in the Ghospell Thirdlie in clearing our cause and doings of the greatest accusations and imputations I make it plaine how vnequall and vniust the comparison is betweene vs and the Papist and lastlie I doe a little tourch some other things necessaritie appertaining to the premisses Now it may bee that heerein I shall not satisfie all men Hard satisfie all men paraduenture I shall offend some of the reuerend Bishoppes and some other learned Prelates standing for conformitie and it may bee I shall not perfectlie answer the expectatation of the godly Ministers who desire reformation or of some other wise learned Christians Herein doubtles I haue cause to suspect myne owne insufficiencie For who can tell how to walk perfectly with the Lord and yet auoid all occasions of offence where both the parties haue beene at so hote warre and where there are men of so many contrarie iudgements and affections much lesse a man of so little helpes and so small giftes as I haue How be it I craue the patience and charitable taking of this my writing of them both and I hope they will accept my good will For in an especiall loue toward both parties I haue taken this in hand and haue set God before mine eies before them both that so neere as I coulde and as far as I knowe and am able I vtter that which is right in
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
together to the disclosing of falshood and hypocrisie and to the aduauncing of Gods glorie so the contention betweene vs being onelie about ceremonies maner of gouernement we are all of one faith one Baptisme one bodie one spirit haue alone Father Lord and be al of one heart against all wickednes superstition idolatrie heresie and we seeke with one Christian desire the aduauncement so the pure religion worship and honour of God We are Ministers of the worde by one order we administer praiers Sacraments by one forme wee preach one faith and substance of doctrine we reioyce both of her Maiesties happie gouernement the freedome of the Gospell and are professed enemies to all her enemies to the enemies of Gods truth and Ghospell In writing against errors and disputing against Papistes we haue bene all one I preaching her M. supremacie confuting Popish primacie and in calling men from sinne disobedience to serue God and her M. we haue beene all one And shall men thinke that this vnhappie diuision shall seuer vs for euer God forbidde This life with out constant vnitie 2 And here me thinks I cannot but murne to think vpō mans frailtie our ignorance self-loue desire to preheminence many times casteth vs headlong into bitter dissention While men are loftie to acknowledge their ouersights therefore labour to keep their estimation by maintayning an errour they cause much disturbance to themselues with little credite among wise faithful men by ouerstrayning them selues to shadowe ouer mens vpright cause they stirre vp much gar-boile confusion in the Church of God And it is not so easilie stayed as it is vnaduisedlie begun Therefore it is verie wiselie said of Solomon The beginning of strife is as one that openeth the waters therefore ere the contention be medled with leaue of Prou. 17.14 Such doe we read to be the ciuil warre of the primitiue Church about Arius which is well known to haue continued many yeares and to be the death of many a faithfull Christian Of which Socrates Scholasticus writeth that in the very beginning it grew so hott Eccles Histor lib. 1. Cap. 6. with such diuision among the Bishoppes and also among the people inveying with such spitefull opprobrius tearmes one against another that it became so haynous shamefull into so lamentable a plight that the Christian Religion was openly derided of all men euen in the publike theaters solemne spectacles And such was the contention of Epiphanius and Iohn Chrysostome both worthy Bishoppes Lib. 6. Cap. 12.13 14. Yea euen in the very infansie of the church that no man shuld stumble at our contention as if it were a new thing when the blessed Apostles by a most excellent and perfite spirite planted the ghospel this humaine fraltie did shew it selfe verie greatlie For what thinke you was the cause of that solemne councill at Hierusalem Act. 15. what was the occasion of the Epist of Paule to the Romanes Corinthians Galathians Philippians Colossians c doe they not bewraye merueilous greate weaknes exceeding great contention some holding of Paul some of Cephas some going to Law and some contending about meate holy dayes some striuing for circumcision and the Lawe of Moyses other denying the resurrection of the bodie others iustification by faith onelie others brought in the worshipping of Angels and other will worshipp and volutarie religion of men in so much that it coste great labour and sweat vnto the Apostles and faithfull Ministers to hold vp the Church to keepe it aliue in the verie birth thereof So great were the waters of contention cōming out of the dragons mouth by the abuse of mans weaknes And this I obserue both in writings disputations of our forefathers of the primitiue ages of the Church also in these latter daies that it is a very rare thing to find any writer thogh he be learned wise sober who in his apologeticall writting can keepe himselfe pure from al gaule bitternes Few writers without bitternes For the vehement desire to defende that he vndertaketh manie times maketh him to sway beyond the mark his penn to breath out filthie smoak and vnsauorie There are manie prettie and wittie thinges which are founde in the studdie of humane learning in these men of great learning haue manie times delight so that when they are in writing of an argument or answer there falleth in some fine ironie or close quib by allusion sometime a bitter sarcasme before they be aware which whē it is red of the aduerse part it raiseth many hott humors vnseemly retaliatiōs which not only hinder the light oftētimes of a good cause but also maketh such a breach as will hardlie bee repaired againe in manie yeares And heere mee seemeth I am taken prisoner and locked vp in a darke and dolesome place to weep mourne to cry and howle for the miserable estate of mankinde thorough sinne How manie stumbling blocks are cast in the way of foolish This contention a plague for Atheists ignorant and peeuish Atheists who refusing the way of truth haue strong delusions of Satan to make them beleeue lyes Yet doth God turne all these contentions too good God turneth it to the good of his elect and his diuine prouidence maketh them profitable to his Church namelie for the elect as it is written There must be heresies euen among you that they which are approued among you 1. Cor. 11.29 may be knowen And this profit hath the Church by the primitiue contentions that in cleare plaine Scripture we se manie things taught as namelie The Christian libertie The doctrine of iustification the rising of the dead and diuers other waightie points which I can not tell if they woulde haue beene otherwise so fully largelie so plainlie written that we may know the loue and power wisdom of our merciful father to ouersway the mightie labours of Sathan which are against the Church to the good of Gods faithfull people Therefore the Apostle is bold to say in the like case I knowe that this shall turne to my saluation And againe We know that all things worke together for the best vnto them that loue God The consideration of this might teach some men to looke vpon themselues and watch ouer their owne corruption to keepe it vnder that they giue no offence other might learne not to stumble at the truth for such a cause which cannot bee altogether auoided And we of our time countrie might vnderstand that we are not by and by seuered into two religions or broken of from being Christian brethren beecause some hote contention hath bene kindled among vs. For then we might say that Friers Monkes Seminarie Priests Iesuites are not Papists yea that Popes Cardinalls and other their great Prelates are no Papistes because those haue stirred vp among themselus most deadlie warre other maner
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
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