anie man that vvill compare the arguments answeres to the present subiect of the discourse As for the other side if nothing should be published vntill theire consent were had there should neuer anie of these things com to light But if they thinke themselues iniuryed let them set downe the particulers vvherin or for the further satisfying of all men let them yet at length condiscend to som christian free conference where both sides may haue lyberty to produce theire reasons a true record of them be kept by faithfull indifferent notaries ech side be allowed to haue a copie therof time to consider of vvhat is passed accordingly Thus might the thruth sone peeceablye be knovven vvhere the vvord of God may be judg betvvixt them from vvhich vvho so departeth vvil not be reduced let him to his vvne perill vndergoe such censures iudgments as are due to his error syn Only this is sure VVisdome is iustified of all her children Farevvell in the Lord. To owre Louing freinds M r. Archdeacon Mollins Mr. Doctor Andros Mr. Cotton Mr. Hutchinson and the rest of the preachers in about London vvith in named AFter owre harty Commendations I the Bisshop of Londō haue receiued order from my Lords grace of Canterburye vvith the aduice of both the cheiffe Iustices that conference should presently be had vvith these Sectories vvhiche do forsake ovvr Church and be for the same cōmytted prysoners for that it is intēded if by ovvr good learned persvvasions they vvill not be reduced to conforme themselues to their dutifull obedyence that they shalbe proceeded vvith all according to the course of the common lavve Therfore these are to vvill requyre you euery of you vvhose names are mencioned in the shedule hereunto anexed in her Ma ts name by vertue of her high Commission for causes ecclesiasticall to vs and others dyrected That tvvise euery vveeke at the least you doe re-repayre to those persons prysoners vvhose names are in this tycket set doune and that you seeke by all learned discrete demeanure you may to reduce them from their errors And for that eyther their conformitye or disobedyence may be more manifest vvhen they shall com vnto theire trial Therfore vve requyre you to set dovvne in vvryting the perticuler dayes of your going to cōfer vvith them lykevvise your censure vvhat it is of them as that if occasion doe serue to vse it you vvilbe svvorne vnto And for that Mr Doctor Stanhope Chancellor to me the Bisshop of London is gon out of the Citie therfore vve requyre Mr. Mollins to send for all those seuerall preachers and delyuer them the names of the prysoners togeather with the prysons vvhervnto they are assigned to resort and to requyre them as aforesaide to take the chardg vppon them according to the trust commytted vnto them and in case anie of them refuse that then you require him or them forthvvith to repayre to me to Fulham and to certefie me of their aunsvvers before theire comming And so vve byd you Farevvell the 25. of Februarye 1589. Your Louing freinds Iohn Lond. Iohn Herbert Edvv. Stanhope Rich. Cosen WE haue sent you herevvithall a note of som part of their errors vvherby those preachers that are associat vnto you may the better consider hovv to deale in conference with them A briefe of the positions holden by the nevve sectorie of recusants 1 THat it is not lawfull to vse the Lords prayer publiquely in the Church for a set forme of prayer 2 Secondly that all set stinted prayers are meere babling in the sight of the Lord not to be vsed in publique Christian assemblies 3. Thirdly that the publique prayers worship of God in England as it is by lavve in the Church of England established is false superstitious popish and not to be vsed in anye Christian congregation 4. That the Church of England as it is now established is no entier member of the Church of Christ. 5. That the gouernment of the Church of England as it is now established is no lawfull gouernment nor christian but antichristian popish 6. That the Sacraments of Babtisme the Lords supper as they are administred in the Church of England be not true Sacraments 7. That infants ought not to be baptised according to the forme of baptisme ministred now in the Church of Englad but are rather to be kept vnbaptised 8. Manie of them make scruple to affirme that the Queens Maiestie hath supreame aucthoritie to gouern the Church of England in cases ecclesiasticall and to make lawes ecclesiasticall not contrary to Christs lawes 9. That the lawes ecclesiasticall already established by the auctoritie of the Queene Realme be not lawfull 10. That if the prince or maiestrate vnder her doe refuse or defer to reforme such faults as are aimsse in the Church the people may take the reforminge of them into theire owne hands before or vvithout her auctoritie 11. That the presbiterie or eldership may for som causes after admonition if there ensue not reformation excommunicat the Queene 12. That the Church of England as it novv standeth by lavve established professeth not a true Christ nor true religion that it hath no ministers in deed nor Sacraments in deed Iames Forester prysoners in newgate in the Fleete Do Bancraft Iohn Francys prysoners in newgate in the Fleete Robert Batkine prysoners in newgate in the Fleete Do Grant Thomas Freeman in the gatehowse Do Wood Thomas Settel in the gatehowse Iohn Debenham in the gatehowse Mr. Egerton George Collier in the Clynke Iohn Sparowe in the Clynke Do Sallard Edmond Nicolson in the Clynke M r. Iackson Xpofer Raper in the Clynke M r. Dunscombe Xpofer Browne in the Clynke Quintan Smyth in the Clynke M r. Smyth Androwe Smyth in the Clynke William Blakborowe in the Clynke Mr. Phyllips Thomas Lemar in the Clynke Thomas Michell in the Clynke Do White Anthonye Clakston in newgate William Forester in newgate Mr. Sparke William Denford in newgate Roger Waterer in newgate Mr. Erlye Edeth Burrowghe in newgate William Burt in newgate Mr. Turnball George Smels in the Counter woodstreet Xpofer Bowman in the Counter woodstreet Mr. Edmonds Robert Iackson in Count woodstr Mr. Haughton Nycolas Lee in the Count woodstr Mr. Gylpenne Robert Andrewes in Count woodstr Mr. Coper William Hutton in Count woodstr Mr. Archpoole Iohn Buser in Count woodstr Do Hanmer Iohn Fissher in Count woodstr Do Crooke William Clarke in Count vvoodstr Mr. Trypp Richard maltusse in Count vvoodstr Mr. Morrison William Fouller in Count vvoodstr Mr. Crowe Richard Skarlet in Count vvoodstr Mr. Brovvne Roger Rippine in Count vvoodstr Mr. Hall Iohn Clarke in Count vvoodstr Mr. Moslee Rowland Skipworth in the Counter poultrye preacher at Bridevvell George Knifton in the Counter poultrye Mr. Anderson Richard Hayward in Count poult Mr. Gardiner Iohn Lankaster in Count poult Mr. Cotton Thomas Endford in Count poult Mr. Cheyne Mr. Mollins Henry Barrowe in the
Fleete Mr. Androvves Iohn Greenwood in the Fleete Mr. Hutchinsō Do Sarauea Daniell Studley in the Fleete M r. Grauet Walter Lane in the Fleete M r. Fissher Edmond Tomson in the gatehouse M r. Iudson Iohn Nicolas in the gatehouse Mr. Temple William Dodson in the gatehowse Mr. Allison Iohn Barrens in the gatehowse Do Blague Iohn Cranford in the gatehowse M r. Herd Richard vvheeler in the gatehowse Mr. Harvye Thomas Canadine in the gatehowse A brief answeare to such Articles as the Bishopps haue giuen out in our name vpon which articles their Priests were sent and injoyned to Confer with vs in the seuerall prisons wherin we are by them detayned HOw charitablie soeuer theis forged positions conningly cōtriued may seme to be framed in respect of the sclaunderous priuiledged pamphletts heretofore dispersed through the whole land by the enemies of Christ suppressors of all righteousnes to bring vs in contempt with all men yet if we consider the end more sereously vvay the present drift of theis BBs theire priests and new reconciled Reformists set a worke in this busines we shal finde they neuer went more craftely about the spilling of owre innocent bloud For they in theire secret consultations hauing collected theis articles haue allso togeather vvith them constituted commaunded certaine theire priests twise euery weeke during this Lent to offer vs priuate conference in way of examination or auriculer confession to fish farther cause of accusation vppon theis poincts vvhose testimonie verdict of suborned vvitnesses they think to frame to their bloudthirstie appetites vve in the meane tyme not suffred eyther to set downe owre ovvne positions neyther before equall vvytnesses to ansvver or discouer theire false allegations Wherfore vve thought it good being all close prysoners to relate vnto all men that desire the truth ovvre simple iudgments in theis doctrines vvherat they thus snarrle vve resting still most desirous of anie christian or equall conference before indifferēt vvitnesses set dovvne recorded if vve might obteine the same vppon the dispence of ovvre lyues yea the God of heauen knovveth hovv vvilling ready vve are to be instructed or corrected in anie thing vvherin vve err vvhen it shalbe shevved vs by the booke of God First then vnderstand that theis accusers affirme theis to be ovvre positions vvhich they haue framed of theire ovvne braine vvithout ovvre knovvledg much lesse cōsent Secondly they pronunce vs nevve sectories although vve hold no other thing in iudgment or practize more then Christ his Apostles haue taught vs in the Scriptures and cōfirmed by theire examples deathes And vvhether Christs Testament in theis mens antichristian lavves ordinances fetched from Rome or deuised by themselues be novv to be holden nevve doctrines let all men consider Thirdly they call vs Recusants hauing neither forsaken the fellovvship of the true Church or least member of Christ that vvalketh in the Communion of the faith submytting himself to be guyded by Christs lavves ordinances nor refused anie truth approued vnto vs. Only vve according to the Commandment of God haue forsakē all sprirituall fellovvship vvith theire false Church as also the inuetions popery yea all the execrable marchandize of that ministery confused Babell euen that vvorld of vvickednes Out of vvhich the Lord dravve fourth all his elected 1. That it is not lavvful to vse the Lords prayer publiquely in the Church for a set forme of prayer THe Lords prayers vve take to be those prayers vvhich himself offred to his father in his ovvne person as he vvas man vppō earthe according to his present occasions the will of his father poured fourth The forme of prayer gyuen to his Disciples to all posterities by the record of the Euangelists we hold acknowledg most holy Canonicall scripture to be vsed of all Churches in that vse and to that end for which owre Sauioure gaue it Namely to be the perfect patterne rule of all owre prayers vvhether deprecations supplications thanksgyuing c. Not that we are bounde to the very vvords saying ouer or asking all things therin conteined euery tyme we pray nether that the words red or sayd ouer by rote can be called a prayer seing all prayer must proceede of Gods spyrit from owr owne harts according to owre present necessities So that where he calleth it the Lords prayer he falsefieth the text seing Christ neuer did or could vse it as his owne prayer For there is petition made for remission of synnes he neuer trespassing And where he saith we hold it vnlawfull to be vsed publiquelye in the Church for a fet forme of prayer he sclaundereth vs vve graunt it to be the absolute perfect only forme of all true prayers If anie demaund further vvhether vve may vse the vvords therof eyther wholy as they are set downe or anie sentence of them in prayers we answer by explication or application tending to edifying expressing owre present estate vve may The same questions may be demaunded of the prayers mentioned in the Psalmes dyuerse other scriptures to which vve aunswere that we restraine no man of the vse of anie parcell or sentence of Scripture rightly applyed Yet herevppon is not iustified eyther theire fyue tymes saying ouer of theire Pater Noster in theire English morrow masses nor yet theire superstitious repetition of theis words in the conclusions of theire prayers after or before theire sermons vvhen as they say they knowe not vvhat to aske and therfore pray as Christ hath taught them by repeting these vvords vvhich thei call the Lords prayer where in thei lye 2. That all sett stinted prayers are meere babling in the sight of the Lord and not to be vsed in publique Christian assemblies FOr such formes of prayer as are Canonicall such as be commended to vs by Gods spirit in his word we haue already in the former Article set downe the true holy vse of them to be for instruction c. But that anie man should thrust his deuises into the worship of God christian assemblies we wonder at theire ignorant presumption and much more that they dare be so bold as to set stint the holy ghost what vvhen hovv manie vvords to vtter in prayer So that your annuall monthly dayly morning and euening prayers vvherin you bynde mens consciences to the prescript repetition of your ovvne vvords as an offring to God vve hold them by the euidēce of Gods booke not only a babling but apochriphall Idolatrous contrary to the second Commaundmēt bringing the vvrath of God vppon the imposers receauers For by theis Idolls you take avvay the vvhole lyberty fredome true vse of spirituall prayer yea you stop the springs of the lyuing fountaine vvhich Christ hath sealed in his Church 3. That the publique prayers vvorship of God in England as it is by lavve in the Church of England established is false superstitious popish not so be vsed in anie
Christian Conngregation IF Christ Iesus the author fiinisher of owre faith haue constituted confirmed the ministration of the new Testament perfect for all ages persons how to serue him according to his vvyll then your liturgye drawen out of the Popes portuis is not only Idolatrous superstitious a deuised vvorship the inuentions precepts of men in stead of the liuelye graces present guifts of his spirit wherby men call vppō his name but a bondle of infinite grosse blasphemous errors yea euen a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or counterfeit gospell not only set aboue the gospell of Christ but dyrectly instituting an other ministry ministracōn then Christ hath commended commaunded to his Church till his apearing in the clouds to iudgmēt vnto vvhich Idoll and huge Chaos of long gathered patched errors all your ministery is sworne vvherby they renounce Christs Testamēt must administer by this liturgye babling ouer the seuerall parcells therof as thei are lymited prescribed stinted from yeare to yeare day to day By which liturgye or new gospell the priests of that order are approued sufficient without preaching or the guyft of teaching and the repeating of that 〈◊〉 booke accompted sufficient for all mens saluation And if anie do preache his doctrines must be conformed to the orders hereof The errours in this Idolatrous booke conteyned vvould not be easely repeated in half a day yet this vve are able to proue that it instituteth apointeth another ministery ministration in all points then Christs Testament hath confirmed not only peruerting making of no effect the ordinances of God concerning the vvorship of his people but establishing another in the place therof as in theire prayers Sacraments fasts feasts offrings purifications maryages buryalls c. manifestly apeareth 4. That the Church of England as it is novve established is no entire member of the Church of Christ. THe Common vvealth of England or parish assemblies as they gennerally stand vnder subiect vnto the aforesaide vvorship ministery consisting of all sorts of vncleane spirits Atheists papists hereticks c. are not the true apparant established Churches of Christ or communion of saincts and so by outward profession they neither being gathered from the vvorld to the obedyence of Christ neither hauing power or freedom to practice Christs Testament as the truth is reuealed are no entire member of the body of Christe 5. That the gouernment of the Church of England as it is novv established is no lavvfull gouernment nor Christian but antichristian and popish HAuing in the former articles sufficiently proued theire worship ministerye to be Idolatrous forbidden in the second Cōmaundment as all apochripha inuentions of men It is euident to all men confessed of owre enemies that the ministers lawes other ordinācs wherby the parish assemblies are gouerned are not such as Christ apointed to his Church of Pastor Teacher Elders Deacons c. But by such officers Courts Cannons as are hatched from Rome as Archb. L. BBs c. whose titles office or administracōns were neuer heard of in the scriptures 6. That the Sacraments of Babtisme the Lords Supper as they are administred in the Church of England be not true Sacraments THere neither being lawfull ministery to administer nor faithfull holye free people orderly gathered vnto the true true outward professiō of Christ as we haue before shewed and consequently no Couenant of grace the Sacraments in these assēblies of Babtisme and the Lords supper gyuē vnto Atheists papists vvhoremasters drunkerds theire seede delyuered also after a superstitious maner according to theire liturgye and not according to the institution rules of Christs Testament are no true Sacraments nor seales vvith promise 7. That infants ought not to be baptised according to the forme of Babtisme ministred novv in the Church of England but are rather to be kept vnbaptized NO godly Christians seperat from the false Church ought to bring theire infants to theis parish assemblies to be baptised into that felowship or profession by that ministery or according to that order but in the true Church to seeke the Seale of the Couenant so sone as it may be had by the true ministerye in the Congregation according to Christs institution we still affirme 8. Manie of them make scruple to affirme that the Queens Maiestie hath supreame aucthoritie to gouerne the Church of England in cases ecclesiasticall and to make lavves ecclesiasticall nos contrarye to Christ lavves ALL true Christians vvithin her Maiesties dominions acknowledg her Maiestie to be the supreame maiestrate gouernesse of all persons with in the Church vvithout the Church yea ouer all causes ecclesiasticall ciuill yet allwayes vvith this Caueat that no flesh may presume to add anie thing to his vvord or diminish anie thing from it This vve make no scruple to affirme 9. That the lavves ecclesiasticall alreadye established by the aucthoritie of the Queene Realme be not lavvfull SEing the ecclesiasticall lavves Canons Iniunctions Articles Courts ministery c. vvherby these parish assemblies be gouerned and guyded are not deryued from the booke of God or can be vvarranted therby or grounded theruppon but are the inuentions of men vvhich tourne avvay the truth abrogating Christs lavves ordinances yea seing they are culled out if not whollie receaued from that great Antichrist his Canons orders diuelish polecies as most malignant oppositions against the vvill of God confirmed perfected vvith Christs bloud miracles from heauen therfore these Canons Iniunctions articles hovv plawsible soeuer they agree to the vvorld yet are they the execrable wares of Antichrist Statuts of Omry and not to be receaued or obeyed of anie that loue the Lord Iesus Christ. 10. That if the Prince or Maiestrate vnder her doe refuse or defer to reform such faults as are amisse in the Church the people may take the reforming of them in theire ovvne hands before or vvith out her aucthoritie NEyther do we looke for anie reformation of Babell that is this world of confusion your false Church neither do we take vppon vs to intermeddle with the Magistrats sword but keepe owre selues in thought word deed within the lymitts of owre calling in all dutifull obedyence to owre prince superiours for conscience towards God and teach men both by vvord example so to vvalke But that all that vvylbe saued must forsake the false Church by repentance come vnder Christs obedience to serue vvorship God aright in his true Church vve hold it so true a doctrine as that there is no other meanes or promise of saluation Nether may vve eyther neglect the true seruice of god nor practise of anie part therof or haue fellowship vvith the works of darknes though the prince should inhibit the one commaund the other no herein vve shew no disobediēce to magistrats vvhose displeasure vve must rather vndergoe then fall into the hands of the euerlyuing