kept highly esteemed and haue they not beene solemnly graced in Court to the imitation of all the Land Euery great Cittie and incorporation and euery part of the Land is it not replenished with Godly and learned Preachers Learned and Godly teachers trained vp in the vniuersities able in some good measure to teach rebuke and exhort with good discreation and iudgement What so is wanting and defectiue herein ConfereÌ„ce as HamptoÌ„ such hath beene his Maiesties Princely zeale that hee hath referred the care thereof to speciall Committies that with all couenient speede Wales Ireland and the Northren borders might be supplyed and planted with learned and religious Teachers Henry Iacob in his seditious Epistle dedicated to the King H. Iocob is not ashamed to affirme that the present Ecclesiasticall orders are more friendly to Papists Ceremomonies Godly and approued T. C. Libertines and Atheists then to the sinceritie of the Gospell an other also of the same rancke sets it downe that wee may better conforme our selues in orders and ceremonies to the Turke then to the Papists What a strange and dangerous position is this O where is discretion and pietie where is Christian loue and holy moderation Seeing the doctrine is sound and good in the chiefe and maine points of saluation why should any man speake so vnaduisedly in matters of lesse importance Alas wee also are bound to pray for you to shew you the right way and woe be vnto vs if as men pleasers we shall speake against our owne knowledge or that others should bee constraind to subscribe to that which is not consonant with the truth Heare therefore and as a wise and vnderstanding people at length bee satisfied For vndoubtedly the ceremonies of the Church and especially the vse of the Corsse The vse of the Crosse approued by Origen in Psal 38. Basi de spir Sanct. cap. 37. Chris tom 2. hom 55. in Mat. cap. 16. Hiero. li. 3. in Ezech. Aug. tract 55. in Ioh. de veabis Dei serm 18. 53. Greg. Mag in li 3. in Iob. cap 33 Ambro. li. 2. cap. 7. other many so much excepted against this day as the Standard of Christs honor hath euer beene aduanced and borne aloft in the eye of the Church to the comfort of all good Christians by the whole troupe of the blessed Fathers the Charrets and horse-men of Israell And generally those ceremonies vsed at this day in our Church they are in themselues indifferent in number few in vse decent They are peaceable in regard of conformitie reuerend to breede denotion in the people and for continuance these 1500. yeares vncontrowlable They are consonant with the Scriptures the exposition whereof is confirmed by the iudgement of the aunciant Fathers of the primatiue Church approued directly by later interpreters defended souldly by new writers discussed by Kingly conference agreed vpon by nationall consent established by highest authoritie attested and made good by the approbation and iudgement of other neighbour Churches as appeareth plainely in the confessions and seuerall articles of Heluetia Boheme Ausburge France Flanders Heluetia 1. art Boh. 25.15.18 Aus art 4. Fra. art 32 Sand. 32. Sax. ar 20 Sweuel cap. 4. Saxonie and Sweueland It is a grounded principle approued by the learned diuines in all ages In iis rebus in quibus nihil statuit certum scriptura diuina nobis populi Det Christiani principis iura tenenâ—ia sunt In those things wherein the Scripture hath set downe no certaintie the Lawes of the Christian Prince and of Gods people are with all obedience to bee embraced To proceede in this peace and prosperitie of the Church concerning the Saboth How generally is it obserued how religiously sanctified euen in this great and busie Citie wherein the streetes may often be seene in a manner desolate and few stirring vpon the Saboth Saboth in the time of diuine prayer and preaching The painfull preaching frequented with infinite congregations and mightie assemblies in this famous Citie the diligent and daylie prayers the deuotion and thankesgiuing the readinesse and attention in heating the word of God both preached and reade euen in this place where I stand doth witnesse what I say O how faire and blessed a thing it is for a Christian King to heare and know all the inhabitants of his Dominions to bee assembled vpon the Saboth to bee knit together as one man praising singing and reioysing in God all their prayers well neere at an instant as the flame of a thousand mountaines ascending aloft and peircing the very heauens And is it not as louely to behold all the people of these Kingdomes Industry of the people with obedience to Law and loue to their Soueraigne to go peaceably on as birds in the spring busied euery one in their seuerall callings and all the weeke long cheerefully following their vocation Hath not the Lord crowned yeare after yeare with his blessing the Land giuing such encrease that notwithstanding there bee at this present in this Citie and Suburbs sixe hundred thousand liuing Soules Plentie yet they all are well and plentifully fed and all the people throughout the land waxing warme and wealthie sit peaceably vnder their vines taking their pleasure and recreation 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It is a waies an assured and good signe of excellent gouernement when the people of any kingdome doe grow more wealthie and become more ciuill and religious What excellent and Godly acts stand in force for the wise ordering and comfortable reliefe of the poore What straight and holy Canons or Good Lawes for the religious proceeding in all matter Ecclesiasticall What seueritie is openly pronounced and what punishment daily executed vpon corrupt Officers powlers of the people Hath not Mercie triumphed ouer iustice Mercie and compassion to forgiue the perfect note of true Christianitie shewed it selfe abundantly in pardoning sundry offences and sparing the liues of dangerous and hatefull Traitors Feare admitteth no securitie Democrit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 whom all men are afraid of such a man stands in feare of all men And therefore like a wise and right Christian Prince he doth not build his safety vpon strength and power but vpon the mercie of God vpon Princely affabilitie Affability with his Nobles and vpon the loue and faithfulnesse of his subiects Doctor Hill and other Papists Iacob and other sectaries they slanderously auouch that their persecutions are many and their afflictons very grieuous and ye behold all dissention in religion Milde gouernment hath beene awaies labored and is still sought by all forberrance and gentle meanes to be appeased yea towards all men in generall the gouernement is sweet and milde and himselfe in his priuate nature so louing and compassionate Ambro. de obitn Theod. that as Theido hee seeketh to binde men vnto him not by force but by bountie religion Troublesome and sedicious spirits will neuer cease to murmure
themselues the applause of common people Plato de Rep. Plato in his common wealth forbids men to tange vp and downe to ring away other mens Bees yet the onely glory of some men is to get flockers and followers after them by tanging and iangling in matters of no importance Surely as a weake and feeble braine followeth the waxing and waining of the Moone so the braine-sicke humour of the multitude is subiect and pliable to euery change and reuolution Whereupon Homer compares the disposition of common people to the standing corne Homer ther comes a puffe and blowes it all on the one side there comes an other blast and swayes it as much on the other side It is a fit comparison made by the Kingly Prophet Psa 65.7 It is the Lord that stilleth the rage of the Sea the noise of the Waues and the madnesse of the people iumping therein with the Prophet Esay 17. Chapter where the nature of the people is compared vnto the billowes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the trouble some and working Sea So easily set a gog so delighted with nouelties so full of alteration and change are the affections of common people In the 28. of the Acts. Saint Paule whilest the Viper hung vpon his hand he was a murderer againe the Viper shaken off in the turning of an hand he was a God In the 3. of Ezra and the 12. the people wept because they had no Temple after when the Temple was builded then they wept as fast againe because the glory of the second was not like the first In the time of queene Mary there was lamentation and crying out that I dolatry was set vp the Church polluted and the Gospell taken away afterward when through the great mercie of God the Gospell was aduanced and the light thereof did comfortably shine throughout the whole kingdome then they murmured and cryed out as fast againe that wee had no Church no Ministry truth was wrapt vp in Ceremonies and all was Antichristian In the 19. of the Acts Demetrius and other subtill heads of the tradse men of Ephesus meerly for their owne gaine raised a great tumult and getting the people together cryed out great is Diana of the Ephesians presently the people were carried with such a tempest of fury that the cittie was all in an vprore they can and rushed whether they list in great confusion much violence was offered and yet at last as appearerh in the 32. verse the most part knew not wherefore they were come tog ther. In like sort Nobiles quiâ—am praeciâ—uâ—â—uiâ—s â—egâ—â—merum â—ge unt 〈◊〉 ann 1583. not many yeeres agone diuers personages of great credit and countenance they and their predecessâ—urs being long since enriched by the reuenues of the Church and fearing to lose them apprehending presently the successe inuegled many weake men young diuines trades-men artificers and such like and they all cryed out for the Geneua discipline and Scottish reformation in the Churh The ignorant multitude once stirred vp the whole land was in sects and tumults the state was troubled the Prince was disobeyed good lawes were neglected by Libels Pamphlets by consealements by treacheries by sundry foule disorders violence and disgrace was offered b A booke of discipline compiled after the Geneua fashion by M. Knox others reiected of the disciplinarians and termed a deuout imagination Another booke called Disciph ecclesiae sacra verbo Dei discripta correct d altered amended about 1587. to many societies and worthy callings in this land and yet I dare say the most part neuer knew what they did desire Nay I dare confidently affirme that the chiefest learnedst sectaries of those times and euen at this day not sixe of them did euer fully and soundly agree in the maine points and manner of erecting this their Goddesse Diana this affected discipline and reformation Yet behold and obserue the effects These silly Roes and Hindes once stirred vp they flockt together and assembled in woods they haunted priuate conuenticles in the night they had secret Printers in euery corner the publike congregation grew odious the holy word and Sacraments were despised at length they affirmed plainely there was no true Minister in the Church of England and so some fled beeyond Seas others gaue vp their calling lurking idly in other mens ho ses seducing their mindes and wasting their estaâ—es While these reformers thus ranne their course honest plaine men simple people beholding such parts taking and contention seeing such acceptions of persons and varietie of opinions they in their ignorance stood at a gaze some fell away to the Church of Rome others waxed neither hot not cold Athisme crept in deuotion was laid aside God exceedingly dishonored and the estate both of Church and common wealth very much defaced I say no more of these Roes and Hindes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 If then we regard the saluation of simple people by rooting out all Athisme and Superstition if wee tender their peaceable and Christian life who are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 misse-led vpon euery light occasion then we must wholy lay aside all contention and difference whatsoeuer with one hart with one consent we must all preach one and the selfe same doctrine all vse the same ceremonies thereby to win the people to Godlines of life and holy reuerence and alwaies in regard of their weaknes we must be shie and fearefull of stirring in the Church The very Heathen haue taught vs discreation in this point Amongst the wise Grecians the difficult points of their religion Aug. de ciui Del. li. 4. cap. 38 were neuer laid open to the discussing of the ignorant people but closed vp with silence Varro that notable and learned writer remoued those bookes which he wrote touching the deepest questions misteries in Theologie from the sight and knowledge of the multitude Scholis verò ac parietibus clausit Aug. de ciui Dei li. 6. cap. 5. he reserued them priuate to the learned Schooles Aboue all others the holy Apostles and aunciant Fathers of blessed memory were so chary in this point hat if any doubt arose â—f any question or controuersie fell out among them they did not by and by set forth bitter inuectiues and sedicious Phamphlets they did not put vp clamorous bils to temporall courts they did not creepe and couch to lay men for the boulstring and bearing out of any disorders in the Church they did not haunt trouble Christian Princes with bould and vnaduised petitions but as wee may see Act. 15. by the Apostles Acts. 15. A matter of great consequence was orderly and louingly disoussed at Ierusalâ—m the Schoole of the Prophets and so peaceably ended by the chiefe and most excellent Apostles This president and worthy example was truely followed by Saint Hierome and Ruffmus by Saint Augustinâ— by Chrysostome and Epiphamus by the good Bishop of Alexandria in the time of Arrius Niceph. eccle hist lib.
8 50. Paulus Diaco by Thâ—oâ—oâ—e who sent priuately to Paule Patriarch of Constantinople thus they conferred peaceably together they wrote priuately one the each other and so neuer making the people acquainted doubts being resolued and controuersies ended euery man did rest satisfied in his obedience and went peaceably on in his seuerall calling These holy and graue men considered well that the soules of the ignorant people were precious their mindes like Roes and Hindes easily missecaried soone stirred vp and quickly driuen from their wonted layer therefore as the good shepherd in the 23. Psalme they fed them peaceably in greene pastures they led them not vnto torrentes to troublesome whirlepooles but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to the waters of rest Heresbaci in Psal 23. and as the originall doth infer to the sweete streames that run quietly Stir not THe substance of this charge is double First not to stir in respect of the danger Secondly not to waken in regard of the Spouse who is fallen asleepe and peaceably taking rest It is dangerous to stir for that a rent or schisme in the Church is like a wound in the Soule or a great breach in the Sea there is almost nothing able to close it vp againe Howsoeuer at the first it seemes of small reckning and of no importance yet it neuer shewes it selfe at the beeginning in the right colors but crescit eundo it creeps on and gathers strength and we shall neuer read that the primatiue point of any Schisme did euer rest or stay it selfe vntill it came to a full periode of a plaine heresie Hieron Eccli 11 32. Niceph. eccle hist li. 8. cap. 5. Nullum schisma non sibi aliquam posted confingit haeresim Of one little sparke is made a great fire Arrian his heresie it was but a sparke as Nicephorus doth write first raised by one Alexander Bancalis because an other was preferred before him yet this sparke set all Asia Africke and Europe on fire so poysoned the spawne of the Church Cassiod li. 1. cap. 12 in the florishing spring of worthie Constantine that euen to this day it neuer recouered the losse againe Mahomet that Antichristian infidell first began his sect with a few followers and because Heraclius the Emperour let him run on Carion anno Do. 641. neglecting him as not worthy to be defeated shortly after vnder colour of his religion hee ouer ran Asia defaced the East Church subuerted the glorious Empire of Constantinople and so continues to this day the scourge of all Christendome Bleidan BelluÌ„ rusticanum absumpsit Germano rum 150000. vei est in vita Clementis Rom. Pontificis Did not the Anabaptistes of late yeares 1525. euen of a small sparke raise such a flame in Germanie that growing at length to parts taking by the base multitude Temples and cities were set on fire banishment and proscription inflicted vpon the innocent and at length a butchery massaker made of fiftie thousand people slaine at one time and an hundred thousand Christians murdered at an other They began with the Bishops and Clergie Bullinger but they ended with the deposing of ciuill Magistrates and destruction of the people The ground and primatiue cause of all the contentions raised heretofore in our Church was at the first a small discontentment a matter of priuate grudge a little sparke but by a bould admonition giuen at that time to the high court of Parliament it wakened all England Admonition and set a number of tongues and pens on fire not with such fire as fell on the Alter and sanctified the Sacrifice but with the fire of bitternes schisme contention which could neuer yet be throughly quenched to this day From this sparke as from Hydra what a number of poysoned heades sprong vp Anabaptists Brownists Puritaines Catharists Atheists the famille of loue and such like And notwithstanding those worthy and learned men who fled in queene Maries time as Iohn Bale Richard Cox Iohn Paâ—khurst William Burloe Alexander Nowell Iohn Iewell Edwin Sands Edmond Grindall and very many more maintained the gouernement of the Church of England vsed in their holy assemblies the forme of seruice and order of ceremonies which were established in King Edwards time ratified againe by good queen Elizabeth yet behold contrary to the iudgement course of these learned and holy men what strange what fiery and stirring conclusions were raised That the choise of Ministers should stand vpon the approbation of the people a Cart. wright Admonition Suppli to the Parlia 56. and that they are all of equall authoritie that the Church gouerment was vtterly vnlawfull and Antichristian That the Article of our faith touching Christs descention into hell was foisted into the Creede That b Hacket executed Festidies sunt commodè abolendi the Lords prayer by our Sauiour himselfe commaunded was not to be vsed That c Schismatiks in Berry no holiday might be obserued but onely the Saboth That no d DefeÌ„ded openly in the Vniuersitie father or humaine writer might be alleadged in the Pulpet That the Booke of common Prayer was to bee abolished That all the Ceremonies of our Church were Popish and to be swept away e Mart iu. r. Adm. pa. 25. That the callings of Bishops was an Antichristian diuellish hierarchy That reformation of Religion belongeth to the comminaltie g Buccha de iure regni Page 61. that the people are better then the King and of greater authoritie That h Scottish presbetary in prison at this day the Presbitery and not the Prince was to bee supreme gouernours in matters Ecclesiasticall This sparke what a number of i Martin iunior Martin senior Martin prote Martinus Epist His Epitome Hay any work seditious books biting Libels and slanderous Pamphlets did it raise This sparke amongst our selues what heart burning what boyling and secret grudges by the neglect of some and applauding of others did it breede This sparke amongst great personages what palpable hypocrisie Bishopricks spoiled disnembred what soule sacriledge did it cause to bee committed This sparke what a gap did it open and what way did it make into the hearts of many men first to doubt of the truth and so after to bee won to the Church of Rome amongst the Roes and Hinds what disordered conuenticles In LondoÌ„ soswich Couentre CaÌ„bridge what prophane actions what secret whisperings what vile treacheries did this sparke procure Townes Cities Vniuersities the whole Land was on flame with this sparke In the peaceable estate of any Church to renue any old point of heresie to set on soote any new opinion any schisme or intricate question it proues like the cloud that Elias saw 1. Kin 18.44 at the first his seruant looked and hee saw nothing by and by hee bad him looke againe and it beegan to arise as big as a mans fist at length it couered the whole skie with darkenesse and immediately