Why then do you not forsake that rude and rusticall people and joyne to these Nobles as you are a Noble man your selfe Unto whom thus Pogiebracius sagely again doth answer If you speak these words of your self saith he you are not the man whom you faine your self to be and so to you I answer as not to a foole but if you speak this by suggestion of others then must I satisfie them Here therefore as touching the Ceremonies of the Church every man hath a conscience of his own to follow As for us we neither use such Ceremonies as we trust do please God neither is it in our arbitrement to believe what we will our selves The minde of man being perswaded with great reasons is captivated will he nill he and as nature is instructed and taught so is she drawn in some one way and in some another As for my selfe I am fully perswaded in the Religion of my Preachers If I should follow thy Religion I might perchance deceive men going contrary to mine own Conscience but I cannot deceive God who seeth the hearts of all neither shall it become me to frame my selfe like to thy disposition That which is meet for a Jester is not likewise convenient for a Noble man And these words either take to thy self as spoken to thee if thou be a wise man or else I refer them to those which set thee a work To this learned and discreet answer of Pogiebracius let me adde a word or two concerning our Protestant Religion In the gravelly shallows of mens fancies and traditions every Atheist and Papist may wade and dabble in but no humane reason can sound the depths of Religion it may delve and dive to finde Utopia's Land and Purgatories no-where bottome and lose it selfe or at least besmeere and muâ— it selfe in a hood-winked muffled scrutiny and never rise againe but wrapped in a Noli me tangere Pest-house weeds doom'd to pollution and perpetuall shades onely faith wrought in the hearts of Gods Children by the Spirit of Adoption can apprehend the great mysterie of godlinesse and apply the sweets and comforts of Salvation in Jesus Christ A true saving faith only I say can distinctly and perfectly see that life of the Soule which is hid with Christ in God which the blear eye of sence or reason can in no wise discover or discerne There is but one true Religion Man ha's but one way to walke in Howbeit there are many by-paths c. and those too inscrutable In the large Maze of Religions professed in Amsterdam I had almost said London Surely the short threed of mans life will scarce clew him through the severall Conclaves of them all and so guide him to the right Variety unhindges the door of the heart and for eagernesse of giving more speedy entrance to all in-commers it blocks up the passage and dispels the timely motions of the spirit and the seeds of of sanctity that would root and settle themselves in the soule In this necessitated coarctation whether shall fickle man betake himselfe The choise of Religion is of some consequence and moment not instantly to be resolved upon by the best judgement This stumbles a man of riper years There is an awing superiour and a sovereigne Diety that scepters the hearts of men Religion carries a confutation along with it and tongue-ties inquisitive nature Propound many things we may and revolve with our thoughts a while uncouth conceits may startle us and unsettle the affections of the minde and yet when we have done all we can in thinking the best of us sit down astonished and as men hurried in a Wildernesse our Pilgrime-speculations amazedly gaze after we know not what And 't is well if we can subside to an holy Admiration If with reverence we prostrate our selves certainly the Spirit will erect us direct our steps and guide us in the way everlasting What our reason cannot reach let the hand of faith apprehend Where the depth of our judgements may not fathom let us trust the mercy of the waves supporting us lest we merge our selves in despaire Where God commands do we must And therefore since we are all made for the service of God Almighty the Maker of all things let us walk in all holinesse of conversation during this our Pilgrimage here upon earth so shall we finde rest unto our soules in the Haven of Felicity 'T is true Happinesse is the Scope whereunto naturally all men do levell their thoughts but it is the just man that attaines the end of his desires that ha's the fruition of his hopes his best intentions onely arrow the white Unâ omnes voco all of us in the Optative Mood can say Faine would we be in that Paradise of Joy and place of Blisse where Crownes and Palmes are given And I could wish that all men I mean the Converts of all Nations would follow 〈◊〉 and the same way of life Christ our fore-runner Surely then maugre the petty differences of Church-Rites and Ceremonies there would be as unanimous consent a Diapason and perfect harmony in the substance of Religion upon which ground we may safely place the prop of our Salvation We are not of them who draw back unto perdition but of them that believe to the saving of the Soule Heb. 10.39 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen Heb. 11.1 And we read in another place of the same Epistle There remaineth a rest to the people of God For he that is entred into his rest he also hath ceased from his owne works as God did from his Let us labour therefore to enter â—nto that Rest lest any man fall after the ensample of those to whom the Word was first preached which entred not in because of unbeliefe For the Word of God is quick and powerfull and sharper then any two edged sword piercing even to the dividing asunder of Soule and Spirit and of the joynts and marrow and is a discerner of the thoughts and intentions of the heart Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight but all things are naked and open unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do Seeing then that we have a great High Priest that is passed into the Heavens Jesus the Son of God let us hold fast our profession Heb. 4. For my own particular I shall ever anchor my selfe upon the Faith Doctrine and Religion professed and protected in the Church of England and other Christianly Reformed Churches For I have a sure testimony and am certainly perswaded that the Protestant Religion is grounded upon the Word of God And for this reason I think it to be the safest of all Religions because it most magnifies God it attributes most to the praise of his glory and makes most for the peaceable Conversation of men Now as touching the Grand Case of Episcopacy which hath exercised so many wits this Parliament I shall give my opinion thus
Church and Commonwealth Why such a one as I so obscure to the eye of the world and so mean in many respects would adventure or dare once to peepe forth among the press of Wits that justle abroad by whole Troops and Bands like so many Armed Souldiers fit for Rencontre in this understanding eagle-ey'd literate knowing age To this I answer First albeit I am of green years and 't is true I am of a weak and raw judgement of small experience learning and ability yet it is now almost thirteen years since I was admitted a Scholar into the University at Oxford where I continued six years and upwards and sithence I have been resident for the most part in London and a Student in the Municipall or Common Laws of the Realm and some knowledge I have gained in Travell Secondly I have met with great oppositions and contradictions of the Religion which I professe by Papists Arminians selfe-knowing conceited men and others popishly affected in the Society wherein I live and in other places where I have been conversant And herein I would gladly quit my selfe of the prejudice and misprisions of mine Adversaries by protesting against them and their Tenets And thirdly only for holding and defending the Doctrine of the Reformed Protestant Religion as it is expressed in the 39 Articles of the Church of England and agreeable to Gods Word and for my obedience thereunto and likewise for maintaining the honour the Wisdome and Justice of the proceedings of the High-Court of Parliament against the malice and force of Ignorance and blinde Zeal against the rash opinions of unsetled vain-heads and against the intoxicating poysonous breath of malevolent Tongues This I had for my paines I was counted and esteemed of as a Time-server a Puritan a Brownist an Ignoranius if not a Separatist a Schismatick an Heretick and one that had the spirit of giddinesse These things I say were strong motives unto me to make this Apologeticall profession of my faith the sincerity of mine intentions and actions But the chief reason indeed that moved me to write this my Protestation was the faithfull and true discharge of my conscience For where God hath given a minde a will and in some measure abilities there ought not to be an unprofitable doing nothing But the Talents of Grace according to our Saviours precept are to be well imployed that when we are called to give an account of our Stewardships our Master Christ Jesus may receive from us his servants the glory and praise of his own grace And since I might not and in truth it were unseemly that I should bring a rough and unpolished Talent to the Common Gazophilacy or Treasury of Religion I deem it meet to cast this Mite into my Spirituall mothers lap the Church of England And though I am no Pilot to guide or to steer the course of our Church which like a ship tossed and blown to and fro with storms and tempests is floating in a Sea of Errours Schismes and Heresies yet as a Passenger being on ship-board I may put forth a hand to help take in Sailes when this great Vessell is either in danger of running a ground upon the quicke-sands of prophanesse or of being bruised by clashing against the Rock of Popery and Superstitions But I know that our Saviour Jesus Christ our onely Mediatour our mercifull Redeemer Head and Governour is both able to keep and he will preserve his Church the pillar and ground of Truth from a finall merging and sinking Now that I may draw to a period of this my Discourse I will cast anchor upon a Resolve Notwithstanding all the pestilent and wicked oppositions the malice envy and hellish projects whereby any Adversary powers do endeavour and plot our ruine and destruction yet let us be strong and very courageous let us resolve and say with Joshuah we will serve the Lord. And let us pray O Eternall God our heavenly Father graciously heare us that those evils which the craft and subtilty of the devill or man worketh against us be brought to nought and by the providence of thy goodnesse they may be dispersed that we thy servants being hurt by no persecutions may evermore give thanks unto thee in thy holy Churh Through Jesus Christ our Lord. I will conclude with the usuall prayer of Martin Luther Confirme O God in us that thou hast wrought and perfect the worke that thou hast begun in us to thy glory So be it Now unto God alone who in his own Substance is Originall in and by himselfe the very Essence of all naturall created existences and beings and the Authour of all Order and Authority be ascribed all due Honour Majesty Might and Dominion by men here by Saints and Angels in the Heaven of Heavens Halelelujahs be sung evermore Amen Amen FINIS
persecute the beloved Spouse of Christ the Church But the Lord hath reserved a peculiar people to himselfe that hâ—ve not bowed the knee unto Baal God hath selected a faithfull and obedient flock that follow the Lamb wheresoever he goeth These the Lord our God the God of Israel who keepeth covenant for ever hath blessed and they are blessed and no adversary power is able to curse them When Jesus Christ was upon earth he prayed thus for his Elect Holy Father keepe through thine owne name those whom thou hast given me that they may be one as we are John 17. But he is entred into Heaven it selfe now to appear in the presence of God for us And this man because he continueth ever hath an unchangeable Priesthood Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them Moses verily was faithfull in all his house as a servant for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after but Christ as a Sonne over his owne house whose house are we if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoycing of the hope firme unto the end Let us not be slothfull but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises For God is not unrighteous to forget the work and labour of love which his servants have shewed towards his Name The earth which drinketh in the raine that cometh oft upon it and bringeth herbs meet for them for whom it is dressed receiveth blessing from God But that which beareth thornes and briars is rejected and is nigh unto cursing whose and is to be burned Let us labour therefore faithfully in Gods Vineyard the Church Militant least we fall in unbeliefe for an ensample of a rebellious and stiff-necked people My hearty desire and continuall prayer to Almighty God is that every one of us in our severall places and callings do shew all diligence in the Worke of our great Lord and Master the God of our Fathers whom we serve and that we labour to advance the truth and purity of doctrine taught and delivered by our Saviour Jesus Christ and his Apostles and to resist convince and silence the gain-sayers and enemies of the Gospell Let us be strong and very couragious that we may observe to do according to all the Law that God hath commanded us let us not turn from 〈◊〉 to the right hand or to the left for then the Lord shall make our wayes our indeavours and works prosperous and then we shall have good successe Let us take good heed therefore unto our selves that we love the Lord our God Else if we do in any wise go back and cleave unto the remnant of Idolatry that remaineth among us Know for a certainty that the Lord our God will no more be mercifull unto us will no more be among us and deliver us But those Idol-worshippers false bloudy-hearted Papists shall be snares and traps unto us and scourges in our sides and thornes in our eyes untill we are restrained from all the good things which the Lord our God hath given us Would God that we had the courage and resolution of Joshua and that this charge of his from the Lord unto the people of Israel were written in our hearts Now therefore feare the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in truth and put away the gods which your Fathers served on the other side of the Floud and in Egypt and serve ye the Lord. And if it seeme evill unto you to serve the Lord choose ye this day whom ye will serve whether the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the Floud or the Gods of the Amorites in whose Land ye dwell But as for me and my house we will serve the Lord. See the 24th of Joshua and the 2d of Judges both remarkable Chapters for this purpose O Eternall and most Gracious God inflame thy Messengers the Ministers of thy Word with a holy Zeal and arme thy servants the Civill Magistrates with a godly courage that they may demolish beat down and root out Popery Superstition Heresie and Prophanesse out of these Isles and Dominions of our Sovereigne Lord King Charles The toleration of Massing Religion is against the grounds of true Christian Religion against reason and against the policy of the Common-wealth as I finde at large in an Answer to the Masse-Priests presumptuous Supplication directed to our late King James of renowned memory and published 1604. Our Adversaries themselves declare that indifferency of Religion or toleration of two contrary Religions in one Kingdome is intolerable Possevin Biblioth Select lib. 1. c. 26. saith 1 It is a divelish invention 2 that it is contrary to Gods Ordinance 3 that it repugneth against the Lawes of Moses of nature and the Gospell it selfe 4 That it is contrary to the substance and proprieties of Christian faith 5 That it taketh away the truth and certainty of Christian faith 6 That it taketh away the certainty of Gods divine Worship and of the Church 7 That it taketh away Christian Discipline 8 That it cutteth asunder the unity of the Church 9 That it is contrary to the Word of God 10 That it is repugnant to the practise of the Primitive Church the authority of Fathers and Decrees of Emperours And finally that it provokrth the wrath of God against the Authours of it If then the Adversaries themselves see Liberty of divers Religions to be so pernicious where they have winde in pupp I hope they will pardon others that will not admit their lewd pernicious and phantasticall opinions We read in our Histories when Ladislaus son of Albert King of Bohemia about the year 1440. went to Bohemia there to be crowned where Pogtebracius had the Governance that during all the time of his being there though being much requested yet would the young King neither enter into the Churches nor hear the service of them which did draw after the Doctrine of Hus. Also before he departed thence he thought first to visit the noble City of Uratislavia in Schlesia In the which City the aforesaid King Ladislaus being there in the high Church at Service many great Princes were about him among whom was also George Pogiebracius who then stood neerest to the King unto whom one Chilianus playing the Parasite about the King as the fashion is of such as feign themselves fooles to make other men as very fooles as they spake in this wise as followeth With what countenance you do behold this our Service I see right well but your heart I do not see Say then doth not the Order of this our Religion seem unto you decent and comely Do you not see how many and how great Princes yea the King himself do follow one Order and Uniformity And why do you rather follow your Preacher Rochezana than these Do you think a few Bohemians to be more wise then all the Church of Christ besides
estate anent the Churches Cherish no man more then a good Pastor hate no man more then a proud Puritan thinking it one of your fairest Styles to be called a loving nourish father to the Church seeing all the Churches within your Dominions planted with good Pastors the Schooles the Seminaries of the Church maintained the Doctrine and Discipl ne preserved in purity according to Gods Word a sufficient provision for their sustentation a comely Order in their policy pride punished humility advanced and they so to reverence their supetiours and their flocks them as the flourishing of your Church in piety peace and learning may be one of the chiefe points of your earthly glory being ever alike waie with both the extremities as well as ye represse the vaine Puritan so not to suffer proud Papall Bishops but as some for their qualities will deserve to be preferred before others so chaine them with such bonds as may preserve that State from creeping to corruption And againe in his preface to that excellent booke He saith I charge you as ever you think to deserve my fatherly blessing to follow and put in practise as far as lieth in you the precept hereafter following and if you follow the contrary course I take the great God to record that this book shall one day be a witnesse betwixt me and you and shall procure to be ratified in heaven the curse that in that case I give unto you For I protest before that Great God I had rather not be a Father and childlesse than be a Father of wicked children This weighty charge of a most godly Prince and a carefull loving Father so faithfully diligent and very industrious to provide for the safety and welfare of his posterity and Kingdomes will assuredly take deepe impression and firme root in the heart of the King and the Kings Sonne The Lord said of Moses Numb 12.7 He is faithfull in all my house And of Abraham Gen. 18.19 I know him that he will command his chidren and his houshold after him and they shall keep the way of the Lord to do justice and judgement that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him Childrens children are the Crown of old men and the glory of children are their fathers Prov. 17.6 A wise son heareth his fathers instruction but a scorner heareth not rebuke Prov. 13.1 and Prov. 4. Heare ye children the instruction of a father and attend to know understanding For I give you good doctrine forsake you not my law For I was my fathers son tender and only beloved in the fight of my mother He taught me also and said unto me let thine heart reteine my words Keep my Comandements and live Take fast hold of instruction let her not go keep her for she is thy life Read the whole Chapter Prov. 4. My son keep my words and lay vp my commandements with thee Keep my commandements and live and my law as the apple of thine eye Bind them upon thy fingers write them upon the table of thine heart Prov. 7. The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoyce and he that begetteth a wise child shall have joy of him Thy father and thy mother shall be glad and she that bare him shall have ioy of him My son give me thine heart and let thine eye observe thy wayes Folly is to him that is destitute of wisdome but a man of understanding walketh uprightly Without counsell purposes are disappointed but in the multitude of Counsellors they are established Apply thine heart unto instruction and thine eares unto the words of knowledge Hear thou my son and be wise and guide thine heart in the way Hâ—arken unto thy father that begate thee and despise not thy mother when she is old Prov. 22.22 and Prov. 15 21 22. Now if we are bound by the Lawes of God and Nature to observe the godly precepts and to hearken unto the good instructions of our earthly fathers How diligently should we keep the Comandements of our Father which is in Heaven How ready should we be to do his Will to attend and obey his voice calling unto us in his Word and to say with Samuel Speak Lord for we thy servants do hear Again We have given the fathers of our flesh reverence shall we not much rather give honâ—ur and obedience unto the Father of Spirits and live Heb. 12.9 We read in Deut. 6. After that Moses had repeated the ten Comandements he taught the people that the end of the Law was obedience and he exhorted them thereto saying Heare O Israel the Lord our God is one Lord. And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart and with all thy soul and with all thy might And these words which I comand thee this day shall be in thy heart and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children and thou shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house and when thou walkest by the way and when thou liest down and when thou risest up And thou shalt binde them for a signe upon thine hands and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes and thou shalt write them upon the pâ—sts of thy house and on thy gates See Deut. 4.9 and Chap. 10.12 and Chap. 11.18 19. and Chap. 30.15 16. and Chap. 32.46 47. The Lord our God who is a God full of compassion and gracious long-suffering and plenteous in mercy and truth spake of the people of Israel saying O that were such a heart in them that they would feare me and keep my Commandements alwayes that it might be well with them and with their children for ever Deut. 5.29 If the wicked will return from all his sinnes that he hath committed and keep all my Statutes and do that which is lawfull and right he shall surely live and shall not dye All his transgressions that he hath committed they shall not be mentioned unto him but in his righteousnesse that he hath done he shall live Cast away all your transgressions whereby ye have transgressed and make you a new heart and a new spirit for why will ye dye O house of Israel Ezek. 18. vers 21 22 31. Wash ye make you cleane put away the evill of your doings from before mine eyes cease to do evill Learn to do well seek judgement c. Come now and let us reason together saith the Lord though your sins be as scarlet they shall be as white as Snow though they be red like crimson they shall be as wool Isai 1.16 17 18. This is a true saying and by all means worthy to be received that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners 1 Tim. 1.15 Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest Mat. 11.28 They that be whole need not a Physician but they that are sick Goe ye and learne what that meaneth I will have mercy and not sacrifice for I am not come to call the