Selected quad for the lemma: doctrine_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
doctrine_n	church_n	teach_v	tradition_n	3,694	5	9.0240	5	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A00278	VVhether it be a mortall sinne to transgresse ciuil lawes which be the commaundementes of ciuill magistrates. The iudgement of Philip Melancton in his epitome of morall philosophie. The resolution of D. Hen. Bullinger, and D. Rod. Gualter, of D. Martin Bucer, and D. Peter Martyr, concernyng thapparrel of ministers, and other indifferent thinges.	Melanchthon, Philipp, 1497-1560. aut; Bullinger, Heinrich, 1504-1575. aut; Gwalther, Rudolf, 1519-1586. aut; Bucer, Martin, 1491-1551. aut; Parker, Matthew, 1504-1575. Briefe examination for the tyme, of a certaine declaration. aut	1570 (1570)	STC 10391.5; ESTC S119567	38,613	108

many thinges happen to them especially which haue businesse why they can not alwayes obserue these orders Therefore this rule contayneth a profitable moderation whiche forbiddeth publique offences preserueth customes profitable for quietnes and priuatly deliuereth the consciences from daunger When the causes of these lawes and traditions are vnderstande good natures wyll the more embrace thē then is it fit that these thinges be knowen namely that these ordinances are appoynted by the Church for good and publique orders sake that the Church wyll not priuatly entangle any mans conscience And most morall it is to loue common quietnesse and order good men therfore wyl greatly embrace these ordinances seyng that to quietnesse and order they are auayleable in that they are deliuered from superstitious opinions and knowe that without daunger these ceremonies may be left no offence beyng geuen But here it is asked whether Ecclesiasticall ordinaunces and the ciuill lawes of magistrates do diuersly bynd I aunswere The bonde is vnlyke and although reasons may be asked yet the playnest way is to iudge these thinges by the euident cleare testimonies of scripture First therefore I wyll rehearse them then wil I adde the reasons and interpretation lest any absurditie may be taken by our opinion Touching obediēce due to the ciuil lawes Paul sayth we must obey not only for feare of vengeaunce but also for conscience sake This commaundement byndeth vs euen without matter of offence for we must obey the aucthoritie of God though no offence be geuen But touchyng Ecclesiasticall ceremonies Paul sayth Let no man condemne you for meate or drinke or a peece of an holy day And againe Stand fast in the libertie wherwith Christ hath made vs free and wrap not your selues agayne in the yoke of bondage And Christ sayth That whiche entreth into the mouth defileth not the man the apostle excuseth them whiche breake traditions Because it is nedefull that this doctrine be in the Church that those traditiōs touching meate and such lyke are no worshypping or ryghteousnes but thinges indifferent therfore the gospel teacheth that our consciences may not be burdened with the opinion of necessitie Notwithstandyng because this lyfe can not lacke ordinaunces ceremonies this moderation is needefull to haue them so obserued lest the doctrine of true worshyppyng and of the benefit of Christe shoulde be darkened Agayne lest our cōsciences should be burdened with infinite vexations which might cause shipwracke of fayth Therefore the Gospell wyll haue vs vnderstande that these rytes may be left out without matter of offence be geuen but for good order and for auoydyng of offences they ought to be kept This libertie beyng lymited by the aucthoritie of the Gospell can not be taken away by mans aucthoritie I haue shewed by the testimonies of scripture that the bynding is vnlike This is the playnest aunswere vnto this question but we wyll shewe the reason The firste is taken of the efficient causes or the ryght of power and this Gerson foloweth The Ciuill magistrate by Gods aucthoritie hath ryght to make honest and profitable lawes in those matters whiche parteyne to the defence of this corporall life and ciuil societie as of iudgements the penalties of offences contractes successions and suche lyke as Salomon sayth By me kinges do raigne and appoynt iust thinges But Ecclesiastical power is limited so as it hath a commaundement what it ought to teache and that it inuent no newe worshippyng neyther burthen the consciences with traditions of ceremonies For Peter sayth Why tempt you God laying on a yoake c. And Paul Why make you decrees touche not handle not c. Seing then that the right of eyther power is vnlyke the lawes also diuersly do bynde Second reason of the final causes of lawes Ciuil lawes are the bands of common societie therefore in breakyng them charitie is alwayes hurt for because euery one ought to vse his obedience as a seale to the defence of common quietnes also the common tributes and al his trauayle must thereto be applyed when this thei do not thei deceaue the rest enioy other mēs offices imploying nothing of their owne vnto it euen as he whiche to a common banket geueth not his money beguileth the gestes The example also in breaking it doth hurt and troubleth common quietnesse therefore in ciuill lawes respect of charitie and offence is alwayes of force But most part of ceremonies are priuate domesticall obseruations the breach wherof hurteth not others Then seyng in them is no hazarde of charitie nor offences chaunce the aucthoritie of these lawes is vnlyke ▪ ●or of these also we haue spoken that then they are necessary neither can they be broken without sinne when as the breach breadeth offences that is hurteth others mens fayth and maners or rashly troubleth the quietnesse of others And although it be profitable to consider these reasons causes and to vnderstande the degrees of lawes yet is it more sure playnelye to geue iudgement out of these sentences of scripture before recited for the reasons haue many doubtes do not sufficiently stablishe the conscience And wyse men may seeke and inuent many darke matters on both sydes if that we shall iudge only vpō reasons not out of the scriptures But here young men are to be warned that although it be needefull to knowe that these indifferent thynges are no worshippyng of God yet they must learne that the case of offence is large and with diligent care they must beware of it for in the breache of traditions two thynges are hazarded discipline and tranquilitie or the agreement of the cōmon wealth It is fit for vs to vnderstande cheefly the greatnesse and force of eyther of these beyng occupied in the studies of lea●nyng and vertues Firste for discipline sake there neede certayne ordinances for vnskilful persons must be accustomed to ceremonies and rites to holy dayes to certayne readinges to pr●uate and publique exercises for that cause Paul calleth the lawe a schoolemaister for these ceremonies are certayne institution● necessarie for young yeres And although the Gospell doth bryng a higher doctrine yet it wyll not haue discipline and institution to be abolished but it commaundeth that men be restraygned ruled and taught with suche instructions What profite this discipline hath I haue shewed els where for God is effectual in the whiche are tractable to be taught and resist● not his word Wherfore the example hurteth in the breache of traditions for the common people which naturally hateth the bands of lawes willingly foloweth these examples and therof taketh contempt of the whole discipline and of all the lawes These ordinances beyng abolished there can be no discipline neyther can youth and the vnlearned people be taught Then of necessitie must folowe exceedyng barbarousnes and destruction where youth the common people can not be instructed Howe great a wickednes and murther is it to geue suche examples whereby this

desolation may arise And in the other part of offence how much euyll is it that the quietnes of th● Church common weale is troubled ▪ In this corporal lyfe we haue neede of ceremonies for order sake or for decency whic● for man is most semely For if this order b● disanull●d infinite cōfusion doth folowe Fo● where there is no aucthoritie of teachers no certayne tymes to teache no certayne teachers no certayne forme of doctrine in such confusion neyther can the Gospell be preserued neyther the Churche instructed Finally as order consent of publike ordinances doth ioyne mē in felowship together so cōfusion of order doth separate mēs minds breadeth horrible tumultes endles warre Let vs then thinke that in breache of traditions the example commonly and easyly spreadeth abroade amongst others Let vs consyder what euil is in an example Wherfore lest we burthen our consciences with daunger lest we hurt others let vs obserue with greater care the publique ordinaunces whatsoeuer It is tyrannical to regarde more what delighteth our selues then what may do good to others for we are not borne vnto our selues but our lyfe parteyneth vnto others especially vnto the Churche that is to the glorie of Christ to the conseruation of the ministerie and the retayning of discipline for the people These two things whiche are the greatest the Churche desyreth cheefly to defende Herein let vs shewe our obedience our diligence and endeuour for the common quietnesse and health of vs all Plato sayth we must loue our coūtrey mor● then our mother because our countrey is a certayne heauenly thyng But the Churche ought to be our true countrey and this truely is heauenly for it is the Temple of God and the congregation of the members of Christe Wherefore this we must loue and wyllyngly obey it and yeelde much vnto th● profit tranquilitie therof Paul calleth traditions beggerly elements which although they be beggerlye that is small thynges transitorie not eternal they are no worshippyng they are no ryghteousnes yet they are elementes that is ordinaunces whiche this corporal lyfe can not wante because of discipline and good orders sake Wherfore thos● ordinaunces are not to be disanulled but Paules counsaile must be consydered who although he cal them beggerly yet he calleth them elementes so taketh away the prayse of ryghteousnesse shewing styl that there be ordinaunces which haue their profite Great is the for●e of discipline there is no sweeter harmonye then good order in a common wealth Therfore these are called elementes ▪ that is ordinaunces whiche preserue tha● harmonie Philip Melancton vppon the .xiii. Chapter of Paules Epistle to the Romanes LET euerye soule be subiect vnto the hygher powers for there is no power but of god The powers that be are ordained of god VVhosoeuer therfore resisteth the power resisteth the ordinance of God thei that resist shall receaue to them selues damnation For rulers are not fearefull to good workes but to the euyl VVylt thou not feare the power do well thou shalt haue prayse of the same for he is the minister of God for thy wealth But if thou do euil feare for he beareth not the sworde in vayne for he is the minister of God reuenger of wrath on him that doth euyll VVherefore ye must needes be subiecte not onely for feare of punishement but also because of conscience c. In the ende of this precept standeth th● cōclusion the proposition repeated againe That of necessitie we muste obey And that certaynely for conscience sake no● onely for the penaltie This addition or exaggeration muste b● diligently consydered He that is taken of a theefe yf he can auoyde hym escapeth without offence But contrary yf any man could cast from him such charges as the magistrat● commaundeth yet he cannot reiect them without sinne without the magistrate agreeth thereto for that we be necessarily● bounde to the magistrates and also for conscience Some teachers haue holden in disputation that the preceptes of the magistrate● do not bynde to mortall sinne because ● mere man cannot inflicte a payne eternall But the errour of these men is playnly confuted by the testimonie of saint Paul whic● sayth VVe must be subiect not onely for penaltie but also for conscience that is lest our conscience shoulde be defiled with mortall sinne Ergo it is mortall sinne to breake the statutes of the magistrate for that God hath made vs subiect to magistrates and he layeth his punishment vpon suche as contemne the magistrate because therein also the aucthoritie of God is contemned And here may it appeare that in the Gospell the aucthoritie of the magistrate is more confirmed and defended than in any other doctrine for no other doctrine so earnestly byndeth men to obedience For the Gospell doth commaunde obedience not onely for corporall or temporall paynes but also to escape the wrath of God an eternall payne and there is no bonde greater than this bonde of conscience Therefore Emperor Iulian and suche other dyd great wrong to the Gospell when they wrote that the doctrine of the Gospell dissolueth pollicie And for this cause pay you tribute for thei are Gods ministers seruing for the same purpose Gyue to euery man therefore his duetie Tribute to whom tribute is due Custome to whom custome Feare to whom feare Honor to whom honor belongeth Before he spake generally of obedience nowe he addeth the speciall kyndes thereof in commaundyng to yeelde three thinges to wit tribute feare and honor Tribute comprehendeth all externall burdens whiche b● due as impositions customes diligence marshall exercise such lyke seruices eyther of body or of goodes For why the common wealth can not be defended vnlesse the princes receaue ayde of the laboure and charge of the subiectes Therefore in this place Paul affirmeth tribute custome to be due in saying that therfore you do pay tribute for herein the ministers of God namely for their ministerie which is the preseruatiō of the common wealth be occupied but this preseruation asketh the helpe both of souldiers and other seruitours not onely in warre but also in peace Although considering indifferently we finde that euery magistrate continually do warre whylest he punisheth runne gates theeues and pickers And for so muc● as such people as these can not be suppressed without the helpe of souldiers and citizens By duetie we are bound to the maintenance of suche assistaunce to make contribution whē the greatnes of the daunger doth so require to minister our further helpe to the magistrate in that behalfe And as officers sent to apprehēd runagates are bound faithfully to do the same so souldiers in time of warre their cities being beseeged are bound faithfully to defend the holdes committed to their charge to the vttermost that they may In this kind of duetie deserueth great commendations my countrie Bruta situate aboue Spires in the territorie of the prince Palatine For it was defended by the citizens with loyall sayth great constancie

Cantabrigiensi professori Regio Thomas Cantuariensis AFter my hartie salutations ryght welbeloued Maister Bucer I haue read that booke which ye haue sent to Doctour Peter Alexander concernyng the controuersie betwixt M. Hoper and the Bishop of London in which booke many thinges are learnedly declared and largely disputed Wherfore now I pray you that ye would send vnto me your iudgement of these questions expressed with as short breuitie of wordes as ye can VVhether without the offence of God it maye be lawfull to the Ministers of the Churche of Englande to ●se those vestures whiche at these dayes they weare and so be prescribed of the magistrate VVhether he that shal affirme that it is vnlawfull or shal refuse to weare this apparrel offendeth agaynst god for that he saieth that thing to be vncleane that God hath sanctified and offende agaynst the magistrate for that he disturbeth the politike order To these questions yf ye wyll make most briefe aunswere and sende vnto me your iudgement as soone as ye may possibly you shall do me great pleasure God be with you From Lambeth the seconde of December The aunswere of M. Bucer to the foresayde letters AFter I had receaued yesterday towarde nyght the letters of your most Reuerende fatherhood immediatlye I applyed my mynde to aunswere bearing in remembrance what I owe vnto your fatherhood especiallye in suche a matter as is most agreeing to my ministery Your fatherhood requireth of me that I would write my sentence with as much breuitie of wordes as I coulde to the questions proposed vnto me I muste needes confesse that I am verye hardely brought to vtter my iudgement to particuler questions in the restitution of religion specially such as be intricated with great controuersies amongst godly men For as the holy scriptures and dayly experience teacheth Satan procureth all that he can to set them together at variaunce with bitter contentions in the articles of doctrine and discipline of Christe especially suche men who be godly stirred to receaue and to restore the kingdome of Christ whose godly endeuours he laboureth yf he can not make them quite frustrate yet by his sleyght to hynder them whereby they shoulde not attempt a perfit restitution of the Churche yf they ioyned together with their vttermost power God requireth of vs that we shoulde worshyp hym with all our heart with all our soule with our whole power that we shoulde at once take vppon vs the sweete yoke of his sonne Therfore now he calleth vpon vs by the terrour of his iudgement where he hath sent so great lyght of his trueth as at this day doth appeare whatsouer vntowarde wylles men haue that they can not playnely withdraw● them selues from his commaundementes vtterly to reiect the yoke of his sonne Which matter Satan vnderstandeth well inough he is not ignoraunt howe fayne we would be gods by our first corrupted natiuitie and howe we woulde gladly temper all religion to serue our lustes and affections therevpon he woulde perswade men to go in a certayne meane where as none can be in dede that is that men may refuse and do some thynges at their pleasures to serue their only lord God which thinges yet he reputeth not so acceptable in them selues nor man hym selfe thinketh his affections to be brydled by them bu● in such thinges wherein the whole worship of God doth consiste our whole saluation doth stande our fleshe being the very lumpe of sinne and perdition is wonderfully crucified for that he can not make hym selfe God qualifiyng and moderatyng Gods eternall preceptes With this craftie sleyght hath that auncient enemie driuen miserable Germanie vnto these present calamities wherewith they be nowe oppressed God forbidde Christ Iesus I say our only Saui●ur forbid that he preuayleth agaynst Englande with this craftie sutteltie But now to the questions according to my duetie Concernyng the former this is my sentence whiche I beleue I haue learned of the holy Scriptures First I woulde not impart my aunsweres to any ministers of the Englishe Churches but to suche as be the true faythfull dispensours of all the mysteries of God suche as do labour to deliuer vnto the people with great fidelitie the whole gospel of Christ his whole doctrine and discipline and labour to instyll it and beate it into their myndes They that be suche Ministers of the Churches of Englande maye as I thynke we●re with Gods pleasure those vestures which be at this day in vse and thei I thinke shall do so muche the better after they hau● preached the cleare doctrine of Christ our s●uiour with the detection and detestation a● well of the whole Antichriste of Rome a● of any other aduersarie to Christe Yf the● then professe by the wearyng of these ga●mentes to haue no purpose at all to stablish any wicked deuises that Antichriste hath obtruded to the people Nor that Priestes be ● them selues more holy or more able to pacifie God then other Christian men be No● that they present Christe to the father in th● holy communion as they vse to affirme o● that they can applye his merite at their pleasure by the vertue of the worke it selfe to any man more then he doth receaue by his owne proper fayth of the wordes and sacramente● of god So that also he professeth that he thereby do not meane Aaronicall rites to be restored againe but that he doth by his fact perfourme only his obedience to the Kynges Maiestie and to suche whom God hath appoynted to determine of these externall rites of the Churche with common consent by th● worde of God to this ende that all offences of disorder and breache of publique consent may be auoyded And also to protest that euery creature of God is good to Godlye men yea also for signification And therefore all true Godly men may godly vse those rites whiche wicked men haue abused howsoeuer vngodly And furthermore to protest that they neither the Kinges maiestie nor the great councell of the Realme meane to retayne or to cherishe any superstition in vsyng these vestures But forasmuche as the vse of these vestures hath ben practised godly of the right holy fathers before the Pope was Antichrist of Rome may at this day serue to the settyng forth of the holy ministerie and of the whole Christian profession to the instruction of the younger and simpler people so that there be a godly signification ioyned therevnto and the same also godly taught And that they declare that the rulers woulde not remoue these vestures wherby they myght geue occasion to the weaker in the fayth to despyse or contemne the true ministerie of Christe or els to geue them any suspition by so doyng as though thei were led with a certaine irreligious leuitie to ouerthrowe and abolishe al thinges vsed before in religiō yea of those thinges whiche may serue to some good vse And further they may protest that the people ought in beholdyng these vestures to haue their

thynke ye not that this iudgement which here I haue declared vnto you was but nowe first perswaded vnto me For euen from the begynnyng since that I applyed my selfe vnto the Gospel my minde was that this difference of vesture should be taken away but yet so that I dyd not iudge it of their owne nature either wicked or pernitious I beseeche God almyghtie to preserue you safe and sounde with al your householde through Christe Iesus our Lorde Farewell At Oxforde the fourth of Nouember 1550. Yours both in minde and spirite wholy Peter Martyr Amplissimo domino Colendissimo Symmistae Ioanni à Lasco ¶ The Lorde graunt vnto vs in these troublesome times of the Church to begin and finishe al thinges that offences and daungers be not encreased Amen THe more diligently I weygh consyder both what fruite we may gather by this controuersie of vestures and also what Sathan goeth about thereby to worke I woulde haue wished before the Lorde that it neuer once had ben spoken of but rather that all men of our function had agreeablye stoutly gone forwarde and continued in teaching true repentaunce the wholesome vse of all ●hynges yea in commendyng and puttyng ●n the apparrell of saluation I see not in ● fewe alas I saye I see marueylous diligence in abolyshyng Amelech concernyng stones stockes vestures and those thinges that be without vs when in their deedes whole lyfe they most stiflye retayne the whole Amelech styll I knowe also some that helpe foreward this strife so that in the meane tyme the chiefe and moste necessarie poyntes are lesse regarded and called vpon that is of remouyng sacrilegious persons from spoylyng of Churches of prouydyng fyt ministers for euery parishe of the restoring of discipline againe As for my part if I thought those ceremonies and vestures were impure of them selues I woulde not take vpon me in any wyse the office of a Bishop vntyll by ordinarie aucthoritie they were taken away c. But to the purpose I thinke it not impartinent vnto this matter that we all be admonished to take heede of Sathans accustomed sleyghtes wherby he leadeth vs away from the care of necessarie thinges to the carefulnesse of those thinges whiche may be well let passe and from the searchyng out of the true doctrine of Christ to induce to vs those thinges wherein fewe can consent a like and finally by the which he kindleth in diuers men a zeale to purge those thinges which are without vs therby to neglect our inwarde deformities And seyng whatsoeuer we do either in word or deede both priuately and publikely we ought to do it in the name of our Lorde Iesu Christ geuing thankes by him to god the father Surely it is our duety no lesse circumspectly to beware that we neither do nor leaue vndone any thyng wherof we haue not sure or certayne aucthoritie out of Gods worde touching our actions and matters domesticall and Ecclesiasticall It is alwaye and in all thinges sinne whatsoeuer is not of fayth of the certayne worde of God. But to consyder this question in it selfe I haue accordyng to my gyft weyghed your reasons and yet I can perceaue no other but that the vse of all externall thinges aswel in holy ceremonies as in priuate matters ought to be left free to the Churches of god I call that free vse wherein godly men vse thinges created of God without any superstition to a certayne edifiyng of their faith in Christe I veryly as I haue confessed vnto you haue declared in deede vnto our countreymen had rather that no kinde of vesture whiche the papistes vsed were retayned amongst vs and that both for the more ful detestation of the Antichristian priesthood and also for playner aduouchyng of Christian libertie yea and to be short for the auoydyng of daungerous contentions among the brethren though notwithstandyng I woulde haue the Ministers of Churches to vse sage vesture and such whereby they might be discerned from other men but chiefly I would al the discipline of Christ to be in force amōg vs Yet I can not be brought by any Scriptures as farre as I see hytherto to deny that the true Ministers of Christes Church may vse without superstition and to a certayn● edification of fayth in Christ any of those vestures which the Antichristians abused For what should let but that the Churches may vse that white vesture or more vestures to monishe vs precisely of that diuine benefit● which he by the holy ministerie of the church dealeth vnto vs the benefite I saye of the light and dignitie of that heauenly doctrine and by the whiche also the Ministers them selues may be the more myndfull of their office and had both for it and by the admonishment of that outwarde token in greater reuerence of the common people of the church Whether we wyll or nay we are compelled to confesse that the ensignes of them that beare publique offices helpe some thinges to retaine increase the aucthoritie of Magistrates publique power yf other thinges want not by the which the true reuerence is geuen vnto them For if these things be not ioyned with those ensignes they induce not a veneration but rather the singuler detestation of them who vnworthyly vse these notes of vertue Signes in deede are signes and not the thinges yet how muche they are able to admonishe and moue the mind God geuing the increase he that obserueth wyll wonder Wherfore wheras otherwayes the true dignitie of Ministers is euident and yf any particuler church by publique iudgement do consent vpon the retaynyng of certayne vestures only for the commending vnto vs of the giftes of god which he geueth by the ministerie of the Church for to put the yonger and ruder sort in mynde without all superstition Truely I can not see why such vse of vestures in such a Churche may not serue to some commendation of the holy ministerie so consequentlye to the edification of fayth For what let is there but at this day they whiche are indued with the same spirite of fayth may vse a few signes as godly as the anciēt holy men haue vsed many They had you wyl say expresse writing cōcerning the vse of their signes I graūt in dede it made much touchyng the true vse of their signes But in that God dyd commaunde the vse of those and many signes we certainly learne that the vse of those signes may serue he geuyng grace to promote true religion and that it hath none vncleannesse in it selfe or superstition neyther can be by the abuse of the wicked so polluted that it can not be healthfull to godly men vsing it godly Now when as god by his word hath sanctified al things by our prayers and hath made all thinges pure to the pure what cause can we alleage out of the worde of God to deny that God wyll not blesse such vse of signes wherof we speake that it shoulde not be effectuous to that Churche

increased by the hearyng of the worde of God this hearyng is brought by the preachers of the Gospell Suche therefore let vs call for and that there maye be store of them let vs be earnest for reformation Let there be a visitation of the vniuersities whence many fit ministers for Churches maye be gotten Let vs neuer ceasse to crye out agaynst that Sacrilege that the fattest benefices are graunted to vnworthye men in respect of their worldly seruice that the parishes are so miserably vndone through papistical sleyghtes violence These these I say are certaynely papisticall factes agaynst these ought we chiefely to bende our force but to be stout and earnest against stones stockes vestures and such other thinges which of them selues neither bring gayne pleasure nor honour it is a very easie matter to the hearer and speaker especially those that be discharged from papisticall superstition for by the shaking of such thinges great mens stomakes are not offended But to remoue Churche robbers from the spoyles of Churches and to do all thinges possible to this ende and purpose that euery parishe may be prouided of conuenient ministers that Curates may haue sufficiēt for their sustentation to ayde them to the full restitution of Christes discipline This is a thing of great moment This is a harde thing to all them which are not able to say with saint Paul For Christe is to me life death is to me aduantage And againe God forbyd that I shoulde reioyce sauing in the crosse of our Lorde Iesus Christ wherin the world is crucified to me I to the world It pleaseth me right wel that al Antichristes irashe shoulde be remoued away as farre as might be I meane not only his ensignes and markes but all his steppes and shadowes in what thing soeuer they seeme to stand whether it be in stockes stones garmentes or whatsoeuer other thing els it be But let vs endeuour our selues to banishe first the body and substaunce of Antichrist and then after his ensignes steppes and shadowes The body and substaunce of Antichriste consisteth in the wycked destroyers and spoylers of Churches by whose meanes not only Christes discipline but also al the whole doctrine is oppressed and put out of place When I consyder these thinges againe looke backe as I ought to do towarde the preceptes of the Lorde and his examples I wyshe with al my hart that as many of vs as wyll be Christes folowers in deede that euen so we earnestly go about to restore hi● kyngdome as the Lord himselfe went abou● to begyn it that we seke it before all othe● thinges and let the preachers in all doctrin● and discipline instruct the people and be su●● who for our Lorde Christes sake the preachyng of the Gospel wyl be redy to leaue al that by these mens ministerie we bryng th● people to the kyngdome of Christ and let v● appoynt to euery flocke their owne faythfu● shephearde who may labour no lesse to cal● agayne the true notes and markes of Chri●stianitie as to abolishe vtterly the marke● notes of Antichristianitie which I would wishe so abolished that there remayned no● so much as the memorie of them in any mens heartes But seeyng that this thing can not be brought to passe vnlesse Christes kyngdome be fully receaued I woulde wishe that all we shoulde to that ende bestowe all our strength vnto the which worke for as much as we neede many workefelowes I would● wishe with all such as truely loue the Lord● Iesus that we set apart all dissention and ioyne in one perfect concorde to endeuour our selues to set vpon the cōmon aduersari●● We see now being taught by the experience o● so many yeres that the Lorde graunteth bu● to a few to depart from that sentence whiche they haue once fastened them selues in specially if they haue also contended for the same so that we shal be enforced either to dissolue christian Communion with many whom the Lorde hath receaued or els we must geue place one to another to the intent that eyther of them may rest in theyr owne iudgement though the other dissent It is a verye harde thyng in deede yea to most holy men to denye them selues and he is seldome founde among men whiche woulde not be content rather to yeelde in his patrimonie then in the opinions of his witte Nowe then wheras we see almyghtie God to beare this our infirmitie in vs so mercyfully fye on the hardnesse of our heartes yf the example of our Lorde God can not encline and mollifie our heartes to the like mercy and patience Wherefore I conclude that we ought to take great diligent heede fyrst that we take not vpon vs strayghtway to determine al questions as they ryse yea let vs sturre none at all which throughly tend not to the kingdome of Christ Let vs acknowledge the weakenesse of our witte and iudgement Let vs stand in feare of our naturall arrogancie and our peuishe selfewyll in our owne inuentions All thinges necessary to saluation are set forth vnto vs openly clearely and plenteously in the holy scriptures and in the studye and perfection thereof euery one of vs wanteth verye muche Let vs labour then to fulfyll and once to make vp our imperfection with godly studies Of al other matters let vs dispute most warel● let vs define most slowly or neuer let vs ch●tende at no tyme If at any tyme thorowe the craft of Satan our owne negligence variaunce shal ryse in these thynges let vs betyme leaue of from the same as soone as we can by whatsoeuer way we may or els let vs make some truise in them Seldom● is there any victory obtayned yea neuer holsome victory gotten Hereby most godly sir you see vndoubtedly what is best to be done both in this controuersie of vestures and also of the libertie of other ceremonies I had rather then much goodes this question had neuer ben moued but nowe seeyng it is moued I wyshe it to be geuen ouer and deferred to some other tymes These your two argumentes It is a peece of Aarons Priesthood and therfore contumelious toward Christ now exhibited ●●s then glorious when he was to be exhibited Secondarilye These are notes of Antichristianitie and therefore not to be vsed of men geuen to Christianitie These reasons I say conclude not in my iudgement that whiche you toke in hande For we borowe many thinges godlye from the orders of Aarons Priesthood to the glorye of Christ now exhibited So many things which the Antichristes haue made markes of theyr impietie may be tokens of the kyngdome of Christ as the signes of bread and wine the water of Baptisme the laying on of handes preachynges Churches Holydayes and many other thynges Also these places of Scripture are of a great scope The earth and the fulnes thereof is of the Lord not of the deuyll not of Antichrist not of the wycked And agayne The sonne of man is Lord of the

Sabboth and the Sabboth is made for man and not man for the Sabboth And all thyngs are pure to the pure And euery creature of God is good nor can be defiled to good men by ●he abuse of euyll men The worde of god must be folowed in all respectes aswell in our priuate actions as publique For all thynges are to be done in the name of the Lorde Iesu and to the glory of god Then such libertie as we graunt to our selues in our priuate vse of externall thynges let vs not denye in publique The true spirite of Christ goyng about to ouerthrowe Antichriste ouerthroweth fyrste those thynges whiche are cheefe and peculier vnto by m● For first the spirite of Christ endeuoryng the restitution of Christes kyngdome restoreth fyrst doctrine and discipline whiche be the cheefe peculier poyntes of Christes kyngdome This colourable craft of Satan also must be taken heede of by the whiche he bryngeth to passe oftentymes that eyther we recken those thynges sinnes which are no sinnes and those that be sinnes in dede we seme not to regard them in our selues Or els agaynst those sinnes whiche our conscience define to be sinnes in deede we vse no suche soueritie as we ought The Lorde graunt that you ryght worshypfull frende may religiouslye weygh these thynges I knowe you seeke the glorye of Christ I haue heard of you wherin I reioyce that you are carefull of your iudgement so that you dare not straightway recken the same for sure and certaine though you seeme to folowe playwelye the worde of God thynkyng with your selfe that you are a man and that you may slide out of the way Therfore I desyre and beseche you by the crosse of the sonne of God by the saluation of the Churches whiche are at this day ouerwhelmed with calamities by the desired consent that we shoulde seeke to raigne in all Churches by the peace that is in Christe Iesu Agayne I desyre and beseeche you that you do nothing rashlye in this question of ceremonies You haue seene weake members in the Churches of Saxonie you haue seene also many thinges for the which you geue God thankes Let no man therefore except it be vppon great necessitie caste of those whom the Lorde hath so notably taken to hym O would to God the state of the Churches of Fraunce Italy Poleland were brought to this poynt Let vs in this Realme take most godly heede that we further not vnawares the deuils intentes who throweth in among vs sundry questions and controuersies lest we shoulde take in hande to handle the question of setting forward the doctrine of the Gospell and restoryng of discipline thereby to remoue all Drones from Ecclesiasticall and scholasticall ministeries This Sathan when he can not retayne the order of Byshops wholly in seruice vnto hym he goeth about vtterlye to abolyshe this order and by that occasion so to spoyle the Churches that whyles due stipendes want the holy ministerie may be committed to the vilest of the raskall people Let vs take heede of these cogitations of Satan and let vs withstande them as muche as we can by the power of the Lorde and by no meanes vnaduisedly to helpe them forwarde Fewe we are which sincerely professe the Lord Iesus and none of vs there is which is not oppressed with much infirmitie therefore let vs receaue one another as the Lorde hath receaued vs Let vs yeeld mutually one to another as the Lorde hath yeelde to vs which sincere and duetifull loue if it beare stroke among vs we shal be able with one spirite and one mouth with our whole might to discomfite the body and substaunce of Antichrist And so afterward without any offence of the good with certayne edification of faith among the children of god we may bryng to passe the vtter defacing of al the markes steps shadowes of Antichrist O Lorde Iesus thou our onely peace-maker aswell with the father as betwixt our selu●●●●annishe out of our mindes whatsoeuer draweth vs in sunder whatsoeuer darkeneth the clearenesse of iudgement among our selues whatsoeuer by any way hyndereth the absolute concorde in thy ministers in defence of thy kingdome in destroying the tyrannie of Antichrist Powre into our mindes thy holye ghost which may leade vs into all trueth who graunt vs to see and take in hande al one thyng but firste of all that whiche is cheefest whereby the strength of thy kyngdome may be restored vnto vs and al thinges parteyning to Antichrist may clene be blotted out of all mens heartes memory The goodnes loue of the sonne of God for his infinite loues sake towardes vs vouchsafe to geue vs these thinges to the glorye of his name to the saluation of his elect and that the wycked say not styll Where is theyr Christ Amen Deditissimus tibi in domino Martinus Bucerus Rom. 13. Exod. 20. Prou. 24. Mat. 26. Rom. 13. Coloss 2. Galat. 5. Mat. 15. Not of necessitie in them selfe But for necessitie of obedience Pro. 8. Act. 15. Colo. 2. Ciuill lawes alwayes to be obserued Ceremoniall may sometimes be broken Galat. 4. 1. Cor. 2. 1. Cor. 13. Coloss 3. Iames 5. 1. Pet. 4. 1. Pet. 2. Actes 5. Casula Pallium Birrum Dalmatica Pallium What is meant by necessitie Encoennia Euseb li. 3 Cap. 31. In Mat. cap. 26. Hom 83. et ad po Ant. Ho. 60. Tit. i. d. 1. Tim. 4. a Phil. 1. c. Mat. xii a. Mar. ii d. Titus .i. d. i. Tim. 4. ● Imprinted at London in Powles Churchyarde by Richarde Iugge Printer to the Queenes Maiestie Cum priuilegio Regiae Maiestatis