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A10958 The faith, doctrine, and religion, professed, & protected in the realme of England, and dominions of the same expressed in 39 articles, concordablie agreed vpon by the reuerend bishops, and clergie of this kingdome, at two seuerall meetings, or conuocations of theirs, in the yeares of our Lord, 1562, and 1604: the said articles analised into propositions, and the propositions prooued to be agreeable both to the written word of God, and to the extant confessions of all the neighbour churches, Christianlie reformed: the aduersaries also of note, and name, which from the apostles daies, and primitiue Church hetherto, haue crossed, or contradicted the said articles in generall, or any particle, or proposition arising from anie of them in particular, heereby are discouered, laid open, and so confuted. Perused, and by the lawfull authoritie of the Church of England, allowed to be publique. Rogers, Thomas, d. 1616.; Rogers, Thomas, d. 1616. English creede. 1607 (1607) STC 21228; ESTC S116041 208,079 284

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And touching the other sweare may we not either by Baal or by strange Gods or by the Lord and by Melchom that is by Idols or by any creatures But our Oathes must bee made in the Name of the Lord as the Lord liueth and all is to be done in truth iudgment and righteousnes and when the magistrate calleth vs therevnto All Churches ioyne with vs in this assertion and some testifie the same in their publique wrightings The errors and aduersaries vnto this truth Many bee the aduersaries one way or other crossing this truth For 1. Some condemne all swearing as did the Esseis who deeme all swearing as bad as forswearing and doe the Anabaptistes which will not sweare albeit thereby both the glorie of God may bee much promoted and the Church of Christ or Common-weale furthered 2. Others condemne some kind of Oathes and will not sweare though vrged by the magistrate but when themselues thinke good So the Papistes no man say they ought to take an Oath to accuse a Catholicke a Papist for his religion such as by Oathes accuse Catholickes that is Papists are damned So the Puritans oftentimes either will take none oath at all when it is ministred vnto them by authoritie if it may turne to the molestation of their Brethren or if they sweare finding their testimonie will bee hurtfull to their cause they wil not deliuer their mindes after they be sworne 3. Others hauing taken the Oath doe fowlie abuse the same as the Knights of the post like the Turkish Seiti Chagi who for a Ducket will take a thousand false Oathes afore the magistrate as also the Iesuits who in swearing which is little better then forswearing doe vti scientia that is cunning and equiuocations as also doe they who conscionablie and religiouslie keepe not their faith such are the forenamed Papistes For say they An Oath taken for the furtherance of false religion as they take the profession of all Protestantes to be bindeth not Againe Faith is not to bee kept with Haeritickes Which assertion little differeth from the opinion of some Puritanes who teach that promise or Faith is not to be kept when as perhaps by the not erecting of Presbyteries in euerie parish Gods honor and preaching of his word is hindered Subiects be discharged from their Oath of allegeance and may gather forces against their leige Soueraigne if hee eterprise any thing to the hurt of his Realme or of the Romish religion was a determination of the Sorbonistes in a certaine conventicle of theirs at Paris And that magistrates by their Subiects may be brought vnder the obedience of Lawes was a conclusion of certaine Scottish ministers in a priuate Conventicle of Edinburgh Seditiosi non sunt qui resistunt principibus politicum aut ecclesiasticū statū perturbantibus Nā qui resistit Principi seditioso seditiosus non est sed seditionem tollit saith a Frenchman yea saith an Englishman whose workes by T. C. are highly approoued and commended Hunc tollant uel pacifice vel cum bello qui ea potestate donati sunt vt regni Ephori vel omnium ordinum conuentus publicus Subiects may not respect their oathes made vnto such Princes which trouble the state of the Church or Common-weale Finally whatsoeuer Princes be good or bad if they bee Women say some oathes of allegeance vnto them are not to be kept Their words be these First aswell the States of the kingdome as the common people they ought to remooue from honour and authoritie that monster in nature so call I woman in the habit of man yea a woman against nature raigning aboue man Secondly if any presume to defend that impietie they ought not to feare first to prononce then after to execute against thē that is to say against women gouernours the sentence of death If any man be afraid to violate the oath of obedience which they haue made to such monsters let them be most assuredly perswaded that as the beginning of their oathes proceeding from ignorance was sinne so is the obstinate purpose to keepe the same nothing but plaine rebellion against God Last of all whereas euery minister of the word and Sacraments at his ordination doth sweare to obey his Diocesan in all lawfull matters certaine Gentlemen of the Puritane faction write thus vnto the Bishops of the Church of England and printed the same viz. The Canon law is vtterly void within the realme and therfore your Oath of Canonicall obedience is of no force and all your Canonicall admonitions not worth a rush D. Hilar. contra Constantium August Non recipit mendacium veritas nec patitur religio impietatem The truth admits no lie neither can religion abide impietie 1. Tim. 1. v. 17. Vnto the king everlasting immortall inuisible vnto God onely wise be honour and glory for euer and euer Amen FINIS The Printer to the Reader Gentle Reader many faults escaped the Author being absent and the coppie somewhat darke which if it please thee to correct take this direction The former number sheweth the page the latter the line m. the margen d. dele certaine figures are twice printed and so both in the table and here twice quoted Pag. 2. lin 30. who flatly 3.5 the inhabitants 8. liniaments 23. horae b. 4.36 Saturninus Menander Cerin 6.28 Eunome us 29. Tretheites 7.2 These did 6. Seruetus 19. Priscilianists 9.4 d. the. 10.32 Harmon 11.20 Valētiniās p 16.11 As man and. 20.4 d were 13. Him God 22.8 tures teach 23.9 assumed 29.14 precepts offendeth no lesse then if he contemned Gods expresse commandements k. And. 22. adversaries 30.24 Castellio 31.6 Barcobas Barcolf 24. all the. 34.16 Bethlehem 35.16 the redde sea 37.12 sacrifices 39.10 Antinomies 6. d. 0.40.11 d. in 17. for his 46.1 m. Carranza 47.15 may doe 48.22 naturall 49.22 d and the mind 23. the body 29. reveale 52.10 or Loues 53.1 m. Horae 8. scandere 9. for thee 54.17 the profit 55.3 as the. 8. Villauincentio 22. destitute 53.33 violating 35. them by the papists 58.19 they doe 61.7 as not 65.10 and fall 66.20 Hieracites 67.15 d. by 68.25 yee 33. vp 35. Onesimus 69.5 d. as 14. d. most 71.12 d. his 72.24 Hieracites 73.24 whom hee 74.24 Catabaptists 25. misery 32. Bolseck 77.36 Antinomies m. execut of iust 79.7 Hieracites 80 5. can away 81.12 or which are 84.3 be held 4. The obs 85.5 they revolted 19. Desider Burdegal 9217. Viguerius m. Theol. 95.18 because 96.21 d. a 97.30 Pius 5.100.31 they 103.11 embrace 104.6 interpretation 14. Villauincence 21 examinent vt 27. fetcht m. Hervaeus 106 m. next im 13. Festivalls 16. in the 107.29 the odde 108.3 Cusan 16. Heare 18 d. the 22. d. the. 110.34 disciplin● 111.5 Iobelaea of the Sci. 35. Cyrillus 112.8 to summon 23. Turon 114.24 Selneccerus 115.17 Paphnutius 27. d. h. 31. erre
inestimable benefits which wee haue and shall receiue from your selfe and your late Predecessors D. Whitgift Grindall Parker Cranmer of famous and honourable remēbrance Bishops of our Church Archbishops of the See of Canterbury for this vniforme doctrine by some of your Lordships drawen and penned by all of you allowed defended as agreeable to the Faith of the very Apostles of Christ and of the auncient Fathers correspondent to the Confessions of all reformed Churches in Christendome and contrariant in no point vnto Gods holy and written word commended vnto vs both by your authoritie and Subscriptions Now the all mercifull God and heauenly Father which so inspired them and your Lordship with wisedome from aboue and inabled you all to discerne truth from falsehood sound religion from Atheisme idolatry and errors vouchsafe of his infinite goodnes to encrease his graces more and more vpon your Grace to his owne glorie the Churches benefit and your owne euerlasting comfort And the same God which both mercifully hath brought and miraculously against all hellish and diuelish practises of his and our enemies continued the light of his truth among vs giue vs all grace with one heart and consent not onely to embrace the same but also to walke and carrie our selues as it beseemeth the Children of light in all peaceablenesse and holinesse of life for his Sonne our Lord and Sauiour Christ his sake At Horninger neere S. Ed. Bury in Suff. the 11. of March ●n 1607. Your Graces poore Chaplaine alwaies at commaund Thomas Rogers Constitutions and Canons ecclesiasticall an 1604. WHosoeuer shall heereafter affirme that the Church of England by Lawe established vnder the Kings Maiestie is not a true and an Apostolicall Church teaching and maintaining the Doctrine of the Apostles let him bee excommunicated ipso facto and not restored but onely by the Archbishop after his repentance and publike reuocation of this his wicked error Can. 3. Whosoeuer shall heereafter affirme that any of the 39. Articles agreed vpon by the Archbishops and Bishops of both Prouinces and the whole Cleargie in the Conuocation holden at London in the yeare of our Lord God 1562. for the auoyding of diuersities of opinions and for the establishing of consent touching true Religion are in any part superstitious or erroneous or such as he may not with a good conscience subscribe vnto let him be excommunicated ipso facto not restored but only by the Archbishop after his repentance and publike reuocation of such his wicked errors Can. 5. Whosoeuer shall heereafter seperate themselues from the Communion of Saints as it is approoued by the Apostles rules in the Church of England and combine themselues in a newe Brotherhood accounting the Christians who are conformable to the Doctrine Gouernment Rites and Ceremonies of the Church of England to be prophane and vnmeete for them to ioyne with in Christian profession let them be excommunicated ipso facto and not restored but by the Archbishop after their repentance publike reuocation of such their wicked errors Can. 9. The Titles of the 39. Articles with the Pages where to find euerie of them in this booke Art 1. OF faith in the holy Trinitie Page 1. Art 2. Of the Word of God which was made verie man Page 7. Art 3. Of the going downe of Christ into Hell Page 15. Art 4. Of the Resurrection of Christ. Page 17. Art 5. Of the holy Ghost Page 21. Art 6. Of the sufficiencie of the Scripture for saluation Page 26. Art 7. Of the old Testament Page 33. Art 8. Of the three Creedes Page 39. Art 9. Of Originall or birth sinne Page 41. Art 10. Of Free will Page 47. Art 11. Of the Iustification of man Page 50. Art 12. Of good workes Page 56. Art 13. Of workes before Iustification Page 56. Art 14. Of workes of Supererogation Page 59. Art 15. Of Christ alone without sinne Page 62. Art 16. Of sinne after Baptisme Page 65. Art 17. Of predestination and Election Page 69. Art 18. Of obtaining saluation onely by the Name of Christ. Page 82. Art 19. Of the Church Page 86. Art 20. Of the authoritie of the Church Page 98. Art 21. Of the authoritie of generall Councells Page 112. Art 22. Of Purgatorie Page 118. Art 23. Of Ministring in the Congregation Page 131. Art 24. Of speaking in the Congregation in such a tongue as the people vnderstand not Page 141. Art 25. Of the Sacraments Page 142. Art 26. Of the vnworthines of the Ministers which hinder not the effect of the Sacraments Page 160. Art 27. Of Baptisme Page 165. Art 28. Of the Lords Supper Page 170. Art 29. Of the wicked which doe not eate the body and blood of Christ in the vse of the Lords Supper Page 178. Art 30. Of both kindes Page 179. Art 31. Of the oblation of Christ finished vpon the Crosse. Page 181. Art 32. Of the marriage of Priests Page 185. Art 33. Of Excommunicate persons how they are to be auoided Page 189. Art 34. Of the Traditions of the Church Page 193. Art 35. Of Homilies Page 192. Art 36. Of Consecration of Bishops and Ministers Page 196. Art 37. Of the ciuill magistrate Page 201. Art 38. Of Christian mens goods which are not common Page 215 Art 39. Of a Christian mans Oath Page 217. FINIS ¶ THE CATHOLIKE Doctrine beleeued and professed in the Church of England 1. Article Of faith in the holy Trinitie There is but 1 one liuing and true God euerlasting without bodie parts or passions of infinite power wisdome and goodnes 2 the maker and preseruer of all things both visible and inuisible 3 And in vnitie of this Godhead there be three persons of one substance power and eternitie the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost The propositions 1. There is but one God who is liuing true euerlasting c. 2. God is the maker and preseruer of all things 3. In the vnitie of the Godhead there is a Trinitie of persons 1. Proposition There is but one God who is liuing true euerlasting without bodie parts or passions of infinite power wisedome and goodnes The proofe from the word of God THat there is but one God who is c. is a truth which may be gathered from the al-holy and sacred Scripture is agreeable to the doctrine of the reformed Churches For both Gods word giueth vs to knowe that God is one and no moe liuing and true God euerlasting without bodie parts or passions of infinite power wisedome and goodnes and Gods people in their publike confessions from Ausburgh He●uetia Bohemia France Flanders and Wittemberge testifie the same Errors and adversaries vnto this truth Then impious execrable are the opinions of Dragoras Theodorus who fasly denied there was any God Of Protagoras and the Machiuilian Athiests which are doubtfull whether there be a God Of such as fained vnto themselues diuers and sundrie gods as did
the seuen Sacraments How there be seuen Sacraments of the newe Testament That he is accursed that shall say there be either moe or fewer then seuen Sacraments or that any of them is not verily and properly a Sacrament or that they be not all seuen instituted of Christ himselfe That there are seuen Sacramēts wherof two are voluntary at the discretion of men to be taken or not as Matrimonie holy orders and fiue are necessary and must be taken and of these fiue three to wit Baptisme Confirmation and Orders are but once to be taken because they imprint an indeleble character in the soule of the receiuers and fower be reiterable and may often be receiued as the Sacrament eucharisticall Matrimonie Penance and of extreame Vnction because at their first ministration they leaue in the soule no indeleble character 5. Proposition Confirmation is no Sacrament Touching Confirmation the sentence and iudgement of the true Church is that rightly vsed as it was in the primitiue Churh it is no Sacrament but a part of Christiā discipline profitable for the whole Church of God For the auncient Confirmation was nothing else then an examination of such as in their infancie had receiued the Sacrament of Baptisme and were then being of good discretion able to yeeld an account of their beleeife and to testifie with their owne mouthes what their suerties in their names had promised at their Baptisme which confession being made and a promise of perseueranc in the Faith by them giuen the Bishop by sound doctrine graue aduise and godly exhortations confirmed them in that good profession and laying his hands vpon them praied for the increase of God his gifts and graces in their mindes The Popish confirmation all Churches of God with vs vtterly doe dislike as no Sacrament at all instituted by Christ Errors adversaries vnto this truth Contrariwise the sinagogue of Rome teacheth that Confirmatiōis a Sacramēt whereby the grace that was giuen in Baptisme is confirmed and made strong by the seuen gifts of the holy Ghost Of which their Confirmation they giue vs fower things principally to obsetue viz. 1. The substance or matter which is holy Chrisme confect as they say and made of Oile oliue and Bawlme consecrated by a Bishop 2. The forme and manner of ministring the same consisting of the wordes of the Bishop which are I signe the with the signe of the Crosse and confirme thee with the Chrisme of saluation in the name of the Father c. of the actions both of a Godfather or Godmother alreadie confirmed holding vp the child to the Bishop and of the Bishop first crossing him which is to be confirmed on the forehead with oile and next striking the partie confirmed on the eare 3. The minister who must bee a Bishop and none inferior Minister 4. The effect or effects rather For by Confirmation they say that Sinnes are pardoned and remitted The grace of Baptisme is made perfect Such become men in Christ who afore were children Grace is giuen boldly to confesse the name of Christ and all things belonging to a Christian man The holy Ghost is giuen to the full And perfect strength of the minde is attained But in so teaching dangerous and very damnable doctrine doe they deliuer For It is an error that confirmation is a Sacrament because it hath no institution from God which is necessarie to all and euery Sacrament inasmuch as a Sacrament cannot be ordained but by God onely euen as the Papists themselues doe confesse To say that popish Confirmation is grounded vpon Gods word is to speake foule vntruthes For in the Scripture there is mention neither of the matter that it must be Chrisme and that made of oile oliue and Bawlme and the same consecrated of a Bishop nor of the forme that either a Bishop must signe the party to be baptized with the signe of the Crosse or that a Godfather c. must be thereat nor of the minister that of necessitie hee must be a Bishop that is to confirme nor of the effects that thereby sinnes are pardoned and released and Baptisme consummated and made perfect It is an error to say there is any other ointment giuen to the strengthning of the Church militant besides the holy Ghost 1 Ier. 2.27 It is an error to maintaine that any Bishop can giue heauenly graces to any creature It is an error to ascribe saluation vnto Chrisme and not onely vnto Christ. It sauoureth of donatisme to measure the dignitie of the Sacraments by the worthinesse of the ministers It is an error to say that men cannot be perfect Christians without Popish Confirmation It is an error that by Confirmation the holy Ghost is giuen to the full 6. Proposition Penance is no Sacrament Touching penance the Papists doe publish fower things to be noted whereof none of them is truly grounded vpon the word of God First the matter which they doe say is partly the actions of the person penitent which are sufficient contrition of his heart perfect Confession of all his sinnes and that in particular with all the circumstances as of time place c. and satisfaction by deedes which maketh an amends for all his offenses partly the absolution of the Preist Secondly the Forme which in the Preist is the words of Absolution which he vttereth ouer the sinner in the person penitent it is his kneeling downe at the Preists feete his making the signe of the Crosse vpon hts breast and his saying Benedicite to his ghostly Father The Preist say they beareth the person of God and is the lawfull Iudge ouer the penitent and may both absolue from the guilt of sinne and inflict a punishment according to the offense Thirdly the minister who ordinarily is the curate of euery parish but extraordinarily and in the time of extreame necessitie or by licence is any Preist And yet some sinnes are so grieuous as none may absolue but either the Bishop or his Penitentiarie as the crime of Incest breaking of vowes Church robbing Heresie adulterie and some againe none remit or pardon but the Pope onely or his Legate as Burning of Churches violent striking a Preist counterfaiting of the Popes Bulles c. Fourthly and last of all the effect Hereby they say the penitent sinner is purged absolued and made as cleane from all sinne as when he was newly baptized and besides enriched with spirituall gifts and graces The consideration hereof hath mooued besides the Church of England all other Churches reformed to shewe their detestation of this newe Sacrament as hauing no warrant from Gods word The blasphemies are outragious and the errors many and monstrous comprised in this doctrine of Popish Penance For neither can the matter of this their Sacrament nor the forme nor the minister nor the effect be drawne from the word of God They say Penance is a Sacrament and yet can they shew no element it
Of Antioch Peter of the Asian Churches Iohn of Alexandria Marke of Ephesus yea and all Asia Timothie Of all Creete Titus of Philippos Epaphroditus of Corinth and Achaia Apollos of Athens Dionisius of France Crescens of Brittane Aristobulus In the purer times succeeding the Apostles so approoued was the administration of the Church affaires by these kinde of men as They ordained Patriarches and Corepiscopie They ratified the degrees of ecclesiasticall supereminencie at the first and most famous Councell at Nice They gloried much and greatly that they had receiued the apostles doctrine by a succession of Bishops that they were the successors in the Apostles doctrine of the godly Bishops and that Bishops succeeded in the roome of Apostles Their godly monuments and worthy labours and bookes yet extant doe shewe that Bishop was of Lions Irenaeus of of Antioch Ignatius of Carthage Cyprian of Hierusalem Cyrill of Alexandria Athanasius Basil of Cesarea of all Thracia Asia and Pontus Chrisostome Hilarie of Potiers Augustine of Hippo Ambrose of Millane all of these most notable instruments for the aduancement of Gods honour and glory in their daies Finally from the Apostles daies hitherto there neuer wanted a succession of Bishops neither in the East nor Westerne Churches albeit there haue bin from time to time both Marprelates and Mockprelates to supplant their states and Ilprelates abusing their functions and places to the discredite of their calling and profession So prouident hath the Almightie bin for the augmentation of his glory and people by this kind and calling of men The Errors and adversaries vnto this truth This manifesteth the erroneous and euill mindes 1. Of the Anabaptists who condemne all superioritie among men saying that euery man should be equall for calling and that there should be no difference of persons among Christians 2. Of the old haeretickes viz. the Contobaptites which allowed of no Bishopes The Acephalians who would not bee at the commaund or yeelde obedience vnto Bishops The Aerians that equalled Bishops and Priests making them all one The Apostolikes which condemned Prelacie 3. Of the late Scismatikes namely The Iesuites who cannot brooke Episcopall praeheminence and in their high court of Reformation haue made a Lawe for the vtter abrogation of all Episcopall iuresdiction The disciplinarians or Puritans among our selues For They abhorre and altogether doe loath the callings of Archbishops Bishops c as the author of the Fruitfull Sermon doth say that by the praelaticall Discipline the libertie of the Church is taken away and that in steed of Archbishops and Bishops an equalitie must be made of ministers They tearme the differences of Ministers A proud ambitious superioritie of one minister aboue another and Archbishops and Bishops they call the supposed Gouernors of the Church of England Some of them will not haue Bishops to bee obeyed either when they cite or when they inhibite or when they excommunicate Some of them haue not only Archbishopes and Bishops but also Parsons and Vicars in detestation For Miles Monopodios numbreth Parsons and Vicars among the hundred points of Poperie yet remaining in our Church Others say that Birds of the same feather viz. with Archb. and Bishops are Parsons and Vicars Barrow publisheth that Parsonages Vicarages be in name office and function as Popish and Antichristian as any of the other It is therefore an egregious vntruth that Puritans or which is equivalent The good men the Faithfull and Innocent ministers for so doe they stile themselues affect not any popularitie or paritie in the Church of God as some of them would make his maiestie beleeue 2. Proposition Whosoeuer be or shall be confirmed or ordered according to the rites of the booke of Consceration of Archb. and Bishops and ordering of Priests and Deacons they be rightly orderly and lawfully consecrated and ordered Archbishops Bishops and ministers which according to the booke of Consecration be or shalll be consecrated or ordered they are consecrated and ordained rightly orderly and lawfully because afore theire Consecration and ordination they be rightly tried or examined by imposition of hands needfull and seasonable prayers they be consecrated and ordained and all this is performed by those persons that is by Bishops to whom the Ordination Consecration of Bishops and ministers was alwaies principallie committed and also after the same forme and fashion corruptions being afore taken away and remooued as Bishops and Priests afore the raigne of K. Edward the sixt formerly were The adversaries vnto this truth Well therefore may they disgorge their stomaches but trouble our consciences they shall neuer which condemne or depraue our callings as doe 1. The Familie of Loue which dislike and labour to make contemptible the outward admission of ministers 2. The Papistes who say their pleasure of the Bishops and ministers of the Church of England and of other reformed Churches None is to be admitted for a Bishop say they which is not ordained by imposition of three or foure Romish Catholike Bishops at the least of which none are to be found among the Protestants Whosoeuer taketh vpon him to preach to minister Sacraments c and is not ordered by a true Catholike that is a Popish Bishop to be a urate of soules Parson Bishop c he is a theefe and a murderer Our Bishops ministers they are not come in by the doore saith Stapleton they haue stolne in like Theeues they be vnordered Apostataes pretended and sacrilegious ministers Intruders Meere lay men and not Priests because first they haue receaued none vnder Orders and next they are not ordained by such a Bishop and Priest as the Catholike Romane church hath put in authoritie 3. The Puritanes For they write that The Bishops of our Church haue none ordinary calling of God and function in the scriptures for to exercise they are not sent of God they be not the ministers of Iesus Christ by whome hee will aduance his Gospell Inferior ministers they are not say they according to Gods word either prooued elected called or ordained Hence the Church of England wanteth say they her Pastors and teachers and hence they vrge diuers afore ordained to seeke at their Classis a new approbation which they tearme the Lords ordinance and to take newe callings from classicall ministers renouncing their calling from Bishops 37. Article Of the ciuill Magistrate 1 The Kings maiestie hath the cheife power in this realme of England and other his dominions 2 vnto whome the cheife gouernement of all estates of this realme whether they be ecclesiasticall or ciuill in all causes doth appertaine and is not nor ought to be subiect to any forraine iurisdiction where we attribute to the Kings maiestie the chife gouerment by which titles wee vnderstand the minds of some
wherby the doctrine in this land allowed publiquely graced imbraced of all sorts at his entrance into the Realme hath been not only acknowledged to bee agreeable to Gods word sincere and the very same which both his Highnes and the whole Church and kingdome of Scotland yea and the primitiue Church professed but also by his authoritie regall and paramont as one of the maine pillers supporting his Estate ratified to continue and all hope either of allowing or tolerating in this kingdome of any other doctrine religion or faction whatsoeuer opposite or any way thwarting the Faith and confession of the Church of England in most plaine pithy and peremptorie words and speeches cut off The yeare 62. was not more famous for the Vniformitie of doctrine in religion then concluded then the yeare 604. is memorable and will be for seconding the same neither gotte the Clergie in those daies more credit in composing the Articles of our Vnitie in Faith then did the last Conuocation whereat your Grace then Bishop of London was present and President in ratifying the Acts and Articles of their Antecessors neither was Q. Elizabeth more honoured in establishing them at the first then is our K. Iames renowned and more and more will be for approouing vnder the great Seale of England the late and last Constitutions and Canons ecclesiasticall 27. Whereby no person shall hereafter be receiued into the ministery nor neither by Institution or Collation admitted to any ecclesiasticall liuing nor suffered to preach to catechize or to be Lecturer or Reader of Diuinitie in either Vniuersitie or in any Cathedrall or Collegiat Church Cittie or Market towne Parish Church Chappell or in any other place in this realme except c. and except hee shall first Subscribe to these three Articles c. Whereof the third is that he alloweth the booke of Articles of Religion c. Nor any licensed to preach Read Lecture or Catechize comming to reside in any Diocesse shall be permitted there to preach read lecture catechize or minister the Sacraments or to execute any other ecclesiasticall function by what authoritie soeuer he be thereunto admitted vnlesse he first consent and Subscribe to the three Articles Neither shall any man teach either in publike schole or in priuate house except he shall first subscribe to the first and third Articles simply c. Neither shall any man be admitted a Chancellar Commissarie or officiall to exercise any ecclesiasticall iurisdiction except c. and shal Subscribe to the Articles of Religion agreed vpon in the Conuocation in the yeare 1562 c. And likewise all Chancellours Commissaries Registers and all other that doe nowe possesse or execute any places of ecclesiasticall iurisdiction or seruice shall before Christmas next in the presence of the Archbishop or Bishop or in open Court vnder whome or where they execute their offices take the same Oathes and Subscribe as before is said or vpon refusall so to doe shall be suspended from the execution of their Offices vntill they shall take the said Oathes and Subscribe as afore said 28. In which Constitutions the wisedome of his Highnesse sheweth it selfe to be excellent who indeede as exceeding necessary both for the retaine of peace in the Church and preuenting of newe doctrine curious speculations and offenses which otherwise daily would spring vp and intolerably encrease calleth for Subscription in testimonie of mens cordiall consent vnto the receiued doctrine of our Church but exacteth not their Oathes as some doe much lesse Oathes Vowes and Subscription too but onely in a particular respect and that of a very fewe in publike office as our neighbours haue done Againe hee requireth Subscription but not of ciuill magistrates not of the Commons as else-where some doe not of euery man yea of womē aswel as of men as did the persecuted Church at Frankeford in Q. Maries daies not of Noble Gentlemen and Courtiers as in Scotland was exacted in our Kings minoritie but onely of ecclesiasticall Ministers Teachers and spirituall Officers or of those which would be such and so doe the reformed Churches in France and Germanie at this very day Last of all his Maiestie calleth for Subscription vnto Articles of religion but they are not either Articles of his owne lately deuised or the old newely turkened but the verie Articles agreed vpon by the Archbishopes and Bishops of both Prouinces and the whole Clergie in the Conuocation holden at London and that in the yeare of our Lord God 1562 and vnto none other euen the same Articles for number thirtie nine no moe no fewer and for words sillables and letters the verie same vnaugmented vndiminished vnaltered 29. And beeing the same the whole world is to knowe that the Church of England is not in religion changed or variable like the Moone nor affecteth noueltie or newe lessons but holdeth stedfastly and conscionably that truth which by the Martyrs and other Ministers in this last age of the world hath bin restored vnto this kingdome and is grounded vpon Gods written word the onely foundation of our Faith And being the same all men againe may see that we are stil at Vnitie both among our selues at home and with the neighbour Churches abroad in all matters of cheifest importance fundamentall points of religion though our adversaries the Papists would faine beate the contrarie into the common peoples heads And being the same there is nowe as also from the first restauration of the Gospell among vs there hath beene an Vniformitie likewise of doctrine by authoritie established which at the King his first arriuall among vs was so much desired by the Brethren And finally being the same let vs not doubt but perswade our selues that we shall find the Antichristian Church of Rome too the same which for the same doctrine and for none other cause prosecuteth all Christian churches but ours of England especially with sworde fire and powder in most hostile yea and hellish manner the effect of whose hatred against vs as we haue often seene so especially had wee felt the same the next yeare after our Kings ratification of these Articles had not our euer mercifull God most miraculouslie detected both the Treason and Traitors For which his fauours his holy Name be glorified of vs and our posteritie throughout all generations 30. So our Church is the same But be the Brethren the faithfull and godly Brethren too the same nowe which they haue also beene If they bee then will they not denie which an 72. they writ that We hold the substance of religion with them nor which an 602. they published is afore remembred that the true Faith by which we may be saued and the true doctrine of the Sacraments the pure worship of God be truly taught and that by publike authoritie and retained in the booke of Articles And in this Confession I pray God they may constantly perseuere Howebeit euen these men which in a
cloake their inueterate and rooted pertinacie howe the purpose if not doctrine of our Church is of late altered from that it was And therefore though they can be wel content to allowe of the old doctrine and auncient intention yet vnto the old doctrine and newe Intention of our Church they cannot subscribe might they either gaine much or loose whatsoeuer they haue thereby Besides this newe Intendement contrarie to the old purpose if not doctrine of our Church is become nowe the maine principall obstacle why they cannot subscribe vnto the booke of Cōmon prayer booke of Ordination as earst they some of them foure times haue done when aswell the Intention as Doctrine of our Church was pure and holy Lastly they seeme not obscurely to intimate vnto the State that were they sure or might bee assured that the purpose of our Church were the same which it was neither varied from the doctrine they would be prest and as readie euen foure if not fortie times moe to subscribe vnto the fore mentioned bookes of Common prayer and of Ordination as afore times they did when they were out of doubt the Intention of our Church was correspondent to her Doctrine that it was sound good I haue foure times subscribed saith a Brother to the booke of Common prayer with limitation reference of all things therein contained not vnto the purpose only or doctrine only but vnto the purpose doctrine of the church of England Yet cannot the same man with a good conscience so much as once more subscribe which formerly and that with a good consciēce had subscribed foure times His reasō is Because the purpose if not doctrine of our Church to which hee referred his subscriptiō appeareth to him by the late Canons booke of cōference some speeches of men in great place others to be varied somewhat from that which he before not without reason tooke it to be 35. The purpose of our Church is best knowne by the Doctrine which shee doth professe the Doctrine by the 39. Articles established by Act of Parliament the Articles by the words whereby they are expressed and other purpose then the publique Doctrine doth minister and other Doctrine then in the sayd Articles is contained our Church neither hath nor holdeth and other sense they cannot yeeld then their words doe impart The words be the same and none other then earst and first they were And therefore the sense the same the Articles the same the Doctrine the same and the purpose Intention of our Church still one the same If then her purpose be knowne by her Doctrine and Articles and their true sense by their very words needes must the purpose of our Church be the same because her Doctrine and Articles for number words sillables and letters euery way be the very same And so our Churches intention in her publique Doctrine and Articles reuealed being good at the first it is to still For her purpose continuing one the same cannot be ill at the last which was good and so beleeued and acknowledged euen by the Brothers subscription at the first or good in good Queene Elizabeths and ill in illustrious King Iames his daies 36. If the premisses sufficiently explane not the constancy of our Churches purpose in professing religion sincerely then cast we our eies vpon the Propositions which she publiquely maintaineth and if wee find them the same which euer they haue beene then neede wee not doubt the Brethren themselues being Iudges but the Articles againe their sense the Doctrine purpose and Intention of the Church of England the Propositions interpreting as it were the said Articles is the very same it euer was Now that the Propositions pregnantly and rightly gathered and arising from the articles be the same for substance vnaltered though vpon good considerations some fewe be added to the former and all of them approoued for true and Christian by the lawfull and publike allowance of our Church the booke here ensuing plainly wil declare and so demonstrate withall not the Doctrine onely but intention also of our Church to be the same and not changed and being vnchanged the bookes then of common prayer and of ordination too cōsidered in the purpose and intention of the Church of England and reduced to the Propositions as the Brethren would haue them be well allowed and authentically approoued and the said brethren with as good conscience nowe againe and afresh may subscribe vnto all the Articles euen concerning the Booke of common praier and of ordination aswell as of the Kings supremacie and of Religion as afore often and alwaies they did 37. Fot my selfe most reuerend Father in God what my thoughts be of the religion in this realme at this instant professed and of all these Articles if the premisses doe not that which here followeth will sufficiently demonstrate Twentie yea 22 yeares agoe voluntarily of mine owne accord and altogether vnconstrained I published my subscription vnto them my Faith is not either shaken or altered but what it then was it still is yeares haue made those haires of mine gray which weare not and time much reading and experience in theologicall conflicts and combates haue bettered a great deale but not altered one whit my iudgement I thanke God Nothing haue I denied nothing gainesaid which afore I deliuered Thē Propositiōs are and yet not many moe the method altered quotations added both for the satisfaction of some learned and iudicious freinds of mine requesting it at mine hands and for the benefit both of the common and vnlearned of the studious and learned Reader The whole worke expresseth aswell my detestation and renunciation of all adversaries and errors opposite crossing or contradicting the doctrine professed by vs and protected by our King or any article or particle of truth of our religion as my approbation of that truth which in our Church by wholesome Statutes and ordinances is confirmed There is not an heretike or Schismatike to speake of of any speciall marke that from the Apostles time hitherto hath discouered himselfe and his opinions vulgarly in writing or in print against our doctrine but his heresie fancie or phrensie may here be seene against one propositiō or other The Sects and Sect masters adversaries vnto vs either in the matter or maine points of our doctrine or Discipline to one of our Articles or other wholly or in part which here be discouered to be taken heed of and auoided are many hundres 38. This and whatsoeuer els here done either to the confirmation of the truth or detestation of heresies and errors I doe very meekely present vnto your Grace as after God and our King best meriting the patronage thereof My selfe am much the whole Church of England much more bound vnto your Lordship yea not wee onely nowe liuing but our successors also and posteritie shall haue cause in all ages while the world shall continue to magnifie almightie God for the
necessitie the minister of Baptisme is euery man both male and female A woman be shee yong or old sacred or wicked Euery male that hath his wits and is neither dumbe nor so drunken that he can vtter the the words as wel Pagā Infidel heretik the bad as the good the schismatik as the Catholike may baptize And yet vsually in the ciuill warres both in France and in Netherland the Papists did rebaptize such children as of the Protestant not lai-mē but ministers had afore bin baptized This priuate Baptisme by priuate persons was also taught long since both by the Marcionites and Pepuzians 4. Proposition There is a lawfull ministerie in the Church The proofe from Gods word God for the gathering or erecting to himselfe a Church out of mankinde and for the well gouerning of the same from time to time hath vsed yea and also doth and to the end of the world will vse the ministery of men lawfully called thereunto by men A truth most euident in the holy Scripture Iesus said vnto his Apostles Goe and teach all Nations baptizing them c. and loe I am with you alway vnto the ende of the world Christ gaue some to be Apostles and some Prophets and some Euangelists and some Pastors and Teachers for the gathering together of the saints for the worke of the ministerie and for the edification of the body of Christ till we all meet together in the vnitie of faith and knowledge of the Sonne of God vnto a perfect man A truth also approued by the Churches Adversaries vnto this truth Oppugners of this truth are First the Anabaptisticall Swermers who both tearme all Ecclesiasticall men The Diuells ministers and also as very wicked doe vtterly condemne the outward ministerie of the word Sacraments And next the Brownists who divulge that in these daies No ministers haue the calling sending or authoritie pertaining to a minister and that It will hardly be founde in all the world that any minister is or shall be lawfully called such also be the Barrowists which say there is no ministerie of the Gospell in all Europe 5. Proposition They are lawfull Ministers which be ordained by Men lawfully appointed for the calling and sending forth of Ministers The proofe from Gods word S. Paul in the beginning of his epistle vnto the Galathians giueth vs to obserue the diuers sendeth-forth of men into the holy ministery whereof Some are sent immediately frō God himselfe So sent was by God the Father both Iesus Christ and Iohn Baptist by God the Sonne in his state mortall the twelue Apostles in his state immortall and glorious S. Paul This calling is speciall and extraordinarie and the men so called were adorned with the gift of miracles cōmonly as were Iesus Christ and his Apostles but not alwaies for Iohn Baptist wrought none And they were also enioyned for the most part as the Apostles to preach throughout the world howbeit our Sauiour was limited Some againe were sent of men as they be who are sent of men not authorized thereunto by the word of God and that to the disturbance of the peace of the Church such in the Apostles time were the false Apostles in our daies be the Anabaptists Familie Elders and law despising Brownists And some lastly are by men sent so in the primitiue Church by the Apostles were Pastors and Elders ordained who by the same authoritie ordained other Pastors and teachers Whence it is that the Church as it hath bin so it shall till the end of the world be prouided for They who are thus called haue power neither to worke miracles as the Apostles had nor to preach and minister the Sacraments where they will as the Apostles might but they are tied euery man to his charge which they must faithfully attend vpon except vrgent occasion doe enforce the contrary The calling of these men is tearmed a generall calling and it is the ordinarie and in these daies the lawfull calling allowed by the word of God So testifie with vs the true Churches else where in the world Adversaries vnto this truth This truth hath many waies bin resisted For there ●e which thinke how in these daies there is no calling but the extraordinarie or immediate calling from God not by men as the Anabaptists Familists and Brownists of whome afore The Papists albeit they allow the assertion yet take they all ministers to be wolues Hirelings Laie men and Intruders who are not sacrificing Priests annointed by some Antichristian Bishop of the Romish synagogue Either all or the most part of the ministers of England saith Howlet be meere Lay men and no Priests and consequently haue noe authoritie in these things It is euidēt c. because they are not ordained by such a Bishop and Preist as the Catholike Church hath put in authoritie 6. Proposition Before Ministers are to be ordained they are to be chosen and called The proofe from Gods word Though it be in the power of them which haue authority in the Church to appoint Ministers for Gods people yet may they admit neither whome they will nor as they will themselues But they are both deliberately to chuse and orderly to call such as they haue chosen This made the Apostles and Elders in the primitiue Church straightly to charge that suddenly hands should be laid on no man To make a speciall choise of twaine whereof one was to be elected into the place of Iudas By election to ordaine Elders in euery church and by praier and fasting to commend them to the Lord and by laying on of hands to consecrate them To describe who who were to be chosen and called For they are to be Men not Boies nor women Men of good behauiour not incontinent not giuen to wine not strikers not couetous not proud not froward nor irefull nor giuers of offense finally men of speciall gifts apt to teach able to exhort wise to diuide the word of God aright bold to reprooue willing to take paines watchfull to ouersee patient to suffer and constant to endure all manner of afflictions And this doe the Churches Protestant by their Confessions approoue The Errors and adversaries vnto this truth In error they remaine who are of opinion that The due election and calling of Ministers according to the word of God is of no such necessitie to the making of Ministers an erroneous fancie of the Anabaptists and Familie of Loue. That women may be Deacons Elders and Bishops the former the Acephalians the latter the Pepuzians did maintaine A speciall care is not to be had both of the life and the learning of men or that wicked men of euill life ignorant men without learning Asses of no giftes loiterers which doe no good or fauourers of superstition and idolatry which do great hurt
slanderous folkes to be offended 3 we giue not to our Prince the ministring either of Gods word or of the Sacraments the which thing the Iniunctions also sometime set forth by Elizabeth our late queene doe most plainely testifie but that onely prerogatiue which wee see to haue bin giuen alwaies to all godly Princes in holy Scriptures by God himselfe that is that they should rule all estates and degrees committed to their charge by God whether they be Ecclesiasticall or Temporall 4 and restraine with the ciuill sword the stubburne and euill doers 5 The Bishop of Rome hath no iurisdictiō in this realme of England 6 The lawes of the realme may punish Christian men with death for heinous and grieuous offenses 7 It is lawfull for Christian men at the commandement of the Magistrate to weare weapons and serue in the warres The Propositions 1. The kings maiestie hath the cheife power in this realme of England and other his dominions 2. The kings maiestie hath the chiefe gouernement of all estates ecclesiasticall and ciuill in all causes within his dominions 3. His Highnesse may not execute the ecclesiasticall duties of preaching and ministring the Sacraments and yet is to prescribe lawes and directions vnto all estates both ecclesiasticall and Temporall 4. The King by his authoritie is to restraine with the materiall sword and to punish malefactors 5. The Bishop of Rome hath no iurisdiction in this realme of England nor other of this kings dominions 6. By the lawes of this realme Christian men for hainous and greiuous offenses may be put to death 7. It is lawfull for Christian men at the commandement of the magistrate to weare weapons and serue in warres 2. Proposition The Kings maiestie hath the cheife power in this realme of England and other his dominions The proofe from Gods word Diuers and sundrie be the formes of Common-weales and magistracie For some where many and they of the inferior people beare the sway as in a democratie some where a fewe and that of choise and the best men doe gouerne as in an Aristocratie and some where one man or woman hath the preheminence as in a Monarchie such is the gouernement of this Kingdome Notwithstanding whatsoeuer the gouernement is either democraticall Aristocraticall or Monarchicall Gods word doth teach vs that There is no power but of God the powers that be are ordained of God and that whosoeuer resisteth the power resisteth the ordinance of God We must be subiect to the principalities and powers and obedient and readie to euerie good worke We must submit our selues vnto all manner of ordinance of man for the Lords sake We must pray for Kinges and for all that bee in authoritie Finally we must giue to all men their dutie tribute to whom tribute custome to whom custome feare to whom feare honor to whom honor is due But of the Monarchiall gouernement speciall mention is made in the wrightings of the Prophets and Apostles Kings shall be their nourcing fathers and Queenes shall bee thy nources saith Esay The Apostle Peter calleth the King the superior or him that hath the chiefe power as our King Iames hath in his dominions All Churches Protestant and reformed subscribe vnto this doctrine as both Apostolicall and orthodoxall The errors and adversaries vnto this truth These Churches with vs and wee with them vtterly condemne the opinions Of the dreamers whereof the Apostle speaketh which despice gouernement and speake euill of them which are in authoritie Of the Manichies Fratricellians Flagelliferies Anabaptists and Familie of Loue all which raile vpon condemne magistracie Of them who allowe not of the gouernement by women but vtterly detest the same such were they in Italie which said In●●ritus mundi est á muliere regi againe speaking vnto women Abūde magna ciuitas vobis sit domus publicum neque noscatis neque vos noscat such in France who thinke how the lawe of God and nature is violated where a woman is suffered to reigne and gouerne such in Scotland or Scottish men rather from Geneua which wrote that A womans gouernment is a monstriferous Empire most detestable and damnable Againe I am assured that God hath reuealed to some in this age that it is more then a monster in nature that a woman shall reigne and haue Empire aboue man c And litle differing from these men are they in England which tearmed the harborough for faithfull subiects a carnall and vnlearned booke smelling altogether of earth without rime and without reason for defending the regiment of women ouer men when it falleth vnto them by inhaeritance to gouerne to be lawfull and good Hee which so censureth the said Harborough was the Marprelate and this his Censure declareth that hee was the Mar-prince aswell as the Marprelate 2. Proposition The Kinges maiestie hath the chiefe gouernment of all estates ecclesiasticall and ciuill in all causes within his dominions The proofe from Gods word Wee ascribe that vnto our King by this assertion which is giuen to euerie King or Queene in their owne dominions by the word of God For They are for titles gratious Lords Princes the ministers of God the Nourses of the Church Gods For authoritie the chiefe Which mooueth S. Paule to exhort that supplications be made for all men but first for Kinges as the chiefe Againe euerie soule is commaunded to bee subiect to the higher power c Finally the examples are manifold and pregnant shewing the principallity of kings ouer all persons and causes For Aaron the high preist called Moses the chiefe Prince his Lord so did Abimelech tearme Saul his Lord K. Iehosaphat as cheife in Iudah appointed Iudges Leuites and priests K. Ezekias there also as chiefe sent vnto all Israell and Iudah that they should come to the house of the Lord at Ierusalem to keepe the Passeouer also he appointed the course of Priests and Levites by their turnes and commanded all the priests to offer sacrifice c. and they obeied him and enioyned all the congregation to bring offerings and they brought them Which wee doe vnto ours the very same doe the churches of God ascribe vnto Christian magistrates in their principalities Errors Adversaries to this truth Which being true then false is it which the Papists deliuer viz that The kings excellencie of power is in respect of the Nobilitie and Lay-magistrates vnder him and not of Popes Bishops or Priests as they haue cure of soules kings and Princes be they neuer so great must be subiect vnto some Bishop Priest or Prelate The whole Clergie ought to be free from paying Tribute Sacerdotes etiam Principibus iure diuino subditi deleatur say the expurgators Priests are not by Gods lawe subiect vnto Princes No man is to be subiect vnto his temporall
were not Gods ordinance for the good but an humane institution for the hurt of men Many haue a fancie that before the generall Resurrection there shall be no magistrates at all because as they dreame all the wicked shall be rooted out Of this minde are the Anabaptists and Familie of Loue 5. Proposition The Bishop of Rome hath no iurisdiction in this realme of England nor other of the kings dominions The proofe from Gods word The Bishope of Rome did hee according to the will of God preach the Gospell labour in the Lords haruest diuide the word of God aright minister the Sacraments instituted by Christ that sincerely shew by his life conuersation the good fruites of a godly Bishop doubtlesse he were worthy of double yea of triple honor Yet will not the word of God were hee neuer so holy and religious warrant him any Iurisdiction out of his Diocesse especially not within this Reamle much lesse when he doth perform no part of a christian but euery part of an antichristian Bishop in corrupting the doctrine of the truth with errors and cursed opinions in polluting the Sacraments of Christ by superstitious ceremonies in persecuting the Church and Saints with fire and sword in making marchandise of the soules of men through couetousnes in playing the Lord ouer Gods haeritage in sitting in the Temple of God as God shewing himselfe that he is God and in exalting himselfe against all that is called God or that is worshipped In respect of which fruites of impieties the said Bishop of Rome in the holy Scripture is described to be very Antichrist that wicked man the man of sinne the sonne of perdition and the aduersarie of God He was openly proclaimed Antichrist by a Counsell in France in the raigne of Hugh He is tearmed by the truly and godly learned The Basiliske of the Church neither the Head nor the Taile of the Church His iurisdiction hath bin and is iustly renounced and bannished out of England by manie Kings and Parliaments as by K. Edward the 1.3 and 6 by K Richard the second by K. Henrie the 4.6 and 8 by Q. Elizabeth and by our most Noble K. Iames. His pride and intolerable supremacie ouer all Christian people is renounced and condemned aswell by the mouthes as wrightings of all the purer Churches and that deseruedlie The Errors and adversaries vnto this truth But with the Papists the Bishop of Rome hee is forsooth for supremacie Abell for gouering the Arke Noah for patriarchship Abraham for order Melchisedecke for dignity Aaron for authoritie Moses for iustice Samuell for zeale Helias for humilitie Dauid for power Peter for his vnction Christ the generall Pastor the common Father of all Christians the high Pastor of Gods vniuersall Church the Prince of Gods people for title God euen the Lord God the Pope for power God For By him Kings raigne hee may iudge all men but must of none be iudged hee can doe what him list aswell as God except sinne His iurisdiction is vniuersall euen ouer the whole worlde Him vppon paine of eternall damnation all Christians are to obey And by his soueraigne authoritie both all Papistes in England were discharged from their obedience and subiection vnto Q. Elizabeth and the same Queene disabled to gouerne her owne people and dominions 6. Proposition By the lawes of this Realme Christian men for hainous and greeuous offences may be put to death The proofe from Gods word As the natures of men be diuers and some sinnes in some countries more abound then in others so are the punnishments to bee imposed vppon malefactors according to the quantitie and qualitie of their offences and any countrie and Kingdome may punnish offendors euen with death if the Lawes thereof and their offence doe require it For All that take the sword shall perish with the sword Gouernors bee sent of the King for the punnishment of euill doers A wise King scattereth the wicked and causeth the wheele to turne ouer them The magistrate beareth not the sword for nought and is the minister of God to take vengeance on them that doe euill Which punishments testifie to the world that God is iust which will haue some sinnes more seuerely punnished then others and the magistrates to cut off dangerous and vngodly members God is mercifull and ●●th care both of his seruan●s and of humane societie God is all wise and holy in that he will haue it knowne who are iust who wicked who holy and who prophane by cherishing and preseruing of the one and by punishing and rooting out of the other Our Godly and Christian brethren in other countries approoue this doctrine The aduersaries vnto this truth The aduersaries of this doctrine be diuers For Some are of opinion that no man for any offence should be put to death Such in old time were the Manichies and the Donatistes and such in our daies be the Anabaptistes And some doe thinke that howsoeuer for other offences against the second Table malefactors may bee put to death yet for haereticall and erroneous opinions in points of religion none are so to suffer Of this minde are the Familistes For They hold that no man should bee put to death for his opinions They blame M. Cramner and Ridley for burning Ioane of Kent for an haereticke It is not christianlike that one man should persecute another for any cause touching conscience Is not that punnishmen● sufficient say they which God hath ordained but that one Christian must vexe torment belie and persecute another 7. Proposition It is lawfull for Christian men at the commandement of the Magistrate to weare weapons and serue in warres The proofe from Gods word There is saith K. Salomon a time of warre and a time of peace and Princes are by warre and weapons to represse the power of enemies whether forraigne or intestine For they are in authoritie placed for the defence of quiet and harmlesse subiects as also to remoue the violence of oppressors and enemies whatsoeuer they bee For these causes haue they Horses prepared for the battell Tributes paide them aswell of Christians as others and Subiects to serue them in their warres of what nature soeuer Cornelius being a Christian was not forbidden to play the Centurion or bidden to forsake his profession nor the Souldiers that came vnto Iohns baptisme willed to leaue the warres but to offer no violence vnto any man This truth is graunted by the Churches The adversaries vnto this truth Many are against this assertion whereof some doubt of the truth thereof as Ludouicus Viues Others denie it altogether as vntrue So did in ancient time the Manichies whose doctrine was that no man might goe to warre Lactantius thought it altogether vnlawfull for a good man or a Christian either
of his ill willers his power was but small his place high but himselfe made lowe through some disgraces by his potent aduersaries which hee meekely and patiently endured till his dying day 9. During the time of this mans troubles among other two things especially deserue obseruation One is the flocking of Iesuits into the kingdome who afore them neuer came among vs the other is the insolencie and boldnes of our homefaction The Iesuits indicted Councels summoned Synodes enacted and reversed orders and exercised Papal iurisdiction among vs wee not weeting nor so much as dreaming of any such matter The Brethren for so did they now stile themselues in their Churches and charges would neither pray nor say seruice nor Baptise nor celebrate the L. Supper nor Marrie nor Bury nor doe any other ecclesiasticall duty according to the Law but after their owne deuisings And abroad as if they had bin acquainted with the Iesuiticall proceedings or the Iesuits with their practises they had their meetings both classicall and Synodicall they set downe decrees reuersed orders elected ministers exacted Subscriptions and executed the censures of suspension and excommunication where they thought good The Iesuits had for their prouinciall first Roberr Parsons alias Cowbuck then Weston and lastly Garnet which Garnet continued in that office till the yeare 1605. when he was apprehended and for most horrible and hellish treasons as an arrant Traitor put to death in Pauls Churchyard the same yeare And the Brethren had their I know not what cheife men All of these residing in and about London and in speciall fauour both with the Gentiles and vulgar people of their seuerall factions and so continued multiplying their number and growing strong euen head-strong in boldnes and schisme till the dying day of this most graue and reuerend Archbishop which was in the moneth of Iuly 1583. 10. Some foure moneths afore whose death the said Brethren at a certaine Assembly of their owne appointing among other things as I finde decreed that if Subscription vnto the booke of Articles of religion afore mentioned and still meant should againe be vrged the said Brethren might subscribe thereunto according to the Statute Which declareth that what diuersitie and disagreement soeuer was about other matters yet abode ther stil a blessed Vnitie among vs touching the foundation of Christiā religiō And this was in 25. yeare of Q· Elizabeth 11. Next vnto him D. Whitegift then Bishop of Worcester a man deseruedly vnto that dignitie promoted and for his manifold paines in writing teaching and defending the truth his wisedome in gouerning and his well demeaning of himselfe euery way worthy the double honour which hee did enioy or the State could aduance him vnto from thence was translated vnto the See of Canterburie No sooner was he confirmed in his office but obseruing both the open and intolerable contempt in many places of all Church orders by authoritie prescribed and hearing both of many secret conuenticles vnlawfull assemblies in his Prouince and of the tumults and garboiles abroad and euen at his very admission vnto his charge raised in Scotland and that for the selfe same cause which by the Brethren here in England was maintained foreseeing the dangers and troubles likely to ensue for which hee should giue an account if in time hee sought not meanes to preuent them hee thought it his bounden dutie for the preseruation of vnitie and puritie in religion the preuenting of further schisme and the discouery of mens inclinations either vnto peace or faction that all and euery Minister eclesiastical hauing cure of soules within the Prouince of Canterbury vnder his owne hand and by Subscription should testifie his consent both vnto the points of religion in the Conuocatiō an 62. approued and likewise vnto other Articles necessary for concord sake of all and euery man minister especially to be acknowledged and accordingly by due course of Law called then therevnto Which was done the very first yeare of his removeall and of her maiestie the 26. This of the brethren was tearmed the woefull yeare of subscription but that they should so doe there was no cause vnlesse they are greiued that factious spirits and malecōtēted Ministers and Preachers were discouered and their erroneous schismaticall opinions brought into light And surely neuer was their subscription hitherto by authoritie vrged in this land but diuers newe fancies held yet for truthes not to be doubted of among the brethren were thereby detected for Gods people to auoid as monsters neither hath our Church lost by imposing nor the aduersaries gained at the long runne by refusing Subscription 12. In the yeares 71 and 72. when subscription first was required the whole land will witnesse that manie and sundrie bookes aswell in Latine as English then and afterward flewe abroad In which wee read howe then and in those daies The truth of God did in a manner but peepe out as it were at the screene that Cranmer Parker Grindall and all the other Martyrs Preachers and learned men which first in our age brought the light of the Gospell into this realme did see a litle and had a glimpse of the truth but ouersaw many things which in these daies of the Sunshine of the Gospell men of meaner gifts doe see and yet may not vtter them without great danger of the Lawes through the iniquitie of the times though the said things now seene be comprised in the booke of God and also be a part of the Gospell yea the very Gospell it selfe so true are they and of such importance as if euery haire of our heads were a life say the Brethren wee ought to afford them in defense of these matters the Articles of Religion penned and agreed vpon by the Bishops and Clergie and ratified by the Prince and Parliament in comparison of these things nowe reuealed and newly come to light are but Childish and toies Thus write they as your Grace best knoweth and I would haue quoted the places where they may be read had I either not written vnto your selfe or did write vnto a man vnacquainted with their bookes And had they heere stayed there words had bin able without the more grace of God to haue mooued the Parliament all the people of this land as they haue preuailed but too much alreadie with their too credulous fauorites to thinke our Church for all the reformation wrought and Vniformitie in doctrine established to be much awrie and farre from the truth it should professe But setting downe as they haue donne and publishing both what the truth is which nowe breaketh out and offereth it selfe by their ministerie to the viewe of the whole world which afore did but peepe out at the Screene and what the things be which theie of meane gifts doe see and our Fathers the Martirs Bishops and Preachers both in King Edwards daies and afterwards knowne and acknowledged to be men of excellent parts either did not
see at all or Ouersee and what likewise the points of doctrine newly now reuealed their aeternum Euangelium which without great danger may not be preached in England no more then the doctrine and Articles of the Church of England may bee preached at Rome and for defence wherof they ought to afford euen their very liues weare they so many as the haires of euery of their heads is and bee they demonstrate themselues to be most childishly vaine and idle in their imaginations which they take yet to be illuminations of the spirit 13. For all their doings and discourses to say the best of them are but to erect a newe which they tearme a true ministerie and their Discipline among vs. Themselues doe say The controuersie betwixt them and vs is not as the Bishopes and their welwillers they would beare the world in hand for a Cap a Tippet or a Surplesse but for greater matters concerning a true ministerie and regiment of the Church according to the word the one whereof that is a true ministery they shall neuer haue till Archbishops and Bishops be put downe and all Ministers made equall the other also will neuer be brought to passe till Kings Queenes doe subiect themselues vnto the Church and submit their scepters and throwe downe their Crowes before the Church and lick vp the dust of the feete of the Church and willingly abide the censures of the Church that is of the Presbyterie For as the Church is subiect vnto the ciuill magistrate in respect of his ciuill authoritie so must the magistrate the King and Queene subiect themselues and bee obedient to the iust and lawfull authoritie of the Church The ciuill magistrate is none officer at all of the Church For Church officers bee non Magnates aut Tetrarchae not gracious or honorable Lords but Ministers of the Church The Presbyterie is the Church and euerie Congregation or Church should and must in it haue a Presbyterie This is the Light which indeede the Martyrs neuer sawe the Religion which our Brethren striue for the Truth which they may not preach not Childish doctrine like the Bishops Articles but the wise Gospell the maine and materiall points of religion nowe in these last daies last of all yea after the eight Thorowe breaking of H. N. his Euangelium regni reuealed and for furtherance whereof they are to lend and spend euen all their liues if occasion be ministred 14. Strange and strong delusions First to take these and other such assertions for Truths and heauenly mysteries which are but the fancies of troubled braines not grounded nor truly gathered from Gods word Next to teach one another and al their fauorers howe they should be as readie and prepared euen for these matters to giue ouer their liuings and to giue their liues were they as many as the haires of all their heades as Cranmer Ridley Latimer did and Parker Grindall and all other Preachess would and euery Christian man and woman should if they bee called thereunto for the Apostolicall and Catholique doctrine of our Church which all Gods people doe knowe and the Brethren themselues as afore hath bin noted doe confesse is originally from God and his written word These and many moe too many heere to be recapitulate such phantasies of theirs or phrenesies rather this first subscription brought first to light and yet happie had it bin for Gods Church and people they had neuer bin broached 15. Semblablie the next Subscription called for by the last Archb. your L. predecessor an 84. discouered euen the verie thoughts and desires of those Brethren before but nowe stiled faithfull Brethren which haue and doe seeke for the Discipline and reformation of the Church Many Treatises afore but nowe and diuers yeares ensuing they flewe about and abroad like Atomies and by them the same things which afore but in a differing sort and in other words they publish For touching Church officers they name who and howe many sorts they be of them viz. Doctors Pastors Gouernors Deacons and Widdowes no moe no fewer They say Euerie Church must be furnished with a Teacher and a Pastor as with two Eies with Elders as with Feete with Deacons as with Hands Euerie Congregation must haue Eies Hands and Feete and yet neither all nor at all any Congregation is to haue an Head answerable to those Feete Hands and Eies The doctor by their doctrine must be a distinct minister from the pastor and onely teach true doctrine and neither exhort nor apply his doctrine according to the times and his auditorie nor minister the Sacraments For these things the pastor is to performe Which pastor also whensoeuer he administreth the Sacraments must necessarily make a Sermon or els he cōmitteth Sacriledge And concerning discipline by their doctrine euery Congregation must haue absolute authoritie to admonish to censure to excommunicate and to anathematize all offending persons yea euen Kings and Princes if they be of the Congregation And no Prince but must be of some parish and vnder one Presbytery or other alwaies Where this power is not in their iudgements one of the tokens of a true Church is wanting For this Discipline with them is a Marke of the Church and numbred among the Articles of their Faith 16. This say they is the great cause the holy cause which they will neuer leaue suing for though they should be a thousand Parliaments in their daies vntill either ther obtaine it or bring the Lord in vengeance and blood against the Stare and the whole land for repelling the same The Discipline is Gods holy yoke Gods sceptre the kingdome and throne of Christ. Our controuersie say they is whether Iesus Christ shall be King or no. Againe the end of all our trauaile is to build vp the walles of Ierusalem in to set vp the Throne of Iesus Christ our heauenly King the middes thereof the aduauncing whereof is a testimonie vnto vs that wee shall haue part in that glorie which shall be reuealed heereafter So learne we nowe from their said bookes learned and demonstratiue discourses which the Fathers and our fore fathers neuer sawe nor had learned both that their Discipline established and exercised is a visible marke of a true Church and to desire the aduauncement of the same an inuisible token of an elect childe of God so as neither is that a Church at least no true Church where their Discipline is not neither they but titular christians no true christians indeede which either sigh or seeke not to haue it established and Presbyteries in euerie parish to be aduaunced 17. The Articles of our religion concluded vpon by the reuerend Clergie of our Church with these learned and all seeing Brethren are but the Bishops decrees the Articles of the Conuocation house and reueale some little truth but these wise Brethren so faithfull haue they bin betweene God and his Church they haue not failed to shewe vs the whole counsaile of God And