the Saints The one of these we take it must needes be donne And we gather it by comparing together Iam. 5.19.12 with Iude ver 3. This also is the very thing which we did desire and still do desire in that Epistle dedicatory And let these thinges once spoken suffyce we pray you for the crimination of calling on you apar◠which in this letter of yours you have so oftē objected and repeated Next you propound three tinges to be considered in the booke it self of which you promyse to speake briefly and brotherly what you thinke 1. The first head you say is of the doctrine which we professe in our booke Be it so indeed Here we expected because you purpose to wryte of the doctrine we professe that you would have discussed the articles of our fayth and reproved the errours if there be any by the light of Gods word And who would not have expected this But behold there is not a word of the doctrine and fayth it self What may this meane Is it because your self beleeu this faith to be trew-sound groūded on the word of God and agreable thervnto If so why thē wryting these thinges do you not professe it Why do you dissemble it specially whē you heare that this fayth is traduced as schisme as heresy but you see perhaps that in the doctrine of faith we erre from the truth If it be so why then wryte you and yet shew not the errours why do you not as much as in you is bring into the way such as do erre Do not whē request is made that the errours may be shewed by the light of the holy Scripture Certainly your godlynes perswadeth otherwise yea God himself requireth otherwise Iam. 5.19.20 Yet now when you touch not the doctrine it self what is it that you wryte in this behalf Even this only that you would perswade we have erred herein that we have publyshed the confession of our faith First of al this concerneth the maner not the matter it self But yet let vs weigh your reasons If say you there be a certayne consent of doctrine then there was no need that we should set forth a new Confession in this agreement of holy and ancient doctrine Doe you indeed speak as you thinke How is it then that some while synce when the Germane and French Churches had before publyshed their Confessions of fayth yet afterward the Belgick Scotish and other Churches set forth theirs also notwitstanding that they agreed with them in the holy and anncient doctrine Yea tell vs we pray you what you think of that godly and learned Mr. Beza his pryvate Confession of fayth lately publyshed Not to speake of many other wrytten and divulged by many of the martyrs also in their severall ages Do not all these agree in the holy and anncyent doctrine of Godlynes Or should not therfore these Confessions have bene publyshed What soever you shall say for them mynd the same also as spoken for vs. Secondly you say if there be any dissention in doctrine that ought not to be dissembled c. But what is this to vs who have playnely shewed and reckned vp the thinges wherein we dissent from the Church of England with whom we have to do in this behalf Neyther that only but have also in our Confession not obscurely signified concerning the thinges wherein the other Churches of this city and ours as yet do not agree After these thinges you come to discusse the end and fact of our publyshing this Confession Touching the end we have shewed it in the epistle and preface set before the booke it self And we answer further that we did this to the same end that all the reformed Churches of late did publysh theirs For proof wherof let the preface of the Harmony of Confessions compared with ours speak for vs. If you take away the reasons by both alleadged we yeeld But if you cannot then see whether both here and other where often in this letter you do not through our sydes strike at all these Churches lykewise Our cause and cleering we commyt to God and to all godly that love the truth Such as before knewe not our cause they may now by this meanes have knowledg therof Such as be enemyes of God of the Church of the truth have nothing by this book of ours wherof to rejoyce They will rather be grieved when thus they shall see Antichrist that man of synne to be more and more discovered whom the Lord in the end will wholy consume and abolysh with the spirit of his mouth in the testimony not in the silence of his servants 2. Thes 2.8 with Rev. 12.11 and 14 6 7 8. and 20.4 Fynally such as be weak and by reason of the stink of schismes know not the true body of Christ whervnto they should joyne themselves they may by this meanes be better instructed and induced more certainly to know and imbrace the true Church and fayth of Christ Thus desyre we that the publyck good of the Church be holye forward that Christ may have the preeminence over all And thus have we spoken of the end in which as yet we see not any mistaking or errour Touching the fact we answer in lyke maner as before concerning the end Yea and the thinges which here you bring for not doing it in publyck you may vrge the very same lykewise against all the reformed Churches against Athanasius Origen Augustine Tertullian and others of the fathers against Zuinglius Luther Calvine Beza and many other of these ages godly men and divers of them also Martyrs of Iesus Christ who have set forth in publyck their Confessions of fayth private their apologies complaynts disputations yea and their letters concerning matters in religion publyckly controverted But these things perhaps came not in your mynd whiles there was before your eyes only the contemplation of our particular cause which thing your self we trust will perceive if you turne your eyes a lytle from vs vnto others approved by your self Moreover howsoever the evill wherof you wryte do prevayte in publyck yet alwayes and every where wisdome is justified of her children as Christ hath taught Mat. 11.16.19 And this shall suffice vs and all that are godly Lastly in a case of such weight and necessity who should rather be called vpon then the students of the holy Scriptures in Christian vniversityes Who we pray you are esteemed to be of better or sounder judgment Whome doth it more concerne to take knowledg of the truth and errours in religion Who should better instruct in the truth or convince falshoold And to conclude who can or ought to attend more to the discussing of these things But you object that seeing we have here found place of rest here also we must receive the judgment of our doctrine and fayth if we will have the same lawfully knowen and approved c. Here come many things to be considered First what if the rest and breathing which here we enjoye come
that knowledg and evidence as now is had of the fulfilling throughout severall ages of those prophecyes which are in the Scriptures of the Beast of the false Prophet of Antichrist of his mystery exaltation tyranny marchants discovery fall etc. How should from their owne Acts the adversaryes mouthes be so stopped as now we see heare and read is dayly done by the martyrs and servants of Christ Lastly how could your self and other learned men have so expounded that divine book of the Revelation not to speak of other Scriptures lykewise interpreted as you have now already done which great fruit and gratulation of all the godly Of the end which here againe you vrge we have spoken both before in this letter and in the epistles prefixed to the book it self Adde herevnto that if the Prelats and other adversaryes of the truth be not by these and the lyke wrytinges amended they shall yet doubtlesse be made the more vnexcuseable The visard also by which they have deceyved you as it seemeth and almost all others was to be pulled of But this could not be donne for the knowledg of all as was meeâ— otherwise then by publyck wryting To omytt others we appeale vnto your conscience learned S. whether you did think the estate of that Church and of those Prelats to be such in any measure touching their Antichristian constitution leitourgy ministery Hierarchy which your self acknowledg to be that other beast in Rev. 13 11.18 as now for certeyne you heare and see it in that book as it were paynted out before your eyes But of these things ynough is sayd in the book it self Surely these and the lyke their vnfruitfull workes of darknes were to be reprooved not dissembled not allowed especyally seing they are so stiffely by them retayned defended vrged and that vnder a pretence of the Gospell with which they have no more agreement then darknes hath with light Beliall with Christ Neyther is this to take vp burthens of Accusations but to take away the visard of Antichristian apostasy and to witnes the truth of Iesus Christ against Antichrist which duty our Lord and Saviour Christ requireth of you of vs of all the godly the Lord we say who in these latter tymes hath begunne to discover that lawles man of sinne and will at length consume him with the spirit of his mouth by the word of the testimony of his servants So far of is it that they should be accounted busy bodyes which performe this duty to Christ or that we herein have don you any iniury So far of also is it that we should think what you speak of your self the same to be answered vs by the rest of the bretheren that are any where els in Churches in Vniversityes Not to speak of others we know that Mr. Beza that worthy servant of God hath in causes not much vnlyke answered otherwise But of this matter more herafter In the meane tyme that we also may deale syncerely and brotherly with you mynd we pray you whether you have not done your self iniury whiles you have climed into this seate so confidentâ—â— to pronounce that of others wherof as we think you cannot any way have certaine knowledg yea whiles you alone determyne of that matter which to use your owne wordes requireth serious consultation and holy communication Touching the event we commit it to God who we certeynly hope will worck al these things for good both to vs and to theÌ„ by whom we are exiled and to these amonge whom we sojorne and to the Church of God every where And to whom we pray you would it not be good if that were done which we desâ—er ffor our selves if we erre let the righteous smyte and reprove vs it shal be a benefyt and precious oyntment vnto vs. For our adversaries if they be the more estraunged it shal be their own fault not ours nor theirs that shall godlyly and freely testifie what they see in this cause And who knoweth whether by this meanes they may be brought to consider more then heretofore both of the vnlawfull constitution of that Church and of their outragious cruelty and therevpon seriously endevour a godly redressing of the former and an vtter repressing of the latter For the good among whom we sojourne they shall have better knowledg of our fayth and cause they may also grow vp together more strongly in the truth of the Gospell whiles thus they are stirred vp more carefully to endevour that the corruptions wherewith their Churches yet are faulty may be duly abolyshed and whiles such as are seduced by the errours of the Papists Anabaptists and other hereticks troubling these Churches are vpon this occasion drawne from such estate and stirred vp to search knowe and embrace the truth of Gospell Fynally for the whole Church we hope it shall hence also receive much profyt if this fayth and cause which now a long tyme hath ben condempned for schisme and heresy if also that Antichristian Apostasy which now a long tyme vnder the visard of godlynes hath deceived the world in the mystery of iniquity if these things we say being of so great moment be examyned and discussed by the canon of the Scriptures of so many and so worthy men furnyshed with learning godlynes judgment wisdome And thus much of the second poynt which was concerning the fact The third you say is of the conclusion inferred vpon comparing together the doctrine and fact aforesaid Here first you affirme you withâ—â—ould your self in suspence in this cause Be it so It is God that can reveale this also vnto you and perswade your conscience by his Spirit and word Then you annex some things concerning the doctrine and consent of the fathers and all wise men in all ages but you propound them so doubtfully that as touching our cause we cannot perceive what your meaning is Your wordes may so be vnderstood as we most willingly consent with you in this matter agayne they may be so taken as we dissent from you not a lytle nor without cause We are perswaded that separation should not be made from any Church eyther rashly or at all so long as we may remayne with sound fayth and coÌ„science You must therfore speak more playnely what you think of our separation if you suppose we have erred in this behalf all those things being discussed by the word of God which we have mencâ—oned in the preface and Confession aforesaid In the meane tyme heare and ponder well we pray you what Mr. Beza that learned man and well deserving of the Church of Christ hath wrytten and publyshed some while since concerning this question Thus he hath in his epistles publyshed in the right epistle sent to Ed Grir dall heretofore Pâ—elate of London wherein wryting of the state and corruptioÌ„s of the Churche of England he sayeth If it be trew which is commoÌ„ly reported and wherof my self am not yet perswaded that private Baptisme is there permitted to women I
be seen This it is not likely Mr. Iunius himself would doe but was perhaps the printers fault or rather indeed the translators evil mind for his mother churches advantage whoÌ„ falshood seeketh to vphold when syncerity and truth hath forsaken her It shal therfore rest vpon him as the first fruits of his evil labours in this kind til he clear himself The Apostles and Prophets and Martyrs by him mentioned dealt not so Neither yet did they alwayes insist vpon a plaine and simple asseveration of the truth but mainteyned it also with proofes and arguments from scripture and sound reason against such as oppugned the same Act. 17.2.3 and 18.28 and 28.23 Rom 1.17 and 3.4.10 and 4.3.7.17 and 9.7.9.12.13.17.20.25.27.29.33 and 10.5.11.15.19.21 and 11.2.9.26 1 Cor. 15.3.4.25.27.45.54.55 Gal. 3.6 8.10.11.13.22 and 4.21.22.27.30 Esa 40.12 and 41.21.22.23.24 and 44.6 and c. Mal. 4.4 Acts monuments in the historie of Mr. Brute Thorp Lambert Ridly Philpot Bradford and many others And though the Apostles and Prophets had yet no maÌ„s asseveratioÌ„ now may be compared with theirs but must be tried by their writings And so these Christian exiles published to that end their faith vnto the world against which to this day neither Mr. Iunius nor any els of that or the other vniversities have to our knowledge vsed any one weighty and sound reason grounded vpon the holy scripture of God as this translator would bear men in hand he doth and as the Prophets did in al their asseverations taking their ground from the law before given Mat. 22.40 The Lord rebuke Satan and make bright the glorie of his name and Gospel and turne to the profit of every faithful soule these things now published by his vnworthy and contemned servants to his owne eternal prayse in Christ Amen To the Reader By the Printers default there are good Reader a few faults escaped in the printing some whereof are here noted Which with the rest thou observest thy self we pray thee amend thus Pag. 11. lin 13. then to make Pag. 12. l. 8. all that Pag. 15. l. 20.21.22.32.33.34 blot out these marcks * ‡ * ‡ Pag. 16. l. 1. also * of old And lin 7. Iob. 1.6 Pag. 17. l. 3. vnwritten And blot out of men Pag. 18. l. 13. Act. 3.22 Pag. 24. l. 34. Eph. 4.11 Pag. 25. l. 20. â—iev 2.1 1. King 12. Pag. 27. l. 28. Gal. 3.28.29 Pag. 29. l. 1. no whit L. 18.1 Tim. 2.2 L. 49. Exod. 18.12 and 10 1â— Pag. 39. l. 7. Churches of this city that etc. and then be delivered L. 27. contend Pag. 40. l. 26. publish Pag. 41. l. 1. their private Confessions of faith their apol L. 7.8 prevaile Pag. 42. l. 22. let vs. Pag. 45. l. 13. ingenuously Pag. 47. in the margent l. 10. licet vobis And l. 13. discindere P. 48. l. 10 coÌ„sent P. 50. li. 9. eveÌ„ to strive earnestly P. 51. l. 32. taunting Pag. 53. l. 3. yea so L. 13. many weak ones before so many deadly Pa. 54. l. 1. Amst is such as being but one yet it meeteth in three severall places wherevpon it is so confus etc. And li. 32. Gal. 4.10.11 Note besides where Mr. Iunius in his second letter Pag. 47. pretendeth as if there had ben some fault in the Messenger or vs that he knew not to whom or whither he should have written his first that in the book it self which was delivered vnto him there was particular mention both of the place and of the partyes from whoÌ„ it came as may be seen in the Epistle prefired before it which is of the dedication to the vniversityes And els how knew he at the moneths end more then before to whom and whither to send as he did Which poynt is so very playne as to himself we thought there needed not then so much as any mention of it Yet thought we here to note it least some others not observing so much might thinck the fault wherof he speaketh to ly on vs or the messeÌ„ger which what soever it were is still to rest vpon himself for ought we know The Confession of fayth of certayne English people living in exile in the Low countreyes Together vvith the Preface to the Reader Which we wish of all may be read and considered 2. Cor. 4 13. We beleev therefore have we spoken Harmony of Confess in the preface set before it in the Name of the French and Belgick Churches The Prelates and Priests do alvvay cry out that vve are Hereticks Schismaticks and Sectaryes Hovvbeit let theÌ„ knovv that the crime of Heresy is not to be imputed to theÌ„ vvhose faith doth vvholy rely vpon most sure grounds of the Scripture That they are not Schismaticks vvho entierly cleave to the true Church of God such as the Prophets and Apostles do describe vnto vs Nor they to be counted Sectaryes vvho embrace the truth of God vvhich is one and alvvayes like it self To the reverend and learned men the Students of holy Scripture in the Christian Vniversities of Leyden in Holland of Sanctandrewes in Scotland of Heidelbergh Geneva and the other like famous scholes of learning in the Low countreyes Scotland Germany and France The English exiles in the Low countreys wish grace and peace in Iesus Christ THis true confession of our faith in our judgment wholy agreable to the sacred Scripture we do here exhibit vnto all to be discussed and vnto you reverend Sirs we dedicate it for two causes First for that we know you are able in respect of your singular knowledge in the Scriptures and hope you are willing in respect of your syncere piety to convince our errours by the light of Gods word if in any thing we be out of the way Secondly that this testimony of Christian faith if you also fynd it agree with the word of truth may by you be approved eyther in silence or by writing as you shall think best It may be we shal be thought very bold that being despised of all yet doubted not to sollicite you so many and so great learned men But this we did partly at the request of others to whom we would not deny it partly with desier to have the truth through your help better defended and further spread abroad partly coÌ„streyned by our exile and other calamityes almost infinite partly also moved with love of our native couÌ„trey and of these wherein now we live and others else where wishing that all may walk with a right foot to the truth of the Gospell and praying daily vnto God that the great work of restoring Religion and the Church decayed which he hath happily begun in these latter tymes by our Gracious Soveraigne and the other Princes of these countreyes and ages his servants he would fully accomplish to the glory of his name and eternall salvation in Christ of his elect in all places of the earth As for the causes which moved vs to publish this Confession of faith and to forsake the Church of England as now
Certayne Letters translated into English being first written in Latine Two by the reverend and learned Mr. Francis Iunius Divinitie Reader at Leyden in Holland The other by the exiled English Church abiding for the present at Amsterdam in Holland Together with the Confession of faith prefixed where vpon the said letters were first written Esa 53.1 Who beleveth our report and to whom is the arme of the Lord revealed Printed in the yeare 1602. R.G. the translatour of M. Iunius his letters To the Christian Reader SVch as of late yeares have rent themselues from the holie service of God used im the publique congregations and Churches of England being destitute of any sound warrant from the worde of God have sought from time to time so much the more earnestly as the manner of such is to shroude themselves vnder the shadowe of humane authoritie HeÌ„ce it came to passe that Master Francis Iunius a maÌ„ of great learning and godlinesse was solicited by some of them as may appeare by these letters ensuing in the yeare 99. to be a favourer of their erronious opinions and of their vnchristian disordered and vndutifull proceedings whose answere being delivered by himselfe to a religious and worshipful knight and so comming to my handes I have presumed to communicate with thee by the motion of some godly and well disposed hoping that through the blessing of God and thy prayers it may proove a good meanes to stay such as are wavering to confirme such as doe stand and to recover such as are fallen For although he doe not enter into an exact discussing of the question with arguments objections and answeres yet he vseth a very grave and godly admonition which is oftentimes of greater fruite then a long and learned disputation And whosoever doth diligently studie the booke of God shal finde that the holy Prophets Apostles do in manie places insist upoÌ„ a plaine simple asleveâ—ation of the truth rather then vpon multitude of proof arguments Besides if we observe the story of the holy Martyrs of our own Church others we may preceive that by the sound profession of their faith and suffering for the same they have glorified God and advanced the kingdome of Iesus Christ aswel as others have done by arguments and reasons And yet notwithstanding if thou do well obserue these letters of Master Iunius thou shalt finde in them not vaine and emptie wordes but waightie and sounde reasons grounded upon the holie Scriptures of God Thus praying thee to take these first fruites of my poore laboures in this kinde in good part and beseching god to give a blessing hereunto I bid thee heartily farewel in the Lord. Thyne in the Lord R.G. The Answer to R.G. his Epistle prefixed before Mr. Iunius letters SUch as have separated themselves from the corrupt service of God vsed in the publick congregations and parishes of England being persecuted with afâ—lictions reproches and slanders both at home and in the land wheâ— now they live exiles have ben constreyned to publish to the world the confession of their Christian faith and causes of their departure from the foresayd English synagogues for clearing of the truth of God and witnesses of the same both which were much and many wayes calumniated More specially they dedicated that litle book to al Christian vniversities neer about to be discussed approved or reproved by the godly learned in them And sending one in particular to the hands of M.H. Iunius a man of great learning and godlines dwelling neer vnto them to be by him and the rest of his brethreÌ„ of the vniversitie at Leyden judged of they received from him a letter lately by one R.G. traÌ„slated and printed in English whether with the authors consent or not is yet vnknowne but the copy as the publisher sayth was given out by the author himself who might had done wel to have given a copy of the answer likewise or if he did the translator hath not dealt indifferently to publish one and not an other How ever it were al men may see how just and necessary occasion those eriled Christians now have to print their answer also which vpoÌ„ the receipt of his Letter they sent vnto him but hitherto have spared to give out any one copy either of his or theirs whether for doubt of their owne cause or reverend regard rather of that maÌ„ let the sequel declare and let the discrete reader by it judge whether party hath most advantage As for the translators censure that they sought to shrowd themselves vnder the shadow of humane authoritie this brief narratioÌ„ of the cariage of the matter and the plaine apologie which they make vnto Mr. Iunius of their proceedings wil shew it vnto al godly wyse to be but the surmise of a malicious hart And were it not that the weaknes and badnes of their cause compelleth them thus to doe it might seem strange that any of the church of England would publish such a writing as this in their owne defence as if it approved their estate and condeÌ„ned those foresayd Christian exiles when any whose eyes ar in his head may see by Mr Iunius his writing vnto them as Christian brethren and refusing at al to vndertake the maintenance of those English parishes or conviction of such as separate from them how far it is froÌ„ justifying those synagogues estate Yea al wiseharted may and will we doubt not easily discerne how naked and helplesse they be which neither by their friends at home nor the most learned abroad can otherwise be â—elieved then by such things as hitherto they have printed Or howsoever this present generation shall judge of these things yet the ages to come which wil be lesse partial wil easily give sentence The better to certify thee good reader of the whole cause and cariage therof here is with these Lecters set forth also their Confession of faith with the Episâ—le and preface as it is in Latine And wheras ther is since that time published also a second epistle of Mr. Iunius ther is now the answer to it set forth likewise which answer was presently written vpon the receipt of his Letter but not then sent for causes partly before noted and now more fully signified and sent to Mr. Iunius himself The things which here are mentioned of corruptions in some other churches and dealings that have passed about theÌ„ ar yet spared from being published in print at large til further occasion and provocation be Onely the general and brief hâ—â—ds of the matter in controversie at now printed as they were sent vnto Mr. Iunius although we were loth to do it but that their was necessarie occasion given by things which passed in the Letters as al meÌ„ may see Moreover it is not to be omitted how in the printed copy of Mr. Iunius Letter some things were corrupted by alteration omission and c. Otherwise then in the original by himself first sent they do stand and ar yet to
it staÌ„deth we have truly and as briefly as we could related them in the Preface to the Reader hereafter following and therefore thought here to omit the repetition of them The Lord Iesus alway preserve you and your Vniversityes to the praise of his name the ornameÌ„t of good learning the propagation and maintenance of his pure Religion From Amsterdam in the low countreyes The yeare of the last patience of the saints 1598. The preface to the Christian Reader IT may seeme strange vnto thee Christian Reader that any off the Englysh nation should for the truth of the Gospell be forced to forsake their natyve contrye and lyve in exile especially in these dayes when the Gospell seemeth to have free passage and florish in that land And for this cause have our exile bene hardly thought of by many and evil spoken of by some who know not as it seemeth eyther the trewe estate of the Church of England or causes of our forsaking and separating from the same but hearing this sect as they call it to be every where spoken against have with out at all further search accounted and divulged vs as heretickes or Schismatickes at the least Yea some and such as worst might have sought the increase of our afflictions even here also yf they could which thinge they have both secretly and openly attempted This hath Sathan added vnto all our former sorrowes envying that we should have rest in any part of the inhabyted world and therfor ceaseth not to make warre with the remnant of the womans seed which keepe the commaundemeÌ„ts of God and have the testimony of Iesus Christ But the Lord that brought his former Israell out off Egypt and when they walked aboute from nation to natioÌ„ from one Kingdome to an other people suffered no man to do them wronge but reproved kinges for their sakes the same Lord yet lyveth to maynteyne the right off his afflicted servantes whome he hath severed and dayly gathereth out off the world to be vnto himselff a chosen generatioÌ„ a royall priesthood a peculiar people and Israell off God He is our hope and strength and helpe in trobles ready to be found he will hyde vs vnder his winges and vnder his feathers we shall be sure vntyll these myseries be over past And though we could for our partes well have borne this rebuke off Christ in silence and left our cause to him who iudgeth iustly all the children off men yet for the manyfestation and clearing of the truth off God from reproche off men and for the bringing off others togither with our selves to the same knouwledge and fellowship off the Gospell we have thought it needfull and our duty to make knowen vnto the world our vnfeyghned fayth in God and loyall obedience towardes our Prince and all Governours set over vs in the Lord together with the reasons off our leaving the ministery worship and Church off England Which are not as they pretend for some fewe faultes and corruptions remayning such as we acknowledge man be found in the perfectest Church on earth Neyther count we it lawfull for any member to forsake the fellowship off the Church for blemyshes and imperfections which every one according to his calling should studeously seeke to cure and to exspect and further it vntyll eyther there followe redresse or the disease be growen incureable and the candlestick be moved out off the place But we having through Gods mercy learned to discerne betwixt the true worship off God and the Antichristian leitourgie the true ministerie off Christ and Antichristian priesthood and prelacy the ordinances off Christes testament and popysh cannons have also learned to leave the evill and choose the good to forsake Babell the land off our captyvitie and get vs vnto Sion the mount of the Lordes holynes and place where his honour dwelleth But first we desyre thee good Reader to vnderstand and mynde that we have not in any dislyke of the civill estate and politicke goverment in that common wealth which we much lyke and love seperated our selves from that Churche Neyther have we shaken of our alleageance and dutyfull obedyence to our Soveraigne Prince Elezabeth her honorable Consellers and other Magistrates set over vs but have alwayes and still do reverence love and obey them every one in the Lord opposing our selves against al enemyes forreigne or domesticall against all invasions insurrections treasons or conspiracies by whome soever intended against her Majestie and the State and are ready to adveÌ„ture our lyves in their defence iff need require Neiter have our greatest adversaryes ever bene able to attaint vs of the least disloyalty in this regarde And though now we be exiled yet do we dayly pray and will for the preservation peace and prosperity off her Majestie and all her domynions And wheras we have bene accused off intrusion into the Magistrates office as goeing about our selves to reforme the abuses in that land it is a mere malicious calumnie which our adversaries have forged out of their owne hart We have alwayes both by word and practise shewed the contrary neyther ever attempted or purposed any such thinge but have indevored thus onely to reforme our selves and our lyves according to the rule off Gods word by absteyning from all evyll and keeping the commandements off Iesus leaving the suppressing and casting out off those remnants of Idolatry vnto the Magistrates to whome it belongeth And further we testifye by these presents vnto all men and desyre them to take knowledge herof that we have not forsaken any one poynt of the true ancient catholicke and apostolicke fayth professed in our land but hold the same groundes of Christian religion with them still agreeing lykewise herein with the Dutch Scottysh Germane French Heldetian and all other Christian reformed Churches round about vs whose confessions publyshed we call to witnes our agrement with them in matters of greatest moment being coÌ„ferred with these articles of our fayth following The thinges then onely against which we contend and which we mislyke in the Englysh parish assemblyes are many reliques of that man off Synne whome they pretend to have abandoned yet reteyned among them and with a high hand maynteyned vpholden and imposed The particiâ—ers wherof being almost infinite cannot well off vs besett downe and would be tedious and yrksome to thee good Reader But the principall heades we wil truely relate and that so briefely as in so large and confuse a subject we can First in the planting and constituting of their Churche at the begining of our Queene Elizabets reigne they receved at once into the body of that Churche as members the whole land which generally then stood for the most part professed Papistes who had revolted from the profession which they made in the dayes of king Edward off happy memorye and shed much blood off many Christian Martyrs in Queene Maryes dayes This people yet standinge in this fearfull
sinfull state in idolatry blyndnes superstitioÌ„ and all manner wickednes without any professed repentance and without the meanes theroff namely the preaching off the word goeing before were by force and aucthority of lawe onely compelled and together receved into the bosome and body of the Churche their seed baptised themselves receved and compelled to the Lords supper had this ministery and servyce which now then use inioyned and set over them and eversynce they and their seed remayne in this estate being all but one body comonly called the Church of England Here are none exempted or excluded be they never soo prophane or wretched no athiest adulterer thiefe or murderer no lyer periured witche or coniurer and c. all are one fellowship one body one Churche Now let the law off God be looked into and there wil be found that such persones are not fit stones for the lordes spiritual howse no meete members for Christes glorious body None of yeres may be receved into the Churche without free professed fayth repeÌ„tance and submission vnto the Gospell of Christ and his heavenly ordynances Neyther may any contynew there longer then they bring forth the fruytes off fayth walking as becometh the Gospell of Christ Christ Iesus hath called and severed his servants out of and from the world How then should this confused and mixed people be esteemed the orderly gathered true planted and right constituted Church of God Secondly as they have reteyned the whole rout of the popysh multitude without any distinction for members of their Churche so have they set over them as reason was the same popysh Clergie and Prelacy which they receved from the Romysh Apostasie and this day is to be found in the popysh Churches to witâ— Archbs Primats Bbs Metropolitanes Suffraganes ArchdeacoÌ„s Deanes Chauncellors Commissaries and the rest of that rable which rule and governe these assemblyes according to the popysh cannons rites and customes These have the power and aucthoritie in their haÌ„des to set forth iniunctions to make and depose ministers to excomunicate both priest and people which they do very exquisitly if they yeld not vnto them their due homage and obedience These have both Ecclesiasticall and civill aucthoritie to reigne as Princes in the Churche and lyve as Lordes in the common wealth to punysh imprison and persecute eveÌ„ to death all that dare but once mutter against their vnlaufull proceedinges Of these prelates tyranny cruelty and vnlawfull aurthoritie the better sort both of preachers and people have cryed out and longe tyme sued vnto the Prince and parliameÌ„t to have them removed out of the Churche as being the lymmes of Antichrist But not prevayling they are now content for avoyding of the crosse of Christ to submitt them selves and their soules to this Antichristian Hierarchie and beare the sinfull yoke and burthen of their traditions and to receve and carry aboute the dreadfull and detestable marke of the beast vpon them Thirdly The inferiour ministery of that Churche consisteth of Priests Parsons Vicars Curats hired preachers or Lecturers with Clarkes Sextons c. all which have receved their offices callings and aucthoritie from their â—orenamed Lordes the Prelats to whome they have sworne their canonicall obedience and promysed to performe it with all reverence and submyssion Their office is to read over the servyce booke and Bps. Decrees thereby to worship God to marry to bury to church women to visit the sicke give him the Sacrament and forgyve him all his sinnes and if their lyvinges or benefices as they are called amount to a certeyne summe of money in the Queenes booke then must they preach or get some other to preach for them fower sermons in a yere in their parish where also must be noted that the most part of these Priestes are utterlye vnlearned and cannot preache at all wherby it cometh to passe that most of the people are as blynde as they were in the darke dayes of popery These ministers generally aswel preachers as other lyve in feare and servitude vnder their foresaid Lords the Bbs. for as without their lycence wrytten and sealed they cannot preach so vpon their displeasure and for not obeying their injunctions they are many tymes suspeÌ„ded degraded and if they will not be ruled put in prison so that sundry of them have bene suspended and imprisoned for preaching against the Prelats not subscribing to their devised articles and booke of comon prayer not wearing the square capp and surplus not reading the service booke and be tyed to the same not coming to the Bishops courtes visitations inquisitions and c. tyll now of late being wearyed with these trobles they give place to their tyranny and are content to conforme themselves and yelde their canonicall obedience according to their oathe keeping now silence yea going back bearing and bolstering the thinges which heretofore by word and wryting they stoode against so longe as there was any hope that the Queene and Counsell would have harkened vnto them and put these adversary Prelats out of the Churche Fourthly for the administration which is by lawe imposed vpon all both Clergie and Laitie for so they distinguish them they have gathered their service booke verbatim out of the masse booâ—â— turning out of latine into englysh the Suffragies Prayers Letany Collects c. leaving onâ— some of the grosse pointes therin keeping still the old fashyon of Psalmes Chapters Pistles Gospells versicles respondes also Te Deum Beâ—edictus Magnificat Nunc dimittis Our Father Lord have mercy vpon vs The Lord be with you O Lord open tâ—ow my lyps Glory to God on high Lyft vp your harts O come let vs rejoyce Glory be to the Father Quicunque vult c. These doe they read dayly morning and evening all the yere longe in their priestly vestures Surplus cope and c. some they saye and some they singe having in their Cathedrall Churches the Organs Queristers singing men and boyes as in tymes past in popery Many popysh errors yet remayne in that booke which their owne preachers have noted and found fault with There are they prescribed what prayers to read over the dead over the corne and grasse some tyme in the yere By it are they inioyned to keepe their holy dayes to their Lady as they call her to all Saincts and Angells to all Christes Apostells except Paul and Barnabas whose eves they are commaunded to fast as also their Lent and Ember dayes besydes frydayes and satardayes through out the whole yere By this booke are the ministers instructed how to marry with the signe of the Ringe and c. to baptise in the hallowed Font with signe of the crosse with Godfathers and Godmothers asking the childe whether it will forsake the devyll and all his workes and c. to minister also their other sacrament or communion to the people kneeling as when in popery they receved their maker the wordes of Christes institution altered and others in stead of them takeÌ„ out
never allowed and which never entred in to his hart yea which he hath so severely for bydden with fearefull judgements threatned vnto all hat shall so do But because we have bene very grievously slaÌ„dred in our owne nation and the bruit thereoff hath followed vs vnto this land wherby we have bene hardly deemed of by many without cause we have bene forced at length to publysh this briefe but true confession of our fayth for the cleering of our selves from sclander and satisfying of many who desyred to knowe the thinges we hold Wherein if in any thinge we erre as who is so perfit that he erreth not we reade good reader thy Christian brotherly censure and information promysing alwayes through the grace of God to yeild vnto the truth when it shall be further shewed vs and leave our errors when by the light of his word they shal be reproved In lyke manner it shall be thy part and duty to acknowledge and submytt vnto the truth by whome soever it is professed looking allwayes rather to the preciousnes of the treasure it self then to the basenes of the vessells which conteyne it or the infirmities of those that witnes the same in whose mortall bodyes thow shalt see nothing but the markes and dyeing of our lord Ihesus Christ But hold not thy fayth in respect of mens persons neyther be thow moved at the evyl reports wich have bene raised of vs Here hast thow the trewe summe of our Christian fayth try all thinges by the true light of Gods word and if thou shalt reape and profit by these our labours gyve God the glory and remember vs vnto him in thy prayers Farewell in Christ Iesus 1596. THE CONFESSION OF FAITH OF CERTAINE ENGLISH PEOPLE IN THE LOW COvNTREYES EXILED Weâ— beleeue with the heart confes with the mouth THat there is but one God one Christ one Spirit one Church one truth one Faith one true Religion one rule of godlines and obedience for all Christians in all places at all tymes to be observed 2 God is a Spirit whose beeing is of himself and giveth beeing moving and preservation to all other thingâ— beeing himself eternal most holy every way infinitâ— in greatnes wisdome power goodnes iustice truth etc. In this Godhead there be three distinct persons coeternall coequall and coessentiall beeing every one of them one and the same God and therefore not divided but distinguished one from another by theyr severall and peculiar propertie The Father of whom are the other persons but he of none the Sonne begotten of the Father from everlasting the holy Ghost proceeding from the Father and the Sonne before all beginnings 3 God hath decreed in himself from everlasting touching all things and the very least circumstances of every thing effectually to work and dispose them according to the counsell of his owne will to the glory of his name And touching his cheefest creatures GOD hath in Christ before the foundation of the world according to the good pleasure of his will foreordeyned some â—en and Angels to eternall lyfe to be accomplished through Iesus Christ to the â— prayse of the glorie of his grace 〈◊〉 hath also of alâ— according to his iust purpose foreappointed other both â—â—xesâ— and uiâ—â— to eternall condemnation to be accomplished through their owne corruptioÌ„ and desert to the praise of his iustice In the beginning God made al things of nothing veri good and created 〈◊〉 after his owne image and liknes in righteousnes aÌ„d holines of truth But streight ways after by the subtiltrie of the serpeÌ„t which Sathan vsed as his instrument himself with his Angels having sinned before and not kept their first esstate but left their owne habitation first Eva then Adam being seduced did wittingly and willingly fall into disobedience and traÌ„sgressioÌ„ of the coâ—mnaundâ—â—â—nt of God For the which death came vpon all and reigneth over all pea euen over infants also which have not sinned after the like maner of the trangression of Adam that is actually Hence also it is that all since the fall of Adam are begotten in his owne liknes after his image being conceyved and formed in iniquitie and so by nature children of wrath and servants of sinne and subiect to death and al other calamities due vnto sinne in this world and for ever 5 All mankind being thus fallen and become altogether dead in sinne and subiect to the eternall wrath of God both by originall and actuall corruption Yet the elect all and onely are redeemed quickned raysed vp and saved againe not of themselves neyther by works lest anie man should boast him self but wholly and only by GOD of his free grace and mercy through faith in Christ Iesus who of God is made vnto vs wisdome and rights aâ—sâ—es and sanctification and redemption that according as it is written Hee that resorceth may reioâ—ce in the Lord. 6 This therfort is lyfe eternall to know the only true God and whom hee hath sent into the world Iesus Christ And on the contrarie the Lord will render vengeance in â—laming fire vnto than that know not God and which over not the Gospell of our Lord Iesus Christ 7 How the rule of this â—nowledge faith and obedieÌ„câ— concerning the worship aÌ„d service of God and all other christiaÌ„ dinityes is not mens opinions devises lawes constitutions or traditions wâ—ritten whatsoeuer of men but onely the written word of God conteyned in the canonicall bookes of the old and new Testament 8 In this word Iesus Christ hath plainely reveled whatsoever his father thought needfull for vs to know beleeue and acknowledge as touching his person and Office in whom all the promises of God are yea and in whom they are Amen to the prayse of God through vs. 9 Touching his person the Lord Iesus of whom Moses and the Prophets wrote and whom the Apostlâ—s preached is the everlasting Sonne of God the father by eternall generation the brightnes of his glorie and the engraueÌ„ forthe of his Person coeffitiall coâ—qual and coeternall God with him and with the holy Ghost Ioy whoÌ„ hee made the worlds vp whoÌ„ hee vpholdeth and governeth all the works hee hath made Who also wheÌ„ the fulnes of tyme was come was made man of a woman of the Tribe of Iudah of the seed of Dauid and Abraham to wyt of Mary that blessed Virgin by the holy Ghost comming vpon hir and the power of the most high ouershadowing hir and was also in al things lyke vnto vs sinne only excepted 10 Touching his Office Iesus Christ only iâ— made the Mediâ—tor of the new TestameÌ„t even of the everlasting Couenant of grace betweeÌ„ God maÌ„ to be perâ—â—câ—ly and fully the Prophet Priest and King of the Church of God for evermore 11 Vnto this office hee was from everlasting by the
iust and â—â—fficient authoritie of the father and in respect of his manhood from the waâ—â—h â—allâ—d and seperated aÌ„d anoynted also most fully and aboÌ„daÌ„tly with all necessary gifts as it is written God hath not measured out the Spirit vnto him 12 This office to be Mediator that is Prophet Priest and King of the Church of God is so proper to Christ as neyther in the whole nor in any part thereof it can be transferred from him to any other 13 Touching his Prophecie Christ hath perfectly revealed out of the bozome of his father the whole word and will of God that is needfull for his servants eyther joyntly or severally to know beleeve or obey Hee also hath spoken and doth speake to his Church in his owne ordinance by his owne ministers and instruments onely and not by any false ministery at any tyme. 14 Towching his Priesthood Christ beeing consecrated hath appeared once to put away sinne by the offring and sacrificing of himself and to this end hath fully performed and suffred all those things by which GOD through the blood of that his crosse in an acceptable sacrifice might be reconciled to his elect and having broken downe the partition wall and therewith finished and removed all those rites shadowes and ceremonies is nowâ— entred within the vayle into the holy of holiest that is to the very heaven and presence of God where hee for ever lyveth and sitteth at the right hand of Maiestieâ— apperring before the face of his Father to make intercession for such as come vnto the throne of grace by that new and living way and not that onely but maketh his people a spirituall howse and holy Priesthood to offer vp spirituall sacrifices acceptable to God through him Neyther doth the Father acceâ—â— or Christ offer vnto the father any other worship or worshippers 15 Towching his Kingdome Christ being risen froÌ„ the dead ascended into heaven set at the right hand of GOâ— the Father having all power in heaven and earth given vnto him he doth spiritually governe his Church exercising his power over all Angels and men good and bad to the preservation and salvation of the elect to the overruling and destruction of the reprobate communicating and applying the benefits vertue and fruite of his prophecy and Priesthood vnto his elect namely to the remission subduing and taking away of their sinnes to their iustification adoption of sonnes regeneration sanctification preservation and strengthning in all their conflicts against Sathan the world the flesh and the temptation of them continually dwelling in governing and keeping their harts in his true faith and fear by his holy spirit which having once given it hee never taketh away from them but by it still begetteth and nourisheth in them repentance faith love obedience comfort peace ioy hope and all christian vertues vnto immortalitie notwithstanding that it be somtymes through sinne and tentation interrupted smothered and as it were overwhelmed for the tyme. Agayne on the contrary ruling in the world over his enemies Sathan and all the vessels of wrath limiting vsing restrayning them by his mighty power as seemeth good in his divine wisdome and iustice to the execution of his determinate counsel to wit to their seduction hardning and condemnation delivering them vp to a reprobate mynde to be kept through their owne desert in darcknes sinne and sensualitie vnto iudgement 16 This Kingdome shall be then fully perfected when he shall the second tyme come in glory with his mightie Angels to iudge both quick and dead to abolish all rule authoritie and power to put al his enimies vnder his feet to separate and free all his choseÌ„ from them for ever to punish the wicked with everlasting perdition from his presence to gather ioyne and carry the godly with hmiself into endlesse glory and then to deliuer vp the kingdome to God euen the Father that so the glorie of the father may bee full and perfect in the Sonne the glorie of the Sonne in all his members and God bee all in all 17 In the meane tyme bisides his absolute rule in the world Christ hath here in earth a spirituall Kingdome and aeconomicall regiment in his Church which hee hath purchased and redemed to himself as a peculiar inheritaÌ„ce And albeyt that manie hypocâ—tâ—es do for the tyme lurke amongst them whiles the Church is militant here on earth yet Christ nothwithstanding â—oy the power of his word gathereth them which be his into the body of his Church calleth them from out of the world bringeth them to hid true faith separating them from amongst vnbeleevers froÌ„ idolatrie false worship superstitioÌ„ vanitie dissolute life and al works of darknes c. making theÌ„ a royall Priesthod an holy NatioÌ„ a people set at libertie to shew foorth the virtues of him that hath called them out of darknes into his mervelous light gathering and vniting theÌ„ together as members of one bodi in his faith loue and holy order vnto all generall and mutuall dutyes through his spirit instructing aÌ„d governing them by such officers and lawes as hee hath prescribed in his word by which Officers and lawes hee governeth his Church and by none other 18 To this Church hee hath made the promiseâ— and giuen the seales of his Covenant presence loue blessing and protectioÌ„ Here are the holy Oracles as in the Aâ—ke suerly kept and puerly taught Heere are all the fountaynes and springs of his grace continually replenished and slowing forth Heere is Christ lifted vp to al Nations hither hee inuiteth all men to his supper his mariage feast hither ought all men of all estates aÌ„d degrees that acknowledge him theyr Prophet Priest and King to reâ—â—yre to bee enrolled â—mongst his houshold seruants to bee vnder his heauenly conduct and goverment to leade theyr liues in his wâ—lled sheepfold aÌ„d watered orchard to haue communion heer with the Saincts that they may bee made meet to bee partakers of their inheritaÌ„ce in the kingdome of God 19. And as all his servaÌ„ts and subiects are called hither to presse their bodies and soules and to bring the gyfts God hath given them so beeing come they are heer by himself bestowed in theyr severall order peculiar place but vse beeing fitly compact and knit togeather by every ioynt of help according to the effectuall worke in the measure of every part vnto the edification of it self in love Whervnto when hee ascended vp on high he gave gifts vnto men and distributed them vnto several publik fuÌ„ctions in his Church having instituted and ratified to continue vnto the worlds end onely this publick ordinarie ministery of Pastors Teachers Elders Deacons Helpers to the instruction government and service of his Church 20 This ministerie is craftely described distinguished limited concerning these office their calling to their 〈…〉 administration of their office and theâ—â—
any commandement or vnder anie colour whatsoever 33 And being come forth of this antichristian estate vnto the freedom and true profession of Christ besides the instructing and well guyding of their owne families they are willingly to ioyne together in christian communion and orderly covenant and by free confession of the faith and obedieÌ„ce of Christ to vnite themselves into peculiar and visible congregations wherin as members of one body wherof Christ is the only head they are to worship and serve God according to his word remembring to keep holy the Lords day 34. Then also such to whom God hath given gifts to interpret the Scriptures tryed in the exercise of Prophecy attending to studie and learning may and ought by the appointment of the congregation to prophecy according to the proportion of faith and so to teach publickly the word of God for the edification exhortâ—tion and comfort of the Church Vntill such tyme as the people do meet for and God manifest men with able guifts and 〈◊〉 to such Office or Offices as Christ hath appointed to the publick ministerie of his Church But no Sacraments to be administred vntill the Pastors or Teachers be chosen and ordeined into theyr office 35 And then wheresoever ther shall be a people fit and men furnished with meet and necessary guifts they are not onely still to continue the exercise of Prophecy aforsaid but also vpon due tryall to proceed vnto choyce and ordination of Officers for the ministery aÌ„d service of the Church according to the rule of Gods word And so hold on stil to walke forward in the ways of Christ for theyr mutuall edification and confort as it shall please God to give knowledge and graâ—e therevnto And particularly that such as be of the seed or vnder the governmeÌ„t of anie of the Church be even in their infancie receyved to Baptisme and made partakers of the signe of Gods covenant made with the Faithful and their seed throughout all generations And that all of the Church that are of yeares and able to examine themselves doo communicate also in the Lords supper both men and women and in both kindes bread and wine In which elements as also in the water of baptisme even after they are consecrate there is neyther transubstantiation into nor coÌ„substantiatioÌ„ with the bodye and blood of Iesus Christ whom the heavens must conteyne vntill the tyme that al things be restored But they are in the ordinance of God signes and seales of Gods everlasting covenant with vs representing and offring to all the receyvers but exhibiting only to the true beleevers the Lord Iesus Christ and all his benefits vnto righteousnes sanctification and eternall lyfe through faith in his name to the glorie and prayse of God 36 Thus being righly gathered established and still proceeding in christian communion and obedience of the Gospell of Christ none is to separate for falts and corruptions which may and so long as the Church consisteth of mortall men will fall out and arise among them even in true constituted Churches but by due order to seeke redresse therof 37. Such as yet see not the truth may heare the publik doctine and prayers of the church and with al meeknes are to bee sought by all meanes Yet none who are growne in yeares may bee received into their communion as members but such as doe make confession of their faith publickly desiring to be received as members and promissing to walke in the obedience of Christ Neyther any infants but such as are the seed of the faithfull by one of the parents or vnder their education and government And further not anie from one coÌ„gregation to be received members in another without bringing certificate of their former estate and present purpose 38 And although the particular congregations be thus distinct and severall bodies every one as a compact and knit citie in it self yet are they all to walke by one and the same rule and by all meanes convenieÌ„t to have the coÌ„sell and help one of another in all needfull affaires of the Church as members of one body in the common faith vnder Christ their onely head 39 It is the office and dutie of Princes and Magistrates who by the ordinance of God are supreme governors vnder him over all persons and causes within their Realmes and dominions to suppresse and root out by their authority all false ministeries voluntarie religions and counterfeit worship of God to abolish and destroy the Idoll Temples Images Altars Vestments and all other monuments of idolatry and superstition and to take and convert to theyr owne â—â—vile vses not only the benefit of all such idolatrous buildings and monuments but also the Revenues Demeanes Lordships Possessions Gleaâ—es and maintenance of any false ministeryes and vnlawfull ecclesiasticall functions whatsoever within their dominions And on the other hand to establish and mainteine by their lawes every parâ— of Gods word his Christian Religion pure worship and true ministery described in his word to cherish and protect all such as are carefull â—o worship God according to his word and to lead a godly lyfe in all peace and loyaltie yea to enforce all their subiects whoever ecclesiasticall or civile to do their dutyes to God and menâ—protecting and mainteining the good punishing and restraining the evill according as God hath commaunded whose Lieutenants they are here on earth 40 And thus the protection and coÌ„mandement of the Princes and Magistrates maketh it much more peaceable though no wit at all more lawfull to walke in the wayes and ordinances of Iesus Christ which he hath commanded his Church to keep without spot and vnrebukeable vntill his appearing in the end of the world And in this behalfe therefore the brethren thus mynded aÌ„d proceeding as is before said are both continually to supplicate to God and as they may to their Princes and Governors that thus and vnder them they may leade a quiet and peaceable lyfe in all godlines and honestie 41 And if God encline the Magistrates hearts â—o the allowance and Protecction of the Church therin it ought to be accompted a singular and happy blessing of God who granteth such nourcing Fathers and nourcing Mothers to his Church And it behoveth all to be carefull to walke worthie so great a mercy of God in all thankfulnes and obedience 42 But if God withold the Magistrates allowance and furtheraÌ„ce herein yet must wee notwithstanding proceed together in ChristiaÌ„ covenant and communion thus to walke in the obedience of Christ aÌ„d confessioÌ„ of his faith and Gospell even through the middest of all tryalls and afflictions not accompting our goods lands wiveâ— children Fathers Mothers brethren sisters no nor our lyves dear vnto vs so as we may finish our course with ioy remembring always that we ought to obey God rather then man and grounding vpon
the commandement commission and promise of our Saviour Christ who as hee hath all power in heaven and in earth so hath also promised if we keep his commandements which he hath given without limitation of tyme place Magistrates allowance or disallowance to be with vs vnto the end of the world and when we have finished our course and kept the faith to give vs the crowne of righteousnes which is layd vp for all that love his appearing 43 Vnto all men is to be given whatsoever is due vnto them Tributes Customes and all other such lawfull and accustomed dutyes ought willingly and orderly to be payed and performed Our lands goods and bodyes to be submitted in the Lord to the Magistrates pleasure And the Magistrates themselves every way to be acknowledged reverenced and obeyed according to godlines not because of wrath only but also for conscience sake And finally all men so to be esteemed and regarded as is due and meet for their place age estate and condition 44 And thus wee labour to give vnto God that which is Gods and vnto Cesar that which is Cesars and vnto all men that which be longeth vnto them Endevoring our selves to have alwayes a cleare conscience towards God and towards men And having hope in God that the resurrection of the dead shal be of the iust vnto life and of the vniust vnto condemnation everlasting Now if any take this to be heresie then do wee with the Apostle freely confesse that after the way which they call heresie wee worship God the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ beleeving all things that are written in the Law and in the Prophets and Apostles And what soever is according to this rule of truth published by this State or holdē by anie reformed Churches in their Confessions abrode in the world We do also reiect and detest all straunge and hereticall opinions and doctrines of all Hereticks both old and new whatsoever 45 Finally wheras wee are much flandered and traduced as if we denyed or misliked that forme of prayer commonly called the Lords prayer wee thought it needfull here also concerning it to make known that we beleeve ād acknowledg it to be a most absolute and most excellent forme of prayer such as no men nor Angels can set downe the like And that it was taught and appointed by our Lord Iesus Christ not that we should be tyed to the vse of those very words but that we should according to that rule make all our requests and thanksgyuing vnto God forasmuch as it is a perfect forme and paterne conteining in it plaine and sufficient directions of prayer for all occasions and necessities that have ben are or shal be to the Church of God or any member therof to the end of the world Now vnto him that is able to keep vs that wee fall not and to present vs faltlesse before the presence of his glorie with ioy that is to God only wise our Saviour be glory and maiestie and dominion power both now for ever Amen MAISTER IVNIVS HIS FIRST LETTER CONCERNING THE CONFESSION OF FAITH AFORESAID To his beloved in Christ the Brethren of the English Church now abiding at Amsterdam GRace mercie and peace from God the Father and our Saviour Iesus Christ I have received of late belooved Brethren in Christ a little booke by one of your companie which is intituled The confession of faith of some English men banished in Belgia and have knowne your desire partly by the speach of the same messenger partly by the preface of the writing But as concerning my selfe beloved brethren whom for nearnes sake peradventure yee have thought meete to be called vpon a part I verily see not how much I can doe in this cause or how I can fit your purpose For I knowe that now long since euery man doth abound in his owne sense and that those that are other wise minded are with a brotherly mynd so fare to be borne with holding the heade and fundation til the Lord reveale things further vnto them I know it is my part not to play the busie body but that I should serve the truth and charitie in my standing and measure which the Lord hath bestowed vpon me in Christian modestie and simplicitie as farre as my skil and abilitie wil stretch vnto Certainely when I considered this cause more diligently I thought nothing more commodious or more safe for the publick and for you and my selfe in all this matter thē that we should embrace a holy silēce if there be any thing wherein we be offended and that we commit our cause to the Lord the author of our faith and righter of our cause But because after a sort you will not suffer mee to be silent and to cōdole in secret for the woundes of the Church which is rent more then inough by actions especially being thrust forth in publik in this our age I wil declare faith fully and with a good cōscience before God what I thinke beseeching him who is author of truth and peace that he would leade both you and me alike into all truth according to his promise also dispose each of our mindes and affections to interpret brotherly one anothers requestes answeres admonitions and finally all our duties although as it commeth to passe and is incident to man disagreeing from our sense and taste I obserue therefore that there are three heads or chief poynts in your little booke wherein you desire our counsell and iudgement The first head is of doctrine which you professe in your little booke The secōd is of fact whereof yee accuse the English Churches Lastly the third is of the conclusion which you inferre by comparing that your doctrine with that practise of England namely that yee cannot with good conscience entertaine a communiō with those Churches but that yee doe abhorre them with all your heartes Therefore I will speak briefely of these 3. things what I think entreating you brotherly to take my answere in good part I marvell that the point of doctrine or little booke of your confession beloved brethrē is sent ouer to me I marvell that it was sent ouer to all the students of holy Scriptures in all Christian Vniuersities for if there be a certaine consent of doctrine as you pretend it truely I do not see what need there was that you should set forth a newe confession in this consent of holy and auncient doctrine But if there be a dissention peradventure in the doctrine or rather a differēce that in deed ought not to bee dissembled if so be that yee thought it necessarie that your doctrine should be declared Besides in that you send to mee yea that you send to publicke viewe your confession I marvell brethren yea I greatly maruell what your meaning should bee both in respect of the ende and the fact For if ye haue set it foorth to that end that yee might
prudent part if thou abstaine from stirring the evill that is well appeased an impotent thing if thou doe contrariwise And to what end I pray you is it To the end that you might purge your selues But here is no man that doth repeate anew or lay these accusations against you Wherefore serueth this purgatioÌ„ that yee may be euen with them against whom yee coÌ„plaine But this is not the part of a Christian I doe not thinke that this is your meaning Is it to reforme them This indeed is an holy endeuour But if yee could not doe this when yee were present coÌ„sider what yee can doe when yee are absent But first of all consider with your selues by what meanes yee take this way namely to accuse to me to others to the publike in the theatre of the Church in the circle of the world Ah beloued brethren was it euer heard of that any priuate man to say nothing of a great communitie was euer amended by this course Further consider I pray you before whom yee bring these things I will speak of my selfe to whom alone yee would commit this your little booke I know not whether in this your little booke yee call upon me as an intercessor or examiner or a Iudge For if as an intercessor were it not better that your coÌ„plainâ—s were kept secret then layed open which tendeth to reproch and the Church of Christ innumerable soules weake strangers to be beaten with the types of your impression It is most manifest that they against whom yee deale wil be more prouoked by this grieuous sting If as an examiner by what right can I doe it who haue no lawful authority from God from the Church from the Magistrate or froÌ„ both the parties neither if it should be committed would I easily accept it I am so privie to my selfe of my owne insufficiencie for who am I or what am I that I should be able throughly to see euery particular thing concerning you and them which are required to a iust examination And this the right course of examination doth require otherwise as Seneca wisely saith he that judgeth one party being not heard albeit he iudgeth that which is right yet he is vniust Yee are not a little deceiued in this your iudgement beloued brethren Yee almost do me an iniury when ye call me to be a busie body or think that I wil take upon me the part of an examiner or that which is more subject to envie and farre from duetie of a Iudge And brethreÌ„ that which I say of my selfe thinke that is the answere of the other brethren which are any where els in Churches and Vniversities No wise man will rashly goe downe these steps or clime vp to this seate of judgement In deed concerning your faith and doctrine something may be said if you expound it and if the thing be done in order But touching the accusatioÌ„ of your couÌ„treymen and of mattets passed to and fro no wise man by my consent wil on this condition take vpon him the burthen of iudging And for Gods sake consider the event of this fact For I pray you whom would it profit if that were done which yee desire Certainly neither would it profit you nor theÌ„ nor these with whom ye soiourne nor the Church of God Contrariwise whom would it not hurt This thing would set you more on fire as contentions are woont the more to make hote the more they are stirred It would more alienate them whom yee pretend to be to injuriously enstranged from you For this is not the way of teaching nor of informing nor of seeking reconciliation It would rent asunder the good men whose hospitality yee doe now commodiously vse either froÌ„ you or amongst themselues which duetie they have not deserved of you by their hospitalitie It would set a more grievous fier on the whole Church and spread through all her ioynts which God turne away And that vnwise maÌ„ which should vsurpe this authority it would make a scorne to ill toÌ„gues while good men would pittie his vaine labour and your expectation Lastly that I may also adde this and marke brethren how sincerely and brotherly I deale with you albeit I might and would lawfully give sentence both of your faith which yee declare and also of the fact of accusatioÌ„ which yee bend against your countreymen Yet yee by this course and maner of dealing have taken from me the authority of doing that which yee require touching your fact your selves by this maner of request do hinder your owne desier Ye will marvalle perhaps at that which I say and yet it is so For you doe so require my iudgement as you doe also with all require the iudgement of all Vniversities and Students If you request this in common then you doe not desire that I should doe it alone but if particularly doe you thinke that any of vs will be so mad that when the judgement of so many good men and diligence is desired some one Palamon should take vpon him the chiefest parts and should by him selfe speake of that thing which is required of so many as learned yea better learned and better furnished with piâ—â—ie judgement and experience which requireth a serious consultation an holy communication and a ripe inoffensive judgment But now of the third thing what shal I say your selves I think beloved brethren do mynd that if I cannot on this condition neyther ought to give answer concerning the two points a foresaid it would be vtterly vnjust if I should as yet determine any thing on eyther side towching the coÌ„clusion which you draw froÌ„ thence that is from those premisses But I verily suspeÌ„d my iudgemeÌ„t brethreÌ„ I suspend my iudgemeÌ„t in this cause even as God nature reason and al lawes command me to do Ye know I think the causes by these things which ye haue now read shal learne besides by other things which God shal minister vnto you I hope by the spirit of trueth and wisdome I ought not to iudge with my selfe of matters vnknowne at least not so evident neither yet with such forward boldnesse to pronouÌ„ce among you or others the matter being not sufficiently manifest to my selfe God knoweth and iudgeth to whom stand or fall as many as are his servants Otherwise I trust yee are not ignoraÌ„t that there are three things which eueÌ„ froÌ„ the verie infancie of the Church the holy fathers would haue to be distinguished by the word of God among the people of God namely faith or doctrine conversation or manners and the order of discipline And all wise men haue taught this with one consent and delivered it to posteritie that where the foundation of the truth of doctrine remaineth which is the piller of saluation although with most corrupt manners and discipline there the Church remaineth that no man ought rashly to separate himselfe from that Church whiles he
vnto vs not by the Ministers of whome you speak but by the Magistrats which we do alwayes and every where acknowledg with thanckes Secondly what if these ministers men indeed learned and wise should be of the same mynd with you that they would not heare or speake any thing concerning our fayth and cause inasmuch as they would not be eyther intercessours or examiners or Iudges Furthermore what if our Confession of fayth have ben exhibited to them above three yeares synce that by them it might eyther be approved or the errours if there be any convinced What if some of them have denounced vs as hereticks and schismaticks What if they have received certayne articles full of lyes and sclaunders spread abroad against vs and yet to this daye have not gyven vs a copy of them no though they were desyred What if vpon occasion offered we have dealt with them touching certaine corruptions yet remayning in their Churches which notwithstanding they would not so much as acknowledg And finally what if we after the concealing and not regarding of all these thinges have now agayne this last yeare delyvered them the Confession of our fayth in wryting before it was put forth in print You see what we could answer in this behalf but we would rather have burned these thinges in forgetfulnes if you had not so vrged vs as from you they might not now be concealed Pardon you therfore and let them also we intreat pardon vs that we speak freely for you would have vs speak yea you constreyne vs against our will to wryte these things which we would have covered in silence hoping hereafter for better Besydes these we answer also that in the preface before our Confession is signified that not here only but almost every where we are traduced as heretickes and schismaticks and that therfore it concerned vs to declare our fayth and cause not to these only but vnto all The very thing which before vs on lyke occasion as is aforesaid both dyvers of the ffathers have don of old and in later wines almost all the reformed Churches and of the Martyrs not a few And hitherto of your reasons alleadged against the publyshing of our our fayth Which how weak they are now judg your self But suppose they were strong and that therfore herein we had erred that our Confession came forth in publyck yet now it is publyshed the errours if any be found in it are certeynly to be shewed and convinced by the word of God Otherwise you may easily gather that we shall be more coÌ„firmed in this fayth And seing you Learned Sr. do purposely wryte coÌ„cerning the Doctrine which we professe and yet shew not any one errour in the Doctrine consider wel what you have done Will you be ready to help them who erre as you think in the manner and circumstaÌ„ces and will you afford no help at all in the matter and fayth it self Far be this from you from your godlynes learning wisdome charity And thus much of the first poynt which you noted concerning doctrine 2 The second head is of the fact wherof as you say we accuse the Englysh Churches Here also we expected that you would have discussed those fower poynts which are particularly rehearsed in the preface of this book and which we shewed to be done and vsed by them dayly in their divine worship for which also we testifyed that we are banished and have departed from them But of these neyther have you not one word And yet this was the specyall fact which we noted for to be considered in that Church That other of the Prelats tyranny and persecution of vs we touched but by the way and in a few wordes We marvell therfore yea and greatly marvell that these thinges which directly concerne the matter and cause it self should thus every where be let passe by you who yet pretend to bring into the way such as do erre But les vs see nevertheles what the thinges are which you do here so much vrge The first is that those Churches from which we have departed should not by vs be accused About the word accusation we will not contend Onely this we say we vse it noâ— that we remember except wheÌ„ we treat of our owne cause who by them are accused of heresy schisme sedition etc. Of which for asmuch as we are accused among them here and every where what good man will deny vnto vs place of defence But you say no man desyreth to know why we came thence and that the injury also hath left to prosequute vs being departed from them How these things escaped you we marvell For in both of them you wryte other wise then the thing is For both many do dayly desier to know why we came thence and the injury hath prosequuted vs being departed into this place to this very day Of the former we need cyte no witnesses for they are almost infinite Of the latter besydes the Latine bookes publyshed at home by our owne contreymen besydes the libels which they have sparsed against vs in this city besydes the sclaunders wherewith then do also pursue vs every where besydes all these we say the Ministers them selves of the Churches Dutch and FreÌ„ch both here at Amsterdam and at Dordrecht are able to testifye they have received as we said afore certeyne articles full of lyes and sclaunders wrytten against vs and yet still they have them for ought we know Moreover if none of these things had falleÌ„ out opeÌ„ly before the world yet who knoweth not that Antichrists retinew such as be the Prelats do still resemble the nature and conditions of the Dragon who out of his mouth cast waters like a flood after the woman that he might cause her to be caryed away of the flood whom being present he could not devoure Rev. 12. and 13 chap. As for that you annexe of concealing injuryes it hath ben observed by vs as much as we could For neyther have we in particular related them neyther can we if we would We have noted only in generall that these Prelats have done the very things which the Scripture foretold should by the Beast and Antichrist be commytted Neyther are we in this kind of writing eyther the first or alone Thus heretofore have many of the servants of God wrytten who in their severall countries have ben many wayes veâ—ed by Antichrist Neyther that only but they have also noted downe the particuler persons names places tymes martyrdomes causes actions injuryes Search if you please the ecclesiasticall writers almost of everye age search the Acts and momments of the martyrs in this countrey in ours in Scotland in France in the other countryes almost all here about yea search the Acts of the Apostles and see if such particular historyes be not there also recorded Yet further tell vs we pray you if this course had ben held by all which you seem to exact of vs from whence then could you or any other have
men indeed learned and our bretheren beloved but hitherto we do not accord therein yet hope for better consent herafter by the blessing of God and throug the help of you and other godly men Finally pity the whole Church of Christ which verily it is not meet nor expedient neyther indeed ought among so many and grievous woundes of hers vniversally inflicted to be further galled with this particular wound that you should not take it in good part to have by vs the true faith of Christ publyshed and the remnants of Antichrists Apostasy discovered And thus have we wrytten freely and boldly vnto you good Sr whom we do vnfeynedly acknowledg to be godly learned and well deserving of the Church of Christ For we had rather that men should fynd fault with our boldnes then that Christ should reprove vs for leaving his cause Neyther doubt we but your self according to your wonted and commendable humanity wil pardon vs this fault whereinto we have ben drawen not with a mynd to contradict but with love of verity and affection of charity And God himself even our father which hath loved and called vs in Christ and hath given vs eternall consolation and good hope through grace fulfill in you all the gratious pleasure of his goodnes and the work of fayth with power that the name of our Lord Iesus Christ may bee glorified in you and you in him The grace of our God and Lord Iesus Christ be with your spirit Amen From Amsterdam the 19 of the second moneth called February 1599. Yours in the Lord most addicted Francis Iohson â—aniel Studley Stanshall Mercer Henry Ainsworth Georg Knyveton Christopher Bewman And the rest of the English people exiled for the Gospell sake and at this present remayning at Amsterdam Mr. Iunius his second Epistle To his beloved brethren the English people at Amsterdam Grace and peace from the Lord. YOur Letters loving Brethren I received yesterday and read If your messeÌ„ger had shewed mee before to whome or whither I should have written the matter had beene other wise caried but I sought and wayted a whole moneth being vncertaine to whom I might send If any thing were done otherwise then we would it was your owne fault That ye giue no place to false suspition I did nothing without the knowledge of my brethreÌ„ and Colleagues To you I gave counsell if it please you not you may let it alone for me it becommeth not vs to be contentious for it is not our custome nor the custome of the Churches of God Now that Messenger of yours spake onely to me without letters and called not on any of my Colleages What theÌ„ is the blame you lay vpoÌ„ me none forbad me to give counsel alone You asked indeed about a matter of faith but wee thought good rather to deale about giving you coÌ„sell What if a maÌ„ answere not according to your prescript is it by and by an iniurie Give vs leave brethreÌ„ I pray you to use our own iudgement we thought it fitter to give you counsell then to make an answere to your demaundes and that this wee might doe vnto you in brotherly dutie If we might not yet will wee bee more indifferent towards yow you may for vs abstaine you may rent the Letters and we also will concele it I wrote as touching counsell because I thought ther was need of it I wrote not of the question because I thought the time was not for it Otherwise I had neuer thought of you or your matters no not so much as in my dream so greatly doe I shunne to bee a medler in other meÌ„s matters You will say why wâ—s not the time for it Surely because the matter was not cleere to me to have beene handled in order and good maner Wherunto by giving you counsell I called you backe For if you kept good manner and order yow might hav shewed it if you kept it not you might have returned vnto it and observe it I knewe nothing at all either by you or by any other which I speake to the ende that you suspect none that is innocent Our manner is to make answere in order to them that aske according unto order if any aske not in order our manner is to call them backe to order as is meete yea if any vrge vs a hundred times besides order we will call him backe an hundred times vnto order or else by silence take order for our owne quietnesse and securitie Will you therefore take the thing in question for graunted Pardon meâ— deare brethren this is more theÌ„ either yâ—ririe or charitie doth teach Hee that speaketh a thing different speaketh neither this not that of the questioÌ„ but he who vppon advice dooth speake a different thing dooth deferre his iudgement giving sentence on neither side If you will not permit mee to do this which euerie man may lawfully doe I will take this one thing as my right to keepe silence that I may free my speach from cauillations Hee that shall say I coÌ„fesse the thing shall wittingly offend against the truth Others have set forth confessions I know it and I commend it for eyther they seemed and were sayd to stagger in the hands of their persecutors or else moved of conscieÌ„ce they did it orderly with the consend and approbation of the Church but he who writeth with a mind to dissent writeth against order and sifteth the soares of the Church against the law of charitie But you professe that if there be any dissention you do not dissemble it Surely in your confession I see no token wherby I may be certainely perswaded of it Haue me excused my senses are to dull to smell out things that are so secret And yet now I thaÌ„ke you eueÌ„ for this that you acknowledge your dissent in some things from the ministers of the Church of Amsterdam and I thanke God which moued mee to suspend my iudgement Therefore I did well who beeing altogether ignorant of your matters did yet so write that I prevented a thing by you dissembled or at least obscurely set down by whole some counsel The end which is the cleering of your selves although I knew nothing of you you shall sooner attaine in one day by dealing with the Church wherein you are then in an hundred yeare if you should live so long by writing to other Churches hither and thither You do not yet perswade me that you have dealt orderly if we sticke constantly to order and you dislike it at least beare with vs. For whereas you say that you are euery where proclaimed heretickes c. I knewe nothing of you neither should yet have knowne any thing if you had held your peace so strongly are my eares stopped against al rumors Of the fact of the English Churches I have not certaine knowledge why would you have vs speake You might have been silent as I admonished you by my letters and will you not
let vs be so You may if so be you know the thing so well have the iudgemeÌ„t of it with your selves but to publish it among the people to call for abettors of it and to exact like iudgement of vs you cannot Keepe your confidence to your selves and leave vs our modesty who have resolved not to speake of other mens matters except we know them thoroughly You thinke that other good meÌ„ will say otherwise but I think better of them who in my perswasion are furnished with knowledge skill and wisedome from heaven that they would sooner subscribe to our modestie then to this your iudiciall confidence To looke to the event is a point of wisdome which if you regard not I pray God the author of all wisedome to give you discretion Touching the conclusion Bretheren what shall I say otherwise then I haue said I verily have resolved neither for you nor for any mortall man to bee headie and inconsiderate in iudging especially when it neither belongeth to me to do it neither can it bee done with any fruit If you can doe it rightly wee doe not hinder you but let vs who cannot professe this one thing to you that we can be no iudges Touching others whome we knowe we have spoken else where but touching them because we knowe theÌ„ not wee do not yet speak CoÌ„cerning Beza how excellent a man that which you often say take heede Brethren you bee not deceived He spake by way of supposition which you expresse in your letters we because we see and experience doth teach vs that his wordes being spoken by way of supposition are vnderstoode of many as spoken simply dare not so much as answere by way of supposition Is this such an hainous and capitall fault with you bee it farre from you Brethren bee it farre from you to take that course with good men which God reason and the times haue taught vs to be daungerous Rash and headie iudgements are not to be required not to bee endured not to be heard That God of truth might iustly punish vs if casting a side discretion which is most needefull in these times wee should answere alwayes to all questions according to the lawes prescribed by such as propounde the same These three things according to God and vnder him are a lawe to vs veritie charitie and discretion If any one of these bewanting we are afraid to offend We crave of you brethreÌ„ that at least you woulde leave vs this our religious feare till all thinges bee made more plaine and easie vnto vs and if you thinke your selves more stroÌ„g in iudging beare with vs as with weake ones til by godly quietnes and holy studie we may attaine to more high and certaine thinges That which wee may doe truely godlily brotherly wisely we will neuer be slacke to doe if wee may profite you and the Church of Christ The Lorde furnish you beloued Brethren with his Spirit and direct you to veritie and charitie in holy wisedome and faith to the glorie of his name the edification of his bodie and obtayning of your owne salvation Amen Leyden Wednesday the 10 of March 1599. Yours vnfeynedly Fran Iunius The answer to Mr. Iunius his second Letter To the learned and our beloved Brother in Christ Mr. Francis Iunius at Leyden in Holland GRace and peace from God the Father and our Lord Iesus Christ RevereÌ„d Sr. your letters were delyvered vs which when we had read we thought thus with our selves If we wryte againe it wil be thought perhaps â—ontentious if we hold our peace it may prove hurtfull to the truth What is then to be done We must absteyne from contending yet so as the truth be not forsaken for which the Apostle exhorteth even to â—omesty Thus then worthy Sr. receive our answer briefly In that you did nothing in this matter without the knowledg of your brethren and Colleagues we therefore give you thanckes for now you have had consultatioÌ„ together yet shew you nor any one errour in our fayth and cause Touching that we rested not in your counsell we had many and waighty reasons so to move vs which we signifyed to you in our former letters but you have herâ— in silence passed by them Vntyll you take them away we think it cannot be shewed that in this matter we have done any thing otherwise then in good mannerâ— and order meet and needfull Publyck infamy requireth publick apology Others that have set forth their Confessions are by you acknowledged and commended We belyke only have offended in so doing aâ—d that which every Church man lawfully do and almost every man vpoÌ„ iust cause yet to vs and our Church you will not permit it So indifferent are nou towards vs. Neyther when they set forth their Confessions did the whole Caâ—holick Church consent and if you speak of â—â—e consent and approbaâ—â—on of a particular Church so also was our Confession publyshed But they wrote dissenting from the Church of Rome and the like being moved of conscience And the very same thing have we lykewise done dissenting from a daughter of the Romysh Church touching her Leitourgy hierarchy constitution to wit the Church of England Yet they thus wryting neyther wrote agâ—inst order nor sifted the soares of the Church against the law of charity Noâ—noâ— we neythre And touching he dissention not conceale what need we wryte otherwise then as before we have done It is with the Church of EnglaÌ„d that we had and still have to deale in this behalf and that difference we did by name and vnder certayn hâ—adâ—â— particularly relate as both the thing it self and our exile did necessarily require Now although in some thinges we differ from the ministers of these Churches yet were they not before they despise admonition to be dealt with in lyke sorte Else you might indeed some what rightly vrge order and the lawe of câ—â—rity if their names and peâ—uliar descriptioÌ„ of that differeÌ„ce had beÌ„ by vs particvlarly specifyed in that book Nevertheles whosoever know and consider the practise of these â—hurches and of such only we speak they may by that practise and our Confessâ—on coÌ„pared together peâ—ceive there is difference betwene them and vs Yea we know that some have so observed Otherwyse if it be as you pretend that in our Confession you see not aâ—y token whereby you may â—eâ— certainly perswaded there of how is it tâ—at in so great agreement they should by so many be judged as true Churches in the right fayth we as hereticks Besydes that even by this you do also grannt that you see not but they consent in one with vs touching the corruptions of the Church of England and our separation from them seing he that hath but half an eye man there see these most playnly propounded In which behalf we give thancks both to you and to God that hath brought you to give this judgment and testimony For this is the very thing wherein we
he that doth the worck of the Lord frauduleÌ„tly and cursed be he that kepeth back his sword from blooâ— On the contrary Blessed be he that shall reward thee as thou hast rewarded vs o daughter of Babel to be destroyed Blessed be he that shall take and scattering dash thy children against the stones If this against Moab and the materiall BabyloÌ„ how much more against Antichrist and the spirituall Babylon with al the daughters and abominatioÌ„s thereof If this against the shadow and type how much more against the substance and body it self Of the argument of coâ—nsell ynough is said If you repeat it a thousand tymes and yet take not away our answer and reasons alledged in our first letters we will alwayes repeat the same answer againe Those many things which are conteyned in your letters and ours do now come forth in publick Neyther doubt we but this is the work of the Lord. See therefore that you be occupied therein religiously That any should speak of things controverted we desier not otherwise then the reformed Churches and those godly meÌ„ and Martyrs of Iesus who with like purpose have published their confessions of faith and causes of their troubles being so constreyned That your letters were not shewed by vs we wrote not but this that we gave not a copy of them to any for what cause we wrote in our former Shewed they were and read in the publick meeting of our Church If your mynd were to have them shewed to others that knew we not But now that you write this is your mynd we shall shew them together with ours publickly vnto all And if any have giveÌ„ forth any false reports conâ—erning them let theÌ„ now be ashamed In the meane time your self provided by sending yours at first vnsealed that they should be shewed to others and be read also of others before vs. Neyther doth it excuse the matter which you wrote in your second that â—â—e messenger shewed you not to wâ—oÌ„er whither you should have written and that therefore you sought and wayted an whole moneth being vncertayne thereof For we did signify both these expressely in the Epistle dedicatory prefixed before that book which by the messenger was delivered vnto you Els how knew you at the moneths end more theÌ„ before whither and to whoÌ„ to send Or when you knew why did you not seale your letters Was it because you would have the shewed We beleev it as also that for the same cause the copyes of theÌ„ were caryed into England And this too we knew before they were translated in English but we held our peace wayting to see what would follow therevpon Now your self see they are translated and given forth in publick For them therefore and with them we traÌ„slate and publish ours by which will appeare that we have dealt well with good men You may call them as you please it skilleth vs litle this is the very thing we desier and endevour that the simplicity of the Gospell of Christ the iniquity of the defectioÌ„ of Antichrist may more and more be made knowen vnto all If for this thing you pity vs we will beare it praying that God in Christ would pitty you Where you write that two of our company dined with that honorable Ambassadour it is not true that we know of Neyther can we cell what hapned at that dinner He sent not for vs to come vnto him neyther did we like to intrude our selves If by vs he would have ben certifyed of our cause we would have done it willingly and syncerely And you also when he demaunded of you might have shewed our letters with your owne and the coÌ„fession of our faith and given also copyes of both the letters So might the Translatour have given forth both in publick So had you provided that sentence should not be given the one party being vnheard Which thing Christian wisdome your self say suffreth not â—o be done in questions controverted In this behalf therfore you have erred and this by you is to be answered notwithstaÌ„ding that for his doing himself is to answer that translated and published yours without your knowledg For our selves if any where we erre shew it we pray you agayne and agayne by the word of God that is by the onely rule of truth and we shal yeeld most willingly And thus we pray God that he would guyde you together with vs and all his alway vnto Iesus Christ and that he would keep vs in him who onely is the way the truth and the life Whose name be blessed for ever Amen Amsterdam Iuly 21. 1602. Yours in the truth and peace of the Gospell of Christ F. Io. H. Ains D. St. S. Mer. C. Bom. T. Bis D. Bre. Together with the other brethren of the English Church at Amsterdam * For proof herof see Mr. Iunius owne words noted in the margine of his letter herafter folowing and compare also this edition of it with the translators before published Act. 28 22 b Rev. 12. c Psal 105 13 14. d 1 Pet 2.9 e Psal 46.1 f Apoc. 2 5. gap 2 Cor 6 14 15 c. Psal 9â— 20. 2 Thes 2 3. h Psa 37 27 Ier. 51 6. Rev. 18 4. 14 1. Neh. 6 6.7.8 Harmon of confess i 1 Pet. 2 5. Ier. 51 26 k Act. 2 38 40 41 8 36 37 15 9. Ioh. 10 3.4 5. Esa 35 8.9 l Ioh. 15 2.5 Mat â—8 15 17 Lev. 13 46. Numb 4.13 m Ioh 15 19. and 17.14 16. Mat. 3 12 Lev. 20.24 26. 1. Ioh. 4.5.6 About forty ecclesiastical popish offices are at this daye in the Churche of EnglaÌ„d never a one appointed by Christ in his testament Apoc. 13. vvith what words rites in what habit gesture these things are to be done they are taught in their rubâ—ik Some of them in certaine English books seâ— forth have reckned aboue 100. popish corruptions yet reteyned in this church o Rom. 12 1. Cor. 12. Eph. 4. p Iohn 4 24 Mat 15 9 q Deu 6 4 5 Mat. 16 6 2. Cor. 6 14 15 Psal 106 34 35.36 s Iude ver 3 t 2 Cor. 6 17. u Eph. 5 11. w Reb. 18 4 14 10 11. Mat. 6 24. x 2. King 16 10 11 12. Apoc 13 12 14 15. y Ier. 51 6. Mich. 2 10. Rev. 18 4. 2 Cor. 6 17. Act. 2 40. z Ps 9.12 Heb. 13 3 A Gal. 4.4.5 6. 5.1.2 Heb. 8. 9 10. chap. 2 Cor. 4 7 Iam. 2 1 * Deut. 6.4 1. Tim 2.5 Ephe. 4.4.5.6 1 Cor. 8.6 12.4.5.6.13 Ier. 6.16 Ioh. 14.6 ‡ 1 Tim. 6.3.13.14 Mat. 15.9 28.20 Deut. 4.2.6 12.32 1 cor 4.17 14.33 2 Tim. 3.15.16.17 Gal. 1.8.9 Reâ—el 22.18.19 * Ioh. 4.24 ‡ Exod. 3.14 Rom. 11.36 Act. 17.28 ☽ 1 Tim. 1.17 Esa 6.3 66.1.2 1 Ioh. 5.7 Mat. 28.19 Prou. 8.22 Heb. 1.3 Phil. 2.6 1 Cor. 8.6 Micah 5.2 Psal 2.7 Gal. 4.6 Ioh. 1.1.2.18 10.30.38 15.26 Heb. â— 14 * Ioh.
may tarry in it without ship wracke of faith and conscience or take from it the name of a Church especially seeing euery Church consisteth of Pastors and flocke which if some Pastors or Prelates trouble yet it is vnmeete that this name either should be taken away from the other Pastors which Christ doth witnesse by the doctrine of truth or from the flocke which Christ hath purchased with his owne bloode and doth daily sanctifie with the washing of the newe birth by the worde This ought to be sufficient for you if any thing have offended you at home that now the fatherly mercifull providence of God hath provided for you elsewhere Certainely whiles yee inueigh against those Churches yee shal make that your cause neuer the better neither more probable with good men which thing if yee have not yet considered and conceived by my aduise and counsell and by the admonition of those which wish you wel experience it selfe at last God grant it be not to late and he informe you in good will prooue all thâ—se things vnto you For by the trueth of doctrine holinesse of life by the worke of faith and patience and by the dueties of charitie euen towards them of whome yee professe that ye are wronged yee shal rather approove your selves and your cause theÌ„ by outcryes and publishing of writings euen as our Sauiour is saide to bring iudgement to victorie not by filling the streetes with shouting and clamours but by blowing gently into the smoking flax and tender handling the bruised reede Which thinges seeing they be so I beseech you most louing brethreÌ„ in Christ by that most holi name of Christ which ye profese by those bowels mercie wherewith Christ hath embraced vs froÌ„ on high that yee would thinke of another course that yee would take another way to salvation to edificatioÌ„ to peace If there be consent shake not your faith which is not to be winnowed againe by new reasons This course is suspitious But if it must needs be sifted let it suffice you that it be first approved by those servants of God among whome yee dwell this is certainnly a lawfull course Forgiue the former iniuries if any have beene by Christian charitie to them from whom yee have received the same hide them froÌ„ others by ChristiaÌ„ wisdome There is no feare that by so doing yee should be burst God will enlarge your harts by the spirite of charitie most coÌ„modiously Looke to your selues that overcomming al sharpnesse and al bitternesse of minde yee may be acceptable to Christ and profitable to the Church and that the sweet odour of your pietie may be spread in speach in life in order to all the godly without the stench of enmitie and schisme Iudge not that yee be not iudged But abstaine from those heavie determinations and conclusions as they call them against othermen neither labour either to get Abetters or partakers in that your former iudgement which would be saide in you to be a spice of faction in them of imprudencie or else to drawe them to an vnseasonable vncivill inconvenient and dangerous deliuerie of opinions Pitie your selues I beseech you most louing brethren and the whole flocke which is gathered among you Haue pittie of them whome thorough error infirmitie yee cry out be hurt Pitie your entertainers among whome it were a most iâ—iurious thing that ye should sowe these tates especially being admonished And it would be a greate indignitie by clamours and writings to brede in them suspicions and sinister opinions eyther of your selves or of those your adversaries as you count them or els of both Finally pitie the Church of Christ which verily it is not comely nor expedient neither in any case tolerable amoÌ„g so many and greeuous wounds which are universally given vnto it to be further galled with this particular wound So let God almightie loue you and Iesus Christ that most mercifull Lord and our Sauiour be mercifull vnto you And if I shall be able to doe any good in the publicke cause and yours assure your selves that I will spare no diligence no labour no paines that you with vs and all togither may be filled with saÌ„ctimony without which none shal se God with the good things of the Lord in his house and before his face And the God of peace which hath raised from the dead our Lord Iesus that great sheepeheard of the sheepe by the blood of the eternall couenant make you perfect in euery good worke to doe his will working in you that which is acceptable in his sight by Iesus Christ to whom be glorie for ever and ever Amen And I pray you brethren suffer this word of exhortation which I have briefely writteÌ„ vnto you The grace of God be with you all Amen From Leyden this Saturday the 9. of Ianuary 1599. Yours in the Lord Francis Iunius The answer to the Letter aforesaid To the Reverend and learned Mr. Francis Iunius our beloved brother in Christ At Leyden in Holland GRace and peace from God the Father and the Lord Iesus Christ our Saviour Reverend Sr. and beloved brother in Christ we have lately received your letter which you sent vnsealed to the Ministers of the Dutch and freÌ„ch Churches that it might first be read of theÌ„ and them be delyvered to vs. We have also read and weighed it and thought it meet to wryte agayne partly to thank you that vouched safe to write vnto vs partly to satisfy you if we can in some thinges wherein we see you are mistaken In the wryting wherof we humbly request that speaking freely that which the thing it self requireth you would take it in good part as you are wooÌ„t Many thinges indeed you have wrytten which we do willingly acknowledg and consent therein with you Those we will not touch at all The rest we will prosequute in the same order as by your self â—hey are propounded Whereas there was a litle booke exhibited vnto you by one of vs it is not so to be takeÌ„ as if you were called vpoÌ„ alone or apart from others For the brother which delyvered you the booke certified vs that this passed betwene you that by you it should be communicated with your Colleagues the governours of that Vniversity and that you tooke vpon you to do it Now if you have so done how is it that you alone wryte back againe why also do you so often repeat and seeme to reprehend that you you we say alone apart are called vpon If you have not done it mynde then on whome the blame lyeth that it is not communicated with theÌ„ in that Vniversity to whome by vs it was dedicated And we do now agayne entreat you that being myndfull of your promyse you would performe it that so you with the other learned and godly men and brethren there may eyther convynce our fayth and cause of errour or els together with vs conted for this sayth once gyven to