death of a high Preâ—st who shall be the verâ— Word of Gâ—d voide of all â—nne as well willing as vnwiâ—â—ing whose Father sâ—ould be God and this Word shall be the Fathers wâ—sâ—em by which all things â—n this world were created Now that Christ Iesus was this Word incarnate That Iesus was the word the true Messiah whâ—ch as Iohn saith reuealeth the Father our Saâ—â—our himselfe further proueth while when he had shewed himselâ—e to be the Word and therein the Sonne of God as aboue saide to those Iewes that counted this blasphemie he added Ioh. 10.36.37.38 If I dâ—e not the workes of my Father beleeue me not But if I doe though ye beleeue not me beleeue the workes that ye may know and beleeue that the Father is in me and I in him As if he saide the works proue it Theâ—efore in another place he saith I haue a greater wiâ—nesse then that of Iohn Ioh. 5 3â— for the works which the Father hath giuen me to finâ—sh the same works that I doe beare witnesse of me that the Father hath sent me and c. Now therefore let vs take a short view of some few of those works or witnesses to see how they proue it and so proceede to the rest of the confession before Pilate Luk. 11.13 When he had cast out a Deuil out of one that was dumbe some of them saide he casteth out Deuils through Beelzebub the cheife of the Deuils to which he answered But if I with the finger of God cast out Deuils noe doub but the Kingdom of God is come vpon you that is noâ— doubt but the Word is now incarnate which should come and rule for God for the Word is the finger Arms or power by which he made and gâ—â—erned all things Psa 66. Luk. 4.33 He ruleâ—h by his power for euer Theâ—efore the Messiah who was to beâ—hâ—s Power â—s come and worketh by â—t becauseâ— by that power cast out Deuils Therefore â—n the Sâ—nagouge the Deuil in one posessed criâ—d out what haue wee to doe wiâ—h thee thou Iesâ—s of Nazareth â—rt thou câ—me to destroy vs I know thee who thouâ—rt the holy one of God And Iesâ—s rebâ—ked him sâ—ying Hoâ—d thy peace and come out of him And when the Deuil hâ—d hrowen him in the midst he came out of him And they were all amazed and spake amonge themselues saying * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 What a Word is thâ—â— Our Euangelâ—st will answer All things were mâ—de by him In him was life and the life was the light of men The life of the Word was here manifested in the sight of many while so greate a miracle was donne thereby and the liâ—e was the light of men to theiâ—e convertion whâ—le in amazement they say What a Word is this for with authority and power he commaundeth â—he vncleane spirits and thâ—y come out The Euang list will answer againe The wâ—rd was made flesh and wee behold his glorie the glorie as of the only bego tâ—n of the Father full of grâ—ce and truth vers 32. And so when he â—auâ—ht Thâ—y were astonâ—â—d at his dâ—ctrine for his word was with power There was life therein accoâ—ding aâ— Châ—â—st saiâ—e The words thâ—â— I speake they are Spiriâ— and they are life yea eternall life Ioh 12 5â— as Peter saiâ—h Thou hast the words of etâ—rn â—ll life and wee beleeue viz. and therefore wee bâ—leâ—ue and are sure thâ— uâ—râ— the Christ the Sonne of the liueing God Sâ—â—nt Mathew saith Mat. 8.17 Thâ—y brought to him many that were posessed with Deuils and he cast out the Spirits wiâ—h his Word and healed all that were sieck wiâ—h his Word that is with the power by which God the Father worketh Io◠〈◊〉 .5 At the poole of Bethesda there was a Man that had â—â—en lame eight and thirâ—ie yeares Iesus saiâ—h vnto him Rise take vp thy Bed and walke And immediately the man was made whole and walked This could be donne by noe other then the Word of God whereof the Psalmist saith when theire Fathers were in like distresse psa 107 20. He sent his Word and healed them Vpon this myracle there was greate dispute betweene our Sauiour and the Iewes Aug. in Ioan. Tract 19.20.21 c. whereâ—n he proued himselfe to be the Word of the Father as Saint Avgustin shâ—weth on that Gospel See also the Character of a Christian. pag 63. c. Iesâ—s with clay made of spiâ—te healed a man that was bâ—rne blinde Ioh. 9.6 Veâ—â— 3â— 3â— Which man beeing brought befoâ—e the Phariâ—es reasoned thuâ— Wee know that God heareth not sinners but if a man be a worshipper of God and doe his will him he heareth Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of the blinde If this man were not of God he could doe nothing This vnlearned man could not giue such diuine proofes but by Gods Spirit that thus makes the Pharises his aduersaries more inexcusable Lazarus had lien fower dayes in the graue And when Iesus was come with Martha Marie and diuers Iewes to the place where they had layed him at last Ioh. 11.30 He cried with a loude voice Lazarus come forth And he that was dead came forth Vers 43. What Word could dâ—â—e this or any worke so greate but the mightie Woâ—d of God which made the World If then Ieâ—us did it by his Word it is plaine that in him the Word was made flesh and they saw the glâ—rie thereof in this myracle the glorie as of the only begotten of God But that he did it is manifest for some of the Iewes that saw it went theire wayes to the Pharises and told them Vâ—rs 46.47 therevpon the Cheife Preists gathered a counsell and saide What doe wee for this man doth many miracles If wee let him thus alone Vers 53. all men â—ill beleeue on him And the Romans shall come and take away both our place and Nations From that day they tooke counsâ—ll to put him to death and did it But this polecie brought on them the iudgement it went abâ—ute to preuent and so must all such polecies needes doe which for worldlâ—e respects any way hinder Gods Kingdom Now then seeing Iesus did so greate workes by his Word it is plaine that he was the Word and that Word the Sonne that should come in the flesh and be the Mâ—ssiah Which thinge the Father himselfe openly witnessed by voices from Heaven first at his Baptisme when he came out of the water Mat. â—3 16 and loe a voice from Heauen saying Ioh. 1.33 This is my beloued Sonne in whom I am well pleased Iohn Baptist heard this and thâ—n saw the Spirit of God descending on him like a doue and therefore bare record that this is the Sonne of God Now noe man could except against Iohns testimonie he was so generally beleeued to be holy iust and a Propheâ— Agaâ—ne when Iesus praied Father gloriâ—ie
forbidden espetially when Pelagian Popish errours are set vp against them and driuen in like the sharpe point of a wedge to make the thicker ende that is the whole thicknes and breadth of Poperie to follow If a Towne or Castle be beleaguered a breach made doe not men run to it and maintaine that place of all others shall any man be blamed for so doeing and if any whether Gouernour Captaine or Citizen shall forbid them and vnder some pretext commaund them to laie downe armes and quit the place is he not counted trecherours to the Towne and King thereof So is it in Gods Church and Kingdom beseiged by Hereticks who shoote at the faith and make greate breaches Tit. 1.11 2. Tim. 2.17 subuerting whole howses for theire word doth eate as a gangrene But for the maintenance of the Truth and the keeping of Gods fauour to the people that hold it fast the Lord saith Hoâ— 6.6.7 I desired the knowledge of God which of old some hindring Luk. 19.41 There saith he haue they dealt trecherously with me Christ shewes that to manifest the mysteries he taught is to make men know the things that belonge to theire peace that when they are hid from theire eyes sedition and ruin follow taking away the key of knowledge causeth trouble and that the Iesuits know to well Besides the Apealer drawes the sword of errour sets vp vnsound tenets of free will praedestination falling away and the like imprudently * See Bishop Carlton Exam. of the Appeal pag. 62.137.149.225.231.233 peruerts the Articles for his tenets and then he and his faction get it held fit that theese things should not be disputed and written against as curious desperate c. that so he and they may preuaile carry his and such like doctrines away vndiscouered vnuanquished by the Word Whereby intime as Bishop Carlton obserued Idem pag. 126. in place of Communio Sanctorum may creepe in Apostasia and all our religion might in like sort be lost and sunke into Poperie The late Duke theire honoured Lord while he liued to such ends as it seemes fauoured theise theire opinions and deuotions though perhaps he did not well vnderstand them and willingly suffered none to be preferred but such as would maintaine them or conuiue at them Which could not but be pleasing to the Countesse his Mother and her Preists and hence it came that he beeing greate in this World and able to aduance men to honour offices and wealth wanted not Schollars and Courtiers to fight by disputes reasons for theese errours Who can thinke but that he would strengthen himselfe in Court and Vniuersities with such men and theese beeing by his meanes engaged in the cause while he liued to saue theire owne stakes and reputations vphold it what they can now he is dead though it be against the honour of God against Christ the Word and his Kingdom yea and against the truest honour of theire Royal Maister whose honour they pretend to seeke and whome they would seeme to loue and against the peace and strength of his Kingdoms by them thus dangerously diuided and weakened in themselues Here yet let vs not to much wonder that so many wise and learned men of our time should be so far ouercome by theese preferments and hopes as to consent to theese doctrines or conniue at them For hopes of preferment and gifts blinde the eyes of the wise Men are apt * Ioh. 10. Phil. 2.21 Sunt quidam Ecclefia propofiti de quibus Paulus Apostolus dicit sua quaerentes noÌ„ quae Iesu Christi quid est â—ua quaerentes non ChristuÌ„ gratis diligentes non Deum propter Deum quaerentes temporalia commoda sectantes â—ucrâ—s inhiantes honores ab hominibus appetentes quisquis est talis inercenarius est August in Ioan. Tra. 45. like Hirelings to seeke theire owne not the things which are Christs who saith Ioh. 5.44 How can ye beleeue which receiue honour one of another and seeke not the honour that commeth from God only they seeke theire owne not the Kingdom that is not of this world But if it were of this World then they would seeke it Our Sauiours owne Disciples left him for a short time and made him say If my Kingdom were of this world then would my Seruants fight that I should not be deliuered to the Iewes who accuse him and his doctrine of peruerting the Nation His Seruants did not then fight for him by arguments or otherwise to cleare him in this therefore he concludes But now my Kingdom is not from hence As if he saide that all my Seruants leaue me and neither fight for me by sword or word it is manifest that is not of this World nor praeiudiciall to Caesars this argues it is not from hence that they looke not for any thinge by it here in this World He had told them that the Princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion and authoritie ouer them But it shall not be so amonge you but that they should be deliuered vp Mat. 20.25 Mat. 25.9 killed hated and betraied for his names sake Therefore now they leaue him and fight not for him any way to rescue him Which proued that his Kingdom was not from hence who hereby inferreth that in the Kingdoms of this World Seruants and Subiects will fight in hope of the riches and honours they afford to theire defenders And here let not Papists brag to much of theire late acheiuments by sword or practises whereby they daily subiect many to the Pope For if our religion haue beene weakely theires thorowly maintained it argues that ours is of Christs Kingdom not from hence theires of this World and of Antichrist and that therefore Princes and Preists fight for them and not for Christ because they haue riches honours and such worldly rewards to giue them for theire Seruices as one proueth at * Relation of the Religion vsed in the West large Neither is it any such strange thinge that the Iesuits and other of theire Clergie and Church who effect theese things should goe in the way of Kain perish in the gainsaying of Core and be cast away by the deceitfulnes of Balaams wages Here therefore not to speake of the many greate Countries Prouinces Kingdoms titles dignities and other rewards that the Church of Rome hath conferred on such Princes Captains and Souldiers as haue defended them and theire cause with the Sword such as were Pepin Charles his Sonne and diuers other her Champions wherein yet she hath still cut large thonges out of other mens hides I will passe by that part of theire auarice pride and arrogancie who not content to get to themselues and theire Monasteries Orders by fables and flatterie the greatest part of the riches and Lands in the Kingdoms of this World haue taken on them to take the verrie Kingdoms themselues with theire titles and proffits from the right owners and giue them to
CHRISTS CONFESSION AND COMPLAINT Concerning HIS KINGDOM AND SERVANTS Conuincing Iewes of obstinacie Romish Catholickes of Conspiracie Seducers of Sedition Arminians of Apostacie and diuers others of Coldnes Schisme Treachery Hypocrisie By J. P. 1. TIM 6.13 Hee witnessed a good Confession before Pontius Pilate Bernard De ordine vitae Vbinam quaeso vera prudentia nisi in Christi doctrina Soli ergo qui eius doctrina imbuti sunt prudentes dicendi sunt Printed M.DC.XXIX TO THE HONOVR OF ALMIGHTIE GOD. ETERNALL and incomprehensible Lord God who hast giuen to thine only begotten Sonne Iesus Christ dominion and a Kingdome that all people Nations and languages should serue and obey him and who hauing first sent this Kingdome to the Iewes who reiected it and since to diuers other Nations that haue fallen a way froÌ„ it and follo wed Antichrist hast of they great goodnesse vouchsafed among other places to haue thy Kingdome now these many yeeres in this Iland yet haue not we O Lord in humilitie and thankefulnesse in all matters of faith and saluation subiected our selues to the same but the Corner stone hath beene in sundrie points of diuers Builders refused who haue brought in new and contrarie doctrines against the word of they Grace and Kingdome and many O Lord haue followed their pernicious wayes We haue sinned and done wickedly and haue rebelled by departing from thy Precepts and thereby haue deserued that thy Kingdome should also be taken froÌ„ vs and giuen to a Nation bringing forth the fruits thereof But O Lord God if the foundations be destroyed yet what hath the Righteous done What hath they holy SoÌ„ne Iesus done that he should lose his Kingdome so many people here and in other Nations or if he lose none that thou hast giuen him yet that he should not haue them to serue him with more freedome He is worthy to be serued of all without feare of Enemies vvho redeemed vs to thee by his blood out of euery kindred and tongue and people and Nation It hath beene said The Kingdomes of this world are become the Kingdomes of our Lord and of his Christ and he shall raigne for euer Wee know O Lord that thou wilt make good they Word and if we beleeue not yet thou abidest faithfull Neuerthelesse the Kings of the earth haue set themselues and the Rulers take counsell together against thee and thy Christ In many Kingdomes and Prouinces where the Gospell hath beene lately preached they seeme to haue preuailed and reduced people to Antichristian slauery but thou O Lord hast promised to speake vnto them in thy wrath and by thy Word to ouercome them Vp Lord therefore and let not man haue the vpper hand Awake awake put on strength O Arme of the Lord awake as in the ancient dayes when thou didst deuide the Sea and brakest the heads of the Egyptian Dragons in the waters take vnto thee againe O Lord they great power and raigne ouer all Nations Iewes and Gentiles though they and we haue deserued no such King but rather the most contrary yet in the multitude of they mercies burie the multitude of all our transgressions suffer not them nor vs to walke in darkenesse but for thine owne Names sake send out thy light and thy Truth and let them leade vs and bring vs to the sauing knowledge and obedience of thee and thy Christ Giue a blessing O Lord to all good meanes conducing to the same namely to these few proofes obseruations gathered by thy assistance from the Confession and Complaint of thy deare Sonne In them O God defend what is thine owne And let not those O Lord God of hosts that put their trust in thee de ashamed of the Truth because of me for who am I dust and ashes one of the lowest ranke of thy Seruants that when many great and learned dare not or doe not I should aduenture to shew the wrongs done to the Kingdome of my Sauiour that am not able of my selfe to thinke a good thought Thou knowest O Lord that most men haue the faith of our Lord Iesus Christ with respect of persons looking more who writeth then what is written though they confesse that it oft pleaseth thee out of the mouthes of Babes and sucklings to ordaine strength because of thine enemies for their greater shame and confusion that so thou mightest still the enemie and auenger when they shall see that if they could get all the wise and learned and mightie men in the world to be on their side yet thou canst choose and enable the foolish things of this world to confound the wise and the things that aâ—e not to bring to nought the things that are Thou O Lord God art to such weakeones the best Patron the surest Shâ—eld and Buckler Shew therefore thy marueilous louing kindnesse O thou that sauest them that trust in thee from those that resist thy right hand Thou that canst manifest thy might in weakenesse Bow the heauens O Lord and come downe and make thy Name knowne to thine aduersaries that the Nations may tremble at thy presence Cast downe the strong holds and high conceits of proud Heretickes exalted against the knowledge of thee the only true God and thy Sonne Iesus Christ whom thou hast sent Bring into captiuitie euery thought to the obedience of thy Christ for thine O Lord is the Kingdome that then thou shouldest rule all thine the power and the glorie of giuing and effecting all good things to thee O Father together with thy Sonne our Sauiour and thy holy Spirit three Persons one true and euerliuing God be giuen as due is all obedience honour praise and glorie now and for euer Amen TO THE HIGH AND MIGHTIE PRINCE CHARLES by the grace of God King of great Britaine France and Ireland Defendor of the Faith c. THere was a Law Dread Soueraigne among the Romans Gueuara in his Epistles That vpon paine of death none should presume to approach the Tent where the Emperour did eate sleepe except such as did serue him by day and guard him by night The Emperour Aurelius being in the warres in Asia against Cenobia in the night a certaine Greeke Souldier entred the Emperours Tent who being taken to be executed for the same the Emperour from his bed cried out with a loude voyce If his man did come to sue for any thing for himselfe let him die but if for another let him liue The matter being examined it was found that the poore man came to sue for his three companions that were taken sleeping in the watch who therevpon were then all saued whereby that good Prince got to himselfe an immortall name of clemencie Novv seeing I also a common Souldier come not to sue for my selfe but my Sauiour nor in my ovvne Name and vvords but in his Confession and Complaint and aboute those who if not in your Maiesties seruice yet in Christs Camp haue been taken asleep being of the watch no
then by the Word and soe reiecting Christ and his Kingdom they breake his bands asunder and cast his cords froÌ„ them In further proofe whereof Psa 2.3 obserue He who is the Word saith to his Disciples Luk. 10.8.9 Into whatsoeuer citie ye enter and they receiue you say vnto them the Kingdom of God is come neere vnto you that is because in theire preaching the Word is come to rule and enlighten them in all things needefull to saluation the Arme that should rule for God is come the Word of which is saide He shall iudge amonge the nations and to whome is saide Rule thou in the midst of thine enemies vers 16. for he saide then to his Apostles He that heareth you heareth me viz. me the Word and he that despiseth you despiseth me and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me viz. whos 's Word I am vers 11. and who should rule for him therefore he saith there And if they receiue you not say vnto them the verrie dust of youre citie wee wâ—pe of against you notwithstanding be ye sure of this that the Kingdom of God is come nigh vnto you viz. in the Word there preached though they will not receiue him to rule them but * Psal 107.11 Dan. 9 5. Rom. 10.21 Mat. 21.43 Chap. 23.37 rebell against the Word and conspire to expell him and his Kingdom out of theire citie First then wee see that this beeing the fault of Ierusalem of the cheife Preists and other Iewes who gainsaied his doctrine put him to death and persecuted his seruants Therefore saith he say I vnto you The Kingdom of God shall be takeÌ„ from you and giuen to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof Often would I haue gathered thy children together as c. and ye would not Behold youre howse is left vnto you desolate for I say vnto you you shall not henceforth see me viz. me the Word till ye say blessed is he that commeth in the Name of the Lord. viz. with the Word and Truth reuealed And secondly hereby also wee may see the greate wickednes of the Pope and Church of Rome Vers 13. who also shut vp the Kingdom of God against men like the Scribes and Pharises Luk. 11.52 neither entring in themselues nor suffering others that would for they also take away the key of knowledge they will not suffer the Word manifested in Scriptures in diuers points of faith and saluation to be preached amonge theÌ„ nor read in a knowne tounge but fight against the doctrine of Christ and his Apostles persecute the professors thereof giue theire traditions * Concil Tri. Sess 4. Mark 7.13 equall authoritie and reuerence with the Word obey them more and indeede make the Word of God of none effect with theire traditions and in all theese things conspire and rebell against the Word and expell him and his Kingdom out of all theire Cities Vilages and Howses Which in some degree is also donne by such carnall and feigned Gospellers as call themselues Protestants and yet are enemies to preaching hearing and writing or what worse is set vp new and contrarie doctrines against the Word of Grace such as those of Pelagius Arminius and others for false doctrines are by Christ called tares Mat. 13.25 and he that soweth them is iudged an enemie of Christ and his Kingdom and if that be true which our Sauiour saith of Neuters and lukewarme Ministers Who doe not seeke the Kingdom of God and the righteousnes thereof but their owne gaine ease or honour He that is not with me is against me Mar. 12.30 and he that gathereth not with me scattereth How much more will they be found against the Word who either oppose and scorne preaching or set vp new and contrary doctrines hindring his absolute raigne and the peace of his Kingdom this doe all Hereticks and Seducers who bringe in another word to rule in matters of faith and saluation Theire word eates at the Word and Kingdom of God 2. Tim. 2.17 and so at the roote like a canker or gangrene and therfore they are seditious Preachers in Gods Kingdom moueing people to fall from Gods word obedience to theires and what in them is â— Thef 2.16 Forbidding men to speake to people some things of the Gospell that they might be saued to fill vp theire sinnes alway for the wrath is come vpon them to the vttermost This Kingdom Christ had in some Christ had and hath this Kingdom as in the Apostles many other Disciples beleeuers who by the Word were regenerated gouerned in all matters of faith and saluation and to such he the Word Mat. 19 2â— saith Ye which haue followed me in the regeneration when the Sonne of man shall sit in the throne of his glory ye shall also sit c. and inherit euerlasting life Chap. 24.14 This Gospell of the Kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witnesse to all Nations Walke worthy of God 1. Thes 2.12 who hath called you to his Kingdom and glorie Who hath deliuered vs froÌ„ the power of darknes Col. 2.13 hath translated vs into the Kingdom of his deere SoÌ„ne This Kingdom he coÌ„mended to his Apostles Ministers saying Seeke ye the KingdoÌ„ of God the righteousnes thereof All power is giuen to me in Heauen in Earth Goe ye therfore teach all nations baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the Holy Ghost Teaching them to obserue all things whatsoeuer I haue commaunded you and loe I viz. the Word am with you allwayes euen vnto the end of the World As if he saide because all power is giuen to me therefore ye may goe into all Kingdoms of the world and teach the Gospel noe man noe King ought to forbid you because if they doe not subiect to him it is saide Psal 2. He shall bruise them with a rod of yron and againe Be wise now therefore ô ye Kings Kisse the Sonne lest he be angrie c. And when after his resurrection they asked of him Act. 1.6.7 saying Lord wilt thou at this time restore againe the Kingdom to Israel He saide vnto them it is not for you to know the times and the seasons which the Father hath put in his owne power But ye shall receiue power after that the Holy Ghost is come vpoÌ„ you and ye shall be witnesses vnto me both in Ierusalem and in all Iudea and in Samaria and vnto the vttermost part of the Earth Act. 26.17 I now send thee to the Gentiles to open theire eies to turne them Dan. 7.27 c. Wherein that of Daniel was fulfilled The greatnes of the KingdoÌ„ vnder the whole heaueÌ„ shall be giueÌ„ to the people of the Saints of the most high whose Kingdom is an euerlasting Kingdom and all dominions shall serue obey him For theese brought whole NatioÌ„s to
is head of the vniuersall Church c. The fruite of this earthly wisdom was this God suffered not the Pope to stirre vp Princes to rescue him but the Emperour to be wholly left and Constantinople yea the Empire to be lost within 14 yeares after that councell The french King Henrie 4. a professed Protestant prosecuted by the leaguers that he might posesse life and Kingdom in peace went to masse and let in the Iesâ—ts the issue was God lest him and suffered him to die by a Iesuited Vilaine soe dangerous is temporising and newtralie in matters of religion And thus Barneueile others letting in Arminiaisme in the low countries the States suffering it a while seditions arose whereby they had like to haue lost those prouinces and so had if by wisdom and valour that traitour his complices had not beene sodainly subiected a Synod assembâ—ed and some of the Arminians banished since when they haue had some better successe which might be a warning to England now infested with that pernicious Sect. Thus then it is not the preaching of Gods Truth but the maintenance or sufferance of errours that hurteth and endangereth temporall Kingdoms If Princes will not suffer the Lord to come into theire Kingdome and fight against such hereticks with the Spirit of his mouth that is if they suffer not his Ministers and Seruants with the Weapens of theire warfare 2. Cor. 10. to cast downe theese stronge holds and high things exalted against the knowledge of God but forbid or hinder then then they may feare the iudgments written because this is to breake his bands asunder and cast his cords from them Heb. 10. and indeede to tread vnder foote the Sonne of God who is the Word and doe despite vnto the Spirit of grace And how then can God vphold theire Kingdom that doe not indeauour to vphold his or which doe not suffer those that would but rather hinder them Psa 2. Be wise now therefore saith he ô ye Kings c. serue the Lord with feare and trembling Kisse the Sonne lest he be angrie and they had neede so to doe Hos 13.1 for when Ephraim spake trembling he exalted himselfe in Israel but when he offended in Baal he died God turned his blessings into punishments his victories into losses his glorie into shame Now then as to the second inference which the Iewes make here before Pilate Preaching of Gods Worde doth not makâ— hearers stubborne and seditious and Heriticks and prophane persons haue made at all times and in all Kingdoms where the Gospell hath beene freely preached viz. that the daily preaching of the Woâ—d reuealed in the New Testament and the maintenance of the Truth there manifested maketh the heaâ—ers stout and stubborne if not contentious hereticall and sedâ—tious against theire Kings and Gouernours I answer that as it was in the Iewes so is it in all others a meere slander a wilfull cauill and calumnie a Macheâ—illian trick of those who loue not the Light of Gods Word and whose deedes and practises discouered thereby Ioh. 3. will not stand with it When the Kingdom of God so comes into any Kingdom of this World that the preaching of the Woâ—d is courtenanced and in all points receiued it makes the same so happy both to Prince and people that the one will not oppresse nor the other rebell though they be oppressed Here let them not tell vs of the Waldenses and others in France or Bohemia who rather then they would be compelled to idollatrie or butchered and murthered tooke vp defensiue armes for theire liues like the Iewes vnder An iochâ—â— Epiphanes of whoms is saide Dan. 11.32 The people that doe know theire God shall be stronge and doe exploicts For noe Nation or commonwealth so peaceable obedient to Princes as that wherein the Word is duly preached and raigneth God giueth this blessing to the preaching of his Word that in the Kingdoms where it is receiued and contenanced the same is a bridle holding the heart a rod awing the conscience making men suffer much rather then be rebellious witnes this Kingdom of England how free hath it beene from theese euills for theese 70. yeares wherein the Gospell hath beene preached and maintained Whereas before in the time of Poperie Where errours are maintained there rebellions haue followed how many dangerous rebellions what resisting of the higher powers what killing of Officers and Magistrates The people ioyne in rebellion with the Sonnes of Henry II. against theire owne Father diuers also tooke part with the Traitour Becket a Bishop stouter in the Popes quarrell then euer any since the falling of poperie hath beene in Christs The subiects of King Iohn rebell and many stand out against him after he was reconciled to the Pope The Baâ—onâ— and people for a few taxes and court fauories rebell against Henrie 3. in a longe and bloodie warre Also vnder Edwardâ— the barons and people rose against his fauorit Gaâ—eston cut of his head and held longe warres with the King for fauouring the Spencers at last Mortimer and the Queene are aided to depose him For a subsidie granted in Parliament to Richard 2. Iohn * Or Bâ—â—l wall a Preist easely caused that greate and dangerous rebellion of wat Tiler and his companions whome mulitudes of ignorant people followed after diuers armies are leauied by subiects against the King and his fauorits at last the people revolt and he is deposed and murdered Owen Glender and others rebell against Henrie 4. Iacke Cade and others raised diuers stout rebellions against Henrie 6. The Yorkshire men and diuers others for small causes rebell against Edward 4. After his Brother Richard practiseth murdereth and vsurpeth but not without helpe Lord Louell and others raise rebellion in the North against Henrie 7. Lambert causeth another rebellion A taxe imposed by Parliament causeth another rebellion in the worth After another small Parliamentarie taxe causeth the Cornish men rebell and come with power as far as Kent After others ioine with Perkin Warbeck Vnder Henrie 8. besides euill may day the lincoln shire men rebell and after them the northern men more then once And yet you may finde it to haue beene formerly and in this later age also much worse in other countries where poperie hath raigned or doth still raigne Soe also was it lately amonge the Turkes who for small greiuances haue deposed theire Emperours Killed Osmond and his cheife officers soe vnbridled and vnstable are all forts of people that are not guided by the Word of God And that also appeared by the most famous common wealths that euer were in the world as the auncient Lacedemonians Romans Carthaginians and others who wanting this bridle all the wisdom power and lawes of all theire greatest Princes Senators and Philosophers sufficed not to keepe the people in obedience but vpon euery light occasion they haue rebelled reuiled and killed theire Gouernours and filled theire cheife cities with harliburlies mutinies
That to this ende the weapons of * Ideo fortes esse dicuntur quia Praelati Sancti Ecclesiae perfecti sunt in obseruatione mandaroruÌ„ Domini omnes tenentes gladios id est spirituale verbum quia predicando vitia Subditorum debent reprimere Bernard de obedien Serm. 19. theire warfare are mightie to cast downe the stronge holds and high things of Hereticks which exalt themselues against the knowledge of Christ. Indeede if Princes will not suffer theese of the Clergie or others to cast downe theese Holds of Hereticks with the sword of the spirit but like the Arrian Emperours and others will kicke against the pricks and with Saul breath out threatnings and slaughter against the Disciples of the Lord such as are subiects of this Kingdom or labour to bringe others to the true knowledge and obedience of the Word if they will aduenture to prouoke God by such persecutions to the danger of theire owne Kingdoms who shall hinder them theire subiects may speake in Gods cause but if that will not serue they must suffer not resist by the sword not run into rebellion Yet ought they to confesse Christs name who is the Word before Kings and Rulers and euen to fight against the mightiest of them with the sword of the spirit Reu. 17.14 chap. 19.21 Because so the Lambe ouercomes them who is the King of Kings Wee all ought to beare witnesse vnto the Truth though it cost vs our liues Bishops and Ministers more espetially who are * Isa 62.6 and Heb. 13.17 Mat. 28.18.19.20 watchman set which should neuer hold there peace not keepe silence as they that must giue account For he is the Lord of Lords who saith All power is giuen to him in Heauen and in Earth and who therefore bids his Disciples goe into all the world and reach all Nations to obserue all things that he commaunded them who after his Ascention carried themselues accordingly For when the Rulers examined them Act. 4.11.12 they contended stoutly to proue Christ a stone of them reiected ver 18.19 to be the Head of the corner And after when they and the high Preists called them and commaunded them not to speake at all nor teach in his Name they answered Whether it be right in the sight of God to bearken vnto you more then vnto God iudge ye for wee can not but speake the things which wee haue seene and beard Act. 5.28 And after when for teaching in the Temple they were questioned by the High Preist saying Did wee not straightly commaund you that you should not teach in his Name And behold ye haue filled Ierusalem with youre doctrine Peter and the other Apostles answered and saide wee ought to obey God rather then men The God of our Fathers raised vp Iesus Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince viz. to rule in all matters of faith and salnation Behold now againe againe they contest and fight with the sword of the Spirit for him his Kingdom against his greatest opposers and were therein examples to all ministers and Seruants of Christ to the worlds ende This did the man borne blinde before Christs death that by good proofes Steuen Act. 7. chap. 18.26.28 Apollos and many others did as much after his resurrection against opposers and Hereticks The Apostles Paul Peter Iohn Iude wrote and contended against Hereticks and peruerters of the Scriptures and commaunded others to doe soe but more espetially Bishops to hold fast the faithfull Word taught them Tit. 1.7.9.10 chap. 3.10 to looke to deceiuers whose mouthes must be stopped who subuert whole howses teaching things which they ought not for filthie lucres sake Act. 20. to reiect Hereticks as beeing Wolues Theeues and Speakers of peruerse things Iudge yet whe ther many such haue not crept in who came not with the Spirit of Truth but with the Spirit of errour as the Appealer Cosens and others who entred not by the Word that is by Christ the doore of the sheepe but rather by errour and the Father thereof who abode not in the Truth and whether Bishops that would be counted Christs Watchmen and Seruants haue not slept while enemies haue sowed tares The Remonstrance of the Parliament in summerlast manifested that many Arminians and Popish teachers haue risen in theese our dayes with theire cousening tenets and deuotions and yet haue not the Bishops theire superiours and ouerseers that should watch ouer mens soules Heb. 13.17 as they that must giue account reproued and conuinced nor suffered others to publish bookes to confute them but rather preferred the Seducers and hindred the preferment of theire opposers so far hath hopes of preferment from some courtiers and other gifts blinded theese men as of old it did some Pharises and after them the Bishops and Clarks of Italie to iustify the wicked or theire doctrines and practises for a reward Indeede the Archbishop of Canterburie shewed his dislike of theese Seducers and theire bookes Bishop Carlton writ against the Appealer and proued him a dangerous peruerter of the Scriptures and of the Articles and it may be there are two or three Bishops more that haue shewed some litle distastof theire tenets and practises but by meanes of the late Duke and other Courtiers the greater number haue gonne the cleane contrarie way Doctor White that for the Dukes fauour approued the Appealers booke was in recompence of that * 1. Tim. 1.19 Shipwracke he sustained elected Bishop of Carlile made Amner and since translated to Norwich Other freinds of theese Pelagian and Popish teachers tenets haue also had theire reward Mr. Cosens his Maister Doctor Neale was remoued to Winchester Doc. Laude to London Doctor Feild to S. Dauids Doctor Buckridge to Elie Doctor Mountaine to Yorke after his death Doctor Harsnet was translated to Yorke Doctor Howson to Durham Doctor Maw Chosen Bish of Bath and Wels Doctor Corbet B. of Oxford and Doctour Curle late Prolocutor in the conuocation howse for his fauourable carriage in that place towards theese new Maisters was promoted to the See of Rochester Doctor Lindsey and others haue acheiued Denaries or other preferments On the other side theese and some others soe wrought that the Archbishop of Cant was put besides the execution of his place and the Appealer himselfe was set vp in his verrie seate that writ against him and that presently after that the Parliament that coâ—â—â—â—â—ned of him and them was prorogued which Schollars in thâ—â—â— iuersities and other parts perceiuing according to the deuiâ—◠〈◊〉 the pioiectors bent theire studdies toward the mount or raâ—◠〈◊〉 molehill of preferment When the Parliament approched theâ— laboured to haue it put off or if not that the howse might noâ—â—â—estion such men nor others preach dispute or write against theire tenets and peruerting faculties but that themselues might be the only Iudges in theire owne cause yet for feare of the worst they at last
get the Appealers booke called in but soe fauourablâ— as the like was neuer seene men must bringe them to the Bishops of â—uerie Diocesse or to theire Chauncellors or to the Chancelors or Vicechancelors of the vniuersities which they knew few oâ—none would doe for who would bringe any to the Appealer himselfe or to B. White and such others to burne them as we 〈◊〉 both Iudges and parties in the cause which made men say it 〈◊〉 longe eare this came and then this was not to suppresse a booke Whereas when any booke hath but neuer so litle touched theire owne glorie or ceremonies what exceeding dilligence hath beene vsed for suppressing it as that of the originall of Idollatries wherein if it were grauted that it was vniustly fathered on Causabon that there was somwhat in it that seemed to make against some of the constitutions rites and ceremonies of the Church of England that the same rites are all tollerable yet how litle is there in that booke that maketh against any of them nauertheles what greate zeale and care was vsed in suppressing of it a most dilligent search was made through the whole companie of the Stationers for them the printer was examined what number were printed he for whome they were printed was examined to what Stationers he deliuered of them how many each man had and they were examined to whome they were sold that soe they might be fetched from the buiers all with such exact care and dilligence that if it had beene the most blasphemous hereticall dangerous booke that euer was published more could hardly haue beene donne to suppresse it Wherein yet if any thinge did touch any rite or ceremonie that was but against things which themselues confesse to be indifferent not matters of faith saluation yet ô the zeale but all this was for theire owne Hierarchie constitutions they fight not soe eagerly against Pelagian and Popish errours which are against the Scriptures in matters of faith and saluation and indeede exceedingly against Gods Kingdom and the Word of his grace the Appealers bookes were not searched for at all when they were called in but euen in the Parliament time to be sold in euery booke sellers shop that would and soe were other Popish Aaminâ—an bookes as the Stationers proued in Parliament and that they licenced and let passe theese but would not license such as in defence of the Truth were written against them that in others they put out whole pages wâ—itteÌ„ to shew the vtillity and necessity of preaching and hearing as in Doctor Maiers booke All which things are soe apparent that both in Parliament elswhere men haue cried out there is trecherie vsed in Religion and towards the Kingdom of God As also because the tenets of theese Seducers haue beene soe weake and stubble like 1. Cor. 3.12.13 Ier. 23.29 vnable to endure the fierie triall of Gods Word that when the Parliament hath approched then they haue laboured by all the pretexts that could be inuented to get it dissolured or adiourned if not then they seeke protection and pardon and when the â—owse haue complained of them then they hide theire heads and labour to haue theire tenets and practises past ouer in silence at least by caring or helping with others that the howse may haue worke enough fesides to defend theire priueleidges and throw out the bones cast in to breede diuision and beget some pretexts of accusing them to theire Prince of maleuolence and sedition and of vrging the necessity of dissoluing that assemblie all which they neither neded nor would seeke if theire doctrines were Christs and according to the Scriptures for then they would boldly and with * Zelus cum in bono accipitur est quideÌ„ fernor animi quo mens relicto humano timore pro defensione veritatis accenditur Alcuinus Aquin. in Ioan. Zeale maintaine them against Parliament and all the world But while they then willingly admit noe dispute nor appeare publikely to maintaine theÌ„ by the Scriptures fearing that the verrie Articles should proue them Apostates appeale to Bishops and others brought by the late Duke his to fauour the same opinions or conniue at them and labour by pretences of auoiding curious disputes and other deuises and shifts that theire tenets may not be then examined iudged and tried vnlesse by men made for theire partie according to the pollecie of the Trent Fathers it euidently shewes the badnes of theire cause that they doe not as they are willed Pro. 23.23 Buy the Truth but sell it for a litle preferment for a buble of honour and that they blinde the eyes of the wise that such buiers and sellers are not conuinced punished cast out of the Church * Mystice quotidie Deus spiritualiter suam ecclesiam intrat qualiter vbi vnusquisque conuersetur attendit caueamus ergo ne in ecclefia Dei fabulis vel rifibus vel odâ—is vel cupiditatibus vacemus ne improuisos veniens nos flagellat de ecclesia sua eijâ—iat Idem Ibid. God seeth this and that they doe not like his Seruants with the weapons of theire warefare cast downe theese stronge holds of Hereticks exalted against the knowledge of God and Kingdom of Christ Soe that he may now againe complaine and say My Kingdom is not of this world for if my Kingdom were of this world then would my Seruants fight some with the sword of the Spirit others with theire Lawes and authorities that I should not be deliuered in my person as I am the Truth nor in my members as they are of it to Pelagians or Demipelagians and Popelings and so by degrees to the grand Antichrist of Rome neither would theese be made such slight matters as they are in theese dayes as if it were enough that men are permitted to preach charitie patience temperance humiliation penitence mercie and against carnall filthines adultrie pride murther coueteousnes and the like allowed euen in theese dayes to be preached in Rome and so were of old among the Arrians and other Hereticks and as if for theese Pelagian and Popish opinions and tenets of free will predestination certainty of saluation perseuerance and the like it mattered not to confute them noe nor other points of Poperie but were better to forbid them as curious and vnnecessary disputes and commaund peace and vnion in theese points whereby the buisie practising Papists and Arminians are sure to get ground and strength whereas if theese reasons were sound as much might be saide for those Popish points of iustification by works the reall presence the church can not erre and such others beeing all pits that should be discouered least men fall into them and amonge Papists matters of faith and saluation but the others are so indeede and highly concerne Gods Kingdom and the glorie of his grace therefore preaching of them or writing to keepe men form errours contrarie to them and stablish men in the Truth may not be