kingdom where he ruleth by his vicaz the Pope but eueÌ„ among vs in the persons of our wicked Prelates And although Sathan was enforced to watche a long time for his opportunity ere he could bring the ministers of the gospell vnto lordship dominion A bout the year 320. for vnto the time of Pope Silvester Rome it self was without any lordship atal yet notwithstanding he was driuen to work that in the Church before ever he could aduance the maÌ„ of sin vnto the chaire of iniquity So that by means of this superioritye and worldlye dominion of the ministers of the word he began at the first to make the waye for the in bringing of the my sterie of iniquity which as the holy ghost testifieth 2. Thes 2.7 began to manifest it self in the age of the apostles And going on forwarde by degrees he so strengthened these plants of his owne graffing that he made theÌ„ to bee the instrnmentes by the strength and power whereof he convaied the whole bodie whereof they were the members head and al into the temple of God For in these wicked offices of Archb. and Ll. Bb. the man of sinne first began to manifest him self Cardinals were brought into the Romish church since it fel cleane away from Christ they are rather the pomp then the strength of that kingdome now he is especially vpheld through no other power but through their meanes by whom also the whole kingdome of Idolatrie and darknes vnder him is especially gouerned For the inwarde parts of that kingdome to wit the pestilent errors whereby he poysoneth the world would easily wyther and decay were it not that they are fostered nourished by these ruling members of Archb. Bb Who although when they were first brought into the church being therein ordained for good purposes as flesh bloud did imagine they were not nor could not be discerned to bee members of the Antichristian kingdome because that mystery was not then made fully visible yet euer since that bodie hath appeared we know them to bee members thereof in such sort as wheresoever they are maintained there the limbs and members of Antichrist are countenanced and vpheld But wee are not to think that Sathan by whome these offices of Archbishops and L. Bishops were firste invented doeth at all tymes and places vse them to the one and selfe same purpose hee knoweth full well that hee cannot alwayes effecte what he would do with them and therefore hee is content vntill conveniencye bee offered to bestowe them as he may But alwayes this is a ground hee hath some seruice for them in all ages At the firste planting of them and long after that hee did not vohold open Idolatry and manifest apostacy from Christ by their meanes hee coulde not doe it the times woulde not suffer him who thoughe otherwayes very corrupt were yet far from that vile dishonour of God Example heereof you may see in Pope Gregory the first of that name Anno â—04 and especially in all his predecessors whose superioritye and dominion hee could not so haue at commandement as he had the prelacy of all those that followed after him vnto this day And yet had he his turnes to bring to passe by their superiority though the most of them were vndoubtedly Gods deare children For he vsed their places as steps and degrees to advance Antichrist into his throne Now in that kingdome of the man of sinne since Rome became the cage of euery vncleane beast and the verye receptacle of Diuels he hath the Hierarchy at his owne commandement to accomplish his owne will by it vnto the full So can hee not haue it in England at this day The time will not suffer it her Maiesty and our state will not beare it and yet notwithstaÌ„ding he worketh by these Antichristian offices very mightely as we see in staying the course of the gospell and the establishing of the kingdome of darknes though not by meanes of anye publick Idolatry yet by the maintenance of ignorance blindnes and by the oppression of the church And in earth not simplie as hee is the second person in trinitie God aboue all blessed for euermore but as he is the sonne manifested in the flesh Christ god and man and so the head of his Church In respect of this regiment of his the worde of God speaketh of his kingdome 2. maner of wayes first it maketh the same to be everlasting secondlie it considereth of it as it is temporarie and to remaine for a tyme. In the former respect it cannot possible any wayes decay Of this aeternall kingdome of his the Angell Gabriell spake vnto the holye Virgine Marie after this sort Luke 1.31.32 Thou shalt conceaue in thy wombe and beare a sonne and shalt call his name Iesus Hee shall be great shal be called the sonne of the most high the Lord God shal giue vnto him the thron of his father Dauid and hee shall raigne ouer the house of Iacob for euer and of his kingdome shall be none ende Concerning the latter regarde of his kingdome the holy Apostle Paule writeth in these wordes 1. Cot. 25.24 Then shal be the end when he hath deliuered the kingdome vnto God euen the Father when he hath put down all rule and authority and power for he must raigne vntill he hath put all his enemies vnder his feete Where the Apostle speaketh of the kingdome of Christ as it is temporarie and to continue only vnto the day of judgement no longer Nowe this temporarie regiment of his is also of 2. seuerall considerations For the worde speaketh of our sauiour Christ and his gouernmeÌ„t either as he hath all power in heauen and earth coÌ„mitted vnto him Mat. 28.19 Reuel 19.16 17.14 â— 5 and so he is called the Lorde of Lords the king of kings the prince of the kings of the earth because hee is Lorde of all kingdomes and common wealths to dispose and rule them at his pleasure euen as he is man or els it considereth his government as he which is the head ruleth his bodie which is the Churche heere vpon earthe by certaine offices and ministeries which hee hath appointed to be in his bodie to wit the Church for the gathering together of his Saints for the worke of his ministerie and the aedification of his bodie Ephes 4.11 In both these regards he is said in the day of judgement to deliuer the kingdome vnto his father For whereas now as he is Lord of kingdomes and coÌ„mon vealthes he ruleth by the ciuill Magistrate otherwayes by his power even in the midest of his enemies he shall in the daye of judgement put an ende vnto this regiment when all his enemies are put vnder his feet and so deliuer the kingdome vnto his Father Again because in the day of judgement when we are all mett together wee shall not stand in neede of anie aedification so the
these wicked offices of Archb. and Ll. Bb. the man of sinne first began to manifest him self Cardinals were brought into the Romish church since it fel cleane away from Christ they are rather the pomp then the strength of that kingdome now he is especially vpheld through no other power but through their meanes by whom also the whole kingdome of Idolatrie and darknes vnder him is especially gouerned For the inwarde parts of that kingdome to wit the pestilent errors whereby he poysoneth the world would easily wyther and decay were it not that they are fostered nourished by these ruling members of Archb. Bb Who although when they were first brought into the church being therein ordained for good purposes as flesh bloud did imagine they were not nor could not be discerned to bee members of the Antichristian kingdome because that mystery was not then made fully visible yet euer since that bodie hath appeared we know them to bee members thereof in such sort as wheresoever they are maintained there the limbs and members of Antichrist are countenanced and vpheld But wee are not to think that Sathan by whome these offices of Archbishops and L. Bishops were firste invented doeth at all tymes and places vse them to the one and selfe same purpose hee knoweth full well that hee cannot alwayes effecte what he would do with them and therefore hee is content vntill conveniencye bee offered to bestowe them as he may But alwayes this is a ground hee hath some seruice for them in all ages At the firste planting of them and long after that hee did not vohold open Idolatry and manifest apostacy from Christ by their meanes hee coulde not doe it the times woulde not suffer him who thoughe otherwayes very corrupt were yet far from that vile dishonour of God Example heereof you may see in Pope Gregory the first of that name Anno 604. and especially in all his predecessors whose superioritye and dominion hee could not so haue at commandement as he had the prelacy of all those that followed after him vnto this day And yet had he his turnes to bring to passe by their superiority though the most of them were vndoubtedly Gods deare children For he vsed their places as steps and degrees to advance Antichrist into his throne Now in that kingdome of the man of sinne since Rome became the cage of euery vncleane beast and the verye receptacle of Diuels he hath the Hierarchy at his owne commandement to accomplish his owne will by it vnto the full So can hee not haue it in England at this day The time will not suffer it her Maiesty and our state will not beare it and yet notwithstāding he worketh by these Antichristian offices very mightely as we see in staying the course of the gospell and the establishing of the kingdome of darknes though not by meanes of anye publick Idolatry yet by the maintenance of ignorance blindnes and by the oppression of the church And they are greatlye deceaued who thinke the members of the Antichristian kingdome to serue the Diuell in no steade when they are not joyned with their head and when he maintayneth not open warres against Christ Iesus by their meanes It is far otherwise For hee knoweth even vnder the profession of the gospell howe to employ them to his singular advantage as well as in the kingdome of the Pope and euen to the same purposes verye oftē For we know that the sway which he beareth in Babilon it selfe by Archb. and Ll. Bb. consists not onely in maintayning the open impicties I dolatry errors which are there held but a great part of his working power in them sheweth it selfe in suppressing the truth and in the tyrannous vpholding of those poore soules in miserable darcknesse who would gladly bee at the light were it not that they are kept in bondage and slauery by meanes of his foresaide instruments The lyke vse hath he for Archb. and Ll. Bb. in England at this daye Where hee defendeth errors maintaineth ignorance hindereth the truth and oppresseth the church yea persecuteth the Saintes of God to the losse of their goods and their libertie and euen vnto the blood by their power And if he cannot as yet tread down the ciuil magistrate and erect open Idolatry by thē it is because his time is not yet come For as I said hir Maiesty and our state can brook no such thing And I doe thinke that the men who exercise these Antichristian offices amongst vs would be hardly gotten to afforde him their help in these cases But when her Maiesty whose lyfe the Lorde continue vnto his glory the good of his church hir owne comfort is gone the way of all the world when our estate is some-thing more infected with popery then as yet it is and so the favorers of that Idolatry are crept into the seates of Archb. and Bb. see whether these members will not desire to bee joyned with their head It cannot bee otherwise For the Diuell by whom they were first instituted hath this purpose in retayning them in the true church that by their meanes when he findeth his opportunity he may either bring the church ouer whom they rule from the obedience of Christ Iesus vnto the bondage and slauery of Antichriste or els murther those that will not yeeld vnto that Idoll Compare them together Hee hath alwayes held this course King Edward Quene Maries dayes do testifie this vnto vs. And wee may well thinke that as when these members were first plāted in the church though the Archb. of Rome himself a long time maintained true religion in far better state than the Archb. of Cant. doeth nowe they never ceased vntill they were joined with Antichrist their head and had caried the true churche captiue with them vnto the same abhomination so now being cut off from their heade they will not be quiet vntill againe they bee engraffed into their proper and naturall bodie Now that they are the members of that body not of the kingdome of Christ besides all that hath bene spokē this reason may serue in stead of many Namely that Sathan never thinketh himselfe to haue fully erected Popery vntill such time as hee hath established the Hierarchye of Lorde Bishops For whereas popery consists of 2. especially pointes viz. the false religion and the false government of that sinagogue neither of those partes can be away where that kingdome is compleat absolute Entertaine the false religion of the pope deny the receauing of the hierarchie ye do not fullye yeeld vnto popery submit your selues fully vnto the Antichristian kingdom On the other side receaue the religion of Christ together with the government by pastors doctors elders deacons which he hath appointed in his word and you do fullye entertaine whatsoever belongeth vnto the kingdome of the gospell though you neuer know what the hierarchy of Bb. doth mean which could not
the kings of the earth because hee is Lorde of all kingdomes and common wealths to dispose and rule them at his pleasure euen as he is man or els it considereth his government as he which is the head ruleth his bodie which is the Churche heere vpon earthe by ceratine offices and ministeries which hee hath appointed to be in his bodie to wit the Church for the gathering together of his Saints for the worke of his ministerie and the aedification of his bodie Ephes 4.12 In both these regards he is said in the day of judgement to deliuer the kingdome vnto his father For whereas now as he is Lord of kingdomes and coÌ„mon-vealthes he ruleth by the ciuill Magistrate otherwayes by his power even in the midest of his enemies he shall in the daye of judgement put an ende vnto this regiment when all his enemies are put vnder his feet and so deliuer the kingdome vnto his Father Again because in the day of judgement when we are all mett together wee shall not stand in neede of anie aedification so the meanes thereof by the preaching of the word the administration of the sacramentes c. shall cease the government of Christ also as far as it is performed by these meanes shall cease And so in this respect hee is said to deliuer the kingdome vnto his father For after that day hee will no longer governe and rule vs which are the members of his body by meanes as he now doth but he which is the Lamb Looke Reu. 7 1â— 21.22.23 22 â— being in the middest of the throne of God shall immediatlie governe vs by himself and bring vs to the liuelie fountaines of waters Now the kingdome of Christ being taken in this latter sence for that government of the Church ordained vnder the new testament wherby he which is the sonne being manifested in the fleshe to take vpon him the regiment of his owne house doeth nowe from heauen by the operation of his spirite guide and governe his Church is such as no part thereof must be administred by any offices or officers saue onely by those whome in his worde he hath apointed therevnto The which case standeth vpon such manifest grounds of aequitie and iustice that their madnes is apparantlie wicked who go about to attempt the contrarie For seeing no office can haue anie place in the kingdome and bodie of Christ viz. the Church which is not a * Rom. 12.6 1. Cor. 12. â— 14.27.28 member thereof and seeing our Sauiour Christ hath not left his Churche vnperfect but absolute and compleat of all hir members otherwise he should bee an vnperfect builder of his house and far more vnperfecte than Moses is saide to bee Heb. 3.3.6 the contrarie wherof is testified of him in the word the enterprise is intollerable that anie man shoulde adde of his owne invention vnto that which is most perfect wherevnto that which is added being impertineÌ„t must needes be altogether a burthen vnprofitable and noysome vnto the bodie Because our Sauiour who is the head of his bodie giueth lyfe onely vnto the members of his own appointment making insomuch as if you go about to bring into his kingdome bodie those officers which were not ordained and apointed in the word of God to bee therein you bring in these things that appertaine not vnto the kingdome of Christ Nowe according vnto these grounds Archbard â—b doe not belong vnto the kingdome of Christ let vs see vnto what regiment these offices of Archb. and Bb. do belong whether vnto the gouernment of christ or vnto the kingdome of the beast You see if they apertaine vnto the Church of Christ that they wer ordained members thereof in the written worde will of God Heere then we will not be the judges let our aduersaries speake theÌ„ selues whether their offices be apointed in the new testameÌ„t or not for therin must they be mencioned if they belong vnto the kingdome of Christ and are the members of his bodie What wil their answere be in this point Surelie they muste confes that from the beginning of the new testament vnto the latter end of it there is not a word spoken of Ll. Arch b. and Bb. So that whensoeuer or by whomesoeuer they had their originall they haue it not from our Sauiour Christe and his word Because he hath ordained no members of his bodie and no offices of his Kingdome since the written worde of the newe testament was penned Whervpon we must needs conclude that they belong not vnto his kingdome Naye wee go further and say that Ll. Archb. and Bb. are so farre from hauing their callings warranted by the word that their verie names much more their offices are by the same made detestable and odious vnto the church as shall presentlie appeare As for their callings the corruption thereof is so great that they the puritie of the gospell together with the liberty of the church cannot stand together Concerning the puritie of the Gospell their callings pollute the same 2. maner of wayes and infringe the libertie of the church by as many Firste they will bee Ministers and civill magistrates too that is they wil bee ministers of the kingdome of Christ and the kingdome of the world all at once Whereby they declare vnto vs that they thinke it not sufficient to bee as their * Mat. 10.24.25 Iohn 18.36 maister was who affirmed his king dome not to be of this worlde that is that he was not manifested in the flesh to intermedle with the execution of civill functions but to be ruler of a kingdome that consisteth in an other manner of gouernment and dominion than the kingdomes of the world doe Whose example in this point all his true ministers muste needes followe vnlesse they will make a shamefull defection from their maister vnto whome being heere vpon earth though he were the lord of all his creatures it had bene vnlawfull to haue taken vpon him the function of the civill magistrate And therefore we reade that when the multitude woulde haue made him king Iohn 6.15 he withdrew himself out of the way because that hee was not sent hyther to deale in anye thing but in the worke of mans redemption and so if as a Magistrate hee had intermedled with the dispensation of civill things be had not contained himself within the limites of that calling wherevnto he was anointed with the oyle of gladnes aboue his fellowes Not that the calling of the Magistrate being Gods ordinanceis a thing vnlawful in it self but that the Lord hath so apointed that hee which is to be the minister of the glad tidinges of the gospell cannot be the minister of ciuill justice and execution By reason that these two ordinances of the magistracie ministerie though proceeding both of them from the Lord do yet flow from him in a diuerse consideration and respecte For the ciuill magistrate is the Lords
the nations doe he forbiddeth them also to bee called and tearmed by their titles I know what hath beene obiected by the Archb. vnto these thinges and will againe bee said if it be not prevented namely that our Sauior forbiddeth tyrannous lordship and tyrannous bearing of rule in the former place not just vpright and lawfull government Where I beseech your Hh. to lend me your attention you shall see the intollerable boldnes of this man in peruerting the truth who is not ashamed whēsoeuer it may be for his behoofe to teach points of doctrine meere directly against the words mind of the Lord Iesus I demand then of him whether our Sauiour Christ did not in the place afore cited so aunswere his disciples in the pointe whereof they doubted as hee did fullie resolue them He dares not deny it I am sure For in pointes that are needfull to be knowen reuealed our Sauiour being demāded one thing doeth not frame his answere vnto that whereof no question is made and so leaue his church vnsarisfied What was the question then Was it whether any of them should rule lyke a tyrant was it whether any of them should gape after promotion no such thing For they knew well enough that it was very gainlesse for them to demaund of our sauiour which of them should be a tyrant which of them should abuse his lawfull superioritie or whiche of them should be an ambitious prelate they knewe well enough that he would allow no such dominiō and preheminence Besides the apostles we may well think were not so blinde as to demand any such question of their maister Nowe then they demanding no such thing at his handes to what end should he tell them that they should not be tyrannous rulers They made no question of any suche matter therefore a resolution of that which they called not into controuersye was nothing to the purpose but left them as doubtful as they were before Wherefore wee are to conclude that as the question was concerning lawfull preheminence bearing of rule his negatiue answere being frained vnto their question denieth vnto them not only a tyrannous and an ambitious prelacie wherof they made no question but euen that dominion preheminence which of it self is lawfull in thē who by the ordinance of God are capable of it to wit in the civill magistrate And whereas the Apostles dreaming of a worldly kingdom might alledge for themselues that their demand was not altogether without ground because they contended for no other superioritie then was allowed off in the rulers of worldlie kingdomes our maister Christ answereth that obiection and telleth them that although it bee lawfull for ciuill gouernours to beare rule ouer their fellow officers and collegues that is ouer ciuill magistrates and althoughe it bee lawfull for them to beare lordlie rule and authoritie and to haue highe stiles and titles yet among you that are Ministers of the Gospell it shall not bee so saieth he And to perswade them herevnto Luk. 22.27.28 he bringeth in his owne example who came to serue and not to beare rule in the ministery of the new testament Making it also knowne vnto them and to all his true ministers that although they were according vnto his example to serue and not to exercise dominion all the time of their being vpon earth in publishing the gospell Verse 29.30 yet there was a kingdome prepared for them wherein they should haue an especiall preheminence But as for anie dominion here vpon earth if they would be his true disciples they were to look for none but to be as he was and to take the Ministerye vpon them on the same condition that hee did viz. to serue and not to beare rule therein Of all these things then wee doe conclude that this threefold corruption of our Archb. and Bb. First in vsurping vpon the government of the civill magistrate secondlie in claming vnto themselues those highe names and titles which belong vnto worldly honors and promotions lastly in the lordlie preheminence and superioritie which they vsurpe ouer the whole body of the Church within their diocese in generall and ouer their fellow ministers in particular is altogether a matter to be detested of all true christians as abhominable and odious in the presence of the Lorde And seeing our head Christ Iesus granteth vnto his body this libertle that al the members thereof should be servants and not lordes therein as he himself did serue not beare rule in the kingdome of the gospell and hath giuen all true ministers this priuiledge that none of them shoulde rule ouer the other it muste needs be that this lordlyke gouernment which our bishops arrogate vnto themselues ouer the church of God and the Ministers of it cannot in it selfe though it were never abused but bee preiudiciall vnto the liberties of the church and the ministers thereof Therefore my Ll. maintaine the Hierarchy of Bb. as long as you will you vpholde thereby nothing els but the tyranny and bondage of the church together with a chiefe and an especiall portion of the kingdome of Antichrist For as this pestilent Hierarchy hath bene proued not to appertain vnto the kingdome of Christ so your Hh. are to know that the same belongeth vnto no other body then vnto that regiment whereof the sonne of perdition is the head For vnto the kingdome of Christ as you see it doth not belong to the kingdome of the world that is vnto the civill magistracie it cannot appertaine for it would bee accounted an ecclesiasticall constitution and not any civill regiment To Mahometisme or to any other heathnish Idolatry it cannot belong because it is onely retained among those that pretend the name of Christ and are eyther the true churche in deede or at the leaste doe wrongfully retaine the name of the true churche Now vnto the true church it doeth not belong as we haue already proued because it is a government cōsisting of those offices which the head neuer ordained to be in the bodie and consisteth of suche members as would beare rule and not serue in the ministerie of the Gospel We must then place them in deede where of right they ought to be that is in the false sinagogue which vniustly arrogateth vnto it selfe the name of the true churche of God and that is in the kingdome of Antichriste the Pope Whose kingdome must begin in the church of god and not among the heathen as it was expresly fore tolde by the apostle Paule 2. Thes 2.5 Sathan therefore being to lay the foundation of this antichristiā kingdome within the churche and temple of God that hee might with more colour afterwardes pretend the name of the churche began by little and little to poison the ministers of the gospell with worldlye promotion and superiority and so from small beginnings brought the Hierarchye vnto that height of pryde wherein wee see it at this day not only in his own
meanes thereof by the preaching of the word the administration of the sacramentes c. shall cease the government of Christ also as far as it is performed by these meanes shall cease And so in this respect hee is said to deliuer the kingdome vnto his father For after that day hee will no longer governe and rule vs which are the members of his body by meanes as he now doth but he which is the Lamb Lonke Reu. 7.17 21.22.23 â—2 5. being in the middest of the throne of God shall immediatlie governe vs by himself and bring vs to the liuelie fountaines of waters Now the kingdome of Christ being taken in this latter sence for that government of the Church ordained vnder the new testament wherby he which is the sonne being manifested in the fleshe to take vpon him the regiment of his owne house doeth nowe from heauen by the operation of his spirite guide and governe his Church is such as no part thereof must be administred by any offices or officers saue onely by those whome in his worde he hath apointed therevnto The which case standeth vpon such manifest grounds of aequitie and iustice that their madnes is apparantlie wicked who go about to attempt the contrarie For seeing no office can haue anie place in the kingdome and bodie of Christ viz. the Church which is not a * Rom. 12.6 1. Cor. 12.8.14.27.28 member thereof and seeing our Sauiour Christ hath not left his Churche vnperfect but absolute and compleat of all hir members otherwise he should bee an vnperfect builder of his house and far more vnperfecte than Moses is saide to bee Heb. 3.3.6 the contrarie wherof is testified of him in the word the enterprise is intollerable thatanie man shoulde adde of his owne invention vnto that which is most perfect wherevnto that which is added being impertineÌ„t must needes be altogether a burthen vnprofitable and noysome vnto the bodie Because our Sauiour who is the head of his bodie giueth lyfe onely vnto the members of his own appointment making insomuch as if you go about to bring into his kingdome bodie those officers which were not ordained and apointed in the word of God to bee therein you bring in these things that appertaine not vnto the kingdome of Christ Nowe according vnto these grounds Archb. aâ—d â—b doe not belong vnto the kingdome of Christ let vs see vnto what regiment these offices of Archb. and Bb. do belong whether vnto the gouernment of christ or vnto the kingdome of the beast You see if they apertaine vnto the Church of Christ that they wer ordained members thereof in the written worde will of God Heere then we will not be the judges let our aduersaries speake theÌ„ selues whether their offices be apointed in the new testameÌ„t or not for therin must they be mencioned if they belong vnto the kingdome of Christ and are the members of his bodie What wil their answere be in this point Surelie they muste confes that from the beginning of the new testament vnto the latter end of it there is not a word spoken of Ll. Archb. and Bb. So that whensoeuer or by whomesoeuer they had their originall they haue it not from our Sauiour Christe and his word Because he hath ordained no members of his bodie and no offices of his Kingdome since the written worde of the newe testament was penned Whervpon we must needs conclude that they belong not vnto his kingdome Naye wee go further and say that Ll. Archb. and Bb. are so farre from hauing their callings warranted by the word that their verie names much more their offices are by the same made detestable and odious vnto the church as shall presentlie appeare As for their callings the corruption thereof is so great that they the puritie of the gospell together with the liberty of the church cannot stand together Concerning the puritie of the Gospell their callings pollute the same 2. maner of wayes and infringe the libertie of the church by as many Firste they will bee Ministers and civill magistrates too that is they wil bee ministers of the kingdome of Christ and the kingdome of the world all at once Whereby they declare vnto vs that they thinke it not sufficient to bee as their * Mat. 10.24.25 Iohn 18.36 maister was who affirmed his kingdome not to be of this worlde that is that he was not manifested in the flesh to intermedle with the execution of civill functions but to be ruler of a kingdome that consisteth in an other manner of gouernment and dominion than the kingdomes of the world doe Whose example in this point all his true ministers muste needes followe vnlesse they will make a shamefull defection from their maister vnto whome being heere vpon earth though he were the lord of all his creatures it had bene vnlawfull to haue taken vpon him the function of the civill magistrate And therefore we reade that when the multitude woulde haue made him king Iohn 6.15 he withdrew himself out of the way because that hee was not sent hyther to deale in anye thing but in the worke of mans redemption and so if as a Magistrate hee had intermedled with the dispensation of civill things he had not contained himself within the limites of that calling wherevnto he was anointed with the oyle of gladnes aboue his fellowes Not that the calling of the Magistrate being Gods ordinance is a thing vnlawful in itself but that the Lord hath so apointed that hee which is to be the minister of the glad tidinges of the gospell cannot be the minister of ciuill justice and execution By reason that these two ordinances of the magistracie ministerie though proceeding both of them from the Lord do yet flow from him in a diuerse consideration and respecte For the ciuill magistrate is the Lords liuetennant and messenger in respect that the Lord is gouernor and ruler of all his creatures and especiallie of men and therefore hath apointed the civill magistracie to keepe them in that outward obedience which he requjreth at their handes Now the minister is the Lordes messenger in an other regarde viz. In respecte that the Lord offereth peace and reconciliation vnto men if they * 2. Thes 1.9 beleeue and obeye his gospell Vnlesse therefore we would make the Lord to be the Redeemer of mankinde in that respect that hee is the Creator and the gouernor thereof so confound the decree of the gouernmeÌ„t of the creatures with the decree and ordinance of mans redemption we cannot without the breach of the Lords holy will confound these two callings together And surelie by how much the work of mans redemption from the aeternall wrath of God is more excellent than the worke of the creation and government of the creatures by so much the more detestable and odious doe they manifest themselues who being as they would be accounted ministers of that reconciliation made
whether any of them should rule lyke a tyrant was it whether any of them should gape after promotion no such thing For they knew well enough that it was very gainlesse for them to demaund of our sauiour which of them should be a tyrant which of them should abuse his lawfull superioritie or whiche of them should be an ambitious prelate they knewe well enough that he would allow no such dominiō and preheminence Besides the apostles we may well think were not so blinde as to demand any such question of their maister Nowe then they demanding no such thing at his handes to what end should he tell them that they should not be tyrannous rulers They made no question of any suche matter therefore a resolution of that which they called not into controuersye was nothing to the purpose but left them as doubtful as they were before Wherefore wee are to conclude that as the question was concerning lawfull preheminence bearing of rule his negatiue answere being frained vnto their question denieth vnto them not only a tyrannous and an ambitious prelacie wherof they made no question but euen that dominion preheminence which of it self is lawfull in thē who by the ordinance of God are capable of it to wit in the civill magistrate And whereas the Apostles dreaming of a worldly kingdom might alledge for themselues that their demand was not altogether without ground because they contended for no other superioritie then was allowed off in the rulers of worldlie kingdomes our maister Christ answereth that obiection and telleth them that although it bee lawfull for ciuill gouernours to beare rule ouer their fellow officers and collegues that is ouer ciuill magistrates and althoughe it bee lawfull for them to beare lordlie rule and authoritie and to haue highe stiles and titles yet among you that are Ministers of the Gospell it shall not bee so saieth he And to perswade them herevnto Luk. 22.27.28 he bringeth in his owne example who came to serue and not to beare rule in the ministery of the new testament Making it also knowne vnto them and to all his true ministers that although they were according vnto his example to serue and not to exercise dominion all the time of their being vpon earth in publishing the gospell Verse 29.30 yet there was a kingdome prepared for them wherein they should haue an especiall preheminence But as for anie dominion here vpon earth if they would be his true disciples they were to look for none but to be as he was and to take the Ministerye vpon them on the same condition that hee did viz. to serue and not to beare rule therein Of all these things then wee doe conclude that this threefold corruption of our Archb. and Bb. First in vsurping vpon the government of the civill magistrate secondlie in claiming vnto themselues those highe names and titles which belong vnto worldly honors and promotions lastly in the lordlie preheminence and superioritie which they vsurpe ouer the whole body of the Church within their diocese in generall and ouer their fellow ministers in particular is altogether a matter to be detested of all true christians as abhominable and odious in the presence of the Lorde And seeing our head Christ Iesus granteth vnto his body this libertle that al the members thereof should be servants and not lordes therein as he himself did serue not beare rule in the kingdome of the gospell and hath giuen all true ministers this priuiledge that none of them shoulde rule ouer the other it muste needs be that this lordlyke gouernment which our bishops arrogate vnto themselues ouer the church of God and the Ministers of it cannot in it selfe though it were never abused but bee preiudiciall vnto the liberties of the church and the ministers thereof Therefore my Ll. maintaine the Hierarchy of Bb. as long as you will you vpholde thereby nothing els but the tyranny and bondage of the church together with a chiefe and an especiall portion of the kingdome of Antichrist For as this pestilent Hierarchy hath bene proued not to appertain vnto the kingdome of Christ so your Hh. are to know that the same belongeth vnto no other body then vnto that regiment whereof the sonne of perdition is the head For vnto the kingdome of Christ as you see it doth not belong to the kingdome of the world that is vnto the civill magistracie it cannot appertaine for it would bee accounted an ecclesiasticall constitution and not any civill regiment To Mahometisme or to any other heathnish Idolatry it cannot belong because it is onely retained among those that pretend the name of Christ and are eyther the true churche in deede or at the leaste doe wrongfully retaine the name of the true churche Now vnto the true church it doeth not belong as we haue already proued because it is a government cōsisting of those offices which the head neuer ordained to be in the bodie and consisteth of suche members as would beare rule and not serue in the ministerie of the Gospel We must then place them in deede where of right they ought to be that is in the false sinagogue which vniustly arrogateth vnto it selfe the name of the true churche of God and that is in the kingdome of Antichriste the Pope Whose kingdome must begin in the church of god and not among the heathen as it was expresly fore tolde by the apostle Paule 2. Thes 2.5 Sathan therefore being to lay the foundation of this antichristiā kingdome within the churche and temple of God that hee might with more colour afterwardes pretend the name of the churche began by little and little to poison the ministers of the gospell with worldlye promotion and superiority and so from small beginnings brought the Hierarchye vnto that height of pryde wherein wee see it at this day not only in his own kingdom where he ruleth by his vicar the Pope but euē among vs in the persons of our wicked Prelates And although Sathan was enforced to watche a long time for his opportunity ere he could bring the ministers of the gospell vnto lordship dominion About the year 320. for vnto the time of Pope Silvester Rome it self was without any lordship at al yet notwithstanding he was driuen to work that in the Church before ever he could aduance the mā of sin vnto the chaire of iniquity So that by means of this superioritye and worldlye dominion of the ministers of the word he began at the first to make the waye for the in bringing of the my sterie of iniquitie which as the holy ghost testifieth 2. Thes 2.7 began to manifest it self in the age of the apostles And going on forwarde by degrees he so strengthened these plants of his owne graffing that he made thē to bee the instrnmentes by the strength and power whereof he convaied the whole bodie whereof they were the members head and al into the temple of God For in
bee true if the hierarchye belonged vnto that kingdome of Christ Seing then that the kingdome of Christ and true religion may be absolute perfecte though the offices of Ll. Archb. and Bb. bee not joined therevnto and seeing that where these are not retayned some part of Popery is wanting it followeth that L. Archb. and Bb. doe appertaine vnto the regiment of the beast and his Idolatrie not vnto the religion and kingdome of Christ The consequence whereof is that they who labour and striue for the maintenance of those coruptions in our church labour and striue for the vpholding of a part of the kingdome of Antichrist the pope The continuance of whose members amongest vs serueth to no other purpose then to keepe possession vntill the head hath gotten him sufficient force to invade both the true churche of God and the throne of the civill Magistrate in our kingdome And surely if this Hierarchy vnder whose winges Popery hath growne so fast within these 20 yeares doth stande anye long time in England I looke for no other effect to come from it but these two First a toleration for men to professe popish Idolatry Tolleration of Popery Secondly vpon the grant heereof I look that by little little the state of her Maiesties crown which the Lord forbid should be brought in bondage vnder the Antichristiā authority of the pope If you graūt the former the latter must needs follow For let it once be sene that popery hath gotten such strength among vs that after 31. yeares banishment wee haue bene violentlie enforced compelled to receaue the same againe into our bosomes and you shall then perceaue that it will bee an easie matter for the Pope and his hirelings to bring the crowne of England to stoup vnto Antichrists Myter And as the lykly ruine of hir Maiesties estate must needs ensue vpon the quiet profession of popery within any parte of her dominions so out of question the continuance of this Hierarchye will so increase the nomber of Papists among vs that of force whether wee will or not they will haue the libertye of their idolatrous consciences in their Idoll service They that knowe howe their nomber haue augmented within these 16. yeares in our state and how Sathan hath framed his instruments meet for this purpose may easilie judge that there is som reason why this feare shoulde bee conceaued The members never thinke them selues well placed when they are not annexed vnto the heade Either then remoue these members or vndoubtedly they will one day bring whatsoever is committed vnto their gouernment and make the same subiect thrall vnto that head for the seruice whereof they them-selues were appointed Where it is saide that the offices of Archb. and Bb. cannot stand in the church without the infringing of the liberties thereof and that they are mēbers of the body of Antichrist I know it wil be objected that many good men even since the last reuealing of the gospel supplied these places as M. Cranmer M. Hooper M. Latimer M. Ridley M. Bale c. whom if we should account either to be vsurpers ouer their fellow brethren and the rest of the church of God in their time or to haue continued in Antichristian callings the matter will bee thought strange and hardly taken Whervnto the answere is this That for their callings it cannot be denied but they were the offices of the Antichristian kingdome And for the men themselues they coulde not possiblye anye wayes continue in them without the breach of Gods ordinance and the impeaching of the libetties of the Churche in some measure For in some sort they did rather beare rule than serue in the ministery of the gospell And yet notwithstanding all these imperfections we think these men to haue bene such as for whome we are to giue the Lord harty thankes not that they were Ll. Bishops but that they faithfully labored in the ministery of the gospell and sealed the same with their blood In respect whereof also wee accounte their memory to be blessed and reverend amongst posterities But what is all this vnto the Bishops of England at this day Are they Latimers Are they Cranmers Ridleyes Hoopers Though for some causes I could wish they were yet I thank God frō my hart that they are not For then their Hierarchy would not so soone fal to the ground as now I hope it will But alas it may grieue anye christian hart to consider the differences that are between these vpstart corrupt tyrantes that nowe raigne ouer our church those ancient sincere fathers Compare them together but onelye in one pointe and you shall see how lamentablie they differ Those reverend men of God M. Cranmer M. Latimer M. Hooper c. hauing by great striuing recovered our church though a dead church out of the handes of tyrannous murtherers laboured by all meanes possible to put life into it by the preching of the word that being aliue made strong they might also restore it vnto liberty Our Bb. on the other side what do they Surely rather then the church vnder their jurisdictions should recover hir liberty Iudge good Readers their whole care is how they may murther the same I sclander them not For rather than they will suffer any to bee over gods people who doth instruct them in those things that concerne the lyberty of the church and the tyranny of the popish government * They haue stopped the mouthes of so many faithfull teachers within these 6. yeares that the proofe of this point is needlesse Iohn 6.63 they will violently thruste al such teachers from their flocks and place Idoles in their stead And what is this els but to murther the church rather than it shoulde not bee in bondage vnto them For they that bereaue the church of the word preached take away the very life therof The words that I haue spoken saieth our Sauiour are spirite and life And I appeale in this place vnto the consciences of our Prelates whether if all the prechers in England sought the ouerthrow of their hierarchie they would not thrust thē al out of their places rather then the church should be deliuered from their antichristian jurisdiction It is plain they would T.C. Admon pag. 28.29 For B. Cooper maketh the putting downe of Ll. Bb. to be the plain ouerthrow of the church And reading is preaching saieth the Archb. VVhitgift pag. 569.574 Better then for the church to stād by these quiet reading murtherers then to be ouerturned by seditious teachers The case therefore is manifest that they loue our church so wel as rather than they shoulde not beare rule therein they wil see the hart blood of it that being therby tamed it may content it self with any tollerable seruitude Look then what differēce there may be betwene desperate murtherers the carefull phisitions of mens soules betweene merciles tyrants and the pitiful fathers of the churche the very same
A TREATISE WHEREIN IS MANIFESTLIE PROVED THAT REFORMATION AND THOSE that sincerely fauor the same are vnjustly charged to be enemies vnto hir Maiestie and the state WRITTEN BOTH FOR THE clearing of those that stande in that cause and the stopping of the sclaunderous mouthes of all the enemies thereof ZEPHANIAH 3.18.19 After a certaine time wil I gather the afflicted that were of thee and them that beare the reproch for it behold at that time will I bruise al that afflict thee and I will saue her that halteth and gather hir that was cast out and I wil get them praise in al the land of their shame At that time wil I bring you again and then wil I gather you for I wil giue you a name and a praise amōg al the people of the earth when I turn back your captivity before your eyes saith the Lord. 1590. To all those that sincerelie loue the Lorde Iesus and seeke the 〈◊〉 estate of his kingdoms and namelie in the brethren throughout Englande VVales Ireland IOHN 〈…〉 knowledge 〈◊〉 and 〈…〉 with al other 〈…〉 THE Cluds of England beloued in the Lorde to wit Peace and prosperity haue now of a long time to be 〈◊〉 all estates among vs for the most part that in stead of our thankfulnesse vnto God for his great vndeserued blessings they haue caused our land to bring forth most strange effects vnto the dishonour of the Lords name the hinderance of his truth the lykelie ruine of his Church and the generall griefe and discouragement of all his children VVe knowe wel enough what kyndnesse the Lord hath generallie shewed vnto our kingdome at such time as we little deserued the same and what thankfulnesse wee haue repayed him again our practise doth evidentlie testifie It is not yet manie yeares aboue 30. since we were matched yea King Philips mariage and ouermatched with strangers readie daye and night to haue the same crueltie shevved vpon vs whiche that proude and bloodie nation the Spainyard doth now the second tyme purpose to execute But our God deliuered vs from that imminent bondage The blessing is to be remembred especiallie seeing the kindenes was then shewed vnto our state when not onelye the whole kingdome being moste shamefullie fallen from God to the worship of deuils was ouergrowne with the weeds of Idolatrous poperie and superstition but euen those plantes graffed among vs by the diuels owne hande were so highly accounted off that rather thē they should not haue their ful growth in England they were watered with the blood of the saints of God Behold here O England thy deliueraunce from bondage in the day wherein thou didst deserue captitutie and looke for an heauier yoke if thou continuest to be vnthankful But what do I speake of this outward libertie seeing the other freedome of the soule bestowed vpon vs at the same instant doth vtterlie obscure this blessing and make it seeme nothing in comparison The Lord therefore that al the glorie of his kindnes towardes a rebellious nation might indeede be his owne and that he might justly require the fruit of thankfulnesse at our handes together with the government of hir right excellent Majestie brought vnto vs the inestimable treasure of his Gospell which to this day he hath continued contrarie vnto our deserts Howe this gospell was at that time and nowe is receaued among vs it shal be partlie declared afterward Since the enjoying thereof how vnthankfullie soeuer our state hath entertayned the same it is well knowen that in regarde of outwarde peace and prosperitie this land hath bene in our dayes the miracle of al the kingdomes in the earth For the Lord hath from heauen commanded the blessing of outward plentie to be with vs in al that we haue set our handes vnto Deu. 28.11.12 and as for our peace it hath beene such as other nations haue bene glad to borrow the same from vs which also we haue bene able to lend vnto them And although the Lord to testify his wrath against the abuse of his blessings hath somtimes chastened vs with some taste of famine and threatned diuers times to take awaye our peace yet whensoeuer wee haue had but one deare yeare in all our quarters hee fullie recompensed the dearth thereof with the vnexpected abundance and plentie of the next And if you look vnto our enemies that haue risen vp either at home or abroad to disturbe our quietnes they may bee trulie saide to come against vs one waye and to haue fallen before vs seauen So that if within the circuite of heauen you woulde see a kingdome wonderfullie blessed with outward peace and prosperity Englād must be the pattern thereof And I woulde to God that this were the onelie president that England doth afforde vnto vs and our posterities But alas it is far other wise For as the Lords blessings haue bene multiplied vpon vs so hath our vnthankfulnesse augmented it sense out of measure Consider the state of religiō at this day see what a grateful cuntrie Englande hath bene vnto hir God The Lord by the mouthes of his seruantes and by his fore-named blessings hath these 31. yeares besought and earnestly intreated yea wooed as it were al estates among vs to looke vnto their owne soules to day wrile it is called to day and to lay a sure hold vpon him while he may be found by a thorow receiuing of the Gospel together with the ministers thereof and by shewing kindenes vnto his desolate house But what hath England answered Surelie with an impudent fore-head The hath said I wil not come neere the holie one Englands reformation And as for the building of his house I will not so much as lift vp a finger towardes that work nay I wil continue the desolations thereof And if anie man speaketh a worde in the behalfe of this house or bewaileth the miserie of it I wil accounte him an enemye to my state As for the gospel and the ministeries of it I haue already receaued al the Gospels and al the ministeries that I meane to receaue I haue receaued a reading Gospel and a reading ministery a pompous Gospel and a pompous ministery a Gospel and a ministery that strentheneth the hands of the wicked in his iniquity a gospel and a ministery that will stoupe vnto me and bee at my beek either to speake or to be mute when I shal thinke good Briefly I haue receaued a gospel a ministerie that wil neuer trouble my conscience with the sight of my sinns which is al the gospels and al the ministeries that I meane to receaue I wil make a sure hand that the Lords house it I can chuse shal bee no otherwayes aedified than by the handes of suche men as bring vnto me the foresaid gospel and the foresaid ministery Loe heere Englands thankfulnes beloued foral the mercies and kindnes whiche hir God hath vouchsaued vnto hir And tell me in thy conscience whether thou
goodnes of that cause wherein you suffer Heb. 12.28.29 but onelye by the assistance of his spirite who requireth a great care in all his children to please him in reverence and feare for even our God is a consuming fire Concerning such of you as the Lord hath not tryed with any afflictioÌ„ for this cause I beseech you be not ashamed of the chaine of your brethren mourne with those that lament for the cause of God VVhen they are imprisoned think your selues to be in bondes And I do especially and aboue al thinges beseech those that fauor the reformation to labour more and more in the reforming of themselues and such as be long vnto them VVe know that considering the season it is now time to rest from sleep Rom. 13.12 For now is our salvation neerer than when we firste beleved It might haue bene something tollerable in times past for a sincere professor to haue an ignorant an vntaughte and a vnreformed family but in this cleare light Phil. 1.27 1. cor 13.5.13 Zeph. 1.8 Ephes 5.11 Col. 1.6 and in a profession of so great sincerity to continew in these sinnes is altogether vnbeseeming the gospel of Christ Long haire great ruffes laying out of wemens haire and strange attyre is a participating with the vnfruitful works of darknesse and a token that the gospel hath not beene faithfully receaued And therefore let it be no longer tolle rated among the reformed professours of England Vow and performe with the holye man Dauid Psal 111.12 that you wil sing mercy and judgement walke in the vprightnes of your harts in the midst of your families Iob. 22.22.23 and if you wil make peace indeede with the Lord follow the counsel of the holye ghost in removing iniquitye far not only from yourselues but also from your tabernacles hou ses Shew what reformation can do in a whole kingdome by the practise thereof in your owne persons and families And that wil be the best argument both to confute the aduersary and to draw the indifferent to lyke the cause And as the Lord shal giue vnto any of you accesse either vnto hir Maiesty or any of their Honors so be careful to promote this truth VVe haue al of vs we must confes be ne so carelesse and secure in these points and therefore it is that by the juste judgement of God our Bishops are at this day so insolent against the truth And vnles we labour more strongly to haue these Cananits rooted out we may write vpon it that they wil be prickes in our eyes Nomb. 33.55.56 thornes in our sides stil vexe vs as they do at this day VVhere I say that professors should labour strongly to haue our hierarchy and contemptible Idoles rooted out of our Church my meaning is not that any priuate strength should so much as lift vp a hand muche lesse vse any violence against these caterpillers but I meane that we should more vehemeÌ„tly labour with the Lord by prayers and by the reforming ourselues our families and deale earnestly with hir Maiesty their Honors that our cause may be aequally heard My meaning in the former point I thought needful to expresse because I know what sclanders would otherwise be raised against me to the hurt of the cause by those that are enemies therevnto whose madnes I doubte not will shortlye appeare vnto all men And I trust in the Lord that he wil one day giue hir Maiesty a descerning ey to judge aright between them and vs and then shal it appeare whether we or they do seek the peace and quietnes of hir kingdome In the meane time we wil content our selues with the eye of our God Yet one thing I would wish to be considered of by hir right excellent Maiesty namely whether it be not an inconvenient season when our fortaine enemies are at the dores publikly to traduce hir beste and most trusty snbiects as enemies to hir state For if the Spainyard shal heare that besids the popish faction the fore-wardest professors of the gospel in Englande are but her Maiesties half frendes Mark the issue what wil not the hope of a threfold discorde in our state moue him to attempt I doe therefore feare that many of the forwardest enemies of reformation are not the backwardest friends that the King of Spaine hath in England at this day But least the enemy should deceaue himself with a golden dreame I am to make it knowen vnto al Spaniards and Spanish practisers that we are such enemies vnto Queene Elizabeth The enmity which the favorers of reformation beare vnto hir Maiesty and the state as we do not onely pray day and nighte for the state of hir Kingdome and hir person but also wee are readye to stande in the defence of hir royal person and right to the losse not onely of our goods and blood but even of our lyues and that against men and Angels even al creatures without exception Thus much my good brethren I may boldly set down in the name of you al because I know by what spirit you are guided And as for your sakes nexte vnto the defence of the truth I haue taken this labour in hand So I do with the Apostle humbly entreat the Lord Rom. 15.31 that my service herein may be acceptable vnto the Saints throughout England VVales Ireland whome together with my self and al the Lords elect I commit vnto his hand who is able to reserue vs vnto the day of redemption TO THE READER ¶ M.D. Anno 12. or 13 Elizab. Haddon deliuered in Parliament a Latine book concerning church discipline written in the dayes of king Ed. 6. by M. Cranmer Sir Iohn Cheek knight c. This book was committed by the house to be translated vnto the said M. Hadon M. George Bromely M. Norton c. If thou canst good reader help me or any other that labour in the cause vnto the said book I hope though I never saw it that in so doing thou shalt doe good service vnto the Lord and his Church REFORMATION NO enemie to her Maiestie and the State ALthough it be most true that our Saviour Christ Iesus doth vouchesafe vnto nations and kingdomes All Kingdomes are bound to fram a theâ—â— stâ—tes according to the doctrine of the gospell Match 10.34 Luk. 12.51 52 the fruition vse of his holy worde and gospell vpon no other condition theÌ„ that all men of all degrees and callings as well high as low wil be content to haue their states altered and changed at the pleasure appointment and determination of his wil worde yet notwithstanding it is as true that the said word and gospel of his bringeth nothing with it that can possible be an enemie to anye state eyther priuate or publike whatsoever The which point I take to be so cleare and manifest that no state-men can deny it saue only those who haue made a leagne
with the diuell a covenant with hell by vertue wherof they stand bound to account the Lord and al his holy wayes to be enemies vnto them and their cursed proceedings For no man can pretend the gospel and word of God to be his enemie but he must needs also confesse that he hath bidden defyance vnto the Lord of heauen earth who accounteth himselfe to be loved and hated of men according vnto the affectiō which they bear vnto his a Luk. 12 26. Iohn 14.23.15 1. Iohn 2.5 word This hatred of God his word because th' aduersaries of reformation in England dare not avowe therefore as a foundation of the whole treatize following I lay downe this ground which they themselues wil not call in question Namely That the reformation whiche at this daye wee endevour to bringe into our Churche is moste vnjustly and wrongfully accounted an enemie vnto our state if it can bee prooved to be a matter approoued off and maintayned by the worde and gospell of IESVS CHRISTE Where I would gladly knowe two thinges of them First whether they judge that which we labour for to be according to to the worde or no They must answere that they cannot so thinke of it for if they did they woulde not stand against vs as they doe Secondly if they thought our cause to be good that is if they thought it to be according vnto Gods word I demaund of them whether notwithstanding the goodnes of our cause they woulde yet thinke vs that labor in the same to be enemies vnto the state or no Wee make no question but they haue a better opinion of vs. For whatsoeuer they saye of the cause they can report no otherwise of the favourers thereof thē of those that haue alwayes shewed themselues most faythfull and trustie towards their prince and cuntrie For although within these 31. yeres there haue bin many seditious and treasonable attempts vndertaken against her Majestie and the state by men of all sortes and degrees yet by the goodnes of God it cannot be shewed that any one hath had a hande in any of these practises and conspiracies who euer opened his mouth for reformation or any wise fauored the same And as for attempting any vndutifull or disloyall action in the promoting of the cause it selfe we haue bene so farre from being guiltye in that point D. Bancroft that one of the most shamelesse most impudent slanderers that are amongst al our aduersaries intending of set purpose to stain the cause and the fauorers of reformation with sedition and treason was enforced to passe by vs and to suffer the venime of his lying and slaunderous tongue to light vpon our brethren in the kingdom of Scotland which he would neuer haue done if with any couler he could haue fastened his slanderous vntruethes vpon vs the professors of his own cuntrie So that if we could discharge our hands of the cause we defend we doubt not but our aduersaries themselues would pronounce vs guiltles of all disloyaltie against our prince and cuntrie Seeing then it is cleare that reformation is therfore accounted an enemie vnto our state because it is supposed to haue no grounde in the worde of God and seeing the fauorers thereof are thought to be turbulent men not for anye thing that in a good matter they haue seditiously attempted but inasmuch as they labor to promote a cause that of it selfe is an enterprise daungerous vnto her Majesties crowne and dignitie we are for the clearing of the one and the other to see whether the endeuors of those who desire to haue the Churche of England otherwise reformed then hither to it hath bene be such as they require nothing in that whol worke but onely that whiche the worde of God commandeth to be put in execution The whiche course if they be founde to take then also doth it follow that neither they nor the cause maintained by them can with any couler be accounted enmity vnto the kingdome wherein they liue And here if I should demaund of the most that condemne both vs the cause wherein we stand what that is which is sought to be reformed in our Church VVhat equall judges our aduersaries are I dare be bolde to say that there is not one amongst ten of them that knoweth whether it be blacke or white that we would haue Wherein they do not onely shewe themselues to weigh the most precious and weightie jewell vnder the sunne with a most vn-eauen hande but also if we beleeue the holy Apostle to claim inheritance in the wages of vnrighteousnes 2. Pet. 2.12 inasmuch as they speake euil of those things which they know not The which course if they stil holde on the same Apostle telleth them the they shall perish through their owne corruption To the ende then it may appeare what that reformation is which we seeke for and which these men do account the enemie of our state it is to be vnderstood What we mean by reformation that by reformation we meane nothing els but the remouing of all those vnlawfull callings which are maintained in our Church and ministerie contrarie vnto the reuealed will and written word of the Lord our God and the restoring thervnto of all such offices and ministeries as the same God vnder the paine of his heauie displeasure requireth to be planted in his church when or whersoeuer hee raiseth fit men for those functions To speake more plainly by reformation we mean first the rooting out of our Church of al dumb and vnpreaching ministers all nonresidents Lord Archbishops and bishops commissaries officials chancellors and all the rest of the wicked offices that depend vpon that vngodly and tyrannous hierarchie of Lord Byshops together with their gouernment and whatsoeuer maim deformitie or want there is in our Church by meanes of them their plaees Secondly by reformation we meane the placing in euerie congregation within England as far as possiblie able men can be provided of preaching pastors and Doctors gouerning elders ministring Deacons with whatsoeuer health comlinesse and good order the Lorde by the faythfull labours of these officers would haue brought into his church And these are the onely matters that we meane by the reformation of our Church The which cause in both the parts therof is made so just and aequall by the word of God that the promoting of it can bee accounted the disturbing of no state that hath not determined with it selfe to maintaine the kingdome of Sathan and his prerogatiue For the word of God maketh it out of controuersie that neyther the expelling of dumb ministers L. Bishops c. out of the Churche nor the inducing of Pastors Doctors Elders and Deacons into the same can be burdened with any thing contrarie vnto the welfare of princes and common-wealths vnlesse they wil also charge the Majestie of God with the same accusation And here we appeale from our aduersaries to the word are
woord to answere according vnto truth so especiallie will they be dumb Math. 25.26 If they haue no talents they are Idols and no Ministers when the right vse of their talents if they haue anie are requyred at their handes And let all non residents and especiallye these tyrannous atheists or Prelates I meane vnderstād that if they will needs be rulers ouer gods houshold they are bund to giue the Lords familie their meate in due season yea Mat. 24.48.49 and to continue in feeding of them vntill the comming of their maister that when he commeth hee may finde them so doing Otherwise if lyke euill seruants they shall still continue to say in their hartes that their mayster doth deferre his comming and still continue to smyte their fellow seruants much more to pyne starue them their maister will come in a day when they looke not for him in an houre when they are not aware off and because in that daye hee findeth them not so doing as the holy Ghost speaketh that is because lyke faithfull servants hee findeth them not distributing vnto their fellowes their meate in due season hee will cut them off and giue them their parte with hypocrits where shall bee weeping and gnashing of teeth And this will be their reward As for you my Ll. who winke at all the abhominations of these tyrannous murtherers and shewe not your selues mooued with the dishonor wherewith they staine true religion the misery which they haue brought vpon our Church the Lord bee mercifull vnto you For I see no way for you but as you allow the wicked course of these mē so you shall be partakers of their heauie damnation And as you cannot washe your handes from any of the bloode that is spilte in our Churche because your eyes haue seene it and eyther shewe no dislyke thereof or maintaine the same so of all other the murthers committed vpon the soules of men within England you are most guilty of this whereof the non-resident is the butcher because a great parte of this cruelty is cōmitted in our Church by your meanes Chaplainships for this is the sinne wherevnto you giue a cōmission and vnlesse ye delyuered the sword into the hands of these bloody tyrants their slaughter would not be so in vse among vs. For wheras many could not otherwise be qualified as they cal it to haue moe benefices than one you know that to be Chaplayne vnto a noble man or to the most of our Counsellors if not vnto all giveth a full libertie vnto this cruell and vnnaturall slaughter Insomuch as you bring this bloode vnto your houses and are not onely accessaries there-vnto but principall offenders therein Whatsoeuer then your Hh. will do in other points of the reformation of our Church it is plain that you can no longer suffer your places to be a couerture vnto this sinne in your godlesse Chaplaines except you would haue the Lorde and his Church to beare witnes against you that you haue conspired against the blood of your countrimen and people And as your Hh. are bound in the sight of God to washe your hands from the maintenance of this sinne in your fore named seruantes that in a good conscience you may testifie before the Lorde and say Deut. 21.7 Our hands haue not spilt this blood where of our Chaplaines are guilty neither haue our eyis seene it So also are you bounde to detest both the same all other the impieties that raygne in our Church by meanes of these wicked Prelates and their gouernment Whose very callings are so directly against the word of God that possiblie they cannot stand in the Church of Christ without the intollerable oppression therof and the impeaching of whatsoeuer liberty almost the Lorde hath lefte vnto the same in his worde And when I consider the great iniury that is offered vnto the Lorde and his Church by meanes of this wicked Hierarchie and whatsoeuer dependeth therevpon I cannot but thinke it a strange matter that the oppugning of so intollerable a corruption should bee hardlye thought off much lesse accounted vnsufferable in a Christian state For these corruptions of Ll. Archbishops Bishops Commissaries Archdeacons Chancelors c. were altogether vnknowen in the Church of God vntill the kingdome of Christ fell in the ages by past to decay and Sathan in the ruines thereof began to laye the foundation of that monarchie of his wherein Antichriste at this daye doth beare rule That these thinges maye bee the better vnderstood and that it may be made knowē whether the offices of Archb. Bb. with the reste of that stampe belong vnto and had their beginning from the kingdome of Christe or els sprang vp when Sathan began to lift his hand for the erecting of Antichrists throne and so appertaine vnto his gouernment we are to consider what is meant by the kingdome of Christ in the decay whereof we affirmed these offices of Archb. and Bb. to haue had their original beginning By the kingdom of Christ then generallie taken we vnderstād that regiment and superioritie which the Lord Iesus hath aboue all principalities that are either in heauen or in earth not simplie as hee is the second person in trinitie God aboue all blessed for euermore but as he is the sonne manifested in the flesh Christ god and man and so the head of his Church In respect of this regiment of his the worde of God speaketh of his kingdome 2. maner of wayes first it maketh the same to be everlasting secondlie it considereth of it as it is temporarie and to remaine for a tyme. In the former respect it cannot possible any wayes decay Of this aeternall kingdome of his the Angell Gabriell spake vnto the holye Virgine Marie after this sort Luke 1.31.32 Thou shalt conceaue in thy wombe and beare a sonne and shalt call his name Iesus Hee shall be great shal be called the sonne of the most high the Lord God shal giue vnto him the thron of his father Dauid and hee shall raigne ouer the house of Iacob for euer and of his kingdome shall be none ende Concerning the latter regarde of his kingdome the holy Apostle Paule writeth in these wordes 1. Cor. 25.24 Then shal be the end when he hath deliuered the kingdome vnto God euen the Father when he hath put down all rule and authority and power for he must raigne vntill he hath put all his enemies vnder his feete Where the Apostle speaketh of the kingdome of Christ as it is temporarie and to continue only vnto the day of judgement no longer Nowe this temporarie regiment of his is also of 2. seuerall considerations For the worde speaketh of our sauiour Christ and his gouernmēt either as he hath all power in heauen and earth cōmitted vnto him Mat. 28.19 Reuel 19.16 17.14 ◠5 and so he is called the Lorde of Lords the king of kings the prince of