reft returning Moses with his Servant Joshua abode there still and waited there six dayes and upon the seventh day God speak unto him Moses received the Law upon the Mount and there he continued forty dayes and forty nights eating no meat all that while nor drinking water where he received Gods Command and the Law written in Tables of Stone with Gods own Finger God biding him withal to get him down for that the People had already made themselves a Molten-Calf to worship it Whilst he was in the Mount the People were run into Idolarty Moses seeing this brake the Tables at the Foot of the Mount and having burnt and defaced the Idol many of the people were put to death by the hands of the Levites The next day Moses returned again into the Mount and there again intreated the Lord for the People and having drawn the People out of a deep Sence of the Wrath of God to repent them of their sin by his prayer he obtained that God himself should be their Leader in their way He prayeth for the People God Commanded Moses to frame New Tables of Stone and the next day to bring them with him into the Mount Moses staying again forty dayes and forty nights in the Mount without Meat or Drink prayed there for the People God was then pleased to renew his Covenant with the People and gave his Laws a new and bids Moses commit them to writing Moses after forty dayes returns from the Mount with the Tables in his Hand and covering his Face with a Vail because it shone he published the Laws of God to the People enjoyning the observation of them and commanded a Freewill-offering to be made Nadab and Abibue struck dead and why toward the building of the Tabernacle according to Gods Order Nadab and Abibue the two Eldest Sons of Aaron which going with their Father up into the Mount Sinai had there seen the Glory of God going into the Sanctuary with strange or common Fire were struck dead in the place by Fire sent from Heaven The Priests for bidden Wine and for them the Priests were forbid to make Lamentation moreover for some particular mens neglect of duty all the Priests were charged to forbear Wine and strong Drink before they were to go into the Tabernacle Moses finding the Goverment of the Israelites to be weighty complained to the Lord of the burden thereof saying I am not able to bear all this People alone because it is too heavy for me and to ease him the Lord said Gather seventy men of the Elders of Israel whom thou knowest to be the Elders of the People To ease Moses in the Government seventy Elders were chosen and Officers over them and bring them to the Tabernacle of the Congregation that they may stand there with thee and Moses gathered the seventy Elders and the Lord gave of the same Spirit that was on Moses unto them and it rested upon them and they Prophesied and Eldad and Medad remained in the Camp and Prophesied and when it was told Moses that they prophesied Moses being pleased therewith said Would God that all the Lords People were Prophets and that the Lord would put his Spirit upon them The Israelites lusting after Flesh and loathing the Food that God gave them Israel murmer again the Lord was Wrath with them the Lord was Wrath with them and brought Quales from the Sea and let them fall by the Camp and the People gathered them but whilst the Flesh was yet between their Teeth ere it was chewed the Wrath of the Lord was kindled against the People and the Lord smote the people with a very great Plague and thus God punished them again for their murmering And now twelve Spies were sent one for every Tribe to discover and spy out the Land of Canaan Spies sent out â—o veiw the Land of Canaan After forty dayes spent in searching out the Land the Spies returned to Kadesh in the Wilderness of Pearan bringing with them one Branch of a Vine with a Cluster of Grapes upon it gathered in the Valley of Eshcol ten of the twelve Spies by speaking ill of the Country and the barrenness thereof and withal magnifying the Cities for their strength and the Giantly stature of the men therein Some of the Spies bring an ill report of the Land so that the People were disheartned disheartned the People from marching any further toward it whilest Caleb did all he could to perswade the people to go on and now the People began to murmer again against Moses and Aaron and would needs go back again into Aegypt and were ready to Stone Caleb and Joshua for saying the Land was an exceeding good Land and that it flowed with Milk and Hony and because of the Peoples complaining the Lord threatens them with suddain Destruction but through Moses's intercession and Prayer the Lord spared them yet so For the Peoples complaining the Lord was again Angry that withal he denounced to them that all of them which were then twenty years old and upwards should dye in the Wilderness and never see the Land which was promised unto them and that they should wander in that Wilderness forty years but my Servant Caleb because he hath another Spirit and hath followed me fully him will I bring into the Land and his Seed shall Possess it Upon this Calamity and the continual dropping away of the Israelites in the Wilderness Moses prayed unto the Lord and thereupon it is supposed he writ the ninetieth Psalm Mans Age again shortned in which he sheweth that the ordinary Age of Men was reduced to seventy or eighty years at the utmost so that now the age of man was again contracted and cut shorter And now again the People for lack of Water murmer against Moses and Aaron year 2552 whom when God Commanded to call Water out of the hard Rock The People murmer again only by speaking to it Moses being moved in his mind said Hear now ye Rebels must we fetch you Water out of the Rock and with the Rod he smote the Rock twice and the Water came forth aboundantly Moses and Aaron for their unbelieve here shewed in executing the Command of God were debarred from entering into the Land of Canaan and the Waters were called Meribah or Waters of Strife Aaron diâ—â— And now in the fortieth year after the coming of the Children of Isarel out of Egypt Aaron died and shortly after God signified to Moses that he should die and Moses desired the Lord to set a man over the People which might go in and out before them and that might not be as Sheep without a Shepherd Ioshua succeed ed Moses and the Lord chose Joshua a man in whom was the Spirit of God and Moses layed his hands on him and gave him a charge as the Lord had commanded him and here ends the matter of the five Books of Moses containing
he did afore-time opened his windows towards Jerusalem and kneeled down and prayed and gave thanks before his God of which these Persecutors acquainted the King then the King commanded and they cast Daniel into the Den of Lions but the Lord preserved him that the Lions hurt him not because he believed in his God which the King hearing of caused Daniel to be taken up out of the Den A judgment of God upon Persecutors and commanded them that were his Persecutors to be cast into it which was done and they were soon destroyed The Constancy and faithful Suffering of some of the ancient people of the Jews rather then they would be forced to depart from the Laws of their Fathers and not to live after the Laws of God Eleazer one of the principal Scribes an aged man and of a well-favoured countenance was constrained to open his Mouth Eleazer persecuted and to eat Swines Flesh But he choosing rather to dye gloriously then to live stained with such an Abomination spit it forth and came of his own accord to the torment as it behoved them to come that are resolved to stand out against such things as are not lawful for love of life to be tasted But they that had the charge of that wicked Feast for the old acquaintance they had with the man taking him aside besought him to bring flesh of his own provision such as was lawful for him to use and make as if he did eat of the flesh taken from the Sacrifice commanded by the King That in so doing he might be delivered from death and for the old friendship with them find favour But he began to consider discreetly and as became his Age and the excellency of his ancient years and the honour of his gray Head whereunto he was come and his most honest Education from a Child or rather the holy Law made and given by God therefore he answered accordingly and willed them strait-wayes to send him to the Grave For it becometh not our Age said he in any wise to dissemble whereby many young persons might think that Eleazer being fourscore years old and ten were now gone to a strange Religion and so they through mine hypocrisie and desire to live a little time and a moment longer should be deceived by me and I get a stain to mine old Age and make it Abominable For though for the present time I should be delivered from the punishment of men yet should I not escape the hand of the Almighty neither alive nor dead wherefore now manfully changing this life I will shew my self such an one as mine Age requireth and leave a notable example to such as be young to die willingly and couragiously for the honourable and holy Laws and when he had said these words immediatly he went to the Torment they that led him changing the good will they bare him a little before into hatred because the foresaid speeches proceeded as they thought from a desperate mind But when he was ready to dye with stripes he groaned and said It is manifest unto the Lord that hath the holy knowledge that whereas I might have been delivered from death I now endure sore pains in body by being beaten but in soul am well content to suffer these things because I fear him And thus this man dyed leaving his death for an example of a noble Courage and a memorial of vertue not only unto young men but unto all his Nation The Constancy and Cruel Death of seven Brethren and their Mother in one day because they would not eat Swines Flesh at the Kings Commandment Seven Brethren with their Mother were taken and compelled by the King against the Law The Mother and her seven Children persecuted to taste Swines Flesh and were tormented with Scourges and Whips but one of them that spake first said thus What wouldst thou ask or learn of us we are ready to dye ' rather then to transgress the Laws of our Fathers Then the King being in a rage commanded Pans and Caldrons to be made hot which forthwith being heated he commanded to cut out the Tongue of him that spake first and to cut off the utmost parts of his Body the rest of his Brethren and his Mother looking on Now when he was thus maimed in all his Members he commanded him being yet alive to be brought to the Fire and to be fryed in the Pan and as the vapour of the Pan was for a good space disperced they exhorted one another with the Mother to dye manfully saying thus The Lord God looketh upon us and in Truth hath comfort in us as Moses in his Song which witnessed to their Faces declared saying and he shall be comforted in his Servants so when the first was dead after this manner they brought the second to make a mocking stock and when they had pulled off the skin of his Head with the hair they asked him ' Wilt thou eat before thou be punished ' throughout every member of thy Body but he answered in his own Language and said No wherefore he also received the next Torment in order as the former did and when he was at the last gasp he said Thou like a fury takest us out of this present life but the King of the world shall raise us up who have dyed for his Laws unto everlasting life After him was the third made a mocking stock and when he was required he put out his tongue and that right soon holding forth his hands manfully and said couragously ' These I had from Heaven and for his Laws I dâ—spise them and ' from him I hope to receive them again insomuch that the King and they that were with him marvailed at the young mans courage for that he nothing regarded the pains Now when this man was dead also they tormented and mingled the fourth in like manner so when he was ready to dye he said thus It is good being put to death by men to look for hope from God to be raised up again by him as for thee thou shalt have no resurrection to life Afterward they brought the fifth also and mangled him then looked he unto the King and said Thou hast power over men thou art corruptible thou dost what thou wilt yet think not that our Nation is forsaken of God but abide a while and behold his great power how he will torment thee and thy seed After him also they brought the sixth who being ready to dye said Be not deceived without cause for we Suffer these things for our selves having sinned against our God therefore marvelous things are done unto us but think not thou that takest in hand to strive against God that thou shalt escape unpunished But the mother was marvelous above all and worthy of honorable memory for when she saw her seven sons slain within the space of one day she bare it with a good courage because of the hope that she had in the Lord yea she
against John Launder and delivered them both to the Sheriffs who conveyed them to the aforesaid places in Sussex whâ—re they were both burnt When Derick Carver came to the Stake he bore Testimony to the people to this effect as followeth Dear Brethren and Sâ—sters Witness to you all that I am come to Seal with my Blood Chrâ—sts Gospeâ— because I know that it is true and because I will not deny here Gods Gospel and be obedient to mans Laws I am condemned to die and he said further O Lord my God thou hast written he that will not forsâ—ke wife Children House and all that ever he hath and take up the Cross and follow thee is not worthy of thee but thou Lord knowest that I have forsaken all to come unto thee Lord have Mercy upon me for unto thee I command my Spirit and my Soul doth rejoyce in thee At Chichester about the same Moneth was burnt one Thomas Jveson of Godstoâ—e in the County of Surrey Carpenter Tho. Jveson Martyr his Examination and Articles were much like Derick Carver and John Launder's when the Bishop prest him to recant he said he would not recant for all the goods in London I do apeal said he to Gods mercy and will be none of your Church nor submit my self to the same and what I have said I will say again and if there came an Angel from Heaven to teach me any other Doctrine then that which I am now in I would not believe him for which answer he was condemned as an Heretick and shortly after was burnt at Chichester as before is mentioned James Abbies a Young man James Abbies Martyr which through compassion of the Tyranny then used travelled from place to place to avoid the peril of the times but at last happened to be apprehended and to be brought before the Bishop of Norwich who examining of him concerning his Religion and very strictly charging him sometimes with threats and other whiles with flatteries perswading him at last the Young man did yield to their perswasions although against his Conscience then the Bishop dismist him giving him a small piece of Money he was no sooner gone from the Bishop but his Conscience began to work and inwardly to be Accused how that he had displeased the Lord by consenting to their delusions whereupon he immediately went back to the Bishop and threw him his Money again saying I repent that ever I consented to your wicked perswasions and received your Money Upon this the Bishop with his Chaplins fell a labouring to reduce him again but all was in vain for he would not yield to them at all but with constancy suffered death for his Religion being burnt in Bury the second day of the Moneth called August 1555. The next that suffered were John Denly John Newman and Patrick Packington John Deuly John Newman and Patrick Packington Martyrs the manner of their apprehending was as followeth One Edmund Terril a Justice in Essex having been at the Execution of certain Martyrs met with John Denly and John Newman both of Maidstone in Kent travelling upon the way and going to â—isit their Friends upon sight of them the said Terrill suspected them to be religious persons and caused them to be apprehended and searched and at last sent them up to London to the Queens Commissioners who shortly after sent them to Bishop Benâ—er who according to his accustomed manner would have perswaded them to recant to whom Denly said God keep me in the mind that I am in and from your Counsel for that you count Heresie I take to be the Truth Shortly after they were brought to the open Consistory where Articles were drawn up against them but their unmoveable constancy appearing they were soon condemned for Hereticks and delivered to the Sheriffs of London to see them Executed The Chief heads of the Examination of John Newman before Doctor Tornton and others are as followeth How say you to this This is my Body which is given for you Newman It is a figurative speech one thing spoken and another meant as Christ saith I am a Vine I am a Door I am a Stone Is he therefore a material Stone a Vine and a Door Docter This is no figurative speech for he saith This is my Body which is given for you and so saith he not of the Stone Vine or Door but that is a figurative speech Newman Christ saith this Cup is the New-Testament in my Blood if ye will have it so meant then let them take and eat the Cup. Doctor Nay that is not so meant for it is a common Phrase of speech among our selves we say to our Friend drink a Cup of drink and yet we account he should drink the drink in the Cup. Newman Why if you will have the one sound erstood you must so understand the other Thornton Well how say you is the Body of Christ really in the Sacrament or no Newman No I believe it not Thornton Well will you stand to it Newman I must needs stand to it till I be perswaded by a further truth Many other Questions Thornton asked which for brevity sake are omitted being not very material to be inserted Six persons burned at Canterbury and one at Chichester About this time there suffered death for the same Cause seven persons viz. one Richard Hooke burnt at Chichester in Sussex and the other six were all burnt at Canterbury viz. William Coker William Hopper Henry Lawrence Richard Colliar Richard Wright and William Steer the last six were persecuted by the aforesaid Thornton Bishop of Dover for denying the real presence in the Sacrament and Auricular confession c. Henry Lawrence being charged for not putting off his Cap when Mention was made of the Sacrament by the Suffergan the said Lawrance told them It was not so holy that they need put of their Caps to it calling it an Idol c. Richard Wright another of the Prisoners being asked what he believed concerning the Sacrament of the Altar he said he allowed not of it nor of the Mass but was ashamed to speak of them At this time the Prisons at London began to be filled with the Servants of God many being daily committed being sent up to the Commissioners from one part of the Nation or another and now here is an account of Ten persons sent by the Commissioners to Bonner at one time as appears by the following Letter A Letter sent by the Commissioners to the Bishop of London After our hearty commendations to your good Lordship we send you here John Wade William Hale George King Thomas Leyes of Thorpe in Essex Thomas Fust Hosier Robert Smith Painter Stephen Harwood Brewer George Tankerfield Cooke Elizabeth Warne and Joane Layshford of London Sacramentaries all which we desire your Lordship to examine and to order according to the Ecclesiastical Laws praying your Lordship to appoint some of your Officers to receive them at this Bearers hands and thus most heartily
trouble which is momentary and little and as St. Paul saith not Worthy of the things which shall be shewed on us that we patiently carrying our Cross may attain to the place where our Saviour Christ is gone before to the which I beseech God of his Mercy bring us speedily I have been much troubled about your deliverance fearing much the perswasions of Worldlings and have found a Friend which will I trust find a mean for you if you be not already provided desiring you in any case to abide such order as those my Friends shall appoint in God and bear well in mind the words which I spake at our departing that as God hath found us and also elected us worthy to suffer with him we may endeavour our selves to follow uprightly in this our Vocation desiring you to present my hearty commendations to all our Friends and especially to your Parents keeping your matter close in any wise give most hearty thanks to my Friends which only for our Cause are come to Windsor continue in prayer do well be faultless in all things beware of Abominations keep clean from sin pray for me as I do for you and most entirely desire you to send me word if you lack any thing The Lord Jesus preserve you and yours Amen From Newgate the fifteenth of April By your Husband Robert Smith A Sententious Letter of Robert Smith's to his Wife Seek first to Love God dear Wife with your whole heart and then shall it be eafie to love your Neighbour Be friendly to all Creatures and especially to your own Soul Be alwayes an Enemy to the Devil and the World but especially to your own Flesh In hearing good things joyn the ears of your head and heart together Seek unity and quietness with all men but especially with your Conscience for he will not easily be entreated Love all men but especially your Enemies Hate the sinâ— that are past but especially those to come Be as ready to further your Enemy as he is to hinder you that you may be the Child of God Remember that God hath hedged in your Tongue with the Teeth and Lips that it might speak under correction Be ready at all times to lock to your Brothers Eye but especially to your own Eye for he that warneth others of that he himself is faulty doth give his Neighbour the clear Wine and keepeth the Dregs for himself Shew mercy unto the Saints for Christs sake and Christ shall reward you for the Saints sake Amongst all other Prisoners visit your own Soul for it is inclosed in a perillous Prison If you will love God hate Evil and you shall obtain the reward of well doing Thus fare you well good Anne have me heartily commended to all that love the Lord unfainedly I beseech you have me in your prayer while I am living and I am assured the Lord will accept it bring up my Children and yours in the Fear of God and then shall I not fail but receive you together in the everlasting Kingdom of God which I go unto Your Husband Robert Smith Robert Smith to all faithful Servants of Christ exhorting them to be strong under Persecution Content thy self with patience with Christ to bear the Cross of pain Which can and will thee recompence a thousand fold with Joyes again Let nothing cause thy heart to quail Launch forth thy Boat hail up thy Sail Put from the Shore And be thou sure thou shalt attain Unto the Port that shall remain For evermore About this time died Steven Harwood at Stratford and Thomas Fust at Ware About the same time VVilliam Haile of Thâ—rp in the County of Essex was condemned and burnt Will. Haile Martyr when he received the Sentence of condemnation he gave this exhortation to the lookers on Ah good People said he beware of this Idolatry and this Anti-christ pointing to the Bishop of London he was burnt at Barnet George King Thomas Leys and John VVade being Prisoners in Lollards Tower fell sick and died and were buried by some of the faithfull Brethren VVilliam Andrew being twice brought before Bonner upon Examination manfully stood in the defence of his Religion at length through strait handling in the Prison of Newgate there he lost his life Robert Samuell committed to Ipswich Goal Rob. Samuell Martyr and from thence removed to Norwich where Bishop Hopton or his Chancellor were the cause of his being kept very close Prisoner at his first coming where he was Chained bolt upright to a Post keeping him for some time without meat and drink except it were a small morsel of Bread and a little Water he Suffered Death the 31th of August 1555. Next after Robert Samuell was burnt William Allen of VValsingham Will. Allen Martyr Labourer upon Examination the Bishop askt him why he was imprisoned he said it was because he would not follow the Cross and said if he saw the King and Queen follow the Cross or bow down to it he would not for which Sentence of Death was given against him he was burned about the beginning of September at VValsingham who declared such Constancy at his Martyrdom and had such Credit with the Justices by reason of his upright and well tryed Conversation among them that he was suffered to go untyed to his suffering and there being fastned with a Chain stood quietly without shrinking untill he died The Martyrdom of Roger Coo of Melford in Suffolk Sheer-man first Examined before the Bishop of Norwich and by him Condemned 12th of August 1555. Bishop Why was you Imprisoned Robert Coo Examined Coo At the Justices Commandment Bishop There was some cause why Coo Here is my Accuser let him declare Accuser He will not receive the Sacrament Bishop said he thought he had transgressâ—d the Law Coo There is no Law to transgress that I know Accuser Nor will not know my Lord ask him when be received the Sacrament Coo seeing the Accuser so bold said to the Bishop let him sit down and examine me himself but the Bishop would not hear that but after some other discourse the Bishop askt him whether he would not obey the Kings Laws Coo As far as they agree with the Word of God I will obey them Bishop Whether they agree with the Word of God or not we are bound to obey them if the King were an Infidel Coo If Sydrach Mesack and Abedâ—egâ— had so done Nebucadâ—nezzer had not confessed the Living God In the same Moneth was Thomâ—â— Cobb of Haveril Butcher Tho. Cobb Martyr burned in the Town of Thatford Upon the third day of the sixth Moneth called August were brought before Thornton Bishop of Dover George Catmer of Hithe Robert Streater of Hithe Anthony Burward of Calet George Brodbridge of Bromfield James Tutty of Brenchly and were examined particularly touching the Sacrament of the Altar Aurticular Confession and other such like Ceremonies To which Catmer answered on this wise Christ said he sitteth in Heaven on the
you so far off Answ I am near enough and a little too near and further said I have done with you Chancellor What shall I tell my Lord of you Answ If you have nothing to tell him your Arrant will be the sooner done Chancellor Will you turn from this wicked Error you have been an evil example by your wicked reading you have perswaded simple women to this Error and you shall have mercy Answ I ask mercy of God whom I have offended and not of you Chancellor When were you at your Parish Church you have been Excommunicated this two years and therefore you are condemned and so past Sentence upon him and he was shortly after burnt at Norwich The next that suffered was one Joyce Lewis Wife to Thomas Lewis of Manchester this Joyce Lewis was a woman finely brought up in the pleasures of the World Joyce Lewis Martyr she was turned from the Popish Religion by seeing the great Sufferings and Death of Lawrance Saunders at Coventry and being afterwards inflamed with the love of God she purposed to abstain from those things that displeased him but her Husband being furious against her compelled her to go to Mass but being there in Testimony against their Idolatry when they sprinkled the holy Water she turned her back toward it for which she was shortly after accused before the Bishop the told the Bishop by refusing their holy Water she neither offended God nor his Laws the Bishop thereat was offended and bound her Husband in a hundred pound Bond for her appearance a Moneth after the Moneth being ended her unnatural Husband carried her himself to the Bishop who asked her Why she would not go to Mass and receive the Sacraments She answered because she found them not in the VVord needfull for mens Salvation wherefore she was condemned after her condemnation she continued a year in Prison where her behaviour both in word and deed was such that her death was greatly lamented when the Sheriff brought her news of the hour of her death she said to him your Message is welcome to me when the Fire was set to her she never struggled nor strived but ended her life patiently Four persons burnt at Islington About the seventeenth day of September were burnt at Islington Ralph Allerton James Austoo Margery Austoo his Wife and Richard Roth. Ralph Alerton after his apprehending was kept a whole year in Prison before he was condemned he was first accused before the Lord Darsey of Chichester for not conforming to the Idolatry and Superstition of the times and for praying and exhorting the People of the Parish where he lived not being a Priest before he was apprehended he kept himself in Woods and Barnes and other solitary places and at last being apprehended was sent up to the Councel and from them to Bonner Bishop of London in his Examination he told the Bishop there were three Religions in England then said Bonner Which be these Allerton replyed The first is that which you hold the second is clean contrary to the same and the third is a Neuter Then said Bonner Of which of these three art thou of Allerton said I am of that which is contrary to that which you teach to be believed on the pain of death after some other discourse between them the Bishop in a rage called him Knave and Whorson Prick-louse and demanded what he had to say why he should not pronounce the Sentence of condemnation against him to which he answered You ought not to condemn me for I am a Christian but do as you have determined for I see right and truth are suppressed and cannot appear upon the Earth these words ended the Bishop pronounced the Sentence of death against him and delivered him to the temperal Officers who on the day aforesaid caused him and the other three to be burnt There is not much Recorded what past in the Tryal of the other three only James Austoo when he was brought upon Examination before the Bishop in his Chappel at Fulham the Bishop said to him Dost thou know where thou art and before whom to which he replyed I know where I am for I am in an Idol-temple whereupon the Bishop past Sentence against him and his Wife who suffered deeply a Prisoner in the Bishops House being kept in his Dog-kennel under a pair of Stairs One Article against Richard Roth one of the four that was burned was that he was a Comforter to Hereticks and to that end had VVrit a Letter to certain Persons that were burnt at Colchester The Substance of which Letter written by him and directed to his Brethren and Sisters in Christ condemned at Colehester and ready to be burned for the Testimony of the Truth is as followeth Oh dear Brethren and Sisters how much have you to rejoyce in God that he hath given you such Faith to overcome this blood thirsty Tyrant thus far and no doubt he that hath begun that good work in you will fulfill it unto the end Oh dear hearts in Christ what a Crown of Glory shall ye receive with Christ in the Kingdom of God Oh that it had been the good will of God that I had been ready to have gone with you for I lye in my Lords little ease in the day and in the night I lye in the Cole-house from Ralph Allerton or any other and we look every day when we shall be condemned for he said that I should be burnt within ten dayes before Easter but I lye still at the Pools-brink and every man goeth in before me but we abide patiently the Lords leisure with many Bonds in Fetters and Stocks by the which we have received great joy in God And now fare you well dear Brethren and Sisters in this World Oh Brother Munt with your Wife and my dear Sister Rose how blessed are you in the Lord that God hath found you worthy to suffer for his sake with all the rest of my dear Brethren and Sisters known and unknown Oh be joyfull even unto death fear it not saith Christ For I have overcome death saith he Oh dear hearts seeing that Jesus Christ will be our help Oh tarry you the Lords leisure be strong let your hearts be of good comfort and wait you still for the Lord he is at hand yea the Angel of the Lord pitcheth his Tent round about them that fear him and delivereth them which way he seeth best for our lives are in the Lords hand and they can do nothing unto us before God suffer them therefore give all thanks to God Oh dear hearts you shall be clothed with long white Garments upon Mount Zion with the multitude of Saints and with Christ Jesus our Saviour which will never forsake us Oh blessed Virgins you have plaid the wise Virgins part in that you have taken Oyle in your Lamps that you may go in with the Bridegroom when he cometh into the everlasting joy with him but as for the Foolish they shall be
Augastinus said Some disturbed the Peace of the Church while they went about to root out the TARES before the time and through this Error of Blindness said he are they themselves separated so much the more from being united unto Christ Retnaldus testified That he who with Imprisoning and Persecuting seeketh to spread the Gospel and greaseth his Hands with Blood shall much rather be looked upon for a wild Hunter then a Preacher or a Defender of the Christian Religion The State of Holland testified Dat waer vervolginghen Zijndatter daer al in roere is maer waer geen en sijdor verscheijden Religion dat dare alle saclren stilder sijn so oâ—lr in onse ijden is levon den that is Where there was Persecution there was all in distraction but where there was none though there were several Religions there all things were the quieter as hath been evident in our dayes said they Vide Urede Handel Van. Col. Fol. 53. Calvin said That those that are set over us must be obeyed if that the Command of God be not thereby disobeyed but if they lead us from obedience to God and presumptionsly strive against the Lord then must they not be regarded said he to the end that God with his Authority may retain the preheminence A Book written in French by N. M. Anno 1576. hath this Sentence in it Those Princes that have ruled by Gentleness and Clemency added to justice and have exercised Moderation and Meekness towards their Subjects alwayes greatly Prospered and Reigned long But on the contrary those Princes that have been Cruel Unjust Perfidious and Oppressors of their Subjects have soon fallen they and their Estate into danger or total ruin Veritus said Seeing Christ is a LAMB whom you profess to be your Head and Captain then it behoveth you to be Sheep and to use the same WEAPONS which he made use of for he will not be a Shepherd of Wolves and wild Beasts but only of SHEEP wherefore if you lose the Nature of Sheep said he and be changed into Wolves and wild Beasts and use fleshly Weapons then will you exclude your selves out of his Calling and forsake his Banner and then will he not be your Captain Stephanus King of Poland said It belongeth not to me to reform the Conscience I have alwayes gladly given that over to God which belongeth to him and so shall I do now and also for the future I will suffer the WEEDS to grew untill the time of Harvest for I know that the number of Believers are but small therefore said he when some were proceeding in persecution ' Ego sum Rex Populorum non Conscientiarum that is I am the King of the People not of their Consciences he also affirmed That Religion was not to be planted with FIRE and SWORD Chron. Van. de Rel. Urijh 2. deel Tindal said The New Testament of Christ suffered no Law of Compelling but alone of Perswading and Exhorting Fox Acts and Mon. page 1338. The Prince of Orange testified Anno 1579. That it was impossible that the Land should be kept in Peace except there was a free Toleration in the Exercise of Religion Where hast thou ever read in thy dayes said Menno in the Writings of the Apostles that Christ or the Apostles ever cryed out to the Magistrates for their Power against them that would not hear their Doctrine not obey their Words I know certainly said he that where the Magistrate shall Banish with the SWORD there is not the right Knowledge spiritual Word nor Church of Christ it is Invocare Brachium Seculare It is not Christian like but Tyrannical said D. Philipson to Banish and Persecute People about FAITH and Religion and they that so do are certainly of the Pharisaical Generation who resisted the Holy Ghost Erasmus said That though they take our Moneys and Goods they cannot therefore hurt our Salvation they afflict us much with Prisons but they do not thereby separate us from God In de Krijdges wrede Fol. 63. Lucernus said He that commandeth any thing wherewith he bindeth the Conscience this is an Antichrist Inde Benuse disp Fol. 71. It was Lather's Opinion That those that stirred up the Princes to persecure about Religion they raised the Uproar Thesaur pag. 679. SECT VIII Several Reasons rendred why no outward Force nor Imposition ought to he used in Matters of Faith and Religion by R. H. S. F. and F. H. LIBERTY of CONSCIENCE ought to be allowed in the dayes of the Gospel in the free Exercise of it to God-ward without Compulsion in all things relating to His Worship for these REASONS following 1. Because the General and Universal royal-Royal-Law of Christ commands it Matthew 7.12 All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you do ye even so to them for this is the Law and Prophets That which every man would have and receive from another he ought by Christ RULE to give and allow it to another But every man is willing to have the LIBERTY of his OWN CONSCIENCE therefore ought to ALLOW it to another 2. Because no man can perswade the Conscience of another either what God is or how he should be worshipped but by the Spirit which God hath given to instruct man in the Ways of Truth 3. Because all Obedience or Service that is obtained by force is for fear of Wrath and not from Love nor for Conscience sake and therefore will but continue so long as that fear or force abides upon them 4. Because that by forcing no man can make a Hypocrite to be a true Believer but on the contrary many may be made Hypocrites 5. Because that in all forced Impositions upon mens Consciences there is something of the wrath of man exercised which works not the Righteousness of God but rather begets enmity in the heart one towards another 6. Because that by forcing any thing upon mens Consciences as to matters of Faith and Worship many are hardened in their hearts against the things imposed when as otherwise through Love and gentle Instructions their hearts might be perswaded to willing obedience 7. Because that Persecution for Conscience contradicteth Christs Charge Matthew 13. who bids that the Tares or false Worshippers be suffered to grow together in the Field or World till the Harvest or End of the World 8. Because Force is contrary to the end for which it is pretended to be used viz. The preservation and safety of the Wheat which End is not answered by Persecution because the Wheat is in danger to be plucked up thereby as Christ saith 9. Because to Force is inconsistant with the belief of the Jews Conversion and other false Worshippers which is prayed for by the publick Teachers and cannot be attained if Persecution for Conscience be prosecuted 10. Because they that impose upon mens Consciences exercise Dominion over mens Faith which the Apostles denied saying They had not Dominion over any mans Faith 11. Because Imposition upon mens Consciences necessitates them
also bereft of his Children and at last tormented with grievous Botches and Sores in his Body he could yet never be drawn through impatience to sin in any sort whereof having first received a Testimony from Gods own mouth he was afterwards restored to his former health and had cast into his Bossom double of whatever he possessed before Joseph being dead and Pharaoh And now when Joseph was dead and all his Brethren and that Generation and the Children of Israel were fruitfull and increased aboundantly and muliplied and waxed exceeding mighty and the Land was filled with them A new King rose up that afflicted the Israelites Now there arose up a new King over Egypt which knew not Joseph and he began to afflict them but the more they were afflicted the more they multiplyed and grew and the Egyptians made the Children of Israel to serve with Rigor and they made their lives bitter with hard Bondage and kept them under with great severity Aaron was born three years before his Brother Moses year of the world 2430 eighty three years before the departure of the Children of Israel out of Egypt The Ungodly King of Egypt year of the world 2431 when he could not prevail with the Midwives of the Hebrew Women privily to make away the Male-Children of them set forth a barbarous Edict to destroy them all The King made an Edict to destroy the Male-Children by drowning them in the River About this time Moses the Son of Amram of the House of Levi was born and when his Mother saw he was a goodly Child being willing to preserve him year of the world 2433 she hid him three Moneths and when she could no longer hide him Moses born she took for him an Ark of Bulrushes and daubed it with slime and with pitch and put the Child therein and she laid it in the Flags by the Rivers brink his Sister standing aloof off from the place to see what would become of him and Pharaohs daughter finding him there caused her maids to fetch it His wonderful fetchfetch and when she had opened it she saw the Child and behold it wept and she had compassion on him and said this is one of the Hebrews Children then said his Sister to Pharaohs Daughter Shall I go and call a Nurse to thee of the Hebrew Women that she may nurse the Child for thee and Pharaohs Daughter said go and the maid went and called the Childs Mother and she nursed him and Pharaohs Daughter called his Name Moses because she drew him out of the Water and she caused him to be brought up as her Son and caused him to be instructed in the Science and Learning of the Egyptians And thus did the Lord wonderfully preserve him which noteth no less then that he intended to make him an Instrument in some great Work as indeed it so came to pass for as he grew in years the Lord put it in his heart to slight the honours of Pharaohs Court for he refused to be called the Son of Pharaohs Daughter year of the world 2513 choosing rather to suffer Affliction with the people of God then to enjoy the pleasures of Sin for a season esteeming the reproach of Christ greater Riches then the Treasures in Egypt for he had respect to the Recompence of Reward And now the Lord having chosen him into his work and service he indued him with such a Spirit of Meekness that none was like him upon the Earth and being thus fitted he had often tryals and exercises of his patience by the People he was to govern who were often murmuring and repining against him And the Lord appeared unto him whilest he was keeping his Father-in-law Jethros Sheep in the Mountain of Horeb and the Angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a flame of Fire out of the midest of a Bush and behold the Bush burned with Fire and the Bush was not Consumed and the Lord said unto him I am the God of thy Father the God of Abraham the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob and Moses hid his Face for he was afraid to look upon God and the Lord said I have surely seen the Affliction of my People which are in Egypt and have heard their cry by reason of their Tusk-masters for I know their sorrow and am come down to deliver them out of the hands of the Egyptians And he chose Moses as an Instrument to go unto Pharaoh and to bring the Children of Israel out of Egypt to whom as an Assistant in this work Aaron was added Moses and Aron declare their Message to Pharaoh Moses and Aaron having declared unto Pharaoh the Message in which they were sent unto him from God were sent away with many bad words and many more grievous labours were inflicted upon the Israelites then were before They go again to Pharaoh Moses being now eighty and Aaron eighty three Years of Age being moved by the Lord returned again to Pharaoh where the Magitians immitating the Miracles of Aarons Rod God plagued Pharaoh made Pharaoh harden his heart so that he would not let the Children of Israel go wherefore the Lord sent divers Plagues upon Pharaoh before they would let the Children of Israel go and when the last Plague was brought upon them When they were departed Pharaoh and his Host followed them then Pharaoh and his Servants made haste to send away the Israelites with all their Substance being six hundred thousand men besides Children and now being departed Pharaoh with his Host over-took them here Moses divided the Waters with his Rod whom Pharaoh and his Army would needs follow The Children of Israel sung a Song a Song to the Lord for their deliverance they were all overwhelmed of the Waters coming together again when the Israelites were thus freed from the Bondage of the Egyptians they forth-with song a Song of Praise and Thanks-giving unto God for their deliverance which is called the Song of Moses After their encamping in the desert of Sinai Moses went up into the Mount and the Lord said unto him Thus shalt thou say to the House of Jacob and tell the Children of Israel Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians and how I bear you on Eagles Wings and brought you unto my self now therefore if you will obey my Voice indeed and keep my Covenant then ye shall be a Peculiar Treasure unto me above all People for all the Earth is mine and ye shall be unto me a Kingdom of Priests and an holy Nation and Moses told the People what the Lord had Commanded him all the People answered together and said All that the Lord hath spoken we will do But the Reader may see how ready and apt these People were to forget the tender dealings of the Lord towards them for Moses and Aaron and several of the Elders of Israel went up into the Mount and there beheld the Glory of God and the