appeare before in part Their Petitions also which I shewed you do manifest their hard intreaty sundry wayes and how that many of them through the envie of the Prelates haue been made to end their dayes in loathsome prisons And besides that six of them were executed unto the death who sealed up their testimony with their bloud and most chearefully left this world to goe unto Christ their Redeemer The 6. executed were these Mr Barrowe and Mr Greenwood at Tyburne Mr Iohn Penrie at Thomas a Waterings by LondoÌ„ Mr William Dennys at Thetford in Norffolk And two others Coppin and Elias at S. Edmunds Bury in Suffolk And thus severall places of the land are staâ—ed wâ—â—h the bloud of Gods Saints whose death is precious in his eyes Ps. 116.15 King Saul who slew the Gibeonites had a better colour for that his fact then can be set upon the killing of these Christians For they were of the remnant of the Amorites whom he might lawfully haue destroyed yet when peace was made with them wherby the Lord gave them life Saul greatly sinned in putting them to death And for this the Lord brought famine upon the land in the dayes of David Wherupon that righteous King sayd unto them that remayned What shall I doe for you and wherwith shall I make the atonement that ye may blesse the inheritance of the Lord To whom they answered We will have no silver nor golde of Saul nor of his house neyther for us shalt thou kill any man in Israel And he sayd what ye shall say that will I doe for you Then they answered the King The man that consumed us and that imagined evill against us so that we are destroyed from remayning in any coast of Israel let seven men of his sonns be delivered unto us and we will hang them up unto the Lord in Gibeah of Saul the Lords chosen And the King sayd I will give them c. 2 Sam. 21. The dayes may come that God may also stirre up this or some other Prince like David to call into question the murdering not of the remnant of the Amorites but of the homeborne subjects of our own land who deserved to live rather then the prelates themseves that caused them to die But when justice by man or judgment from God doe take place these bloudy men will feele the reward of their iniquitie For Haman was not more enviously bent against the Iewes for the rooting out of them then our Haman-like Bishops have ben for the destoying of these whom they raile against as Puritans Brownists Sectaries schismatiques and what not Thus abusing not onely those who separate from their Antichristian jurisdiction adulterate ministerie false worship with their government ecclesiasticall but some such also as stand unseparated from the same who onely agree in judgement with the former But as I have put you in mind of the famine which God brought upon Israel in the dayes of David for that bloudy sin done against the Gibeonites in the dayes of Saul so you may remember and should not forget that in our land God brought a great pestilence in the daies of King Iames so as there died in one citie London above 3300. in one week besides those that died in other cities and townes of the same plague And who knoweth not but that it might be for that bloudy sin against the foresayd Christians thorow the instigation of the Prelates who by their murders made these to be martyrs in the dayes of Q. Eliz. who was of her selfe a most worthy Princesse God give men wisedome and grace to consider rightly of all thinges and so of these two thus compared togither Desiderius But would you wish the like reward to our Bishops that came upon Sauls bloudy house Miles No verily But if I knew it to be the will of God I would For we are taught to pray that his will may be done Mat. 6. And if some of theâ— might be so served by the command of their Kings and Princes it would make the rest prove morâ— righteous and lesse hurtfull then they have beene or yet are But I wish with my heart their true repentance that they may escape the judgement of God finde mercie with men learning by this and other examples in the scriptures to be weaned froÌ„ their wickednes But if ever any King or Queene doe follow the footing of David for the executing of wrath upon them or if ever they do fall into the hands of such Lord Tyrants as themselves then let them acknowledge Gods justice as did their fore-runner who sayd as I haue done so God hath rewarded me Iudg. 1.5 But to passe from this returne to our former speech about idolatrous livings wherein while I think on it let me knowe your minde whether you haue not by our conference or by the Platforme or both perceived that the English Bell had but a bad sound which would call men from honouring God that noble King Henry for his heroicall acts against Babell in the overthrow of her buildings and inriching the coÌ„mon wealth with the spoiles Desiderius I am very well satisfied and I thank you for your paines and love in applying your selfe to my capacity making me to know so many needfull things in such ample measure that though our sinful estate is discovered to be such in England as giveth just cause of sorrow yet my heart againe rejoyceth that I see the way how to shun the danger of it Miles That is wel for you and I wish the like good unto the whole nation of the English But what say you to those exploits of King Henry the 8 For me thinks they made greatly against the beast false prophet and his marked souldiers the marchants of his Babylonist wares who were by this meanes put in doubt that their trade would decay and come to an overthrow And if Princes in all dominions would now doe the like against the remainders of those places offices the utter downfall of that kingdome of Antichrist would suddenly follow to the high honour of God and gladnes of heart to all his people which should with due regard behold the fulfilling of the prophesies foretelling such a work Desiderius As one trueth leades unto an other so by degrees you haue brought me to be of your mind in this point like as in others But wherefore are the chiefe defeÌ„ders of this cause called Brownists Miles Because one Mr Brown minister at Achurch heretofore professed their cause pubished it in printe and for a tyme continued the practise of it till the feare of persecutioÌ„ love of this world like Demas or of ease like Isacar made him to turne his back upon it And yet I think if he were asked his conscience wil not suffer his tongue to say that it is not the trueth although he hath left the reliefe of Sion to live upon the spoiles of Babylon Desiderius Were there none that did write for 〈…〉 Miles Yes
mens â—nventions This is a true position that no miâ—isters may stand in any Church of Christ that â—re not Ministers of Christ and haue their calling and sending froÌ„ him mediately or immediately And as the Apostle sayth No man taâ—â— this honour vnto himself but he that is called of God as was Aaron Heb. 5.4 But those B ps have no such calling or sending so haue no lavvful right to administer in the church of Christ or to be reteyned therein Againe Christs Church may be pâ—rfect intyre vvithout the forenamed Biâ—hops or others of their brood so may civil societies also and heathen idolatrie likevvise onely the Antichristian Synaâ—â— of Rome and all others in her fashion cannot be perfect and intire but defective and lame without them Therefore I vvish that all such offices vvere sent thither againe or to the bottomeless pit from vvhence they came out of the smoke vvith that heap of Locusts Rev. 9.2.3 where the note upon the English Bible approveth this that I say for there it sheweth in direct words that those Locusts are false tâ—â—chers heretikes and worldly subtile Prelates 〈◊〉 Monkes Friers Cardinals Patriarkes Archbishopâ— Bishops Doctors Bachelers and Masters which foâ—â—sake Christ to mainteyne false doctrine And thoâ—â— Lord God of hosts strong and mighty brinâ— it to passe that they may haue no more authoâ—ritie over thy people then they ought to yeelâ— themselves unto Desiderius You haue very fitly compareâ— them vnto wolves for they devoure and makâ— havock of the flock so as the poore sheepe oâ— Christ can hardly be suffered to feed in anâ— good pasture And much is the mischief they doe in the land In which respect I desire with my hart that England were quitt of them foâ— a full freedome from all their tyrannicall jurisdiction which as it is to some very hurtful so is it unto me detestable and most hatefull For lambs should not be lions nor sheepe should not be wolves Miles And I would we were quit of them not onely as they are harmfull and havock-making creatures but as they are false functions and ministeries that God never instituted For that was the ground wherupoÌ„ Iosiah that godly King put downe the Chemarims or Priests of Baal 2 King 23.5 And histories doe make mention of Flamings Archflamings that were in our owne Land before ever any Arch Bishop was there And although they are not so hurtfull as are these Bishops save â—â—ly that they led the people on in Pagan 〈◊〉 yet being false functions downe went â—â—ey likewise as did the Chemarims other â—â—e functions of old And the same doome for these now who cannot chuse will they 〈◊〉 they but must taste of the same cup vvhen â—â—e time is come that justice shall take place aâ—â—inst the false functions of this later age aâ—â—inst all the inventions of men and false orâ—â—nances in and about the worship of God â—â—d performance therof For these are special 〈◊〉 But to say that false functions may be â—â—ployed in true services of God when the â—ersons possessing them doe cease the doing charme then if the Divil himself should cease â—â— forbeare to doe harme that ground would â—ead men to a love and liking of him or leanâ—â—g to him Wheras all men notwithstanding were bound to hold him at the swords pointe â—s the great enemie of mankinde whom neâ—er any man ought eyther to trust or to give over the combate against him till they haue expulsed him And even so for his Ministers Lay this well to heart Desiderius look well to your reasoning for I perceive we shall have a conference profitable to be printed so as I adde unto it some other worthy things that I haue to shew unto you And if I can conveniently get it done among these strangers tâ— printed shall it be Desiderius I assent unto it And to procâ—â—â— on in our discourse I tell you that Bishops 〈◊〉 spoken of in the holy scriptures which yâ—â—â— self doe professe to be the ground of all thiâ—â— in religion Doth not Paul the Apostle boâ—â— to Timothee and Titus speake of Bishops aâ—â— shewes what they ought to be saluteth 〈◊〉 Bishops Deacons at Philippi in his Episâ—â—â— to that Church So that it seemes that 〈◊〉 their office but the abuse in their office ougâ—â—â— to be withstood and abolished And why thâ—â— doe you condemne the office it selfe Miles I condemne not neither finâ— fault with the name of a Bishop nor yet wiâ—â— the office of a Bishop in th'Apostles sense anâ— intendement For his meanings is of such Bâ—â—shops as ought to be over a particular church or congregation not over many congregatâ—â—ons And as the word Bishop is derived froâ— the Greek word which signifieth Overseer so 〈◊〉 Pastors Teachers and Governours over partâ—â—cular congregations are such Bishops Wheroâ— there may be many in one Church to feed 〈◊〉 in the faith and to governe it in holy order 〈◊〉 in the feare of God according to his wordâ— not as Lordes over their faith but in all humâ—â—litie and meeknes as ensamples to the flock 〈◊〉 Pet. 5. But that one Bishop should be over many churches even over a 〈…〉 Province or Diocese and exercise dominâ—â—â—â— over them as their Lord spiritual and that with all rigour and tyranny this is a changing of the holy ordinance of God to make their owne craftines to prosper as it is in 25.â—oncerning â—oncerning Antiochus Epiphanes And by their grounds there may aswell be a Bishop over all Christendome And so came that unâ—oly father the Pope to be mounted up into â—is chaire of preheminence wherein he poiâ—oned all Christendome with his abominaâ—â—ons Such dominion hath Christ forbidden to his Ministers Mat. 20.25 c. Luke 22.25 â—6 But he alone is our Archbishop and Lord spiritual who walketh in the middest of the 7. golden candlesticks or churches The others may we not acknowledge so to be nor allowe them so to doe by any power froÌ„ him But these are rather of and haue their power from the spirite that ruleth in the aire and in the children of disobedience And are not sent of God except in his wrath for a scourge unto peoples and nations of the earth The ecclesiastical titles which they claim unto themselves are peculiar privileges to our Lord Iesus onely and are to be given him to the glory of his name but his glorie therein wil he not give to any other Furthermore when such names and titles are given unto men they are the names of blasphemie Revel 13.1 So thâ—â— it is the Arch and Lord Bishops that I disclaiâ— and testify against which have jurisdiction oâ—ver a Dioces as a Diocesan Bishop or ovâ—â— half a kingdome as a provincial Bishop or oâ—ver a whole kingdome as primate Foâ— by like ground there may be a Bishop oveâ— all Bishops and kingdomes in Christendome Which yet were detestable before God to such men also as are inlightned by his spirit The man of sinne and
desire the same light might shine clearely in eyes of all other mens understanding And now I would I were as wel able as willing to make sute to the higher powers that by their lawfull authoritie the unlawfull offices jurisdictions of the Prelates might be abolished The performance wherof as you know would make way for establishing of godly preachers throughout the land and removall of all dumbe dogges and ilde drones which feed their own bodies sterve other mens soules Might this gratious worke be once effected there would be full supply for many painfull and wel deserving preachers out of those fat Bishopricks and ricâ— revenues which now serve but for a fewe yet too many proud prelaâ—es and their swaggering retinue But some that were fit to be suiters in this worthy cause will surely fainte eyther for feare of mans face or for want of faith in God Miles Yet let all men be comforted in this that God will haue his vvorke done vvhen and by vvhomsoever he shall appoint the performaÌ„ce therof For strong and Mighty is â—he Lord of Hostes able to doe all things vvhen man is vveak and unable to doe any thing He hath spoken the vvord and it shall stand yea his vvord is â—ure vvord Hab. 3. vvho then shall resist And vvho knowes not that the Aboats and the rest of that generation â—ad as much â—ooâ—ing in EnglaÌ„d as haue now the Bishops and werâ— in their time as much supported by humane authoritie as are they yet being parts of that an iâ—â—ristian synagogue spiritual Babylon which the Lord hath threatned to consume they are consumed rooted out end quite abolished and that with as much detestation as these their brethrâ—n are now had in admiration who being growne great go ten up aloft are also terrible to the peoples wherein they fitly resemble the Anakims race of the Giâ—nts in Canaan for feare of whom the harts of the Israelites melted wherin they ten of the 12 spies greatly sinned but â—aleh Iosuah who were faithful incouraged the Lords people to goe up against them and possesse the good land vvhich the Lord promised them Be you careful to follow the example of the faithful not of the feareful even â—s you desire to haue sinne subdued and the unrighteous ordinaÌ„ces of Antichrist overthrown that the Lords blessed ordinances which he hath promised to his people now under the Gospell may be established and enjoyed among them Labour you as an instrumentall meanes to make the same light appear unto others which you say hath arisen unto your self that both they and you may walk in the light as children of the light of the day forsaking all dâ—eds of darknes Continue constant in a good testimony and bereave not your self of the fruit that will followe Seeke unto him for your helpe who is Lord of Lords and King of Kings who hath the hearâ—es of all Kings and Princes of the earth to turne â—hem as it pleaseth him And secundarily sâ—eke unto higher powers the Prince Peeres and Magistrates with earnest suite according to your place and utmost meanes that you can make for furtherance of a full reformation and freedome from the former abuses which I stedfastly beleeve God wil accomplish at one time or other Therfore when you haue begun well be not weary of weldoing And remember for your exampleing and incouragement the good hand of God that was upon Nehemias when hee sought the wealth prosperitie and reedifying of Ierusalem and what furtheraÌ„ce he found at the hands even of a heathen King Nehem. 1. chapt which should put you into a strong hope of good successe and gratious grants from our Christian King But where you sâ—em to desire that the livings of idle and Antichristian Prelates might be converted to the maintenance of painful Christian preachers you aim not aright at the glorie of God which cannot be advanced by seeking to have his Ministery mainteyned by those livings that were formermerly consecrated to idolatrie and yet used to the high dishonour of God in maintenance of part of that great swarme of popish officers whereof some are cast out of the land and many doe yet remaine Wheras if men will be the true Ministers of Christ they should coÌ„tent themselves â—o live by the means that he hath appointed that is by the voluntariâ— contribution of the Lords free people Sainctes by calling And as for all such idolatrous livings they ought in every Countrey by the Magistrates of the same to be converted to civil uses wherein how much the more that charitie is respected so much the more shall God therein be honoured All such livings are of the stollen goods which Antichrist hath purloigned from the common wealth civil estates of people to inriche his Clergie vvithall and for supporting of his other abominations So as such goods and livings cannot rightly be imployed till they be converted â—o civil uses againe Which vvill be as the taking of the purse from the thieves hand to give unto the true man But whiles you think to beg these idolatrous livings from the Prelates to the Preachers your suite is not worth the suing for neyther will God be pleased therewith The preachers that will depend upon God follow his word are to haue their wants supplied otherwise as is abovesayd But thus though you seeme to forsake the errour that you were in about the Bishops office yet you are in an other errour about their livings which you think ought to be for other Ministers And herein I will put my selfe to new paines to informe you better Desiderius Wee haue lately heard a Bell sound that it is a just judgement of God upon K. Henry the 8. that there is not one of his posteritie left to sit upon his throne for bereaving the Church of the Gleabes Abby lands c. and imploying them to other uses And how then shall the taking away of the Bishops livings from the Clergy to the laitie from the service of God in the Church to the service of the common wealth be esteemed lesse then a sinfull and sacrilegious act Miles Such Bells as you speak of that sound so badly deserve well to loose their clappers or to be hung out of all mens hearing For the work of that worthy King in suppressing those Abbyes Frieries Nunneries and the Vermine living in them was all within the limits of his office and duetie as was also the converting of those livings to his own or other civil uses In which the more he respected the glory of God and charitie the more worthy was his work and deserved the higher praise even as those Kings and Princes shall doe whom God vvill imploy as his instruments for rooting out the remnant of that race the Arch and Lord Bishops with a number of false functions and anti christian offices under them and converting oâ— their livings likewise to civil uses For these livings and ecclesiasticall offices and Ministeries
ExaminatioÌ„ hath these vvords For I know the doctrine touching the holy Trinitie Nature and Offices of the Lord Iesus Free justification by him both the sacraments c. published by her Majesties authoritie and commanded by her lawes to be the Lords blessed and undoubted truthes without the knowledg and profession wherof no salvation is to be had And sheweth the things that he disliketh and for vvhat cause he durst not partake in the publik assemblies of our land notwithstanding the former truthes there taught and professed And againe in his Confession of faith he sayth The trueth of doctrine touching the holy Trinitie touching the natures and Offices of Christ Iustifying faith Sacraments and Eternall life and the rest established by her Majesties Lawes and professed by her self their Honours and such as have knowledge in the assemblies of this land I acknowledge from my heart to be such as if I mainteyned not the unitie and held not the communion of the same doctrine with them in these points I could not possibly be saved For out of the communion of the true profession which her Majestie hath established in these and the like truthes there is no hope of salvation left But ioyne notwithstanding in the publike assembles of this Land I dare not for the former causes I doe moreover willingly confesse that many both of the Teachers and also of the Professors within these Parish assemblies haue so imbraced this trueth of doctrine established and professed in this Land as the Lord of his infinite goodnes hath granted them the favour to show outwardly many tokens wherby in regard of the Lords election I professe before men and Angels that I judge them to be meÌ„bers of that body whereof the sonne of God Christ Iesus 〈◊〉 the head Onely herein the Lord be merciful unto them as to my self in regard of my synnes that they are not under that outward form of govermeÌ„t which Christ hath left c. And whereas Mr Iacob would father upon this people that they hold every person in England which holdeth the publick faith is no true Christian. Mr Iohnson in his answer pag. 7. sayth thus Touching this point I minde the state of their people two wayes the one concerning their severall persons considered a part from the constitution of your Church the other concerning their estate and standing in that constitution Concerning the former of these that is considering them a part from the coÌ„stitution I acknowledge that in divers of them there appeareth such knowledge and faith of the Gospell with the fruits thereof as they may well be thought in regard of Gods election in Christ to be heires of salvation and in that respect to be true Christians God pardoning unto them their standing under Antichrist which they doe not see or minde But I seare least many more were heretofore partaker of this grace then be now since your Antichristian estate and the unlawfulnes to aâ—ide therein hath been discovered Concerning the latter that is in respect of their estate standing in that constitution of your Church I am perswaded whosoever so stand holding your publikâ— faith and multitude of Antichristian abhominations withall they cannot by the word of God be judged true Christians as touching their outward estate in that Church of yours but stand all subject to wrath God imputing this their sinne unto them And that all therfore whosoever will be assured of Gods mercie and salvation ought with speed to goe out of your Church it still remayning in Antichristian estate c. Thus Desiderius I haue shewed you what divers of them haue written and professed in and about the point by you objected if it be not sufficient I will shew you more Desiderius You may spare that labour for I am fully satisfied Miles And for that cause I was the more large As also that when these things are published others at home abroad may likevvise receive satisfaction And if any of the people themselves have been so overseen as to speak according to the report that you heard they may by this meanes be againe brought to their owne grounds which some through simplenes rashnes or incoÌ„sideratenes may forget offend against the same But the more circumspect and wise are more considerate and wary Thus being somewhat weary I will rest from discoursing a while and in the meane time you may read these three writings which will be worth your paines and the printing And they also will cleare that people and the truth from such clamours as you haue heard concerning theÌ„ The first is a letter which one of them in Ireland wrote unto a Scottish preacher there Ao. 1594. wherein is layd downe sundrie grounds of their separation The other are two Petitions the first whereof was vvritten by Mr Henry Barrovve in the daies of Q. Elizabeth of famous memorie the secoÌ„d by another of their vvriters 〈◊〉 the time of the first Parliament holden in the happy raign of our now Soveraigne King Iames. To Mr Wood. Wisdome and grace from God most high WHereas you seemed very desirous to haue us set downe in writing our faith and profession concerning the true Church togither with the causes of our separation from the English and Irish parish assemblies promising your self either to asseÌ„t unto us or shew sufficient cause of your dislike by writing also with defece of your churches estate c We as willing to render an account of our beleefe and practise unto all men that shall demand the same and desirous of your salvation and fellowship in the holy faith if such be the will of God our selves of further instruction and light by any that can enform us from the word haue condiscended unto your request beleeving confessing concerning this part of the Gospel as followeth That the true Church of God on earth is communion and fellowship of righteous men and women whose harts God hath puâ—ified by saith calling and gathering them â—nto himself and under his true obedience by the scepter of his word and spirit sepaâ—ating them from the world of Infidels Turks â—ewes and false Christians to live togither under his holy covenant obeying and woâ—â—shiping him in spirit and truth keeping thâ— unitie of the Spirit in the band of peace anâ— love and unfeighned That this Church although dispersed amoÌ„g many natioÌ„s over the face of the earth is one as God is one hath one faith Lord religion law and goverment in all places unto it the scriptures and written word oâ— God is given for the direction thereof and edification in all thinges whereunto each member is bound as well Prince as people to observe inviolably whatsoever is therein commanded unto the worlds end and that no man nor the vvhole church it self hath authority to alter change inovate breake abrogate or superordeyne any thing unto or from this Lawe of the Most high neither may the church
or any member thereof receive or obey other constitutions and traditions of men or Angels without incurring the wrath of God That this Church is the bride and body of Christ the citie house of the great King whereinto may enter no profane person oâ— impenitent sinner but onely such as by faith and â—â—pentance have washed away the guilt of their synnes in the blood of the lambe are borne a new by the seed of the word by a willing covenant made with the Lord are under his goverment scepter of grace and so doe lead godly and christian lives That in this House every servant and member hath a like interâ—st and libertie in the word of God by the power thereof to reprove coÌ„demne slay sin in themselves â—â—l other men and are all bound to watch oâ—â—er exhort and admonish one another even their shepherds leaders if need so require That this Church hath power from Christ to censure reprove and cast out of their fellowship all obstinate offenders and wicked men lest by any such the whole body should be infected and perish That they also haue authoritie to elect call and set over them watchmen and shepherds of their soules to break unto them the bread of life whom they are bound again to susteyne with all their temporall goods so farte as their abilities extend and the Ministers duetie shall require That whensoever the whole Church or any member therof wilfully transgresseth the law of the Lord and persisteth obstinate and incorrigible in any sin refusing to heare the voice of Christ they will cease to be the people and servants of God neither can be so esteemed untill they repent That all that wil be saved must joyne themselves to some particular Church of Christ to live therwith in faithful obedience peace order and love forsaking all false and adulterate synagogues of which sort we affirme the ordinarie parish assemblies of our woesull countrie to be and therfore haue abandoned them for these weighty causes 1. They are not a coÌ„munion of Saints called and severed from the world but doe consist of all sorts of men reteyning a multitude of irreligious profane Atheists Blasphemers Idolaters whoremongers and all manner wicked persons within her Majesties dominions 2. They haue not been wonne unto thâ— faith by the preaching of the gospell neyâ—ther ever made willing covenaÌ„t to walk up rightly before the Lord but were drawen by civil force in the beginning of her Majestie reigne 3. Their publick worship of God in theiâ— assemblies is false and idolatrous translateâ— out of the Popes blasphemous Masse book the cursed inventioÌ„ of the man of Sinne imposed both upon the Lord and them 4. The Ministery of Lordly Lord Arch bishops Bishops Deanes Arch Deacons c Parsons Vicars Curates c is not the true Ministery of Christ in his testament neitheâ— accordeth thereto in name office calling entrance administration or maintenance buâ— is the same which was found and left in the Popes Church 5. Their Church is in bondage beaâ—eth the yoke of Antichrist the burdenouâ— traditions ceremonies injunctions of their Lords the Bishops their courts and canons 6. They are obstiâ—ate and incorrigible in these and other their transgressions and wilâ— not be brought unto the true obedience oâ— Christ and practise of his lawes but speakeâ—vil of the trueth and witnesses of the same and of them some they haue killed many imprisoned all persecuted banished and blasphemed Therfore this people in this fearful estate cannot in any just intendement be estemed the childreÌ„ or church of God Neverthelesse the firme foundation of God standeth having this 〈◊〉 seate the Lord knoweth those that aâ—â— his and let every one 〈◊〉 naming the name of the Lord depart froÌ„ iniquâ—yâ— 2 Tim. 2.19 Delivered to Mr Wood a Scottish preacher in Ireland anno 1594. The humble most earnest and lamentable Complaint Supplication of the persecuted proscribed Church and servants of CHRIST falsely called Brownists Vnto the high Court of Parliament THe most high GOD possessor of heaven and earth bringeth at this present before your Lordships and Wisdomes Right Honourable his owne Cause his owne People his owne sworne and most trecherous Enemies togither with the most shamefull usage of his truth and servants that ever hath been heard of in the dayes of Sions professed peace and tranquility His Cause and People he offereth unto your confideration and defence in our Profession and Persons His Enimies and their outrage against his truth and servants in the persons bloody proceedings of the Prelates of this Land and their Complices Wee profosse the same faith and truth of the Gospell which her Majestie which your Honours this whole Land and all the reformed Churches under Heaven this day doe holde and mainteyne Wee goe beyond them being our onely fault even in the judgement of our tyrannicall and most savage Enimies in the detestation of all Popery that most fearfull Antichristian Religion and draw nearer in some pointsby our practise unto CHRISTS holy order and institution This is our Faith this is our Cause right Honourable yea the Lords Cause in our sinfull hands For the profession maintenance of which Faith the forenamed Enemies of GOD deteyne in their hands within the Prisons about London not to speak of other Gaoles throughout the Land about three score twelve persons Men woemen yong and old lying in cold in hunger in dungeons and in yrons Of which number they haue taken the Lords day last being the 3. of this 4. Moneth 1592. about some 56. persons hearing the word of God truly taught praying praysing God for his favors shewed unto us unto her Majestie your Honours and this whole Land and desiring our God to be mercyfull to us unto our gracious Prince countrey Being imployed in these holy actions and no other as the parties who disturbed them can testifie they were taken in the very place where the persecuted Church and Martyrs were enforced to use the like exercises in Queene Maries dayes The former number are now unbaleably coÌ„mitted by the Prelate or Bishop of London unto close for the most part severall prysons As Bryde-well the Lymboe or Dungeon in Newgate the Feete the Marshalsee the Counters the Clyncke the Gatehouse the Wotte-Lyon c. Wherein wee willingly acknowledge the lott and inheritance in this life of our Fore-Fathers and Brethren the holy Martyres of the former age and the entayled Aâ—eldama or bloody succession of the See of London and that whole lynage Well heere our brethren lye how long Lord holy and true thou knowest in Dungeons in hunger in colde in nakednes and all outward distresse For these bloody men will allow them neyther meat drink fyre lodging nor suffer any whose harts the Lord would stirre up for their releife to haue any accesse unto them purposing belike
the prosperity and good estate of this Realme Our onely desire is so to serve God as that we may please him with reverence feare absteyning and keeping our soules and bodies froÌ„ all remnants of the Romane Religion Idolatrie superstition and vaine will worship of what sort soever Wee witnes against the unlawful pompous Hierarchy priest hood of this nation as utterly disagreeing from the Testament of Christ and Ministerie there appointed in their Offices callings administrations and Lordlike livings maintenance Against the confuse prophane and it religious multitude of all sorts of vicious livers baptised into and reteyned in the body of this Church of England without voluntary profession of and holy walking in the faith of the Gospell against their manner of worship service by reading prayers out of a book in stead of true spiritual invocation on the name of the Lord and briefly against all other popish aboses reliques of the man of Syn whatsoever And because this our testimony maketh against the irregular authoritie of the Prelates reproveth their evil actions and disproveth their Pompe statelynes rich revenues stipends c. therefore haue they in all hostile manner set themselves against us persecuting us unto bands exile and death it self reproching us as Schismatiques Donatists Brownists seditious persons c. though they could never coÌ„vince us of these or any the like crimes and though we haue not ceased neyther by Gods grace will cease to wish and procure good to their soules bodies in the Lord. Now therefore our humble request is unto your Majestie Honours and worships that notwithstanding these differences we may be suffered to returne into our native countrey here to live in peace practising the faith of Christ which wee profess and haue long since set forth to the view of the world in our publick Confession wherein none hitherto haue shevved us any errour and seeing that peoples of other nations are by your Majestie and Honours suffered in this Realme though differing from the ecclesiasticall state of the same we hope that your Highnes naturall loyall subjects may finde like favour at your hands For although we cannot but hold and witnes the trueth of God against the corruptions remayning yet hold we â—â— in no vvise lavvfull for our selves or any subjects to attempt the reforming or abolishing of these or any the like abuses for God hath coÌ„mitted the svvord into your Majesties hand alone vvho in his time vvill persvvade vve trust your royall hart to fulfill his vvill and execute his judgements upon the remainders of the spiritual â—abylon vvhich vvill turne to as great honour to God honour to your Majestie and good of this Realme as the abolishing of Abbaâ—s Muncks Fryers Masse Images c. hath â—urned heretofore So the Lord of Lords and King of the Rulers of the earth vvill stablish your Crovvne c Kingdome unto length of dayes And hovvsoever this our suite shal be regarded we vvill not cease in all places of our pilgrimage to pray for and procure the good of your Majestie your Honours vvorships and all our countrey vvhom God Almightie blesse vvith long life happy dayes on earth and crovvne vvith everlasting glorie in the highest heavens Amen Desiderius Now haue I read this Petition also and I thank you for them bothe for me thinks they are able to give content satisfaction and worthyness to speak even in the presence of a Prince A wonder it is if they moved not Magistrates to pitie and compassion save onely that our Lordly Ministers are subtile incensers great resisters God give them repentance unto life if through their malicious sinning they be not appointed unto death But I much lament that our deare Countrie should be so stained with suffering them to exercise such crueltie towardes thoâ—e that witnes the â—ruth in any part thereof It is therefore a much better thing for any to partake of their afflictions then with their persecutors in their oppressing of them For of the people of God afflicted the Apostle sayth It is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you And to you which are troubled rest with us when the Lord Iesus shall shew himself from heaven with his mighty Angels In flaming fyre â—â—â—dring vengeance c. 2 Thess. 1.6.7 c. Miles It is well observed Desiderius For thaâ— day of the Lords coming shal be unto his people weldoers a day of gladnes and much joy but unto the wicked and evill doers it will cause great terrour and feare To them it will be as the Prophet Ioel saith A day of darknes and of blacknes a day of clowdes and obscuritie Ioel 2.2 Then shall they crye hilles and mountaines cover us from the presence of him that suteth on the throne Then shall a good conscience be more worth then a world And whosoever would haue it at that day must labour to haue and to hold to nourish enterteine it all the daies of his life lest when he seeks for it he finde it not And they that once haue it let theÌ„ take heed they make not shipwrack therof But for the comfort of all such as are persecuted for conscience sake and to the terrifyng of their persecutors the Apostle useth this worthy speech And in nothing feare your adversaries which is to them a token of perdition but to you of salvation and that of God Phil. 1.28 Desiderius You began to speak of the unlawfulnes of appropriating such livings to the maintenance of the true Ministerie worship which the idolaters consecrated unto false ministeries false worship I desire you cleare that point further if you can For one would think there can be no use made of them tending more to the honour of God then the imploying of them to his service and worship Miles The same colour might haue be set upon the offring up of divers strange beasâ—es in sacrifice to the Lord which yet might not be done by any man at any time for any cause And this which you object carries no fairer a show with it then did Saul his sparing the fat cattel of Ameleck under the same pretence of offering them in sacrifice to the Lord but not being according to the minde of God manifested by his word but contrary to the same it was imputed unto him for rebellion and transgression which are matched by the Prophet with witchcraft wickednes and idolatrie 1 Sam. 15. For the Lord hath no such pleasure in sacrifice as when his voice is obeyed ibidem And thus may you see that Sauls good intent had as faire a colour as can be set upon the imployments of popish livings to true Church uses yet was this a special cause of his ruyne and cutting off from his kingdome God requires not that to be done which is right in the eyes of man but all that hee commandeth and is according to his will revealed that is to be observed with all
through want of supply in such outward helpes some doe sterve others doe steale through which many are hanged God is dishonoured the gospel disgraced the face of good people ashamed and true christian hearts are wounded And are not these the very engins of evill Desiderius Enough Miles the pointe is plaine And I see by these that you might make a whole volume of that argument onely Miles Micklebound But what think you then were it not better that our Clergie would cary theÌ„selves concerning these livings as honest Abraham the father of the faithfull did about the spoiles of Sodome which he recovered from the five Kings who had immediatly before taken them for a spoile from Sodom Of the which Abraham would not take for himself so much as a threed or a shooe latchet lest the King of Sodome should say I haue made that all false and antichristian Ministeries yet reâ—â—yned in the land ought by the Princes authoritie to be rooted out The second That by like authoritie their antichristian idolatrous livings ought to be coÌ„verted to charitable civil uses are not to be given or appropriated to Gods true Ministerie for the maintenance therof neither ought it to receive the same For it stands not with the honour of God that Beth-el Gods house should be garnished and supported with the things belonging to or taken from Beth-aven the house of idols As if the Almightie wanted other meanes for support of his owne house and must needes be beholden to the house of idols to help him and his This sin is in nature somwhat differing from the sin of the Babylonians in stealing away the vessels out of the Lords house to busie in the belching banquets of Belshazzar but it differeth not in substance froÌ„ it Desiderius You call the writing the first part c. which implieth a second likewise But is there so Miles I never saw it but I hope ere my return I shal see Amsterdam and Leyden where I shal make diligent inquiry among the people there But doutful it is that after the Bishops heard of the first part of an intendement of a second that they hastned the authours death to stop the current that began to run so strongly against them Wherfore I exhort you to use this well read it advisedly and the Lord direct thy spirit to the right understanding good use making of all things And so fare ye well till to morow and the day after THE FIRST PART OF THE PLATFORME PENNED BY THAT WORTHY SERVANT OF IESVS CHRIST and blessed witnes of his most holy Ordinances to the losse of life Mr. HENRY BARROVVE 1. THat the offices of Archbishops Lord Bishops Archdeacons c. with all their Courts and under officers ought by the commandement of God to be suppressed by the Princes authoritie and the persons usurping the same hereafter to be compelled to walke in some lawfull calling eyther in the Church or commune wealth as God shall make them fit and call them thereunto 2. That this whole ministery and offices of Deane Sub-deane Prebends c. Parson Vicar Curates Stypendarie Lectorers as the â—aile of the Dragon ought by the Prince to be suppressed and abolished And the persons usurping the same to be compelled froÌ„ henceforth to walk orderly in some lawfull calling or office in Church or coÌ„mon wealth as God maketh them fit calleth them laâ—â—fully thereunto using the gifts that God haâ— given them aright to the glorie of the giveâ— the good of the Church 3. That the Landes and lordly revenues â— these Archbishops Lord Bishops Deane c. togither with the gleabes temporalitie c. ought to be resumed by the Prince anâ— wholly converted to civil uses 4. That the Prince may give unto her suâ—â—jects the owners of them their severall tithâ—â— aswel open as privie or reserve so much 〈◊〉 way of tribute therof as shall seeme good uâ— to her Majestie 5. That the true Ministerie ought not tâ— be mainteyned by such gleabes tithes set stâ—â—pends or by the rated wages of the profanâ— but by the free contribution and dutifull bâ—â—nevolence of the faithful especially of thâ— Congregation unto which they administer 6. That the Prince ought to proclaime â— publish the gospel of Christ with the truâ—â— preaching and sincere practise thereof in aâ—â— things that God shal give knowledge of Anâ— to forbid exterminate all other religionâ— worship ministeries within her dominionâ— SEeing that holy and mighty God of heaven and earth will onely be worshiped served â—n his Church according to his own prescript will in his word and not by any devises of men how holy or expedient soever they may seem to themselves and by that Ministerie onely which his sonne the Lord of the house hath instituted in his last will and testament and not by any other or strange Ministerie Seeing â—o great blessings promises both â—f this life and of the life to come are made to those people churchâ—s that thus worship and serve the Lord according to his owne holy wil as we most plentifully comâ—ortably read in the scriptures and on the contrary such dreadfull plagues fearfull judgments denounâ—ed against executed upon those Nations and people that make a â—hew otherwise to worship serve God according to their owne devises or policies Seing God alwayes speaketh by his owne Ministerie 〈◊〉 his owne people and never by aâ— false Sinistery but alwayes sendeâ— the one in his espetial mercie 〈◊〉 prepare and make fit unto his heâ—â— veny kingdome the other in hâ—â— wrath and displeasure to seduce 〈◊〉 prepare al degrees unto judgemenâ— it behooveth every soule in what 〈◊〉 state soever to look diligently unâ—â— to be well assured of their way wherein they walk and are led Bâ— petially above all it is the offiâ—â— and dutie of Princes and Rulers 〈◊〉 whom the word and sword of Goâ— is therefore committed most carâ—â—fully to advance establish in the dominions the true worship Mâ—â—nisterie of God and to suppresse 〈◊〉 roote out all contrary as they teâ—â—der their owne salvation at that daâ— of all accompts and the salvation 〈◊〉 all that people under their charge Private members howsoever theâ— ought to refraine and to keep theâ—â— soules and bodies undefiled from â— false worship which is imposed suffering rather in all patient and christian manner whatsoever may be inflicted upon them for the same as they that feare more to offend God then men yet ought they not to stretch forth their hand by force to the reformatioÌ„ of any publick enormities which are by the Magistrates authoritie set up For that were to transgresse the limits of their owne place and calling to usurpe and intrude into the Princes royall throne and dignitie Which heynous presumption escapeth not due vengeance either in this life or in the world to come But now howsoever no private subject ought to intermedle with the
of faith These things are not regarded or looked to amoÌ„gst them either of the Priest or people Yet these things prove that there can nor may be no such set permanent livings allotted to the Ministerie of the Gospell And now to the other part of their question How these Bishops Priests should live if their livings bee taken from them We answer as above They may for no worldly cause bee suffered to continue in so unlawfull ungodly yea so pernicious a course to themselves and to the whole land but must be compelled to walk orderly in some lawfull calling or other God giveth much to the diligent when the sluggard suffereth want worthily Such as haue faith gifts unto edification never had greater cause to use them to call the people to faith and to instruct them in the wayes of the Lord. The more they thus labour the more they shal deserve to be cherished and esteemed The labourer is worthy of shal not want his hire both with God man The others of them that haue not these gifts may apply themselves in civill things as to teach the tongues to instruct children c. They haue yet an other question how the people should be taught if al this ministery should be deposed To which we answer The people ought at no hand to be taught by a false Ministery And further though they be deposed from their Antichristian ministery which they exercised to the destruction of their owne soules and of as many as heard and followed them yet such of them to whom God hath given fit gifts and graces to teach ought from henceforth to imploy the same to the glory of God the benefit of others and the building up of Christs decayed Church Thus shall the people haue all the help they had before To whom if you ad such of the faithful as God hath given the gift of prophecie and interpretation of the scriptures unto who must and will labour in this work according to the measure of faith in all holy order and sobrietie as also those that the Lord shall daily raise up and send unto his vineyard the people shall want no meanes of instruction neyther be destitute of any good gift but haue them much more plentifully and excellently then ever they had without comparison Yea so shall God blesse his own ordinances their diligence and zeale as they shall in short time be throughly furnished of Teachers every where and the work in all places be orderly set up Onely let no man despise the day of these small things for they shall rejoyce and see the stone of tinne in the hand of Zerubbabel Your Honours humbly in all duety bounden HENRY BARROVVE RIght Honourable we haue as our fraile memories and small measure of knowledge would suffer in the middst of many encombrances in this our miserable imprisonment drawne an unperfect discourse of such weighty causes as we were desirous when God should call us thereunto to make knowne unto her Majestie or some of her Honourable Councell And now by your Honours desert and gratious allowance occasioned we most gladly relate present the same to your good Lordship onely as to one whose rare wisdome we know most able to discerne and whose care to preserve and defend the innocent according to right Wherefore we most willingly put both this waighty cause our wofull lives in your hand to be preserved to some equal triall from our enemies rage like to be increased here upon in that it so nearely toucheth their estimation and worldly prosperitie And howsoever these high causes of God which haue not been hitherto looked into since the first defection from the sincere practise of the gospell in the primitive Church may seem strange unto your Honour at the first view especially if they be weighed with humane reason yet being examined by that Archtype and true patterne of Christs testameÌ„t we doubt not but your Honour shall see with us how far the present State is swerved from the inviolable order prescribed Espetially if your honour vouchsafe but to look into the office entrance and administration of this ministery you shal soon see it as some of their own writers confesse none can deny to be received by succession from the Pope who though he were expelled with many of his enormities out of this Land by her Majesties roiall progenitour yet remained these offices and lawes courtes worship c. untaken away or suppressed notwithstanding that the Lord of Hosts had sayd they shall not take a stone of Babel for a corner nor a stone for foundations for it shal be desolate for ever So that it is impossible antichrists ministry should build up or serve in the true Church of Christ himself having instituted and ordeyned an other Ministerie in his testament and forbidden and accursed all such as haue not their warrant from thence It is then our purpose Right honourable to make plain in our Treatise that when the Pope was expelled his ministery and orders which came out of the bottomlesse pit were still reserved and set up in sted of the Ministery and TestameÌ„t of Christ and so still remaine Which their Ministery being thus found antichristian must by the Prince be abolished and suppressed that Gods wrath be not kindled against this whole Land for the wilfull violating defacing of Gods ordinances bowing down unto endowing and mainteyning of such bitter plants of Antichrists grafting Neyther will it suffice to say The Martyrs in Queene Maries dayes stood in these offices in King Edwards dayes seeing it were great impiety to justify any iniquity by the example of fraile man no man living without errour For that were to set the Martyrs of Christ against Christ either to build our faith wholy upon men and cast aside the Testament or else to rip up the ignorances of men to mainteyn somâ— sinne in our selves even presumptuâ—ously to tempt God to continue obstinate in knowne sinne which faâ— be it from us seeing the spirite oâ— God teacheth us that neyther Martyr nor Angel from heaven can justify any thing Christ in his word condemneth nor may withdraw us from the evident rules in Christs testameÌ„t or from any jote thereof much lesse from the pure and holie ordinances and government of Christ in his Ch 〈…〉 have stood in such offices 〈…〉 knowne it unlawfull suffering v 〈…〉 they did see Teaching us so far to folow their examples as they followed Christ Neyther need this matter now trouble us seeing all couÌ„tries about us haue suppressed the Bishops and their Courtes with all that rable and many other abominations which flow from the same and remaine still with us The most learned also of the Clergy of this Land haue written and cried out for the utter abolishing of these offices So that it is of al coÌ„fessed that the Prince ought to suppress abolish all such offices and orders as