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
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
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
the Common-wealth and neede so require they may serve for support to the state for royaltie of the Court for maintenaÌ„ce of lawfull warres against the enforcings of forreign foes or rebellions of domesticall enemies and a number the like services wherin such livings might be lawfully imployed with comfort and safe conscience all which may seem to be implyed in the former writers word et cetera to be their meaning likewise And wee may read in the Acts and Monuments in the hystories of Iohn Wicleff WilliaÌ„ Swinderby Sr. Iohn Oldcastle Lord Cobham Iohn Claydon and other the Martyrs of Christ who held professed these orders of Archbishops Lordbishops Archdeacons c. to be the Disciples of Antichrist yea very Antichrist theÌ„selves That the possessions and Lordships of the Clergie are the venime of Iudas shed into the Church c. Act. Monum edit 4. p. 150. a 468. b. 562. b. 363. a 6 9. b. Desiderius Why whither will you now run Miles Into the trueth I trust with all faithfull witnesses of the same no further theÌ„ I am taught by the word and spirite of God Desiderius But you haue not alwayes been of this minde that such livings ought not of right to apperteyne to the ministerie of the Gospell Neverthelesse if you haue seene a further light by the opposers of Prelatisme abroade then you had at home it would be good to make your friends and countrey partakers therof Miles Very gladly shall I doe that But first you are to observe this for your selfe that the holy Martyrs and witnesses of Christ were of this minde long before me as I haue shewed and could shewe yet further if need require And for that I haue not alwayes been of this minde it is sufficient that I came vnto it when God gaue me meanes to see that it was the minde of his High Majestie wherunto all men ought to conforme our selves The Apostle Paul was not alwayes of the minde that Iesus oâ— Nazaret was the Christ But some while he persecuted such as professed him til he saw otherwise And then he became a preacher of the same trueth both abroade and in bands unto the death And eveâ— so Lord Iesus just and righteous give me constancy in witnessing this part of thy truth against the Prelates their offices entrance administrations manner of maintenance and large jurisdictions all which are unlawfull and contrary to the scriptures As for your desire or hope of help from abroade I could wish you rather to turne your eyes another way and look nearer home For I am perswaded that there are not greater meanes of helpe to be found in the world for this service then God hath raised up in and unto our owne land of the true borne subjects and naturall children thereof And that both of the forwarder sort of Ministers and learned men in our Church of England as also and more specially of the people called Brownists who by their diligence in the scriptures and advantage of their cause are most strongly furnished against the Prelates against their Antichristian jurisdictions and Lordly livings c. At whose handes if helpe were sought espetially of the learned among them great helpe might be had Desiderius And may not the like helpes be had from the Anabaptists also for they are likewise very opposite to the Bishops Miles They are so And to give them their due many of them are very honest men with all but yet they disadvantage themselves sundry wayes First by their hereticall opinions 2. Because they haue approve and allow of generall Bishops for baptising c. in all their assemblies at least in so many of them as hold one societie and are of one coÌ„munion And so what they condemne and cast downe in others they after a sort doe justifie and hold up in theÌ„selves by their owne practise But the practise professioÌ„ of the other mistermed ones accordeth in one and strengtheneth one another Desiderius I am glad you conceipt the wayes of the Anabaptists no better For I had you in some jealousie concerning them But it is sorow enough that you preferre the Brownists before our forward Ministers Miles I haue good reason in this case so to doe For as they hold it unlawfull for our Ministers of EnglaÌ„d to haue those idolarrous livings aforesaid so they hold it unlawfull for their owne and all other ministeries to haue them but would that they were returned againe to the Common-wealth from whence they were taken But our forward Ministers that with the Prelates downe and their livings to be taken from them would gladly haue them for their owne use as you likewise pleaded for them And I feare they hold it no better then sacrilege if they be otherwise imployed Whereof your owne selfe also made question a litle before But to speak the trueth without respect of persons and to flatter with none these things in thern are meere trifling if not also hypocrisie arising of covetousnes For if they be lawfull for themselves they are lawfull for the superior Ministers also by vvhom these inferior ones were made If they say nay For their inferior Ministerie is a true Ministerie but the Lordly Ministerie is not so therfore these livings belong unto them and not to their Lords Herein they deceive themselves but let them not deceive you nor others For seing the inferiour Ministerie is derived from and made by the superiour eyther then the superiour ministerie must be true or these of their making cannot be true But the other being false that maketh these must needs bee false that are made by them For every creature bringeth forth according to his owne kinde whether it be man or byrds or beasts whether cleane or uncleane And if the roote be holy so are the branches But if the roote be corrupt and impure the branches must needs be so likewise Adam and Eve corrupted brought forth a man in their owne likenes that is one corrupted like themselves But I can shewe you divers wayes whereby you may discerne that the Brownists aâ— you call them are the best Champions to fight this battel and are most likely to win the field Desiderius I cannot tell I am sure they are counted a sâ—ct and are every where evil spoken of Miles But the question is whether it is for evil doing or for weldoing If for well doing they are â—o beare it paciently as partakers of the crosse and suffrings of Christ whose faithfull servants and witnesses of old even in the Apostles dayes were counted a sect likewise even the sect of the Nazarites and were every where evill spoken of in like sorte But did it therefore follow that they were according to the report esteem that was amongst men concerning them Or should men therefore haue rejected them or any good thing among them Let it be farre from you so to think and further off in that sort to speake eyther of those former or yet of these later
to imprison them unto death as they haue done 17. or 18. others in the same poisome Gaoles within these 6. yeeres The Wife Husband being now taken by them they permit not to be in the same but haue senâ— them to bee closely kept in other Prysons What the poore Family doth at home in the meane tyme your Lordships may consider and justly pitty Some of this company had not one penye about them when they were sent into close prison nor any thing being abroad which is the case of the most of them if not all to procure themselves and their poore families any maintenance save onely their handly labours and trades Whereby it is come to passe that these Enimies of God doe not onely starve and undooe a number of men in the prisons but even a lamenâ—able company of poore Orphanes and servants abrode Their unbrydled sclanders their lawlesse priâ—e searches their violent breaking open and ryfling of our houses their lamentable and barbarous usage of weomen and yong children in these hostile assaults their uncontrolled the every robbing taking away of whatsoever they think meet for us in this case their unappeased mercilesse pursuite of us from our houses trades wives children especially from the holy societie of the Saints and Church of God we are enforced to omit lest we should be over tedyous to your Lordships But their dealing this way towards us is so woefull right Honourable as we may truely demand with grief of heart whether the forreigne Enemie or our native Countrey men doe possesse and beare rule over us in our deare and native countrey Their whole dealing herein is most barbarous most inhumane but specially most unchristian and such as exceedeth the crueltie of the heathen and popish professed Tyrants and Persecutors The records of the heathen persecution under Nero Tâ—ajan Desius Galienus Maximinian c. can scant affoard us any examples of the like cruelty and havock For the heathen Romanes would murther openly and profesâ—edly These godless men have putt the blood of warre about them in the day of the peace truce which this whole land professeth to holâ— with Iesus Christ and his servants Bishop Bonner Story Weston dealt not after this sort For those whom they coÌ„mitted close they would also eyther feed or permit to be fed by others and they brought them in short space openly unto Smithfield to end their miserie to begin their never ending joye Whereas Bishop Elmar Do Stanhope and Mr Iustice Younge with the rest of that persecuting blood thirstie facultie will doe neyther of these No Felons no Murtherers no Traytors in this Land are thus dealt with There are many of us by the mercies of God still out of their hands The former holy exercise and profession we purpose not to leave by the assistance of God Wee haue as good warrant to reject the ordinances of Antichrist and labour for the recoverie of Christs holy institutions as our Fathers and brethren in Queene Maries dayes had to doe the like And we doubt not if our cause were truely knowen unto her Majestie and your Wisdomes but we should finde greater favour then they did whereas our estate now is farre more lamentable And therefore we humbly and earnestly crave of her Majestie and your Lordships both for our selves abroade and for our Brethren now in miserable captivitie but just and equall triall according unto her Majesties Lawes If we prove not our adversaries to be in a most pestilent godless course both in regard of their Offices and their proceedings in them and our selves to be in the right way we desire not to haue the benefit of her Majesties true and faithful subjects which of all earthly favours we accompt to be one of the greatest Are we malefactors Are we anywise undutifull unto our Prince Mainteyne we any errors Let us then be judicially convicted thereof and delivered to the civill authoritie But let not these bloody men both accuse condemne and closely murther after this sort contrary to all law aequitie and â—â—â—science where they alone are the plaintiffs the accusers the Iudges and the executioners of their most fearful and barbarous tyranny They should not by the Lawes of this Land goe any further in cases of Religion then their owne ecclesiastical censure and then referre us to the civill power Their fore-Fathers Gardyner Boner Story deale thus equally And wee crave but this aequitie Oh let her excellent Majestie our Soveraigne and your Wisdomes consider and accord unto this our just Petition For streames of innocent blood are likely to be spilt in secret by these blood-thirstie men except her Majestie and your Lordships doe take order with their most cruel inhumane procedings Wee crave for all of us but the liberty eyther to dye openly or to live openly in the land of our Natâ—vitie If we deserve death it beseemeth the magestie of Iustice not to see us closely murdered yea starved to death with hunger and cold and styfled in lothsome Dungeons If we be guiltlesse wee crave but the benefit of our innocencie viz That we may have peace to serve our God and our prince in the place of the Sepulchres of our Fathers Thus protesting our innocencie complayning of violence and wrong and crying for justice on the behalf in the name of that righteous Iudge the God of equitie justice we continue our prayers unto him for her Majestie and your Honours whose hearts we beseech him to incline towards this our most aequal just suite Through CHRIST IESVS our Lord. Desiderius I pray you tell me Was this Petition of Mr Barrowes owne writing Miles The draught of it was and some copies also One of which I haue seen in the hands of a Gent. very fairely wriâ—ten and out of it was this same exactly taken But read the other and then tel me your judgement of them both To our Soveraigne Lord the Kings most excellent Majestie togither with the Honourable Nobility Knights and Burgesses now assembled at the High Court of Parliament MAy it please your Majestie Honours worships gratiously to respect the humble suitâ— of Gods poore afflicted servants and well affected loyal subjects to your Highnes Honours Wee are many of us constrained to live in exileâ— out of our native Countrey others deteyned in prisons all of us in some affliction which the Prelates and Clergie of this Land have infflicted upon us for our faith in God obedience to the Gospel of our Lo Iesus Christ Wee have never to this day been convinced of heresie errour or crime for which we should susteyne the great calamities we haue indured The groundes of Christian religion professed and mainteyned in this Land and other Churches round about we also with one hart and spirit assent unto and professe Enemies we are to all Poperie Anabaptistrie or other heresie schisme rebellion treason or faction and whatsoever else is contrary to the wholsome doctrine of the Gospell or
not the true ministery of Christ but false and antichristian then can they not make and ordeyn true Ministers or in that office and estate haue any thing to doe in the Church of Christ. But all these most forward Preachers themselves with all the rest of these Parsons Vicars Curates were all ordeyned made ministers by these Bishops and execute their Ministerie under them according to their decrees receiving their licence swearing their canonicall obedience c. Therefore if the one be antichristian and to bâ— cast out so must the other of necessity Especially seeing the names offices entrance administration and maintenance of these are as false contrary to the rules of Christs testament as those of the Bishops haue no more place or mention in the testament and Church of Christ then their Lords and Bishops and their assistants haue Neyther can we see with what conscience they could both denounce the Bishops antichristian and to be abolished and yet both receive their ministery from them and execute it under them that even when and since they labored this Reformation whose corrupt covetous minde yet further appeareth in that they sought the fatte livings and Lordly revenewes of these Bishops Deanes c. which they erewhile blamed in those possessors and so but laboured to doe as much for their Lords the Bishops as the Bishops did to their Lord the Pope which is but to cast out their name and persons yet to reserve all their â—â—vings and privileges even all the fat and gainfull ware of Amalek unto themselves Thus howsoever they be divided amongst theÌ„selves which is no strength to their kingdome yet is it evident they came all of a broode even of that swarme of Locusts that came out of the smoke of the bottomlesse pit when that key thereof was given to that fallen starr Antichrist which Locusts devoured all the fruites of the earth had the power of Scorpions to sting and invenome the consciences of their hearers But now being discovered they shall togither wich the Beast before whose throne they wrought their miracles with the east winde of Gods judgements be blowne into the lake that is prepared for the Beast and for the false Prophet and not in this estate be allowed any place in the Church of Christ for ever And now that this whole minisâ—tery both Lord Bishops and theiâ— assistants Collegiate Deanes theiâ— associates Tithing Parsons and theiâ— Curates togither with all these mercenarie vagrant preachers are found to be strange and antichristian such as are not to be used suffred or mainteyned in the Church of Christ it remaineth that wee entreat of their fat portion large livings to whom of right they now belong whether to the Church or Common wealth to the Ministery or to the Prince To this or any false ministery they cannot belong because a false ministery is not to be suffered much less to be endowed or mainteined in any Christian coÌ„mon wealth Neyther can the true Church or Ministery prescribe or challenge any present right or interest in these lands or endowments of this false Ministery Christ hath provided and instituted for his Ministerie an other kinde of maintenance then such royalties Lordships gleabe lands tithes or 〈◊〉 stipends The true ministery is â—o live and to be mainteyned of the â—lock to which they attend and administer and that not by tenthes or â—hirds by stints or rates by bargain â—aw or imposition but by the loving free yet dutifull contribution of the flock as the abilitie of the one extendeth and the needs of the other require each one most willingly not by constraint imparting even of all their goods unto them to â—eleeve their wants not to nourish â—hem in superfluitie idlenes c. These worldly promotions tithes set stipends c. belong rather to idle â—ellies hirelings then to the true Ministerie of Christ wherof they are and alwayes have been rather the corruption then the maintenance These would but hinder extinguish the continuall love care benevolence and duetie of the flock unto their ministery as also the labour diligence and watchfulnes faithfulnes of the Ministerie to their flock as we haue lamentable expeâ—â—â—ence in the present estate of this â—â—â—nistery and people generally Agaâ—â—â— the number estate and needs 〈◊〉 the ministery are so uncertain theâ— sometimes being more sometimâ—â— fewer to be mainteyned accordiâ—â— to the greatnes and variable estaâ—â— of each congregation and not 〈◊〉 each parish one onely as here 〈◊〉 ministery also some of them haviâ—â— families greater or lesse and sundâ—â— necessary occasions so uncertainly they cannot be provided for rateâ—â— and limited by any better or othâ—â— lawes and orders then those Chrâ—â—â— hath set downe in his testament 〈◊〉 conclude this alotting of Landeâ—â— Tithes c. to the ministerie in evâ—â—ry parish both is preposterous seiâ—â— as yet there is not in every such pâ—â—rish no not in any one parish a peâ—â—ple rightly gathered unto and joyâ—â—ed in the faith orderly togither 〈◊〉 for a ministery much lesse any trâ—â— Ministery rightly chosen and estâ—blished amongst them and also it presupposeth yea maketh a necessity that there must be and alwayes shal be unto the worldes end so long as there be any inhabitants a true Church and Ministery in every parish and so confirmeth that popish errour of local and personal succession besides sundry other inconveniences that would insue therof This litle that hath been sayd may suffice to shew that the true Church and Ministerie of Christ haue no claim interest nor right unto neyther use of these Lordships gleabes tithes set stipends c. which erewhile were possessed by these Prelates prowling Priests then must they of necessiey belong and returne unto the Prince and commune wealth from whence they first proceeded Now whether unto the King as supreme Lord or unto the Lordes patrons that owe the advousons may some question arise which controversie being a matter in lawe shall much better be pleaded and decided bâ— her Majesties Sergeants and Iudgâ— then by us that are ignorant of theâ— matters Onely this concerninâ— the office of these Patrones we say that we finde no mention therof iâ— the testament of Christ where aâ— the offices of his church are perfecâ—ly described nor any use therof iâ— the Church of Christ but ratheâ— finde it greatly prejudiciall and conâ—trary unto the libertie and holy orâ—der of the Church For Christ hatâ— appointed that every particulaâ— Church all the members thereof gaâ—thered togither as well learned as oâ—ther with one accord should makâ— choice of their Ministerie after duâ— proofe according to the rules prescribed Which choice can not be made or order kept when one man were he never so wise taketh away the power and dutie of the whole Church to make the choice how much lesse when the Patron that oweth the advouson is many tymes a stranger both to the Priest
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
without all question their injuries haue been more then ynough though Lawes were not wrested against them And this wrong was the greater considering their love and loyalty to Prince Country But their judges must come before the Iudge of all the world that wil doe right In respect wherof I pray for them that their case may be found cleare through repentance which is the right way thereunto if it be done in time And for all the Saintes here combating under the banner of the great Captaine of the Lords Host that is Iesus Christ it behoveth them in patience to possesse their soules looke for their rest when the Lord commeth who will wipe all teares from their eyes give them an inheritance everlasting immortal which fadeth not away reserved in the heavens for them Which shal be enjoyed when others on the left hand shall both heare a contrary sentence and receive a worse reward But as Abigail the wife of Nabal is praised in that she used such wise and good meanes to prevent and stay David from bringing that evill which he intended against Nabal and all his house for his churlish reprochful and evill answer so much more shal it be a praise-worthy work special part of good seruice durie in any that shall perswade withdraw the Magistrates and people from bringing any evill upon the servants of God without a cause For as the Psalmist sayth what hath the righteous done To which every good Christian may answer They haue surely done that which deserves praise and not punishment not imprisonment reproches confiscatioÌ„ of goods banishment untimely death or any the like evill intreaty Desiderius They may so answer and that truely but the world vvill not receive it And now I pray you tell me What difference doe you put between those people called Brownists and our sincerest and best professors of the Gospel called Puritans M. Mickelbound The difference is layd downe in few words The former doe both hold and practise the truth and separate themselves from the contrarie The latter haue the trueth in speculation onely and either dare not or at least doe not practise it Neither dare or doe they leave off all the unrighteous ordinances of Antichrist but daily do bend and stoupe unto many of them And for what cause others may well conjencture but their owne hearts can best tell it to themselves Desiderius But those Christians called Brownists are at great difference among themselves For some holdes private communion others of them will at no hand allow it And so there ariseth ill will with decrease of love in one towards another But I pray you which of those persons or opinions doe you like best M. Mickelb For their opinion I would haue my judgement spared at this time Onely this I say that their difference is not such as ought to make any division between them or to breake off the coÌ„munion and fellowship which they had before And if any doe it is doubtlesse the fault of those that doe it They haue need therefore to take heed of prejudice and preposterous zeale which else will be as a mother nourse to breed and bring up that wicked weed Envie a capitall vice in sted of Christian Love a holy vertue Be they then exhorted to shew forth the fruites of Christian moderation bearing with and supporting one another praying with and for one another enterteyning holy peace between themselves and with the Lord setting against the sinnes in themselves rather then that difference in their brethren so shall they the better carry forth their good cause against their envious Opposites For while they combine togither among themselves they shall be able to push and at last to overthrowe the Antichristian Kingdome and Hierarchy against which they joyntly beare witnes And thus shall they be truely zealous As for their persons there is neither of them doe lose one jote of my love if they continue their love to the Lord and his commandements walking faithfully according to that which he giveth them to see and knowe by his word both in holynes to himselfe righteousnes towards men and sobriety in themselves with abstinence from worldly lusts And if they alike thus walk my love is alike unto them Desiderius Some doe object against them their manner of receiving the Lords supper as being rude unreverent malepert and too too presumptuous sitting upon their seates as if they were Christs Camerades whereas for more reverence they ought to take it kneeling Miles This is no more against the former called Brownists then it is against the latter called Puritans even the best and sincerest of them For they likewise so hold that it ought not to be takeÌ„ kneeling but sitting and eyther doe or faine would so practise if they could in safetie or durst indure the trouble following after it But for the point it selfe How doe those objecters prove that such manner of receiving is presumptuous c But are not they presumptuous rather that shal make them selves wiser then Christ and give lawes in his kingdome or Church which himself the onely Law giver hath not given Do they think that their good intents will carry out any thing in Gods worship which hath not warrant in his word If that were so then had not Vzzah been slaine for staying the Ark of God from shaking 2 Sam. 6.6.7 Neyther should King Saul haue been rejected for saving alive the fat cattel of Amalek to offer in sacrifice to God 1. Sam. 15. But the point being sufficiently cleared by sundry writers I referre you to them And I what should I need to say more but this that â—ee must in all thinges looke unto the first institution as our Lord Iesus himself also did when men spake unto him of putting away their wives who told theÌ„ that Moses for the hardnes of their heartes suffered it but from the beginning it was not so And in like manner to such as plead for kneeling at the receiving of the Lords supper we may answer that for want of love to the Lord and his trueth it hath pleased him to give them over to hardnes of heart strong delusions And as the Papists those grosse idolaters receiving the signes of Christs body and bloud to wit bread and wine thinking it to be the very body and bloud it selfe contrary to their own senses they doe for more reverence to it kneel before it and worship it as their God and Maker even so our formal Protestants at the celebration of the Lords supper do likewise kneele imitating therin those idolaters and so nourishing that popish errour of errours But from the beginning it was not so For at the first institutioÌ„ it was received as they sate at the Table But we can no where finde in all the scriptures that ever they received it kneeling or that ever true Christians beleeved those holy signes were transubstantiated into the body and bloud of Christ as the Papists falsely teach
Therefore as well that opinion as their and the Protestants practise is highly sinfull and for ever ought to be shunned Both because God never required such a beleefe nor appointed such a gesture in the act of communion as they haue taken up to themselves from the brain of mans mere invention Wee are therfore to take heed what examples we follow Dinah the daughter of Iakob going forth to see the daughters of the countrey where they came was defiled bodily but some of our Protestants looking forth to see after what fashion the Papists served God before them haue been defiled spiritually Wheras they should haue remembred and observed that which is written for our learning in Levit. 18.3.4 and commanded Israel of old saying After the doings of the Land of Egypt wherein ye dwelt shall ye not doe And after the manner of the land of Canaan whither I will bring you shall ye not doe neyther walk in their ordinances But doe after my iudgementes and keep mine ordinances to walk therein c. Desiderius It is a good instruction And being well followed it will prevent infinite errours and other abominations But how doe you manifest that the Papists doe worship the signes of Christs body and bloud as the very body and bloud it self and that contrarie to their own senses as you sayd For if that be true they are most vile idolaters indeed Miles So they are For when they receive the bread they see it feele it smell it and tast it to be bread yet they beleeve in the heart say with the mouth that it is body even the same that was crucified on the crosse quite contrary to their owne senses of seeing feeling smelling and tasting as I sayd before And that bread which their own sense tells them is no other creature but bread doe they adore and worship as the Creator as God as Christ. And so in like maner beleive they the wine to be the very bloud of God Christ which was shed for the redemption of the Church Which horrible idolatrie of theirs is as grosse as to worship beleeve in a molten or carved image in sted of the true God And both these sorts of idolatrie are not onely against the second commandement but also against the first Thus may you perceive that the Papists are deluded with a lye extraordinary beleving the lying miracle of transubstantiation Wheras in all true miracles wrought by Christ and his Apostles never any were taught to beleeve any thing contrary to their owne sight and their other senses but these seduced soules are miserably misled that way And why even because their lying prophets doe so beleeve and teach But is it not as strange that they will haue so many Christs at one and the same time For after the words of consecration are used those signes are transubstantiated into the very body and bloud of Christ by their opinion becommeth the whole Christ so that if they doe the like in an hundred thousand places at once they haue then if you will beleeve them so many CHRISTS And they being all eaten up in one day yet they can make as many moe in another and that as often as they consecrate their bread to such an end or use And is not this a wonderfull miracle and these marvelous men thas can by the words of their mouthes effect such strange things Or rather are not these monsters among men to beleeve such strange and strong delusions But so shall it fare with those that haue not the love of the trueth 2. Thesâ— And now let us leave them to their wandrings seing they are so bewitched that nothing which man can doe is able to drawe them from their delusions into the right way and trueth of the gospel â—word Christ. Desider The more is the pitie For as we ar debters unto all so I would we could doe them good M. Mickelbound They haue the letter of the scripture in that point before spoken of For Christ saith in Ioh. 6. This is my body But they haue not the meaning at all Neyther doe they consider that all sacramentall signes haue the name of the thing signified As for example The tree of life and the eating therof was a sacramentall signe to them that should live in obedience to God that they should haue life The tree of knowledge of good and evil had the name of that which they should by lamentable experience finde if they contrarie to Gods coÌ„mandement should eat thereof The Altar which Iakob builded unto God he called by the name of the Mighty God of Israel Not that it was so indeed But that it was a signe remembrance of that God who had appeared unto him for his helpe and had mightilie delivered him from the furious hands of his brother Esau. And other the like examples are in the scriptures Even so Christ sayth of the elemental signes of bread and wine in the Lords supper Take eate c. This is my body this is my bloud c. Not that they are so in deed for when he spake those words his blessed body was at the table among his disciples and not in the bread as they plainely sawe with their eyes and did know with understanding But they were true signes of his body and bloud and as verily as they received them so certainly should every true beleever receive Christ and all his merites to be fully theirs by faith And the papists that worship these signes as the very body and blould of Christ because they were in mysterie so called If they had lived in the dayes of Iakob they might as wel and it is like they would haue worshiped that Altar as the Mighty God because it was in mysterie that is in signe and signification so called But as therein they should haue been notable idolaters so are they in worshiping a peece of bread which they eat as God the Creator both of it them And seing they think that to be their God if now they would see their foolishnes by a fewe wordes I wish them to consider what becomes of it in short space after they haue eaten it so they shal see that if ever it was a God it soon vanisheth away and becommeth none which is contrary to the nature of the true God who is eternal immortal unchangeable c. but the bread eaten goeth into the belly and is caried out into the draught as Christ speaketh So that this their God Bread is more base then the God Bell or any of the the Gods of the heathens And are not these grosse idolaters Yea this their absurd foolishnes was a stumbling block unto Averois of whoÌ„ I haue read that he sayd Because the Christians eat that God which they worship my soule shall be with the Philosophers Wherfore I would they might learne that as the outward signes of bread and wine being received into the belly turneth unto the nourishment of the body so Christ