were appointed to office to the end they might feede feede feed the Lords sheepe But our English ones are appointed to their roomes in their old age to the end they may nowe togither with the Levites of 50. yeres of age rest their bones and feed their owne bellies Thirdly the first were tyed to no one sea but were sent to teach all nations These keepe themselves within a stinted compasse teaching fewe or none once in a long time Fourthly the Apostles of Christ could not discharge their work but by comming through many wants These of our land may discharge their work by leaning on their elbowes in the middst of their Lordly platters Fiftly the first were appointed to gather churches and establish all holy order As for these not one of them ever gathered a church but haue kept many in disorder Sixtly the first had attending on them for the furtherance of their Apostolical work blessed Euangelists and preaching Disciples These latter haue first a company of ruffling Chaplaines that can handle cardes and dice well secondly a company of swash-rutting serviters that can teach all the parish to sweare and weare all foolish fashioned apparel Seventhly the first were plain simple harted Ministers These are Lords in name Lords in living Lords in pompe Lords checkmate with the nobleest Peere of our Realme Eightly the first were brought before lordly riâ—lers for preaching Christ and his kingdome these convent preachers before them say if we silence them not by bonds imprisonment gallowes theâ— will cause the civil Magistrate take away our Episcopal kingdom Ninthly the first established wise godly Elders in every coÌ„gregatioÌ„ These establish dumb dogs greedy hogges in their parishes confused assemblies Tenthly the Apostle Paul upbraided the Church of Corinthe for not exercising the power of our Lord Iesus committed unto her in delivering up the incestuous to Satan These Bishops are not so foolish but haue got all the power into their own haÌ„ds sending that latin burbolte our of their unholy court Eleventhly the first sought no kingdome here because they lookt elswhere to sit on a throne with Iesus But these so seek kingdome establish their houses here as if they were of minde with the governor of the feast in Cana of Galilee that sweet wine is best at the first Twelvethly the Apostles of Christ were the chosen penmen of the holy Ghost and therefore their writings are of sufficient credite in themselves and canonicall As for our English-ones God never chose them for such purpose and therefore their writings which are almost none and their sermons which are almost as fewe are to be suspected and to come under examination Lastly to give 13. to the dozen the Apostle Paul did think they were set forth the last Apostles 1 Cor. 4.9 These men come more then XV. hundred yeres after that they were Apostles Likewi 〈…〉 these opposites can meet togither in one subject black can be white and Ataxia can be Eutaxia Disorder good order I shall never beleeve that Lord Bishops are eyther Apostles or Euangelists or yet so good as Pastors This comparison he wrote when heretofore by his separation he was called a Brownist and nowe it may serve as a glasse for his Lords spiritual to behold themselves in But how he estemeth of them now or how he maketh the matter with them having iâ— priesthood froÌ„ and under them I cannot tell It is doubtful he hath learned to dye a blacke into whiâ—e and to make Ataxia to be Eutaxia disorder good order But let his conscience see to it lest he be condemned therof For if his own hart condemâ—e him God is greater then the conscience The next testimonies are from such as never sepâ—rated Mr Fenner hath published in Defence of godly moâ—sters against Bridges slanders pag. 111 that of S. Pâ—ul were now in England no greater man then he was made by Christ he might not be equall with these Bishops For they are spiritual Lords he was never so they might send for him by a Pursevant lay him in the Counter or command him to the Fleet so could not Paul doe the least Minister of the Gospell And againe in the same book p. 123. speaking of their offices he saith Our kinde of Bishops the Commissaries the Archdeacons and such like we account them no naturall members of the body of Christs Church because they are of humane addition not borne with her nor growne up with her from the cradle Mr. Cartwright in his first reply pag. 8. 88 striking at the chief and strength of their ministerie to were at the Arch Bishops and Archdeacons under whom the other Bishops ministers doe execute their offices proveth that these functions are not in the word of God but of the earth new devised ministeries and such as can doe no good Yea that the Arch Bishops office is the weck of the popish Hierarchy come out of the bottomles pit of hell Mr Travers in Defence of Ecless discipl p. 88 â— 91 against D. Bridges proveth by divers good sufficient reasons that their Bishops are neyther Pastors nor Teachers Vpon which one in a certaine place inferreth And what ordinary Ministery of the Gospell then doe they execute As for extraordinarie the Prelates were not knowen when they were in the world besides that they are as unlike them as darknes is to light And upon my memorie I dare say that in the Demostration the authour speaking of this lofty ministery sayth that they are plants which our heavenly Father hath not planted and must be plucked up by the rootes And how Mr Chaderton hath painted them out I haue shewed before Finally all the seekers of Reformation haue in the Admonition to the Parl. 2. treatise sect 14.18.20 professed that the Names and offices of Archbishops Archdeacons Lordbishops c. are togither with their government drawen out of the Popes shop Antichristian Divilish and contrary to the scriptures That the Parsons Vicars Parish priests Stypendaries c. bâ— birds of the same fither And in a word as hath been noted before that they haue an Antichristian Hierarchy and popish ordering of Ministers strange from the word of God and the use of all well reformed Churches in the world Thus may we learne of our own worthies at home if we will not learne of others abroad who haue been forced to separate from church ministery for such fowle grosse most horrible unsufferable corruptions as are both in the one and other And wel I remeÌ„ber that Mr Beza contra Saraviam mentioning but 3. or 4. of the corruptions there saith if it be so that then it is not a corruption in Christianity but a manifâ—st defection from Christ. Desiderius Trouble not your self further in this matter at this time for you haue spokeÌ„ therof both largely and plainely opening as it were a window through the which I see a great light and as my name by interpretation is Desire so doe I most earnestly
Faultes escaped Pag Lin. Faultes Corrections 80. 9. in them and were in them 219. 14. Tius Titus 230. 25. â— that Dioceses were â— 231. 11. 25 85 241. 33.  ture be subverted 71. in margin Act. 3 6. Act. 6.3 163. in marg Mat. 86. Math. 16. The Christian Reader will pardon the rest Mr HENRY BARROWES PLATFORM Which may serve as a Preparative to purge away Prelatisme with some other parts of Poperie Made ready to be sent from Miles Mickle-bound to Much-beloved England Togither with some other memorable things And A familiar Dialogue in and with the which all the severall matters conteyned in this booke are set forth and interlaced After the untimely death of the penman of the foresaid Platforme his fellow prisoner who being constant witnesses in points apperteyning to the true worship of God and right government of his Church sealed up their testimony with their bloud And paciently suffred the stopping of their breath for their love to the LORD Anno 1593. Printed for the yeare of better hope To such as are already true Christians and all that desire so to be health salutation in the Authour of salvation THis Conference or Discourse between Desiderius and my self Togither with other things of excellent argument worthily beloved vvas for your sakes by our mutual consent put to printing Reape therefore the benefite thereof and defend it from the unjust cavils of all that set against the same And for the literall faults therein amend with the pen I pray you as they are espied in the reading And if in the materials all thinges hang not well togeither in your sense consider them better by the word of God and what agreeth therwith cast not away neither receive any thing that dissenteth therefrom But try all things and keepe that which is good M. M. TAke wings o Booke and fly abroade with speed The things in thee are good for men to reed Which haue not seen what thou canst to them show And what thou speakst is meete for all to know Who would discern some things amiss that bee Within the Land of our Nativitee To such thou shalt be iudged wondrous kinde Because thou canst right well informe their minde In such a sort as they shall bettred bee And well advantag'd by the things in thee Yet foes enough thou shalt be sure to finde 'Mong Priests that have the soules of many pinde And Prelates too which very seldome preach Or suffer those that carefully would teach Gods truth and give Christs sheep their wholsome food All such Restreyners make the sinfull brood And of that Ranck not one of them is found That feeds the flock in wholsome pasture ground If such bring food they poison give withall Which proveth worse then wormwood mixt with gall They suffer not the milk of Gods word pure To work vpon the soules of men a cure Though sincere milk therof that some is it Which makes for God the soule of each man fit And thou directs them in no other wise Nor wouldst haue any follow such mens guise As will not to that wholsome Word bend care And all his pathes unto Iehovahs seare A Dialogue or Discourse passing betweene Desiderius and Miles Micklebound by occasion of their old love and new meeting Miles Micklebound RIght glad am I to see you Desiderius but who ever would haue thought to haue met you here in these partes Some great weighty cause doubtlesse hath occasioned you to come hither But I praye tell me how doe all our friends in England and what good newes bring you from thence Desiderius It may be thought a wonder to see your selfe here my much beloved Miles for it was reported that you were at Rome that you were the Popes scholer c. But I am glad to see you so farre from his citie of seven hills where his seat is And that putts mee in better hope concerning you then others have Miles For certayn Desiderius I am and alwaies have been furder off and more opposiâ—e to the Popes religion and learning then now distant froÌ„ his citie and seate where I never yet came not purpose to come vnlesse I should happen to long for fyre and fagot Desiderius That increaseth my hope to bring like joy unto your selfe know this that our friends in England are generally well as I see you are whereof I am not a litle joyeux Miles And how goes it with religion Are there not good hopes for reformation Desiderius The hopes that way are as fewe small as ever they were Howbeit that which you call reformation others doe count deformation Miles But how then is it with the Prelats Are they so proud or doe they dominiere beare like sway as heretofore Desid Yea doubtlesse For there are none that are put down more then the Puritans as they are called nor none that rise up faster then the Prelates as you call them Miles Then in deed there can be no present hope for Bishops and the abuses brought in by them are a bane to the beawtie of true religion and doe greatly hinder all sound and sincere walking therein Desider Multitudes are otherwise minded then you are and many wiser then I doe think them to be the very pillars of the Church and chiefe upholders of true religion And what should I then think of the matter Miles Not as the multitude doe for then you think erroneously And if these be the pillars or propps of any Church it must needs be the church of Antichrist For wee finde no warrant in all the scriptures that their offices callings or administrations haue any place power or right in the Church of Christ as shal plainly appeare hereafter But where you seem to let your judgment rely upoÌ„ the multitude and to approve of that which wiser then your self doe justify you are taught not to follow a multitude to doe evill Exod. 23. And the divine proverbe sheweth that it is as great an evil to justify the wicked as to condemne the innocent But as woe is pronounced to him that calls good evil so likewise to him that cal leth evil good Esa. 5.29 For your judgeing of matters in case of religion you ought to look to the lawe and word of God and not to the wisdome of man For the wisdome of the wise men of this world is foolishnes with God and the wisdome of God is foolishnes with them The Philosophers and other wise men could never by their worldly wisdome atteyne to the right knowledge of God heavenly things This apperteyneth to the foolish things of the world which God hath chosen to confound the wise As sayth the Apostle 1 Cor. 1. Read the whole chapter at your leasure for your better information But I pray you how sayd you that it was with the Puritans Desiderius I observe that there are none more detestâ—d mocked troden down then are they nor none more upholden then those that you so much dislike even
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
mysterie of iniquitâ— spruÌ„g up by degrees til it came to that height and our Englih Prelates doe helpe to hold 〈◊〉 up still But God that condemneth it wil bring it downe But I hope that some others betteâ— furnished with bookes abilitie leisure theâ—â— I either am or can possibly be in this pilgrimage from my native country will by this occasion both conferre the prophesies in the holy scriptures and gather togeither a Catalogue of writers as a cloude of witnesses for further manifestatioÌ„ of the truth against these remnants of the Antichristian race although very much is done that way already For touching the Ministerie of Arch and Lordbishops aforementioned with other ministeries under them That their offices were never appointed by Christ but is a new ministerie devised by man both in their office entrance administration and maintenance and ought not therefore to be continued the scriptures haue shewed such light as haue filled our land full of proofe 〈◊〉 severall workes aswel of the people called Browâ—ists as of the forwarder sort of Ministers And it is certaine that all such offices are of evill note of very bad esteem in all well reformed Churches in the world Also the holy Martyrs and writers old and new haue condemned them Mr Chadderton of Emmanuel Colledge in Cambridge hath truely taught and confidently affirmed in his Sermon on Rom. 12. That the Church speaking of the Church of England abhorreth and loatheth the things which are abounding in her as namely Ach Bishops Lord Bishops Deanes Arch Deacons Chancellors Commissaries Officials and all such as are rather meÌ„bers and parts of the whore and strumpet of Rome then of the pure virgine and spouse of the immaculate lambe Therfore saith hee shee will have these if they will needs bee of her body to shewe that they be created of God and united unto her by Christ her head If they will needs be of the heavenly Ierusalem let them shew that they came downe from heaven and who gave them from thence For the Apostles never knew them Sion hath not heard of them Ierusalem which is above will not acknowledge them The watchmen no doubt being a sleepe they haue crept into the citie of the Lord. But now they are espied now the church complaineth of them both because they haue no title nor interest in it as publike meÌ„bers As also because of the length of their unlawfull swords they keepe out the lawfull members of the body Wee therefore which are the Lords remembrau â—ers must never sâ—ffer him to rest till he hath expelled out of Iâ—rusalem wherin they haue no right to exercise 〈◊〉 unlawful authoritie Thus farre goeth hee â—eâ—e verbatim And it were endlesse to set downe whâ—â— others haue writteÌ„ in this kinde agreing therewith Wiclâ—ffs Tenth Article Mr Fox who wrote thâ—â— Actes Monuments of the Church maketh to bâ— this That there be 12. Disciples of Antichrist Popes Cardinals Patriarks Archbishops Bishops Archâ—â— deacons Officials Deanes Monkes Chanons Fryers Pardoners And Mr Bales descendeth to the lower degrees of popish ministers even to Sir Iohn the parish priest which togither with the former he calleth the names of blasphemie written upon the head of the beast Mr Barnes in the 6. Art for which he was condemned said I will never beleeve nor can ever beleeve that one man may by the lawe of God be Bishop of 2. or 3. Cities yea of a whole Countrie for that is contrary to the doctrine of Paul who writing vnto Titus commandeth that he should ordeyne a Bishop in every town Hooper on the 8. CoÌ„mandement sheweth that one man may nor haue two livings then he addeth But this is clawe me and I will clawe this If the Bishop permit not their Priestes to haue two Benefices â—â— might likewise happen the Priests would say that the Bishop should be Bishop but of one citie and indeed so it should be and till Magistrates bring them to that pointe it shall be as possible to heare a Bishop wade godly and simply through the scripture in all case of religion as to drive a Camel through the eye of a needle c. The foresayd Christians called Brownists whom I finde very sound in these things have in their Apologie pag. 50. prooved by 8. good Reasons That the Hierarchy Ministerie of Popes Archbishops Lordbishops Suffragans Deanes Archdeacons are Antichristian And then by 12. sufficient Reasons moe doe proove that the Hierarchy and Ministerie aforesayd may not be set over the Church of Christ nor reteyned therein For which I refer you to the said Apology which you may procure amongst the people of that profession at London or else where It were tedious to tell the names of all the writers against the foresayd Hierarchy and Ministerie of Archbishops and the rest of that rable but endlesse to set downe all that is written concerning them and their princelynes I will here onely insert a few moe testimonies of the ministers themselves who being of one church with the chiefe ministers their own masters may better be credited against them then mere opposites which are not of them but separated from them And first for Henoch Clapham who in ans to the Bishops Arguments sayth in the 2. section of the 2. part of his Survey of the Church Their cock sure Argument as they take it is this Christ promised to be with his Apostles vnto the end of the world at the giving of the commission Mat. 28. 19.20 And Timothee is charged to keepe the commandement pure vnto the coming of Christ But none of those persons should live unto the end Therefore he spake to some other in their persons who must be as were the Apostles and Eâ—angelists Lords over Pastors Churches And who should these be but such Lord Bishops as themselves who haue and occupy jurisdiction power over all the Churches and ministers of England If this be true that our Bishops be Apostles for if the successors should have had an other name the scripture would haue registred it If I say they be Apostles then England hath not dignified them truely in saying The Lord Bishop of such a place who rather should haue sayd My Lord Apostle of London My Lord Apostle of Lincolne Even as it was sayd Peter the Apostle of the circumcision and Paul the Apostle of the gentiles Then likewise England should for that great blessing haue been more bound to praise God she having more Lord Apostles of her owne then was in the whole world unto Christ who sent forth so fewe as twelve Paul with Barnabas They being for the most part men of occupations but these being men of state and stately Lords But before we admit them for Apostles let us compare them with Christs The first were elected and ordeyned to their office eyther by Christ the head or togither by some particular Church But these eyther by A Prince or by the Cannons of that sea confirmed by an Archbishop Secondly they
mainteyned by them haue no better fundation then had the other And these that yet remaine are of a trueth brethren of the same broode and byrdes of the same fether had the same Syre and were all hatched after the same fashioÌ„ with the former that are driven avvay Desiderius You may therein be mistaken For those Abbats and the like vvere indeed first invented instituâ—ed ordeyned in the Romane church by authoritie of it of the head therof the Pope and if you wil I can further yet truely say by the permission of God and povver of the Divil vvas that done But our Bishops vvere made and ordeyned in our English Church of Protestants Miles Be it so yet that makes the sinne never the lesse but rather vvil cause the punishment from God to be the greaâ—er in asmuch as they knovve more and yet doe the same evil vvith others that knovv lesse And the nearer that men come unto God the greater in his sight are the sinnes that they commit Therfore the Priests in Israel offered greater sacrifices for their sinnes then ordinary Israelites that fel into the same Therfore also judgement first beginneth at the house of God c. Now as all Churches in the vvorld are bound to receive such Ministeries onely as God hath appointed and none other so vvhosoever doe institute appointe â—â—nd or receive any office of Ministerie that God hath not instituted appointed sent doe greaâ—ly sinne And if a true Church shall doe it they sinne more haynously then a false church that doeth the same Therefore your plea is nothing vvorth save against your self our church of England if it be as you hold it a true Church And vvhen Lord Abbats c. vvere cast out of it yet Lord Archbishops and Bishops c. vvere still reteyned that had their being at the same time their original vvith those that vvere rejected But such Bishops inferiâ—ur ministers as they haue made since vvas by immitatâ—oÌ„ of the Papists vvho had them in their church constantly before wee had any at all and although they made some change of persons for those places yet vvas there no change of the offices themselves but they remained the same in Q. Elizabeths dayes that they were before in Q. Maries dayes And there were divers of the same persons that were Bishops and Priestes in Q. Maries dayes that kept the same offices in Q. Elizabeths dayes by the former calling that they had in Popâ—ry and held stil the same Bishopricks Parsonagâ—s livings that vvere alotted them for maintenaÌ„ce in the very same ministerie before And they onely recanted of some popish heresies in doctrinâ— and opinion vvith renunciation of the supremaciâ— of the Bishop of Rome And some of them die not that as I haue seen under the hands of 14. witnesses vvhich vvas addressed to the Arch Bishop by vvay of complaint against their popish Parson Milâ—â— Bennes of Sevenock who vvas left upoÌ„ them froÌ„ the time of Q. Marie Neither vvere such if they recaÌ„ted esteemed vvorse then such as were made by themselves but rather reckned for the better And he that is made a Bishop or priest at Rhemes oâ— Rome coming to England with such recantation as aforesayd is admitted to administer without any newe ordination Wheras the Ministerie of Pastors made in the reformed Churches must passe under a new ordinatioÌ„ before they may administer there Which sheweth rightout what office and ordination it is that they like and love best Desiderius I pray you let me ask you what difference you put between the Israelites sinne in worshipping the calves or God by the calves as they pretended and the papists sin in worshipping their images or as they would haue it God by their images Miles I see in that small difference for Israel was then a false church though it had been of the true And the heape of papists are likewise a false church though the Church of Rome before time was true And whether men make the images of calves or of other creatures for any worship to God they are all inventions of men the workes of their â—endes and meere idols which haue no warrant in Gods word but are an open and direct breach of the second Commandement And in some ignoraÌ„t papists that pray unto the image it selfe as a thing of divine inspiration it is a transgressioÌ„ of the first But now to returne to the sound of your Bell which you brought as an instance against converting of false church livings to civil uses How contrarie was that sound to somthing which others haâ—e written of that very point in our owne tongue according to trueth Mr. Fr. Iohns in Ans. to M.H. Iacob hath words worthy of note p. 199. saying We acknowledge with thanks to God and her Majestie that cut of her highnes Dominions there be already abolished many of the abominations of the Romish Baby 16. And wee pray God that for as much as many of them be yet remayning c. that if it be the wil of God her High â—es may be the instrument to suppresse and abolish these â—lso and to establish the whole trueth of God according to this word And further that shee may take to her own Civil uses the Lordships and possessions of the Prelates and other Clergy as God hath fore told and appointed should be done with them Rev. 17.15 1 17.18 And as King Henry the eight her Majesties Fathâ—â— of famous memory did with the Abbats Monks Fryess Nunnes and with their possessions and revenewes Which happy worke by what Princes soever it be done as certainly will come to passe for the Lord of Hostes hath spoken it it will greatly redound to the glory of God the honour of themselves the free passage of the Gospell the peace of the Church benefit of the whole Common wealth Againe a faithful witnes of the trueth to â— George Ioy upon Dan. in the yeare 1545. writ downe ingeniously his own other mens judgment concerning the livings and maintenance the Prelates and other Clergy Vpon the 5. of Dâ—â—niel this question is made useâ— Then it is there thus answered The vessels prophanâ— by Belsazar were consecrated by the Word of God Wherâ—â—fore he sinned in prophaning them But the goods lewâ— of our Temples Abbâ—yes and Bishopricks are not consecrâ—â—ted to such uses by Gods Word but by their owne inventâ—â—ovetous charmings wherefore Emperours Kings anâ— Princes may take them away and put them to better vses 〈◊〉 to the maintenance of schooles vniversities c. Thuâ— wrote and witnessed those blessed servants of Goâ— heretofore Vpon which I would inferre that if thâ— Magistrates may imploy such livings to maintenaÌ„câ— of schooles vniversities then also for founding upholding of Hospitalls almes-houses the like for helpe of poore widowes fatherless strangers for the impotent sick and helpless of all sorts foâ— making and repairing of bridges hye wayes c. And also if it please the head of
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
and streight causie may be shewed unto all men leading into the Church of God and holy practise of the gospel of Christ. They object and publish That to abolish this present Ministerie worship traditions government of their Church would be an intollerable innovation and most dangerous alteration to the subvertion of the State both in regard that these Bishops are Peares of the same and their power Courts and ordinances have been a long time established and confirmed by sundry Parliaments and so all that speak against them and their proceedings are enemies unto and speake against the peaceable estate of this Land To these politick objections and carnal reasons we answer with the Apostle That the wisdome of the flesh is death but the wisedome of the spirite life and peace for that the wisdom of the flesh is an enemie against God for it is not subject to the Law of God neyther indeed can be They therefore that thus stuÌ„ble at the word of God shal be broken and they upon whom it thus falleth shal be ground to poulder They that call all men unto the Law of God to the TestameÌ„t of Christ doe not innovate but they that depart in any jote and swerve from the same they innovate The word of God is the Archtype and ground work of all States degrees actions both ecclesiasticall and civil whereunto they must be framed whereby they shall be judged no other thing staÌ„ding before the face of that great Iudge then his owne revealed will in his word whatsoever then is agreeable unto the word of God is agreeable unto the State and whatsoever is contrary unto the word of God is contrary unto the State If then the estate of these Prelates Clergymen ministery and their proceedings can not be approved by but shal be fouÌ„d repugnant unto the Testament of Christ then are they pernicious contrary to the State drawing into the heavie wrath of God unto utter subversion and destruction Then are they for the safety of the State to be abolished and they whosoever they be enemies to God to their Prince unto the whole State that perswade the contrary upon any earthly respect or worldly policy upon any pretext of expediencie profite peace c. Alas there is no peace to the wicked and disobedient That Nation and that Kingdome that wil not obey unto the Gospel of our L. Iesus Christ shall perish and those Nations shal be utterly destroyed as the Lord hath not vainely threatned in his word And as to the persons of these Lordly Prelates and Pieres to Nobles or rather some of them without Pieres aboue all the Nobles in the Land wee abash not to affirme them to be no members of this state eyther civile or ecclesiasticall as in regard of their offices functions and dignities c. Civile they cannot be because they pretend to be Archbishops Bishops c. These are no civil honours nor offices neither may be executed by any civile persons Truely ecclesiasticall they are not because we finde no mention in Christs testament of any such Arch or Lord Bishops save our Saviour Christ himself only who is the chiefe Bishop Lord of the house He hath often and earnestly forbidden all other Bishops yea himselfe whilest he was here in the flesh refused such civile dignities titles offices and jurisdictions which these men or rather monsters are not ashamed notwithstaÌ„ding Christs express inhibition to receive and carry colouring their pride under the Princes commandement as though eyther the Prince might give or they receive that which Christ forbiddeth them Or as though their holy father the Pope might not so justifie all his blasphemous titles and fastuous pompe by Princes and Councels Thus commingle and confouÌ„d they these distinct ordinances callings of God the â—â—il and ecelesiasticall offices functions in their own persons and blasphemously usurpe the very peculiar names offices and honours proper to CHRIST alone wherby it is apparant by all these concurring notes that they are the very Antichrist that Beast that confound all the orders and ordinances both of Church coÌ„mune wealth and are the very bane poison ruine of both Church and commune wealth as if wee should search out bring to light the havock misrule they keep both in Church and commune wealth wee could make evident to all men But to our purpose They and al their traine are strangers in this coÌ„mune wealth This Kingdom stoode and florished before any Lord Bishops were and shall much more wheÌ„ they are gone What misse hath this State or commune wealth of their elder bretheren the Lord Abbats and the Munks Friers and those vermine yet were they rooted to seeming as deepely in this State both in the Church and commune wealth as they their Cleargie and Ministry now are carried as great a semblance of holines religion antiquitie vtility as these doo might as well have bene reserved and reformed as any of these They are all Brethren of a birth they sprang all of one head and togither with their head to one end they shall for the Lord hath spoken it As to the Lawes wherewith they would fortifie themselves and bind others so long as they are but the Lawes of men and not the Lawes of God yea contrarie to the lawes of God they are but as the new cordes of the Phiâ—listimes not able to strengthen their mast they shall neyther avayle them nor yet binde our Soveraigne Queen and this whole State The Kings of this Land togither with the assent of the Nobles and Commons haue alwayes taken absolute power to correct or abrogate any Lawes that are found contrary to the word of God There is no cause they should now fear the false Prophets threats whilst they haue the warrant of God his word for what they doe For God shall bless them in the deed Further they suggest That this Reformation would extinguish all learning take away the studie of all liberal Artes and so would draw the people and whole Land into ignorance atheisme barbaritie dissolutenes and in the end change the government from a Monarchie to Democratie or Anarchie These calumniations tending to the hie coÌ„tumelie reproch of that Ministerie order and government which Christ hath prescribed in his testament yea even of the Gospel sacred person of Christ himself deserve rather censure theÌ„ answer The untruth therof is evideÌ„t in that such effects were never found to follow the sincere practise of the Gospel to which whoso consenteth not is puft up and knoweth nothing how wise or learned soever he seem in his own eyes where the Gospel is purely taught and faithfully obeyed there sayth the Prophet shall the earth overflow with knowledge as the sea with waters And as to the Church of God it is sayd the piller and sure keeper of truth the nourserie of all good
education the schoole of all holy knowledge no enemy but a favourer of all lawfull artes and science where the glorie of God and the Lambe are the light thereof where the lively graces of Gods spirite are ever burning and never quēched There are all men of all degrees instructed in their dueties frō the hiest to the lowest And whoso walketh not in the light as Christ is in the light can haue no fellowship or place there Into the Church of Christ entereth no profane ignorāt or ungodly person The Leopard must leave his fiercenes the Cockatrice his poyzon so that the yong kid may feed with the one and the weyned childe play at the hole of the other before they can be received as members And being entred there can no inordinate walking no dissolute or unruly persō be there suffered The Church hath alwayes vengeance ready against all disobedience by the spirituall weapons and judgements of Gods word The governement therof as the Prophet ravished in the contemplation thereof sayth shal be of peace exactors of righteousnes violence shall no more be heard in the Land neyther desolation nor destruction in the borders They shall there break their speares into sithes their swords into mattocks Christs servants are an humble meeke peaceable and obedient people loyally subject and assuredly faithful to any civil government the Lord setteth over them They reverence and willingly obey even their heathen tyrannous Magistrates with out resistance even to the death how much more their Christian faithful loving Magistrates partakers with them of the same comforts hope All power here is yeelded and rendred to the civill Magistrate every soule being subject no part thereof taken away or takē togither with the civil Magistrate as these Princely Prelates with their Palatine royall privileges and these Lordly Bishops with their Courtes and civill jurisdiction Neyther can Satan himself without impudent slaunder accuse the servants of Christ of sedition or disobedience much lesse of such dissolutenes violence atheisme barbaritie No these with infinite other enormities flow frō the false Church from Babylon the mother of all the abominations dissolutenes confusion impietie where all are received feasted blessed even every uncleane byrd and hatefull spirite Their ungodly throne their false and deceitfull ministery which showeth them not the Counsels of God which discovereth not their transgressions neither hath any sprituall weapons or power against any syn be it never so haynouse but war togither in most desperate manner and oppose themselves against the ordināces of Christ his Gospel are the very cause of this impietie prophanenes ignorance and atheisme that aboundeth And this wee say that if Gods ordinance even the Princes lawes and sword which yet punisheth some offences kept not out barbaritie dissolutenes more then their ministery there should be no peace nor order neyther might one live by an other in their Church So that this their Pseudohierarchie is the most pestilent Anarchie that Satan and all his instruments shall ever be able to raise up as wherein he hath bestowed his uttermost power delusions and deceits to suppresse the holy practise of the gospel and to keep Christ out of his kingdome There now remaine certain difficulties impediments which are propounded by way of question and being of no great moment are as soon answered as propounded They demaund If these spirituall Courts of theirs were taken away what order then should be taken for Matrimonies adulteries testaments with which the common lawes of this land meddle not and also how the civilians should then live Wee answer That the triall judgements punishments of these causes and offences belong unto the civil Magistrates office neither to the Church nor to any private men God shall give our Magistrates wisdome if they take counsell at his word to provide for the reformation of these and many other abuses And as to the officers of these Courts they are to be compelled to walk orderly in some lawfull calling There are many godly meanes for them to live by their diligent indeavours in this common wealth but howsoever they may not be suffered to live or to continue in their ungodly trade Neither ought the Prince to stay upon their worldly provision frō executing the wil of God which so nearly concerneth her own salvation and the salvation of all her people They furder demaund If these livings and revenewes of this present Ministery should be quite taken away how then the true Ministery should be mainteyned or these Bishops and Priests hereafter live To the first we haue alreadie answered That the true Ministerie should be mainteyned of the free yet dutifull benevolence of the faithful especially of that flock unto which they attend and administer according to the present abilitie of the one and needes of the other If they here object that if the ministery should haue no more certaine or other maintenance they should then famish the people now generally being so worldly covetous and uncharitable as they will hardly pay that which is by law injoyned much lesse give of their own accord Wee answer that this no way hindereth the maintenance of the true Ministery but bewrayeth rather the unfaithfulnes and impietie both of the people and present Ministerie Of the people in that they no more regard love reverence to their Ministery if so be it were of God Of the Ministery in that they so evill instruct this people standing Ministers and Hierders unto the prophane worldly irreligious multitudes administring or rather sacrilegiously prostituting and selling the most holy things of God as the sacraments c. unto them all in this estate for their tithes and wages which no true Minister of Christ may doe The Ministery of Christ belongeth not unto neyther will take charge over such prophane worldlings there can be no spiritual band or communion betwixt them The true sheep faithfull people of Christ will not onely bestow their earthly goods but even their lives for those that bring unto them these heavenly treasures that tred out the corne and divide the portion unto them that labour for and watch over their soules c. Unpossible then it is that the true Ministers of Christ should want meanes to live whilest they execute their office faithfully especially where the State receiveth favoureth the gospel Neyther are they any longer to be mainteyned then they execute their office faithfully or they any longer bound to the flock or any mēber thereof then they remaine in the faith and obedience of the word of God Thus still breaketh out the corrupt minde coloured covetousnes of these tithing hireling Priests that thus let out their tōgues to hire make merchandise of the word and port sale of their sacraments making their bargain sure beforehand which bindeth them togither howsoever they doe the worke or the people bring fruites