Churcâ—es to be shut up and their Pastors to be seized The first that was taken was the chief Antistes John Augusta which with his Assistant James Bilek was takâ—n upon suspicion of corr spondence had with Luther yea conspiracy That his design in hâ—s coming to Witteberg was to dispossess Charls of Germany and Ferdinando of Bohemia that the Elector of Saxony might be King of the Bohemians Hereupon they committed them to the cruel wrack to be tortured three times and yet could discover no mention of any crime for indeed it was a meer malicious calumny nor yet could have any colourable reason to inflict any punishment upon them They were left in Prison full sixteen years untill the death of Ferdinando July 25. 1564. and then at length were dismissed 85. Some of the dispersed Pastors and people came to Prussia and there were graciously received by Duke Albert assigning them these Towns Guizina Dubrawn Solduvia Gardia for their fixed habitations There is extant touching these a memorabâ—e Letter of Antonius Bodâ—nsteinus a Lutheran Pastor of Guizina wheâ—e the better part of the exiles took up residence written to Mr. Brentius an exile also at this time at Basil which Lasitius sets down entire Book 5. and wherein among other things we have as followeth These young men are of the number of those Brethren which within these twelve moneths were driven out of their own Countrey of Bohemia and being exiles were received in our Prussia Their Confession was published at Witteberg and commended by the judgement and approbation of Mr. Luther our Reverend Father and Master of pious memory They have not onely their Doctrine consonant with ours but also some other things peculiar such as with not small jeopardy of Conscience are wanting among us Such watchful care of souls as I never saw more exactness the most choice exercises of piety and repentance both Domestick and Ecclesiastick honesty of conversation before men and righteousness the true use of fastings watchings travels prayers brotherly admonition private counsels Ecclesiastical censures c. that they are justly matter of admiration to us all And I do not think Prussia could have had better guests or inhabitants to make welcome in the world again Mr. Bucer a man of great judgement is not afraid to extol them in his works above all the Churches in the whole Christian world attributing to them that which he doth not to any others and commending them to all the godly even as a pattern proposed for their imitation The same have other choice men done Luther Capito Calvin And truly if there be any Churches extant in which the Discipline and gravity of Apostolical men and all things framed after the example of the holiest Martyrs can be found they are for certain these little Churches of the Brethren I believe this so holy a people is sent of God into these parts to the end that others may be provoked by their example and bethink themselves throughly to amend those defects which yet cleave to our Churches It is a very sad thing that the Gospel of God should be published onely for a witness to the world c. Given Septemb. 15. 1542. 86. Thus Prussia blessed themselves with their new neighbours Moreover there appeared also at the same time another argument of the Providence of God on his Churches behalf in that these very exiles as they made their way through Polonia the greater scattered there as by the by when otherwise taken up some seeds of the Gospel For when they were to depart their own Countrey not knowing whether to turn themselves better then to the Polonians being consorts of the same language Being met together in a certain place in the confines of Silesia behold in one company there came thither out of the places adjacent about nine hundred souls in above a hundred and twenty Coaches Nay so it was not onely in Silesia but also in Polonia it self thougâ— yet adhering generally to the Papacy they found more countenance then opposition D. Anâ—reas Earl of Gork Captain General of Polonia the greater not onely permitting them to be entertained and lodged in the Suburbs all about Postriania but inviting them also into his Hereditary Towns Samotuli Kurnik c. insomuch that they had yielded themselves to him as Subjects but that presently there comes from the King an Edict which a Popish Clerk had procured by his sollicitation streightly enjoyning that they should be driven out of Polonia Whereupon they went forward into Prussia yet not without leaving upon the mindes of the Polonians some desire after them 87. For they having some Pastors with them were ready for Divine exercises to be performed freely none hindring them singing praying reading the Scriptures preaching to which when as many flocked as the minde of man is desirous of that which is new it could not easily be but that God should open the heart of more then one Lydia also for that the year following Matthias Sionius an Antistes following his people into Prussia and through some indisposedness being constrained to stay at Polonia by the means of many conferences had with divers sorts of men upon occasion there was no small number of the Citizens and Nobility which gave themselves up to the Discipline of the Brethren and desired them to appoint a Pastor over them 88. They gave them therefore for a Pastor and ordered to go over to them in Polonia George Israel one which had been wonderfully released out of Prison at Prague a man of right Apostolical spirit and he propagated the Gospel of Christ with such happy success that in one six years he brought most of the Nobility among whom was the Right Honourable the Earls of Gork of Ostroroge of Leszno unto the knowledge of the Truth and planting near forty Churches as Vergerius whom the Pope sent his Legate of whom after to view them computeth them d d govern them with that dexterity that the Noblemen and Ministers of Polonia the less having received their Reformers at that time out of Switzerland and so called the novel Churches of the Helvetlan Confession began to be beholden to them for counsel and to desire to be conjoyned with them 89. But this matter did not please Mr. Lismaninus now Arianizing so that upon this account an appeal was made to the Divines of Tigurine and Geneva Anno 1556. by which means the Brethrens affairs were exposed to a new debate not onely in Helvetia but also by the zeal of Vergerius in all Germany and Italy The Helvetians approved their design of conjoyning especially for the sake of their Discipline I have ready at hand divers Letters written at this time to the Poles out of which it will not be out of the way to alledge something pertinent to the business now before us John Calvin writes thus Your accord with the Waldenses I hope will be to very good effect not onely because of that blessing with which God is wont to visit the
Heidelberg then piously solicitous about the erecting of Order in the Churches of the Palatinate under Pious Frederick as appears in their Embassy and Letters to the Brethren of Bohemia for Zech. Vrsin in his to Andreas Stephanus the Antistes of the Brethren writes thus We are fully certified by your Confession both of your consent with us in all the heads of Christian Doctrine and also of your care and diligence to keep up a conversation worthy of a Christian and indeed upon this account we must needs joy you with an happiness far beyond us And we entreat you to help us in your prayers to the Lord that we may obtain his grace for some further attainment of the beauty of Christian Order amongst us also and that we judging our selves may not be condemned of the Lord for notwithstanding our prayers and endeavours many a day have been reaching hereunto that something of better Order may at last be seen amongst us yet because the name of Church-Discipline some imprudently and importunately urging it others bitterly and altogether rejecting it is become so odious that a great part do not onely decline it but would have it demolished and we can scarce hitherto enjoy the name or the least slight shadow of Discipline Therefore with shame and grief we are sensible that you ascribe more to us in your opinion then is to be found amongst us yet this advantage we have by it that from hence we apprehend you ply us as with a spur to quicken us to endeavour to be more answerable the better to answer to that good opinion which you and the rest of the godly conceive of us c. Mart. 19. 1574. 114. Answer hereunto being received the Church of Heidelberg dispatch to the Brethren one Badius with Letters to the same Antistes written by Mr. Olevian to this effect Mr. Vrsin shewed me your Letters and them of Mr. Languet whereby I understand that you of a long time have vigorously laid at that design whereto also we aspire namely to place the beginning middle and end of Religion not in disputing but in doing i. e. in true conversion to God and solid faith in Christ Let me therefore beg of you not onely in mine but in the name of the Brethren which are here in the service of the Church that you would furnish this John Badius with understanding of the whole Oeconomy or Administration of your Church and make him welcome for he is a learned and very pious man Mr. Vrsin and all the Colleagues salute you At Heidelberg April 28. 1574. 115. Now what opinion the Divines of Heidelberg had of those things which Badius observed in the Churches of the Brethren is evident by Olevians Letters again to Stephen given Sept. 6. in these words It cannot be expressed what high thoughts I have of that work of the Lord which he hath not onely began but also carried on so many years in your Churches The extreme corruptions of this age makes me and my Coleagues not a â—ittle desirous to confer with you about the most excellent Government of the Church for we would so build that the building may stand firm for after ages but we see how great differences and what sudden changes there are in those Churches which are deprived of their Priviledge and wholly depend upon the Civil power unless we seasonably obviate these evils many of the godly will think at least in a great part that they have run in vain I mean as to the stability of the building and the preservation and propagation of the whole Oeconomy of the Kingdom of Christ Wherefore we thankfully own what the Lord hath given us and we desire to make more full acknowledgment thereof and beseech the Lord that he would supply us with sufficient means hereunto to that purpose Veriâ—y when I behold the sad face of the Reformed Churches in Germany I am utterly afraid I apprehend that secular powers have been heretofore the Churches entreatments but now in many places they are turned into a kind of Dominion to domineer at their pleasure over the Churches and the heavenly doctrine Of the causes hereof this seems not to be the least that many Churches have too much given up themselves to the Polities of the world as if they were an essential part of the Kingdom of Christ Therefore I cannot but extoll your way of edifying who would have your Churches so subjected to the Polities of this world yea and to all men for good as yet to part with nothing of that liberty which Christ hath purchased for them with his blood 116. Hubert Languet mentioned before was the Elector of Saxonies Legat in Cesars Court at Vienna a man of great authority I find some letters of his to Andreas Stephanus and in one of them these words The Pope fears nothing more then our consent and uniting together which is his sure destruction if it can be effected but we have some unsound Divines amongst us which reject all good counsels and therein do much advance the Popes interest I would have the Churches of Bohemia which you write desire the Augustan Confession first joyn themselves with your Churches But these things are belonging to the good pleasure of God onely unto whom we must earnestly pray that he would defend his Church against them which labour to dissolve it Of the Gentleman D. of Z. I think as you do he seems to me to be of that sort of men which prudently and simply judge of things as nothing at all byassed by their affections of which there are to be found but very few Tho most and those not otherwise wanting parts and ingenuity being so hurried away with their affections that they seem sometimes when they give their judgement to be destitute of common sence At Vienna 15. Feb. 1574. 117. There was come forth before this time an 1572. the famous four-languaged Bible of Benedict Arias Montanus printed at Antwerp and not much after that was the new Latin Translation of the Bible of Francis Junius and Imanuel Tremel printed at Heidelberg This put the Brethren upon preparing in like manner a new version of the Bible in their own language conformable to the Original for all that they had hitherto had was the Latin version they therefore set about this business and in pursuance hereof they send to the Universities of Wittenberg and Basil some Candidates in Divinity to give themselves diligently to the study and thorough-knowledge of the holy Tongues To these was adjoyned a Jew born Lucas Helitz of Posnania a learned and pious man ordained also a Minister of the Gospel among us and that these might be able quietly to attend this sacred work there was assigned them in the heart of Moravia an accommodation for their dwelling together viz. the Castle of Kratlitz a Printing office being there also erected under the patronage of the Right honourable Lord John Baron of Zerotin having his Mansion in the next adjoyning
persons in the World giving us just cause to fear that in extolling such they did the rather impaire their own reputation This is evident in Erasmus Hist 70. Yea and if any man will but seriously weigh these things in the ballance of his own Judgment he will scarce evade his being of the same mind Viz. If he considers a that not any one but many began this Unity Histor 45. Annot p. 78. b and these not lead by self conceit but the zeale of salvation c not out of luxuriancy of wit but sensible and tender conscience ibid d not precipitantly but with manifold deliberations for many years Hist 47.99 e not with presumptuous confidence of themselves but with fear and trembling making many and heart-breaking Prayers to God to this purpose 48.50.60 f and with great respect had to Judicious men seeking counsell whereever any could be hoped or looked for The Romans Greeks Waldenses Hussites Lutherans c. 61.66.68 g also with full purpose to try all things and hold fast that which was any where found good insomuch as they ordained it a Canon among themselves if any appeared any where better reformed they would be obliged to joyne themselves to them 67. In no wise therefore doth this Unity savour at all of Schism h Now all this while whatever they had collected among them they so diligently and closely stuck thereunto in their practise that it may be said to be throughly proved by the fire of Persecution for the space of two generations without interruption Neither yet hath any thing to this day been found which is better viz. more consonant to the Scriptures and the practise of the Apostles or more for the satisfaction of the Conscience But moreover we want not for these things more weighty and as it were demonstrative Arguments As First that this Church of the Brethren hath all along been such a body as the Apostle would have the body of the whole Church to be a Conjunction of Saints by the work of the Ministry for mutuall edification in the Unity of faith and unto the exercise of unfeigned Charity fitly framed together and compact by that which every joynt supplyes from the inward working power Ephes 4.12 for here all are in this manner some being members of others knit together by common Lawes unto common edification not by the charmes of any outward Splendor Wealth or Honour or chaines of any compulsory violence but set together only by the inward working power and glew of the same Faith Love and Hope Secondly because such a Polity as is that of the Brethren-Church is of that nature that however it submits it self to the Polities of the World yea to all men for good yet it will lose nothing of that Church-liberty which Christ hath purchased for it with his own blood as Mr. Olevian observes Hist 115. and which is more that it alwayes comports with every well-constituted State and never disturbs it that which is altogether to be wished seeing that the State and the Church both combining for the welfare of humane Society must differ only as Outward and Inward For such a Church-government as this is sutable to a Monarchical State because it hath Episcopacy to an Aristocratical because it hath a Senate to a Democratical because it hath Synods Therefore Calvin and Bucer both for the Order of the Brethren Hist 79 80. being called unto divers Places to reform the Churches each of them so applied himself that he accommodated with the Secular government Calvin in the Commonwealth of Geneva constituting a Presbyterie Bucer in the Kingdom of England leaving there what he found Episcopacy to continue and remain But whether or no they did well to part asunder things which when joyned together have a better operation those thence arising and unto so much mischief among the Brethren molesting controversies and contentions give too much evidence Perhaps if they had hearkned to that of Solomon a threefold cord is hardly broken they would not have had so much sad experience of those breaches Thirdly Another Argument of much validity for such a Form of Church-government as this is It carries within it self antidotes against the evils which may annoy it viz. Order and Discipline whereby it either prevents disorders or else if they steal in suppresses them v. g. a that there is no place open for Ambition and Simony no man running of himself or before another but all coming when they are called and going when they are sent not otherwise to another place or at another time Nor is any preferred to any function at the pleasure of any one with acceptation of Persons but of all there being less hazard in the common judgement of all then of any one and because all are as any one in their lyableness to erre they alwayes faithfully make him of their Counsel which cannot erre i. e. God First in all their Synods before the Election of any Ministers Pastors or Bishops making prayers unto God joyned with fasting an whole day as Acts 13.2 3. b As for Covetousness the Antidote here is their very poverty unto which they are all accustomed both by necessity it self they being not allowed any large stipends and by the Laws forbidding them the care of scraping riches See Annot. p. 98. 6 7. c the bar which is here put to Arrogancy is that this vice of pride being discernable as hateful who ever bewrayes any swelling thereof puts a stop to himself in that very thing as to his own preferment d an Antidote against contentions is not wanting here being the endeavour of brotherly love in all Or if any thing breaks out of humane infirmity some friends are alwayes at hand for the reconciling thereof e nor is here any place for Heresie or Heterodoxie where none use to have any thing singular but all frame all things unto Consent and Harmony and where all are exercised rather in the practise of Christian love then in subtile speculations about Faith f Neither doth any one by disputing or writing rise up against another whereof there are sad examples in other places because of the common bands of Order he neither dare nor can g Lastly there are no occasions of curiosity such as are vast Libraries wherein busie bodies may at their pleasure tumble and dangerously involve themselves for all are here taught most what to delight themselves in books of Divinity Besides the Apostle pronounceth those Churches blessed where the servants of God are received as the Angels of God yea as Christ Jesus himself Gal. 4.14 15. Now it is Mr. Altingius's observation reading the Order of the Brethren that all things are there among them directed with singular care unto Piety and due Reverence of the sacred Order But if it be so we have the true Picture of the Kingdom of God and hope of that blessing and life for ever promised to Brethren that dwell together in unity and having all the ointments and dews of divine
custom if you would not be offensive to them nor have them so to you Which judgement of Ambrose Augustine saith he always looked on Tanquam coeleste Oraculum As for the state and pomp of that pretended Order which is as the Alder in our Garden I 'll tell you a story There was a Garrison of Souldiers and divers Commanders over them amongst the rest there was one a true Veteran that had been trained up in the School of War under most of the Princes of Christendom This Captain instead of those soft delights other Gentlemen and Commanders wasted their time in spent his inconversing with and training his Souldiers would be upon the Guard when his turn came himself no weather could prevent it his house instead of being furnished with silken beds rare looking-glasses curious pictures was stored with barrels of meal rice pease so placed low that they served instead of chairs and stools his rooms hung with flitches and gammons of Westphaly bacon dried beef fish c. materials with which he kept a constant table and welcomed all his Souldiers in the Sum was always in fight or service and he had these Souldiers close to him they would go through fire and water with him what men soever failed of their duty his never did but were all of a knot and unanimous in their attendance upon him in any service I 'll only apply it thus that would our reverend Fathers of the Church be more upon the guard themselves be employed in the Churches duty and not commit that Solecism in Government which the learned Bacon thinks one of the insolubilia to do their work by deputation of a Chancellor would they instead of keeping distance converse more familiarly with their flocks and step in now and then to a Countrey Minister on a sudden whom it may be they may finde standing sentinel and encourage him in his duty would they instead of giving and forcing on the people Quelchechoses of Forms and Ceremonies give them solid meat and nourishment the pure Word of God in the institutions of Christ suffer that only to be read expunded urged in the Church would they instead of making their houses Lordly Courts to fright poor people and Ministers from coming at them make them Oratories for Prayer and expounding Scripture of Gods institution setting up catechistical and expository Lectures so many days in the week either by themselves or their Chaplains or calling in the assistance of some learned and pious Presbyters would they enquire in their Visitations after prophaneness and censure that more deeply then some have done non-conformity to self-invented will-worship and encourage painful conscientious Ministers more then their Predecessors have done lazy idle drones I durst become their bondman if one or both of thâ—se two things did not follow that all the godly sober religious people in the Land would become their fast friends and strive who should do them most honour or else the Devil and all his Instruments would be as mad against them as they are now again already against the Puritans 3. Once again we see what it is that makes the Church glorious and unanimous viz. living up to the noble principles of Religion in self-denial humility piety in all ranks of people For till the love of the Lord Jesus and the desire of the salvation of souls hath taken more root in the hearts of Pastors and Christians we cannot expect any Settlement Beauty or Order in the Church 'T is not the priding of a mans self in the name of a Son of the Church can advantage Religion no more then the Jews boasting they had Abraham to their Father did promote it among them For our Saviour tells them when that cry was loudest the state of Religion was at the lowest among them No the Church the Spouse of Christ is meek-hearted and lowly full of tenderness and goodness and her children indeed are like her But they which instead of this spirit fall a beating their Brethren or scoffing or envying at them may indeed be in the Church but yet as Cain in Adams and Ishmael in Abrahams family onely the spots and blemishes thereof 4. Yet again I observe the ligaments and soder of these Churches to be their mutual consent in Discipline which we see required not onely of Ministers but of all Christians how necessary this is experience doth demonstrate For the first primitive Church had no other bond nor have the Reformed Churches abroad in many places any other not but that the Patronage of Princes and Magistrates is a great Strength and Bulwark to Religion and that people are bound to bless God exceedingly when he raiseth up such Nursing Fathers for the Church to be over it in the Lord. Yet we see that meer Politique bands do snap asunder and make way for schism and division especially when the Prudential superior Order of the Clergie do ride and the inferior grind for then they are apt to take the first opportunity to unyoke themselves But if a superiority among Ministers in the Church on a prudential account be thought necessary for Humanum institutum episcopatus non damnamus sed tantum negamus a Christo esse Imperatum as we say with Junius let it be set up by the mutual consent and choice of the rest or the Body of the Ministry and their obedience will be more constant in the Lord and more fixed then by any subscription of oaths of Canonical obedience whatsoever In a word let the poyson and what was not from the beginning be taken out of the Ordinances and offices of Christ in the Church and the power of godliness in good earnest endeavoured and this Church which is otherwise giving up the ghost will yet through the blessing of God recover and do well and we shall have great cause to bless God for this true Protestant Bishop Comenius his pious Endeavours in laying this Book at his Majesties feet as an expedient for an Accommodation not with the Romish but the Reformed Churches Which that it may effect is the earnest prayer of him how is Thy Servant in the Work of the Lord JOSHVA TYMARCHVS Books printed for and sold by Tho. Parkhurst at the Three Crowns over against the great Conduit at the lower end of Cheap-side Folio's THe History of the Evangelical Churches of the Valleys of Piedmont containing a most exact Geographical description of the place also a relation of the bloody Massacre 1655 and a Narrative of all Transactions to 1658. Justified partly by divers ancient Manuscripts written many hundred years before Calvin or Luther By Samuel Morland A Commentary upon the holy Writings of Job David and Solomon viz. Job Psalms Proverbs Ecclesiastes and the Song of Songs Being part of those which by the ancients were called Hagiographa Wherein the diverse Translations and Expositions of all the most famous Commentators are propounded examined and censured By John Mayor D.D. To the Church of England Hitherto tossed with divers tempests
knowledge especially John Wickliff Whose letter to John Huss being then a young man written in the year 1387. being the year before he dyed I finde yet extant in some ancient Records and here insert as followeth Happiness and what ever can be thought of which is dear and desirable in the bowels of Iesus Christ MOst dear Brethren in the Lord whom I love in the Truth and not I â—nely but also all which have known the tâ—uth That truth I mean which by the grace of God is and abideth and shall be in you for ever I joyed very much in the Bâ—ethren which came from you and produced a testim ny of your fa thfulness and that y u walk in the Truth I hear Brethren how Antichrist dâ—th vex you brinâ—ing many and various Tribulations upon them which believe in â—hrist It is no strange thing it should be so with you in as much as the Word of Christ is oppressed by the adversaries in all the World and that great red and many headed Dragâ—n mentioned by John in his Revelation hath sent out of his mouth a great flood upon the Woman to overwhelm her But the faithful Lord will certainly deliver his one onely loyal Spouse Let us be stâ—engthened in the Lord our God and in his immense goodness firmly believing that he will not suffer his dear ones to fall away from their godly purpose onely let us love him as we ought with our whole hearts Afflictions should never prâ—ss us if iniquity prevail not Let no distress or pressure therefore for Christs sake cast us down seeing we know that the Lord chasteneth whomsoever he receiveth for his sons For the Father of mercies is pleased to exercise us with many troubles in this present life that he may spare us hereafter Thâ— Gold which this Supreme Artificer choâ—seth he will here have it purified by fire that hereafter he may lay it up amongst his most pure everlasting Treasures We see our time here is short and swiftly passing away but the life which we expect then is blessed and eternal Let us labour then while we have time that we may be counted worthy to enter into his rest What else I pray do we behâ—ld here but grief vexation weariness and which should affect the faithful most the contempt and treading under foot of the Divine Law Let us then strive to our utmost abridging our senses of those transitory fading vain things to attain those things which abide for ever Let us observe the conversation of our Fathers of old see the Saints in both the Testaments what stâ—rms and tempeâ—ts they endured in the Sea of this World what Prisons what bonds how they were stoned sawn asunder and slain with the edâ—e of the Sword how they went about in Sheep skins and Goats skins c. as the Epistle to the Hebrews records at large They all going the strait way in the steps of Christ who hath said Where I am there shall my servant be We theâ—efore having such a clâ—ud of witnesses of the Saints of all former ages to compass us about let us lay aâ—ide whatever weight there is in us and the sin which round besets us and run with patience the appointed race looking to Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith who for the joy set before him endured the Cross and despised the shame Let us remember him which suffered such contradiction of sinners against himself that we faint not in our hearts and fall away but let us with our whole heart seek help of the Lord and fight manfully against Antichrist his Enemy Let us love his law in our hearts and not he unthankeful in his work But in all things carry our selves with assurance according to the measure of faith which the Lord giveth us and be strong in the cause of God and the hope of the Eternal Reward Therefore thou Huss my dear Brother in Christ unknown indeed unto me by face but not in faith and love for the uttermost ends of the earth cannot set them asunder which the love of Christ hath knit together be strong in the grace which is given to thee fight as a good Souldier of Jesus Christ both by word and work Doctrine and conversation and gain whom you can to return to the way of the truth Inasmuch as the truth of the Gospel ought not to be suppressed in silence for the erroneous lying decrees and defections of Antichrist do you therefore rather notwithstanding the designs of Satan comfort and establish the members of Christ for that Antichrist shall shortly by the will of God be finished I am very much rejoyced that in your Kingdom and other parts God hath so strengthened the hearts of some that they suffer Prisons Banishment yea death it self for the Word of God and that with joy too Dearly Beloved I have little else to write I must needs assure you That I would gladly do any thing to strengthen you and all the lovers of Christs Government In the love of the Law of God remember my most affectionate salutation to them from the bottom of my heart especially to your partner in the Gospel of Christ entreating your prayers for me and for the whole Church of Christ Now the God of Peace which brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus Christ the great Shepherd of the sheep by the blood of the eveâ—lasting Covenant make you ready to every good work that you may do his will working in you that which is pleasing in his sight through Jesus Christ to whom be glory for ever and ever Amen 25. Huss being as now Professor of the University and afterward Anno 1400. made Preacher of Bethlehem the University Church he took heart very daringly to inveigh against those now overflowing Abominations and weild openâ—y against them the Sword of the Divine Word with great applause among the people not onely at Prague but through the whole Kingdom It very much revived his spirit that the same year Jerome of Prague being returned out of England and bringing over Wickliffs books with him rooted up the present prevailing errors with the like boldness in the Schools as Huss did in the Church Against these pious designs to clear the Church of the infection of Superstition the Academicks which were Foreigners overnumbering yet and overvoting the rest opposed themselves all they could and passed a Censure upon Wickliffs Articles But the Bohemians debated the Prerogative of Elections with the Popes Abettors making it good that it did belong to themselves as Natives and not to them being strangers The debate being referred to King Wenceslaus son to Charls he gave sentence on the Bohemians side Hereupon the Germans being angry went away from Prague by Troops which occasioned the erecting of the Universities of Lipsia and Erfurd and the Bohemians chose and created Mr. Huss Head of the University in the year 1409. 26. The Monks being cast off by the King and the University stir up the Archbishop
relate how the Hussian Churches in Bohemia and Moravia being by degrees turned to Lutheranism as they call it retained indeed the Doctrine of the Gospel but reformed indeed nothing as to the endeavour of a Christian Conversation That this redounded much to the prejudice of our Churches so well approved of by Luther and his Colleagues for the care of Discipline Whilest the Libertines boasting that without the yoke of Discipline they could bring it so to pass to enjoy the Gospel pure in any other place so that there are none that any more joyn themselves to us yea and some depart from us They therefore demand Whether so great an abuse of the Gospel may be suffered Luther replied in the presence of all the whole Colledge of Divines That Popery could not be subdued but by rooting out all those usages which savour of the yoke of Humane Superstition and violation of the liberty of Conscience and that at this time especially when they take notice that all the world is making head against them it must needs be granted a matter of necessity for us to withstand them what we can and to repair Discipline That to this end he would seriously attend the business as soon as ever he could get any breathing time For the Pope was at this very time in confident expectation of a new Councils making disturbance in all places c. to the like purpose The Brethren then added that they could not expect their endeavours should come to any good effect as they had formerly said in their Letter to Luther Anno 1523. as long as they saw that in their Universities and â—chools so much care was taken of Science and so little regard had unto Conscience entreating them that whilest they set themselves to obviate impendent dangers they would seriously minde those more specially which as to the matter of Conscience warlikely break in upon the Church and overwhelm it c. After this when they had had about two weeks most familiar converse and mutual conference about their whole business with Luther and the rest of the Divines being now ready to return from Witteberg Luther entertaining them with a feast and in the presence of many of the Professors of that University taking his solemn and last farwel of them gave the whole Unity of the Brethren the right hand of holy Fellowship parting with these words Be you the Apostles of Bohemia and I with my Colleagues will be the Apostles of Germany Do you the work of Christ as opportunity shall be given you there and we will do it in like manner here as we may have opportunity 82. Some moneths after the same year Luther writing to the same Augusta inserts these words following Moreover I charge you in the Lord that you hold out with us to the last in the Communion of the Spirit and Doctrine wherein you have begun and strive with us by word and prayer against the Gates of Hell c. Commend me c. respectfully unto all the Brethren in the Lord at Strasberg the day after S. Francis Anno 1542. This great soul'd Luther notwithstanding all the importunities of the Brethren for the restoring of Discipline and the life of Christianity not at all displeased with them persisted in friendly correspondency with them to the end expressing a gracious dear affection towards them and toward the business Lasitius produceth notorious witnesses taking from the mouth of Luther these words following There hath not arose any people since the times of the Apostles whose Church hath come nearer to the Apostolical Doctrine and Orders then the Brethren of Bohemia and again Although these Brethren in purity of Doctrine excel not us all the Articles of Faith with us being sincerely and purely taken out of the Word of God yet in the ordinary Discipline of the Church which they use and whereby they happily govern the Churches they go far beyond us and in this respect are far more praise-worthy And we cannot but acknowledge and yield this to them for the glory of God and of his truth whereas our people of Germany cannot be perswaded to be willing to take the yoke of Discipline upon them 83. Absolutely without doubt this excellent man saw the mischief of the first Errour and was very desirous it should be amended but could not being constrained to divide his attendance between this and other conflicts with so many monstrous abominations sufficiently dispatch all things as true hearted men frequently apologize for him Yea and our Lasitius himself too as was said before Sect. 77. and for certain he commended to God and his Successors prayers and hopes of a further and more perfect degree of Reformation to be attained Howbeit the accomplishment of his Hope hitherto fell short of his prayers For wthin three years and four moneths after these Transactions with the Brethren he departed this life There followed upon his death saith Bucholcer the â—hronologer a double War of the Divines and also Civil wars of the Evangelici among themselves Alass that we rested in vindicating the Theory of the Doctrine of the Gospel without the practice of Discipline God bless us I could wish the Brethren of Bohemia had been proved false Prophets when at the very beginning of this Reformation in Germany in their first Letter to Luther dated 1523. and frequently afterward they foretold these sad events viz. upon this ground because it prevailed in their Schools and Churches contrary to that Apostolical Protestation 1 Cor. 1.1 2. to study knowledge rather then Charity and Edification So that notwithstanding all that Bucer Melancthon Hemingius Saubertus Arnd. J. Valent the Andreas's and many other faithful men acted by the Divine Spirit could do no remedy could take place to rectifie this distemper Not that nothing at all was effected by the endeavours of these holy men but that nothing they could do was sufficient to quench the general flame of malice and prophaneness God amend it even at least by this his smart and general overflowing Discipline of his scourge 84. To return to the Brethren I will briefly touch that Persecution whereby after the Scmalcaldick war was ended they also in Bohemia were oppressed When the Pope had reconciled the King of France to the King of Spain the same being now also Emperour Charls the fifth upon this Article or Condition amongst the reâ—â— that both parties should turn their Forces against the Lutherans it came to pass in France not long after that the Waldenses in the Province of Narbon were cut off and destroyed Caesar also prepared war against the Germans which beginning just â—fter the death of Luther ended the year following in the overthrow of the Protestants At which time Ferdinand dragged the Bohemians to execution for that they had refused to assist Caesar against the Prince Elector of Saxony punishing the chief of the Nobles with imprisonment banishment or confiscation of goods He raged most of all against the Brethren commanding their