the Law now in the tyme of the Gospel 4. That discreet faithfull able men though not yet in office of Ministerie may preach the Gospell and whole truth of God that men being first brought to knowledg converted to the Lord may then be ioyned together in holy comunion with Christ our head and one with another 5. That being thus ioyned every Church hath power in Christ to chuse and take vnto themselves meet and sufficient persons into the Offices and functions of Pastors Teachers Elders Deacons and Helpers as those which Christ hath appointed in his Testament for the feeding governing serving building vp of his Church And that no Antichristian Hierarchie or ministerie of Popes Arch-bishops Lord bishops Suffraganes Deanes Arch-deacons Chauncellors Parsons Vicars Priests Dumb-ministers or any such like may be set over the Spouse Church of Christ nor reteined therein 6. That the Ministers aforesaid being lawfully called by the Church where they are to administer ought to continew in their functions according to Gods ordinance and carefully to fâ—ed the flock of Christ coÌ„mitted vnto them being not inioyned or suffred to beare Civil offices withall neither burthened with the execution of Civil affaires as the celebration of mariage buâ—ying the dead c. which things belong aswel to those without as within the Church 7. That the due maintenance of the Officers aforesayd should be of the free and voluntarie contribution of the Church that according to Christs ordinance they which preach the Gospel may live of the Gospel and not by Popish Lordships and livings or Iewish Tithes Offerings And that therefore the Lands other like revenewes of the Prelats Clergie yet remayning being still also baits to allure the Iesuites Seminaries into the Land incitements vnto them to plot prosecute their woonted evil courses in hope to enioy them in tyme to come may and ought to be taken away converted to better vse as those of the Abbeyes Nunneries have been heretofore by the Princes power and authority to the honor of God great good of the ReaÌ„lme 8. That al particular Churches ought to be so constituted as having their own peculiar Officers the whole body of every Church may meet together in one place ioyntly perform their duties to God one towards another And that the censures of admonition and excommunicatioÌ„ should in due maner be executed for sinne convicted obstinatly stood in This power also to be in the body of the Church whereof the parties so offending persisting are members 9. That the Church is not to be governed by Popish Canons Courts Classes Customes or any humane inventions but by the Lawes rules which Christ hath appointed in his Testament That no Apocrypha writings but only the Caâ—nical scriptures are to be vsed in the Church And that the Lord is to be worshipped and called vpon in spirit truth according to that forme of praier given by the Lord Iesus Mat. 6. after the Leitourgie of his own Testament not by any other framed or imposed by men much lesse by one translated from the Popish 〈◊〉 as the Book of common praier c. 10. That the Sacraments being seales of Gods covenant ought to be administred onely to the faithful Baptisme to their seed or those vnder their government And that according to the simplicitie of the Gospel without any Popish or other abuses in either Sacrament 11. That the Church is not to be vrged to the observation of dayes tymes Iewish or Popish save only to sanctify the Lords day Neyther to be laden in thinges indifferent with rites ceremonies Whatsoever invented by men but that christian libertie may be reteâ—ned And what God hath left fâ—ee none to make bound 12. That al monuments of Idolatry in garments or any other things al Temples Altars Chappels other places dedicated heertofore by the Heathèns or Antichristians to their fa 〈…〉 worship ought by aucthoritie to be rased bolished not suffered to remayne for nourishing superstition much lesse imploied to the tr 〈…〉 worship of God 13. That Popish degrees in Theologie i 〈…〉 forcement to single life in Colledges abuse the study of prophane heathen Writers w 〈…〉 other like corruptions in Schooles Academi 〈…〉 should be removed redressed that so th 〈…〉 may be the welsprings 〈◊〉 series of true leaâ—ning godlines 14. Finally that all Churches peopâ—â— without exception are bound in Religion on 〈…〉 ly to receive submit vnto that constitution Ministerie Worship order which Christ Lord King hath appovnted vnto his Churcâ— not to any other devised by Man whatsoeveâ—â— Let him that readeth consider Act. 28 2 Rev 〈…〉 â—al 105. â— 14. Pet. 2 9. Psal. 46 1 Rev. 2. 5. * 2 Cor. 6. 1. â— 15. c Psa. 94. 20. 2 Thes. 2. 3. | Ps. 37. 2â— Ier. 51. 6. Rev. 18. 4. 14. 1. Neh. 6. 6. 7. â— Harmon of Confes. ‡ 1 Pet. 2. 5. Ier. 51. 26. * Act. 2. 38. 40. 41. and 8. 36. 37. 15 9. Ioh 10. 3. 4 5. Esa. 35. 8. 9. | Ioh. 15. 2. 5. Mat. 18. 15. 17 Lev. 13. 46. Num. 4. 13. †Iohn 15. 19. 17. 14. 16 Mat. 3. 12. Lev. 20. 24. â—6 1 Iohn 4. 5. 6. About forty ecclesiasticall popish offices are at this day in the Church of England never a one appointed by Christ in his Testament With what words and rites in what habit and gesture these things are to be done they are taught in their Rubrik Some of them in certaine English books set forth have reckned above 100. popish corruptioÌ„s yet reteyned in this Church * Rom. 12. 1. Cor. 12. Eph. 4. 11. 12 13. ‡ Ioh. 4. 24. Mat. 15. 9. †Deut. 6. 4. 5 Mat. 16. 6. â— Cor. 6. 14. 15. Psal. 106. 34. 35. 36. | Iudo vers 3. ‡ 2 Cor. 6. 17. Eph. 5. 11. * Rev. 18. 4. 14. 10 11. Mat. 6. 24. 2 Kin. 16. 10 11 12. Revâ—l 13. 12. 14. 15. 〈◊〉 51. 6. Miâ— 2. 10. Rev. 18. 4. 2 Cor. 6. 17. 〈…〉 40. Psal. 9. 12. Heb. 13. 3. Gal. 4. 4. 5. 6. 5. 1. 2. Heb. 8. 9. 10. chap. 2. Cor. 4. â— Iam. 2. ◠†Deut 6. 4. 1 Tim. 2. 5. Eph. 4. 4. 5. 6. 1 Cor. â— 6. 12. 4. 5. 6. 13. Ier. 6. 16. Ioh. 14. 6. | 1 Tim. 6. 3. 13. 14. Mat. 15. 9. 28. 20. Deut. 4. 2. 6. 12. 32 1 Cor 4. 17. 14. 33. 2 Tim. â— 15. 16. 17. Gal 8. 9. Revel 2â— 18 19. * Ioh. 4. 24. ‡ Exod. 3. 14. Rom. 11. 36. Act 17. 28. †1 Tim. 1. 17. Esa. 6. 3. 66 1. 2. | 1 Iohn 5 7. Mat. 28. 19. Pro. 8. 22. Heb. 1. 3. 9. 14. Phil. 2. 6. 1 Cor. 8. 6. Micah 5. 2 Psal. 2. 7. Gal. 4. 6. Iohn 1. 1. 2. 18. 10. 30. 38. 15. 26. * Esa. 46. 10.
cannot preach so vpon their displeasure and for not obeying their injunctions they are many tymes suspended degraded and if they will not be ruled put in prison so that sundry of theÌ„ have ben suspended and imprisoned for preaching against the Prelats not subscribing to their devised Articles and Booke of coÌ„mon prayer not wearing the sqare cap and surplice not reading the service booke be tyed to the same not coming to the Bbs courts visitations inquisitions c. tyll now of late being wearyed with these troubles they give place to their tyranny and are content to conforme themselves and yeeld their canonical obedience according to their oath â—eeping now silence yea going back bearing bolstering the things which heretofore by word and wryting they stood against so long as there was any hope that the Prince Counsel would have heaâ—kened vnto them and put these adversary Prelats out of the Church Fourthly for administratioÌ„ which is by Law imposed vpon all both Clergie and Laitie for so they distinguish them they have gathered their Service book verbatim out of the Masse book turning out of Latine into English the Suffrages Prayers Let any Collects c. leaving out some of the gross pointes therin keping still the old fashioâ— of Psalmes Chapters Pistles Gospellâ— versicles respondes also Tâ— Deum Benedâ—â—tus Magnificat Nunc dimittis Our Father Lord have mercy vpon vs The Lord be wiâ— you O Lord open thâ—w my lyps Glory to God â— high Lyft vp your harts O come let vs reioycâ— Glory be to the Father Quicunque vult â— These doe they read dayly morninge anâ— evening all the yeare long in their priestâ— vestures Surplice cope c. some theâ— saye and some they sing having in the Cathedrall Churches the Organs Querâ—â—ters singing men and boyes as in tymes paâ— in popeâ—y Many popish errors yet remayn in that book which their own preacher have noted found fault with There aâ— they prescribed what prayers to read ovâ— the dead over the coâ—n grasse some time in the yeare By it are they injoyned â— keep their holy dayes to their Lady â— they cal her to all Saincts and Angelâ— to all Christs Apostles except Paul aâ— Barnabas whose eyes they are coÌ„mandeâ— to fast as also their Lent Ember dayâ— besides frydayes and saturdayes througâ— out the whole year By this book are tâ—â— Ministers instructed how to marry wiâ— the signe of the Ring c. to baptise the hallowed Font with signe of 〈◊〉 crosse with Godfathers and Godmothers asking the child whether it wil forsake the devil and all his works c. to minister also their other sacrament or communion to the people kneling as when in popery they received their maker the words of Christs institution altered and others in stead of them taken out of the popes portuis with innumerable such like enormities and fopperies wherewith it swarmeth And this is all the worship and service which many parishes have vsually except peradventure some written Homilies which the vnlearned Priests read vnto them This service must first be read and hath the preeminence even on the Lords dayes before any preaching yea before the Bible it self He that can read this bookâ— distinctly is fit ynough with them to be a Preist yea many that have ben Artificers as Shoemakers Taylers Weavers Porters c and without any giftes or knowledg at all save only to read English have ben and are admitted to this day maynteyned by the Prelats in the Ministerie To these Churches Ministers Service must all the people there come every daye yea though they hav in the next parish a Preacher and in their own a dumb vnlearned Priest yet are they all tyed to their owne Church and Minister and must at the least twise a yeare receve the SacrameÌ„t at his haÌ„ds If they refuse this or do not ordinarily come to their parish Church theÌ„ are they suÌ„moned excoÌ„municated imprisoned tyl they become obedient In this boÌ„dage are our countrymen there held vnder their Priests and Prelats and such as by the word of God witnes against and condemne these abhominations they hate punish put to death and persecute out of the Land Who now in whom any spark of true light is cannot playnly perceive this their Ministery worship and Church to be false adulterate Doth Christs eternall testament ordeyn and approve of such popish Lordes and Prelats to reigne over his Church Are these those Christian Bishops that is Pastors Teachers and Elders which he hath set in his Church and over his owne people vnto the ende of the world Or can those Preachers which are thus created and deposed by thus sworne and obedient vnto their spirituall Lordes be deemed true Teachers of the Gospell of Christ lawfully called and ordeyned to that Ministerye Is that their English Masse the trew spirituall worship of God according to his owne wil We are taught in the scriptures that there can be no agrement made betwixt Christ and Antichrist betwixt the Lawes of God and mens traditions that the servants of Iesus may not submitt vnto or receive the marke of that Beast neyther drinke of the cup of the whore of Babylons fornications or buy any of her wares but must contend for the mayntenance of that saith which was once gyven vnto the saincts keeping their souls and bodyes pure froÌ„ AntichristiaÌ„ pollutions touching no vnclean thing nor having any fellowship with the vnfruteful works of darknes least by partaking with their synnes they receve also of their plagues drynck of the wyne of the wrath of God be tormented in fyre and brimstone before the holy Angels and before the Lamb for evermore If Christ be God let vs follow him but if the Pope be God what shall we say Why have we left him his Church and ministery his worship jurisdiction or what halting and mocking with the Lord is this to put away the Popes person and reteyne his Prelacy and Ministery his Lawes Traditions and Canons his worship service or at the least to frame vnto our selves a worship Ministery and Church after the patterne and mould of the Apostasy of Rome which what other thing is it then to make an Image of that wild beast and force men to worship it Thus seest thow briefely good Christian Reader the thinges which we mislike in the Church of England and for which we have separated our selves as God commaundeth To all these if we were amongst them should we be forced to submitt our bodyes soules or els suffer violence at the handes of the Prelats end our lives by violent death or most miserable imprisonment as many of our brethren before vs have done For so great is the malice and power of those Romysh Priests that they persecute vnto death such as speak against them and such poor Christians as they cast into their noysome prysons can seldome
Cathedrall and Parishionall Assemblies in this confusion are a strange Antichristian Ministerie and Offices and are not that Ministerie above named instituted in Christs Testament nor placed in or over his Church XXX These their Popish Offices Entrance Administration and Maintenance with their names titles privileges prerogatives also the power and rule they vsurp over and in these Ecclesiasticall assemblies over the whole Ministration and affaires therof yea one over another creating Priests citing suspeÌ„ding silencing deposing absolving excommunicating c Their confounding of Ecclesiasticall Civill jurisdiction causes and procedings in their persons Courts CoÌ„missions Visitations the Priests of lesse rule taking their Ministery from exercising it vnder them by their prescription limitation swearing Canonical obedience vnto theÌ„ administring by their devised imposed stinted popish Leitourgie c. Finally the dispensations which they vse for Plurality of benefices licences of Non residency Licences to mary and eat flesh both which with them are on certain dayes tymes forbidden c These we say are sufficient proofes of the former assertion the particulars therin being duly examined by compared to the rules of Christs Testament Not to speak here of their private Baptisme of the signe of the Crosse vsed in Baptisme of questions propounded to the infants of the Priests surplice prayer over the dead at buriall kneeling at the Lords supper and other the like popish corruptions almost infinite reteyned and allowed among them XXXI These Ecclesiastical Assemblies remayning thus in confusion bondage vnder this Antichristian Ministerie Courts Canons worship Ordinances c. without freedom and power to redresse any enormitie among them cannot be said in this confusion and subiection truly to have Christ their Prophet Priest and King neither can be in this estate whilest we judg them by the rules of Gods word estemed the true visible orderly gathered or coÌ„stituted Churches of Christ whereof the faithful may become or staÌ„d Members or have anie spirituall communion with them in their publick worship and Administration XXXII Therfore are al that will be saved bound by Gods commandement with speed to come forth of this Antichristian estate leaving the suppression of it vnto the Magistrate to whom it belongeth And all such also as have received or exercised any of these false Offices or any pretended function or Ministerie in or to this false and Antichristian constitution are willingly in Gods feare to give over aud leave those vnlawfull Offices and no longer to minister in this maner to these assemblies in this estate Neyther may any of what sort or conditioÌ„ soever give any part of their goods Lands Money or money worth to the maintenance of this false Ministerie and worship vpon any coÌ„mandement or vnder any colour whatsoever XXXIII And being come forth of this AntichristiaÌ„-estate vnto the freedom true profession of Christ besides the instructing and well guyding of their owne families they are willingly to ioyne together in Christian communion and orderly covenant and by free confession of the faith obedience of Christ to vnite themselves into peculiar visible Congregations wherin as meÌ„bers of one body wherof Christ is the only head they are to worship and serve God according to his word remeÌ„bring to keep holy the Lords day XXXIIII Then also such to whom God hath given gifts to interpret the Scriptures tryed in the exercise of Prophecy attending to studie and learning may and ought by the appointment of the Congregation to prophesie according to the proportion of faith and so to teach publickly the word of God for the edification exhortation and comfort of the Church Vntill such tyme as the people be meet for and God manifest men with able gifts and fitnes to such Office or Offices as Christ hath appointed to the publick Ministerie of his Church But no Sacraments to be administred vntil the Pastors or Teachers be chosen and ordeined into their Office XXXV And then wheresoever there shall be a people fit and men furnished with meet and necessary gifts they are not onely still to continue the exercise of Prophesy aforesayd but also vpon due tryal to proceed vnto choyce and ordination of Officers for the Ministery and service of the Church according to the rule of Gods word so hold on stil to walk forward in the wayes of Christ for their mutuall edification and comfort as it shall please God to give knowledg and grace therevnto And particularly that such as be of the seed or vnder the government of any of the Church be even in their infancie received to Baptisme and made partakers of the signe of Gods covenant made with the Faithful their seed throughout all generations And that al of the Church that are of yeares and able to examine themselves dâ— communicate also in the Lords supper both men and women and in both kindeâ— bread and wine In which clements as also in the water of baptisme even after they are consecrate there is neyther transubstantiation into nor consubstantiation with the body and blood of Iesus Christ whom the heavens must conteyn vntil the time that all things be restored But they are in the ordinance of God signes and seales of Gods everlasting covenant with vs representing offring to all the receivers but exhibiting only to the true beleevers the Lord Iesus Christ al his benefits vnto righteousnes sanctification and eternal lyfe through faith in his name to the glorie and prayse of God XXXVI Thus being rightly gathered established stil proceeding in Christian coÌ„munion and obedience of the Gospell of Christ none is to separate for faults and corruptioÌ„s which may so long as the Church consisteth of mortall men will fall out arise among them even in true constituted Churches but by due order to seeke redresâ—e thereof XXXVII Such as yet see not the truth may not withstanding heare the publik doctrine and prayers of the church and with a meeknes are to bee sought by al meanes Yet none who are growen in yeares may be received into their coÌ„munion as members but such as do make confession of their faith publickly desiring to be received as members and promising to walk in the obedience of Christ. Neyther any infants but such as are the seed of the faithfull by one of the parents or vnder their education and government And further not any from one congregation to be received members in another without bringing certificate of their former estate present purpose XXXVIII And although the particular Congregations be thus distinct and severall bodies every one as a compact and knit citie in it self yet are they al to walke by one and the same rule and by all meanes convenient to have the counsel and help one of another in all needfull affaires of the Church as members of one body in the common faith
THE CONFESSION of faith of certayn English people living in exile in the Low countreyes Together with a brief note of the special heads of those things wherin we differ froÌ„ the Church of EnglaÌ„d 2 Cor. 4 13. We beleev therefore have we spoken Harmony of Confess in the preface set before it in the Name of the French Belgick Churches The Prelates Priests alway cry out that we are Hereticks Schismaticks and Sectaryes Howbeit let them know that the crime of Heresy is not to be imputed to them whose faith doth wholly rely vpon most sure grounds of the Scripture That they are not Schismaticks who entierly cleave to the true Church of God such as the Prophets Apostles do describe vnto vs Nor they to be couÌ„ted Sectaryes who embrace the truth of God which is one and alwayes like it self Reprinted in the yeare 1607. To the reverend and learned men Students of holy Scripture in the Christian Vniversities of Leyden in Holland of Sanctandrewes in Scotland of Heidelberg Geneva and other the like famous schooles of learning in the Low countreys Scotland Germany France The English people exiled in the Low couÌ„treys wish grace and peace in Iesus Christ. THis true Confession of our fayth in our iudgment wholly agreable to the sacred Scripture we here exhibit vnto al to be discussed and vnto you reverend Sirs we dedicate it for two causes First for that we know you are able in respect of your singular knowledg in the Scriptures and hope you are willing in respect of your syncere piety to convince our errours by the light of Gods word if any where we erre out of the way Secondly that this testimony of Christian faith if you also fynd it to agree with the word of truth may by you be approved eyther in silence or by writing as you shal think best It may be we shal be thought very bold that being despised of all yet doubted not to sollicite you so many and so great learned men But this we did partly at the request of others to whom we would not deny it partly with desire to have the truth through your help more defended furder spread abroad partly constreyned by our exile other calamities almost infinite partly also moved with love of our native countrey and of these wherein now we live and others else where wishing that al may walk with a right foot to the truth of ehe Gâ—sspel praying daily vnto God that the great work of restoring religion the Church decayed which he hath happily begun in these latter tymes by our Gracious Soveraigne and the other Princes of these countreyes ages his servants he would fully accomplish to the glorie of his name â—ternal salvation in Christ of his elect in al places of the earth Touching the causes which moved vs to publish this Confession of faith to forsake the Church of Eugland as now it standeth we have truly as briefly as we could related them in the Preface to the Reader hereafter following therefore thought here to omit the repetition of them The Lord Iesus alway preserve you your Vniversityes to the prayse of his name the ornament of good learning thâ— propagation maintenance of his pure Religion From Amsterdam in the low countreyes The yeare of the last patience of the saints 1598. ⧠The preface to the Christian Reader IT may seem strange vnto thee Christian Reader that any of the Englysh nation should for the truth of the Gospell be forced to forsake their native country live in exile especially in these dayes when the Gospel seemeth to have free passage florish in that land And for this cause have our exile ben hardly thought of by many and evil spoken of by some who know not as it seemeth eyther the trew estate of the Church of England or causes of our forsaking and separation from the same but hearing this sect as they call it to be every where spoken against have without all further search accounted and divulged vs as heretickes or Schismatickes at the least Yea some and such as worst might have sought the increase of our afflictions even here also if they could which thing they have both secretly and openly attempted This hath Sathan added vnto all our former sorrowes envying that we should have rest in any part of the inhabited world and therfore ceaseth not to make warre with the remnant of the womans seed which keep the comcoÌ„maundements of God and the testimony of Iesus Christ. But the Lord that brought his former Israel out of Egypt when they walked about from nation to nation from one Kingdome to an other people suffered no man to do them wrong but reproved Kinges for their sakes the same Lord yet liveth to mainteyn the right of his afflicted servantes whoÌ„ he hath severed and dayly gathereth out of the world to be vnto himself a chosen generation a royal priesthood a peculiar people Israell of God He is our hope and strength and help in troubles ready to be found he will hyde vs vnder his winges and vnder his feathers we shall be sure vntill these miseries be overpast And though we could for our partes wel have borne this rebuke of Christ in silence aud left our cause to him who iudgeth iustly al the children of men yet for the manifestation clearing of the truth of God from reproches of men and for the bringing others together with our selves to the same knowledg and fellowship off the Gospel we have thought it needfull our duty to make knowen vnto the world our vnfeyned fayth in God and loyall obedience towards our Prince and all Governers set over vs in the Lord together with the reasons of our leaving the Ministery worship and Church of England Which are not as they pretend for some few faultes corcorruptions remayning such as we acknowledg may be found in the perfectest Church on earth Neyther count wee it lawfull for any member to forsake the fellowship off the Church for blemishes and imperfections which every one according to his calling should studiously seek to cure and to exspect and further it vntill eyther there follow redresse or the disease be growe incureable the candlestick be moved out of the place But we having through Gods mercy learned to discerne betwixr the true worship of God the AntichristiaÌ„ leitourgy the true ministery of Christ AntichristiaÌ„ prelacy the ordinaÌ„ces of Christs testament Popish canons have also learned to leave the evill choose the good to forsake Babell the land of our captivitie get vs vnto Sion the mount of the Lordes holynes and place where his honour dwelleth But first we desire thee good Reader to vnderstand and mynd that we have not in any dislyke of the Civill estate and politick government in that Common wealth which we much like and love separated our selves from