naturaly descended of him therfore beleving Kings may safly walke in the steps of their Father Abraham and with their swords defend their subjects against their adversaries and redeeme their bretheren out of the jawes of al devouring beasts and bloudy persequtors for they beare not the sword for nought And now also I desier those subjects of what degre soever that wold destroy their Kings and Governors for difference in Religion to consider that therin they justifye their Kings and Governors which destroy their subjects for difference of Religion For as it is sinne for Kings and Governors to destroy their subjects for difference of religion at the perswasion of their Bishops So is it sinne but in a higer degree for subjects to destroy their King and Governors for difference of religion at the perswasion of their Bishops and Ministers Therfore perseqution for difference in religion is a monstrous aÌ„d cruel beast that destroyeth both Prince and people hindereth the gospell of Christ and scattereth his Disciples that professe and witnes his name But permission of conscience in difference of Religion saveth both Prince and people for it is a meeke and gentle lamb which not onely furthereth and advanceth the gospel but also fostereth and cheris heth these that professe it as may bee seene by the permission of the Princesse Elizabeth and others that were permitted and fostered in Dutchland at that time Also permission of conscience is a greate and suerband and benefit to the King and State as may likewise bee seene in the same Princesse Eliza who if she had not beene permitted but had suffred death as the bloudy Bishops earnestly desyred then had not the Kingdom been so suerly not yet so purely kept aÌ„d preserved for his Mayesty ad his Royal issue as now it is the Lord be praysed therfore Further I beseech his right excellent Maiesty and parliament to obser that perseqution was the occasion that the Apostoliq Church was at first scattered and driven into the wildernis that is desert places of the world whether she fled to save herself from the rage and Tyrannye of Antichrist and his Apostles and Ministers the first Authors of perseqution vnder the Gospell Therfore his Majesty and Parliament may please to consider that so long as perseqution continue so long will the Apostoliq Church continue scattered and persequted into the secret places of this world and no mervayle for her faith and discipline is as offensive as odyous and as vnwelcom vnto Antychrist and his Bishops and Ministers now as it was then as their burning banishin hanging and imprisoning doe withnes even vnto this day And it is to be noted that as the Apostoliq faith and discipline in the Apostles dayes when through them true signes and wonders were wrought by the extraordinary gift and power of the Holy Ghost did let and hinder the mistery of iniquity wrought by Antychrist his Apostles and Ministers by whoÌ„ the lyeing signes and wonders were done through the extraordinary spirit of Satan So now the Catholiq or Antichristian faith and discipline haveing gotten the vpperhand by her lyeing signes and wonders and by perseqution doe by the same let and hinder the mistery of Godlines wrought by Christ his Apostles and Ministers by whom the true signes and wonders were done without perseqution And it is well worthy to bee observed both of King Prince and people that the Bishops Ministers of Antychrist cannot abide nor endure the faith and discipline of the Apostoliq Church because it willbee the overthrow of their blasphemous and spirituall Lord ships and of their Antichristian and bloudy Kingdome And therefore are they so fyery hot and zealous for the Catholiq or Antichristian faith and disciplyne for by their faith they shew plainly that they are succeeded and descended from Antychrist VVho confessed not that the Messiah came in flesh and by their discipline or goverment they playnly shew they are Antichrists Bishops and Ministers who persequte with fyer and sword al degrees both King Prince and people that will not confesse their faith and obey their discipline And it is very plaine and easy both for King Prince and people if they wil not take vp religion oncredit and content them with the religion they were borne aÌ„d brought vp in as doe the papists to discerne who they be that teach the Apostoliq faith and discipline and who they be that teach Antychrists faith and disciplyne for the holy Apostle sheweth it to al men that wil give heed therto for he saith Dearly beloved beleeve not evry spirit but try the spirits whether they are of God for many false Prophets are gone out into the world which confesse not that Iesus Messiah came in flesh Hereby shal you know the spirit of God evry spirit that coÌ„fesseth that Iesus Messiah came in flesh is of God and evry spirit that confesseth not that Iesus Messiah came in flesh is not of God but this is the spirit of Antychrist whom ye have heard how that he shold come now already is he in the world The same is the Antychrist that denyeth the Father and the Sonne whosoever denyeth the son the same hath not the Father The Apost meaneth such as deny Iesus to be Messiah the Lord that came downe from Heaven as Christ and they have taught such have not the Father but doe deny hem also as they have taught him and therfore Christ saith The tyme shal come that whosoever killeth you wil think that he doth God good service but these things they wil doe vnto you because they have not knowen the Father nor me the Father loveth such as beleeve that I came out from God thus faith Christ But Antychrist and his Ministers beleeve not this doctrine neither doe they thus teach Christ Iesus the Messiah And you may please to vnderstand that of this Antichrist or rather as the â—â—riack of this false Christ came the Church of Rome whose bishops and Ministers teach not this doctrine aÌ„d as the Mother so the daughter also teacheth not this doctryne but will likewyse persequte both Prince and people that shall confesse that Iesus Messiah came in flesh as Iohn teacheth or that the Son of Man ascended vp where he was before or that he was glorified with his Father before the world was as himself saith or that he was the second man the lord from heaven or that he had and hath a heavenly body as Paule teacheth for these aÌ„d such like doctrynes doe the Church of Rome aÌ„d her daughters persequte with fyer aÌ„d sword being indued with the spirit of Antychrist By which Antychrist his Apostles and Ministers the Apostoliq Church was scattered and driven into the wildernes that is desert and secret places of this world eveÌ„ by their bloudy perseqution The which stil they continue and raise against the members and witnesses therof who wâ—ere and
RELIGIONS PEACE Or A reconciliation between princes Peoples Nations by Leonard Busher of the County of Gloucester of the towne of Wotton and a Cittieen of the famous and most honorable Citty London and of the second right worshipfull Company Supplicated vnto the hygh and mighty King of great Brittayne etc And to the Princely and right Honorable Parliament with all loyalty humility and carefull Fidelity Esay 60. 1. 3. 10. 12. 16. ARise O Sion be bright for thy light is com and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee and the Gentils shall walk in thy light and Kings at the brightnes of thy riseing vp And the sonnes of strangers shall build vp thy wals and their Kings shall minister vnto thee For in my wrath I smought thee but in my mercy I had compassion on thee Therefore thy gates shall bee open contynually neyther day nor night shall they bee shut that men may bring vnto thee the riches of the Gentils and that their Kings may be brought vnto thee For the Nation and that kingdom that wil not serve thee shal perish ād those nations shal vtterly be destroyed The sonnes also of them that afflicted thee shal come and bow vnto thee and al they that despised thee shal fall downe at the soales of thy feete and they shal call thee the Citty of the Lord Zion of the holy one of Israell Thou shalt also suck the milk of the Gentils and shalt suck the breasts of kings and thou shalt know that I the Lord am thy Saviour and thy redeemer the mighty one of Iaacob Proverbs 20. 28. Mercy and truth preserve the King for his throne shall bee established with mercy Eccle. 10. 22. The feare of the Lord causeth that the Kingdom fayleth not but the Kingdom is lost by cruelty and pride Printed in Amsterdam 1614. To the high mighty King Iames by the grace of God King of greate brittayne France Yrland And to the princely right Honorable Parliamēt Leonard Busher wisheth the wisdome of Salomon the Zeale of Iosias the mercy of Christ with the salvation of your Spirits in the day of the Lord Iesus FOr as much as your Maiesty and Parliament doe stand for the maintenance of the Religion wherein you are borne and for the same doe most zealously persequte with fyer and sword I haue thought it good and also my dewty most Royal soueraigne to enforme your Maiesty and Parliament thereof In al humility therfore I give you to vnderstand that no Prince or People cā possible attaine that one true Religion of the Gospell which is acceptable to God by Iesus Christ meerely by birth for Christ saith Except a man be borne againe he cannot see the Kingdom of God Also the Apo Iames saith Of his owne wil he begat vs by the word of truth And the Apo Peter saith Being borne a new not of mortal seed but of immortal by the word of God who liueth endureth for ever Therfore Christ commanded this word to be preached to al nations that thereby they may attayne the new birth By which your Maiesty and Parliament may perceaue that the one true Religion of the Gospel is not attayned by natural birth for the all Princes and peoples in all nations shold haue that one true Religion of the Gospell the which you see and grant they all haue not yet many of them also wil defend theyr Religion wherein they are borne by fyer and sword as if it were theyr natural and earthly inheritances or had with fyer and sword been gotten and therfore wil with fyer and sword maynteyne and defend it But your Maiesty and Parliament may please to vnderstand that the Scriptures doe teach that the one true religion is gottē by a new birth then by the word and spirit of God and therewith also it is onely maynteyned and defended For the word of God is liuely mighty in operation sharper then any two edged sword entereth through even vnto the deviding asunder of the soule the spirit of the joynts of the marrow is a discerner of the thoughts the intents of the heart Seeing then the one true Religion of the Gospell is thus gotten and thus defended and mainteyned namely by the word preached onely let it please your Maiesty and Parliament to be entreated to revoke and repeale those Antychristian Romish and cruel lawes that force al in our lād both Prince ād people to receaue that Religion wherein the King or Queen were borne or that which is stablished by the law of man and in steed thereof enact and publish that Apostolick Christian Gentle merciful law of Christ viz Goe teach al nations preach the Gospell to every creature that is Christ wil haue his ministers to preach and teach the people of al nations the things that concerne the Kingdom of God the name of Iesus Mesiah repentance remision of sins to baptise in his name such as doe beleeve And for as much also that the false ād Antychristian religion did come by the spirit of error doctrine of Devils ād not by fyer and sword therfore by the spirit of Christ ād doctryne of the word of God must it be driven out of the hearts and consciences both of Prince and People and not by fyer and sword as the false Bishops and ministers haue and doe still perswade Therfore may it please your Majesty and Parliament to vnderstand that by fyer and sword to cōstraine Princes and peoples to receaue that one true Religion of the Gospell is wholy against the mynde and mercifull Law of Christ dangerous both to king and State a meanes to decreace the Kingdom of Christ and a meanes to increace the Kingdom of Antychrist as these reasones following doe manifest The which I humbly beseech your Majesty and Parliament carefully to consider and that according to the word of god which shal judge every man according to his deeds and perseqution is a worke well pleasing to al false Prophets and Bishops but it is contrary to the minde of Christ who came not to judge destroy mens lives but to save them And though som men and women beleeue not at the first howre yet may they at the eleventh howre if they bee not persequted to death before And no King nor Bishops can or is able to command faith That is the gift of God who worketh in vs both the wil the deed of his owne good pleasure set him not a day therefore in which if his creature heare not and beleeue not you will imprison and burne him Paule was a blasphemer and also a persequter and could not be converted by the Apostles and ministers of Christ yet at last was receaued to mercy and cōverted extraordinarily by Christ himself who is very pittiful mercyful would have
no man to perish but would that al men come to repentāce but not by perseqution but by the word of reconciliation which he hath committed to his ministers And as kings and Bishops cannot command the winde so they cannot command faith as the winde bloweth where it listeth so is every man that is borne of the spirit You may forcemen to Church against their consciences but they wil beleeue as they did afore when they com there for God giueth a blessing onely to his owne ordinance and abhorreth Antychrists And kings are to thinck that they are men as well as Kings ād that Christ hath ordeyned the same meanes of faith for Kings which he hath for subjects and that subjects are Christs freemen as wel as Kings subjects Kings that beleeve are Christs Servants even as subjects are Kings servants and both are bought with a price therefore both ought not to bee the servants of men in matter of faith religion but Kings shal giue a greater account at the day of judgment then their subjects And to judge mē now for religion is to judge afore the tyme ād also to sit in the judgement seate of Christ to whom onely it belongeth yet not before the day appointed how much lesse to Kings and Bishops I read that Constantyne the Emperor called the greate wrought to the Bishop of Rome that he would not force and constrayne any man to the faith but onely admonish and commit the judgment to God Christes Kingdom is not of this world therefore may it not be purchased nor defended with the weapons of this world but by his word and spirit no other weapons hath he giuen to his Church which is his spiritual kingdom Therfore Christ saith He that wil not heare the church let him be to thee as a hethen a publicane he saith not bur ban hang or inpriso him that is Antichrists ordinance And though a man be an heretick yet ought he not to be bur but to be rejected after once or twise admonition that is cast out of the Church but as in the chur of Rome people of al sorts are by perseqution forced thereinto by the Bishops and ministers therof so it is in the Church of England also which sheweth that the Bs and min of Rome and Eng are of one spirit in gathering peopel to their faith and church which is the spirit of Satan who knoweth wel that his kingdom the false Church wold greatly decay if perseqution were laid downe seing himself cannot stand before the word and spirit of God much lesse his Bs and mi therfore he wil haue them for a name and shew to vse the word of God but indeed if the false interpretation and alledging of the scriptures wil not help then saith he constrayne them by fyer and sword or els if people haue liberty of consciēce they wil trye the spirits which of them is of god as the Apostle joh teacheth and then saith he the Prince as wel as people wil try all things keep that which is good and wil also prove themselves as the Apostle Paule teacheth whether they are in the Apostoliq faith or not And as the Church of Rome provoketh the Magestrats to peesequte to death such as are excōmunicated out of her so doth the Church of England provoke the Magistrats to persequte to death such as she excomunicate And as the Bs. and min of Ro wil perswade the prince and people to heare ād read none but themselves so doe the Bs and min of Eng also But the Bs ād min of the Apostoliq Church doe perswade al men to prove trye the Spirits whether they are of God which they cannot doe except they heare and read other mens doctrines as wel as the Bs ād their min neither can they if they would so long as the Bishops have power from the King and state to silence and imprison etc al preachers ād to burne al books which teach not their doctines Your Majesty and Parliament shal vnderstand that al those that confesse freely without compulsion that Iesus is the Messiah the Lord and that he came in Flesh are to be esteemed the Children of God and true Christians seeing such are borne of God and no man can say that Iesus is the Lord but by the holy Ghost therfore not to be persequted And as Abel killed not Cayne but was killed himself ād as Isaack ād Iacob did not persequte Ismael and Esau but was persequted of Ismael and Esau who ād Caine were figuers of al persequters so the beleeving doe not persequte the vnbeleeving nor the true chur the false but the beleeving and true chur are as they have beene most often persequted thē selves of whom Abel Isaack and Iacob were figures whose childrē are al beleevers and free mē that stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made thē free ād wil not be tangled with the yoke of bondage no not with cir-cumcision much lesse with the discipline and doctrijne of the Church of Rome whose Bs are able ministers of the fyer and sword both to Prince ād people as many Historyes doe lamentably witnes to theyr vtter infamy and overthrow Also if the beleving should persequte the vnbeleving to death who shold remayne aliue then none but the beleeveing shold liue in the world and the vnbeleeveing shold dye in theyr vnbeleeif and so perish for ever the Lord wil not that the beleeveing shold live to the destructiō of the vnbeleeveing but vnto theyr conversion edificatiō and salvation And by persequting of Prince and people to death because they wil not heare and beleeve is no gayning of soules vnto God but vnto the devill And whereas ignorant and wicked Bs. may thinck to wijn soules by killing Prince and people for religion they are deceaved greatly for therby they loose many soules viz their owne and the vnbeleeving their owne they loose because they wilfully breake the Lords Commandement that saith Thou shalt not kill meaneing such as are corporal malefactors and the others which dye in their vnbeleeif they confesse themselues are eternaly lost except they as som of their minist hold a redemption after this life And the Bs. shold know that error and heresy cānot be killed by the fyer and sword but by the word and spirit of God that is the onely weapons of Christs Bs. and Ministers and such onely Christs Ministers doe vse whose liues and conversations are so harmlesse holy ād gentle that therby and by their deaths ād sufferings they wynne many soules vnto god wherby they are knowen fro al false Bs. and ministers who like wolues and beares not like sheep and lambs make pray and devour both Prince and People that are not of their kinde if they bee able to Master them Besides may it please your Majesty and Parlia to vnderstand that the beleeveing man that hath an dnbeleeveing
perswade Prince and people to heare and beleeve the gospell by hisâ— word and spirit and as Ambassadors for him to beseech both Prince aÌ„d people to be reconciled vnto God and not as Tyrants to force and coÌ„strayne them by perseqution Thirdly because through perseqution it wil come to passe that the Ambassadors of the onely spiritual Lord King Iesus may be persequted and inprisoned burned haged or baÌ„nished for deliuering the message of their gratious Lord sentearly and often both to Prince and people which to doe is a more heynous fact then to persequte the Ambassadors of the greatest King and Prince in the World for insteed of hereticks they shal as they have alredy burne bannish and hang the Ambassadors of the Lord Iesus Christ who doth choose out whom he pleaseth to beare his name before Kings Rulers for a Testimonial to them Fourthly because then we cannot say we have the liberty of the Gospell in our Land seing where that is there is no perseqution for any difference in Religion nor forceâ—ing of the conscience to beleeve the gospel except by the word and spirit of God onely the which doe wound and kill the â—rrors of men and not their persons Fiftly because Christ came into the world to fave sinners aÌ„d not to destroy them though they be blasphemers seing the Lord may convert them as he did Saule after caled Paul and though they have difference in Religion or wil not heare nor beleeve in Christ that they may be converted yet ought you not to persequte them seing Christ rebuketh such and his Father sent him not into the world to condemne the world but to saue it be ye followers therefore of Christ and not of Antychrist in gathering people to the Faith Sixtly because then you shal not walke wisely towards theÌ„ that are without as the Scripture teacheth but shal offend also the Iewes and al other straÌ„gers who account it Tyranny to have their consciences forced to religion by perseqution Seaventhly because if perseqution be not laid downe and liberty of coÌ„science set vp then cannot the Iewes nor any strangers nor others contrary mynded be ever converted in our Land for so long as they know a forehand that they shal be forced to beleeve against their consciences they wil never seeke to inhabit there by which meanes you keep them from the Apostoliq saith if the Apostoliq faith bee onely taught where perseqution is Eightly because if freedom of conscience be not set vp and perseqution laid downe then al the Kings subjects and al strangers inhabiting the Land that shal beleeve the Apostoliq faith must depart the land to som free contry or els abide the danger of burning bannishing hanging and imprisoning the first will bee a great impoverishing and weakning of our land besides a losse of the faithfullest subjects and freinds the secoÌ„d wil provoke the lord to wrath by spilling the bloud of his faithful servants Ambassadors and witnesses and also open the mouthes of al straÌ„gers to speake yet more lamentably of the cruel and bloudy perseqution of our Land Ninthly because if perseqution contynue then the King aÌ„d State shal have against their wils many dissemblers in Authority and office both in court Citty and contrye yea no man of any degre shal know whether they are al faithful and true ChristiaÌ„s that are about him aÌ„d with whoÌ„ he hath to doe seing most men wil conforme themselves for feare of perseqution although in their harts they hate aÌ„d detest the religioÌ„ wherto they are forced by law the which is very dangerous and hartful both to King and State in tyme of temtation from bejond the seas and in rebellion at home for they that are not faithful to God in their ReligioÌ„ wil never bee faithful to the King and State in their alegiance specialy being tryed by a greate reward or by a myghty rebel but will to encrase their honors and reverennues conforme themselves and fome to save their honors Lands goods and lives wil yeeld and submit though against their wils even as they have done in case of Religion for through forceing men to Church by perseqution the true hearted subjects are forced out of the Land and out of the World som bannished others burned hanged and imprisoned to death Tenthly because then if there be many religions in the land as it is wel knowen there are it wil com to passe through the continance of perseqution that many religions wil be continued in the Church seeing al are forced to Church who bring their religions with them as wel as their bodies wherby al their devotion is against their consciences and all the Church is a confused Babel ful of every vncleane hateful bird even a hold of soule Spirits as the Scripture speaketh out of which the people of God are Commanded to flee least as of their sins they bee also pertakers of their plague And the Bishops the Authors of perseqution are very ignorant to thinke that when they have gotten people to their Church by perseqution that then they have gotten them to their saith and religion the which is nothing so for most people though contrary mynded to save life and goods wil dissemble their religion as for example the Iewes in Spaine and Portugale and the Papists Reformists and others in England but when they com hether or to som other free Citty or Country where praised be God is liberty of the gospel then they shew that before they dissembled to avoyd the cruel perseqution of our land Moreover the Bishops bewray great ignorance wheÌ„ they perswade the King and Parliament to force Prince and people to Church by perseqution for if that bee the meanes to com to the Church of Christ then Christ hath taught vs to fle the meanes of salvatioÌ„ seing he hath taugt vs to flee perseqution the which the Bishops and their Ministers perswade to be a great meanes to bring men to the Church Indeed I confesse it is the onely meanes to bring Prince and people to the false Chur and therefore Christ teacheth vs to flee that meanes least through perseqution which is a great temtation we be constrayned to go the broad way which is the false Church that leadeth to destruction many goe in therat and no maxvaile for there mâ—â—may be any thing except good Christians for besides Demas the worldlying and Hymeneus the blasphemer and many other sorts of indifferent Christians excommunicants covetous and profane persons there are notale rebels aÌ„d Traytors yea most cruel and desperate Traytors and Rebels as Digby Catesby Percy c whose buread and vnheard treathery wil never be forgotten which persons if they had not been forced to Church against their conscieÌ„ces had never enterprised such horribel and hateful treason And the Bbs should vnderstand that it is preaching and not persequting that getteth people to the church of Christ