of the man from the true fayth in Christ the light of lyfe to the addictyng of him selfe to the lye or darcknes or euer such tyme as they become conuerted to their God and are regenerated in the spirite of their mynde is the greatest Antichrist which also frō the very begynnyng as likewise in the very corporall appearaunce of Christ in the flesh like as S. Iohn also expresseth impugne it and persecute it in the truth of God and that in the inwardnesse of the man to the establishyng of all vnrighteousnesse in him and not onely a certaine disordred or abused Papistrie yea or euer the Papistrie was thought of which no Pope also or such outward fleshly creature could or can euer worke or bryng to passe And therefore deceiue not your selfe in the point to iudge the Author to be a maintainer of any fleshly or creature like Pope with his adherentes in their abusion of Ceremoniall seruices Ceremonies but he driueth his matter onely as in his worke beyng well noted you may sée to this point to wit that after the entraunce of the darknesse once chaunced the manly generations beyng falne away from the fayth towardes God which was established by Christ in his Apostles and Disciples the old Fathers grew out of a zealousnes of the mynde towardes God and his righteousnesse to institute certaine Ceremonies and seruices so neare as they could out of their insight and comprehendyng that they by their diligent study and searchyng of the Scriptures had attained vnto concerning Gods truth hit the same that resembled or were conformablest to the holy and diuine Scriptures to a commemoration of the thyngs wrought and brought to passe before with Christ and his holynes in the very true beyng to the susteinyng and staying vp of the ignoraunt people in the tyme of darknes from fallyng into any greater absurdities enormities and errours that might haue happened vnto thē and which also did happen vnto many such as maliciously and obstinately not rightly seyng but rather in meanyng to set vp some better degressed and winded of them selues there from and maliciously blasphemed and continewed the same tell that the light of Gods truth might spryng foorth agayne or be erected in the seruice of the loue accordyng to the promises and goeth not about to establish the same in and of their ceremoniall much lesse abused seruice and Ceremonies where about men presently so greatly striue and varie now in this present tyme of the light of loue whiche he affirmeth to be the day of the cleare righteous iudgemēt of God wherein god will restore all thynges to their right to wit bryng or set the lye in his lying beyng to be condemned in the hellish caue and the truth likewise in his right fourme or degrée to wit to preuayle florish and beare sway ouer the vnrighteousnes for euer more Whereby that the will of God might euē so be accomplished in earth as in heauen Wherefore me thinkes that should be very small discernyng in such as can not distinct the shadowes figures or image of a thyng from the body it selfe or the very true beyng either substaunce of the same And that he speaketh of mens ignoraunce in that place and touchyng their slender knowledge vnderstandyng in Gods worde that layeth he forth flatly to the effectuall word and not the imagelike or written word wherein the right Christians are not iniuried but the conceited Christians detected Rochester THe rest of the booke from the 34. Chapter vnto the end is of the callyng of the Gentiles and of the grace of God offred to the world in the last age of the world which seemeth to be the best part of that booke Familie of Loue. IT is well that ye like some part of the booke and if ye could therewithall note that there were a defectiō frō the truth and that there were also by that meanes no difference to bee had betwixt a ceremoniall either letter doctour Christian and an vncircumcised Heathen so had ye then somewhat for your part Rochester THus haue you a tast of this booke gathered as the tyme would serue whereby it appeareth to be no such precious price of worke as of some it is supposed to be Such fayre shewes and glorious titles may soone deceiue the simple to haue such bookes in more admiration then the holy Scriptures But we haue Moses and the Prophetes let vs heare them and iudge all others by them Family of Loue. I do not so collect by the authors wrighting that he would prefer his writing aboue the scriptures geuen by inspiration of God and brought forth and written by the holy Fathers in times past But if you had well marked or considered the same he witnesseth as by a concordable and vniforme testimonye either by record of the same their writynges what the Lord will now accomplish in these last dayes wishing euery one in the same booke to search the Scriptures whether that they also mētion and record not the very same affirmyng also therewith that God is not ne cannot be a God of contentatiō but of peace vnitie And that God moreouer hath stirred him vp to bee a seruiceable instrument or as his elect minister to bryng downe accordyng to his promises written in the Scriptures all controuersies growne among men about their misunderstanding of the scriptures to bryng the same to an end And doth also in the same booke vncouer sundry secret thinges which they that haue seing eyes may by ententiue reading of the same together with the Lordes assistaunce well perceiue and vnderstand that no selfewise or enuious scripture learned could or can euer attaine vnto it agayne What iniurie were it seing that it procedeth by the same spirite to valew it equall with those same sacred scriptures that were tofore written by the holy one of God. Also ye may remember that the fleshly Iewes had also for their aunswere to Christ enuying agaynst him being the truth it selfe the same testimonye that ye alledge to wéete that they had Moses and the Prophets c But who were in the meane time greater persecutours of him then they Rochester WE are sure that the holy Scriptures were wrighten by the spirite of Loue and truth the holy ghost And conteine all true and necessary and sufficient doctrine for our saluation let vs not hould vpon men proue all thinges hould that which is good beleue not euery spirite but proue the spirites Family of Loue. I Graunt that right discerning is good and commeth from the Lord and through him from them whome he and not themselues placeth and by them that are set in the right place of iudgement by the Lord himselfe and not by those that sitt on their owne stoole for it is to be doubted that so many as take vpon them that office of iudgemēt or medling with gods matters or euer Christ be come vnto them or haue a liuing shape in them that they all will
reade further Exod. 16.8.1 Sam. 8.7 Num. 16. chap. throughout I haue in this place gentle and indifferent reader to desire thée diligently to marke the sly and crafty dealing of this peuish Familye For in my Articles which I exhibited vnto them for my further satisfaction I added this clause of the outward calling of the minister which then I did suspect they denyed and since by their faythles demeanour of concealing that clause I am certainely perswaded to be true where also it shall not be amisse if besides their fond behauiour in ouerhipping that which they néedes must confesse to be truely reported of them by me to consider also how guilefully they protest that No man is able iustly to blame accuse detect or burthen them as transgressors of the lawe beīt agaynst any the Quéenes Maiesties proceadinges in causes Ecclesiasticall c. And yet in this place by me quoted out of the lamentable complaynt sent 34. They deny without their Familye their is no lawfull calling of Ministers Their wordes be these For to be a teacher or minister of the holy worde is not euery mans office but his only which is thereunto euen lyke as was Aaron called and elected of God whose rodde or staffe greeneth blossometh and beareth fruit as lykewise his which is a true disciple of the worde and louer of the truth hath receiued the learning and administration of his holy word with integritye of singlenes of hart of the Elders in the house of Loue obediently and euē so is growē vp vnder thobediēce of the loue in the holy vnderstādings till vnto the Elderdome of the man Christ and taught to the kingdome of God. And the same is by thē in playne wordes affirmed but more skoffingly and contemptuously in the same booke sent 34. But of that place more hereafter in the addition to the Article They with their cauill as it is common vnto them with their brethren the Papistes and Anabaptistes who alwayes not being able to criminate and blame the doctrine taught flye straight wayes to the persō of the preacher demaunded A Syr what auctoritye haue you to minister and who layd handes on your who called you c. as also their forefathers the old Pharisies which demaūded of S. Iehn the Baptist the same question with that learned man M. Musculus I aunswere Qui legitimé vocati non sunt quaestionem de vocatione mouent They which are not called lawfully first moue a controuersie about a lawfull calling which obiection M. Bullenger in his booke agaynst the Anabaptistes doth aunswere learnedly and at large Bullenger agaynst the Anabaptistes 3. booke 4. chap. 90. leafe An addition to the 5. Article of an outward calling SVch an one as in euen so with his vnderstanding and thoughtes become incorporate in all obediēce of the word to the truth of God and lyfe of Christ and euen so acknowledge the truth the same verily bideth rightly in the doctrine of Christ and is apt to minister the holy word of truth and to be a teacher of the people c. No man can teach the word of Christ and his doctrine but such as first haue bin obedient disciples of Loue. No man ought to busy himselfe about the word but the Elders in the Familye c. No man knoweth Christ nor the father nor yet also the seruices or Ceremonies of Christ but euen onely those which are euen so through Christ as we haue rehearsed renewed or regenerated in their spirite and mynde neither doth it also behoue or belong vnto any other to set forth any seruices of Ceremonies of Christ nor to preach or declare the Euangely but such are those whiche are sent of Christ himselfe for otherwise it is all false The Disciples of Christ could not vnderstand the clearenes of Christ before the fifty day taht the holy Ghost was poured vpon them much lesse then verely can now the Scripture learned which haue not kept the passeouer from death into lyfe and from flesh into spirite with Christ nor yet atteined through the power of the holy Ghost to the clearenes of Christ vnderstand out of the knowledge of the Scripture the clearenes of the word of Christ nor yet set forth or teach accordyng to the truth his ceremonies or seruices nor also preach or declare the Euangely of Christ ARTICLE 6. of HN. of vniting into God. ANd the Elders of the Familie sayth HN. are illuminated from God they are Godded with God they are incorporate into God with whō God also in one beyng is Hominified or become man. Theophilus WHat error is this if it were rightly sene vnto whilest the vine braunch is to be vined in the vine Iohn 15. he that is ioyned vnto the Lord is one spirite with him and are made partakers of the godly nature 2. Pet. 1.4 William Wilkinson TRue it is that a certaine godly and learned man affirmeth writyng vpon the fall of S. Peter When God leaueth vs to our selues their is not hope to stay from rūnyng headlong into sinne right so it fareth in Gods iudgement with this coale Prophet HN. and his dreamyng Disciple Theophilus For the maister on still fallyng from phantasie to phantasie and from one errour into an other and the scholer bringeth in stones and morter to build vp the confused heape of all impitie In the former clause was shewed that they vtterly cōdemne and mislike all Ordination and Election of Ministers with their Familie now if follweth to be handled what priuiledge and prerogatiue his Elders purchase vnto themselues by the admission they haue into that blynd societie HN. affirmeth very soberly as it séemeth that the Elders of his broode are illuminated and Godded with God or incorporated into god c. his scholer Theophilus laboureth to strengthen his Assertion with the testimony of Scripture to that ende by him wrested and wrongly alledged wherein seyng he cā not slippe the coller with me as erst he did in leauyng the former sentence now to outcountanaunce the truth with the impudencie of his forehead hee asketh What an errour is this if it were rightly seene vnto what errour do you aske truly an horrible palpable errour it is flat against the truth of the sacred scripture straungely saueryng of those dregges whiche you haue déeply dronke both at the hand of the Anabaptisticall Sinagogue and also of the Romish harlot sea of Antichrist But whereas you added a Caueat which is If it be rightly sene vnto I aunswere he that putteth on the Christall spectacles of Gods word and taketh in his hād the Lanthorne of holy write to looke diligently to your steppes shall straight trace out a théefe and a rebell agaynst the Lord. But first to procéede orderly let me aunswere your authorities and then in a word or two wil I set downe the horriblenes of that opinion You say The vine braunche is vined into the vine I finde no such wordes in the
founde whatsoeuer doth disquiet the buildyng vppe of Sion that we may keepe the spirit of vnitie in the bonde of peace and be but one folde vnder the shepheard Iesus Christ our Lord who blesse your Lordshyp with the fulnes of all spirituall blessinges to the honour of his name and profite of his Churche Amen Cambridge September 30. Anno. 1579. Your Lordshyps most humbly bounden William Wilkinson ¶ To the godly and Christian Reader Peace from God the Father and our Lord Iesus Christ THat which auncieÌ„t writers and learned men reporte to be the singular commendation and especiall prayse of a good Historiographer geÌ„tle Reader to coÌ„ceale nothyng of the truth for feare or to vtter any vntruth for for euill will neither yet to flatter or claw for fauour that same me thinkes is necessarily to be required of all those whiche take in hand to testifie of any matter whatsoeuer For els how should we possibly looke for truth of those men whose myndes are wedded to affections whose handes and pennes are let out for lucre and toungues let loose to testifie an vntruth who are wholy blinded with disdayne and beyng egged on with euill will haue set them selues to sale committyng whatsoeuer is vnhonest with vnsatiable greadines CoÌ„cernyng my selfe in simplicitie of hart I testifie and soleÌ„nely protest before the whole world calling God to witnesse whom I know to be a sharpe reuenger and seuere iudge agaynst those which abuse his blessed name to any vntruth agaynst myne owne soule if in this treatise I haue vttered ought for enuie or malice of those people against whose opinions my whole stile and writyng is especially directed I haue truely quoted rightly alledged and faythfully as I am hable reported whatsoeuer I haue either heard by word or read by writyng concernyng the errour of those men who terme themselues to be of the Familie of loue Whiche I haue the rather done beyng thereto required by that dutie that I owe vnto the Churche of Christ whiche is the felowshyp of the faythfull and societie of the Saintes of God â–ª as also beyng by a Christian Magistrate thereunto coÌ„maunded I could not chuse I say but I needes must testifie the truth of that whiche both I haue heard and sene which also I am ready at any tyme to auouch before any person beyng called thereunto either priuately or openly Wherein also I haue not sayd so much as I might truely and could iustly hauyng refrayned for their sakes especially which are my very frendes beyng somewhat ouertaken with the lime of that secte and are bewitched with the blyndnesse of those vnsauery opinions Concernyng my further knowledge in that Heresie I referre thee good reader vnto that which ensueth most humbly beseeching thee to blesse and further me with thy most feruent prayers as I hartly desire the promotion and furtheraunce of Gods true Religion the encrease of a true fayth in the feare of God the quietnesse of our English Church and the vtter ruine and abolishyng of all Papistry Atheisme and Hereticall sectes and Schismes whatsoeuer Cambridge Septemb. 30. Readyng certaine bookes of H.N. and conferring with certaine of that Louely Fam. I was by them requested to set downe vnto them in writyng for my further instruction those doubtes whiche either by meanes of the vnusualnesse of their Methode in writing the noueltie of their farre fetched phrases there wrong and wrested Allegories there Diuinitie not heard of or their rough â—ottyng stile I did not vnderstand I deliuered vnto them in the moneth of August 1578. those Articles which follow hereafter in this booke and desiryng earnestly to be fully satisfied in that behalfe I receiued the aunswere deliuered to the common carrier in London whiche beyng intercepted by my worshypfull frend came not into my handes vntill the third of Aprill last past Anno. 1579. The aunswere whiche I shall set downe if first I shall geue you to vnderstand what I can testifie concernyng them and their Fathers of their monstruous Hereticall opinions ¶ A brief view of the heresies and errours of HN. conteined and confuted in this treatise by pag. as herein they are to be found 1. Article HN. sayth we haue no Church 2. 2. Article HN. sayth we haue no truth 5. 3. Article HN. sayth we haue no Baptisme 11. 4. Article HN. sayth we haue no forgeuenes of sins 12. 5. Article HN. sayth we haue no Ministrie 13. 6. Article Of beyng vnited and Godded with God. 15. 7. Article What HN. sayth of him selfe and his extraordinary callyng Wherein is declared agaynst the Familie that first he was D. George his Scholer secondly he is one of the heretiques whereof Christ and his Apostles did foretell thirdly HN. agréeth with the old heretiques in sundry their heresies and opinions 20. 8. Article What is necessarily required in HN. his Disciple 34. 9. Article Of HN. his Reuelations 44. 10. Artic. Of shrift vsed in HN. his Familie 49. 11. Artic. HN. misliketh the Preachyng of the word and what he termeth it 51. 12. Artic. HN. his Iudgement of Preachers not admitted by his Familie 56. 13. Artic. HN. sayth it is lawfull for one of his Familie to dissemble 61. 14. Artic. HN. maketh God the Author of sinne and the sinner guiltes 63. 22. Articles of the Libertines 66. Theophilus Proofes confuted whereby he proueth HN. his doctrine is the truth 67. ¶ With a brief token how to know an Anabaptist gathered out of Zuinglius Bullinger and Caluin whiche declare the opinions and behauiour of Heretickes from tyme to tyme. ⧠A very brief and true description of the first springing vp of the Heresie termed The Familie of Loue which conteineth the places where and the parties by whom the sayd Heresie was broached WHoâ— as long tyme the singular mercy and leuitie of the Lorde in the happy dayes of good kyng Edward the vj. a Prince of blessed remembraunce was by the carnall profession of many and looâ—e lyfe of the greatest part abused in the end by Gods â—â—st scourge ouer England it came to passe which alwayes ensueth the contempt of so precious pearles that Amos long before Prophesied of the Epicures of Israell there followed a greuous famine not onely of bread for the comfortyng and susteinyng of the outward man but also the foode of the soule whereby our lyfe to Godward is prolonged was taken away And it was a very daungerous thyng to confesse Christ openly not onely for feare of Excommunication but for daunger of the losse of lyfe also And so farre had the Prince of darkenesse confirmed his kyngdome of ignoraunce in this worthy Iseland that the worshyppers which worshypped in spirite and truth durst not openly assemble themselues for feare of the TyraÌ„nous hatred of the Scribes and Pharisies the rest of the oiled broode of the Popishe Sinagogue They were compelled secretly to meete in priuate houses so fearefull a thyng was it for fleshe bloud to abyde the extreme fury of the Romish Baalamites which
comme to short in their reconing c. I may not deny but that there is conteined in the scriptures geuen by inspiration of God being rightly vnderstanded followed and obeyed necessary and sufficient doctrine of saluation but for want of these thrée principall pointes many haue small profite truely I could also with all my hart wishe that man with man committed not filthines nor depended one vpon an other but to stay them onely on the Lordes truth and not on flesh and bloud so were then all controuersies at an end It were well also to proue all thinges but not as semeth me by the crooked rule of mans owne iudgement or fleshly minde and concerning nor by his imagination without the light of Gods truth or spirite of righteousnes and loue taken on in constructing and wresling of the right sence and minde of the scriptures which being seperated from the light of lyfe as he in the same worke alleadgeth is a closed booke or a darke word without light and the seruice administred thereout as a dead bodye without a soule or as a dead wife deceased from her husband which could bring fourth no children of lyfe For what can the naturall man iudge that is altogether ignoraunt of the thinges of God or yet open the holy thinges without the key of Dauid or behould the Paradice of God when as men can not frely enter the Seraphin with his fiery sword not being taken away or yet iudge of an other which hath ouercome and attained to haue a new name written in the white stone that lyeth himselfe yet in the meane time altogether be wrapped and buried vnder the bondage and subiectioÌ„ of the earthly being and vngodlynes c. Consider therefore euery thing in his right degrée if you be endewed with ghoastly vnderstanding and possessed with the right spirite of iudgemeÌ„t and then out of your spiritualnes iudge all thinges according to the ballance of equitye and trying squaire or measure line of righteousnes in the lyfe and truth Trie also the spirits by the same rule and be not vnbeleuing towardes the right spirit but follow and embrace that which is good For if you can shew vs any passinger God of Israel or any better lawe rites and ordinaunce then is his lawes rites and ordinaunces or anye perfecter life then the loue whereon Christe with his holy ones haue heretofore testified Whereto also the Author presently as a concordable witnes with the same doth only point and direct vs or that there be any better thing then the eternall lyfe and the loue it selfe So let not theÌ„ that same most best be withheld from vs whilest that we onely enforce vs thereunto that we might serue eueÌ„ so the onely liuing God in vniformenes of hart and vnpartialitye of minde together with an vpright righteousnes and holynes Take this briefe freindly well meaning aunswere to your exceptions in good part and way it not as a matter done to defend the worke by the way of contending but rather as one out of goodwill doe but geue you occasion thereby to weigh more distinctly and reasonably of that which commeth so lyuely freindly to your hands out of grace to your profit and welfare Therefore saue labour for making any further reply hereunto least you doe but lose your trauaile herein for Christ with his holy ones will not now in this same day of the Loue lyke as doe the princes of the earth whose kingdome is of this world set vp and maintayne his kingdome with contention and discorde but with peaceablenes louing kindnes and long suffering But if one listed to sée wrestlers bestirre them in their play then for to graunt them leuill ground he might not well denay And yf one should trauers the right of his case then must the Iudge sit vnparciall in iudgement place so shall then all matters in equalitye out fall but otherwise be peruerted and oppresse right we shall Vale ê™ F. L. ⧠Errours and absurde asseuerations out of HN. his Euangelie gathered by William Wilkinson HN Sayth the day of Loue by him preached is the appearyng of our Lord Iesus Christ in the Resurrection Esay 26. c. 1. Cor. 15. f. of the dead wherein the law and the Prophetes and all that is written of Christ becommeth fulfilled Luke 24. e. HN. sayth he is the Aungell of the Lord or messenger before him for to prepare his way Math. 3. a. Math. 11. b. and to publish an euerlastyng Euangelie Math. 24. Apoc 14. a vnto all generations languages and peoples accordyng to the promises All the testimonies of HN. set foorth in the Glasse of righteousnesse are the Gospell HN. sayth the Familie is the rest of God prepared froÌ„ the begynnyng for the people of God and for all repentaunt persons and is appeared in the last tyme accordyng to the promises HN. permitteth to euery nation what Religion they will so they hold with his heresie of the Loue. HN. receiued this message of his Euangelie from the mouth of God him selfe HN. maketh the day of the publishyng his Euangelie to be the last commyng of Christ in iudgement with thousaÌ„ds of Saints For proofe he citeth Esay 3. b. Math. 24. d. and 25. d. Iude. 1. b. HN. buildeth vpon miracles without Scriptures HN. sayth he will declare the secret misteries of God and make relation of thynges hidden before the world HN. sayth the former kyngdome wherein man was set that is Adam before his fall is brought agayne in the lowlynes of the vpright beyng HN. sayth of the Preachers that they vaunt and geue foorth themselues for Christians and as illuminated men that are Maisters of the Scripture beyng craftie subtill peruerse of hart darcke in their vnderstandyng of a peruerse nature HN. sayth that no man how wise and vnderstandyng soeuer he be in the knowledge of the Scripture can by any meanes vnderstand or comprehend the wisedome of God but they onely that be of his Familie Therefore hope we sayth HN. with much ioy ouer the dead whiche dye in the Lord or are dead in him to wéete that they in their Resurrection from death shall liuyngly come vnto or méete with vs For all the dead of the Lord or the members of Christ shall now liue and arise with their bodyes and we shall assemble with them and they with vs. This day of the Loue is the last commyng of Christ Abell was slayne through the wicked nature of sinne through the handes of his brother Cain HN. depraueth the whole Historie of Abraham from Gene. 16. vnto the 27. Chapter by turnyng it into an Allegorie The greatest must serue the lesse that is sayth HN. the great righteousnesse of the law with the great knowledge or prudence of the fleshe or of the earthly beyng which is borne out of the letter shall serue the litle mynded simplicitie of Christ HN. peruerteth the fourth Commaundement HN. sayth
Lord or his word not that they should alwayes remaine as subiect thereunder but vntill the appoynted tyme vntill the manly old age in the godly vnderstanding of the holy word that is tell sinne in them be subdued sayth HN. cap. 3. sent 12. Let euery one confesse his sinnes wherein he falleth before his Elder in the holy vnderstanding and make manifest before him all his dealyng and conuersation cap. 4. sent 3. Verely the mortall wherof S. Paule witnesseth is not any creature of earthly flesh bloud but it is the liuing word or being of God which in the beginning was mortall in the manhoode and is in vs for our sinnes cause become mortall cap. 6. sent 3. The letter slayeth 2. Cor. 3.6 namely the administration of the law after the letter or ministration of Christ after the flesh that is nothing els but that the letter according to the requiring of Christ pointeth and leadeth vs to the death of sinne and withdraweth euen so our mindes and thoughtes from all that which is vngodly cap. 11. sent 6. A man which loueth the vpright righteousnes cannot apply hinselfe vprightly thereunto before he haue wholy geuen ouer himselfe to the gratious worde and seruice of Loue for to be obedient vnto the word and euen so to be admitted thereto by his elder in the holy vnderstanding and minister of the gracious word for to become taught therein cap. 13. sent 1. He that is admitted into the Famil promiseth before God and his holy ones that he will cleaue onely to the word and his requiring and shew faythfull obedience out of his whole hart and minde and not seperate himselfe therefrom for euer cap. 13. sent 4. But if they our ould sinnes which he calleth our Paramours which in tymes past we loued sen 7. take or lay hold on vs with force and violence and that then although we cry there commeth not any power or helpe vnto vs for to withstand their force and violence and that they euen so rauish vs agaynst our will so are we guiltles of the transgression for we haue cryed for to be released from the tyranny of the euill and there is no helpe come vnto vs Ergo if we sinne we are guiltles Of the which guiltles transgressing the law likewise witnesseth where it sayth Deut. 11.27 A woman which is violently taken in the field whereas there is not any help and so rauished and although she haue cryed aloud and gotten no helpe she shall be guiltles of the transgressing cap. 13. sent 8. If it chaunce that any man through weakenesse doe sinne yet let him not couer his sinnes but let him confesse them before his Elder in the holy vnderstandyng and repent him so shall then the Lord be gracious vnto him and forgiue his sinnes Cap. 13. senten 8. and Cap. 11. senten 6. This is the day which God Actes 17. e. hath appointed for to iudge in the same the cōpasse of the earth with righteousnesse through his word in whom he hath concluded his iudgement Cap. 15. sent 4. They of the Familie must manifest them selues and their whole hart dealyng and inclination to the Elders in the Familie of loue Cap. 16. sent 4. Haue not much prate or disputation with straungers nor with thē that fall away from the seruice of the Loue nor with the vnwillyng ones resisters Cap. 16. sent 18. O ye adioyned ones and incorporated ones to the word ye shall not hold you Math. 18. and. c. 1. Cor. 5. b. 2. Thessal 3. b. Common with straungers and decliners from the seruice of Loue for to eate dayly with them at your Table the holy bread Iohn 6. d. Actes 2. f. But breake and eate the same among ech other Cap. 18. sent 10. Beare in no wise any enmitie to any one but shew alwayes your brotherly loue which ye haue amongest ech other Cap. 16. sent 11. Come now all and turne you to this mercy seat of the Loue of the holy spirite of Iesus Christ and obtaine the forgiuenes of your sinnes Cap. 19. sent 2. 3. ARTICLES Which I exhibited vnto a frend of mine to be conuaied vnto the Familie of loue that I might be certified of the doubtes in them contayned Which for my further instruction one Theophilus sent me with a letter and an Exhortation annexed vnto the sayd Articles with his exposition in manner following THEOPHILVS TO the collector of these after expressed Articles that out of his malitious minde peruerted the sence and true minde of the Author and framed sundry of them into errors and to the rest of his Assistants in these and such vncharitable dealinges wheresoeuer they be greeting W. WILKINSONS TITLE ERrors out of the bookes of HN. faythfully and truely if sayth THEOPHILVS such preachers as be vncircumsided both in tongue and eares be to be beleued in these dayes gathered and quoted as in his booke by Chapter and Section they are to be found THEOPHILVS YE might rather in truth haue affirmed vnfaythfully lyingly slaunderously and malitiously or vncharitably W. WILKINSONS CONFVTATION MArke I pray thée gentle Reader what a cholorick and taunting spirite these Familers be of and yet they néedes will be called the Familye of loue as though all that commeth from them were nothing but loue and the very pefection of it selfe For so they affirme of themselues Now if these be their swéete and amiable wordes and louely phrases what cutting tearmes shall wée then looke for when they shall sée vs that wée withstand their enterprise and controule their doctrine especially seing that I did neither by worde nor writing euer geue thē any occasion But if this be their loue and perfection then truely I confesse that I meane not to walke with them I enuy not their happines neyther care I amōgest them to be reckoned vnperfect In deede these speaches be such as the Anabaptistes vsed agaynst the preachers of the Gospell which withstode their heresie they rayled on them calling them Lutherans Fol. 254. False and carnall Gospellers 255. erroneous and vnskilfull preachers 256. succeders of the Pharisies ibid. Hypocrites blinde guides fooles serpentes generations of vipers hirelinges 2576. fellowes of théeues whome Dauid maketh mention of Psal. 50. These were the flowers of Anabaptistes Rhetorique but S Paule teacheth vs another kinde of Eloquēce which becometh the children of God. Let all thinges sayth he be done in loue and the fruite of the spirite is loue ioy peace long suffering gentlenes goodnes fayth Loue suffereth long it is bountifull it enuieth not it doth not boast it is in déede and truth not in tongue and worde onely Now whether this family haue bene taught in the schole of the holy ghost or in the schole of the Anabaptistes I leaue it to the indifferent reader to be considered But if any man shall muse to sée such enuious speaches to flowe from so louely a familye I aunswere No
Ioh. 12. e. 35. HN. his other places Iohn 8. b. 12. I am the light of the world And Ephes 5. c. 14. Awake thou that sleepest and stand vp from death and Christ shall giue the light The first proueth that without Christ is nothyng but darknes and condemnation and out of the body of Christ which is his Churche is no health nor comfort of body or soule which when ye can shew me by the Scriptures truly alledged that ye are I will acknowledge my selfe to be in an errour vntill ye can so do say not euery one that sayth the lord c. Heretiques in crying the Churche haue alwayes sought to bryng in a schisme to disturbe and disquiet the state of the Church HN. ANd euen so out of this high Maiestie of God doth this true light shew forth his seruice through the illuminated or Godded man with whom the most hyest through the selfe same light and his seruice is also manned witnessing and declaryng how that the true light consisteth not in the knowledge of this or that but in an vpright and true beyng of God and his eternall life Iohn 17. c. Theophilus exposition THat is through the new creature which is incorporated into God by the power of his word W. Wilkinson IT is not in this place certaine to bee gathered by any apparaunt circumstaunce wherfore or to what end all these authorities are wrong in by HN. for if he meane that no man ought to minister without a callyng as it seemeth hee would fayne meane if hee could vtter it the proposition I confesse is true and I aske him what outward callyng he had and by whom he was called or who admitted him vnto that Propheticall function whiche so often he boasteth of yet are these places by him very vnskilfully cited and vnaptly to the purpose the whiche he doth alledge them so that herein I blame his euill choyse for hee might better for profe haue quoted Iohn 1.25 Num. 17.9 2. Sam. 6.7 Heb. 4.5 But if hee brought them for his illuminated or Godded man as it is like that hee did because vnto that place he made his directorie g. I accuse him that he quoteth scripture with an euill conscience For that in none of those places by him cited there is any word of illumination Goddyng or mannyng The places of the Actes he dealeth lyke a théefe that dare not make a playne stepe least he should be taken for he treadeth but ouerly dare not set downe either Verse or Letter to direct the Reader but vsing onely his old ragged and running maner of quotatiōs very impertinently to no purpose doth he abuse the Reader As also in the places of S. Peter and S. Paule he hath by his direction set vs to séeke that which we shall neuer finde Lastly the place out of S. Iohn 17. c.. is idle and emptie hauyng no one sillable tendyng to any such end as he alledged it for As for HN. it is very like that hee thought the world would allow his wordes without proofe and as his Disciples vse to doe hand ouer head he would take whatsoeuer commeth from him without examination which his opinion is grounded of the old doctrine of the Papistes that doctrine of teachers ought not to be further shifted or iudged by the hearer of the which point we shall haue occasion to speake more Article 8. pag. 89. THE 7. ARTJCLE Conteinyng HN. his blasphemy what he boasteth of him selfe and his miraculous and extraordinary callyng HN Sayth that he is moued with the good nature of God and that hee is raysed vppe from the dead to iudge the earth with righteousnesse Theophilus HEre are his wordes wrested and wrongly alledged his meanyng subuerted and misconstrued Read Euang. cap. 3. sent 11. cap. 28. sent 3. and Dictata cap. 5. sent 4. and ye shall see he pointeth on Christ William Wilkinson THis Article as it is one of the most blasphemous and Hereticall of all the rest so in the Exposition and saluyng therof Theophilus doth so freate and vary his old eloquence as vnlesse I were acquainted with his melancholie and whot complexion I should hardly beare such coales as he heapeth vpon me The houndes wherewith he persueth me are two the first is wrestyng the second is wrongfull alledgyng subuertyng and misconstruyng his meanyng to the which vnlesse I withstand with playne dealyng naked truth it séemeth that I shall finde small fauour at his handes And first whereas hee burtheneth me with wrongfull alledging HN. him selfe shall explayne his owne meanyng who will say agaynst him selfe much more then I in the former clause did accuse him of or for these wordes of his He is indued with the good nature of God the wordes be as playne as can be in the place by me alledged which is also more clearely by him aduouched in his wofull Euangely where he hath these woordes HN. out of grace accordyng to the prouidence of God and of his promises Iohn 6. raised vp by the highest God from the dead annointed with the holy Ghost in the Elderdome of the holy vnderstandyng of Christ Iohn 14. Codeified or Godded together with God in the spirite of his Loue made heyre with Christ in the heauenly treasures of the riches of God Illuminated with the heauēly truth the very true light of the perfect beyng in the spirite Apo. 21. Elected to be a minister of the gracious word stirred vp now at this last tyme accordyng to the promise Ieremy 33. Thus you sée he hath word by word vttered that whiche you maliciously affirme that I haue wrongfully alledged what blasphemy these wordes conteine no man can be ignoraūt but he that will not sée cōcerning his wordes I purposely abstaine to cōfute for that they are learnedly by a godly man confuted already Concernyng his meanyng I shall hereafter set down proofe that arrogantly and Luciferlike he taketh vppon him that which is proper to Christ onely where likewise I will touch the places by you cited and proue that HN. pointeth not out Christ as ye affirme After the day of Loue seyng the same is last or newest day wherin the vniuersall Actes 17. d. compasse of the earth shal be come iudged with righteousnes There shall no Apoc. 10. a. day of grace appeare any more vpō the earth but a seuere Heb. 10. c. or sharpe iudgement ouer all vngodly We acknowledge that there is none other light nor life more that is true nor hath bin neither in heauen nor vpon earth but this same light which is now in this last time through the loue of God the father reueiled come vnto vs that same whereon Moses Deut. 18.6 and all the Prophets of God haue witnessed Esay 60. a. Iohn 5. c. and which the holy Apostles of Christ Actes 2.3.4 7.10.13 c. and the Euangelistes haue published These be HN. his owne wordes out of the which because they were to tedious
as vnto all mē declare their misbehauiour straight with the presence of the spirite cloke of zeale they haue laboured to shroude this so great impietie For hereupō it ensued that the Romanistes so cloyed the church with their fond festiuals leud Legendes and so stuffed into the seruice of God such store of idle reuelations and vnnecessary visions that by the reading of them openly in the congregation the holy and canonicall wrightinges of the holy ghost were wholy abandoned and cleane cast out of the dores And this was that which the Anabaptistes and other heretiques haue practised which when they had no witnes or warrant from the written word and approued truth of God they forged straunge euidence and that which with blasphemie they inuented they vttered with vntruth For being demaūded the ground of their misdemeanour they aunswered The spirite thus commaundeth me and thus the Father hath sayd so that when they wanted the worde they boasted of the spirite and affirmed that they had their doctrine from heauen reuealed vnto them This might by the inducing of many examples be proued to be true and the historyes of them who haue noted their behauiour are many and manifest Onely the testimonies of those learned men which were acquainted with their dealinges shall vnto the indifferent reader be sufficient for proofe of that which we haue in hand Vnto the which assertions of the Papistes and Anabaptistes with the Libertines lykewise if Henrye Nicholas should be added which in plainer wordes vttereth more pestilent impietye their messe shall be the fuller and the conuenticle of them more conuenient vpon the which the iudgements of God should fall in greater measure seing they all haue bene partakers fellow laborers in forging so great a heape of confusion to set vp the same agaynst the truth of God. To proue that HN. is guiltye of the inditement wherewith I burthen him vz. That he is a coyner of reuelations my allegations are two first his owne wordes vz. That the Lord reueiled it vnto him out of Sion and declared it out of the heauenly Ierusalem Secondly the places of Scripture by him misaleaged to quote and cōfirme this his dotage wherein he will not onely be offensiue to men but to the Lord also very wickedly iniurious As for his wordes the which are prefixed before this Article therin he claimeth vnto himselfe a more notable prerogatiue thē any mā liuing durst euer thinke or once imagine of For whereas it hath ben an onely especiall thing which properly appertained vnto such as haue ben singularly beloued of the Lord vnto whom God hath shewed himselfe in more notable measure as vnto Abraham Moses Iosua Gedeon Esay Ezechiel and the rest of the heauenly prophets and holy Apostles of Christ whome the Lord had before adioyned to more excellent functions and put them aside for some notable and extraordinarye ministration vnto those the Lord hath more clearely discouered himselfe and reuealed his countenaunce and in a greater measure opened and set abroad the brightnes of his glory yet vnto none so far at any time as HN. boasteth of hath hapned vnto him that he should be codeified with God in the spirite of his loue made heire with Christ in the heauenly treasures of the riches of God. The which great and wonderfull claime as it farre surpasseth all that euer any of the Prophets durst chalenge vnto themselues so doth HN. herein very impudētly boast and blasphemously arrogate more vnto himselfe then euer belonged vnto any mortall man the son of God excepted The which his vaine challenge as it is taken on by him with an harlots forehead so hath he no specialtye to shew that can warantiz him therein but onely the vngodly behauiour of the aūtient heretiques which by their furious fantasies and vaine imaginations haue made a diuorce betwixt the spirite and the written word of God which alwayes are enlinked together so that the one of them is neuer seperate from the other In the which poynt as he hath dealt very vnlearnedly and vnskilfully before men so hath he behaued himselfe very vnthākfull towardes the word of God which before might haue ben vnto him a sufficient caueat for that it termeth such reuelations and Prophesies as his are but lying visions whereof none haue so much bragged as the false Apostles But if here HN. his disciples shall reply that their Eldest Father doth confirme that reuelatiōs are sent frō God to him by the written word of the Canonicall scripture then I aunswere that herein resteth the triall that HN. is a lying seer and a seducing Prophet which may more easely appeare if the places which he alledgeth for the profe of his fained reuelations import no such thing as he doth father vppon them As for the first place which is To the which Elders and Fathers God hath reueiled his word in the day of Loue There is not any one place quoted for confirmation of it neither with Gods people will a mans bare worde be of sufficient warrant to countenaunce and confirme any thing Scripture it is that is the true rule and euen ballaunce wherein Gods marchandise must be peised This selfe same thing A godly and learned Father hath soundly proued when he sayth Let it not be sayd this say I and this thou sayst but this the holy Ghost sayth And agayne Taceant voces humanae loquantur diuinae ede mihi vel vnam scripturam pro parte Donati Let mens wordes be silent let Gods voyce be heard shew me but one text of scripture which defendeth Donatus assertion Right so say I set aside the persons of the speakers let vs sift and examine that which is spoken shew me but one text of scripture truely cited for the profe of HN. his doctrine As for this profe affirmations without ground and miracles without the worde as HN. doth commonly vse thē so is his vse not commendable The second place testifieth that God hath reuealed his true being vnto HN. out of Sion and Ierusalem Esa. 2. a. Mich. 2. a. 2. Pet. 1. b. Wherein he depraueth the sence of the holy Prophets in wresting that into an allegorye of the Celestiall Ierusalem which is ment of the Terestriall and earthly but this his fond exposition is more playne in an other place in these wordes HN. doth declare the same misterie of the riches of God agayne vpō the earth and minister the selfe same liuing word which is the very true light haue out of the heauenly Ierusalem to a testimonye of the truth receiued from Gods owne mouth c. And in an other place he sayth that this opening of Gods misteries is come vnto him out of the hyest heauen So that here it is very plainely to be sene that he abuseth the scripture and peruerteth the sence therof by turning the truth of a déede done in a place materiall into a heauenly and spirituall vision whereas the sence of the
did not bow to heare him nor vouchsafe him pardō will Theophilus say that he is giltles for beyng condemned for that transgression So may it be sayd of Caine before he committed that horrible murther the Lord did not onely frowne vppon him but gaue him likewise a watchword that if he stayd not his furie there was a punishment prepared for him and the continuall torment of conscience should not departe from him Dare Theophilus affirme that now seyng the Lord stayd not his hand from heauen in the staying of his brother is God therefore guiltie of that murther as well as Caine because the tongues of them that teach false doctrine are not rent out of the mouthes of heretiques and those that defile the Lordes Priesthode are not plagued is God not iust yes Theophilus God will recōpence the slownes of his punishment with the waight therof our God shall come and not stay for euer looke you therfore before hand to your standyng that ye be not cast out of the holy Citie and haue your part with those that wepe eternally And thus much to your Articles and aunsweres The summe of the opinions of cercertaine Libertines 1 FIrst they affirme that the preaching of the word is not the ordinarye meanes to come to the knowledge of the worde but by reason 2 Secōdly that no man which is faulty himselfe can preach the truth to others 3 Those preachers which doe take in hand to preach the word of God before man be regenerate doe take the office of the holy Ghost out of his hand 4 Those that be doctors and learned can not preach the word truely their reason is because Christ sayth it is hidden from the wise and prudēt and is reueiled to sucklinges and babes 5 There is no deuill but suche as the painters make 6 They which haue the spirite of God know all thinges 7 That we ought not to geue our almes to beggers for that they liue in the consumablenes and that there was no begger in Israell 8 Mariage is a sacrament and wonderfull speculation 9 That there were misteries and great speculations in the Masse if they could be attained vnto and that it was a God seruice 10 Also the seruice that we haue taken for a gods seruice is not so and in so taking it both they and we are deceiued 11 That Adam did not sinne at all their reason is Adam did not sinne but the woman 12 There is no man Gods childe but he that can shew his Pedigrue 13 The martyrs in Q. Maryes dayes ought not so to haue died for in so dying they distroyed the temples of God. 14 That whosoeuer hath Gods Spirite can not sinne and that the Prophet Dauid did not sinne after that tyme he had receiued the holy Ghost 15 That a man ought not to wearie his bodye in trauaile and labour For say they the holy ghost will not tarye in a body that is wearie and yrksame 16 Where there is any contention there is not the spirite of God for say they the spirite is not deuided 17 That the witch which raysed vp the deuill in the lykenes of Samuell was no witch but the wisedome of God and the spirit that she raysed vp was Samuell himselfe 18 That Adam was the sonne of God otherwise then by creation 19 That there be many bookes besides the Bible which Esdras speaketh of should be reuealed and come abroad before the end 20 That the Bible is not the word of God but a signification thereof and that the Bible is but ynk and paper but the word of God is spirite and lyfe 21 That they may not speake the truth bouldly and openly because the truth will not be heard 22 That there are Some which now are liuing which doe fulfill the Law in all pointes William Wilkinson ALbeit there be diuers of these Articles which I haue not read expressiuely in their bookes yet haue they ben confessed by them in conference as it may be proued by the testimonye of thē which haue talked with them vnto the which Articles exhibited at the same time with the former of HN. Theophilus aunswereth in maner as followeth Theophilus NOw forth for your conclusion that you make vpō the 22. forged articles which you terme the opiniōs of the Libertines and you would faine father thē on the Family of Loue vpon the testimony of some priuate conference had by some of that company as you say with such as are as ready as your selfe for to maintayne their lye and yet shame not therein Therfore it is briefly sayd whatsoeuer accordeth not with the scriptures of God therein that same may well be the opinion of the Libertines Whose God is their bellie whose glory is their shame and rest worldy minded Which also with vncircumcised and vnrenewed spightfull minded hartes and all euill dedednes as in contempt of his word persecuting of his chosen following of the fleshly lustes forsaking of his crosse seeking all ease in the flesh by lying and slaundering of his worde and his chosen flock doe seeke to honour the God of lyfe in maintayning of the contrary nature the kingdome of Gods aduersary the deuill to serue and worship the Christ of the same God by maintayning of the lyfe of Antichrist To reuerence his holy spirite by the vpholding of the Belialish spirite of Antechrist but surely none of the right professours of the Loue can in any wise maintayne any such errors as some of them be Therefore in some point Theophilus is a Libertine and so is the Fam. also And by the way it is much to be maruailed at that any such which take vpon them to professe the Christianitye can with such vehemencie contemne the loue of God and her louely ministration whilest that all the Scripture enfouldeth all good and the some of all what God and Christ requireth in his word therein Vnles it were to be graunted that the enviers thereof are vtterly ignoraunt in that which they professe Therfore let this professed Loue vowed by the Familye of Loue be proued a false and counterfaite Loue by some euil fruites or deedes that are in testimonye of truth and meekenes and not by lye and arrogancye And eke by the rule of Scripture to breake forth and be gathered thereout or els if better may be found to be proued by lyke effect let it in peace be allowed to dwell by and with you Least ye procure by such a continuall inueying agaynst God his righteousnes God his seuere wrath and indignation to fall without remedie ouer you For it is all in vaine to kick agaynst the pricke or striue agaynst the Lord for if it be out of the flesh and bloud it will surely goe vnder or faile and spare you much labour but being done by the finger of God small will be your preuailing and much lesse your reward c. W. Wilkinson THis whole speach of Theophilus may for orders sake
reason or knowledge For then should they right wel vnderstand it for the world can vnderstand her owne whose wisedome maketh all men in their manly wisedome meere fooles compassing the wise in their wisedome and prouyng their thoughtes to be but vayne will therfore as S. Paule and likewise the Prophet affirmeth destroy the wisedome of the wise and reiect the vnderstandyng of the prudent For it hath ben euermore an order with the holy on s of God in the bringyng forth of the holy thynges to expresse it more out of the authoritie of the spirite and with power I meane out of the efficacie of the Lord had by their essential operation in their inwardnes thē with the entising wordes of manly wisedome that our fayth might not stand or rest grounded in the wisedome of man but in the power of God by which meanes the naturall man perceiueth not any thyng of the spirite of god Yea the thynges of God and his wisedome are mere foolishnesse vnto him And therefore he shal be founde happyer that becommeth deceiued with such a godly deceit then shall those which are borne in hand to be in a right way and a good case beyng yet in the meane tyme directed with the dreames of mans fantasie in steade of cleare truth c. Rochester THe greatest part of this boke is nothyng but a brief discourse either a rehearsall of the story of the Bible as appeareth frō the .5 chapter to the .27 .28 chapters And his collectiō is none other but such as any meanly learned may gather by diligēt readyng of the Scriptures The Familie of Loue. HOw well soeuer the greatest part of the booke bee iudged by you to be nothyng but a bare brief discours or rehearsall of the histories of the Bible whiche any meanly learned as you say might do the like yet séemeth it to me to be of greater force neither haue I euer in my tyme heard or by readyng perceiued that the greatest learned among the prudent wisenesse which rest grounded more on the litterall knowledge of the Christiā verifie then on the beyng of the same haue atchiued the like or brought the match therof to light all thyngs considered For it is not onely an euident declaration of the singular good will and operations of God towardes his creatures in respectyng and tenderyng their saluation darckly figured foorth in the Bible but also and expresse manifestation of the approchyng of tyme wherein the purpose of the Lord drawen a long and begon as the tyme state and age of the worlde would permit the same touchyng the disposing of the wicked world with her ministers and adherentes the erectyng of the righteous world to florish there ouer in vigour for euermore becōmeth as he there testifieth Full accomplished through the same seruice of God or ministrations of his loue expressed or mencioned in the same booke accordyng to the promises To the which ministration God hath chosen the Authour as he there alledgeth to be a right minister and prepared him thereto in the fourme and sorte mencioned in the head of his booke vnto which like function and holy annoyntyng no conceited Scripture learned or Doctour of the letter that I can any way marke or perceiue hath in these dayes attained or reached And whether that be a pretendyng of the Ghost or no that will well appeare and be séene in his tyme by the sequele thereof to wéete in the perseueraunce and foorth goyng of the same among and with all such as shall endure to sée the triall therof c. Rochester THe Authour doth much pretend the holy Ghost and entituleth his booke An Epistle written from the holy Ghost which is to be suspect of hygh Reuelations daungerous to deceiue the simple Familie of Loue. THis is aunswered in the Section before Rochester INtreatyng of Antichrist in the 28. chapter he teacheth no certaine doctrine who he is or where to be founde that we may know him beware of his doctrine but it seemeth altogether doubtfull in so much that the Note in the margēt sayth O that this Antechrist were knowen Whereas if the Authour would haue dealt plainly and according to the scriptures he might easly haue shewed that Rome is the seate of Antechrist And that the succession of Popes and that body and kingdome is the very Antichrist mencioned and described in the .2 Thessal 2. Apocal. 13.17 c. ¶ In the Chapter 31. 32. the Authour HN. bewrayeth him selfe to be a Papist 1. FIrst he calleth the Church of Rome the communion of all Christiās whereas it is but a particular Church fallen away from the vniuersall Church of Christ 2. Although he seemeth to cōfesse that the Church of Rome hath not that perfection of Religion whiche it had in tymes past which the Papistes do and must graunt yet he seemeth to allow and speake reuerently of all Popishe orders as they be now The Pope hee calleth the chief annoynted the chief Byshop or high Priest who hath his heyng in the most holy sanctuarie of true and perfect holynes most holy Father Next vnto him he placeth the Cardinals whom he calleth most holy and famous and hee sayth that they are next the most auncientest and holy Father the Pope in most holy Religion and vnderstandyng Next vnto Cardinals he reconeth Byshops whom he calleth chief Priestes After Byshops he nameth Curates Deacons c. After those he maketh mencion of Monkes whom he commendeth as men addicted to holynesse and separated from the world and all carnall desires But most playnly the Authour sheweth him selfe a frend to the Church of Rome saying that many through contention and discorde did cast of the Church of Rome and dyd blaspheme her with her ministeries and of their own braynes pretendyng the Scriptures haue brought in other ministeries and Religion they spoke much of the word of god Who doubteth that this is the voyce and iudgement of Papistes agaynst Protestauntes and true Christians Familie of Loue. WHere as you furthermore complayne of the insufficiencie of the expressing of Antechrist as to say who he is and where to be founde because the Authour applyeth him not to the Pope and his succession in the Church of Rome it séemeth if the matter were well looked vnto that mē should finde that Antechrist euen in the very selfe same place from whence you gather your exception flatly detected although he is not so employed to mēs contētations for if men could sée what Christ accordyng to the spirite is as he is a liuyng power of God were whereas his whole scope drift of writyng stretcheth they should then right well perceiue thereout that the man of sinne and child or broode of the Deuill and cōdemnation beyng a right aduersarie or an expresse contrary beyng vnto Christ the righteousnes of God the father and raignyng in all states of men generally Beyng fleshly Popes or other from the tyme of the declinyng