relate how the Hussian Churches in Bohemia and Moravia being by degrees turned to Lutheranism as they call it retained indeed the Doctrine of the Gospel but reformed indeed nothing as to the endeavour of a Christian Conversation That this redounded much to the prejudice of our Churches so well approved of by Luther and his Colleagues for the care of Discipline Whilest the Libertines boasting that without the yoke of Discipline they could bring it so to pass to enjoy the Gospel pure in any other place so that there are none that any more joyn themselves to us yea and some depart from us They therefore demand Whether so great an abuse of the Gospel may be suffered Luther replied in the presence of all the whole Colledge of Divines That Popery could not be subdued but by rooting out all those usages which savour of the yoke of Humane Superstition and violation of the liberty of Conscience and that at this time especially when they take notice that all the world is making head against them it must needs be granted a matter of necessity for us to withstand them what we can and to repair Discipline That to this end he would seriously attend the business as soon as ever he could get any breathing time For the Pope was at this very time in confident expectation of a new Councils making disturbance in all places c. to the like purpose The Brethren then added that they could not expect their endeavours should come to any good effect as they had formerly said in their Letter to Luther Anno 1523. as long as they saw that in their Universities and â—chools so much care was taken of Science and so little regard had unto Conscience entreating them that whilest they set themselves to obviate impendent dangers they would seriously minde those more specially which as to the matter of Conscience warlikely break in upon the Church and overwhelm it c. After this when they had had about two weeks most familiar converse and mutual conference about their whole business with Luther and the rest of the Divines being now ready to return from Witteberg Luther entertaining them with a feast and in the presence of many of the Professors of that University taking his solemn and last farwel of them gave the whole Unity of the Brethren the right hand of holy Fellowship parting with these words Be you the Apostles of Bohemia and I with my Colleagues will be the Apostles of Germany Do you the work of Christ as opportunity shall be given you there and we will do it in like manner here as we may have opportunity 82. Some moneths after the same year Luther writing to the same Augusta inserts these words following Moreover I charge you in the Lord that you hold out with us to the last in the Communion of the Spirit and Doctrine wherein you have begun and strive with us by word and prayer against the Gates of Hell c. Commend me c. respectfully unto all the Brethren in the Lord at Strasberg the day after S. Francis Anno 1542. This great soul'd Luther notwithstanding all the importunities of the Brethren for the restoring of Discipline and the life of Christianity not at all displeased with them persisted in friendly correspondency with them to the end expressing a gracious dear affection towards them and toward the business Lasitius produceth notorious witnesses taking from the mouth of Luther these words following There hath not arose any people since the times of the Apostles whose Church hath come nearer to the Apostolical Doctrine and Orders then the Brethren of Bohemia and again Although these Brethren in purity of Doctrine excel not us all the Articles of Faith with us being sincerely and purely taken out of the Word of God yet in the ordinary Discipline of the Church which they use and whereby they happily govern the Churches they go far beyond us and in this respect are far more praise-worthy And we cannot but acknowledge and yield this to them for the glory of God and of his truth whereas our people of Germany cannot be perswaded to be willing to take the yoke of Discipline upon them 83. Absolutely without doubt this excellent man saw the mischief of the first Errour and was very desirous it should be amended but could not being constrained to divide his attendance between this and other conflicts with so many monstrous abominations sufficiently dispatch all things as true hearted men frequently apologize for him Yea and our Lasitius himself too as was said before Sect. 77. and for certain he commended to God and his Successors prayers and hopes of a further and more perfect degree of Reformation to be attained Howbeit the accomplishment of his Hope hitherto fell short of his prayers For wthin three years and four moneths after these Transactions with the Brethren he departed this life There followed upon his death saith Bucholcer the â—hronologer a double War of the Divines and also Civil wars of the Evangelici among themselves Alass that we rested in vindicating the Theory of the Doctrine of the Gospel without the practice of Discipline God bless us I could wish the Brethren of Bohemia had been proved false Prophets when at the very beginning of this Reformation in Germany in their first Letter to Luther dated 1523. and frequently afterward they foretold these sad events viz. upon this ground because it prevailed in their Schools and Churches contrary to that Apostolical Protestation 1 Cor. 1.1 2. to study knowledge rather then Charity and Edification So that notwithstanding all that Bucer Melancthon Hemingius Saubertus Arnd. J. Valent the Andreas's and many other faithful men acted by the Divine Spirit could do no remedy could take place to rectifie this distemper Not that nothing at all was effected by the endeavours of these holy men but that nothing they could do was sufficient to quench the general flame of malice and prophaneness God amend it even at least by this his smart and general overflowing Discipline of his scourge 84. To return to the Brethren I will briefly touch that Persecution whereby after the Scmalcaldick war was ended they also in Bohemia were oppressed When the Pope had reconciled the King of France to the King of Spain the same being now also Emperour Charls the fifth upon this Article or Condition amongst the reâ—â— that both parties should turn their Forces against the Lutherans it came to pass in France not long after that the Waldenses in the Province of Narbon were cut off and destroyed Caesar also prepared war against the Germans which beginning just â—fter the death of Luther ended the year following in the overthrow of the Protestants At which time Ferdinand dragged the Bohemians to execution for that they had refused to assist Caesar against the Prince Elector of Saxony punishing the chief of the Nobles with imprisonment banishment or confiscation of goods He raged most of all against the Brethren commanding their
people as the Waldenses in the world or no. Others exceedingly wondred what should come into the heads of the Scythians all Polonia Russia Moravia Sarmatia to own scarce any other but the Waldenses Confession Fearing no doubt lest they should with their inventions infect and defile the pure and holy Doctrine which they had lately embraced for this cause which indeed is very weighty I thought it incumbent upon me that the Waldensian Confession which at this time was hardly to be found or gotten might be printed and published and I doubt not but all that savour pure Doctrine even at first taste as they say will highly commend not onely their Confession but the Polonians themselves and all others whoever they be that have any where received it into their Church and so be obliged to pray to our heavenly Father that of his infinite goodness he would please to maintain encrease and speed more and more every day the Reformation of the Churches so happily begun amongst them Hereupon I thought good besides the Testimony of Martin Luthâ—r a most reverend and holy man which aprroved and extolled the Church-way of the Waldenses to subjoyn also the deserved attestation of many other persons of very great Learning Piety and Authority especially of Philip Melancthon Martin Bucer Wolfgang Masculus which seem to me to be yet more taken with this same Confession then Luther Howbeit he in very plain and serious words as I said extols it too Now indeed though I know how considerable a person I am yet I warn the Churches in Christ newly replanted these last forty years that they be not taken up with this onely that they have prevailed so far as to root out Popish Superstitions and other Abominations from them but that they would also be diligent and sollicitous to take care for the keeping of Peace and Purity and the genuine Doctrine of the Divinity of the Son of God and our Lord Jesus Christ and not onely so neither but yet further for the introducing of the Discipline and a mortified life as may comport with such Doctrine Hitherto Vegerius 95. Moreover sending the Brethren in Prussia this their Confession he writes thus among other things The Princes in Germany wonder what took me in the head to joyn my self to the Piccards but when they hear me they will supersede their admiring And a little after I hope I have taken such a course that many in a great part of Europe will understand what the Waldensian Confession is and also be in love with it which thing is altogether to be ascribed to God 96. Four years after March 19. 1561. he wrote to the Brethren again in these words As the Spirit of God hath overpowered me to break off from that Adulterate Church of Antichrist that 't is now more then ten years by the grace of God I separated from it So it now still excites me to seek that Church which seems to me the best wherein to lay my bones when I shall return my spirit into the hands of my Heavenly Father I am therefore bound hereunto if it be Gods will not onely upon my own account but also to set a good example for others How mean soever I am I have made my self a president in flying out of the Papacy and indeed I abhor the Doctrine thereof with my whole heart Now I desâ—â—e to make attestation That I do not condemn the Doctrine of the Churches wherein I am but I rather cleave to those Churches wherein Discipline is most strictly observed I say I cannot but approve of the other Churches but I would have withal the other part of the Gospel i. e. Discipline too I profess therefore that I must needs prefer your Churches before all other And least any shâ—uld think me to have been but lately of this judgement I call God to witness I have ever been thus affected towards these Churches since my first taste of the Gospel yea and there be many that bear me witness that I have asserted them to my utmost I might adde there be two actions of mine which shew me as being of this minde The one is that I allayed the fury of the most Sereno King of the Bohemians Maximilian when he was possessed with bitter prejudice against them c. In a word if your Churches please to receive me I will heartily incorporate my self to them and dye with them c. and inasmuch as I have voluntarily renounced outward advantages I seek them not amongst you The hand of the Lord hath touched me sore my affections endeavors and thoughts now run another way 97. â—nd writing in particular to John Rokitam he addes I desire nothing more of my Heavenly Father then that he would transplant me into the bosom of your Church For in brief I prefer it before all other and would freely give publike testimony of this my judgement thereof before them all I doubt not but my Noble Lord James Earl of Ostrorog will communicate to you some writings about the Council of Trent I apprehend the Spirit of God sets it much upon my spirit to go to that Council and truly if they shall give me such security for my passage as I demand I shall not be able to refrain but I must go There is danger indeed lest they should serve me as they did John Huss and Jerome of Prague But I cannot bestow my life better then if I lay it out in martyrdom I desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ I pray do my salutations to our Brothers George and Peter and all the rest of the Ministers of the Word of God I beseech you with my whole heart pray for me Our Heavenly Father encrease the Celestial riches of his Spirit and of Faith in the hearts of all his people through Jesus Christ our Lord Thus far Vigerius But it was not given to this excellent man to compass either of his desires viz. either to be transplanted into the Church of Polonia nor to be crowned with Martyrdom he being a little after by a fair natural death translated unto the Heavenly Mansions 98. The Churches of Polonia the less in the interim as it were still tossed up and down could come to no establishment of Order both a good part of the Nobility and they which were privily proselited from Italy following Arrianism in their judgements and declining the yoke of Discipline Concerning which John a Lasco a Baron of Polonia which two years before laying down Episcopal Dignity in his own Countrey out of love to the truth travelled into other Countreys and having performed the Pastoral office of a Pastor in the Outlandish Churches which sojourned at London Embda Franckfort near by Maine returned being sent for into his Countrey Anno 1566. in his Letter to John Nigran Antistes of the Brethren in Bohemia and his Colleagues Anno 1558. writes thus We have yet nothing here among us in any settled Posture c. but it is plainly
knowledge especially John Wickliff Whose letter to John Huss being then a young man written in the year 1387. being the year before he dyed I finde yet extant in some ancient Records and here insert as followeth Happiness and what ever can be thought of which is dear and desirable in the bowels of Iesus Christ MOst dear Brethren in the Lord whom I love in the Truth and not I â—nely but also all which have known the tâ—uth That truth I mean which by the grace of God is and abideth and shall be in you for ever I joyed very much in the Bâ—ethren which came from you and produced a testim ny of your fa thfulness and that y u walk in the Truth I hear Brethren how Antichrist dâ—th vex you brinâ—ing many and various Tribulations upon them which believe in â—hrist It is no strange thing it should be so with you in as much as the Word of Christ is oppressed by the adversaries in all the World and that great red and many headed Dragâ—n mentioned by John in his Revelation hath sent out of his mouth a great flood upon the Woman to overwhelm her But the faithful Lord will certainly deliver his one onely loyal Spouse Let us be stâ—engthened in the Lord our God and in his immense goodness firmly believing that he will not suffer his dear ones to fall away from their godly purpose onely let us love him as we ought with our whole hearts Afflictions should never prâ—ss us if iniquity prevail not Let no distress or pressure therefore for Christs sake cast us down seeing we know that the Lord chasteneth whomsoever he receiveth for his sons For the Father of mercies is pleased to exercise us with many troubles in this present life that he may spare us hereafter Thâ— Gold which this Supreme Artificer choâ—seth he will here have it purified by fire that hereafter he may lay it up amongst his most pure everlasting Treasures We see our time here is short and swiftly passing away but the life which we expect then is blessed and eternal Let us labour then while we have time that we may be counted worthy to enter into his rest What else I pray do we behâ—ld here but grief vexation weariness and which should affect the faithful most the contempt and treading under foot of the Divine Law Let us then strive to our utmost abridging our senses of those transitory fading vain things to attain those things which abide for ever Let us observe the conversation of our Fathers of old see the Saints in both the Testaments what stâ—rms and tempeâ—ts they endured in the Sea of this World what Prisons what bonds how they were stoned sawn asunder and slain with the edâ—e of the Sword how they went about in Sheep skins and Goats skins c. as the Epistle to the Hebrews records at large They all going the strait way in the steps of Christ who hath said Where I am there shall my servant be We theâ—efore having such a clâ—ud of witnesses of the Saints of all former ages to compass us about let us lay aâ—ide whatever weight there is in us and the sin which round besets us and run with patience the appointed race looking to Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith who for the joy set before him endured the Cross and despised the shame Let us remember him which suffered such contradiction of sinners against himself that we faint not in our hearts and fall away but let us with our whole heart seek help of the Lord and fight manfully against Antichrist his Enemy Let us love his law in our hearts and not he unthankeful in his work But in all things carry our selves with assurance according to the measure of faith which the Lord giveth us and be strong in the cause of God and the hope of the Eternal Reward Therefore thou Huss my dear Brother in Christ unknown indeed unto me by face but not in faith and love for the uttermost ends of the earth cannot set them asunder which the love of Christ hath knit together be strong in the grace which is given to thee fight as a good Souldier of Jesus Christ both by word and work Doctrine and conversation and gain whom you can to return to the way of the truth Inasmuch as the truth of the Gospel ought not to be suppressed in silence for the erroneous lying decrees and defections of Antichrist do you therefore rather notwithstanding the designs of Satan comfort and establish the members of Christ for that Antichrist shall shortly by the will of God be finished I am very much rejoyced that in your Kingdom and other parts God hath so strengthened the hearts of some that they suffer Prisons Banishment yea death it self for the Word of God and that with joy too Dearly Beloved I have little else to write I must needs assure you That I would gladly do any thing to strengthen you and all the lovers of Christs Government In the love of the Law of God remember my most affectionate salutation to them from the bottom of my heart especially to your partner in the Gospel of Christ entreating your prayers for me and for the whole Church of Christ Now the God of Peace which brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus Christ the great Shepherd of the sheep by the blood of the eveâ—lasting Covenant make you ready to every good work that you may do his will working in you that which is pleasing in his sight through Jesus Christ to whom be glory for ever and ever Amen 25. Huss being as now Professor of the University and afterward Anno 1400. made Preacher of Bethlehem the University Church he took heart very daringly to inveigh against those now overflowing Abominations and weild openâ—y against them the Sword of the Divine Word with great applause among the people not onely at Prague but through the whole Kingdom It very much revived his spirit that the same year Jerome of Prague being returned out of England and bringing over Wickliffs books with him rooted up the present prevailing errors with the like boldness in the Schools as Huss did in the Church Against these pious designs to clear the Church of the infection of Superstition the Academicks which were Foreigners overnumbering yet and overvoting the rest opposed themselves all they could and passed a Censure upon Wickliffs Articles But the Bohemians debated the Prerogative of Elections with the Popes Abettors making it good that it did belong to themselves as Natives and not to them being strangers The debate being referred to King Wenceslaus son to Charls he gave sentence on the Bohemians side Hereupon the Germans being angry went away from Prague by Troops which occasioned the erecting of the Universities of Lipsia and Erfurd and the Bohemians chose and created Mr. Huss Head of the University in the year 1409. 26. The Monks being cast off by the King and the University stir up the Archbishop
Churcâ—es to be shut up and their Pastors to be seized The first that was taken was the chief Antistes John Augusta which with his Assistant James Bilek was takâ—n upon suspicion of corr spondence had with Luther yea conspiracy That his design in hâ—s coming to Witteberg was to dispossess Charls of Germany and Ferdinando of Bohemia that the Elector of Saxony might be King of the Bohemians Hereupon they committed them to the cruel wrack to be tortured three times and yet could discover no mention of any crime for indeed it was a meer malicious calumny nor yet could have any colourable reason to inflict any punishment upon them They were left in Prison full sixteen years untill the death of Ferdinando July 25. 1564. and then at length were dismissed 85. Some of the dispersed Pastors and people came to Prussia and there were graciously received by Duke Albert assigning them these Towns Guizina Dubrawn Solduvia Gardia for their fixed habitations There is extant touching these a memorabâ—e Letter of Antonius Bodâ—nsteinus a Lutheran Pastor of Guizina wheâ—e the better part of the exiles took up residence written to Mr. Brentius an exile also at this time at Basil which Lasitius sets down entire Book 5. and wherein among other things we have as followeth These young men are of the number of those Brethren which within these twelve moneths were driven out of their own Countrey of Bohemia and being exiles were received in our Prussia Their Confession was published at Witteberg and commended by the judgement and approbation of Mr. Luther our Reverend Father and Master of pious memory They have not onely their Doctrine consonant with ours but also some other things peculiar such as with not small jeopardy of Conscience are wanting among us Such watchful care of souls as I never saw more exactness the most choice exercises of piety and repentance both Domestick and Ecclesiastick honesty of conversation before men and righteousness the true use of fastings watchings travels prayers brotherly admonition private counsels Ecclesiastical censures c. that they are justly matter of admiration to us all And I do not think Prussia could have had better guests or inhabitants to make welcome in the world again Mr. Bucer a man of great judgement is not afraid to extol them in his works above all the Churches in the whole Christian world attributing to them that which he doth not to any others and commending them to all the godly even as a pattern proposed for their imitation The same have other choice men done Luther Capito Calvin And truly if there be any Churches extant in which the Discipline and gravity of Apostolical men and all things framed after the example of the holiest Martyrs can be found they are for certain these little Churches of the Brethren I believe this so holy a people is sent of God into these parts to the end that others may be provoked by their example and bethink themselves throughly to amend those defects which yet cleave to our Churches It is a very sad thing that the Gospel of God should be published onely for a witness to the world c. Given Septemb. 15. 1542. 86. Thus Prussia blessed themselves with their new neighbours Moreover there appeared also at the same time another argument of the Providence of God on his Churches behalf in that these very exiles as they made their way through Polonia the greater scattered there as by the by when otherwise taken up some seeds of the Gospel For when they were to depart their own Countrey not knowing whether to turn themselves better then to the Polonians being consorts of the same language Being met together in a certain place in the confines of Silesia behold in one company there came thither out of the places adjacent about nine hundred souls in above a hundred and twenty Coaches Nay so it was not onely in Silesia but also in Polonia it self thougâ— yet adhering generally to the Papacy they found more countenance then opposition D. Anâ—reas Earl of Gork Captain General of Polonia the greater not onely permitting them to be entertained and lodged in the Suburbs all about Postriania but inviting them also into his Hereditary Towns Samotuli Kurnik c. insomuch that they had yielded themselves to him as Subjects but that presently there comes from the King an Edict which a Popish Clerk had procured by his sollicitation streightly enjoyning that they should be driven out of Polonia Whereupon they went forward into Prussia yet not without leaving upon the mindes of the Polonians some desire after them 87. For they having some Pastors with them were ready for Divine exercises to be performed freely none hindring them singing praying reading the Scriptures preaching to which when as many flocked as the minde of man is desirous of that which is new it could not easily be but that God should open the heart of more then one Lydia also for that the year following Matthias Sionius an Antistes following his people into Prussia and through some indisposedness being constrained to stay at Polonia by the means of many conferences had with divers sorts of men upon occasion there was no small number of the Citizens and Nobility which gave themselves up to the Discipline of the Brethren and desired them to appoint a Pastor over them 88. They gave them therefore for a Pastor and ordered to go over to them in Polonia George Israel one which had been wonderfully released out of Prison at Prague a man of right Apostolical spirit and he propagated the Gospel of Christ with such happy success that in one six years he brought most of the Nobility among whom was the Right Honourable the Earls of Gork of Ostroroge of Leszno unto the knowledge of the Truth and planting near forty Churches as Vergerius whom the Pope sent his Legate of whom after to view them computeth them d d govern them with that dexterity that the Noblemen and Ministers of Polonia the less having received their Reformers at that time out of Switzerland and so called the novel Churches of the Helvetlan Confession began to be beholden to them for counsel and to desire to be conjoyned with them 89. But this matter did not please Mr. Lismaninus now Arianizing so that upon this account an appeal was made to the Divines of Tigurine and Geneva Anno 1556. by which means the Brethrens affairs were exposed to a new debate not onely in Helvetia but also by the zeal of Vergerius in all Germany and Italy The Helvetians approved their design of conjoyning especially for the sake of their Discipline I have ready at hand divers Letters written at this time to the Poles out of which it will not be out of the way to alledge something pertinent to the business now before us John Calvin writes thus Your accord with the Waldenses I hope will be to very good effect not onely because of that blessing with which God is wont to visit the
Christendome and at last asking of Crato which of all those Sects he thought came nearest the Apostolical simplicity he answered I know not unless if that be not to be yielded to the Brethren which they call the Piccards Saith Caesar again Even I think so too Whereupon Crato was bold to perswade the Brethren to dedicate their new Edition of the German salter which he knew they were in haâ—d withal to Casar And so they did Anno 1566. whereas first they insert in the Dedicatory Epistle to him that there was life in that and all good men hoped that his August Majestie would promoâ—e the general Reformation of the Church and hereunto they quicken him by the example of David Jehosaphat Josiah Constantine Theodosius and so after that they doubted not for the furtherance of so publique a good work to present His Majestie this mite with all their whole talent according to that measure which God had been pleased to distribute any gift unto them as it plainly appears in the preface it self being still prefixed to all the those Books of Psalters printed ever since It is very likely this pious Prince wanted not a good will hereunto if by the leave of their arts that beleagure the Scepters of Kings and tie their hands he could have done any thing 109. In the third year indeed of his Reign 1565. the haters of the Truth work out a new Persecution against the Brethren abusing to that purpose the Authority of the Chancellour of Bohemia Lord Joachim of New-house who going to Vienna made means by various importunate sollicitations that Caesar should be constrained though it were much against his minde to agree to the putting in execution of the Wladislavian Edict against the Piccards with a new Mandat But the goodness of God watched on the behalf of his own and would not suffer this most excelâ—ent Prince either to be defiled with the blood of the innocent or to be sunk by the sighs of the oppressed For as the Chancellour returned back prepared or furnished with the Broad-Seal he was scarce yet out of the gates of Vienna but as he was going over the bridge of the River Danubium so it was that the pillars giving way the bridge fell asunder and delivered him to the waters to be ingulfed so that he and his Retinue was drowned six horsemen onely swiming out and a young man of the Nobility whom God preserved even to decrepit old age to be a lasting witness of this dreadful judgement who also professed the Religion of the Brethren for the Vindication of which he had found God by experience at that time so vigilant This man as he was swiming in the waters spying his Lord wrought up from the deep and scrabling in the waters ready to sink again got hold of his gold chain about his neck and held till the fishermen which he saw were coming that way in a boat came and helped him out So the Baron was gotten out howbeit dead but for the Cabinet or Trunk wherein the Inâ—truments of the bloody cruelty were laid up that was utterly lost in the waters so that never man saw it after neither durst any man ever attempt the like mischief again Thuanus also relates this story in his 36 Book and calculates this very case to be the fourth Id. of Decemb. 100. When the Copies of the Confession of the Brethren even of the last Edition at Tubinga were so dispersed that there were none to be had it was printed again at Witteberg 1573. better then the former Editions with the ancient Preface of Luther and the Epistle of Professors then yet living Wherein these words were inserted We commend you and your Churches for bearing so good a minde that after the example of your Fathers you place your care and diligence especially in this that you may make proficiency in the knowledge of Christ daily and faithfully transmitting the precious trust of the Word wherewith you are charged both to them that are about you and them that come after you We approve also well of your holding up the strictness of Church Disciplâ—ne which is after the example of the ancient Church without superstition or any snares imposed on the conscience c. Witteberg Feb. 8. 1573. 111. Mr. Zanchy now living at Heidelberg having this Confession sent him by Mr. Crato returned in answer these words Having heedfully and with great content of Spirit perused the Brethrens Confession that you sent me not onely I perceive that your whole Doctrine is agreeable to the holy Scriptures but methinks I apprehend in you that sincere and true Christian piety which is from the very heart inasmuch as you seem to make it your drift not as some utterly to subvert and root out without making any difference even to the very foundations whatever is found in the Church of Rome but to constitute Churches after the true Apostolical and by consequence Salvifical Square of Piety rejecting what is to be rejected correcting what is to be corrected and retaining what is to be retained which indeed is the true and legitimate way of Reforming Churches And I would all Churches in imitation of those our very good Brethren would diligently take the same course so without doubt there would be more Piety Peace Concord Charity whereby God is glorified and the Kingdom of Christ advanced felt in our selves and seen in others And to what end I pray is the whole holy Scripture the preaching of the Gospel the administration of the Sacraments the Institution of Discipline save onely that by these outward helps we being sustained held up assisted through the operation of the holy Spirit in us may profit more and more daily both in faith and charity in the endeavouring of good works and an holy life And as the Apostle saith That the man of God may be perfect being furnished unto every good work Therefore howbeit I grant you in part that which you write that in those there is more conscience then knowledge yet absolutely I do not for those Weaklings seem to me to be wiser in their ignorance then many wise men with their multiplied knowledge c. 112. Lasitius subjoyns as touching the same Confession of the Brethren the testimony of Stanislaus Sarnicius reckned by Starovolscius one of the Century of Polonian Writers but he was a Minister of the Word of God of the Helvetian Confession and afterwards the Superintendent of the Diocess of Cracovia which is after this manner If any man asks me what the Bohemian Confession differs from the Augustan and Helvetian I can make it out that all the Confessions of Germany and France do design this especially to refute and condemn the Popish abuses onely the Confession of the Successors of Huss the Martyr doth not onely pull down what is contrary to but also repairs and restores that building of the new man by Regeneration and of the Church well qualified 113. Not much unlike was the judgement of the Divines of
Tower called Namest This noble Lord bountifully maintained all those persons and preparations at his own proper cost and charges and God blessed it so that we now if any part of Europe again have the Prophets and Apostles speaking in our langauge and yet most purely and properly They were about this work preparing the Translation pure explaining it with Commentaries and writing it out in six Tomes fair for the Press the full space of fourteen years The first part namely the Pentateuch coming out anno 1679. The second part viz. The Historical Books 1580. The third part viz. the Hagiography i. e. the Psalms Proverbs Ecclesiastes and Canticles 1583. The Books of the Prophets 1587. The Apocrypha 1588. then the sixth and last part containing the New Testament 1593. out of which afterward other Editions were taken 118. In the year 1575. Maximilian held a Convention at Prague and he gives his allowance that the Estates of the Kingdom which were for the Sacrament in both kinds should enter into a mutual engagement of fidelity to each other under the common seal or token of one confession The Jesuits notwithstanding and the Pseudo pretended Hussites acting to their utmost strength to hinder it but yet they could not For whereas they in their Petitions and Remonstrances amongst other things clamoured to this purpose That the Estates for both kinds were not unanimous in the Faith but nourished amongst themselves the Piccards Calvinists Lutherans The estates that they might testifie their consent agreed together to draw up a Common Confession To this end making choyce of certain Divines and appointing also some of the Barons Nobles and City Officers to overlook the business To these therefore the Masters of Prague presented the Books of Mr. Huss and the Synodical and Parliament Acts for the Religion of the antient Bohemians but those which imbraced the Augustan Confession which were a great part of the Estates offered that same Confession as they that were of the Brethren offered theirs They compare both the sense and the form of speech or phrase of both parts in every Article of Faith and put it into such a form as both parties were able and willing to subscribe it not too much descending to particular subtile Scholastick differences of Questions Which Christian moderation and prudence of theirs did not only profit themselves but also highly swayed many great persons in Germany and elsewhere For Cesar ratified that Confession that was offered him and took all which did subscribe it into his royal Protection onely what they petitioned for power to constitute the Consistory and the University he put off till another time graciously promising them withal in the mean time that he himself or his Son which they had assigned to be his Successor would not be wanting to promote the Petition of the Estates 119. Note That this Confession of the Estates was written in the Bohemian language not translated into Latin nor printed till the year 1619. at which time it was presented to King Frederick by the University and Consistory of Prague therefore it is not extant in the Catalogue of Confessions but that which is found there under the title of the Bohemian Confession is the peculiar Confession of the Brethren of Bohemia not this common one of the Estates There was care taken that they should be put down only in the German tongue and then submitted by the Council to the censure of the Divines of Wittenberg 1575 by the Lord Bohustaus Felix of Lobkowitz and Hassenstein chosen by the Estates to overlook that business It was well approved of by the Wittenberg Divines who in their answer to this Baron in the German tongue among others have these words Although this Confession be brief and we easily observe that the main design in drawing it up was that the chief Articles of Faith should be briefly plainly and properly expressed to avoid all superfluous prelixness and jangling contention about doubtful questions which haply sâ—me contentious spirits in our Germany if this Confession come forth in the German dialect will find fault with all But as for us we cannot but approve your Christian prudence and moderation and plainly we would warn you that though in other places they should be of another opinion yet that you would not suffer your selves to be lead away from this holy and pure simplicity forasmuch as it is certain that the Churches are herein best provided for and such are more edified reformed and kept in unity where the pure Doctrine of the Gospel is commended to Christians in simplicity without any curious affectation of subtilties and the contentions arising thereupon As also David prayeth Psal 25. Thou shalt keep me in simplicity and uprightness c. Given at Wittenburg 3. November Anno 1575. 120. Most excellent Maximilian being laid in the grave 1576. his Son Rudolph succeeded him and treading in his Fathers steps until the year 1602. he reigned in quietness no man being troubled upon any account of Religion but this year by the secret machinations of the Jesuites managed by their Agents things were brought to that pass that Rudolph subscribed the Edict by them drawn up to reinforce Wladislaus Act against the Piccards and commanded it to be published but it effected no further mischief then to shut up the Churches of the Brethren for a time for the Patrons of the Brethren the Nobles protesting against it as not belonging to them inasmuch as the Piccards were not such as were therein described easily obtained of Rudolph graciously to connive at the slack observation and execution of his Edicts neither was it so lawful for the adversaries to urge them by the activity of the other Estates of the Evangelici It is also reported by credible Authors that when in the evening that very day 22 July a messenger bringing tidings that Alba Regalis the chief City of Hungary was taken by the Turks Rudolphe being very much troubled said I lookâ— for some such sad blow ever since I began to usurp Gods Dominion which he hath over the Consciences of men alluding herein to a saying of his Father 121. And that it was never his intent but that the promises of his most pious Father should be performed and the libâ—rty of Conscience established he sufficiently declared afâ—erwards when as Anno 1609. he assigned the Estates of the Kingdom which stood for the Sacrament in both kinds notwithstanding the contraveâ—sings of the Pope and the Spanish Faction as also of many of his own Councel to reform the new Consistory and the University as they should see meet adding moreover hereto his Royal Letters under his broad Seal to confirm his grant hereof giving moreover his allowance that the Churches and Schools which yet the Evangelici had should be continâ—ed in their possession and that others should be built where there was need forbidding that any of his Subjects whether temporal or spiritual should be punished upon the account of Religion And took
it securely at their pleasure over the Churches and so over the heavenly Doctrine c. What this means John Valentine of Andreas a choice Divine of the Lutherans in his Auguration Sermon or Speech at Tubinga in the year 1642. tells us in these words The impotent Usurped Power of the Pope over Emperours Kings and all power of State and Magistracy which one may call by an unusually but not an unfitly name Papal-Magistracy with a Divine Spirit of Power set at liberty their Rights Dignities Crowns and Scepters and being restored upheld them by the Authority of the Divine Word Now Satan easily perceived what an incurable wound was given him and how the very foundations of his Kingdom were shaken by this liberty of the Magistrate restored therefore superseding all force and violence he takes to his Arts and Stratagems and attempting that which no man suspected an unworthy return indeed for so great a benefit instead of Papal-Magistracy the Tables being turned he institutes Magistratical-Papacy and foisted it into the Church scarce as yet gotten out of the Roman dungeon Would you know what this word means 'T is sad indeed and that which is very prejudicial to the proceedings of the Church affairs I had rather you should have it in the words of Conrad Schlisselberg formerly an excellent Divine of Ours than in mine own Imperial-Papacy saith he is the confounding of the Church and Civil Power wherein the Secular Lords in Courts and Cities under pretence of keeping both the Tables snatch to themselves the Spiritual Sword and make themselves Lords over the Church and the Ministery of the Word Prescribing Forms of Obligation and of Teaching Praying making Sermons Honouring the Magistrate Taxing offences and Errors Administring the Sacraments and Keyes and setting up Ceremonies in the Church such as are now dangerous doubtful and contrary to the Word of God and they will have to be in their own and their Courtiers and Senates hands the Supreme and Dictator-like power of hearing taking cognizance of and determining all Ecclesiastical causes and of chusing and calling Ministers and dis-officiating the same whom and when they please whether the Church will or no consent hereunto or dissent and all to this end that themselves may not be reproved and admonished by the faithful Preachers from the Spirit of God and that the Civil Peace as they account it may be preserved Thus Schlisselburg And John Valen. of Andreas Printing on purpose a little Book entituled Apap i. e Papa inverted to shew the prodigious abominations and fatal effects of that new Monster Imperial-Papacy That it is the most desperate crafty stratagem of the Devil to frame for himself of Ministers of the Gospel Masters of State and transform the Servants of Christ into Servants of men and to hang fetters upon the Prophets to make them either dumb or fearful to speak lest they should be Reprovers Ezek. 3.25 26. Chrysostome was in the right This is the cause of all evils that the Authority of the Governours of the Church is lost and they be not had in Reverence Honour and Fear Hom. 2. on the 2. of Tim. for verily when the Magistrate will not be reproved neither will the people For Let 's but see th' Mode Royal And who 'll not be Loyal And then the Church becomes such as it was in the time of the Prophets Licentious Contumacious and impatient of all Controul Let no man strive and reprove another for this people is as they that strive with the Priest Hos 4.4 Whence it comes to pass that in those Churches where Imperial Papacy rules one of the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven is neglected despised lost I did not know it the Omniscient is my witness and to this very day for what hath an incurious man to do in another man's charge for ought I know I might have been ignorant of it but that some 14 yeers ago by chance I came to the knowledge of it Excuse me as to the name of place and person and I 'le relate it to you in few words It hapned that in the chief City of Germany I had some speech with the chief Pastor of the Church in that place He told me he had a good while longed for an occasion to know whether a Book which he had read viz. The way of the Discipline and Order of the Churches of the Brethren in Bohemia did contain the true story of that Church or only a Model how a Church should be constituted I asked why he doubted it He answered because I cannot imagine any such Church should or can at this day be found in the world I answered 't was an History not a Fiction there related and that indeed there was really such Orders and Constitutions though they were not enough observed and therefore now we that would not be governed thereby are under the chastisements of the Discipline of heaven Saith he O happy you that had both the Keys we have lost one of them that is the binding Key We are appointed to be such Stewards in the House of God as are bound as it were to set open the Barns Cellars Chests and all Treasuries and not at all to shut them so that we cannot but give holy things to dogs and cast pearls before swine I have known saith he some persons in my Congregation very prophane covetous extortioners drunkards adulterers admitted to Confession and the Supper which must be by me absolved to day and for certain would be found to morrow returning to wallow in the mire I told him they were not to be admitted unless they would engage to reform He answered I tryed that but could not carry it on they defame me as some new Papist or Calvinist my life is bitter to me c. and so began to sigh and weep I tell you a true story before God who is a most faithful witness if haply even by this the enormity and deadly mischief as well of the Imperial-Papacy as the Papal-Empire may be made manifest for by the one as much as by the other is the Order of the Church shaken even in the very foundation fin and judgment being filled up to the measure by such breach of Order Is there not some likeness between the Papal Empire of the Evangelici and that Micah of Mount Ephraim making himself a new God for his House and having a Priest to perform the Service as should be by him prescribed Judg. 17. Doth it not resemble the Policy of Jeroboam setting up Calves to be his Gods and Calvish Priests to be Ministers because forsooth the reason of State so required Mark I beseech you the Founders of the old and new Church and the many Reformers and Transformers their divers and even contrary wayes God will not be mocked that which any man sowes that he shall also reap Aaron the Priest with Miriam the Prophetess go about to shake off the Authority of Moses their Prince and they are punished by God with