Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
truth_n	age_n	church_n	time_n	2,142	5	3.6322	3	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A20920	Certayne letters, translated into English, being first written in Latine. Two, by the reverend and learned Mr. Francis Iunius, divinitie reader at Leyden in Holland. The other, by the exiled English Church, abiding for the present at Amsterdam in Holland. Together with the confession of faith prefixed: where vpon the said letters were first written	Junius, Franciscus, 1545-1602.; R. G., fl. 1602.; Junius, Franciscus, 1545-1602. Christian letter.; Johnson, Francis, 1562-1618.; Ainsworth, Henry, 1571-1622?	1602 (1602)	STC 7298; ESTC S105409	64,792	60

be seen This it is not likely Mr. Iunius himself would doe but was perhaps the printers fault or rather indeed the translators evil mind for his mother churches advantage whō falshood seeketh to vphold when syncerity and truth hath forsaken her It shal therfore rest vpon him as the first fruits of his evil labours in this kind til he clear himself The Apostles and Prophets and Martyrs by him mentioned dealt not so Neither yet did they alwayes insist vpon a plaine and simple asseveration of the truth but mainteyned it also with proofes and arguments from scripture and sound reason against such as oppugned the same Act. 17.2.3 and 18.28 and 28.23 Rom 1.17 and 3.4.10 and 4.3.7.17 and 9.7.9.12.13.17.20.25.27.29.33 and 10.5.11.15.19.21 and 11.2.9.26 1 Cor. 15.3.4.25.27.45.54.55 Gal. 3.6 8.10.11.13.22 and 4.21.22.27.30 Esa 40.12 and 41.21.22.23.24 and 44.6 and c. Mal. 4.4 Acts monuments in the historie of Mr. Brute Thorp Lambert Ridly Philpot Bradford and many others And though the Apostles and Prophets had yet no mās asseveratiō now may be compared with theirs but must be tried by their writings And so these Christian exiles published to that end their faith vnto the world against which to this day neither Mr. Iunius nor any els of that or the other vniversities have to our knowledge vsed any one weighty and sound reason grounded vpon the holy scripture of God as this translator would bear men in hand he doth and as the Prophets did in al their asseverations taking their ground from the law before given Mat. 22.40 The Lord rebuke Satan and make bright the glorie of his name and Gospel and turne to the profit of every faithful soule these things now published by his vnworthy and contemned servants to his owne eternal prayse in Christ Amen To the Reader By the Printers default there are good Reader a few faults escaped in the printing some whereof are here noted Which with the rest thou observest thy self we pray thee amend thus Pag. 11. lin 13. then to make Pag. 12. l. 8. all that Pag. 15. l. 20.21.22.32.33.34 blot out these marcks * ‡ * ‡ Pag. 16. l. 1. also * of old And lin 7. Iob. 1.6 Pag. 17. l. 3. vnwritten And blot out of men Pag. 18. l. 13. Act. 3.22 Pag. 24. l. 34. Eph. 4.11 Pag. 25. l. 20. ●iev 2.1 1. King 12. Pag. 27. l. 28. Gal. 3.28.29 Pag. 29. l. 1. no whit L. 18.1 Tim. 2.2 L. 49. Exod. 18.12 and 10 1● Pag. 39. l. 7. Churches of this city that etc. and then be delivered L. 27. contend Pag. 40. l. 26. publish Pag. 41. l. 1. their private Confessions of faith their apol L. 7.8 prevaile Pag. 42. l. 22. let vs. Pag. 45. l. 13. ingenuously Pag. 47. in the margent l. 10. licet vobis And l. 13. discindere P. 48. l. 10 cōsent P. 50. li. 9. evē to strive earnestly P. 51. l. 32. taunting Pag. 53. l. 3. yea so L. 13. many weak ones before so many deadly Pa. 54. l. 1. Amst is such as being but one yet it meeteth in three severall places wherevpon it is so confus etc. And li. 32. Gal. 4.10.11 Note besides where Mr. Iunius in his second letter Pag. 47. pretendeth as if there had ben some fault in the Messenger or vs that he knew not to whom or whither he should have written his first that in the book it self which was delivered vnto him there was particular mention both of the place and of the partyes from whō it came as may be seen in the Epistle prefired before it which is of the dedication to the vniversityes And els how knew he at the moneths end more then before to whom and whither to send as he did Which poynt is so very playne as to himself we thought there needed not then so much as any mention of it Yet thought we here to note it least some others not observing so much might thinck the fault wherof he speaketh to ly on vs or the messēger which what soever it were is still to rest vpon himself for ought we know The Confession of fayth of certayne English people living in exile in the Low countreyes Together vvith the Preface to the Reader Which we wish of all may be read and considered 2. Cor. 4 13. We beleev therefore have we spoken Harmony of Confess in the preface set before it in the Name of the French and Belgick Churches The Prelates and Priests do alvvay cry out that vve are Hereticks Schismaticks and Sectaryes Hovvbeit let thē knovv that the crime of Heresy is not to be imputed to thē vvhose faith doth vvholy rely vpon most sure grounds of the Scripture That they are not Schismaticks vvho entierly cleave to the true Church of God such as the Prophets and Apostles do describe vnto vs Nor they to be counted Sectaryes vvho embrace the truth of God vvhich is one and alvvayes like it self To the reverend and learned men the Students of holy Scripture in the Christian Vniversities of Leyden in Holland of Sanctandrewes in Scotland of Heidelbergh Geneva and the other like famous scholes of learning in the Low countreyes Scotland Germany and France The English exiles in the Low countreys wish grace and peace in Iesus Christ THis true confession of our faith in our judgment wholy agreable to the sacred Scripture we do here exhibit vnto all to be discussed and vnto you reverend Sirs we dedicate it for two causes First for that we know you are able in respect of your singular knowledge in the Scriptures and hope you are willing in respect of your syncere piety to convince our errours by the light of Gods word if in any thing we be out of the way Secondly that this testimony of Christian faith if you also fynd it agree with the word of truth may by you be approved eyther in silence or by writing as you shall think best It may be we shal be thought very bold that being despised of all yet doubted not to sollicite you so many and so great learned men But this we did partly at the request of others to whom we would not deny it partly with desier to have the truth through your help better defended and further spread abroad partly cōstreyned by our exile and other calamityes almost infinite partly also moved with love of our native coūtrey and of these wherein now we live and others else where wishing that all may walk with a right foot to the truth of the Gospell and praying daily vnto God that the great work of restoring Religion and the Church decayed which he hath happily begun in these latter tymes by our Gracious Soveraigne and the other Princes of these countreyes and ages his servants he would fully accomplish to the glory of his name and eternall salvation in Christ of his elect in all places of the earth As for the causes which moved vs to publish this Confession of faith and to forsake the Church of England as now

the commandement commission and promise of our Saviour Christ who as hee hath all power in heaven and in earth so hath also promised if we keep his commandements which he hath given without limitation of tyme place Magistrates allowance or disallowance to be with vs vnto the end of the world and when we have finished our course and kept the faith to give vs the crowne of righteousnes which is layd vp for all that love his appearing 43 Vnto all men is to be given whatsoever is due vnto them Tributes Customes and all other such lawfull and accustomed dutyes ought willingly and orderly to be payed and performed Our lands goods and bodyes to be submitted in the Lord to the Magistrates pleasure And the Magistrates themselves every way to be acknowledged reverenced and obeyed according to godlines not because of wrath only but also for conscience sake And finally all men so to be esteemed and regarded as is due and meet for their place age estate and condition 44 And thus wee labour to give vnto God that which is Gods and vnto Cesar that which is Cesars and vnto all men that which be longeth vnto them Endevoring our selves to have alwayes a cleare conscience towards God and towards men And having hope in God that the resurrection of the dead shal be of the iust vnto life and of the vniust vnto condemnation everlasting Now if any take this to be heresie then do wee with the Apostle freely confesse that after the way which they call heresie wee worship God the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ beleeving all things that are written in the Law and in the Prophets and Apostles And what soever is according to this rule of truth published by this State or holdē by anie reformed Churches in their Confessions abrode in the world We do also reiect and detest all straunge and hereticall opinions and doctrines of all Hereticks both old and new whatsoever 45 Finally wheras wee are much flandered and traduced as if we denyed or misliked that forme of prayer commonly called the Lords prayer wee thought it needfull here also concerning it to make known that we beleeve ād acknowledg it to be a most absolute and most excellent forme of prayer such as no men nor Angels can set downe the like And that it was taught and appointed by our Lord Iesus Christ not that we should be tyed to the vse of those very words but that we should according to that rule make all our requests and thanksgyuing vnto God forasmuch as it is a perfect forme and paterne conteining in it plaine and sufficient directions of prayer for all occasions and necessities that have ben are or shal be to the Church of God or any member therof to the end of the world Now vnto him that is able to keep vs that wee fall not and to present vs faltlesse before the presence of his glorie with ioy that is to God only wise our Saviour be glory and maiestie and dominion power both now for ever Amen MAISTER IVNIVS HIS FIRST LETTER CONCERNING THE CONFESSION OF FAITH AFORESAID To his beloved in Christ the Brethren of the English Church now abiding at Amsterdam GRace mercie and peace from God the Father and our Saviour Iesus Christ I have received of late belooved Brethren in Christ a little booke by one of your companie which is intituled The confession of faith of some English men banished in Belgia and have knowne your desire partly by the speach of the same messenger partly by the preface of the writing But as concerning my selfe beloved brethren whom for nearnes sake peradventure yee have thought meete to be called vpon a part I verily see not how much I can doe in this cause or how I can fit your purpose For I knowe that now long since euery man doth abound in his owne sense and that those that are other wise minded are with a brotherly mynd so fare to be borne with holding the heade and fundation til the Lord reveale things further vnto them I know it is my part not to play the busie body but that I should serve the truth and charitie in my standing and measure which the Lord hath bestowed vpon me in Christian modestie and simplicitie as farre as my skil and abilitie wil stretch vnto Certainely when I considered this cause more diligently I thought nothing more commodious or more safe for the publick and for you and my selfe in all this matter thē that we should embrace a holy silēce if there be any thing wherein we be offended and that we commit our cause to the Lord the author of our faith and righter of our cause But because after a sort you will not suffer mee to be silent and to cōdole in secret for the woundes of the Church which is rent more then inough by actions especially being thrust forth in publik in this our age I wil declare faith fully and with a good cōscience before God what I thinke beseeching him who is author of truth and peace that he would leade both you and me alike into all truth according to his promise also dispose each of our mindes and affections to interpret brotherly one anothers requestes answeres admonitions and finally all our duties although as it commeth to passe and is incident to man disagreeing from our sense and taste I obserue therefore that there are three heads or chief poynts in your little booke wherein you desire our counsell and iudgement The first head is of doctrine which you professe in your little booke The secōd is of fact whereof yee accuse the English Churches Lastly the third is of the conclusion which you inferre by comparing that your doctrine with that practise of England namely that yee cannot with good conscience entertaine a communiō with those Churches but that yee doe abhorre them with all your heartes Therefore I will speak briefely of these 3. things what I think entreating you brotherly to take my answere in good part I marvell that the point of doctrine or little booke of your confession beloved brethrē is sent ouer to me I marvell that it was sent ouer to all the students of holy Scriptures in all Christian Vniuersities for if there be a certaine consent of doctrine as you pretend it truely I do not see what need there was that you should set forth a newe confession in this consent of holy and auncient doctrine But if there be a dissention peradventure in the doctrine or rather a differēce that in deed ought not to bee dissembled if so be that yee thought it necessarie that your doctrine should be declared Besides in that you send to mee yea that you send to publicke viewe your confession I marvell brethren yea I greatly maruell what your meaning should bee both in respect of the ende and the fact For if ye haue set it foorth to that end that yee might

that knowledg and evidence as now is had of the fulfilling throughout severall ages of those prophecyes which are in the Scriptures of the Beast of the false Prophet of Antichrist of his mystery exaltation tyranny marchants discovery fall etc. How should from their owne Acts the adversaryes mouthes be so stopped as now we see heare and read is dayly done by the martyrs and servants of Christ Lastly how could your self and other learned men have so expounded that divine book of the Revelation not to speak of other Scriptures lykewise interpreted as you have now already done which great fruit and gratulation of all the godly Of the end which here againe you vrge we have spoken both before in this letter and in the epistles prefixed to the book it self Adde herevnto that if the Prelats and other adversaryes of the truth be not by these and the lyke wrytinges amended they shall yet doubtlesse be made the more vnexcuseable The visard also by which they have deceyved you as it seemeth and almost all others was to be pulled of But this could not be donne for the knowledg of all as was mee● otherwise then by publyck wryting To omytt others we appeale vnto your conscience learned S. whether you did think the estate of that Church and of those Prelats to be such in any measure touching their Antichristian constitution leitourgy ministery Hierarchy which your self acknowledg to be that other beast in Rev. 13 11.18 as now for certeyne you heare and see it in that book as it were paynted out before your eyes But of these things ynough is sayd in the book it self Surely these and the lyke their vnfruitfull workes of darknes were to be reprooved not dissembled not allowed especyally seing they are so stiffely by them retayned defended vrged and that vnder a pretence of the Gospell with which they have no more agreement then darknes hath with light Beliall with Christ Neyther is this to take vp burthens of Accusations but to take away the visard of Antichristian apostasy and to witnes the truth of Iesus Christ against Antichrist which duty our Lord and Saviour Christ requireth of you of vs of all the godly the Lord we say who in these latter tymes hath begunne to discover that lawles man of sinne and will at length consume him with the spirit of his mouth by the word of the testimony of his servants So far of is it that they should be accounted busy bodyes which performe this duty to Christ or that we herein have don you any iniury So far of also is it that we should think what you speak of your self the same to be answered vs by the rest of the bretheren that are any where els in Churches in Vniversityes Not to speak of others we know that Mr. Beza that worthy servant of God hath in causes not much vnlyke answered otherwise But of this matter more herafter In the meane tyme that we also may deale syncerely and brotherly with you mynd we pray you whether you have not done your self iniury whiles you have climed into this seate so confident●● to pronounce that of others wherof as we think you cannot any way have certaine knowledg yea whiles you alone determyne of that matter which to use your owne wordes requireth serious consultation and holy communication Touching the event we commit it to God who we certeynly hope will worck al these things for good both to vs and to thē by whom we are exiled and to these amonge whom we sojorne and to the Church of God every where And to whom we pray you would it not be good if that were done which we des●er ffor our selves if we erre let the righteous smyte and reprove vs it shal be a benefyt and precious oyntment vnto vs. For our adversaries if they be the more estraunged it shal be their own fault not ours nor theirs that shall godlyly and freely testifie what they see in this cause And who knoweth whether by this meanes they may be brought to consider more then heretofore both of the vnlawfull constitution of that Church and of their outragious cruelty and therevpon seriously endevour a godly redressing of the former and an vtter repressing of the latter For the good among whom we sojourne they shall have better knowledg of our fayth and cause they may also grow vp together more strongly in the truth of the Gospell whiles thus they are stirred vp more carefully to endevour that the corruptions wherewith their Churches yet are faulty may be duly abolyshed and whiles such as are seduced by the errours of the Papists Anabaptists and other hereticks troubling these Churches are vpon this occasion drawne from such estate and stirred vp to search knowe and embrace the truth of Gospell Fynally for the whole Church we hope it shall hence also receive much profyt if this fayth and cause which now a long tyme hath ben condempned for schisme and heresy if also that Antichristian Apostasy which now a long tyme vnder the visard of godlynes hath deceived the world in the mystery of iniquity if these things we say being of so great moment be examyned and discussed by the canon of the Scriptures of so many and so worthy men furnyshed with learning godlynes judgment wisdome And thus much of the second poynt which was concerning the fact The third you say is of the conclusion inferred vpon comparing together the doctrine and fact aforesaid Here first you affirme you with●●ould your self in suspence in this cause Be it so It is God that can reveale this also vnto you and perswade your conscience by his Spirit and word Then you annex some things concerning the doctrine and consent of the fathers and all wise men in all ages but you propound them so doubtfully that as touching our cause we cannot perceive what your meaning is Your wordes may so be vnderstood as we most willingly consent with you in this matter agayne they may be so taken as we dissent from you not a lytle nor without cause We are perswaded that separation should not be made from any Church eyther rashly or at all so long as we may remayne with sound fayth and cōscience You must therfore speak more playnely what you think of our separation if you suppose we have erred in this behalf all those things being discussed by the word of God which we have menc●oned in the preface and Confession aforesaid In the meane tyme heare and ponder well we pray you what Mr. Beza that learned man and well deserving of the Church of Christ hath wrytten and publyshed some while since concerning this question Thus he hath in his epistles publyshed in the right epistle sent to Ed Grir dall heretofore P●elate of London wherein wryting of the state and corruptiōs of the Churche of England he sayeth If it be trew which is commōly reported and wherof my self am not yet perswaded that private Baptisme is there permitted to women I

never allowed and which never entred in to his hart yea which he hath so severely for bydden with fearefull judgements threatned vnto all hat shall so do But because we have bene very grievously slādred in our owne nation and the bruit thereoff hath followed vs vnto this land wherby we have bene hardly deemed of by many without cause we have bene forced at length to publysh this briefe but true confession of our fayth for the cleering of our selves from sclander and satisfying of many who desyred to knowe the thinges we hold Wherein if in any thinge we erre as who is so perfit that he erreth not we reade good reader thy Christian brotherly censure and information promysing alwayes through the grace of God to yeild vnto the truth when it shall be further shewed vs and leave our errors when by the light of his word they shal be reproved In lyke manner it shall be thy part and duty to acknowledge and submytt vnto the truth by whome soever it is professed looking allwayes rather to the preciousnes of the treasure it self then to the basenes of the vessells which conteyne it or the infirmities of those that witnes the same in whose mortall bodyes thow shalt see nothing but the markes and dyeing of our lord Ihesus Christ But hold not thy fayth in respect of mens persons neyther be thow moved at the evyl reports wich have bene raised of vs Here hast thow the trewe summe of our Christian fayth try all thinges by the true light of Gods word and if thou shalt reape and profit by these our labours gyve God the glory and remember vs vnto him in thy prayers Farewell in Christ Iesus 1596. THE CONFESSION OF FAITH OF CERTAINE ENGLISH PEOPLE IN THE LOW COvNTREYES EXILED We● beleeue with the heart confes with the mouth THat there is but one God one Christ one Spirit one Church one truth one Faith one true Religion one rule of godlines and obedience for all Christians in all places at all tymes to be observed 2 God is a Spirit whose beeing is of himself and giveth beeing moving and preservation to all other thing● beeing himself eternal most holy every way infinit● in greatnes wisdome power goodnes iustice truth etc. In this Godhead there be three distinct persons coeternall coequall and coessentiall beeing every one of them one and the same God and therefore not divided but distinguished one from another by theyr severall and peculiar propertie The Father of whom are the other persons but he of none the Sonne begotten of the Father from everlasting the holy Ghost proceeding from the Father and the Sonne before all beginnings 3 God hath decreed in himself from everlasting touching all things and the very least circumstances of every thing effectually to work and dispose them according to the counsell of his owne will to the glory of his name And touching his cheefest creatures GOD hath in Christ before the foundation of the world according to the good pleasure of his will foreordeyned some ●en and Angels to eternall lyfe to be accomplished through Iesus Christ to the ● prayse of the glorie of his grace 〈◊〉 hath also of al● according to his iust purpose foreappointed other both ●●xes● and ui●● to eternall condemnation to be accomplished through their owne corruptiō and desert to the praise of his iustice In the beginning God made al things of nothing veri good and created 〈◊〉 after his owne image and liknes in righteousnes ād holines of truth But streight ways after by the subtiltrie of the serpēt which Sathan vsed as his instrument himself with his Angels having sinned before and not kept their first esstate but left their owne habitation first Eva then Adam being seduced did wittingly and willingly fall into disobedience and trāsgressiō of the co●mnaund●●●nt of God For the which death came vpon all and reigneth over all pea euen over infants also which have not sinned after the like maner of the trangression of Adam that is actually Hence also it is that all since the fall of Adam are begotten in his owne liknes after his image being conceyved and formed in iniquitie and so by nature children of wrath and servants of sinne and subiect to death and al other calamities due vnto sinne in this world and for ever 5 All mankind being thus fallen and become altogether dead in sinne and subiect to the eternall wrath of God both by originall and actuall corruption Yet the elect all and onely are redeemed quickned raysed vp and saved againe not of themselves neyther by works lest anie man should boast him self but wholly and only by GOD of his free grace and mercy through faith in Christ Iesus who of God is made vnto vs wisdome and rights a●s●es and sanctification and redemption that according as it is written Hee that resorceth may reio●ce in the Lord. 6 This therfort is lyfe eternall to know the only true God and whom hee hath sent into the world Iesus Christ And on the contrarie the Lord will render vengeance in ●laming fire vnto than that know not God and which over not the Gospell of our Lord Iesus Christ 7 How the rule of this ●nowledge faith and obediēc● concerning the worship ād service of God and all other christiā dinityes is not mens opinions devises lawes constitutions or traditions w●ritten whatsoeuer of men but onely the written word of God conteyned in the canonicall bookes of the old and new Testament 8 In this word Iesus Christ hath plainely reveled whatsoever his father thought needfull for vs to know beleeue and acknowledge as touching his person and Office in whom all the promises of God are yea and in whom they are Amen to the prayse of God through vs. 9 Touching his person the Lord Iesus of whom Moses and the Prophets wrote and whom the Apostl●s preached is the everlasting Sonne of God the father by eternall generation the brightnes of his glorie and the engrauē forthe of his Person coeffitiall co●qual and coeternall God with him and with the holy Ghost Ioy whō hee made the worlds vp whō hee vpholdeth and governeth all the works hee hath made Who also whē the fulnes of tyme was come was made man of a woman of the Tribe of Iudah of the seed of Dauid and Abraham to wyt of Mary that blessed Virgin by the holy Ghost comming vpon hir and the power of the most high ouershadowing hir and was also in al things lyke vnto vs sinne only excepted 10 Touching his Office Iesus Christ only i● made the Medi●tor of the new Testamēt even of the everlasting Couenant of grace betweē God mā to be per●●c●ly and fully the Prophet Priest and King of the Church of God for evermore 11 Vnto this office hee was from everlasting by the

let vs be so You may if so be you know the thing so well have the iudgemēt of it with your selves but to publish it among the people to call for abettors of it and to exact like iudgement of vs you cannot Keepe your confidence to your selves and leave vs our modesty who have resolved not to speake of other mens matters except we know them thoroughly You thinke that other good mē will say otherwise but I think better of them who in my perswasion are furnished with knowledge skill and wisedome from heaven that they would sooner subscribe to our modestie then to this your iudiciall confidence To looke to the event is a point of wisdome which if you regard not I pray God the author of all wisedome to give you discretion Touching the conclusion Bretheren what shall I say otherwise then I haue said I verily have resolved neither for you nor for any mortall man to bee headie and inconsiderate in iudging especially when it neither belongeth to me to do it neither can it bee done with any fruit If you can doe it rightly wee doe not hinder you but let vs who cannot professe this one thing to you that we can be no iudges Touching others whome we knowe we have spoken else where but touching them because we knowe thē not wee do not yet speak Cōcerning Beza how excellent a man that which you often say take heede Brethren you bee not deceived He spake by way of supposition which you expresse in your letters we because we see and experience doth teach vs that his wordes being spoken by way of supposition are vnderstoode of many as spoken simply dare not so much as answere by way of supposition Is this such an hainous and capitall fault with you bee it farre from you Brethren bee it farre from you to take that course with good men which God reason and the times haue taught vs to be daungerous Rash and headie iudgements are not to be required not to bee endured not to be heard That God of truth might iustly punish vs if casting a side discretion which is most needefull in these times wee should answere alwayes to all questions according to the lawes prescribed by such as propounde the same These three things according to God and vnder him are a lawe to vs veritie charitie and discretion If any one of these bewanting we are afraid to offend We crave of you brethrē that at least you woulde leave vs this our religious feare till all thinges bee made more plaine and easie vnto vs and if you thinke your selves more strōg in iudging beare with vs as with weake ones til by godly quietnes and holy studie we may attaine to more high and certaine thinges That which wee may doe truely godlily brotherly wisely we will neuer be slacke to doe if wee may profite you and the Church of Christ The Lorde furnish you beloued Brethren with his Spirit and direct you to veritie and charitie in holy wisedome and faith to the glorie of his name the edification of his bodie and obtayning of your owne salvation Amen Leyden Wednesday the 10 of March 1599. Yours vnfeynedly Fran Iunius The answer to Mr. Iunius his second Letter To the learned and our beloved Brother in Christ Mr. Francis Iunius at Leyden in Holland GRace and peace from God the Father and our Lord Iesus Christ Reverēd Sr. your letters were delyvered vs which when we had read we thought thus with our selves If we wryte againe it wil be thought perhaps ●ontentious if we hold our peace it may prove hurtfull to the truth What is then to be done We must absteyne from contending yet so as the truth be not forsaken for which the Apostle exhorteth even to ●omesty Thus then worthy Sr. receive our answer briefly In that you did nothing in this matter without the knowledg of your brethren and Colleagues we therefore give you thanckes for now you have had consultatiō together yet shew you nor any one errour in our fayth and cause Touching that we rested not in your counsell we had many and waighty reasons so to move vs which we signifyed to you in our former letters but you have her● in silence passed by them Vntyll you take them away we think it cannot be shewed that in this matter we have done any thing otherwise then in good manner● and order meet and needfull Publyck infamy requireth publick apology Others that have set forth their Confessions are by you acknowledged and commended We belyke only have offended in so doing a●d that which every Church man lawfully do and almost every man vpō iust cause yet to vs and our Church you will not permit it So indifferent are nou towards vs. Neyther when they set forth their Confessions did the whole Ca●holick Church consent and if you speak of ●●e consent and approba●●on of a particular Church so also was our Confession publyshed But they wrote dissenting from the Church of Rome and the like being moved of conscience And the very same thing have we lykewise done dissenting from a daughter of the Romysh Church touching her Leitourgy hierarchy constitution to wit the Church of England Yet they thus wryting neyther wrote ag●inst order nor sifted the soares of the Church against the law of charity No●no● we neythre And touching he dissention not conceale what need we wryte otherwise then as before we have done It is with the Church of Englād that we had and still have to deale in this behalf and that difference we did by name and vnder certayn h●ad●● particularly relate as both the thing it self and our exile did necessarily require Now although in some thinges we differ from the ministers of these Churches yet were they not before they despise admonition to be dealt with in lyke sorte Else you might indeed some what rightly vrge order and the lawe of c●●rity if their names and pe●uliar descriptiō of that differēce had bē by vs particvlarly specifyed in that book Nevertheles whosoever know and consider the practise of these ●hurches and of such only we speak they may by that practise and our Confess●on cōpared together pe●ceive there is difference betwene them and vs Yea we know that some have so observed Otherwyse if it be as you pretend that in our Confession you see not a●y token whereby you may ●e● certainly perswaded there of how is it t●at in so great agreement they should by so many be judged as true Churches in the right fayth we as hereticks Besydes that even by this you do also grannt that you see not but they consent in one with vs touching the corruptions of the Church of England and our separation from them seing he that hath but half an eye man there see these most playnly propounded In which behalf we give thancks both to you and to God that hath brought you to give this judgment and testimony For this is the very thing wherein we