time is at hand that the wrath of God shall be declared from heauen vppon all vngodlynesse of those seducers that withholde the truth in vnrighteousnesse and set his commaundements at naught for theyr owne traditions WHereas immediatly after the laste Parliament holden at Westminster begon in Anno. 1570. and ended in Anno. 1571. the ministers of gods holy word and sacraments were called before her maiesties hygh commissyoners and enforced to subscribe vnto the Articles if they would kepe theyr places and liuyngs and some for refusyng to subscribe were vnbrotherly and vncharitably intreated and from theyr offyces and places remoued May it please therefore thys honorable and high court of Parliament in consyderation of the premisses to take a view of such causes as then dyd wythhold and now doth the foresayd ministers from subscribing and consenting vnto those forsaid articles by way of purgation to discharge theÌ„selues of all disobedience towards the church of God and theyr soueraigne and by way of most humble intreatie for the remouing away and vtter abolishing of all suche corruptions and abuses as withhelde them throughe which thys long time brethren haue bene at vnnaturall warre and strise among themselues to the hinderance of the gospel to the ioy of the wycked and to the grefe and dismay of all those that professe Christes religion labor to attain Christian reformation The fyrst Article First that the booke commonly called the booke of common prarers for the church of England aucthorised by Parliament and all euery the contents therin be such as are not repugnant to the worde of God. Albeâ—t righte honorable dearly beloued we haue at all times borne with that which we could not amende in this boke and haue vsed the same in our ministerie so farre sorth as we might reuerencing those times those persons in which and by whom it was first authorised being studious of peace and of the building vp of Christes churche yet nowe being compelled by subscription to allowe the same to confesse it not to be against the word of God in any poynt but tollerable We must nedes say as foloweth that this boke is an vnperfect boke culled picked out of that popishe dunghil the Portuise and Masse boke ful of all abhominations For sâ—me many of the contentes therin be suche as are againste the worde of God as by his grace shal be proued vnto you And by the way we caÌ„not but much maruel at the crafty wilines of those meÌ„ whose partes had bene fyrst to haue proued eche and euery coÌ„tent therin to be agreable to the word of god seing that they enforce men by subscription to consent vnto it or els send them packing from theyr callings 1 They shuld fyrst proue by the word that a reading seruice going before and with the administration of the sacraments is according to the word of God that priuate Communion priuate baptisme baptisme ministred by women holydayes ascribed to saincts prescript seruices for them kneeling at communioÌ„ wafer cakes for theyr breade when they minister it surplesse and coape to do it in churching of women comming in vailes which is not commaunded by lawe but yet the abuse is great by reson that superstition is grown therby in the hartes of many and others are iudged y vse it not abusing the Psalme to her I haue lifted vp mine eyes vnto the hilles c. and suche other fool she things are agreable to the wrytteÌ„ word of the almighty But theyr craft is plain Wherin they deceiue them selues standing so much vpon thys word repugnant as thoughe nothyng were repugnant or agaynste the word of God but that whych is expresly forbiddeÌ„ by plain commaundement they knowe wel inoughe and wold confesse if eyther they were not blinded or else theyr harts hardned that in the circumstaÌ„ces eche content wherewith we iustly fynde faulte they too contentiously for the loue of theyr liuings maintain sinelling of their old popish priesthode is against the worde of god For besides y this prescript forme of seruice as they call it is full of corruptions it maintayneth an vnlawfull ministerye vnable to execute that offyce By the word of God it is an offyce of preachyng they make it an offyce of reading Christe sayde goe preache they in mockery giue them the Bible and authoritie to preache and yet suffer them not except that they haue new licences So that they make the chefest part which is preching but an accessory y is as a thing without which theyr offyce may and doth consist In the scriptures there is attributed vnto the ministers of God the knowledge of the heauenly mysteries therfore as the greatest toke of theyr loue they are eniâ—yned to fede Gods Lambes and yet with these suche are admitted and accepted as only are bare readers that are able to say seruice and minister a Sacrament according to theyr appoyntment And that thys is not the feeding that Chryste spake of the scriptures are plain For bare reading of the word and single seruice saying is bare-feeding yea it is as euil as playing vpon a stage worse too For players yet learne theyr partes wythout boke and these a many of them can scarsely read within boke These are emptie feeders darke eyes ill workemen to hasten in the Lords haruest messengers that cannot call Prophets y cannot declare the wil of the Lord vnsauery salte blinde guides sleepie watchmen vntrustie dispensers of Gods secretes euill deuiders of the worde weake to withstand the aduersary not able to consute and to conclude so farre from makyng the man of God perfect to all good works that rather the quite contrary may be confyrmed By this booke bare reading is good tilling and single seruice saying is excellent building and he is sheapheard good inough that can as popishe priestes coulde oute of theyr Portuise say fairely theyr diuine seruice Nay some in the fulnesse of their blasphemie haue sayde that much preaching bryngeth the woorde of god into contempt and that fower preachers were inoughe for all London so farre are they from thinking it necessary and seeking that euery congregation should haue a faithfull pastor Paule was not so wise as these politique men When he sayde we can not beleeue except we heare and we can not heare wythout a preacher c seing we may heare by reading and so beleeue without a preacher Folishly he spake when he saide he must be apt to teache sith euery man of the basest sort of the people is admitted to thys function of such as Ieroboam did sometimes make hys priestes We wil say nomore in this matter but desire you to consider with vs what small profyt and edifycation this seely reading hath broughte to vs these 13. yeres paste except perhaps by some circumcelion or newe Apostle we haue had now then a fleeing sermon surely our synnes are growne ripe
depriued of pastors and foundations laide of moste horrible confusion by the pastors forsaking of theyr congregations then to see ministers otherwise without fault to vse rather thys then that apparell and that in some places there shoulde rather be no supper giuen to the hungrie sheepe then that kneling should be omitted Which things if they shuld be there done amongste you as God forbidde that I should thinke that they are done surely they would be beginnings not of former but of far greter calamities Againe I beseeche you reuerende father that if I offend heerein you would paciently bear with me so offending not of ambition or malice but as the Lorde knoweth of rudenes and vnskilfulnes If it be true that is commonly reported and I am not yet persuaded that baptisme is priuately permitted to women amongst you I can not tel what is to go backe from the gole to the barriers if this be not For first of all from whence sprang this most filthy error but from a grose ignorance of the matter of the sacrament Who so euer is not washed in water is condemned say they which are the patrones of this prophanation of baptisme If it be so the saluation of infants shall come not from the couenaunt of god which notwithstanding is the endoubted ground of our saluation but from the seale annexed vnto the conenaunte and that not to make it more certaine in it selfe but rather to certify vs of it And that more wicked is the saluation of infants shal wholely consist in the diligence or negligence of y parents But seeing y excellent seruaunt of God D. Peter Martyr as you right well knowe reuerend father a good while a goe disputed of this matter at large in his commentaries wrytten to that godly king Edwarde and that as I thinke with the consent of the whole Englishe churche in those dayes I woulde not now at large discourse vppon this matter This only I say if that reporte shoulde be true it were greatly to be lamented to see them now to tourne back as it were to the barryers which shoulde haue rather bene come euen to the gole especially hauing had suche guides and masters But if those things shall be true whiche seeme not to me probable that Metropolitanes practise and put in vre those most filthy abuses which are more intollerable then ought else in the church of Antichrist as pluralities of benefices licences of not resydences to contracte Matrimonie and for eating of fleshe and suche like as it were surely not a corruption of christianitie which I speake with horror but a manifest falling away from Christ and therfore they were not to be condemned but rather to be praised which would oppose them selues against suche endeuors Moreouer by what right whether ye respect the word of God or all the olde Canons may either the ciuil Magistrate by himself where congregations are already erected and established bring in vppon them any new rites or abrogate the olde or the Bishoppes wythoute the iudgement and consent of theyr Eldership of duetie ordaine any thing I haue not yet learned But bicause I see that these two plagues that is to say the dishonest and ambitious flattery of former Bishops partly abusing the vertuous Princes and partly seruing theyr euil affections and vices haue vtterly vndone the Church vntil the matter came to this passe that the mightyest of the Metropolitanes of the West by the iuste iudgemente of God so punishing Magistrates and Bishops had scratched and rauished vnto himselfe all matters bothe diuine and humane I must needes confesse that I am astonished amased so often as I think of these things and I forsee that eyther the same or more greeuous punishmeÌ„ts do agayne hang ouer the most part of people which at the first with great affection embraced the gospel and now by little and little fall from it And I dout not but the good in what place so euer doe in like sort lament whome the Lord heare and for his sonne Iesus Christes sake giue vnto Kings Princes a true godly and religious mind and graunt them good and stout counsellors to the gouernors of his church especially his holy spirite most aboundant knowledge and zeale moreouer increase and preserue the people which haue already professed the true fayth in sinceritie of doctrine and rites and godly manners You see reuerende father howe farre this heate as it were hathe enforced me â–ª But I beseeche you for â–ª and accordinge to youre good nature to take this my doinge in good parte and consider that it is the token of good loue that suche as loue one another are full of care and pensiuenes for theyr frendes euen then when they seme to be in best case But nowe of these matters too muche It remayneth that I commend in most instant wise vnto your worthye and fatherlie goodnesse the Frenche Churche whiche next vnto God and hir maiestie is moste bounde vnto yow that if so be the ennemies of the Gospell being to passe that in all places and by all meanes possible they do maliciously go aboute the poore banyshed maye yet at the leaste haue some refuge succoure amongest yow I had thought to haue wrytten letters to the same purpose so bolde some tyme I am in my follies to other bothe Ecclesiasticall also noble men of the realme of England and peraduenture to hir owne maiestie but I with helde my selfe for manye considerations If peraduenture yow shall perceaue that this my little labor may profite I wil not be afrayd God willyng not only to venture my estimation but my life also rather then omitte any occasion whereby the kingdome of Christe may either be preserued or encreased Farewell reuerend father and as you were wâ—nt continue your loue prayers for me and this whole Church and schole Geneue â— Cal. Iul. M.D.lxvi Yours most assured in the Lord Theodore Beza minister of the word in the Church of Geneue England repent Bishops relent returne while you haue space Time is at hand by truth to stand if you haue any grace Ioyne now in one that Christ alone by scepter of his word May beare the stroke least you prouoke his heauy hand and sword
To the godly Readers Grace and peace from god c. TWo treatises yee haue heere ensuing beloued in Christ which yee must read without parcialitie or blinde affection For otherwise you shal neither see their meaning nor refraine youre selues from rashlye condemning of them withoute infre cause For certaine men there are of great countenaunce whiche will not lightly like of them bicause they principally concerne theyr persons and vaiusre dealings whose credite is greate and whose freendes are manye we meane the Lordly Lords Archbishops Bishops Suffraganes Deanes Vniuersitie Doctors and Bachelers of Diuinitie Archdeacons ChauÌ„celors and the rest of that proud generation whose kingdome must down hold they neuer so hard bicause their tyrannous Lordship can not stande with Christes kingdome And it is the speciall mischefe of our Englishe churche and the cheefe cause of backewardnesse and of all breache and dissention For they whose authoritie is forbidden by Christ will haue theyr stroke without their fellow seruauÌ„ts yea though vngratiously cruelly and Pope-like they take vpon them to beat them and that for theyr owne childishe Articles being for the most part against the manifest truthe of God First by experience theyr rigoure hathe too plainely appeared euer since their wicked raign and specially for the space of these fiue or six yeares last past together Of the enoâ—mities which with suche rigoure they maintaine these treatises doe in parte make mention iustly crauing redresse therof But the matters do require a larger discourse Only the authors of those thought it their parts to admonish you at this time of those inconveniences which men seme not to thinke vpon and which without reformation cannot but increase further dissention the one parte being proude pontifycall and tyrannous and the woorde of God for the other parte expresse manifest as if it pleased the state to examine the matters it would be euident And would to God thâ—â— free confereÌ„ce in these matters might be had For howe so euer learned and many they seeme to be they should and may in this realme finde inowe to matche them and shame them to if they hold on as they haue begon And out of this realme they haue all the best reformed churches thorowout Christendom againste them they were once of our minde but since their coÌ„secration they be so transubstanciated that they are be come such as you see But in a few words to say what we meane Ether must we haue a right ministerye of God a right gouernment of his churche according to the scriptures set vp bothe which we lacke or else there can be no right religion nor yet for contempt therof can Goddes plagues be from vs any while deferred And therfore though they lincke in togither and slaunderously charge pore men whom they haue made pore with greeuous faults calling them Puritanes worse than the Donatiâ—tes exasperating setting on such as be in authoritie against them hauing hitherto miserably handled them with reuilings depriuations imprisonments banishments suche like extremities yet is these poore mennes cause neuer the worse nor these chalengers the better nor god his hande the further of to lincke in with his againste them nor you christian bâ—ethren must neuer the rather without examination condemne them But thankfully take this tast which God by these treatises offereth you weigh them by the worde of God and do your endeuor euery one in his calling to promote his cause And let vs all with more earnest prayer then we are wonte earnestly commend it to God his blessyng and namely y it wil please him by his spirit to lighten the heart of oure most gracious soueraigne and the rest in authoritie to the benefyte of his small flocke and the ouerthrowe of theyr proude eâ—â—emies that godlinesse may by them procede in peace God his glory thorow Iesus Christ be throughly aduaunced Which we call God to witnesse is our only labor and sute And so presently we leaue you heartily beseching God to graunt it Amen ¶ An Admonition to the Parliament SEing that nothing in this mortal life is more diligently to be sought for carefully to be loked vnto than the restitution of true religion and reformation of Gods churche it shall be your partes dearly beloued in this present ParliameÌ„t assembled as muche as in you lyeth to promote the same and to employ your whole labour and studie not onely in abandoning al popish remnaÌ„ts both in ceremonies and regiment but also in bringing in and placing in Gods church those things only which the Lord himselfe in his word commâ—undeth Because it is not enoughe to take paines in taking away euil but also to be ocupied in placing good in the stead thereof Now because many men see not al things and the world in this respect is maruelously blinded it hath â—ea thought good to proferre to youre godly consyderations a true platforme of a church reformed to the end that it being laide before your eyes to beholde the great vnlikenes betwixt it this our english churche you may learnâ— either with perfect hatred to detest the â—â—e and with singular loue to embrace and carefull endeuor to plant the other or els to be without excuse before the maiestie of our God who for y discharge of our conscience and manifestation of his truth hath by vs reuealed vnto you at this present the sinceritie and simplicitie of his Gospell â–ª Not that you should either wilfully withstand or vngraciously tread the same vnder your fete for God doth not disclose his will to any such ende but that you should yet now a the length with all your mayne and might endeuor that Châ—iste whose easie yoke lyght burthen we haue of long time caste off from vs might rule and raigne in hys church by the scepter of hys word onely May it therfore please your wisedomes to vnderstand that we in England are so far off from hauing a church rightly reformed according to the prescripte of Gods woorde that as yet we are scarse come to the outward face of the same For to speak of that wherin the best consent whervpon al good wryters accord The outward markes wherby a true christian church is knowne are preaching of the woorde purely ministring of the sacraments sincerely and Ecclesiasticall discipline which consisteth in admonition and correction of faults seuerely Touching the fyrst namely the ministerie of the word although it must be confessed that the substance of doctrine by manye deliuered is sound and good yet here in it faileth that neyther the ministers therof are according to gods word proued elected called or ordained nor the functioÌ„ in such sort so narowly loked vnto as of right it oughte and is of necessyrie required For whereas in the olde churche a trial was had both of their abilitie to instruct and of their godly conuersation also nowe by the
letters commendatorie of some one man noble or other tag rag learned and vnlearned of the basest sorte of the people to the sclaÌ„der of the gospell in the mouthes of the aduersaries are freely receaued In those daies no idolatrous sacrificers or heathnish priests were apointed to be preachers of the Gospel but we allow and like wel of popish masse mongers men for all seasons King Henries priests Queene Maryes priests who of a truth if Gods word were precisely folowed shoulde from the same be vtterly remoued Then they taught others now they must be instructed themselues and therefore like yong children they must learne cathechismes and so fyrst they consecrate them and make them ministers and theÌ„ they set them to scole Then election was made by the Elders with the common consent of the whole church now euery one picketh out for himselfe some notable good benefyce he obtaineth the next aduowson by mâ—ny or by fauoure and so thinketh himselfe to be suffyciently chosen Then the congregation had authoritie to cal ministers in stead therof now they run they ride and by vnlawfull sute and buying preueÌ„t other suters also Then no minister placed in any congregation but by the consent of the people now that authoritie is giuen into the haÌ„ds of the bishop alone who by his sole authoritie thrusreth vpon them such as they many times aswell for vnhonest life as also for lacke of learning may and do istly dislike Then none admitted to the ministerie but a place was voide before hand to which he should be called but nowe bishops to whom the right of ordering ministers dothe at no hand appertaine do make 60. 80. or a 100. at a clap send them abrode into the country like masterlesse meÌ„ Then after iust triall and vocation they were admitted to their function by laying on of the handes of the company of the eldership onely Now there is neither of these being loked vnto required a surples a vestiment a pastoral staffe beside that ridiculus as they vse it to their new creatures blasphemoâ—s saying receaue the holy ghoste Then euery pastor had his flock and euery flock his shepheard or elâ— shepheards Now they do not only run fysking from place to place a miserable disorder in Gods church but couetously ioyne liuing to liuing making shipwracke of theyr owne consciences being but one shepherd nay wold to God they were shepherds and not wolues haue many flockes Then the ministers were preachers nowe bare readers And if any be so well disposed to preache in their owne charges they may not without my Lordes licence In those dayes knowne by voice learning and doctrine now they must be discerned from other by popish and Antichristian apparel as cap gowne tipper c. Then as God gaue vtterance they preached the word only Now they read homilies articles iniunctions c. Then it was painfull now gainfull Then pore and ignominious in the eies of the world now rich glorious And therfore titles liuings and offices by Antichrist deuised are geuen to them as Metropolitane archbishop Lords grace Lord Bishop Suffragan Deane Archdeacon Prelate of the garter Earl Countie Palatine honor high commissyoners iustices of peace quorum c. All which together with their offyces as they are strange vnhard of in Chrystes church nay plainly in gods word forbidden So are they vtterly with spede out of the same to be remoued Then ministers were not so tâ—ed to any one forme of prayers but as the spirit g moued them and as necessitie of time required so they might poure forth harty supplicatioÌ„s to the lord Now they are bound of necessytie to a prescript order of seruice and boke of common prayer in which a great number of things contrary to Gods word are contained as baptism by women priuate Communions Ierrish purifyings obseruing of Holydaies c. potched if not all together yet the greatest peece out of the Popes portius Then feding the flocke diligently nowe teaching quarterly Then preaching inseason and out of season Now once in a moneth is thoughte of some suffycient if twice it is iudged a worke of supererogation Then nothing taught but Gods word Now Princes pleasures mennes deuices popishe ceremonies and Antichristian rites in publike pulpits desended Then they sought them Now they seeke theyrs ☞ These and a great many other abuses are in the ministerie remayning which vniesse they be remoued and the truth brought in not onely Gods iustice shall be powred forth but also Gods church in this realme shall neuer be builded For if they which seeme to be workemen are no workemen in deede but in name or els worâ— not so diligently in such order as the works me from commaundeth it is not onely vnlikely that the building shall go forwarde but altogether impossible that euer it shal be perfyred The way therfore to avoid these inconueniences and to reform these deformities is this Your wisedomes haue to remoue aduousons patronages impropriations and bishops authoritie claiming to themselues therby right to ordayne ministers to bryng in y old and true election which was accustomed to be made by the congregation You must displace those ignorant and vnable ministers already placed in theyr rowmes appoint such as both can and will by Gods assystauce feede the flock You must plucke down vtterly ouerthrow wythout hope of restitution the court of faculties from whence not only licences to enioy many benefyces are obtained as Pluralities Trialities Totquote c. but all things for the most part as in the court of Rome are sette on sale licences to marry to eat flesh in tymes prohibited to lye from benefyces chargrs and a greate number besyde of such lyke abhonâ—â—â—ations Appoint to euery congregation a learned diligent preacher Remoue homylies articles iniunctions that prescripte order of seruice made out of the masse boke Take away the Lordshyp the loytering the pompe the idlenesse and liuings of bishops but yet employ theÌ„ to such ends as they were in the old church appoynted for Let a lawful and a godly seignorie loke y they preach not quarterly or monthly but contynually not for fylthy luker sake but of a ready mynde So God shal be gloryfyed your conscyences discharged and the flocke of Chryst purchased wyth hys owne bloud edyfyed Now to the second poynt whych concerneth mynystratyon of Sacraments In the olde tyme the worde was preached before they were minystred nowe it is supposed to be suffycyent if it be red Then they were minystred in publike assemblies now in priuate houses Then by ministers only now by midwiues and Deacons equally But because in treating of both the sacraments together we should deale confusedly we wyll therefore speake of them seuerallye And fyrst for the Lordes supper or holy communion They had
especially in ecclesâ—â—stical discipline which is an order left by God vnto his church wherby men learne to frame their willes and doings according to the law of God 〈…〉 instructing admonishing one another yea and by correcting and punishing all wilfull persones and conâ—â—â—s of the same Of this discipline there is 〈◊〉 kindes one priuate wherewith we will not 〈◊〉 because it is impertinent to our purpose an other publique which although it hathe bene long banished yet if it might nowe at the length be restored would be very necessary and profytable for the building vp of Gods house The final end of this discipline is the reframing of the disordered to bring them to repentaÌ„ce and â—o bridle such as wold offend The cheefest parte and laste punishment of this discipline is excommunication by the consent of the church determined if the offender be obstinate which howe miserably it hath ben by the Popes proctours and is by our new Canonists abused who seeth not In the primatiue church it was in many mennes handes now one alone excoÌ„municateth In those days it was the last censure of the church and neuer weÌ„t forth but for notorious crimes Now it is pronounced for euery light trifie Then excommunication was greatlye regarded and feared Now because it is a mony matter no whit at all esteemed Then for great sinnes seuere punishment and for smal offences censures according Now great sinnes either not at all punished as blasphemy vsâ—â—y drunkennesse c or else sleightly passed ouer with pricking in a blaÌ„ket or pinning in a sheet as adultery whoredom c. Againe suche as are no sinnes as if a man conforme not himself to popish orders and ceremonies if he come not at the whâ—stle of him who hathe by Gods worde no authoritie to call we meane Chancelors Offycials and all that râ—â—le are greeuously punished not only by excommunication suspention depriuation and other as theâ— terme if spiritual coertion but also by banishing imprisoning reuilings taunting 〈◊〉 what not Then the sentence was tempered according to the notoriousnesse of the facte Now on the one side either hatred against some persones caryeth men headlong into rashe and cruell iudgement or else fauoure affection or money mitigateth the rigoure of the same and al this cometh to passe because the regiment lefte of Chryst to his churche is coÌ„mitted into one mannes hâ—eeds whome alone it shall be more easie for the wicked by bribing to peruert than to ouerthrow the faith and pietie of zealous and godly company for suche manner of men in deede should the Seigniors be Then it was said tell the church now it is spoken complaine to my Lords grace primate Metropolitane of al England or to his inferioure my Lord Bishop of the diocesse if not to him shew the Chancelor or Offyciall or Commissarie Againe whereas the excommunicate were neuer receaued till they had publikely coÌ„fessed their offence Now for paying the fees of the courte they shall by maister Offyciall or Chancelour easely be absolued in some priuate place Then the congregation by the wickednes of the offendour grieued was by his publique penance satisfied Now absolution shall be pronounced though that be not accomplished Then the partie offending shoulde in his owne person heare the sentence of Absolution pronounced Now Bishops Archdeacons Chancelors Offycials Commissaries and suche like absolue one man for another And this is that order of ecclesiastical discipline which all godly wish to be restored to the end y euery one by the same may be kept wythin the limmits of his vocation and a great number be brought to line in godly conuersation Not that we meane to take away the authoritie of the ciuill Magistrate and chefe gouernoure to whom we wish all vlessednes and for the encrease of whose godlines we dayly pray but that Chryste being restored into his kingdome to rule in the same by the scepter of his word seuere discipline the Prince may be better obeyed the realme more florishe in godlinesse and the Lord himself more sincerely purely according to his reuealed will serued then heeretofore he hath bene or yet at this present is Amend therfore these horrible abuses and reforme Gods church and the Lord is on your right hand you shall not be remoued foreuer For he wil deliuer and defend you from all your enemies either at home or abrode as he did faithfull Iacob good Iehosaphat Let these things alone and God is a righteous iudge he wil one day cal you to your reckening Is a reformation good for France and can it be euill for Englande Is discipline meete for Scotland and is it vnprofytable for this realme Surely God hath set these examples before your eies to encourage you to go forward to a thorow a spedy reformation You may not do as heretofore you haue done patch and peece nay rather goe backeward and neuer labor or t contend to perfection But altogether remoue whole Antichriste bothe head and tayle and perfectly plant that puritie of the word that simplicitie of the sacraments and seueritie of discipline which Chryste hathe commaunded and commended to hys churche And heere to ende we desire all to suppose that we haue not attempted thys enterprise for vaine-glory gayne preferment or any other worldly respect neither yet indgyng our selues so exactly to haue sette out y state of a church reformed as that nothing more coulde be added or a more perfecte forme and order drawne for that were greate presumption to arregate so muche vnto oure selues seeing that as we are but weake and simple soules so God hath raised vp men of profounde iudgement and notable learning But thereby to declare oure good willes towardes the setting forth of Gods glory and the buylding vp of hys church accoumptyng thys as it were but an entrance into further matter hopyng that our God who hathe in vs begon thys good woorke will nor onely in tyme heereafter makers strong and able to goe forwarde therin but also moue other vpon whome he hathe bestowed greater measure of hys gyftes and graces to labor more thorowly and fully in the same The God of all glory so open youre eyes to see hys truth that you may not onely be inflamed with a loue thereof but wyth a continuall care seeke to promote plaÌ„t and place the same amongst vs that we the Enlish people and oure posteritie enioying the sinceritie of Gods gospel for euer may say alwayes The Lord be praysed To whome with Chryst Iesus his sonne our onely sauiour the Holy ghost our alone comfortor be honor praise and glory for euer and euer Amen ☞ FINIS A view of Popishe abuses yet remayning in the Englishe Church for the which Godly Ministers haue refused to subscribe Abide paciently the Lordes leasure Caste thy care vpon the Lord and he wil bring it to passe he will do it The ieopardous