few yeres in Englande alone do witnesse and returne to the Apostels Peter and Iohn to examine what answere they framed to these men of auctoritie and Rulers gathered to gether of all sortes as you haue harde as wel of the Cleargie as of the Laitie of suche as thē had the onlie gouernement of Ierusalem vnder the Romayns to whom they were then tributaries which charge and threatning of the whole Concil done with so great aduisement and consultation oght not lightlie to be estemed especiallie of the seruantes of God and their subiects as the Apostels then were They were charged and threatned to preache no more in the Name of Christe crucified An heauy commandement doutlesse to Peter and Iohn especiallie if it might haue taken place seing it was all together contrarie to their vocation and charge geuen vnto them by their maister Christ to preache his Gospell throughout all the worlde and to begyn at Ierusalem for which cause they were called and chosen from amongest all others and had bene of longe tyme instructed of their maister Christ in the knowledge of all his holie Scriptures ād replenished with wonderful giftes of the holie Goste to cure all deseases to cast out diuels to drinke poyson to tread vpon serpentes and to distribute the holye Spirit and all those to be as it were seales and cōfirmatiōs of their doctrine whiche all had bene to no porpose yf this commandement and threatninge of the Magistrats shuld haue bene obeyed the Apostels yelded to their auctoritie Then the foundation of the Churche shuld haue ben shaken and the whole assemble discouraged for the two Chief Captayns gyuinge ouer who durste haue presumed further And truelie if the Apostels at that tyme had bene no further instructed then the moste parte of men are in these our dayes and especiallie haue bene and yet be in our miserable countrie of Englande they would haue bene in great perplexitie and sore afrayde to haue made this or the like answere sayng Iudge you whither it be lawful before God to obeye you rather then God For the moste parte of men yea and of those whiche haue bene both learned and godlie and haue geuen worthie testymonie of their profession to the glorie of God haue thoght and taught by the permission of God for our synnes that it was not lawful in anie case to resist and disobeye the superior powers but rather to laye downe their heades and submitte them selues to all kindes of punishmentes and tyrannye thinkinge them selues sufficientlie discharged before God of their vocation and duetie hauing onlie the commandement of the superiour power to the contrarie were it neuer so vngodlie ād cleāe againste all natural reason wherby manye hauinge commandement to preache no more Iesus christ to the people without anie trouble of conscience haue keapt silence and thought thē selues sufficientlie discharged nether cōsidering that they were made stewards of Godes holye mysteries and that not at the appointment of man or for them selues but by the ordināce of our Sauiour Christ Iesus and to be faithful distributers to others Nether yet markinge this present answere of Peter and Iohn whom they might safely haue folowed with better assurance who in suche case haue lefte this lesson for all men rather to obaye God then mā Others hearinge the Name of God blasphemed by the false doctrine of the wicked and shaueling priestes durste not once open their mouthes to speak one worde in their maisters behalff and his infallible truethe but stopt theyr mouthes as dōme dogges ād durste not barke against the rauenīge wolff when they knew and saw him cōming Many not minding to obiecte them selues to anie daunger regardinge more their owne safetie then the preseruatiō of their flocke wolde not abide the wilde beaste commyng but moste shamefullie fledde before the daunger came shewing them selues playne hirelings and no true pastores leauinge the selie shepe of God to be deuoured and that because they had entred in to the folde before to feede of the flocke to eate the fleshe and deuoure the people of God as bread rather then to do their dueties But all these and suche like are here condemned and conuicted of euel which fearing man more then God gaue eare and obedience to man rather then to God Wherof besides the iuste shame that came vpon them selues and the displeasure of God powred generally vpon all for as muche as we all were betrayers of our maister thoghe not all a like iust occasion of offence and of like disobediēce to God was ministred to all sorts of men of what vocation so euer they were For when they sawe the teachers and leaders of others to set vp obedience of man rather then of God and the same confirmed by their owne example those whiche knewe no other thoght it their parte to do the like also in their vocation and office And suche as were playne enimies to God the wicked papistes or dissolute persons laughed in their sleues seing bothe them and their wicked proceadings therby promoted and furthered Where as to defend their kyngdome of darckenes ambitiō and idle belies there is no kyng so godly no contrey so peaceable nor no kyngdome so stronge which through their deuilishe entreprises and wicked persuasions they haue not studyed vtterly to subuert and destroy As the example of that desperat Moncke who to poison king Iohn wittingly and willingly poysoned him self O malicious deuil Likewise the oration of that moste traiterous and pestilent Cardinal Pole doth yet witenes to all the papists shame and confusion wherin he goeth about to perswade the wicked Emperour rather to tourne his power ād armie agaīst Kynge Hēry the eight ād Englād this doggs owne cōtrey thē against the infidels Turckes and Sarracenes blasphemouslie termīg the worde of God ād Gospel of saluation to be the Turckesh sede O impudēt mouth ô blasphemous beast which saist in thi heart Ther is no God And yet to all your shame ād vtter destructiō of your cōtrie you haue receaued him as a God whome before in your lawful kyngs dayes you moste iustely condemned as a traitour and very sonne of Antichrist The Counsellers whose office is to brydle the affectiōs of their Princes ād Gouuernours in geuīg such counsele as might promote the glorie of God ād the welthe of their cōtrie by this persuasion of obediēce haue hitherto sought and yet apearinglie do how to accōplishe and satisfie the vngodly lustes of their vngodlie ād vnlawful Gouernesse wicked Iesabel who for our synnes contrarie to nature and the manyfeste worde of God is suffred to raigne ouer vs in Goddes furie ād haue therby moste wickedlie betrayed Christe their countrie and thē selues so muche as lieth in thē to become slaues to a strange and foren nation the prowde Spaniards The Nobles also which thoghe vnworthilie wil be so called hearing no other preaching but that they must obeye their
HOW SVPERIOR POWERS OGHT TO BE OBEYD OF THEIR subiects and Wherin they may lawfully by Gods Worde be disobeyed and resisted Wherin also is declared the cause of all this present miserie in England and the onely way to remedy the same BY CHRISTOPHER GOODMAN ¶ The Lord hath broght vpon them a nation from a farre contrey an impudent nation and of a strange langage Baruch 4. Deut. 28. Printed at Geneua by Iohn Crispin M.D.LVIII VVILLIAM VVHITINGHAM TO ALL THEM that loue to knoWe the trueth and foloWe it Grace and peace IGnorance the mother of error and professed ennemie to Gods Trueth hath two daughters by whose flatteries and subtile practises she blyndeth mens eyes obscureth the Trueth and withdraweth vs from the way of knollage Custome and Negligence Wherof the first so bewitcheth vs that althogh we wallowe and walter in darcke blyndenes yet as it were by dreaming we seme to walke in the bright sunne shyning so that Custome and compagnie may farre soner drawe vs to perdition then Trueth and reason bring vs to the vnderstanding of our error The other being a domestical seruante and wel acquaynted with our maners by crafty flatterie doth ouercome vs. For the fleshe is prowde and swelleth against God she glorieth in her owne wisdome she loueth her owne consel she deliteth in her owne imaginatiō and policie and albeit we knowe that slothful Negligence is an impediment and blocke in our nature to stoppe vs from Trueth yet willingly we gyue place to her flattering persuasions and suffre her to trayne vs to wilful destruction So that betwixt Custome and Negligence we rather holde with damnable Ignorance and wisshe to be plonged in abominable errors then by diligent study and serching of the Trueth learne to knowe our duetie to God ād what he requireth of vs to do towardes our neighbour Then if we wolde auoyde these euils we must loue and embrace the cōtrary vertues and if Custome be wicked and withholde vs from God we must spedely reiect her and cleaue vnto God and if Negligence haue noseled vs in the denne of Ignorance we must purchase by diligence to proffit in the schole of knollage For the acheuing wherof whē M. Christopher Goodman one of our ministers according to the course of the text expounded bothe faithfully and cōfortably this place of the Actes of the Apostles Iudge whether it be iuste before God to obey you rather then God certeyne learned and godly men moste instantly and at sondry tymes required hī to dilate more at large that his Sermon and to suffre it to be printed that not onely we here present but our bretherne in England and other places might be persuaded in the trueth of that doctrine concerninge obedience to the magistrat and so glorifie God with vs. Whiche request he admitted not easely til at lēgth wel wayinge how many perished in their ignorance for lack of meanes to attaine to the knollage of the trueth and also conferringe his articles and chief propositions with the best learned in these partes who approued them he cōsented to enlarge the said Sermō and so to print it as a token of his duetie and good affection towarde the Churche of God and then if it were thoght good to the iudgement of the godly to translate the same into other lāgages that the proffit ther of might be more vniuersal Ther is no doute but many ouercome with olde Custome or yelding to negligēt Slothfulnes wil ether dispraise this proffitable worke or neglect it For euel Custome deliting in Ignorance wil straight way flie to her wonted argumēt What is this newe doctrine and whēce is it Negligence on the other part crieth maliciously We haue bookes ynough what nede we yet to be set to schole Thus Satan with double subteltie deludeth the worlde keping his euer so fast tyed in the bandes of blynde Ignorance that they can nether stirre hand nor fote they are blynde and can not se what is good and thogh it be offered yet are they insensible and can not fele it The trueth of Gods worde is to them moste odious but mans dreames and deuils doctrines are in greate estimatiō and reuerence Their false prophets and papistical priests haue so charmed them that Ignorance is holden for knollage error for trueth superstition for religion disobedience for obedience the Masse for the Lordes Supper Purgatorie for Christs blood workes for faith Belial for God and as S. Paul saieth If they bring you into slauerie ye endure it if they deuoure you ye suffre it if they spoile you of your goods ye are content if they preferre them selues and thrust you downe ye forbeare it if they smite you on the face yet ye can susteine it And thus the children of Satan had rather rot in their barbarous ignorance then by submitting thē selues to the mercies of God aspire to the perfect vnderstanding of his heauenly will reueiled vnto vs by his worde But thou the sonne of God shewe thy duetie and loue towarde thy merciful Father endeuour to knowe his wil declare thy affection towardes his Scriptures be zealous of his glorie reuerence his ministers and receaue thankfully his graces geuen to his Churche by them Proue diligently and trie by the touchstone who speake the wordes of God in pure simplicitie as in Gods presēce and who cehoppe and change the same making marchandise therof to traffique according to mans pleasure Nether do we desire onely that you shulde be persuaded in this trueth because we our selues so beleue but we exhort you that as the Samaritās dyd not onely beleue in our Sauiour Christ because of the womās report which broght the newes but forasmuche as they them selues heard him and knewe that Christ was the Sauiour of the worlde so whē you shal wel examine these things by the rule of Gods worde you wolde not so much by our report as by your owne iudgement and knowlage credit the trueth Remēbring that the worthy people of Beroe were cōmēded by the holy Gost because they tryed by Gods worde whether the ministers preachīg agreed with the same or no. Seing then by these examples we are bonde to seke the wil of God manifested vnto vs in his Scriptures what excuse shal we alledge for our pretensed ignorance Beholde here ▪ thou hearest the Eternal speaking by his minister in whose mouthe he hath put his worde and whose lippes must kepe the Lawe ād the vnderstāding therof as wryteth the Prophet Malachie Beware therfore that thou neglect not him that brīgeth the worde of God but quickely gyue eare ād obey For if thou desirest to knowe thy duetie to thy Prince and his charge likewise ouer thee read this book and thou shalt wel vnderstāde both If thou wishe for Christiā libertie come and se how it may easely be had If thou woldest loue God aboue man here thou shalt knowe how to obey God rather then mā Let the Apostles of Christ here be thy
schole maisters and then the more thou learnest the lesse occasiō shalt thou haue to repent Obedience is necessarie where God is glorified but if God be dishonored thy obedience is abominable in the sight of God be it neuer so beautiful in mans eyes Gods worde is our guyde to leade vs in our doings when it commandeth vs to obey God we must disobey man in the contrary for no man can serue two maisters and when our heauēly maister cōmandeth obedience to man it is euer to be vnderstand in the Lord. So that obedience to Gods Lawes by dissobeyīg mās wicked lawes is muche commendable but to disobey God for any duetie to mā is all to gether damnable as in the discourse of this booke thou shalt fully be asseured if God open thyn eyes to se the trueth ād moue thy heart to embrace it The Spirit of God which is the scholemaistre to leade vs into all trueth lighten your hartes gyue you myndes to vnderstande and courage to execute his holy wil to the setting forth of Christes kingdome the proffit of his Churche and confusion of Satans power and Antichrists Amen From Geneua this first of Ianuarie 1558. THE PREFACE AS there is nothīge to be cōpared to true obediēce in preseruīge the cōmō welth of townes cities and kingdoms or in maynteyninge true religiō Christiā peace cōcorde for therby euery mā is instructed how to render vnto God his due honour glorie to man that whiche his office requireth Euē so is ther nothinge more hatefull to God nether more hurtefull to mā then so to be bewitched with Satans false illusions that they are not able to put difference betwyxte obedience disobedience but as men without all iudgemēt and naturall sense take th one for thother beinge in them selues playne contrarie whiche is the onelie cause of all disorder and lamentable confusion where with the whole worlde is bothe this daie and hath bene also frō the beginning most miserably defaced and oppressed For when vile man replenished with pride vayne glorie and grosse ignorance will measure obedience with the crowked lyne of his owne corrupte iudgement and not with the infallible trueth of Goddes holie worde he must nedes preferre his owne decrees phantasies and ordināces to the cōfortable Lawes and liuelie preceptes of God his creator Then in place of iustice he receaueth iniustice for right wronge for vertue vice for lawe will for loue hatred for trueth falshod for playne dealing dissimulation for religion superstition for true worshippe detestable idolatrie and to be shorte for God Sathan for Christ Antichrist and with him suche plages of God and disorder amonge mē as are this daye set before oure eyes to beholde in all places throughout the vniuersal worlde and haue bene likewise euen from the beginninge When Adam was placed in paradise beinge a creature moste perfecte and abundinge in all wisdome and heauenlie knowledge and wolde at the persuasion of his wif measure obedience rather by his owne reason then by the worde sentence of God before pronounced behold he was not onelie spoyled of wisdome knowledge becomminge a verie foole in comparison of that whiche he was before but also sodaynlie destitute of all other singuler giftes as of innocencie and immortalitie was confoūded at the voyce of the Lord asshamed at his owne nakednesse and felt the dredfull indignation and curse of God whiche he had procured not onelie to him self but broght the same also vpon all his posteritie after him When the whole worlde was so corrupted in their owne wayes in the dayes of faithfull Noha no regarde was at all to the obedience of the liuinge Lorde nor yet to the godlie admonitions of iust Noha but euerie man was so drowned in his owne lustes that the space of an hundreth twenty yeares was not sufficiēt to moue them to repentance And therfore could they not escape the strange and horrible iudgement of God whiche immediatlie after folowed moste iustlie And althogh in that wicked generation abonded all kinde of wickednesse as well agaynst God as man in so muche as the earthe then might be compted a verie hell yet from whence proceaded all this rebellion against Goddes mightie maiestie but onelie for that they measured all thinges after their owne corrupt reason and not by his holie Lawes and preceptes Whiche they had now receaued of their forefathers hearde of Noah yea and had them ingrafted naturally in their hartes The probation wherof might easilie be deduced from all ages euen to oure tyme by innumerable and euident examples if it were nedefull in so playne a matter For who is so blynde that maye not se how man sheweth his rebellion neuer so muche as when he woulde be moste obedient in his owne sight and iudgement not measuringe the same by the streght lyne and true touchestone whiche is the Lawe and worde of God but suffringe him self to be led by his owne corrupte iudgemēt and affectiōs This turned the Wisdome of the Gentiles into mere folishnesse inuētinge shamefull idolatrye for true worshipp as witnessethe the Apostle This blynded the Ieues with hypocrisie and cloked holynesse makinge the Lawe of the liuinge Lorde to geue place to their inuented traditions by man Out of this stinkinge puddle of mans brayne haue issued forthe so great diuersitie of opinions and daungerous herisies wherwith the Churche of God hathe bē at all tymes horriblye tormented Finallie from hence hathe Antichriste filled his pestilente cupp of all sortes of deadlie poyson where of he hathe made the whole earthe almost and her kinges and Princes not onelie to drinke but to be most vilelie ouercome and dronken In whose defence they haue armed them selues against the Lorde ād Christe his Son whō notwithstanding with impudent mouthes they professe where as in verie dede they persecute him moste cruellie in his Saincts by all means possible fightinge as men in a rage vnder the banner of that filthie beast And yet these men in the middle of their furie without all obedience ordre subuertinge the Lawes of God and of nature will be called notwithstandinge the defenders of the faithe mayntayners of true religiō autours of peace teachers of obedience ād most discrete gouernours of common weales and policies To the intent therfore that these disguised personnes whiche abuse the whole worlde may appeare in their owne liuely shape and be knowen as they are in dede I haue thoght it good hauinge occasion by this worthie answere of Peter and Iohn and beinge hereto of diuers godlie persons prouoked somewhat to wryte of true obedience to wit what God him self requiereth of vs and what he commandethe to be geuen also to men Wherby God willinge the disguised clokes and craftie pretences of obedience vsed and practised by the vngodlie worldlings shal be discouered who haue soght alwayes and yet do seeke vnder the pleasant name of
obedience onlie to mayntayne their ambition pride and libertie wherby we shall learne also how in tymes past we haue bene shamfullie abused in yelding to the willfull wil of man in obeying his vngodlie commandements and fearinge man more then God and finallie how it behoueth vs to repent oure former ignoraunce and with diligence to redresse the same hauinge more lighte and fuller knowledge PETER AND IOHN ANSWERED VNTO thē and said Whether it be right in the sight of God to obey you rather thē God iudge you Act. 4. CHAP. I. ¶ To whome this answere was geuen and vpon what occasion how litle the malice of the Iues preuailed agaynst the Apostles in sekinge to stopp the Gospell by their craftie fetches and chastisynges TO the end we may haue more sensible fealinge of all these things let vs diligentlie consider this answere of S. Peter Iohn aswell to whō it was made as vpon what occasion After that these ii Apostles through the malice of the Priests the Gouernoure of the Tēple and the Sadduces were violentlie throwne into prison the night before for preaching to the people at Ierusalem in the porche of Salomon the resurrection from death in the Name of Iesus and the next daye folowīge were set forthe ād presented to the whole Senate and Concile of Ierusalem where was assembled all the chief Rulers and Elders of the people of Israell Annas also the hie Priest and Caiaphas ād Iohn and Alexandre men of great reputation with others of the kinred of the high Bisshopp to be examined of thē in whose name or power they had cured the lame criple who beinge aboue 40 yeres olde and lame from his birthe was daylie broght to the porche of Salomō to begge his almes Peter replenisshed with the holie Spirit āswered withe great boldnesse that they wroght that miracle in the Name and power of Iesus Christ the true Nazarit Whome the Ieues had crucified and God had raysed from the death in so muche as the mouthes of the whole Concile were stopped had nothinge to saye against them but as men astunnisshed wondred at the constant boldenesse of Peter and Iohn in their answere Then saithe S. Luke did the whole Concile that is all these forenamed Magistrates by common consent straytelie charge the Apostels Peter and Iohn hereafter not so muche as once to speake to anie man muche lesse to preache in the Name of Iesus thinking by this means to stoppe the course of the Gospell ād hinder the glorie of Christ whō they before had crucified as a malefactor and blasphemer of Gods Name And althoghe they were destitute of all reason and Scripture to answere the Apostels who had all redie cōfounded the yet throughe auctoritie and ponishmēte whiche they threatned they thoght craftelie to put the Apostles to silence and so at length to obtayne the victorie As we see this daye the Papistes their successors expresse enimies of the Gospel ād sworne soldiars of Antichriste euery where practise who beinge ouercome with the manifest Scriptures and their blasphemous mouthes stopped with the truthe of Gods worde fight notwithstanding maliciouslie agaynst Christe with power auctoritie threatnyngs horrible ponishmentes and cruell murther resemblinge that old serpēt whose broude they are whiche was a murtherer from the begyninge But when the whole assembly had craftelie cōsulted and wrought all that they coulde agaynst the faithfull seruātes of God they were neuer the lesse disapoynted of their porpose For the glorie of Christe more brightelie shyned and the truthe of his Gospell was better knowen ād farther published and their falshod and raginge madnesse more espied and abhorred of the godlie For what extreame madnesse was this to set them selues agaynst God so to truste in their owne power as thoughe they were able to resyste and ouercome the power of the all mightie whiche is the Gospell of oure Sauiour Iesus Christe as witnesse the the Apostle To thinke that the threatnings of mē shulde more preuayle with the Apostels of Christe then the threatnings of God ād his horrible iudgementes apoynted for the disobediēt Coulde not the Iewes distroye Christe and his doctrine whiles he was mortall and liued amongest them in the fleshe to whom they did almoste what they list an yet would after thinke to bringe it to passe when he was risen agayne by his mightie power and made immortall Yf they coulde not keape him in the graue for al their diligent watche when he was dead and buried thinke they it possible to pluke him downe from heauē from the righthande of his father where he fitteth and reigneth in euerlastīge glorie Oh vayne and foolishe men he hathe ouercome al readie the whole world and cast forthe of it the Chief Prince Ruler Satan who is no more able to preuayle agaynst his truthe and seruauntes Are you more subtile or stronger then Satan who is your lorde and maister so longe as you fight agaynst Christe the Sonne of God Coulde not so mightie a Prince with stande his power and you leawde souldiars of his wil thīke to optayne the victorie Deathe whiche no man can escape coulde not holde him neither the power of hell praeuayle agaynst him and yet would you haue him at your commandement moste maliciouslie and traitrouslie sighfightinge against his hōnor who soght by all means and yet doth to do you good and saue you But ô miserable and vile wretches double is your condemnation in the sight of God which not contented to forsake Christe your selues do so maliciously with your threatenings labour to frustrate others of his moste confortable graces Full wel doth our Sauiour Christ paynt forth your raginge enuie sainge Wo be to you Scribes Pharisies and hypocrites because you shutt the kingdome of heauen before men not entering your selues neither wil you suffer such as come to enter CHAP. II. ¶ How the papisticall Churche and Conciles can not but erre and how they beinge compared to the Iewes are no lesse deniers and blasphemers of Christ ▪ then the Iewes I wil not here rehearse what iuste occasiō of repentance was offered to this whole assemblie of the Iewes if their hartes had not bene hardened as wel by the playne and sensible doctrine taught by the Apostels whiche they coulde not improue with all their learninge as by the mightie powere of God declared in so manie and wonderful miracles wroght by them in the name of Christe to cōfirme his Gospel and resurrection whiche the Iewes notwithstāding stubbernly did reiecte Nether yet wil I speake of the strange defection and notable falling awaie from God amongest them in Ierusalem whiche at that tyme in the iudgement of mā appeared to be the onelie Churche of God to whom appartayned the promises who of al other nations had the Lawe and Prophetes to instructe them who onelie professed the true and euerliuinge God and yet amongest them all that were assembled was not
as the people traÌ„sgressing agaynste the Lawe For with God ther is no respecte of persones as here after folowith more largely Thus we see that althoghe Dauid thoght it not lawful in his priuate cause to touche Gods anoynted yet are no people or nation therby coÌ„strayned either ot obeye their anoynted in vnlawful demandes or els forbidden to withstand the open transgression of Gods Lawes and mans For in that case Saules seruauntes would not obeye him commandinge them to murther Ahimelech and the rest of the Leuites aÌ„d Priestes so that not to withstand such rages of Princes in tyme according as the Lawe requireth which commandeth that the euill be taken forth from amoÌ„gest you is to geue them the bridle to all kynde of mischiffe to subuerte all Lawes of God and man to let will rule for reason and therby to inflame Gods wrathe agaynst you wholy as your selues in Englande are this day an example to all natioÌ„s and people that beare the Name of Christe These are the obiections for the moste parte or at the least the chiefest which are comonly alleadged agaynst this veritie moste playne and euidente that is that there is no obedience to be alowed agaynst God which is not in his sight disobedience Also that it is lawfull for all men according to their vocatioÌ„ to resiste to the vttermost of their power all such as are open enimies of God and labour to make them slaues to Satan These obiections as you playnly see make nothing to the coÌ„trarie but if they shall be depely considered do rather strongly confirme the same Therfore deare brethern let no man feare to shewe him self Gods seruante openly and to forsake in tyme the shamefull boÌ„dage of Satan to call back the trueth of Gods worde agayne wherby ye were once in freedome both of conscieÌ„ce and bodie and vtterly to abolishe all vile papistrie the doctrine of deuils and onely cause of all your calamitie both of bodie and soule CHAP. XI It apperteyneth not onely to the Magistrates and al othâ—r inferior officers to see that their Princes be subiect to Gods Lawes but to the comon people also wherby the tyrannie of the Princes and rebellion of the subiects may be auoyded TO resiste euill and to mayntayne goodnesse to honor God truely and to expel idolatrie euery man will confesse to be a good and godly acte aÌ„d cannot but highlie commende the workers therof as men acceptable to God and worthie members of a comon welthe but when men coÌ„sider the daungers and displeasures which commonly happen to such then is there great curtesie made who first shall take the enterprise in hand and longe disputations made whither it be their duetie or no and to what sortes of men it doth belong as thogh any were exempted out of that nomber which do professe the Name of God If the superior power be an idolatâ—er or a cruel tyrant suppressing true religion and murthering the Sainctes of God as Iesabel of England doth with all her rable of papistical Bishopps and shauelinges who is so ignorant of God or destitute of all humanitie or natural iudgment that wil not aknowledge such a one to be vnworthie the societie of the godly and honest muche lesse to haue the auctoritie and rule ouer great nations and whole kingdoms And not with out cause For by the Ciuile Lawes a foole or idiot borne and so proued shall lose his landes and inheritance wherunto he is borne because he is not able to vse them a right but especially oght in no case to be suffered to haue the regiment of a whole nation or kingdome And it is moste certeyne that there is no such euil can come to any comon welth by fooles and idiots as dothe by the rage and furie of vngodly Rulers maynteyners of idolatrie aÌ„d tyrannie For follie hath comonly ioyned with it simplicitie voyde of malice and easie to be ordered but idolatrie and tyraÌ„nie reseÌ„bleth more the nature of wilde beastes cruell beares aÌ„d ragiÌ„g lyoÌ„s theÌ„ the coÌ„dicion of maÌ„ For simplicitie they are replenished with craftines â–ª for loue they shew malice and for patience furious rage aÌ„d madnesse and beinge borne as it were a comoÌ„ plague to all men cannot once studie for the preseruation of a fewe This besides reason experience teacheth all men to be moste true that it were better to haue anie foole theÌ„ such an vntamed beaste to be ouer theÌ„ And that suche being altogether with out God oght to haue no auctoritie ouer the people of God who by his worde requireth the contrarie as is moste manifeste And yet to punishe and depose such a one according to the commandemeÌ„t of God there is none that thinketh it Lawfull or at the least will confesse it to appertayne vnto them either to do it them selues or to see it done by others As for the wicked counsellers they are playne Gnatos and flatterers thinking their office to be applyed vnto their kiÌ„ges and Quenes will as thogh they had no charge of the whole Realme And therfore will labour to coÌ„passe nothiÌ„ge but that which their Princes lust after or may at the least please them not passing if the whole Realme do perishe so they maye obtayne their fauours Suche Achitophels deserue to haue Achitophels rewarde for their deuilishe couÌ„selle with out mercie And as it is with them so is it with the reste of all estates as before hath bene touched Neuerthelesse the matter is so euident vpon their partes that all will coÌ„fesse that it chiefly beloÌ„geth to inferior Magistrats to see a redresse in such disordres and they theÌ„ selues can not well deny it But as touching the comon and symple people they thinke them selues vtterly discharged whither their Prince be godlie or vngodlye wise or foolishe a preseruer of the comon welthe or ells a distroyer all is one to them they muste be obedient because they are ignorant and muste be led them selues not meete to leade others And because their doinges are counted tumultes and rebellion except they be agreable to the commandmentes decrees and proceadinges of their superior powers and Magistrates and shal in doing the contrary be as rebells punished therfore of all others say they we haue least to do yea nothing at all withe the doinges of our Rulers Yf they rule well we shall fare the better if they be vngodly they haue the more to answere for their vngodlynesse What haue we to do with their matters Thus do all sortes of men from the highest to the louest slyppe their heades out of the coller and as careles persones not passing which end goeth forwarde geueth the brydle wholie to their Rulers till destruction remediles ouerflowe all To the intent therfore that this simplicitie ignoraÌ„ce and subiection of the inferior people do not altogether blynde them and cause them as hitherto it hath bene proued almost in all places and countries to suffer them selues like brute beastes rather then reasonable
appoynting six dayes for their trauell and the seuenth daye onely to reste and that to the honoring of our Lorde God Also by what means may the people be drawen from the dayes of riote and bancketing which they terme frindly feasting and goodfelloweshipp as from Whitsontides dronkennes and surfet Midsōmers shewes and vanities Christmas riote and bawdry Shroftetwesdayes glottony and Lents superstitious obseruations excepte by some Lawe of greater importance the rude people be otherwise perswaded And what other Lawes are there able to bringe this to passe besides the Lawes of God Wherin if they be not instructed it is impossible for any auctoritie or power to withholde them with out great daunger and tumultes from such kinde of disordres and vnlawfull customes Therfore if thou be a Ruler and couete to haue the people obedient to thee in Gods feare this muste be thy first and principall studie to procure that they may truely know God by the playne and diligent preaching of his worde wherī if they be well instructed there is no custome so longe continued no idlenesse so longe vsed no supersticion so deeply rooted which they will not gladly and peaceably for go at thy commandement yea there is nothing which is euill that they can for shame stande in nor any good and lawfull demande that they will deny thee By these means onely shalt thou obtayne honour maintayne thy right winne the hartes of thy people and haue them all obedient And as the Magistrates by this means are sure to finde obedience and escape all rebellion tumultes and disordres amonges their subiectes euenso is there no other rule for the subiectes to escape the idolatrie tyrannie and oppression of their superiors then in reteyning as their chief possession the self same Lawe and worde of God Permitting rather all thinges wordlie to be taken from them as landes goodes house cōtrie father mother wiffe children yea liffe it self then to be depriued by any means of that heauenly treasure and precious perle for the which they must sell althinges Wherof to be fullie perswaded it is necessary to vnderstande what maner of people you are Yf you be the people of God and vnfayned Christians then muste ye also knowe that the Lawe of God and Christe your Sauiour doth appertayne vnto you wherin as without shame ād condemnation ye may not be ignorāt euenso no power commandment or threatninges shulde cause you to departe from it wherin onely standethe that comforte and saluation which no creature can restore agayne vnto you The heathen which knewe not God a right but were idolatrers yet made their religiō to haue the highest place in their comon welthes as Aristotle writeth in his Politiques In the name wherof they might demande any thinge of their kinges and Rulers and they durst not denye them and might also with out offence deny all thinges which their Rulers demaunded contrarie to their religion In so muche as this prouerbe was comon amongest all Vsque ad Aras meaning that agaynst their religion as they were perswaded they were bownde to no persone father mother frende or gouernour their loue ād obedience towardes thē coulde stretch no further then to the Altars that is so farre as with obseruing their religion they might lawfullye performe Yf the Gentills then had their religion in such honour and reuerence that agaynst it thoghe in dede it was meere superstition and idolatrie they woulde acknowledge no obedience in what estimation shulde Gods worde and the religion of our Sauiour Iesus Christe be amongest vs that professe his Name and are assured of his doctrine to be the vndouted trueth and power of God to saluacion of all beleuers Yf the heathen kinges and Magistrates coulde cōpell their subiectes no farther then the Alters shall any auctoritie or power compell vs farther then God and his anoynted our chief kinge Lorde ād Maister Let it be counted shame to vs that the ignorant Gentils shuld be founde more carefull and zelous in defending their superstition and manifeste idolatrie then we are in mayntayning the true worship of God and his heauenly wisedome Yf we were Turkes Sarasins Iewes or papistes which either knewe not God a right or els denied his Sonne Iesus it were no great maruell if we were led after the lustes of our vngodly Princes For as our Maister teacheth When the blynde leadeth the blynde bothe fall in to the diche But if we will be taken for the people of God and his sonnes by adoption in Christ Iesus then it behoueth vs likewise to geue obediēce principally to our Lorde and Maister to our mightie God and moste louinge Father as Malachi the Prophet exhorteth The sonne reuerenceth the father and the seruaūt the maister yf I be your Father saith the Lorde where is the honor that you geue me Yf I be your Lorde and Maister where is my feare Notinge vnto vs how it is in vayne to call him Father or Lorde so long as we geue him not that honour and reuerence which he demandeth Also if we will not be taken for blynde and ignorante persones then must we shewe forth this light by walking as becomethe the childrē of light as the Apostle requirethe indifferently of all Gods children with out exceptiō or excuse either of guide or Ruler For the blyndnesse of our guide whither he be of the Cleargie or Laytie may be no excuse to vs if in folowing him we fall and perishe it is our owne faute and we must beare our owne iudgment For Christe hereof admonisheth vs Let thē a lone saithe he for they are blind guides and leaders of the blynd And agayne accordinge to their workes see ye do not Yf thou hauynge sight had appoynted to thee a blynde guide wouldeste thou folowe him into a daungerouse pit or deepe water wherin both might perishe because he was thy guide Then truely mightest thou be iudged of all men worse then either oxe or asse or any other vnreasonable beaste whiche will not be driuē in such places as to their outwarde sēses appeare daūgerous Nature onely teacheth all creatures this to flie frome those daungers that shulde hurte them and to desier all thinges that do them good And when God hath made this comon to all beastes ād inferior creatures paynefully to seeke their preseruation hathe he denied the same to man whome aboue all others he will haue preserued For whose preseruation chieflie he hath not onely created all thīges and prescribed his Lawes and commandements to prohibet murther and euery other thinge tendinge to his destruction but also to shewe the abundance of his mercies spared not his dearelye belouid Sonne but gaue him to the cruell death of the Crosse that man might haue full saluation not onely here in this world but euerlastingly in the worlde to come Wherfore if he tender vs so muche as to seeke by all meās possible our liffe and preseruation then must it likewise
commandement If thou wilt here pronounce accordīg to the effecte behold thou shalt preferre the vile ād adulterous Beniamites to the seruaūtes of God those which moste abhominably abused the Leuites wiffe to them that with the zele of God soght to haue the transgression punished Euen so saye I of worthie Wyat Yf you iudge his facte according to the successe in mans reason then shall you prefarre to him all the false and flattering Counsellers all wicked and blouddy Bishoppes and all others that would be counted Nobles which in very dede be traytours to God and his people But Wyat I dowte not departed with prayse the seruant of God where all these are left to perpetual shame and destruction without speedie repentance O noble Wyat thou art now with God and those worthy men that died for that enterprise ▪ Happy art thou and they which are placed in your euerlastinge inheritance and freed from the miserie of suche as were your enimies in so iuste and lawfull a cause who liue as yet patrones of idolatrers of theues and murtherers agaynst whō thou and thine shall stande one daye as iudges to their cōdēnation For what can you Nobles or Coūsellers saye for yourselues at that daye whē God shall call you to accompt ye knowe not how sone which haue permitted Wyat and with him the whole Churche and comon welth of England to fall into the handes of Gods enimies and would not reskewe him some of you hauing then in your handes sufficient power not onely to haue supported him and others which feare God accordinge to duety ād promisse but to haue tamed the rāping lyons raginge beares ād raueninge wolues Haue ye not herein iustly cōdemned your selues as faynt harted cowardes and manifeste trayters not onely to Wyat but to God him self to his poore oppressed seruantes and to your owne natiue and ruynous coūtrie But your vngodly fetches and wicked doinges wherof I am not all together ignorant with your names I do now purposlye omitte perchāce God in the meane season will chaunge your myndes softē your harde hartes and call you to repentāce Otherwise doute ye nothīge but God will minister either to me or some other or it belonge the like occasion to set forth your shame and nakednesse to all posteritie as you moste worthely haue deserued who hithervnto haue shewed your selues in contemnyng so many ād notable occasiōs offered by Gods prouidence as well synce as in the dayes of Wyat to be mē in whom is nether zele to religion nor loue to your coūtrie And therfore I leauinge you to Gods mercies or fearefull iudgementes will speake a worde or two by the waye to thē which will be called Gospellers ād yet haue armed them selues agaynst the Gospel drawing forth with them out of their countrie to mayntayne Philipps warres and to please Iesabel who seeketh by that means to cut their throtes craftely their poore and ignorant tenātes and other souldiars without knowledge whiles their brethern be burned at home and their countrie like to be wasted spoyled oppressed possessed and replenished with vngodly Spanyardes Is this the loue that ye beare to the worde of God ô ye Gospellers haue ye bene so taught in the Gospel to be wilfull murtherers of your selues and others abrode rather then lawfull defenders of Gods people and your countrie at home Is Gods cause become iniuste ād not meete to be defended and the cruel murther and shamefull slaughter of Princes approued This hathe not the Gospell taught you but chieflye in all your doinges to seeke the kingdome of God next to loue your neighbour as your selues and in no case to be murtherers as all you are that either for pleasure of Princes or hope of promotion or gayne of wages are become Capitayns or souldiars in vnlawfull warres especially in this case and daungerous tyme. Then which of you all now for shame can accuse that zelous and godly man Wyat whither ye be of the Nobles Coūsellers Lords knightes or of the comon souldiars I wil make your owne consciences iudges in this matter whither worthie Wyat or you shuld be takē for traytors He who in the feare of God and loue towardes his countrie soght to defende all ād to distroye none or you who seekinge the defēce of none labour to destroy all He who indeuered him self to withstande wicked Iesabel and the onely traytors of Gods truthe and their coūtrie as Priests Bishopps and papistes or you that haue bene their maynteyners with shildes ād bucklers He who according to the worde of God soght with the daunger of all his goods landes and liffe to keepe out strāgers which were comynge to rule ouer you and to deuoure you or you which haue bene meanes with your liues lands and goodes to bringe them in and to defend them He who would be openly knowen in his doinges as he was in harte their enimie or you which hate them inwardly and yet do what you may to shewe your selues friendes outwardly But tell me your gaynes in the end To conclude he who did his indeuour amonge his contriemen at home to defend them or you whiche helpinge your enemies abrode labour to destroie your friēdes and countrie at home Also you subiectes ād souldiars which are gone with them to butcher your selues and others without cause or cōscience contrarie to the worde of God be you assured that before him you shall be condemned as rebells and disobedient persones where as your godly bretheren which in a iust and lawfull cause died with faithfull Wyat are alowed before God and of all goodmen commended O London London thou that boasted thy self to be the Ierusalem of all Englāde wherin Christ chieflie was preached and the truethe of his Gospell best knowne remēber how thou forsookest that godly Capitayne ād what promisse thou madest him Thou I say which mightest haue bene an example and cōforte to all the Cities and Townes in Englande ād to haue made the papistes to tremble ād quake for feare God graunt that for thy faynt harte in that behalf and shamefull falling from God in murthering then and synce so many of his seruantes and Prophetes thou be not left likewise destitute and desolate not one stone left vpon a nother as happened to Ierusalē Thou canst not herein defende thy self which synce hast bene readie and yet art to maintayne wicked Iesabell in her tyrannie at home ād in her vngodly nedeles warres abrode with thy goods and bodie at her commandement being therby made an ayeder helper and furtherer of all her vngodly oppression and tyrannie And therfore must nedes be partaker with her of the dreadfull plagues and punishments which God hath appoynted for such impietie Wherfore to conclude this matter yf Wyats cause was iuste and lawfull as thou muste nedes confesse for if he were fautie in anie poynt it was chieflie in this that he pretended rather the cause of his countrie then of Gods Religion which allwayes
measure oure doings by Godds worde Rom. 2. We must not measure our obedience after our oune phantesies Rom. 1. Mat. 15. Disobedience is the puddle of all herisies and error Apo. 17. Antichriste is the plage of God for maÌ„s disobedience Psal 2. The tyraÌ„ts are Antichristes tormentours and persecute Christ Thoccasion wherefore this treatise was writ and what proffit we may gather therof The circuÌ„stance of the answere wayed Act. 4. The magistrats coÌ„mande the Apostles not to preach Christe The papists succead the Iewes in malice aÌ„d persecutioÌ„ Papists are the generation of Vipers Iohn 8. The Gospell increaseth when it is persecuted Rom. 1. We must rather feare Goddes iudgemeÌ„ts then mans threatnyngs Christe aÌ„d his word are inuinsible Mat. 23. Great occasions of repentance offered to the Iewes An horrible falling awaye froÌ„ God Rom. 3. and 9. The Ieweshe churche errethe The papistes churche erreth The Iew ishe chmrche was firste The locusts which came out of the bottoÌ„les pit The papistes are more wicked then Iewes The papistes denye Christ as well as the Iewes do The papistes are more blasphemous then the Iewes The papistes coÌ„fesse Christ but in effect deny him 1. Tim. 2 The papistes coÌ„fesse Christe to be here in the world in the forme of brad a dead God not able to do anye thinge The boxy mowly wormy musty rotten and corrupted Christe The papistes vnder the name of Christians worke treason agaynst Christ Hebr. 10.1 Ioh. 2. The infinit slaughter of martyrs in Englande We must not yelde in Gods cause when man threatneth Luk. 24. act 1. Relenting of the ministers moste dangerous we maye safely folowe the example of the Apostels aproued by the holy Gost. A dangerous doctrine 1. Cor. 3 Man can not dispeÌ„ce with that which God commandeth False brethern which betray God and his trueth in yelding to the papists No minister oght to flie and forsake his flocke except he be persecuted onely and not his flocke Psal 14. They which please man rather then obey God we must obey the preachers onely wheÌ„ they bring Gods worde The papistes laughe in their sleues when they see their wicked proceadinges promoted by vnlawfull obedience A moncke Cardinal Pole To obey is good but whome wherin aÌ„d howe farre ought to be coÌ„sidered The iustices other vnder officers Officers aÌ„d Iudges degenerat The papistes naturally thurst for bloud Fals Gospelers slaues vnto papistes The coÌ„mon people Men that do against their conscience and Godes worde Rom. 13. The enemies of God caÌ„ not denye this answere to be treue Psal 104. Preachers must preach Christe in season and out of season 1. Cor. 11. They shuld not so haue escaped if they had bene befor our cruell Counselors Pharisies and Hypocrits of Englande what things are to be considered Obedience against God is disobedience what God once willith in his Law to be done or not to be done that caÌ„ no man dispence with be it neuer so smal in the sight of man Deu. 4. Ioh. 10. Deu. 28 and .30 No coÌ„mandement shall excuse vs in the daye of vengeance Esai 2. Gen. 7 Gen. 14. Exod. 3 4.5.6.14 Amos 3. Heb. 13. Pro. 21. what maner of man the Lorde woulde haue chosen kinge Deut. 17. Gods Lawes must diligentlie be folowed in election of kinges aÌ„d Rulers and not mans phaÌ„tasie The firste note and obseruatioÌ„ in chosinge of a kynge Ezechi 20 Two notes to knowe whether a kinge be chosen of God or no None oght to be chosen a kinge or Ruler but such as wil maintaine and promote Godes Lawes The secoÌ„d note why kinges ar chosen froÌ„ amongest their brethern The gouernement of women is against nature and Gods ordinance Gen. 3. 1. Cor. 14 1. Tim. 2. women by ciuell police are excluded froÌ„e all offices in a comon welth Winchester proueth her a bastard in his boke de Vera obedientia and BoÌ„ner also in the preface of the same boke kyng Edward the VI. They haue now plentie of both sortes The title of the Crowne belongeth onely by Gods worde to the heyres males You re owne Lawes dothe not prefer abastard to her that is lauful begotten â–ª Heb. 1. Psal 45. Leuit. 8. 1. Sam. 15. 1 Reg. 19 The thirde rule to be obserued in electing of kinges Psal 52. What other notes God geueth to chose by As the kings charge is greater so is he more bonde to God to performe the same If it be heynous to disobey maÌ„ much more God the Lorde of al thinges Kinges oght to rule in Gods feare with him aÌ„d not againste him To obey a wicked Prince in his wickednes is plaine disobedience to God 1. king 1. 1. Sam. 22 Mat. 2. They will make all these blaÌ„les the papistes are â—o impudeÌ„t rather theÌ„ they will seme to offende Mat. 27. Exod. 20. Psalm 9. Gen. 4. The commandemeÌ„t of the Prince shall not excuse thee in euill doyng It is not inoughe not to do the wiked commaundement of a kynge but also to do the contrarie Act. 5. Act. 5. Matth. 5. Al the apostels to gether shewed the like constancie No power can preuail against the faithfull Mar 28. Rom. 8· 1. Cor. 4. Ephe. 3. 1. Tim. 4. 2. Tim. 4. Ephe. 6. Heb. 4. Christ disobeyed wicked magistrates and so saued vs but we obey vniust magistrates and destroy our selues 1. kin 18. 2. Cor. 6. Obedience to death When God forbiddeth one thinge he commaÌ„deth the contrarie Dani. 6. Daniel was no Englishe courtier for he coulde not flatter Note this al ye Gentelmen aÌ„d Nobles of Inglande Daniel burned with the zeal of Gods glory and wolde not hide it The couÌ„sel of the wordlye dissemblers Carnal Gospelers are halters oÌ„ both sides Ioh. 16. Daniel was not so wyse as our glauering Gospellers EnglishemeÌ„ will nether be Apostles Prophets nor good men How should they iudge well of other meÌ„s matteres that coÌ„demne theÌ„ selues in their owne 1. Mac. â— A notable answere for all true Christians to practise Matathias was no publik persone Loke wel vpon this example al ye inhabitantes of Englande Mattathias fact depeÌ„dethe not of the auctoritie of the history but of the worde of God Mattathias doing aÌ„d the Apostels are both like Iosua made the like answere to the Israelites Iosue 24. The papists wil saye because he was olde that he doted Forget not this yf ye feare God and loue your liues Other now serue the Lorde or neuer Luk. 3. Esai 24. Iere. 48 Hosaâ— 6 Repent o countriemen your vnlawfull obedience aÌ„d now at last turne to your Lord God Rom. 6. God grant this for Christes sake to sinke in your myndes Obedience Ignorance can not excuse you much lesse when the trueth is so plainlye taught We must not yelde to autoritie and power Threaninges oght not to fear vs. This doctrine of obedieÌ„ce is dayly sealed with the bloude of Sainctes 1. Cor. 10 The Shirefs â—ealers and other inferior officers condemned Mat 27. Euery maÌ„s answere to vnlawfull dissobedience Losse of lininges is not