of life hath bin taken on For the longer this Protestant hath preached vnto the people the worse the liues of the same people are become Ioan. 8 a 13 a â— Esd 16 â— Math. 3.4 experience hath taught vs and no maruell for he in forsaking the good life hath there withal forsaken the Trueth and for that cause onelie the Lorde hath no pleasure in this licencious Protestant nor yet in his absurd Religion And as touching the 3. namely the Puritan for as much as he vvill not liue as a subject vnder all good lawes and ordinances of Kings Magistrates Rom 13. 1. Pet. 2. 2. Pet. 2. Tit. 3 a. 2. Tim. 3. a. b. 1. Ioan. 3. a. 4. b. Ioan. 14. 1. Ioan. 4. b. and therefore hath out of enuious persumption and rebellious heart forsaken the obedience and godlie lyfe due to God and gouernors notwithstanding it is required of vs all in holy scripture so hath he in lyke maner there vvith all forsaken the Trueth it vvere too muche to name how many honest hearted and true faythfull subjects to their Prince haue bin by this Puritan belyed slaundered persecuted and imprisoned for that they held them to obedience and the good lyfe like as they were taught Mala 3.4 Psa 50. â— Ioan. 13. â— and would neuer consent to his rebellyous doctrine nor come to his nightly conuentikles and therefore although he out of his great zeale sought the reformation of the Church and yet he himself not reformed vnto obedience and godlines of lyfe God hath no more pleasure in this disobedient Puritan nor yet in his absurd Religion 4. Esd 16. c. Thus you may see Right Noble 1. Cor. 3. d. Ioan. 8. d. Mar. 8. d. Ioan. 15. a. Ioan. 14. a. Ioan. 8. d. Luc. 8. b. Mar. 4. b. Matth. 13. b. Esa 6. c. Ioan. 12. f. g. Honourable and vvorshipfull how euery one in his vvay seeketh religiously after the Trueth if he myght any way fynde it And againe you may see also that the Trueth is neuerthelesse hid from them all And why for if we consider of the Scriptures vnto all those that walke without the true lyfe and godly obedience which is required in gods holy vvord all things chaunce in similitudes parables and closed bookes because that men should not see with their earthly eyes or myndes nor heare with their earthly eares or thoughts nor yet comprehende in theyr darke stony harts the secrete works of the Holy Spirit of Christ. Ioan. 14. b.c. 1. Pet. 2. Rom. 13. a. 2. Tâ—â— 3. a For that cause all People that are zelous for Religion for the Trueths sake be they what they be or dwell they where they shall so they loue God and desyer to liue vnder obedience to the King and his good lawes or at the leastwise liueth quietly and harmelesly among the People bearing a true and faithfull heart to the Prince of the Land are to be borne withall in their ignorant zeale for Conscience sake in asmuch as all good gifts proceed from God yea and moreouer Math. 13. for that the tyme of haruest is at hand in the vvhich the Lord vvill send out his Angels to gather together the good wheat into his barnes to burne the weeds with vnquenchable fyer Ioan. 1. a. b. 14. a. Ioan. 5. c. 6. e. f. Ioan. 17. 2. Ioan. 4. b. For doubtles the Trueth it self wherabout men so striue is an other maner of thing then flesh and bloud was euer able to fynd out for it is the louely lyfe or being of God or of his holy word vvhich lyfe is the thing as I sayd before that all sacrifices signes or shadowes in the whole lawe as also the Sacraments and ceremonyes of the new Testament ordained in the Christian Catholicke Church together with all that the holy scriptures Ioan. 3. a b. c. d. c. Ioan. 16. d. e. f 17. c. â—1 c. Gen. 2. b. 3. a. Prov. 3. c. Apo. 2. b. â— Cor. 15. c. Gen. 3. 2 Cor. 1. d. 3. a. b. c. Deut. 1â— a. b 1. Tit. 3. a. 1. Pet 2. â— Cor. 13. Matth. 7. b. Ioan. 13. d. 14 15. Gal. 2. d. e. Ioan â— â— Gen. 2 b. â— a. d 〈…〉 1â— a. b c. do â—oynt vpon signify and requier at all our Hands I say once agayne the louely lyfe of God or of his holy worde is the very Trueth namely Iesus Christ It is also the Tree of lyfe that was plaÌ„ted in the beginning in the midst of the Paradise or Lust-garden of the Lord which tree of lyfe euen like as the first through the disobedience in the knowledge hath lost the same euen so the second man through the obedience in the lyfe winneth the same agayne it is very true And therefore to liue in Obedience to God and his holy vvord also in obedience to the King and his good lawes and ordinances and to loue myne neighbour as myne owne selfe also to deale louingly vprightly vvith all men like as I vvould be dealt with all is the effect of my religion grounded vpon the Trueth vvhich obedience had his originall from Adam Abell Seth Noah Abraham c and is also confirmed by Christ and his Apostles c. and therefore shal continue for euer Ioan. 13 c. 14 a 15. a. b. c 1. Cor. 13. 2. Ioan. 3. a.b. c. 4 a.b. Thus I conclude that my Religion in the good lyfe goeth beyond them all so farre as the Heauens from the Earth or the Light from Darknes also that all maner of Religious people boast they neuer somuch of their Religions Preachings Seruices Sacraments Seremonyes Freedomes by Christ or elswhat that are found vvithout this obedience to God and Gouernours Ioan 8. a. 〈◊〉 8 d. â—oan 14 a b. 1. Cor. 13. Eph 4 a.b. c. 6. b c. Ioan 〈…〉 Colo. 1. c. 2. b. vvithout this goodlyfe aforesayd or at the least haue not any earnest inclination thereto somuch as they may in the Lord the Religion their God seruice and all els that they boast vpon is nothing worth in the Lords sight and the cause is they haue forsaken the Trueth vvhich is the flower and beauty of all good Religions yeâ— and is all in all Now haue I shewed you Right High and Honorable the inconfutable ground of my Religion which God of his gracious goodnes hath made knowen vnto me 1 Cor. 13. 2. c. 13. Ioan 13. c. 14. a. b. and for the vvhich I haue bin long suspected together vvith the vnfallible Trueth vvherout all right obedience vnto God and Gouernours proseedeth and vvherout also the right repentance appeareth Gal 2. d. 3. a. b d Ioan. 14 a b. Gal. â— â— Colo 1 c. Ioan. 8. d. 15. a. and the true and liuing fayth is alwayes working by loue so well towards God and Christ also towards my neighbour and vvherunto I meane by the grace of God to indevour my self night and day by prayer and supplication
desyers Eyther also he is a disobedient and rebellious Puritan vvho being altogether inclyned to Envy Pryde and presumption shameth not to resist the good lawes of the King 1. Pet. 2. and in steed theâ—â—â—f to set vp his owne Imaginations meaning thereby to alluer â—he hearts â—f the People from their dutifull obedience to God and gouernours whosâ— Conscience shall in the end testify agaynst him and if he repent not in tyme to his owne condemnation But now I would gladly knowe how all things were taken in the end And whose Religion was best accepted of the King and the rest there assembled Ben. After great aduise and deliberation taken among them all The King sayd this Plowman hath last of all manifested vnto vs in playne speech the right Rel gion and the very Trueth which may not in any wise be denyed Therefore great is Obedience great is the Trueth Mar. 12. a. I see well now that it was not for naught that it standeth written I am the God of braham 1. Cor. 13. 1. Pet. 2. Rom. 13. Iaco. 2. c. d. the God of Isack the God of Iacob a God of the Liuing but not of the Dead Let Proclamation the efore goe forth into all parts of the Land and let it also be made knowen from vs the King to all mens preservation thâ—t he which wil become a Christyan and would be saved by Iesus Christ must after true repentance shewforth the fruits of fayth in his obedience and Christian lyfe Then last of all spâ—ke the Counsell the Lords Spiritual and Temperall together with the Commons all at oâ—ce and sayd lâ—â—de honour and thanksgeuing be to that God for euer more which hâ—â—h gevâ—n us such a wâ—se King to raigne ouer vs â—hat can so righâ—ly discerne the best Religion and the Trueth from all others and thereupon gâ—uâ—n true Iudgement wiâ—hout parcealâ—ty And now if vve should not henceforth auouch publish for â—h mayntayne and allowâ— as also liue according to the same so farre-forth as God shall geue vs grâ—â—e then vvere vve very much to blame because that vve see that Obedience is the thing that the Lord hath commaunded all men to liue in yea and more it is whereby we his Ministers Rule and gouerne vnder him in peace quietnes Also that Iesus Christ once dwelling in vs is the Trueth or good lyfe it self so fast coupled vnto Fayth as is the Soâ—ne vnto brightnes or fyer vnto heat and therefore bringeth with it everlasting lyfe and felicity And so the Parlament brake vp and I came away GOD SAVE THE KING Amen Behold euen through such a great Trouble and trauell aforesayd will gentle Ladye Tyme bring forth her most bewtifull Daughter Trueth now in these last daungerous dayes to the glory of God the preseruation of Princes and to an euerlasting peace among all People Amen Amen TO THE READER After such tyme as I had considered the many-maner of Religions Sects and Opinions gentle Reader that are now risen vp out of mens high knowledge and goodthinking and whereout for the most parte proseedeth also all contention Envy Disobedience Rebellion Lying Baâ—kbyting Slaundering Imprisoning Killing Murdering c together with al liberty of life in committing wickednes which is now frequented without feare or shame among the children of men I tooke this deuise in hand for six speciall causes The first was for that the Magistrats who are Gods ministers on earth mought the better remember their office and calling and how that they are appointed of the Lord to suppresse euill Disobedience Falshood and wickednes and to maintayne Gods obedience Trueth or godlynes of lyfe The second was for that all simple and ignorant people mought see how easily men may be seduced now in these dangerous dayes through faire speeches and outward shewes of holines yet neuerthelesse I am not against the right Cathâ—lique the true Protestant or the perfect Praecisian so long as they holde them to Obedience in the holy life aforesayd The third was for that my hope standeth in the Lorde there are many good willing hearts to the righteousnes yet remayning vpon the earth 2. Cor. 5. c.d. 6. c. Rom. 8. a. c. who once knowing the Trueth and what euerlasting felicitie it bringeth with it will not by any sinister meanes of the disobedient and rebellious route be drawne away therefrom whether it be then by theyr smothe speeches cruell threats feare of Persecution Blasphemyes Tyranous handling Imprysonments 2. Cor. 10. a. b. c. 1. Pet. 2. Vnjustice or most cruell death that they can deuise but will rather indevour them still to liue vnder Obedience to God and gouernours so exercise them dayly in the godly life that right Religion fast grounded on the vnconfutable Trueth wherein the Lord had alwayes still hath and for euermore shall haue his pleasure and delight The fourth cause was this 2. Cor. 5. b. for that all men if it were possible mought see or vnderstande that the good life is not so slight a thing as many men make accompte of For the Lorde looketh not so muâ—h vpon the outward oblations Sacrifices Seruices or Ceremonyes which the man offereth or vseth for to serue him withall as he doeth vpon the single heart of the man Psal 51. d. Ioh. 4. c. Mar. 12. c. in his Obedience and good lyfe for the Lorde will be honoured onely of his in spirit and Trueth therefore the Oblations Seruices and Ceremonies are respected of the Lorde for the good hearts cause and nor the euill hearted respected for the Oblations Seruices or ceremonies cause Example by Cain and Abell Gen 4. a. they both offered sacrifice to the Lord The one for the bloudynes of his heart his Oblation was refused And the other for the singlenes of his heart his Oblation was accepted c. The fift cause was for to answere and satisfie all such as praesently stand at the gaze as it were afarre-of wayghting what will come of this my Religion or els doubting of the goodnes and contynuance thereof c. 2. Cor. 4. c. And the sixt or last cause is this for that I who haue bin these many yeres most Injuriously slaundered and defamed most cruelly persecuted and Imprisoned as also most dispitefully spoyled and Impouerished to my vtter discredit and vndoing Like as some that be honourable if they remember it can partly tell am still ready during lyfe to answere boldly for my felfe beleefe and Religion in the Trueth And therefore for the clearing of my selfe and for the recouering of my good name which I esteeme aboue golde and syluer I am bolde to dedicate this my deuise to her Majesty and to make knowne there through my Religion openly And moreouer I meane hereafter by Gods grace and vnder correction and submission of my Prince to perswade all my friends and acquaintance whether they be then Catholiques Protestants Puritans or what other Religions soeuer so much as I may in the Lorde to inclyne theyr hearts wholely to lyue vnder such obedience and godlynes of lyfe as is aforesayde Also to pray for the Queenes Majesty and al the honourable of his priuie Counsell for that they mought so maintayne the gospell of Iesus Christ whereby the Trueth mought get the victorie in all our hearts To the end all mought become one in Christ And Christ one in all AMEN
what should I speake of their superstitious names Videlicet my Lord of Canterburyes grace my Lord Yorcks grace my Lord Bishop Mr. Deane Mr. Subdeane Mr. Archdeacon Mr. Commosary Dr. such-a-on Mr. Soueraigne Mr. Parson Mr. Vicker c. and to be shorte vvat soeuer the protestant vseth so vvel in his seruice as in his ministration of Sacraments and Ceremonyes they are all counterfeyted out of Papistry and are therefore no better to be termed then rotten Raggs of the Romish Church For that cause right Honourable audience I beseech you in the bowels of Iesu Christ that you vvoulde once ouerthrowe and cleane roote out for euer all such Antichristan memorials aforesayd of that Babilonish hoore so that nothing remayne vpon the Earth in any remembrance of her And then may you reforme Religion as we shall Instruct you after the maner of the best reformed Churches in all Europe And vntill that tyme we wil neyther obey you nor your lawes and Institutions for in such case say we it is better to obey God then men And thus I conclude Right Noble and worshipfull forasmuch as our zeyle standeth more towards God and his lawes then towards the lawes and ordinances of men Therefore we who are aboue in our ministration men or Angels doe holde our Religion to be the best because we seeke the reformation of the Church in all things that are amisse and moreouer we haue our foundation from Ezechia Iosia Iudas Machabeus c. and for that cause of greater antiquitie then them both And our ministration which we vse and teach among our Colleges in our exercises and nightly conventikles is the Trueth And here I end comitting all things herein touched to your vvisdoms to consider of And so departed Balt. O Lord what shall I saye or vpon what Religion shall I now staye me wherby I mought now find out the Trueth then hath he so vnfolded it in such sorte also layde his ground so sure that all men vvhich heareth him as I conjecture must needs thinke that he vvhich is so zealous for Gods cause feareth not to reproue the King to his face seeketh the reformation of the Church and also bringeth vvith him the greatest antiquitie is like to preuayle and also winne the best game Yet vvould I fayne heare what the 4◠could saye to all these profound and groundly reasons but alas what should a playne Plowman saye among such high learned Prelats Notwithstanding of fellowship let me heare what the foolish fellowe could say or what answer he could make that I might laugh a little Ben. Last of all stood vp this playne Plowman whose Religion was vnknowen although he had bin so long tyme by all these 3 aforsayd suspected bruted for an Heretique And falling downe vpon his knees he sayd O most puissant Prince together vvith all your Honorable and vvorshipfull in this present Parlament assembled Are you desyerous in this contentious and troublesome tyme wherin all Iniquity doth abounde and wherin also so many Religions sects and opinions are out of flesh and bloud entred or taken on among the Children of men to vnderstand the best Religion as also the Trueth and what thing the Trueth is to th end that God mought be honoured therin Then I beseech you of your clemencie heare me speake You haue heard of these 3. one being contrary to an other speake the very best that in them was for the aduouching of their Religion and the Trueth And now as touching the first namely the Catholike he hath out of a good zeale brought in so nere as he could conjecture the first ground of the Catholik Religion and the long continuance thereof declaring also that the sacraments Ioan. 14 a. b c 1. Ioan. 3.4 a.b.c. signes ceremonyes and seruices of the same Church were ordeyned onely to keepe in memory things passed c. euen like as the seruices and sacraments ceremoniall of the old lawe were in the beginning ordeyned to keepe in memorie things that thē were to come c. Notwithstanding the good life wherevpon all sacraments signes ceremonies or shadowes figuratiue in the Catholik church did point vpon and vvhich also the holy scripture doe require and whereout the dutifull obedience towards God and Gouernours doth proceed was of this Catholicke now in these last dayes altogether forsaken rejected and forgotten euen like as it vvent also in times before with the disobedient and vnbeleeuing jewes so hath he forsaken the Trueth vvhereupon he sayth his Religion was grounded And therefore the Lorde hath now no pleasure in this Apostated Catholik nor yet in his absurd Religion vvherevpon it is now come to passe that the 2. namely this Protestant beholding the many-maner abuses and disorderlynesse of life which hath bin now in these latter dayes found in this Cotholique and his Religion and for the vvhich no doubt he hath receiued greate chastisment of the Lord and his Ministers hath declared forth to his great reproach many of the same abuses before you all very rightly as they vvere and moreouer out of a great zeale hath commended his owne Religion for the best which thou O king hast now appointed and set vp among vs Videlicet the declaring forth of the gospell and holy scriptures among vs. The seruice vsed and read in the mother tongue to thend all mought heare and vnderstand what is sayd and then followe the same vvhich is good as likewise the sacraments ceremonies ministred in the same tongue to thend all subjects mought be holden vnder godly and manly obedience and hue according to the scriptures in one vniformity of Religion according to the kings good meaning therein Psalm 1. and. 15.24 Math. 25. d. ◠All these say I were it accomplished in the deed and in the Trueth is a very good Religion also vvere very vvell sayde of him as out of a singuler good zeale Notwithstanding the vvhile this Protestant vvhich can readily reproue an other by the scripture vvalketh forth still in all malitiousnes of life although he boaste neuer so much of Light Life Liberty Psa 15. Ioan. 12. g. Rom. 8. b. Math. 7. d. 1. Cor. 6. b. Collo 3. a. 2. Tim. 3. a. Freedome by Christe he remayneth notwithstanding in darkenes and is the seruant of sinne or bondslaue of Sathan vvhat should I say of the couitousnes that vvorshipping of Images Enuie Pride Extortion Symony Vsery Whoredome together vvith all maner of Iniquity that now doth abound in this Protestant so vvell among the Clergie as the Layetie Thus may vve see that he likevvise in rejecting the good life Ioan. 14 a. 12. g. Gal. 2. d. Math. 5. 2. Ioan. 4. b. vvhich all the holy scriptures do requier and witnes and were vpon also all the holy scriptures as also al sacraments ceremonies figures or shadowes that good are do signifie figure forth point vpon hath rejected the Trueth And novv beholde I pray you what fruits haue insued since this liberty