you into a better course as of the professed enemies of your state These accusations I knowe are grieuous to be laid to the charge of these Counsellors who through Europe haue the name to be furtherers of Gods glory the saluation of mens soules But they are such as if I prooue them not most true let my blood wipe away the slaunder which I haue vndutifully raysed vpon the rulers of my people Here the worde of God is to be approched vnto out of the which we are to learne what true worship and seruice they can yeeld vnto God what hope of saluation they can haue who neuer enjoyed the word preached Concerning the true worship of God we are to knowe that the worde who alone is to instruct vs therein maketh two sorts thereof The true worship or God twofold The one inward and the other outward The inwarde worship is the worship of the spirit when the heart and the soule is by Gods spirit so directed that in trueth and sinceritie it yeeldeth to the Lord the worship whiche he requireth according vnto his word Of this worship our Sauiour Christ speaketh vnto the woman of Samariah Iohn 4.23 24. The houre commeth sayth he and alreadie is when the true worshippers shall worship the father in spirit and trueth for the father requireth euē such to worship him God is a spirit and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and trueth the inwarde worship Without this inward worship it is vnpossible to be saued and without it no seruice can be acceptable vnto God But although this inwarde worship be the fountaine whence the outward that is in trueth doth flowe and proceed yet is the inward no otherwise ordinarily wrought in men then by meanes of the outward So that euen as the outward is neuer truly acceptable vnto God but when it proceedeth from the inwarde euen so is the inward ordinarily found in none saue onely in those wherein it hath bin begotten by the ministerie of the outward But this inwarde worship in spirit and trueth is not in the power of man to giue or to take away at his pleasure but the Lorde must and doth worke it when where he pleaseth yet neuer ordinarily but by meanes of the outward The true outwarde worship of God then the outwarde worship is that alone whereby as by the ordinarie instrument or meanes the Lord hath appointed to beget nourish increase and continue the inwarde worship of the soule and the spirit by the which the Lord is to be serued in spirit and trueth This outward worship is such by the ordinance of God as men may be truly saide either to hinder or to promote the same and by the hindring or promoting hereof they may be judged to hinder or promote both the saluation of themselues and others and also the inward worship of the spirit either in themselues or in others And by the affection that men beare herevnto the Lord doth trie their loue and also their hatred towardes him his glory This worship although it be outward yet is it of that nature as they who are partakers hereof may according vnto the word expect for the presence of Gods spirite whensoeuer they approch vnto the Lord therby Otherwise if it hath not this promise of the spirite annexed vnto it it is but a rudiment of the world or of the flesh therefore cannot be any thing for the furthering of men in the worship of God This outwarde worship or this outward meanes to serue God truely and sincerely consisteth of two partes or ordinances according vnto the twofolde end for the which the Lord hath appointed the said outward worship of his The first part hereof is that ordinance whereby the Lord hath appointed not only to beget fayth in men or to engraffe them into Christ but being engraffed to builde and aedifie them forwarde as liuely stones of that holy temple whereof Christ Iesus is both the head the foundation This ordinance of God appointed both to beget to aedifie faith is onely the word preached The second ordinance wherein the outwarde worship of God consisteth is contained in those exercises of religion which the Lord ordained onely for aedification and were neuer appointed to begett fayth By aedification I meane whatsoeuer concerneth our furthering in the worke of our saluation begun in vs through faith by the worde preached Vnto this second part we are to refer publike prayers singing of Psalmes reading of the scriptures receiuing of the sacraments and administring of the Church censures Many thinges are ordained to aedifie which were neuer appointed to beget sayth 1. cor 14.17 ephef 4.29 c. All which are effectuall to aedification but not to the begetting of faith For that is onely wrought by the word preached without which also publike prayers singing of psalmes c are so frustrated of the end vz. the aedification for the whiche the Lorde hath ordained them as they cannot possibly aedifie any aright saue onely these who haue learned the right vse of them by the preaching of the word in whose hearts faith which is the ground-worke wherevpon the whole building of gods seruice must be planted hath bin begotten by the same word ordinarily And these holy ordinances of god to wit prayers receiuing of the Sacraments are so farre from aedifying these people who haue not bene instructed in the right vse of them by the worde preached that vnto such they are nothing els but a sealed booke and proceeding from such they are nothing els but pollution in the Lordes sight For no seruice can be acceptable vnto god but that which proceedeth frō fayth For without faith it is vnpossible to please God Now then according vnto that which hitherto hath bene spoken let your Hb. weye what seruice your people throughout all hir Majesties dominions for the most part can yeald vnto the Lord and how they stand in the hope of saiuation and consequently how carefull you haue bene of the glory of god and the saluation of his Church Your people you will say euery where haue had these 31. yeares the vse of publike prayers singing of Psalmes reading of the Scriptures in their owne tongue they haue further enjoyed the sacraments of baptim the Lords supper Be it so but what is all this Can these thinges going alone without the word preached be any thing effectuall to that worship in spirit and trueth which is the onely seruice that the Lord regardeth and without which all exercises of true religion are but swines-blood before his Majestie Or can they bee anye thing forcible to worke the saluation of your people Questionlesse you see that they cannot For they are ordained of god not to lay the foandation of the spirituall worshipp but as meanes to aedifie and build vpon the foundation being laid They are ordained you see also not to go alone but to accompany the word without the which
they are fruitles and to no purpose Nay though it were possible that without the word they could worke some aedification in men yet notwithstanding they were neuer appointed to beget men into the hope of aeternall life For regenerate flesh and blood they cannot because they were onely appointed to edifie those whome the word should beget So that men may all their life time enjoy these exercises of true religion and yet be far from the outward meanes whereby the Lord requireth himselfe to be worshipped in spirit and trueth and whereby the saluation of their soules should be wrought And though your Honours shewe youre selues neuer so greate fauourers of reading the worde publike prayers c. which in themselues are acceptable to God but among our people for the most part abominablie profaned yet because you maintain those to outcountenance the preaching of the worde and to be polluted by such men as ought not to deal with the holy things of the Lord You are no otherwise accounted of in his sight then the professed enemies of that pure worship in spirit and trueth wherein alone he delighteth the maintainers of the profanation of his seruice and aduersaries vnto the saluation of his Churche And what other account I beseeche you can he make of you which dare presume to platte him out the perfection of his seruice and appoint him a way to saue his people according vnto your owne pleasure He hath set down in his word that without faith it is vnpossible to please him and so that without faith it is vnpossible for men to worship him in spirit and trueth and come to aeternall life In this point I hope you will not gainesay his Majestie He goeth farther and manifesteth the ordinarie meanes to beget fayth and saluation to be onely the word preached And therefore requireth the forwardnes of all those that would not be guiltie of neglecting his honour to promote the saide preaching of his worde Herein you oppose your selues vnto him reply againe that he must needs prouide himselfe of newe ordinances or els he can neither in this life be worshipped in trueth of your people nor glorified with their saluation in the life to come For vnlesse reading of the worde publike prayers the profanation of his sacramentes by the polluted fingers of most ignorantmen can worke all that he requireth he can haue no meanes in the most congregations within the dominions of England to be purely worshipped and to gaine himself a name by the sauing of the distressed souls of men And you are so resolute with the Lord in this point that you proclaime all them to bee enemies vnto your state whosoeuer dare open their mouthes in his cause against your vnaduised resolutions So that whatsoeuer fauour your Honors pretend vnto some part of the true outward seruice of his Majestie yet inasmuch as you lende your whole force to maintaine and keepe in the Church the reading idol ministerie which you may know wel inough can neither beget faith nor any true aedification in your people and by whome the Lorde accounteth himselfe his ordinances to be profaned the very trueth is this that you stand at this day guiltie in his sight of the defects ruines and profanations of his worship and also of the vtter vndoing of many a thousand soule within England And I do not see what you can alledge for your defence except you will joyne with that notable seducer of your people D. VVhitgift the Arch. of Cant. and affirme eyther that saluation may be wrought in your people by hearing the word read or that reading is preaching But alas these figge leaues are so far from standing you in any stead when the Lorde shall enter into areckoning with our land for the small care that our gouernours haue had in furthering his seruice that his wrath will be kindled against our state almost for nothing more then because that both these errors of this wicked deceiuer haue beene vncondemned therein and also as a token I thinke of our hatred vnto the Lord and his gospell such a detected enemie vnto the gospell as he is hath bene promoted vnto one of the highest roomes at the counsell table to the ende as the maintaining of his proceedings do witnesse that he might be a scourge vnto Gods Church within hir Majesties dominions Well he saith that men may be saued by hearing the word read as by the ordinarie meanes If it be not so wo be to him that euer he was borne whose practises these 20. yeeres almost haue tended to no other ende then to maintaine this damnable error of his For if men cānot be saued by reading where shall he stande which hath brought vpon himselfe the guiltines of so many soules by silencing so many faythful preachers and planting readers in their stead And therefore I doe not so much blame him for framing his corrupt judgement according vnto the rule of his vngodly practises For if his practise were contrarie vnto the light of his knowledge then hath he a more fearfull account to make who hath quenched the light of his vnderstanding to the ende he might with lesse remorse raue against the Majestie of God But his blindnes cannot make others inexcusable that willingly follow after such a leader therefore let vs see what the word saith vnto this assertion The Apostle Paul affirmeth 1. Cor. 1.24 Reading not the ordinarie meanes to saluation that seeing the world by wisdome knew not god in the wisdome of god it pleased god by the foolishnesse of preaching to saue as many as beleeue Will you then haue a salnation that is by fayth whiche you must haue or none at all Surely the Apostle tels you that it pleaseth the Lorde to worke this no otherwise in the hearts of men then by preaching which vnto the worldly wise men is but foolishnes but vnto vs that are saued it is the wisedome of god and the power of god Euen as thē we can expect no saluation but that which is apprehended by faith so can we not hope to haue this sauing fayth wrought in vs by any other meanes then by preaching For the Apostle setteth downe in expresse wordes that as many as beleeue Rom. 10.14 are saued by the means of preaching Againe how shall they call vpon him saith the same Apostle in another place in whome they haue not belecued How shal they belieue in him of whom they haue not heard Howe shall they heare without a preacher Beholde then if we will so heare as wee may beleeue the Apostle telleth vs that this must be the hearing not of a reader but of a preacher If then this seducing prelate cannot make good a saluation which is to be obtained without fayth as heauen and earth knowe he cannot or if beleuing to saluation be conuaied vnto mens souls by no other hearing then by the hearing of a preacher as the Apostle telleth then also it followeth to the shame
wee are in ourselues I yet let man know that in the strength of our God we are so far from being dismayed with the wisedom countenance or power of whatsoeuer is made of flesh that for mine owne part I cannot sufficiently wonder that any creature dares be so bold as to proclaime war against vs for this cause And therefore whatsoever enemies the Lorde bath raised vp against me a contemptible worme for the maintenāce of his truth be they noble or vnnoble counsellors or inferiour men I am so far from fearing their power that the more I see them rage the greater strength I see reached vnto me by the Lords free mercies to stand to that truth which they raue against And by how much the more I see them banded against the sonne of God by so muche the greater hope do I conceaue that the case wherein I stand shal get the vpper hande over them whether they wil or not I beleeue and therefore I am forced to speak these things In the vttering whereof as I thank my God I haue a feeling of mine own great wants and imperfections so I am not with out some comfortable assurance of his hand with me in this cause to seale whatsoever truth I shal vtter heerin according to his word In respect wherof I do warne and admonish those counsellors with whom and against whome especially I deale in this treatise to repent them of their great insolency whereby they haue bene puffed vp with Senacharib to magnifie and oppose themselues against the cause and people of the Lord of Hostes 2. Chron. 32.19 Zeph. 2.8.9 10. as against the religion and people of some of the gods of the earth Otherwayes they are to feare least the Lord hauing raysed vp many of them out of meane places into the throne of justice meaneth to shew his power and great name by making them examples of his feareful wrath as he did Pharaoh who wrought his owne ouerthrow as the * text expresly noteth Exod. 9.17 by exalting him self against the people of the Lord. For assuredly the Lord wil not forget his churche for ever but at the * appointed time psal 75.3.8.11 he wil break the horne of the wicked and the righteous shal be exalted If men wil wonder that wee being so contemptible in the sight of the world dare yet be so bold as to controle great states and mighty men and to challenge them of iniustice against the sonne of God and his members who wil not stick to bragge with Pilate that they haue power to crucifie Christ Iohn 19.10 and to absolue him they are to vnderstand that we know of no power but from aboue therefore of no power that is able to beare out iniustice and wrong the hilles of the robbers we grant to be high Iob. 5.3 and vnassaileable in the sight of an eye of flesh but we haue learned of the holy man to account the habitation of the wicked to be accursed even when he semeth to be best rooted for we know that the steppes of his strength shal bee restrained Iob. 18.7 and that his owne counsel shal cast him downe And as for our selues we confes that we are but base worms and we would to God that we were lower in our own eyes such as liue not according vnto outward appearance because our life is hid with Christ in God Col. 3.3 But yet least me should take occasiō to persecute vs because they know not with whom they deale because they are ignorant whence wee are or whether wee intend seing by our walking they may truly judge vs to be descended of some other race than themselues are and to look for an other dwelling place than any we can enjoy here They are to vnderstand that we are borne not of mortal but of immortal seede 1. Pet. 1.23 by the liuelye worde of God and that we are the servants of that Lord who is not ashamed to be called our God Heb. 11.16 And we are so far from hunting after the wages of vnrighteousnes with them that we freely confes our selues to bee but pilgrimes and straungers vpon earth and therefore travell towardes that heavenly city which our God hath prepared for vs. To be briefe we are the law full successors of those men who through faith quenched the violence of fire Heb. 11.34 36 escaped the edge of the sword Of weake were made strong who were tryed by mockings and scornings yea moreover by bondes and improsonments who were stoned hewen a sunder slaine with the sword wandered vp and down in sheep skinnes being destitute afflicted and tormented and yet in al these distresses were more then conquerers through the power of their God VVherrwith also we hope to be assisted whensoever it shal please the Lord to giue our enemies leaue to try our pacience To conclude we are those vnto whom the Lord made this promise Heb. 13 5.6 I wil not fayle thee nor forsake thee So that we may boldly say the lord is mine helper neither wil I feare what man can do vnto me If then our counsellers and great men wil not provoke this God against their owne soules they are to be exhorted before they deale any farther against the procurers of reformation to betake them vnto their second thoughtes and acknowledge their temeritye in lifting vp their handes against God and those whome hee accounteth of as the apple of his owne eye Zachar. 2. For in fighting against vs they labor very strongly we grant to aggrauat hasten their owne damnation but their purposes are they neuer able to effect To come vnto you beloved for whose strengthening and comforting I haue especially taken paines in this treatise if God hath called any of you to suffer for this cause think it an exceding preferment that he hath vouchsaued you to be partakers of the afflictions of the gospel 2. Tim. 1.8 and in any case be not dismaied at your trobles The cause is proued to be such as for the which you may not onely suffer with a good conscience but such as in the defence wherof you may expect for the affistāce of Gods comforting spirit and such as wherein al christians are bound to suffer when they are thervnto called I haue also shewed it to be that cause which is compassed about with a cloude of wi nesses and made commendable and bewtiful vnto al christians with the blood of the holye Martyrs of Christ The same spirit which assisted them vnto the end wil not leaue you in any of your temptations So that by your prayers you seek vnto the Lord for strength Obedience and be careful to learne obedience by the things which you suffer As we are taught by his example who by sufferings was made vnto vs the author of aeternal salvation Be therfore humbled vnder the hād of your God Heb. 5.8.9 know that you stand neither by your owne strength nor by the
goodnes of that cause wherein you suffer Heb. 12.28.29 but onelye by the assistance of his spirite who requireth a great care in all his children to please him in reverence and feare for even our God is a consuming fire Concerning such of you as the Lord hath not tryed with any afflictioÌ„ for this cause I beseech you be not ashamed of the chaine of your brethren mourne with those that lament for the cause of God VVhen they are imprisoned think your selues to be in bondes And I do especially and aboue al thinges beseech those that fauor the reformation to labour more and more in the reforming of themselues and such as be long vnto them VVe know that considering the season it is now time to rest from sleep Rom. 13.12 For now is our salvation neerer than when we firste beleved It might haue bene something tollerable in times past for a sincere professor to haue an ignorant an vntaughte and a vnreformed family but in this cleare light Phil. 1.27 1. cor 13.5.13 Zeph. 1.8 Ephes 5.11 Col. 1.6 and in a profession of so great sincerity to continew in these sinnes is altogether vnbeseeming the gospel of Christ Long haire great ruffes laying out of wemens haire and strange attyre is a participating with the vnfruitful works of darknesse and a token that the gospel hath not beene faithfully receaued And therefore let it be no longer tolle rated among the reformed professours of England Vow and performe with the holye man Dauid Psal 111.12 that you wil sing mercy and judgement walke in the vprightnes of your harts in the midst of your families Iob. 22.22.23 and if you wil make peace indeede with the Lord follow the counsel of the holye ghost in removing iniquitye far not only from yourselues but also from your tabernacles hou ses Shew what reformation can do in a whole kingdome by the practise thereof in your owne persons and families And that wil be the best argument both to confute the aduersary and to draw the indifferent to lyke the cause And as the Lord shal giue vnto any of you accesse either vnto hir Maiesty or any of their Honors so be careful to promote this truth VVe haue al of vs we must confes be ne so carelesse and secure in these points and therefore it is that by the juste judgement of God our Bishops are at this day so insolent against the truth And vnles we labour more strongly to haue these Cananits rooted out we may write vpon it that they wil be prickes in our eyes Nomb. 33.55.56 thornes in our sides stil vexe vs as they do at this day VVhere I say that professors should labour strongly to haue our hierarchy and contemptible Idoles rooted out of our Church my meaning is not that any priuate strength should so much as lift vp a hand muche lesse vse any violence against these caterpillers but I meane that we should more vehemeÌ„tly labour with the Lord by prayers and by the reforming ourselues our families and deale earnestly with hir Maiesty their Honors that our cause may be aequally heard My meaning in the former point I thought needful to expresse because I know what sclanders would otherwise be raised against me to the hurt of the cause by those that are enemies therevnto whose madnes I doubte not will shortlye appeare vnto all men And I trust in the Lord that he wil one day giue hir Maiesty a descerning ey to judge aright between them and vs and then shal it appeare whether we or they do seek the peace and quietnes of hir kingdome In the meane time we wil content our selues with the eye of our God Yet one thing I would wish to be considered of by hir right excellent Maiesty namely whether it be not an inconvenient season when our fortaine enemies are at the dores publikly to traduce hir beste and most trusty snbiects as enemies to hir state For if the Spainyard shal heare that besids the popish faction the fore-wardest professors of the gospel in Englande are but her Maiesties half frendes Mark the issue what wil not the hope of a threfold discorde in our state moue him to attempt I doe therefore feare that many of the forwardest enemies of reformation are not the backwardest friends that the King of Spaine hath in England at this day But least the enemy should deceaue himself with a golden dreame I am to make it knowen vnto al Spaniards and Spanish practisers that we are such enemies vnto Queene Elizabeth The enmity which the favorers of reformation beare vnto hir Maiesty and the state as we do not onely pray day and nighte for the state of hir Kingdome and hir person but also wee are readye to stande in the defence of hir royal person and right to the losse not onely of our goods and blood but even of our lyues and that against men and Angels even al creatures without exception Thus much my good brethren I may boldly set down in the name of you al because I know by what spirit you are guided And as for your sakes nexte vnto the defence of the truth I haue taken this labour in hand So I do with the Apostle humbly entreat the Lord Rom. 15.31 that my service herein may be acceptable vnto the Saints throughout England VVales Ireland whome together with my self and al the Lords elect I commit vnto his hand who is able to reserue vs vnto the day of redemption TO THE READER ¶ M.D. Anno 12. or 13 Elizab. Haddon deliuered in Parliament a Latine book concerning church discipline written in the dayes of king Ed. 6. by M. Cranmer Sir Iohn Cheek knight c. This book was committed by the house to be translated vnto the said M. Hadon M. George Bromely M. Norton c. If thou canst good reader help me or any other that labour in the cause vnto the said book I hope though I never saw it that in so doing thou shalt doe good service vnto the Lord and his Church REFORMATION NO enemie to her Maiestie and the State ALthough it be most true that our Saviour Christ Iesus doth vouchesafe vnto nations and kingdomes All Kingdomes are bound to fram a theâ—â— stâ—tes according to the doctrine of the gospell Match 10.34 Luk. 12.51 52 the fruition vse of his holy worde and gospell vpon no other condition theÌ„ that all men of all degrees and callings as well high as low wil be content to haue their states altered and changed at the pleasure appointment and determination of his wil worde yet notwithstanding it is as true that the said word and gospel of his bringeth nothing with it that can possible be an enemie to anye state eyther priuate or publike whatsoever The which point I take to be so cleare and manifest that no state-men can deny it saue only those who haue made a leagne
the nations doe he forbiddeth them also to bee called and tearmed by their titles I know what hath beene obiected by the Archb. vnto these thinges and will againe bee said if it be not prevented namely that our Sauior forbiddeth tyrannous lordship and tyrannous bearing of rule in the former place not just vpright and lawfull government Where I beseech your Hh. to lend me your attention you shall see the intollerable boldnes of this man in peruerting the truth who is not ashamed whēsoeuer it may be for his behoofe to teach points of doctrine meere directly against the words mind of the Lord Iesus I demand then of him whether our Sauiour Christ did not in the place afore cited so aunswere his disciples in the pointe whereof they doubted as hee did fullie resolue them He dares not deny it I am sure For in pointes that are needfull to be knowen reuealed our Sauiour being demāded one thing doeth not frame his answere vnto that whereof no question is made and so leaue his church vnsarisfied What was the question then Was it whether any of them should rule lyke a tyrant was it whether any of them should gape after promotion no such thing For they knew well enough that it was very gainlesse for them to demaund of our sauiour which of them should be a tyrant which of them should abuse his lawfull superioritie or whiche of them should be an ambitious prelate they knewe well enough that he would allow no such dominiō and preheminence Besides the apostles we may well think were not so blinde as to demand any such question of their maister Nowe then they demanding no such thing at his handes to what end should he tell them that they should not be tyrannous rulers They made no question of any suche matter therefore a resolution of that which they called not into controuersye was nothing to the purpose but left them as doubtful as they were before Wherefore wee are to conclude that as the question was concerning lawfull preheminence bearing of rule his negatiue answere being frained vnto their question denieth vnto them not only a tyrannous and an ambitious prelacie wherof they made no question but euen that dominion preheminence which of it self is lawfull in thē who by the ordinance of God are capable of it to wit in the civill magistrate And whereas the Apostles dreaming of a worldly kingdom might alledge for themselues that their demand was not altogether without ground because they contended for no other superioritie then was allowed off in the rulers of worldlie kingdomes our maister Christ answereth that obiection and telleth them that although it bee lawfull for ciuill gouernours to beare rule ouer their fellow officers and collegues that is ouer ciuill magistrates and althoughe it bee lawfull for them to beare lordlie rule and authoritie and to haue highe stiles and titles yet among you that are Ministers of the Gospell it shall not bee so saieth he And to perswade them herevnto Luk. 22.27.28 he bringeth in his owne example who came to serue and not to beare rule in the ministery of the new testament Making it also knowne vnto them and to all his true ministers that although they were according vnto his example to serue and not to exercise dominion all the time of their being vpon earth in publishing the gospell Verse 29.30 yet there was a kingdome prepared for them wherein they should haue an especiall preheminence But as for anie dominion here vpon earth if they would be his true disciples they were to look for none but to be as he was and to take the Ministerye vpon them on the same condition that hee did viz. to serue and not to beare rule therein Of all these things then wee doe conclude that this threefold corruption of our Archb. and Bb. First in vsurping vpon the government of the civill magistrate secondlie in claming vnto themselues those highe names and titles which belong vnto worldly honors and promotions lastly in the lordlie preheminence and superioritie which they vsurpe ouer the whole body of the Church within their diocese in generall and ouer their fellow ministers in particular is altogether a matter to be detested of all true christians as abhominable and odious in the presence of the Lorde And seeing our head Christ Iesus granteth vnto his body this libertle that al the members thereof should be servants and not lordes therein as he himself did serue not beare rule in the kingdome of the gospell and hath giuen all true ministers this priuiledge that none of them shoulde rule ouer the other it muste needs be that this lordlyke gouernment which our bishops arrogate vnto themselues ouer the church of God and the Ministers of it cannot in it selfe though it were never abused but bee preiudiciall vnto the liberties of the church and the ministers thereof Therefore my Ll. maintaine the Hierarchy of Bb. as long as you will you vpholde thereby nothing els but the tyranny and bondage of the church together with a chiefe and an especiall portion of the kingdome of Antichrist For as this pestilent Hierarchy hath bene proued not to appertain vnto the kingdome of Christ so your Hh. are to know that the same belongeth vnto no other body then vnto that regiment whereof the sonne of perdition is the head For vnto the kingdome of Christ as you see it doth not belong to the kingdome of the world that is vnto the civill magistracie it cannot appertaine for it would bee accounted an ecclesiasticall constitution and not any civill regiment To Mahometisme or to any other heathnish Idolatry it cannot belong because it is onely retained among those that pretend the name of Christ and are eyther the true churche in deede or at the leaste doe wrongfully retaine the name of the true churche Now vnto the true church it doeth not belong as we haue already proued because it is a government cōsisting of those offices which the head neuer ordained to be in the bodie and consisteth of suche members as would beare rule and not serue in the ministerie of the Gospel We must then place them in deede where of right they ought to be that is in the false sinagogue which vniustly arrogateth vnto it selfe the name of the true churche of God and that is in the kingdome of Antichriste the Pope Whose kingdome must begin in the church of god and not among the heathen as it was expresly fore tolde by the apostle Paule 2. Thes 2.5 Sathan therefore being to lay the foundation of this antichristiā kingdome within the churche and temple of God that hee might with more colour afterwardes pretend the name of the churche began by little and little to poison the ministers of the gospell with worldlye promotion and superiority and so from small beginnings brought the Hierarchye vnto that height of pryde wherein wee see it at this day not only in his own
betweene God man do either vtterly reiect their ministery because they think it to base and gainlesse a calling or els as a farther couÌ„tenance vnto the most glorious vocation vnder the sunne d ee adde the ciuill magistracie there-vnto Whereby they shewe themselues indeede to haue made a shamefull apostacie from the doctrine and practise of our sauiour Christ and his Apostles The weapons of whose warfare were not carnall 2. Cor. 10.4.5 that is not such as wherwith men by an arme of fleshe as by civil authority improsonmeÌ„t c. bring their matters to passe but mighty in God to cast downe holdes casting down the imaginations and euerie high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God and bringing into captiuitie euery thoght vnto the obedience of Christ Heere are the onely weapons that our Sauiour Christ and his Apostles vsed and the onely weapons that are graunted vnto ministers to ouerthrow the gayn-sayer And as for the civill punishment of the obstinat they must commit that vnto the magistrate who beareth not the sworde in vaine Rom. 13.3.4 For it is he and not the minister of the word whome the Lord hath appointed to take reuenge of him that doth euill Now compare the dealings and practises of our bishops and what weapons they vse to encounter with those that stand against them and you shall perceaue that they haue not onelie abused the force of that sword which violentlie and wrongfullye their predecessors wrested out of the maiestrats hand to keep the church in bondage but also that this confusion of the magistracie ministerie in one person though the furtherance of the truth were intended therby cannot staÌ„d together with the sinceritie of the gospell the purity whereof also they haue corrupted in the tyrannous superioritie whiche they vsurpe both ouer their fellow Ministers and also ouer the reste of the churche with no lesse breache of the ordinaunce of God than the impeaching of the libertie of the church For the first point to wit of the superiority which they as ministers claime ouer the church messeÌ„gers of Christ it is intollerable tyrannous directly againsta plain moral act set down in the canon of the new testameÌ„t by our Sauiour Christ himself The place is commonlie knowen and hath beene cited for this purpose I thinke by all those that ever dealte in this cause Luk. 2â— 24 â— And there arose also a strife among them that is among the disciples saieth the text which of them might seeme to bee the greatest but hee said vnto them the kinges of the nations raigne ouer them and they that beare rule ouer them are called gracious lords but ye shal not be so In which place wee see the spirite of God by the mouth of the aeternal himself to haue plainly forbiddeÌ„ al his ministers either to haue any superiority dominion ouer the church their brethreÌ„ to rule any wise as Lords princes do or yet to be so called Where also three especiall monstrous corruptions raingning in our Ll. Archb. and Bb. are expresly inhibited forbidden First they wil be ministers of the gospell and yet be greater then their brethren rule ouer the church Secondly they will be ministers of the gospell and yet beare rule lyke lords Thridlie they wil bee ministers of the gospell and yet called lordes Howe standeth this with the ommandement of our Sauiourchrist You shal not be so That is you my disciples shal be so farre from having any superiority one ouer an other after my departure and so far from bearing rule as civill Magistrates Princes and Lordes doe that you shall not bee so called by any names or tytles that do carry with them the honor and the preheminence due vnto princes and lordes They that beare rule ouer the nations saieth our Sauiour are called Fuergetai a title wherewith the kings of Egâ—pt were honor'd gracious lords but ye shall not be so Heere we see plainely that hee forbiddeth his disciples to beare the name whereunto preheminence is joined which may further appeare if wee consider that in forbidding them to kurieuein that is to rule lyke lords he forbiddeth them also to be kurious viz. lordes as farre as that name kurios is a title of worldly honor preheminence and gouernment no farther And no farther I say because the word kurios in the greeke tongue as also the word Compare the 1. Saâ— 1 15. â— Kiâ— â— 25 wâ—â—h 2. king 6 1â— adhon in the hebrew and dominus in latine signifieth a maister or Sir as well as a Lord which is proued John 12.21 20.5 where Philip the apostle our Sauiour Christ supposed by Marie to be the gardiner are called kurici sirs or maisters In which sence it is not forbidden vnto ministers to be called kurioi Which I adde to stoppe the vnlearned and foolish cavils of our aduersaries who go about to proue it as lawful for our bishops to be called lords in the English tongue which alwayes are names of worldly honor and promotioÌ„ in our common speach as it were for them to haue the former greek hebrue latine names attributed vnto them Whiche by the places before quoted to any man of vnderstanding in the tongues appeareth to bee a cavill vnworthie the aunswere And that our Sauiour Christe forbidding his ministers to kurieuein viz to rule lyke lordes forbiddeth them also to be called Lords it is most cleare in that otherwayes he should open a wide dore vnto the ambition and pryde of proude and ambitious men For it is a farre greater token of pride and ambition for a man who cannot by any right haue the dignitye of a lorde to desire the name and title thereof than for him to be so called that is a Lord indeed So that in forbidding his disciples to kurieuein beare rule as the lords of the nations doe he forbiddeth them also to bee called and tearmed by their titles I know what hath beene obiected by the Archb. vnto these thinges and will againe bee said if it be not prevented namely that our Sauior forbiddeth tyrannous lordship and tyrannous bearing of rule in the former place not just vpright and lawfull government Where I beseech your Hh to lend me your attention you shall see the intollerable boldnes of this man in peruerting the truth who is not ashamed wheÌ„soeuer it may be for his behoofe to teach points of doctrine meere directly against the words mind of the Lord Iesus I demand then of him whether our Sauiour Christ did not in the place afore cited so aunswere his disciples in the pointe whereof they doubted as hee did fullie resolue them He dares not deny it I am sure For in pointes that are needfull to be knowen reuealed our Sauiour being demaÌ„ded one thing doeth not frame his answere vnto that whereof no question is made and so leaue his church vnsatisfied What was the question then Was it
these wicked offices of Archb. and Ll. Bb. the man of sinne first began to manifest him self Cardinals were brought into the Romish church since it fel cleane away from Christ they are rather the pomp then the strength of that kingdome now he is especially vpheld through no other power but through their meanes by whom also the whole kingdome of Idolatrie and darknes vnder him is especially gouerned For the inwarde parts of that kingdome to wit the pestilent errors whereby he poysoneth the world would easily wyther and decay were it not that they are fostered nourished by these ruling members of Archb. Bb Who although when they were first brought into the church being therein ordained for good purposes as flesh bloud did imagine they were not nor could not be discerned to bee members of the Antichristian kingdome because that mystery was not then made fully visible yet euer since that bodie hath appeared we know them to bee members thereof in such sort as wheresoever they are maintained there the limbs and members of Antichrist are countenanced and vpheld But wee are not to think that Sathan by whome these offices of Archbishops and L. Bishops were firste invented doeth at all tymes and places vse them to the one and selfe same purpose hee knoweth full well that hee cannot alwayes effecte what he would do with them and therefore hee is content vntill conveniencye bee offered to bestowe them as he may But alwayes this is a ground hee hath some seruice for them in all ages At the firste planting of them and long after that hee did not vohold open Idolatry and manifest apostacy from Christ by their meanes hee coulde not doe it the times woulde not suffer him who thoughe otherwayes very corrupt were yet far from that vile dishonour of God Example heereof you may see in Pope Gregory the first of that name Anno 604. and especially in all his predecessors whose superioritye and dominion hee could not so haue at commandement as he had the prelacy of all those that followed after him vnto this day And yet had he his turnes to bring to passe by their superiority though the most of them were vndoubtedly Gods deare children For he vsed their places as steps and degrees to advance Antichrist into his throne Now in that kingdome of the man of sinne since Rome became the cage of euery vncleane beast and the verye receptacle of Diuels he hath the Hierarchy at his owne commandement to accomplish his owne will by it vnto the full So can hee not haue it in England at this day The time will not suffer it her Maiesty and our state will not beare it and yet notwithstāding he worketh by these Antichristian offices very mightely as we see in staying the course of the gospell and the establishing of the kingdome of darknes though not by meanes of anye publick Idolatry yet by the maintenance of ignorance blindnes and by the oppression of the church And they are greatlye deceaued who thinke the members of the Antichristian kingdome to serue the Diuell in no steade when they are not joyned with their head and when he maintayneth not open warres against Christ Iesus by their meanes It is far otherwise For hee knoweth even vnder the profession of the gospell howe to employ them to his singular advantage as well as in the kingdome of the Pope and euen to the same purposes verye oftē For we know that the sway which he beareth in Babilon it selfe by Archb. and Ll. Bb. consists not onely in maintayning the open impicties I dolatry errors which are there held but a great part of his working power in them sheweth it selfe in suppressing the truth and in the tyrannous vpholding of those poore soules in miserable darcknesse who would gladly bee at the light were it not that they are kept in bondage and slauery by meanes of his foresaide instruments The lyke vse hath he for Archb. and Ll. Bb. in England at this daye Where hee defendeth errors maintaineth ignorance hindereth the truth and oppresseth the church yea persecuteth the Saintes of God to the losse of their goods and their libertie and euen vnto the blood by their power And if he cannot as yet tread down the ciuil magistrate and erect open Idolatry by thē it is because his time is not yet come For as I said hir Maiesty and our state can brook no such thing And I doe thinke that the men who exercise these Antichristian offices amongst vs would be hardly gotten to afforde him their help in these cases But when her Maiesty whose lyfe the Lorde continue vnto his glory the good of his church hir owne comfort is gone the way of all the world when our estate is some-thing more infected with popery then as yet it is and so the favorers of that Idolatry are crept into the seates of Archb. and Bb. see whether these members will not desire to bee joyned with their head It cannot bee otherwise For the Diuell by whom they were first instituted hath this purpose in retayning them in the true church that by their meanes when he findeth his opportunity he may either bring the church ouer whom they rule from the obedience of Christ Iesus vnto the bondage and slauery of Antichriste or els murther those that will not yeeld vnto that Idoll Compare them together Hee hath alwayes held this course King Edward Quene Maries dayes do testifie this vnto vs. And wee may well thinke that as when these members were first plāted in the church though the Archb. of Rome himself a long time maintained true religion in far better state than the Archb. of Cant. doeth nowe they never ceased vntill they were joined with Antichrist their head and had caried the true churche captiue with them vnto the same abhomination so now being cut off from their heade they will not be quiet vntill againe they bee engraffed into their proper and naturall bodie Now that they are the members of that body not of the kingdome of Christ besides all that hath bene spokē this reason may serue in stead of many Namely that Sathan never thinketh himselfe to haue fully erected Popery vntill such time as hee hath established the Hierarchye of Lorde Bishops For whereas popery consists of 2. especially pointes viz. the false religion and the false government of that sinagogue neither of those partes can be away where that kingdome is compleat absolute Entertaine the false religion of the pope deny the receauing of the hierarchie ye do not fullye yeeld vnto popery submit your selues fully vnto the Antichristian kingdom On the other side receaue the religion of Christ together with the government by pastors doctors elders deacons which he hath appointed in his word and you do fullye entertaine whatsoever belongeth vnto the kingdome of the gospell though you neuer know what the hierarchy of Bb. doth mean which could not