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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
truth_n	know_v	speak_v	word_n	9,131	5	4.2861	4	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A89682	An apology for the service of love, and the people that own it, commonly called, the family of love. Being a plain, but groundly discourse, about the right and true Christian religion : set forth dialogue-wise between the citizen, the countreyman, and an exile : as the same was presented to the high court of Parliament, in the time of Queen Elizabeth; and penned by one of her Majesties menial servants, who was in no small esteem with her, for his wisdom and godliness. With another short confession of their faith, made by the same people. And finally some notes & collections, gathered by a private hand out of H.N. upon, or concerning the eight beatitudes.	Niclaes, Hendrik, 1502?-1580?	1656 (1656)	Wing N1122; Thomason E1610_1; ESTC R210332	24,412	73

iniquity and with all Hypocrites receive their portion in the hellish condemnation consider advisedly of it for it is very true Citizen But wilt thou say that all those and such like are no Christian Exile Yes verily by signe or outward show and name they be Citizen And must not such preach the truth notwithstanding shew forth the many high knowledges and secret mysteries out of the Scriptures Exile Yea all what they heart spoken or chance to read in any writing that can they readily speak out againe But not like as all those true prophets of God and disciples of Christ have alwayes done out of any Godly understanding through the holy Spirit of God or Christ for that were impossible because the same Spirit is not with them For allbeit they have the Scriptures and the Godly witnesses wherethrough they mean to be understanding and wise yet forasmuch as they give not all their understanding over as captive under the obedience of the love of Christ and his holy word as under that same Being or life whereunto the Scripture witnesseth but run still forth with the knowledge so have they verily neither light truth spirit nor being of God Christ nor of his word And therefore they neither know nor yet understand any thing at all rightly of that whereof they then praie or speak forth unto others Citizen If all such as thou hast here spoken of were libertines having neither light truth nor spirit of God or Christ then God be mercifull unto us for then were it all in vain for many a one in these dayes to stand up or teach in a Congregation notwithstanding I cannot be perswaded as yet although I most needs grant that for the most part they do not live the same which they do teach to others like as they themselves have confessed but that they neverthelesse preach unto the people both Gods word the truth out of the right spirit be they themselves never to evil else God forbid And I pray you Sirs did not Judas amongst the rest of the apostles go and preach the Gospel and yet was not he a wicked one and betrayed his master And did not Peter which denied his master preach Gospel also And it is written The Scribes and Pharisees sit in Moses seat or Chair what they bid you observe that observe and do But as they do do you not for they sayd and do nor Therefore why may not wicked men preach the truth Exile Let us consider advised by of the Scriptures and be no longer deceived Forasmuch as it standeth written that Christ is the light of the world the Heavenly truth the right spirit yea and the word of God it self Then how were it possible that those which are void of Christ should preach or prophesie aright the true to inde or word of God contained in the holy Scriptures the whilst I say that the same spirit of truth is not in them for it is written that the Scripture never came by the will or mind of man but holy men of God did speak as they were inspired by the holy Ghost And it is written also that the naturall or fleshly minded man perceaveth not the things of God c. And again wisdom will not dwell in a froward soul nor yet in a body that is subdued to sin For where wickednesse hath the upper hand the holy Ghost doth flie from thence And yet note then moreover that after such time that man hath once entred into Judas he preached not 〈◊〉 Peter perceaving afterward what he had done he wept bitterly wherefore I am not against any one that will weep with Peter And as for such as sit in Moses seat or chair which teach the law uprightly I have not once touched I speak onely of them that sit in their own chair of pestilence which reach their own law or Imagination of their fleshly parts and good thinking but not the holy lan● of the Lord which is spirituall and containeth the truth the life or Christ it self And therefore for want of the true spirit of understanding there ariseth in these dayes great contention about the Scriptures Citizen The more is to be lamented But yet I pray thee answer me herein for I am not resolved in this matter Have we not now the truth amongst us Is not now the Gospel preached sincerely and received of all people thankfully to their salvation where through the bonds of Antichrist which is the Pope of Rome that had us long in captivity are now broken and we all by that means set at liberty Exile We have no doubt the holy Scriptures which bear witness of the truth and therein the minde or meaning of the truth is contained amongst us So have we many wholsome Sermons preached and declared unto us notwithstanding had we the truth amongst us so had we Christ amongst us and had we Christ amongst us so world we no doubt lo●e him or his word and neither would persecute him nor his members And then had he once a form or shape in us so should he likewise manifestly appear out of us in our good conversation and holy walking For it is written If Christ be in you then is the body dead or mortified concerning sin And again Whosoever hath not the spirit of Christ the same is none of his And were the Gospel preached sincerely out of the truth that is out of the spirit of God or Christ through a good conversation under the obedience of the word in all meek-mindedness and godly love so would many thousands in this land doubtless have repented them of their former life and amended their ways upon the preaching of the same Gospel and would have moreover followed the footsteps of such godly Preachers or Prophets as had even so imitated Christ and so then in very deed the people should have received the Gospel thankfully to their salvation and by that means should the bonds of Antichrist which is the sin the devil or will of the flesh which hath long time held us captive be broken in us and we then rightly through Christ should have been delivered there-from and set at liberty Notwithstanding how many in these days are set at liberty or have taken to themselves at liberty to do all manner of uncomliness both against God and man I refer that to the Testimony of their own Consciences Citizen I perceive then thou art not against any godly Preachers that walk forth in all obedience of the word and in whom Christ doth live and dwell which also do shew forth through the same meek-minded spirit all due obedience to God and Governours as likewise an upright lovely peaceable and brotherly life towards all men and that preach forth the same word of truth and life which they as then have both felt handled and tasted of unto others moe Exile No verily but I do reverence in the Lord all such as the true ministers and distributers of the heavenly riches and

AN APOLOGY FOR The Service of Love AND The People that own it commonly called The Family of Love Being a plain but groundly Discourse about the Right and True Christian Religion Set forth Dialogue-wise between the Citizen the Countreyman and an Exile as the same was presented to the High Court of Parliament in the time of Queen Elizabeth and penned by one of her Majesties menial servants who was in no small esteem with Her for his known wisdom and godliness With another short Confession of their Faith made by the same people And finally some Notes Collections gathered by a private hand out of H.N. upon or concerning the eight Beatitudes LONDON Printed for Giles Calvert at the Black-spread-Eagle at the West end of Pauls 1656. To all courteous Courtiers the Exile sendeth greeting YOu courtly Courtiers courteous by kind Lowly wise and pleasant in mind This little Device from the ground of his heart The Exile hath sent you take it in good part And when you have read it peruse it again For the matter is weighty true and eke plain Weigh well the fire do nothing in hast And measure you likewise the wind as it blows So call me again the day that is past For that is the right way Gods wisdome to know Both ear yea and heart so that ye prepare O ye lovely Courtiers courteous all These things for to mark which I now declare Left Gods wrath once kindled unawares hap to fall Where godly Love as a marriage weed In lowly hearts works all things new There is the truth exprest indeed In holy life it is very true The head of the Spring where ever it lye If it be kept sweet pleasant and clean From thence then all Rivers descending thereby Much sweetness of taste shall there through obtain First sound ye the water and measure the wind Then mark well the matter and sup up the mind The Libertines herein are set out full plain So are Christians likewise that in peace would remain But when ye perceive who the Libertines be Then wish that all Christians might be set free Gods blessing shall fall vpon their heads full sure That first shall begin the same to procure By way of Petition when they shall think time And God shall the Rulers hearts thereto incline God save the Queens Majesty and give her the might Good Christians to defend and subdue Libertines quite The Argument IN few words the Exile hereafter doth approve That wonderful and necessary is the service of Love If you weigh well his words you shall easily espy That among some of our learned there is a wedg awry But to redresse the same that can no earthly man do Each man to amend one is the next way thereto But yet by no other mean may a man thereto attain Save alone by the mean exprest in Loves service certain And the chief of all vertues he doth likewise approve To be a meek minded spirit fast grounded in Love An Apology for the Service of Love A Marvellous Matter manifested by an Exile through a short Communication in manner of a Dialogue And pointing as it were with his finger upon an unconfutable truth He giveth to all Courteous hearts that shall vouchsafe advisedly to read the same great cause of careful Consideration The Citizen the Countrey man and the Exile Interlocutors And first the Citizen to the Countrey-man THou knowest right well Countrey-man that the Citizen hath oft times need of the Countrey-man both for clothing victuals and other necessaries wherefore I pray thee let us two hold friendship still and be merty together in honest pastime like as we alwaies in times past have done But now I pray thee Countrey-man tell me how happeneth it that thou art so sad now a daies over thou wast wont to be Countrey-man I have not any cause to be merry considering the state of the world and dangerous time that now is Citizen Why Countryman of fellowship tell me the cause is it for want of worldly things or else what is the matter shew me for thou knowest me to be thy friend yea in very deed I am thy neer kinsman therefore thou mayst be bold to express thy mind freely unto me and I shall truly and trustily keep thy Counsel for I intend to be merry and follow my trade and not to busie my self in other mens matters Countrey-man I shall then tell thee as unto my very friend the cause of my heaviness when I consider what great cause we have to be thankful to God for his manifold goodness mercifulness and great benefits extended on us his creatures in our creation And in that he hath also given us his holy law as a glasse of righteousnesse therein to look into and behold our sinfull spots and deformities and so learn thereout the way or mean to become purged from the same filthynesse yet now although we have seemed to look therein a long time I see that our spots and deformities generally are waxen worse and worse And about the law or holy Scriptures there is risen every where great contention and this I see come to passe through all Christendome so well among those which are counted for men of high knowledge and great learning as likewise among all other sorts of smaller understanding in consideration whereof I have both for my self and others more cause to lament then for to laugh or be merry Citizen Notwithstanding Countryman thou knowest right well that we have been taught these many yeares by our learned preachers and that as it seemeth according to the Scriptures that all our spots are cleansed and washed away onely by the death of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and by no other means whereof we may in no wise doubt or mistrust but must acknowledge that he hath made a full reconcilement and satisfaction to God his Father upon the Altar of his Cross once for all our sins and for the sins of the whole world yea moreover as thou knowest that we all have our freedom thereby though yet as it cannot be denied we have been deceived in times past by many false prophets and teachers which have craftily crept in amongst us in sheeps Cloathing under pretence of holinesse But yet Christ sayeth you shall know them by their fruits and those you know were the superstitious papists which brought in all Idolatry and abuse But now God be thanked all such Abominations with worshipping of Images c. is gone you hear and Banished quite out of this land truth is set up in place the Gospel of Gods Kingdom is sincerely preached all over by Gods true prophets elect ministers and upright disciples of Christ and is thankfully received you see of all people to their salvation and so the bands of Antichrist sonne of perdition which is the Pope are broken and we now by that means are set free from all thraldom wherein we were once captivated are restored into the liberty of the Gospel for even so

generation of mankind which is altogether estranged from God and his righteousnesse by the disobedience of Adam in his Innocent and glorious estate wherein he was first created And therefore I have no doubt at all but do believe assuredly according to the Scriptures that Jesus Christ hath of his part accomplished it all Notwithstanding of this one thing I stand in doubt viz. Whether many at this day amongst us which boast our selves for Christians and for partakers of all the merits of Christs death and passion have any earnest lust or inclination with all Gods elect to accomplish that which on their part is lacking of the passions of Christ and is neverthelesse earnestly required of us in the holy Scriptures viz. to repent us earnestly of our sins past to forsake our selves taking up our Crosse and following Christ to dye unto sin to crucifie the flesh with her lusts to put on the new man of rigteousnesse to dwell in Christ and to have him to dwell in us or to put on Christ to have the same minde in us that was in Christ to become as little Children to believe in him to keep his word and to do all whatsoever he commandeth to love one another to obey our governors and to live under their Lawes and even so to eate the flesh of Christ and drink his blood that so we might have life in us doubtless whosoever doth not thus endeavour himself to walk as is aforesaid in this infallible Christian rule which is expressed more at at large unto us in the Service of Love in the after following of Christ he may not know the truth or Christ become made free of the truth nor inherit the Kingdom of heaven or be saved Citizen Thou hast put me in mind of a marvellous matter But tell me can any man live so pure whilst he is in this mortal life but that he shall sin Exile Understand there is no man living be he what he is but he shall sometimes sin or offend whiles he is this mortal life notwithstanding He that is born of God namely Christ Jesus the man of God from heaven that new Creature in whom the seed of God remaineth sinneth not And then know this also that there is a great difference between sin unto death and sin not unto death Citizen That is so indeed but yet then what thinkest thou herein have we not been deceived in times past by many false Prophets and false Teachers which have walked among us in sheeps clothing being inwardly ravening Wolves And were not those the superstitious Papists which brought in all abuses as worshipping of Images with much more idolatry into this Land although it be now banished quite Exile Yes we have been no doubt in times past much deceived and yet are to this day The superstitious Papists I grant were false Prophets and false Teachers which brought in many abuses with idolatry for covetousness is idolatry and the Prophet complaineth saying This people carrieth unclean or foul Idols in their hearts meaning still to go on in their wickedness c. Yea all what the man esteemeth more of in his heart than of God and his holy Law that same is to him an Idol he falleth down before it serveth and honoureth it prayeth likewise unto it Citizen Wilt thou say then that many of us in this Land are yet deceived and that we have now in these last days false Prophets and false Teachers among us Exile Yea for so it is prophecied or fore spoken in the holy Scriptures to come to pass in the last times notwithstanding yet must I needs think well of all such Preachers as hunger and thirst after the truth righteousness love obedience and peace expressing likewise the same in their good and godly conversation Citizen How shall men know then the false prophets and false Teachers Exile By their Fruits Citizens That is very true but shew me I pray thee by some certain notes or manifest tokens how I might henceforth know them with their fruits for that I and all men might-ever after beware of the false and give heed to the true Exile Then mark well these six Notes following 1. They are such as presume to teach others the way to eternal life before ever they have walked therein themselves or yet have once desired to become first the disciples of Christ or of his word to a reformation of their own lives c. 2. Such as will be taken for perfect Christians and godly teachers ere ever that Christ who is the truth the right spirit and the life have gotten a living shape in them whereby they might first preach Christ aright out of a good conversion in all love even so then go before the people having both oyl in their vessels and light in their Lamps c. 3. Such as will seem to have put on the new man of righteousness and yet never took in hand nor have known how to do off the old man of sin and wickedness first notwithstanding they take upon them to understand and to expound Gods secret mysteries out of the Scriptures c. 4. Such as will be free by Christ and teach men so ere ever they seen into their Captivity and thraldom of the sin death devil and hell whole bond-slaves and captives they themselves yet are and ere ever they have repented them rightly from their sin in such sort that it might ever after appear among all men in their holy walking 5. Such as will take on them to understand and publish forth the secret mysteries of Gods divine wisdom contained in the holy Scripture by the ingeniousness of the fleshly wisdom they themselves being as yet unregenerate given to lying blaspheming traytors oppression covetousnes persecuting with all kind of maliciousnesse wickedness and licentiousness of life 6. Such as boast of their deliverance in the last resurrection and teach men soere ever they have got any part in the first or are renewed in the Spirit and mind or yet stand up with Christ from the death c. All these and such like say I are false prophets though covered in sheeps cloathing but inwardly they are ravening woulfs men shall know them by their fruits with their mouth indeed they confess Christs but in their deeds deny him they are likewise blind guides such as have taken on them to lead the Ignorant out of darknesse into he light and yet themselves as those that love not the light will still remain in darknesse These are very Libertines inclined alwayes to hatred and iniquity stirring up strife setting variance amongst Princes breaking lawes despising autority and ordinances of men resisting Gods love and mercifullnesse Blaspheming the truth and persecuting the Innocent or simple which love God and his righteousnesse and walk in all obedience and peace Wherefore those be the children of Beliall and void of all wisdom such as unlesse they repent in time must be shut out amongst the foolish rejected for the workers of

his And the mighty God from whom all good doth proceed shall through his Christ claim unto him all godlinesses or vertues which are proceeded from him together with all whatsoever separateth it self from the iniquity hath handfast it self or held fellowship with the godlinesses all those as incorporated members to the godlinesses and godded or spirited with God in one spirit shall go to God again and shall reign with God and Christ soul and body in the kingdom of heaven and live in joy everlastingly It is very true Citizen But is there not some Predestinate unto preservation and again some predestinate unto condemnation as also elected thereto from the beginning Exile Yes verily there are two with their members that are predestinated or preordained thereunto from the beginning The one is Christ the man of God predestinate unto preservation and with him all his incorporated members The other is the man of sin Antichrist predestinate unto condemnation and in him all his incorporated members As for any other predestination then this come it out of Turkey or else where I know not of it Citizen Thou hast told me the truth and also fully answered me to all things natural and spiritual which I have demanded of thee What shall I ask more God be merciful unto us and unto all such as err of ignorance and give them eys of understanding and ears of pure hearts that they seeing in what estate they yet do stand and hearing also which is the right way to come out might repent them turn from their wickedness believe rightly and so come to the knowledge of truth and be saved Amen Now Countrey-man thou hast heard this fellow and his wonderful answers what sayest thou to it for I am almost at my wits end and marvellously astonied Countrey-man Doubtlesse Citizen he is in great Heresies and misbelief or else I may tell to thee in counsel in any of the learned in these days are far out of the way that leadeth to life and also ignorant of the ground of the heavenly truth wherefore I think it not amiss that thou examine him concerning his belief in God the Father in Jesus Christ the Son and in the Holy Ghost the Comforter and whereupon he hath grounded his Religion how he came by this understanding what he thinks of our learned Preachers in these days as also of other matters as thou shalt think meet lest haply we might be seduced through some subtil heretick infidel or disobedient person which perchance might be against the Queens Religion or else pretended to bring confusion over the Land Citizen Thy counsel is very good but then I pray thee rather talk with him thy self for I am brought into such a trembling perplexity and sorrow of heart since I have heard him and that as well for mine own cause as also for others which I yet see going astray that I dare ask no more questions Countrey-man Very well then I will talk with him my self Come hither Exile shew us I pray thee whereon thy belief and thy religion standeth grounded Exile I protect before God and man That my belief is in God the Father in Jesus Christ the Son and in the Holy Ghost the Comforter and is grounded on the Faith of the Holy Fathers Prophets and Apostles mentioned in the holy Scriptures also according to the common Apostolick Creed the Creed of Athanasius and the Nicene Creed to even so far forth as I may obtaine grace and power thereto of the Lord. Secondly I acknowledge there is no other way or mean either of remission of sins or of salvation for us to be had or yet mercy to be obtained at Gods hand but alone in by and through the death passion and resurrection of Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour And that he hath offered once for all upon the Altar of His Cross a full perfect and sufficient sacrifice and oblation for the sins of all the whole world Thirdly I do acknowledge that none shall be partakers thereof but only such as upon the publishing forth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ do shew forth an unfained repentance for their sins past and walk in new obedience or in a new life according to the requiring of the Gospel also such as believe aright in God and Christ and are even so baptized into the death of Christ Such as are regenerate of the water and of the spirit and forsaking themselves and their own lives do take up their cross on them and follow after Christ in death and sinful lusts and desires and so stand as those that are waking and waiting for the coming of their bridgroom ready prepared having both oyl in their vessels and light in their Lamps Such as love God and his Christ and as his very disciples keep his Commandements and walk in all love towards God and their neighbour and in all dutiful submission and allegiance towards their Governors and also live obediently under all their manly Ordinances And finally such as in whom Christ liveth and dwelleth or those that incline themselves under the obedience of the love of Jesus Christ and of his holy word with all diligence thereunto Now as touching my Religion this I say so often as I call to mind and consider the great love and kindness of God the Father shewed on me unworthy one in that he hath created me like unto his own Image and given me also his Law for that I might live therein And which is much more hath out of his meer love and mercy and of our part undeserved sent his sonne Christ to be a Saviour of the world c. So stand I Religatus or bound again that is to say Religious to love my Lord and God which loveth me so intirely with all my soul heart and might and for His loves sake to love my neighbour as my self To love my Prince and all that bear authority under her to live as a subject under her Laws and humane Ordinances And finally to walk uprightly peaceably and brotherly among all people in all love And this is only to be obtained at Gods hand by prayer and humble submission under the obedience of Gods holy word through the comforting of the Holy Ghost or Spirit of Love of which spirit God hath promised to shed forth upon his sons and daughters plentifully now in these last days like as is manifest in the Service of Love And therefore I acknowledge that whosoever now shall refuse to incline or indeavour himself for to walk in the same small or narrow way being called or warned thereto out of love by the Gospel of Jesus Christ to live in such a groundly faith of Jesus Christ in such a true Religion and upright obedience to God and Governors and in all subjection under Gods holy Laws and manly Ordinances and likewise in such a brotherly love towards his neighbour and peaceable life towards all men as I have here rehersed and likewise as is more at large expressed

in the holy Scriptures and in the Service of Love He is doubtless out of the true faith of God and Christ and erreth very much and shall not neither now nor hereafter unlesse they repent in time find mercy with God or yet through Christ obtain remission of his sins inherit the kingdom of heaven or yet become saved It is very true therefore consider advisedly of it in time Countrey-man Tell me how comest thou by this understanding or by what means was it made manifest unto thee Exile Through the obedience of the word of God the Father ministred out of the love of Jesus Christ through the holy Spirit of love and in the Crosse of Jesus Christ c. out of which ministration all things needfull to be known so well things natural as spiritual are at large laid open the true discipline frequented all grounds of Religion with all manner of errors nakedly declared the truth manifested And also all people both Christian and Heathen Jew or Gentile or of what Nation or Religion whatsoever c. are lovingly called and warned to repentance and reformation of life likewise fore-warned of the great plagues unlucky misery and wo that will speedily and unawares come upon all unrepenting sinners and licentious Scripture-learned to their utter condemnation in the fire of hell among whom I have been chief and now what am I poor sinner that I should not submit my self to such a gracious warning and repent ere ever Gods heavy wrath and indignation in his righteous judgement fall upon me to my utter destruction Countrey-man But what thinkest thou of our learned Preachers in these our days whilst many of them haply have not heard or read of such a ministration out of love as thou speakest of here or else if they have heard of it they have not perhaps so well considered thereof as it seems thou hast done art thou against them Exile I am against no learned Preacher which advertizeth the people to repentance godlinesse peace obedience and love and so long as they love God and his righteousness they have I suppose all heard of the ministration of Love and have many read and seen of the Books though perhaps they have not understood them effectually or rightly considered the mind of the Author therein for had they so done then would they not verily have spoken so much evil of them as they have done unlesse as I cannot so think as yet they did obstinately hate God and abhor all righteousnesse peace and love neither yet would they have imprisoned not so shamefully slandered so many simple souls which upon admonition from the destruction given them in the Service of Love have had an unfained desire to repent and amend their lives although some of them haply are in certain points through ignorance or fear Countrey-man Wilt thou then take part with and justifie the Author and his Books and so condemn our learned Preachers Exile I will neither take part with nor yet justifie the Author nor yet any of his Bookes but will leave them to answer for themselves neither do I meddle with things therein which are above my capacity Notwithstanding all what I finde therein written or else where that advertiseth me to repentance godliness of life obdience to God and Governours love towards God and my neighbour and peace towards all men according to the Scriptures that must I needs think well of Nevertheless if he or his Books be not able to answer for themselves so then will not I answer for them neither will I before a Law-judge condemn any whether learned or unlearned but leave that unto those unto whom judgement doth belong Countrey-man I cannot mislike thy Answers yet notwithstanding some may haply gather of such like words as thou hast here spoken unto us That the Author of those aforesaid Books with all you that are now tearmed of the Family of Love go altogether about to put down that Religion which her Majesty hath now set up and allowed and to bring it to nought And in so doing forasmuch as she is chief Governess of the same Church c. it may be imaged that ye are so against the State yea and perhaps such like matters have been put either into her Majesties head or else into some of her honorable Counsellors heads And thereupon it is come to passe that you are by some of our learned Preachers tearmed for Libertines yet all this notwithstanding I will not give any rash credit or judgement therein until I have first heard thee speak of it Exile I give you most hearty thanks therefore Then first of all I beseech you let me know what you call the Religion that is set up or at the least wise willed so to be by her Majesty and allowed so shall I the better give you an answer therein according to my simple skill Countrey-man It is to preach the Gospel plainly and sincerely out of Gods holy Spirit that all people learned or unlearned may so well by their life as by their Doctrine understand the same to their endless comfort and salvation and so to express a true belief in God the Father and in Christ our Saviour to expel all idolatry to abandon and abolish all forreign powers to administer the Sacraments and Ceremonies of the Church uniformly in their right Order To obey the Queens Majesty and live under her Laws and humane Ordinances acknowledging her as chief Governess in all causes c. here under Christ in this Realm of England and Ireland c. Exile This certainly is a good Religion were it once generally put in ure notwithstanding whatsoever men list to imagine of us that may they we cannot let them But hear me and I will tell you as it shall be found in the truth Were all his Books of whom we spake rightly considered of with indifferency so should they be found assistances in all to this aforesaid Religion and not hinderances For did the Preachers first and then the people according to his writing and admonition in the Service of Love viz. repent them and follow such counsel as is expressed by him in the same so should no doubt the Gospel then be sincerely preached according to her Majesties mind and the true belief published to the salvation of many All idolatry and forreign power as well inwardly as outwardly expulsed and driven away The Sacraments and Ceremonies of the Church should then be rightly administred The Queens Majesty obeyed not for fear but rather out of love and acknowledged as chief Governess in all causes c. as is meet And which is more the Lords heavy wrath whereof he hath often warned us in the Ministration of Love and alas which also I fear me is at hand for our wickedness cause should then be easily appeased And then yet moreover whereas many times it happeneth that the Prince is taken away for sins cause of the people her Majesty should then reign prosperously amongst us in all

lye one with anothers wife desiring to have all mens goods in common likewise some say you would have no Magistrates and that you account whoredom murder poysoning c. to be no sin as likewise that you deny the resurrection of the flesh and the immortality of the soul Others say you justifie your selves by your works without Christ and that you condemn the Scriptures and would not have them used as also that you say you live without sin yea and some say you are against the State And moreover that you will obey Turke Pope or any other of what Religion whatsoever under whom you dwell as likewise whatsoever you say when you are commanded by a Magistrate to render an account of your Faith or Religion you use to dissemble and mean not the same that you say with hundreds more too much here to recite Exile O Almighty and most merciful Father thou which alwaies shewest mercy to such as love Thee and keep thy Commandements thou knowest our Religion is only to love Thee as chief our neighbour as our selves according to thy holy word To obey our Governors and to live under their Laws not once calling in doubt that this Church is now in subjection under heathenish Magistrates which command the things that thou hast forbidden Look down O Lord we beseech thee and behold our misery let us not now be driven away from our dutiful obedience which we owe to thee and to these thy Magistrates and Governors for any manner of fear tyranny and false brutes of such as live not under thy Law Alas Countrey-man alasse we are indeed grossly abused by some that teach men disobedience to Magistrates and Laws falsly citing that piece of Scripture It is better to obey God then men by that drawing the peoples hearts from obedience to fantasies and which of all is most dangerous when even their own company are by the high powers dealt withal herein then their teachers say of us Those be they that will have no Governors c. Thus grievously slandered are we as thou hast said So while they set all men to wonder at us for the thing wherein they are guilty themselves and not we they have the more is the pitty sufficient opportunity to perform their malice and to establish their purpose which God grant that the Magistrates may at last though now very late discern throughly Notwithstanding if these their false brutes should be credited of the Magistrate as God forbid then alas we were without remedy or hope of justice at their hands and must be condemned yea although we were never heard Countrey-man Be of good chear Exile and let no such things astonish thee for be sure thou shalt finde the Magistrates not only wise honorable and learned but also such as will gratiously hear every ones cause with justice and reform in time that which is amiss Wherefore I pray thee yet further shew me the cause where out such brutes are raised and proceed against you Exile It cometh to passe hereout forasmuch as many in reading the Books of H. N. out of which Books we also are charged to have gathered Heresies will take upon them contrary to all justice and equity to judge determine and expound our mind and understanding therein according to their sinister conceiving of the matter And thereupon have not only thrown us into dungeons and prisons to our great losse and hinderance but also have published forth such like innumerable lyes and most horrible defamations against us reporting the same notwithstainding to the people and that out of their preaching places for an infallible truth whereas many of them never as yet talked with any of us whereby they might first know what Heresies we hold and have gathered out of the said Books and so are these their unjust brutes and slanders believed of many and published abroad for an infallible truth and no marvel for will you see the devil who would have thought I pray you or supposed that the learned Preachers of these days could have spoken forth whether it were out of report of of malicious envy so many horrible lyes and blasphemies against so harmless a people which never as yet gave them not any man else any cause thereto Countrey-man Yet hast thou not fully satisfied me as what manner of people those be that thus shamefully use to blasphem and persecute you wherefore I pray thee tell me that Exile Mark my words and I shall tell you a great and dangerous matter and also satisfie your demand what they be that now chiefly seek thus injuriously to deal with us Understand there are by her Majesty and her good Laws appointed for every spiritual promotion and office within her dominion chosen men to perform all that function as Bishops Deans Parsons Vicars Prebendaries Preachers c. Besides which Officers and spiritual Governors there are crept in also some by the favour of one man and some by another certain others which are scattered almost the land through which also have gotten great stipends out of mens Benevolence And these preach without either order from her Majesty or any publick Authority yea supposed to be to the number of four or five thousand note moreover these pay no Tenths nor Subsidies and yet impoverish them that should Also they cry out against al spiritual Offices and Officers although they be found meet for that function by learned men and thereto have authority by Laws and Statutes confirmed They say notwithstanding teach others to call them dumb-dogs and sleeping-hounds with such like names which thing to redress her Majesty hath granted Commission But wot you what those for whose reformation the same was graunted have so prettily handled the matter that they either by substitution of Commission or else by some other trick have now to deal in the Commission themselves by their own hands and so compel men to yield to these dangerous attempts by whom also now we are thus strangely handled Now see Countrey-man whether this be not a strange Metamorphosis when the offenders against all Laws are made Judges over the true observers of all good Laws and reverence●s of all Authority let all wise honorable and courteous hearts consider advisedly hereof for it is high time Countrey-man But yet although they be not able to recompence you touching such injuries as you have sustained at their hands may not they all notwithstanding possibly repent them thereof and amend and so you and they henceforth joyn together in one heart of godly love viz. To love God above all and your neighbour as your selves to obey the Queen and Governors and to live under her 〈◊〉 and Ordinances as likewise to use all reasonable dealing and friendliness amongst all men like as becometh true Christians to do according to the Scriptures and Service of Love Exile Yea verily the possibility thereof is of the Lord to all and among all that stand good willing thereunto and can believe And that

it might even so come to pass we all do and will pray unto the Lord both night and day upon our knees Countrey-man Yet one thing more I have to demand of thee which is this For asmuch as our learned Preachers yea and especially those which have done you such injuries as aforesaid do in words advertise the people to love God and their neighbours obey the Queen and her Governours and to live under their Laws as also to lead an upright life like as H.N. doth admonish all the generations on earth in the same Service of Love What then is the difference between them and you Exile Look a little into the matter with me I beseech thee There are very many found in these days that believe of God and of Christ but yet very few that endeavour themselves through true repentance and newness of life under the obedience of Gods holy Word as is aforesaid for to believe rightly in God and in Christ that is so as God and Christ might dwell in them and they in him Lo hereby are the children of God known from the children of the devil and this is the very difference between them and us And therefore the holy Law of God or Commandements which they teach to be observed upon pain of damnation and yet have not any lust thereunto themselves and then again in the end confess it to be impossible for any man to accomplish or live the same That do we with all our hearts desire to observe and keep believing the possibility thereof to consist only in the Lord our God and that the accomplishment of the same shall in time come to passe in us and all that believe by the might of God the Father through Jesus Christ Consider advisedly thereof all you that be wise Countrey-man Now I do perceive that the difference betwixt them and you is not much to speak of and in few words this what they say the same you desire to do and this is not any more then is betwixt heaven and earth light and darkness flesh and spirit c. Selah And I think thou hast spoken all this out of the ground of three heart without either dissimulation or guile Exile Yea verily and even so the Lord increase his love in me and in many Amen Neither have I done this without cause as some both honorable and worshipful with others in her Majesties Court knoweth But like as I have sustained many great and grievous injuries so have I also according to Gods holy word expressed in the Ministration of Love humbled my self in all stillness and patience under the obedience of the 〈◊〉 of Jesus Christ and h●… Crosse And now again hath the same love constrained hee partly for the clearing of my self against so many odious and intolerable brutes and defamations that have been spread forth against me to my utter undoing and also partly for the satisfying of others which are brought there through into great mistrust fulnesse of us and our Religion to write this little devi●e 〈…〉 will to any one of the ignorant resisters of the Love of God his mercy towards them neither yet towards any one of any adversaries O no but I rather wish unto them as also to all people on earth gra●e so to humble themselves under the obedience of the word of God the Father which is ministred out of the love of Jesus Christ now in these las days that they with us and we with them through true repentance in one consent of godly love and one obedience might 〈◊〉 stones be coupled and fast builded up in Jesus Christ to one holy Tabernacle Temple Family Habitation or house of Love or of God for asmuch as God is Love and so henceforth to be no more but one God one Faith one Baptism one Christ one Lord one Saviour in us all over us all and amongst us all in all love Amen To whom with the Holy Ghost be all laud and thanksgiving for ever and ever Amen Countrey-man The God of love peace make us al meet to be of such an holy Family Amen In very deed Exile now am I fully perswaded and do find it in the truth that the obedience to the word of God the Father through the ministration of the Love of Jesus Christ which consequently requireth all dutiful obedience to Magistrates and Governors is the very way to attain to the right spirit of wisdom or key of the holy understanding without which spirit the holy Scriptures have alwaies been and so shall still remain for ever as a fast sealed Book which no man amongst all the wise of the world or Scripture-learned could ever open or unlock forasmuch as it appertaineth to the Lamb Christ only that meek-minded spirit fast grounded in Love to open the same But what shall I say more Alas Exile alas that ever it should be found true or recorded in writing especially in these days of our most gracious Queen Elizabeth that upright Christians and true-hearted subjects should suffer such cruel persecution Oh alas wo is me who shall give to mine eys tears sufficient that I might weep enough for the miseries cause which I now see coming swiftly over the face of the whole earth Alas how will it now go with all those Libertines and licentious Scripture-learned which have out of their good thinking knowledge and without the spirit of the Lord thus seduced the ignorant abused her Majesties Laws and Ordinances blasphemed the Love of God and her Ministers and persecuted simple and true hearted subjects which have not resisted them Now shall they be found happy which have done well and whose days are ended on the earth for they shall not see the misery which for the wickednesses cause that presently do abound must fall over all the children of men Alas whither then shall all the children of men fly that they might escape all those horrible plagues Well we are right sorry for thee and thy company and yet much more sorry for those which have brought this trouble upon you for we do well perceive that you have been injured slandered and persecuted overmuch God give them hearts to repent that have wrought you this injury and give you all in the mean time patience to bear the same God be merciful and gracious to thee and thy company which now are spoken evil of and give to the persecuted and Exiled such favour in the eyes of her gracious Majesty that they may in some convenient time have liberty to walk forth freely unmolested and that your orderly and good life may shew that you love God and his Laws That they all may at some convenient time have liberty to walk forth freely unmolested and your orderly and good life may shew that you love God and his Lawes and that your subjection may testifie that you live under her Laws obediently not disturbing any one about Religion but walking your selves uprightly and brotherly among all men as becommeth the Gospel FINIS