loue raised-up the gracious word according to his promises and elected H.N. thereto for to minister the same c. (c) H. N Prouerbs c. 1. §. 6. And in this Prouerbs againe Through which gracious word and N.N. God reuealed sayth he the appearing of the comming of Christ and the newe day of his righteous iudgement as also the flowing foorth of his holy Spirit of loue to the awaking and raising vp of all his holy-ones out of sleepe to their glorious Lordliness with Iesus Christ and to an euerlasting fast-standing Kingdome of the godly Maiestie vpon earth according to his promises (d) Ibid. §. 17. And afterward Thus hath God declared with H.N. the eight thorough-breaking of his true light vpoÌ„ the earth wherein the Lord the God of heauen restered the former Kingdome with his garnishing together with all that which God hath spoken from the beginning of the World through the mouth of his holy Prophets c. (e) Ibid. §. 18. In his exhortation God hath illuminated him he saith with his light for to illuminate or giue light to them that dwell yet in darknesse vpon the earth (f) 1. Exhor c. 19 §. 8. And finally in his first Epistle All people are called and friendly bidden through H. N. to the repentance for their sinne c. Not alone with his calling but also with all the Scriptures heauenly Testimonies and spirituall voyces of the Eternall Truth which are gone forth from the holy spirit of loue and brought to light through H. N. (g) 1. Epist or Cri. vâ—â—ce c. 1. § 1. And why all this but to the ende that as himselfe aduiseth the young ones in the Family should not distrust nor suspect any manner of euill or vnwisedome by him nor yet in any wise perswade themselues that the Exercises Documents and instructions which are taught or set forth before them by him the Father of the Family of Loue or oldest elder are too childish or too vnwise for the to follow after (h) 1. Exhort c. 13. §. 11. But the childe of God must alwaies haue in remembrance that many false Prophets are gone into the world and therfore is not to belieue whatsoeuer is affirmed but trie the spirits whether they are of God Because men receiue not the loue of the truth that they may be saued God will send them strong delusion that they shall belieue lies that they may be daÌ„ned which belieued not the truth but had pleasure in vnrighteousnesse (i) 2. Thes 2. V. 10.11 The more H. N. boasteth of himself that he is illuminated from aboue the lesse is he to be credited the more to be suspected Let him proue his preparation his election vocation and generall Apostleship from Gods word which he shall neuer doe or let him be accursed yet a because he arrogateth to himselfe the diuine nature and most heretically and blasphemously auoucheth that whatsoeuer the Prophets haue foretold are fulfilled in him and the like and all this to the end that his idle reuelations cloaked vnder his Loue-seruice may the more slily enter into the mindes of wel willing and good meaning people hold him and all that hold with and applaud him and his fanaticall speculations euermore accursed The Family of Loue. O Out of which Seruice or writings we be taught all dutiful obedience * Vntrue towards God and Magistrates The seruice of Loue. and to liue a godly and honest life and to loue God aboue all things and our neighbours as our selues agreeing therein with all the holy Scriptures as wee vnderstand them The Examination ALL this tendeth to the raising vp of credit to H. N. his writings which sheweth of what spirit these men are In their Courtly deuise inscribed vnto the last Earle of Lecester they let not to say that were all the books of H. N. rightly considered of with indifferencie so should they be found Assistants in all to the Religion established in the Church of England and no hinderers Here I take which they grant that the holy Scriptures teach all these things next that the religion established in the Church of England is sound and euery way good and true But that the Seruice of Loue the writings of H. N. truly indeed so teach as they would beare his Maiestie in hand I cannot thinke for diuers reasons 1. They hold That neither before nor without their most holy Seruice of Loue c. the true light hath not been set forth ministred nor taught that there shal likewise no other light nor cleerenes that can be true appeare nor yet come hereafter but the light of loue (a) H. N. 1. â—r doct c. 16. §. 10 which is the new doctrine deuised by H. N. that we so condemne 2. They teach that it is assuredly al false lies seducing deceitful that the vngodly or vnilluminated Men out of the imaginatioÌ„ or riches of their own knowledge out of their learnednesse of the Scriptures bring forth institute and teach (b) Ibid. §. 17. Then is not H. N. his doctrine Seruice of Loue grouÌ„ded vpon the written word of God but vpon I know not what visions Anabaptisticall reuelations and therefore to be held most execrable Thirdly they say There is nothing more needfull to the man at the first where-to enter into life then that he humble himself vnder the obedience of loue meaning the instructions of H. N. so become taught in the Seruice of Loue for to vnlearne againe al what he hath taken on and learned to himselfe (c) Spir. land c. 56 §. 7. which counsayle of vnlearning is rife and euery where as it were the first thing deliuered to the Nouices in the Loues seruice (d) H. N. exhort c. 13. §. 9. Cri. voice c. 1. §. 7. which manifesteth their religion to be newe and singular when the doctrine in our Churches taught and embraced must all be vnlearned and abhominable and corrupt for the entertaining of theirs which they vaunt to be celestiall Fourthly because they may not talke of their secrets either yet vtter their mysteries opeÌ„ly or nakedly in the hearing of their young children disciples (e) H. N. Prouerbs c. 22. §. 15. that is as H. N. sayth til they haue attained the age of 30 yeares and are come to their manly age and haue beardes (f) Ibid. c. 21. §. 1. They might and would talke of their secrets might their exercises and mysteries abide the hearing of godly modest persons as Gods holy word and our doctrine deriued from the sacred Scriptures will Last of al because the Seruice of Loue and books of H. N. so and none otherwise make to the aduancement of godlinesse and furtherance of virtue then they vnderstand the Scriptures And indeed the make od interpretations of Gods word turning light into darkenesse truth into falsehood histories into allegories and sound religion into fancies of men But as others
Our Heart is the Mind of God most high Our Beeing amiable as the sweete Lillie Our faith fullnes Loue and Trueth upright Is Gods Light life and Cleernes bright A SVPPLICATION OF THE FAmily of Loue said to be presented into the Kings royall hands knowen to be dispersed among his Loyall Subiectes for grace and fauour Examined and found to be derogatorie in an hie degree vnto the glorie of God the honour of our King and the Religion in this Realme both soundly professed firmly established Reuel 2. Ver. 14.15 I haue a fewe things against thee because thou hast them that mainetaine the doctrine of BALAAM c. Euen so hast thou them that mainetaine the doctrine of the NICOLAITANES which thing I hate Printed for Iohn Legate Printer to the Vniuersitie of Cambridge 1606. TO THE KINGS most excellent Maiestie IAMES the first by the grace of God King of England Scotland France and Ireland defender of the Fayth c. MOST gracious Soueraigne Lord The exordium where there is published in a booke written by your Highnesse as an instruction to your most noble Sonne whome Almightie God blesse with much honour happinesse and long life of a people that are of a vile secte among the Anabaptists called the Family of Loue who doe hold and mainetaine many proud vncharitable vnchristian and most absurd opinions vnto whome your Highnesse doth also giue the name of Puritanes affirming in the say de booke that diuers of them as Browne Penrie and others doe accord with them in their foule erroneous heady and fantasticall opinions which are there set downe at large by your Maiestie aduising your Royall Sonne as is most meet to punish them if they refuse to obey the Lawe and will not cease to stirre vp rebellion The Examination THis is the Families Exordium and containeth an heauie and pitious complaint vnto and of the Kings Maiestie himselfe for that in his booke and Instruction vnto his most noble Sonne hee tearmeth the Familie of Loue a vile Sect amongst the Anabaptists and also giueth them the title of Puritans This goeth to their verie hearts The Exordium quare some that they should be so ranked and stiled and that by his Maiestie and that in a printed booke and that divulged in a knowen tongue ouer his dominions and the same directed vnto his royall and deatest Sonne euermore to continue Hence their quarrell and contention euen with their King hidden yet vnder the faire wordes of an humble petition A memorable Exordium or preface The Familie of Loue. NOw gratious Soueraigne A Propestatiō because it is meete that your Highnesse should vnderstand by their supplication and declaration of the truth herein by themselues of whom your Maiestie hath beene thus informed prostrate at your Princely seete as true faithfull loyall and obedient subiects to all your lawes ordinances ciuil and politique spirituall and temporall they with humble hearts do beseech your Princely Maiestie to vnderstand that the people of the Familie of Loue or of God doe vtterly disclaime and detest all the said absurd and selfe-conceited opinions and disobedient and erroneous Sects of the Anabaptistes Browne Penrie Puritanes and all other proude-minded Sectes and heresies whatsoeuer protesting vpon paine of our liues that we are not of consent nor agreeing with any such brain-sicke Preachers nor their rebellious and disobediet Sectes whatsoeuer but haue been euer wil be truely obediēt to your Highnesse and your lawes to the effusion of our blood and expenses of our goods and lands in your Maiesties seruice highly lauding Almightie God who hath so gratiously peaceablie appointed vnto vs such a vertuous wise religious and noble King and so carefull and vnpartiall a Iusticer to gouerne ouer vs beseeching him daiely to blesse your Highnesse with his godly wisedome and holy vnderstanding to the furtherance of his truth and godlinesse and with all honor happinesse peace long life to iudge rightly betwixt false hood and truth The Examination IN this Section they protest that they are not as the King saith they are a vile Sect but The Familie of Loue Against their Protestation or of God or Gods Familie neither that they doe hold maintain as his Maiestie hath published any much lesse many proud vncharitable vnchristian and most absurd opiniōs yea they doe vtterly disclaime detest al the said absurd and self-conceited opinions as also the disobediēt and erroneous Sectes of the Anabaptistes Browne Penrie Puritanes all other proud-minded Sects heresies whatsoeuer c. And therfore that his Highnes both misconceiueth and misreporteth of them good men In which their Protestation hee that seeth not his most excellent and sacred Maiestie most odiously to be traduced as a publike defamer of Gods people is verie blinde and againe obseruing so much is not grieued thereat sheweth that hee neither carrieth sound affection vnto his Souereigue nor tendereth the honour of his Prince Now forsomuch as both his Maiesties book is extant and this their supplication but more truly infamous Libell in many mens hands especially of the young ones in this Family of Loue for few else can haue so much as a viewe thereof vnlesse they be of the vulgar sorte and withall inclineable to receiue their doctrine of all others the vnfittest to read or heare such dangerous discourses whereby both the Familistes are confirmed in their familiar instructions and his Maiestie by such Libels ignominiously dispersed is not a little wounded it is verie behoouefull somewhat to examine the truth of this their protestation And because they say how the premisses are published in the sayd booke of the Kings it shall not be amisse heere to set downe his Maiesties verie words and the occasion of them expressed by his royall hand to the end that it may appeare who is more abused either the Family who are charged as there is set down by his Highnesse or his Maiestie thus traduced and that to his face by the Family In the second booke therefore of his most Fatherly Kingly and diuine directions vnto the royall Impe of rare hope Prince Henry his best beloued sonne his Maiesty hauing at large set down the diseases of the church and from his owne experience declared how the Puritanes all his raigne and some yeares afore had troubled the quiet of the Scottish kingdome Church opposed themselues against the throne of Maiestie laboured by the peoples fauour and assistance the erection of a gouerment Democraticall by the ruine of the royall State and sought to bring in a parity equalitie of all degrees aswell into the Common-weale as Church in the ende he giueth his aduise and sayth Take heede therefore my Sonne to such Puritanes Puritanes to beauoided very Pestes in the Church and Common-weale whome no desertes can oblige neither oathes or promises binde breathing nothing but sedition and calumnies aspiring without measure railing without reason making their owne imaginations without any warrant of
Marestie viz. that the writings of H. N. or seruice of Loue further true religion and godlinesse are most false and vttered either by some ignorants which know not what the Seruice of Loue meaneth or of policie to bleare his Highnesse eyes that hee should not perceaue the daunger of this pretended Loue Seruice Obserue next their opinion of this their Seruice of Loue as that it is the true safe-making Gods seruice besides which there is not any God seruice more neither in heauen nor yet in earth and that whoso haue not this seruice or withdraw themselues therefrom haue no liuing God and hence coniecture what their thoughts be not onely of the Seruice of the Church of England and all other Christian Churches but of the doctrine also in them professed with all professors of Christianitie ignorant and Aduersaries to H. N. and his newe Seruice Besides it is not to be neglected that the doctrine in the Seruice of Loue deliuered by H. N. in these places is called The newe day The day of the generall Resurrection The day of iudgement of the second comming of Christ of the restoring of all things of the fulfilling of all that which God hath spoken from the beginning of the world through the mouth of his holy Prophets and the Euangelists of his Christ All which plainly demonstrate H. N. his doctrine touching the generall resurrection the day of iudgement the second comming of Christ euerlasting life and finally the accomplishing of GODS promises made vnto the Patriarches Prophets and Church from euerlasting encluded in the writings of H.N. and so in the Seruice of Loue to be most hereticall and damnable This considered impudent and shamelesse are these Familistes that woulde beare the most religious Prince in hand that the writings of H. N. and Seruice of Loue make for the aduancement of godlinesse and honestie when rightly examined it ouerthroweth the very groundes and principles of true Religion without which there can bee no sounde practise of honestie and iustice among men The Family of Loue. TO the end that all people when they heare or read his writinges and doe thereby perceaue their sinnes The end of his writings and estranging from GOD and Christ mought endeuour them to bring forth the due fruictes of Repentance which is reformation and newenesse of life according as all the holy Scriptures doe likewise require the same of euerie one and that they mought in that sort become saued through Iesus CHRIST the onely Sauiour of all the world The Examination HEere reade wee the ende indeede of H. N. his wrightings Against the end of H. N. his wrightings viz. to inuite all men vnto repentance and newenesse of life and yet deserueth hee no praise at all as the Familistes woulde make his Highnesse belieue hee dooth for this exhortation of his For what meaneth hee by Repentance but that all men not yet of his Family should forsake or abiure the Religion which they haue beene brought vp in and vnlearne againe whatsoeuer they haue taken on and learned to themselues out of the Scriptures in the Christian assemblies where GODS word is read preached and hearde VVhat by newenesse of life But that wee become young ones in the Family or house of Loue VVhat by saluation but the state of a Familist which is all pure or of an Elder in the louely being All people sayth H. N. are called and friendly bidden through H. N. to the repentance for their sinnes and to the house of the loue of Iesus Christ the Rest of all the Saints or children of God (a) H.N. Cri voice c. 1. §. 1. Let euery one leaue now his owne word doctrine and taken on knowledge and also the word the doctrine and knowledge of al vnsent Preachers and good-thinking wise where-through yee are seduced c. and come now all to this same Sanctuarie of GOD (b) Ibid. c. 2. §. 5. meaning the house of Loue called before the Rest of all the Saints or children of God Come also now all which through your ignorant knowledge or misunderstanding haue withdrawen your selues sayth H. N. from this same stoole of grace and louely house of the Loue of Iesu Christ and from our Communalty taken occasion of offence at our littlenesse or simplenes at the godly Testimonies of our sayings and euen so made vp your selues as Resisters against vs and our good doctrine and exercises or orders separated your selues from vs and growen to be bitter minded or displeased toward vs together with all yee that haue mistrusted vs also not belieued the holy word of the eternall truth which we through Gods grace administer vnder the obedience of the Loue but doubted therof c. and repent you of your sinnes to your sanctification and to the health of your soules (c) Ibid. §. 7. On the other side saith H. N. All those which loue rather the darknes that the Light cleaue more vnto the world and the worldly thinges than vnto the gracious Worde in the Seruice of Loue heare belieue and followe rather their good thinking than the Testimonies of the holy Spirit of Loue which are set forth and offered vnto them by the Elders in the holy Communaltie of Loue out of the heauenly truth and euen so waxe offended thereat or hold them backe therefrom and resist the Seruice of Loue Those shall all if they turne them not to the Seruice of the Loue nor repent them of their sinnes become broken in pieces and iustly beare their blame or be punished with the euerlasting destruction and bide captiued for euer and euer with the death and mortalitie (d) H. N. Exhort c. 14. §. 10. Vnto this Repentance doth H. N. exhort This is the opinion which H. N. had and his disciples and schollers haue of themselues and their fauorers they are all forsooth in the state of saluation and cannot perish but they who neither bee Familistes nor wel-willers to their doctrine exercises and orders are all vnder the curse of God like eternally to bee damned vnlesse they alter their mindes and renounce their faith and religion thoughe grounded vppon the foundation of the Prophets and Apostles because with H. N. the Diuell is their Father (e) Spirit Land pres §. 9. and they are the children of wrath a cursed people coheires of the euerlasting fire (f) Ibid. §. 10. and shall bee cast into the bottom-lesse pit into the fire of Hell (g) H. N. Prouerbs c. 5. §. 15. Then which conclusions nothing is more Hereticall and accursed and this was it among other thinges why his Maiestie tearmed these Familistes Puritanes and a most vile Secte viz. euen because they deeme all the world besides themselues to bee but abhomination in the sight of God Their H. N. speaketh much of Iesus Christ in his bookes but in no one place that I coulde yet meete withall dooth hee acknowledge Christ to bee eyther true GOD or very man at least not