bloodie Spaniards In all which she is as vvorthie and renoomed a Prince as any this day in Europe shevving her selfe to be a true vvorshipper of God and a carefull obseruer of his vvord If vve should offer anye further matter then that is heare shevved to bee her meaning and doeing vve might iustlie haue this accusation laid against vs but that you see hath as easie a denyall as it is a most manifest slaunder But as for the diminishing of her prerogatiue by Elders or that the Pastour should be a Pope I vvonder at the skantling they take should either of these take vpon him any thing diuers from the Scriptures and which he might dare to doe beeing not authorized thereunto by publike order of the Church and confirmed by her Maiesties authoritie And how can a poore Minister bee a Popâ— when his authority should reach butteâ— one parish and that therein he shoulâ— not doe his own mind but be measured by a law and superior authoritie This they know well or may know that obiect these things against vs I merueill they dare hazard their credite to publish such kinde of vncharitable inuentions But we are not to good to come vnder such vniust imputations seeing our Sauiour Christ dranke of the same cupp but our grief is the more to haue such measure from our reuerende Fathers deare brethren The next besitting this kind is that we affect popularitie to bring al to a popular state Thirdly touching populâ—ritie This slaunder seemeth to mee to haue tvvo forckes First in regairde of the peoples choosing of their Pastour and second that vve should bee enemies to Magistrates or Monarchicall gouernement I ansvver in the first vvee leaue not all to the people but onlye vvee vvoulde not haue the people left out but as Act. 6. and 14.23 The Bishopes and Ministers should order and guide the people and both ioyning together the choise might bee free and most for the benefit of the Church Novv vvhen the Bishops of our Church in England before they ordaine a Minister vvill haue him to nominate a place and as I haue seene in practise send their letters to that place to see if any coulde except against him and lastly ordaine him with these words Take authoritie to preach to this congregation meaning as I take it the Parishe which had chosen him alas what popularitie is this This obiection Maister D. Fulke answereth against the Papistes by those words And as for the popular election if you haue red those bookes you make mention of Defen of English transl cap 15. pag. 797. you might perceaue that neither of both partes allow a meere popular election And that Maister Whitgift doth not so much contend what forme of election was vsed in the time of the Apostles c. The other forcke is a meer deuise a deuilish quarell and calumniation against all Protestantes for Bristow saieth Motiue 40 Protestantes be malignoures of the hier powers and hath no colour in the world in any of our doeings writings or practise whatsoeuer therefore I think it not worthie to be answered 6 The other arguments obiections are not of so great a prayse Obiections of more equitie yet wil I answer some few of them that if it be possible the chiefe heads vnto which all other may be referred being found light and vaine all the rest might bee accounted no better then they are First our friends say vnto vs if their be no superior how can there be any good order We answer that we meruil they vnderstand not that wee meane that the lawe and authoritie of the Prince shal be superiour to all the Magistrates and Commissioners as signed by her to see all her good lawes executed And as Maister Fulke saieth wee graunt among the Ministers themselues An ouerthrewe ' of the answ to M. Chark prefaâ— pag. 112. a primacie of order as it was among the Apostles namely according to which Iames was president of the councill at Hierusalem Act. 15. But it is further vrged that the honour of Bd. is more for the protection of the Ministers for their reputation I will not heere for reuerence sake answer all that I can and which miserable experience afordeth only I would such to consider that our armour is spirituall and that the Apostles subdued all the worlde without this earthly honour which this obiection pretendeth But a Christian Magistrate being friend wee haue now lesse cause to feare our reputation if we doe well then they being base and poore fishermen of low estate at that time had when all the power and glorie of the world was against them Therefore the Psalme speakes another maner of conquest Namely that Christ shoulde prosper with his glorie Psal 45 4â— and ride vpon no other pompeous chariot but that of Gods word all laid ouer with golde of trueth and drawne with no other horses but meeknes and righteousnes So am I perswaded that although this great dignitie of our Prelats were takeÌ„ a way yet if we did diligently and faithfully in humble vpright maner teach the people Gods word of truth and saluation it woulde procure vs honour and reputation sufficientlye beseeming Gods Ministers finding that ielous word of God true Them that honour me 1. Sam. 2.30 I will honor c. And lastlie Of sufficient Ministers and maintenance for them it is demaunded where wee will find sufficient Ministers to bee preachers liuing for such worthie men This obiection with many other might be left out for there be God be thanked ynough worthie men if they were sought after both in the Vniuersities other where but while men are suffered to runne and ride and ketch before they fall manye worthie men are passed ouer and not knowne some are faine to be scholemaisters some because of these troubles change their studies Manie are afearde to set their sonnes to schoole seing Ministers so little regarded Littleton Galen and the godly houses of Noble men and Gentlemen woulde helpe to make vp the number And this wee see dailie that there can not be a place void but there be many schollers of reasonable competent giftes to fullfill the same As for maintenaunce God bee praised this Realme aboue all other is to bee commended only the ioyning of smaler liuings and Parishes into one with redeeming of impropriations woulde quickly fill vp that gappe that no man of a moderate gouernement and desire if euerie one be placed after his giftes should haue iust cause to complaine These thinges beeing considered I hope it will appeare to all reasonable men that it can be proued by any good reason that the godlye Ministers desiring reformation are enemies to the state or causes of these troubles which are among vs. But yet there remaineth one imputation which I can not passe ouer Because although it haue not so much as a shadowe of truth The last great flaunder touching Papists and Ieusites
therein contayned to bee agreeable to God When in the visitations and publike meetinges the Ministers were called to subscribe they offered very freely and willingly to subscribe the first article of her Maiesties most lawfull authoritie And for the other two they refused to doe anye further thē by law they were bound name lie according to the statute made for that purpose anno 13. Herevpon manie in diuers Shires were suspended from the execution of their Ministerie and some depriued And great diuision arose in the Church the one suing for reformation and to be eased of such burdens and the other vrging verie straightly the former things punishing such as woulde not be conformable Then came there forth a newe cloude of writing and mennes affections waxing vvhote drawing to the worse it was a verye common name to all these Ministers to be called Puritanes As men which made conscience of many things which the reuerend Fathers and many learned men affirmed to be lawfull In all this time there was much preaching in the Vniuersities aboute nonresidents and vnpreaching ministers and there should you see a plain diuision one sorte called youths and the other sorte which tooke not such libertie were called Precisians And this is growne both in the Vniuersitie in the countrie town and citie that who so feareth an oth or is an ordinary resorter to sermons earnest against excesse ryot poperie or any disorder they are called in the vniuersitie precisians and in other places Puritans 4 And thus as faithfully as I can I haue shewed how this name came vp and whereupon honest godly men haue beene and ar called puritans or precisians here it foloweth to bee considered out these thinges what is their offence and the state of their cause For fower thinges men are called puritanes which may be referred to foure heads 1 scruple in the vse of certaine ceremonies 2 scruple in subscribing beyond the state 3 seeking for reformation of some ceremonies and of some parte of the ecclesiasticall discipline 4 the people do heare sermons talke of the Scriptures singe Psalmes together in priuate houses c. Nowe whether for these causes they be iustlie called puritans troublers of the state c. it remaineth to be examined and discussed For the plaine opening whereof I will first shewe such honest reasons as make for their lawfull excuse proouing manifestlie that they are to be holden as good and faithfull subiectes honest Christians and godlie ministers Secondlie I will open the vanitie of the principall imputations which are vrged against them and thirdlie propound some other such considerations as are necessarilie annexed to both Cap. 2. Wherein is declared 1. That the ministers people which haue desired and sought for reformation of some things in the ecclesiastical state of this land are warranted in their doings by the principall rule and Canon of our Church namely the holy Scriptures 2. Martin Marprelate the Brownistes Hacket stirred vp by Satan to hinder their good cause 3. Preaching against nonresidence and vnpreaching ministers and all the Christian exercises of the people agreeth to the holie Scriptures THe greatest glorie of the militant church is the presence of God Gods presēce the glory of the Church and if GOD forsake them their glorie is departed therefore when hee honoureth his Church he saieth This is my rest for euer here will I dwell Psal 132.14 And this is the glorious renowne of Gods people The Lorde his God is with him and the ioyfull shout of a King is among them Num. 24.21 Cap. 52.7 For which cause as saieth the Prophet Esay The feete of his messen gers bee beautifull vpon the mountaines when they preach these glade tyding saying to the Church Thy God raigneth And there indeede God raigneth where his worde beareth the preheminence For his worde is his Scepter and the rodde of his mouth And this is the great priuiledge of his Church Rom. 3.2 Psal 147 19. that to them be committed the oracles of God He sheweth his worde vnto Iacob his statutes and his iudgmentes vnto Israell hee hath not dealt so with euerie nation c. Heere is my ioy and the precious comfort of all Gods children in this land Queene Elizabeth the ioye of the godlie that the Lord our mercifull and louing God of his rich grace and free fauour hath giuen vs such a vertuous and religious Princes who beeing stirred vp by his spirit and guided by his holie hande in the midst of so many enemies and thorow so many wonderfull daugers hath cheerefullie bouldly and with the Maiestie of the Lordes annoynted proclaimed Gods trueth and aduauncing Gods holye Testamēt hath banished the beggarlie rudiments of this world the traditions and vnwritten falshoodes of men and as a true faithfull Noursemother hath fostered his Church nowe these three fourtie yeares in great plentie and peace vnder his blessed presence and glorious protection So that our enemies beeing Iudges it must needes be confessed that God is with vs of a trueth Therefore as it becommeth the true people and Congregation of GOD the Church of England humblie submitting it selfe to his lawe doth meekelie and constantlie confesse that It is not lawfull for the Church to ordaine any thing that is contrarie to Gods written worde Artic. 20. And for this cause they describe the visible Church of Christ to be A Congregation of faithfull men in the which the pure word of God is preached dutifully trulie affirme Artic. 19. that In our doings that the will of God is to be followed which we haue expreslie declared vnto vs in the worde of God Artic. 17. Now my deare brethren and fathers if I shall shewe that the things we haue done doe answer to his holy Canon of Gods written worde The godlie Ministers guided by the Canon of holy scripture I hope it shall appeare that wee haue not bene against the Church but for the Church And first for the ceremonies they are reputed verie small things and therefore we ought not to trouble the church about them Consider therefore with me Of ceremonies I beseech you that as a verie small thing troubleth the eye of a mans body so is the conscience and faith of a true Christian and especiallie of a faithfull Minister Exod. 10.26 Therefore Moses when he was in greatest danger of life woulde not yeeld that one hoofe should be left behind of that which God had commanded to goe out of Egypt Dan. 6 10. And Daniel when he knew that there was a lawe sealed against him of present death yet would hee not shut his window or leaue of praying to God anye one time of thrise in the day to saue his life Gal. 2.3.4.5 And the Apostle Paule in a matter of Christian libertie woulde not giue place by subiection for the space of one hower And of this precisenes god himself is the
I vvill bee glorified Howbeit the Gospell proclaimeth all them blessed who for Christes sake are reuiled and against whome men doe falslie say all maner of euill For wicked men and infidels speak euill of them which runne not with them to the same excesse of riotte and beastlie men will vtter lewd wordes against those thinges they know not Heereof it commeth that many men fall away beeing not able to be are the reproach yet he which beleeueth as he speaketh knoweth what he beleeueth he suffereth as a Christian and is not ashamed but glorifieth God in this behalfe Notwithstanding when a brother shall reproach his brother Christians to reproach one the other hurtful to the Church and one Christian ill an other and the house of God shall be deuided then is it most dangerous For there will the enemie of mankinde cast in many burning fire brandes and heape on much drye wood that we might be all consumed one of another And such my most reuerend and beloued brethren hath beene our case and condition The state of manie godlie Ministers because we haue desired sought after the good proceeding and perfection of our Church in the seruice and worship of Christ and withholden our hands from doeing and allowing of some thinges in our iudgement hurtfull to the same and contrariant to the Ghospell of trueth Wee haue suffered endured much reproach and contempt which we haue patientlie borne and with great silence for diuers yeares sustayned that on our part the sacred worde of righteousnes might not be ill spoken of and as much as in vs lyeth wee might cut of all occasions to the common aduersarie to preuaile against the holy church of Christ which is among vs. But now it seemeth to me that notwithstanding all this The causes of this treatise the state of thinges is worse then euer before and I can not tell whether our conniuence in suffering all euill speeches against vs hath done the Church harme For nowe the Papist beginne to comfort themselues yea they challeng vnto them the name of honest and true men and good subiectes and by the reproachfullname of Puritan al godlie Protestants are most cunninglie depraued To haue beene called precisian Puritane hoatheaded proud contentious schismatickes and troublers of the Church wee haue borne it patientlie God knowing our innocencie and could yet be are it more so as by our suffring of contempt the Church of England might receaue honour and Gods people reioyce vnder good guiding pastoures But when it is growne so far that we are called accounted worse then Papists enemies to the state worse then Seminarie priestes like Iesuites subuerters of the common wealth enemies to her Maiesties most royall Crowne and dignitie for whose safetie wee doe continuallie and instantlie pray and that this is so farre growne that the traiterous priestes doe brag of extraordinarie fauour and vnder the name of Puritans most frandulentlie and with most grosse and palpable lying and slaundring traduce all Christian Churches so that wee verely thinke that if such thinges goe forward they will in a short time cause a most wofull ouerthrow of the whole state of the Christian Church among vs we cannot now forbeare any longer but that wee must needes shew vnto all the worlde our innocencie that the wrong which by ill false report hath bene done vnto vs thorow our negligēce want of honest defence be not made a strong forge and a close mightie engine to destroy all the happie and godlie proceedinges of her Maiestie turning vp side downe the ioyfull flourishing of the Christian religion Ghospell And we cannot now heale this soare by any priuate doing for it is spread abroad so vniuersall and mens mindes are so vniuersallie possessed therewith that we haue no way to doe good but to come into the open theater of the worlde to pleade for our selues and to make manifest the vprightnes of our cause against all these most false vniust and slanderous imputations Let me therefore intreate you all Reuerend Fathers and Brethren in godly charitie to receaue this our most iust apologie with Christian equitie to consider of it and with heauenlie wisedome waying the estate of the Church and the present necessitie take euerie thing in that meaning as it is written And I doe not doubt but allthough the knowne and professed enemie of all goodnes the popish faction which nowe these three and fortie yeares haue vsed all cunning treacherie and treasonable platformes to bereaue her Maiestie whome God almightie preserue still among vs of this present light and life of this worlde and all this Realm by that meanes of the heauenly light and life of the world to come though I say these vowed enemies of the Ghospell and of this land doe freat chafe and fume yet shall not you my de are brethren neither anie honest Christian and faithful subiect haue anie iust cause to mislike this manner of writing but rather thorow the hande of my God vpon me finde and think it necessarie at this tyme to be published to al Christian people of this English nation For I doe heerein declare and shew what hath beene our cause and maner of proceeding and that as plainelie without concealement The contents of this booke and as faithfullie without partialitie to our selues as I may boldly auoutch euery thing to any mans conscience which wil be content with trueth and all the trueth and secondlie how agreing al our cause doings from time to time hath bene to the present estate and her Maiesties proceedings in the Ghospell Thirdlie in clearing our cause and doings of the greatest accusations and imputations I make it plaine how vnequall and vniust the comparison is betweene vs and the Papist and lastlie I doe a little tourch some other things necessaritie appertaining to the premisses Now it may bee that heerein I shall not satisfie all men Hard satisfie all men paraduenture I shall offend some of the reuerend Bishoppes and some other learned Prelates standing for conformitie and it may bee I shall not perfectlie answer the expectatation of the godly Ministers who desire reformation or of some other wise learned Christians Herein doubtles I haue cause to suspect myne owne insufficiencie For who can tell how to walk perfectly with the Lord and yet auoid all occasions of offence where both the parties haue beene at so hote warre and where there are men of so many contrarie iudgements and affections much lesse a man of so little helpes and so small giftes as I haue How be it I craue the patience and charitable taking of this my writing of them both and I hope they will accept my good will For in an especiall loue toward both parties I haue taken this in hand and haue set God before mine eies before them both that so neere as I coulde and as far as I knowe and am able I vtter that which is right in
his sight not seeking to please ame man of either side but endeuouring to doe a worke pleasing to God and good for his Church I might minister occasion of profit to them both Knowing that nowe is the time that eyther side shoulde cast of the loue of themselues and turning their eies from the sweete reflex of their owne prayse ioyne in one hart against the common enemies for the peace increase perfection and honour of the Church of God in this land Which my good honest meaning if I haue not so fully accomplished as I desire I humble my selfe vnto God and trauell heerein vnder his mercie and I am readie vpon good demonstration of my faulte to make a mends and to satisfie eather parâ—ie But if their be anye of the reuerend Faâ—hers or of the learned Prelates which God forbid that bee proude I appeale from the proude froward or malicious and will stande stiffe vpon their conceaued purpose seeking them selues and their owne things and not the glory of God and the things which are Christs I esteeme them no further then they deserue I pray GOD amende them and turne their heartes So on the other side renounce all hypocrits if their bee anye man who seemeth to like reformation who yet beeing an hypocrite and false hearted hath anye hidden poyson in him for it is no rare thing to haue a Iudas among twelue and false creeping brethren who woulde bring the Church into bondage and make a praye of the same as I knowe none such so I doe renounce them in this Apologie and all other what so euer that doe not loue her M. with al their hart and are not true and vpright fauourers of the Ghospell as it is taught in England by publicke authoritie or haue in him anye treacherous or wicked purpose against the same any maner of way And I pray God to make them to be knowne yea if any man bee guilty in his conscience of any euill let him be ashamed and let him hide him selfe seeke the shiftes of wicked men in darknesse But as for vs our cause is iuste before God and we haue done no hurt to her Maiestie and we know and beleeue that when the appointed time of God shall come and his counsell hath sufficientlie tried vs hee will bring foorth our righteousnesse as the light and our iudgement as the noone day Therefore I thinke it my duety without all feare to open to all the world what maner of trespassers we are and to commend to the conscience of all wise learned and godlie Christians when they shall throughlie vnderstand rightly weigh euerie thing as it is the righteousnes of our cause and the vprightnes of our meaning O God and heauenlie Father thou iudge of all flesh and searcher of the heart and raines send forth thy light and thy trueth iudge thou the cause of thy seruants and take it into thy thine owne handes And cause thy people to returne discerne betweene the righteous and the wicked betweene him that serueth God and him that serueth him not And let thy gratious countenance shine alwaies vpon this land and vpon thine anointed handmaide our Soueraigne Queene Elizabeth defend protect and guid her establish thy couenant of peace with her and this English nation for euer euen the sure mercies of Dauid For thy holy Sonnes sake Iesus Christ Amen At Eastwell in Kent this 4. of Iune 1602. Cap. 1. Wherein is shewed 1. That they be not Puritans in deed who now in England are so called 2. That name is verie fit and proper for al Papists 3 What are the causes that some of her Maiesties most faithfull and obedient subiects are termed Puritans 4 The true state of their cause WE reade in the storie of the primatiue church of diuers sorts of hereticks What be â—ritans who for their opinions of their own Purenes contrarie to the trueth of holye Sicripure might verie well bee called Puritans As namely such as verie proudly odiouslie as Saint Augustine writeth called themselues Cathari De haeres 〈◊〉 3.8 which may well out of the originall worde bee translated by the name of Puritane for their puritie or cleanes and these hee saith followed Nouatus and were therefore called Nouatians The Pelagians also were Puritanes 88 holding as hee saieth that the life of a iust man in this worlde hath no sinne at all and that of them the Church is made vp in this mortall life that it might be altogeather without spote or wrinckle Of this latter sorte were the Donatistes 82 There were also Puritanes called Iouinianistes affirming that a man can not sinne after hee hath receaued the lauacre of regeneration Ebion also and diuers others Eus Pamph. hist lib. 3. cap 27. thought so well of them selues that they claue to the lawe as the Pharisees looking to be iustified by their workes and not by faith onelie All these and manye others hauing opinion of their owne puritie and despising others might iustlie and truelie bee called Puritanes But such ministers and other good christian men weomen Godly Ministers people in EnglaÌ„d no Puritans who in this Lande vnder her Maiesties most happie raigne whome God continue in safetie with the longest liuer haue embraced the Ghospell and by it abandoned all these and all other heresies and falshoodes and endeuour to followe the same Ghospell with all their soules and in simplicitie and humblenes of minde haue ben desirous that them-selues should drawe nearer and nearer vnto God and that the Church of England as it is very well and verie much reformed out of popish idolatrie and superstition might more more growe forward vnto such perfection as in this fraile life might bee attained bee verie vncharitablie and vniustlie called by that odious hereticall name of Puritane For if we woulde search all Englande from the tenth yeare of her Maiesties most gracious raigne aboute which time this wicked slander did first beginne vnto this present time there can not bee brought forth any one out of those vvho faithfullie and in the feare of God haue sought reformation howe so euer for that cause they haue beene and are vntruly so called that euer did arrogate anie such thinge to themselues We account not our selus pure as to be thought purer then other men but alwayes they haue acknowledged themselues to be great greeuous sinners as well as other men accounting their owne righteousnes to be as a stayned cloth and reioysing of no other purenesse but that which is by the bloode of Christ when for his sakes our sinnes are forgiuen and thorough faith in him our soules are purified and his righteousnesse imputed vnto vs by the free mercye and grace of God Therefore except wee woulde call black white and bitter sweete there is no reason in the worlde to call any such by the odious name of Puritanes 2. But the Papistes indeed being the true followers and
the cittizens bound them with bondes spoiled the cittie slew manie and obtaining a subtill victorie they brake down the Towers and walles Cron. Carion lib. 4. in the life of Hen 4. Albert Krants Saxon. lib. 5. cap. 7. the cittie was committed to the keeping of the French The like packing they vsed against the Emperour Henrie the 4. who hauing displeased the Pope for bestovving of Bishoprickes in his owne kingdome being cited came to Rome and vvhile there hee humbled him self in his appointed penance prostrating him selfe at the doores and entry of the Temple at home by the conspiracie of the Pope and Saxons they raised vp another Emperour in his stead Rodolphus Duke of Sueuia when this vvoulde not preuaile they neuer cease prosecuting of him till they had made his ovvne sonne to depriue him of all Imperiall dignitie In vvhich kind of doubling that the Papistes are no changelings it doth in these verie flatterers at this time appeare verie plainly In the 8. Gen. quodlib Arti. 8. For in ansvvering whether it be expedient in these daies to excommunicate Kings and vvhether it be a godly act of those vvhich perswaded Pope Pius Bulls Trust the papiste so long as he is fast bound the summe of their ansvver is only this that because they haue felt the smart therefore it is inconuenient in these vngodly and vnfortunate dayes vvhich I take it can not haue anie but a treasonable meaning namelie that if they had Papists ynough at command as they had against King Iohn that they could make their party good and God vvould suffer them the Queene should knovv that vve Papists were as honest as Iesuites that is to say they flatter for necessitie but if there vvere povver in their hand vvee shall all see vvhome they tooke for their Prince And therefore William Watson vvriting these godly appeales of peace Quodlib pag. 342.343 wisheth himselfe burnt heart head hands and all if in his swiftest thought or vvorde falling out of his lippes or letter of his pen he should in all his glosing books preiudice Saint Peters chaire the sea Apostolike c. By vvhich many other things in their Popish Seminarian libells and traiterous factions it is to bee seene as cleare as the noone daye that their is no trust to their words and that the comparison made betweene them and our godlie Ministers being the Queenes most loyall and obedient subiectes is if two contrarie nations as farre disagreeing in nature and qualities as light vnto darknes and treuth vnto falshoode For vve the godly Ministers are tyed in doctirne and conscience to all subiection and obedience euen to euill Magistrates hovv much more are vve to be faithfull to our religious The Papistes professe falshood for aduantage godly and Christian Queene Elizabeth But they the false harted Papists haue a Nonobstante that although there be safe conduite made by an Emperor it must not stand if they mislike it they haue a maxime of the Deuills ovvne forging Promise is not to bee kept with heretikes They haue a Satanizing Pope vvho can dispense and discharge thē at all times of all promises oathes allegeance and duties vvhat so euer that they might trust them which loue their owne destruction The smart of vvhose falshoode diuers noble Emperoures Kinges States being Papists haue many times felt that for smaller matters then they haue against our Queene and thinke wee that they wil be more fauourable vnto her who hath by manye degrees exasperated thē much more for the spoile of whose life they haue laboured verie eagerlie they haue fought against God they haue toyled them selues many yeares deuised and contriued many a plotte spent verie much cost and spilt exceeding much blood Harken what God saieth of them to them Can the black More change his skinne Hier 13.23 or the Leopard his spottes then may yee also doe good which are accustomed to doe euill And Salomon saieth Prou. 26.24 Hee that hateth will counterfeit with his lippes but in his hearte hee layeth vp deceit though he speak fauour ablie beleeue him not If these men may bee equalized in honestie and trust to our godly and approoued Ministers I know not any fable so foolish anie lie so notorious anie falshood so manifest but that it may be esteemed true iust and full of equitie and iustice Cap. 10. Wherein is demostrated 1. That the vnpreaching ministrie non-residencie and Subscription are troublers of the state 2. They are breeders of Atheistes and Papistes and so ouerthrowers of the whole land if there be not remedie in time 3. At which the Atheists laugh to their owne confusion NOw could I wish that I had the wisdome of Nathan when he was sent of God 2. Sam. 11. to admonish Dauid or that I had that power in my wordes which the Angell had who spake vnto the children of Israell in Bochim Iudg. 2.2 or that my speach might be found worthie of that authoritie which Esaie had with Ezekiah when hee told him Esai 39.8 that all in his house c. should be carried to Babell Or at the least that they woulde be taken in good parte 1. Sam. 3.18 as that of the childe Samuell when hee tolde a most heauie doome vpon Elie the priest Which I speak not because I distrust the trueth of that I am presentlye to vtter or that I feared the fatherly vvisdome godly charitie and sinceere conscience of the reuerende Fathers of our Church but that the common aduersarie and enemie to all goodnes in the depth of his policie can suggest many plausible things to deceiue godly and wise men And suborne transformed A postles to beare downe the truth As he did suggest against Athanasius for his constancie against Arianisme that hee cut of a mans hand and vsed Magick Socrat. scho◠lib. 1. cap. 27.28.29.35 and when that was disclosed they enforme the Emperour that Athanasius threatned hee woulde cause that no corne should bee conueyed from Alexandria as they vsed to Constantinople and named fower Bishopps to haue hard him And so that good Emperour being abused exiled that worthie Bishop and sent him into Fraunce And that good and godly King Dauid was so greatlie deceaued and misled by the false information of wicked Ziba that hee condemned innocent Mephibosheth 2. Sam. 16. Cap. 19.24 And surely who is able to stand before enuie But I rest vpon God alone who knoweth the counsell of mine hart and hee can make the men of my strife to see accept my good meaning honest purpose Before him therefore I protest as before the righteous iudge of all flesh which without respect of person rewardeth euerie man according to his works that if I were not thorowlie perswaded that hee was the author moouer and helper of me in this booke that it is behoofull for all the reuerend Fathers and Ministers of this land and for all faithfull Protestantes
preacheth wh re he seeth good Therefore seeing that these things are so apparātlie to be allowed by subscriptiō it must needes be sinne Moreouer euerie action which maketh the Minister of God in one and the same particular thing to say 2. Cor 1.17 Math. 5.37 Yea nay So that his yea is not yea only or his nay nay but his yea is nay and his nay yea Doubtles euery such action is sinne For we are commanded To speake the truth Zach. 8.16 euery man to his neighbour Which we can not doe if we say I and no in one and the same particular Therefore Saint Paule acknowledgeth him selfe an offender if he should so doe where he sayeth Gal. 2.18 Artic. 6. de diuinisscrip in the rubric shewing how the text of holie scripture should be red Artic. 19. If I build againe the things I haue destroyed I make my selfe a trespasser So by our subscription we build in the booke of articles that the canonicall bookes of the old and new testament are to bee named the holy Scripture And we destroy it againe in the booke of common prayer calling the Apocrypha holie Scripture In the said booke of articles we build That the visible church of Christ is a company of faithfull people among whome the pure worde of God is preached Then in the booke of cōmon prayer we destroy that againe Because wee preach if some say trulie that reading is preaching some chapters which containe vntruthes and absurdities as is before shewed Againe in the same booke of articles we build Cap. 2. Artic. 2 that the Sacraments of the Lords Supper and Baptisme are certaine sure testimonies and effectuall signes of grace and of the good will of God and wee exclude confirmation Matrimony and all other thinges from hauing anie such nature But in the booke of common praier we destroy the same againe When we giue such symbolicall signification to the crosse in Baptisme and affirme that by imposition of handes and prayer men may haue strength and defence against all temptation to sinne that In the rubrick before confir In the exhortation before matrimonie Matrimonie signifieth vnto vs the mysticall vnion that is betwixt Christ and his Church In the booke of orders wee build that a Priest should preach and he is there exhorted ordained and made to promise so to doe But in the book of common prayer this is destroyed for there is prouided exhortations sentences of Scripture and homilies to be red vpon all occasions so that hee neede not preach except hee coulde or woulde Therefore I can not see but that this subscription as it is vrged by the reuerend Fathers in the two last articles is sinne and a great offence to God For which cause I quake and tremble as oft as I think vpon it that so many worthy Pastours as are in our Church can not enter to serue in Gods house but by doing so fearfull a sinne Most humblie entreating the reuerend Fathers of our Church to consider wiselie and in the feare of God what euill they bring vpon this land and the Church If they haue not compassion vpon their brethren but suffer the holie ones of God which come neere vnto him so greatly to sinne Now whether this be not one of the troublers of the state a great offence to God to prouoke him to power downe his plagues vpon vs I refer it to the conscience of all men which can doe looke into this cause with a single eye Nowe these three troublers of the state A ring of three enemies to the state are like a band of men cast into a ring The first making way for the second the second supplying the first and the last supporting them both For the vnpreaching ministrie giueth occasion that the learned men should haue the greater promotions and preferment that they might preach here and there as they see cause where there is neede and the non-resident is willing or driuen to haue such an vnpreaching Minister vnder him that he may liue as he list Subscription warranteth them both because they are conformable to the law and order The vnpreaching Minister giueth honour to the non-resident calling him a good gentilman a learned diuine and the non-resident doth giue credite to the other saying hee is a verie honest quiet man liuing orderlie with his neighbours And subscription doth ratifie their sayings by keeping out many painfull and learned men which preach against them both The vnpreaching Minister reioyceth beecause the learned non-resident accountes of him as worthie of the holie ministrie though hee be simple haue no learning the non-resident is made the more worshipfull when hee can haue such to serue him croutch vnto him and subscription making all other men disobedient and troublers of the state and such as the Church hath neede of which if they could come in without subscription woulde bee diligent to feede Gods flock doth comfort them both as honest men orderly and peceably and louers of the state while these three doe take hands are lincked one with in another they are a threefold cord which can not bee broken And hauing alway a fayre shining reflex one vpon the other their eyes are dazeled that they see no further and so they doe not perceaue that they measure them selues with them selues 2. Cor. 10.12.81 and compare them selues with them selues And that Hee which prayseth him selfe is not allowed but hee whome the Lorde praiseth The string which holdeth vp the vnpreaching ministrie is The stringe whereon the vnpreaching minister doth hang. that hee is perswaded that God requireth of him no more then he is able and hee thinketh the reuerend Fathers would not suffer him if this standing were sinne And therefore it is nowe come to this passe that if some men finde fault with their course they are said to bring the ministrie into contempt which ought not to be suffered So is the poore man bolstered in his sinne and the Church is damnified for lack of a good teacher To whome in the feare of God loue I haue to his soule I answer thus First that he is to consider whether God alloweth anie man to enter into the ministrie that is vnable to preach which if it be not to be found as verilie it can not be as I haue shewed before then is it sinne for him to enter in and it is the heaping vp of sin to continue for liuing sake in that calling God hath ioyned the preaching of the word and the administation of the sacraments in one office Math. 18.19 he that giueth him selfe to the prayers giueth him selfe to the ministration of the worde Act. 6.4 consider then O thou vnpreaching Minister if man can put asunder that which God hath ioyned God saieth not that he which doth what hee can shall liue by the Ghospell but that he which preacheth the Ghospell should liue by the Ghospell 1. Cor. 9.