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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
word_n	believe_v	hear_v	preacher_n	2,737	5	9.9162	5	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A08206	The plea of the innocent wherein is auerred; that the ministers & people falslie termed puritanes, are iniuriouslie slaundered for enemies or troublers of the state. Published for the common good of the Church and common wealth of this realme of England as a countermure against all sycophantising papsts, statising priestes, neutralising atheistes, and satanising scorners of all godlinesse, trueth and honestie. Written: by Iosias Nichols, a faithfull minister of the Ghospell of Christ: and an humble seruant, of the English Church.	Nichols, Josias, 1555?-1639.	1602 (1602)	STC 18541; ESTC S101326	105,186	267

of man commeth shall hee finde faith vpon the earth Luc. 18.8 Which doth argue the great encrease of Atheistes in these last daies And Saint Peter foretelling of such mockers they doe fulfill his wordes by their so deriding of religion 2. Pet. 3. And when they leaue the hearing of godlie sermons and take vnto them skilfull Philosophers and wife Naturalistes doe not they fulfill the Scripture which saieth The time will com when they will not suffer wholsome doctrine but hauing their eares itching 2. Tim. 4.3 shall after their owne lustes get them an heape of teachers and shall turne their eares from truth begiuen to fables Because they are Atheists 2. Thes 2.10 and God hath giuen them ouer to a reprobate mind for not beleeuing a manifest truth that by beleeuing lies they might fulfill the Scriptures and bee damned Therefore they care not and doe not vnderstand that God hath foreshewed all these things shoulde so come to passe They perceaue not that God hath decreed for mens punishment Gen. 3.13 continuall warre betweene wicked good men betweene Christ and Sathan They can not see that by the comming of Christ and preaching of his Ghospell God hath perswaded Iapheth to come into the tentes of Sem. Gen. 9.27 That is the Gentills are ingrafted into the Church of God among the Iewes They cannot consider that this teligion which wee now professe in Englande is the same that God preached and taught Abraham Gen. 12.2 with Gal. 3.8 and that the power of his worde vnto Abraham hath effected that no tract of time no inundation or change of states coulde ouerthrow that religion And that when Christ and his Apostles at the time by God appointed did incounter with the Prince of this world then was fulfiled the Scriptures which say Esai 45.25 Euerie knee shall bow to me and euerie tongue shall sweare by me Confounded bee they that worshippe grauen images c. Psal 97.7 Then all religions in the world which were nothing but Atheisme though they fought againt God and his Christ killed his seruants were crusht with the iron Scepter of his word Psal 2. and broken in peeces like a potters vessell and all the Monarches of the world fledde before him Dan. 2.35.44 and vanished as the sommer flowers And they marke not that the same which the Scripture hath told vs of Antichrist to be reueiled 2. Thes 2. and of the Apostasie of the whole world and of the manifold false Prophets and deceauers Mat. 24. is nowe truely come to passe Lastly they doe not regarde that the uertue of the same worde in these last daies hath preuailed aboue all reason against the Emperour and Pope and that by the simple preaching thereof that it is so mightie 2. Pet. 1.24.25 that it changeth the nature of a man to bee an other then hee was before namelie to turne from dumme idoles to serue the liuing God 1. Thes 1.1 And this I dare prouounce in the behalfe of Gods word preached that if the Atheist woulde heare but such a meane preacher as I am diligently and attētiuely but one half yeare he should find the power of the mightie King to pearce his heart and to make him to tremble like to Felix and Agrippa And though he beleeue not yet should he wonder as Simon Magus These and a great manie things more the Atheist not seeing nor considering hee stumbleth at the stumbling stone Esai 28.16 with ca. ● 14 And so to my comfort and soules health he proueth Gods word to be true the name of the most high and euerlasting God bee blessed and magnified for euer Cap. 11. Wherein is discried that neither the reuerende Fathers and learned Prelats standing for conformitie neither the godly Ministers desiring reformation are the onely or proper causes of these troublesome dissentions euils following the same but there are some other things more speciallie to be looked into which may and ought to induce both parties vnto peace and to ioyne louingly in the building of Gods house and that all English people humbling them selues by prayer vnto God doe carefullie conforme them selues to the Ghospell of Christ AS a dogge runneth too the stone which is cast at him or leapeth at the arrowe which is shot on high The people reregard not their punishmentes and hath no wit to marke from whence it commeth So the most part of the people doe behold the troubles of our church as if it pertayneth not to them and make it as a stage-playe and common talke delighting in the rehersing the faultes of the ministrie and being void of that discretion which pertaineth to good and wise Christians they doe not knowe nor regard that the smiting of the sheepheards is the scattering of the sheepe Zach. 13.7 Heb. 13.17 and the more domage that befalleth to the ministrie the greater is the losse punishment of the people And as a druncken man perceaueth not when hee is stricken Prou. 23.35 and hee that sleepeth in darknesse 1. Thes 5.3.4 thinketh not that the theefe stealeth vppon him Eph. 4.18.19 so men by ignorance and custome of sinne are made past feeling that they doe not consider when God by his plagues punishmentes calleth them to repentance Therefore God complaineth of his people Esai 9.13 that they turne not to him that smiteth neither doe they seeke the Lord of hostes Little doe any thinke or waigh with them selues Rom. 10 2. Cor. 3. that the Ministers preaching the Ghospell are the meanes ordained of God to bring men to saluation hauing the ministrie of the spirit of righteousnes Math. 5. 1. Cor. 4.1 therfore they are called the light of the world the stewards of Gods secrets the Ambassadors of Christ to whome is committd the ministrie of reconciliation betweene God man 2. Cor. 5. cap. 2.15 and so they are the sweet sauour of life vnto them which shall be saued If then their mouthes bee stopped their light ouer-cast and by troublous contention the free and prosperous course of their laboures hindred diminished or cut of is not all this the greate hurt and spirituall plague of the people who leese so great and so proper meanes which God hath ordained for mans saluation If God shutt the heauens that there be no raine men can quickly espie that there is a plague So is it great pittie that men see not that in regard of our soules the ministrie is as necessarie as the raine and therefore when the same is hindered or taken away it is a verie great and damnable punishment In so much as the holy spirit of God calleth it by the name of a famine And when the Ministers doe not teach the people Amos. 8.11 it is also said The people perish for lack of knowledge Hoshea 4.6 And if it might be truly said that the children of Israell committe a

before God and the Lord Iesus Christ 2. Tim. 4.1 which shal iudge the quick and dead at his appearing in his kingdome preach the word bee instant in season and out of season improoue rebuke exhort with all long suffering and doctrine Feede the flocke of God which dependeth vpon you 1. Pet 5. ● careing for it not by constraint but willinglie not for filthie lucre but of a readie minde Nowe if you my brethren liue from your charge and seldome see the same and enrich your selues with the Church liuings can you answer God that you feede not your selues but the flocke that you haue a readie mind to feede the flocke and not desirous of filthie lucre Can you say in Gods sight that you are instant in season and out of season in teaching preaching the worde by improouing rebuking exhorting and that you care take heed to all the flock of God ouer which you are ouer-seers and which dependeth vppon you when you so seldome see them so rarelie teach them If these Scriptures doe prooue a dispensation to be committed vnto you and a necessitie laid vpon to feede those people which you haue vndertaken for your flock consider whether you come not vnder that woe which saieth Woebec vnto me if I preach not the Ghospell 1. Cor. 9. ● And whether that bee not a generall iudgment reaching euen vnto you which the Prophet denounceth Cursed bee hee which doth the worke of the Lord negligentlie Hier. 48.10 And say vnto your soules whether you can auow vnto God that you Studie to shew your selues approoued vnto God workmen that needeth not to be ashamed 2. Tim. 12.15 Consider also how the example of S. Paule may trie your conscience who admonisheth the Elders of Ephesus to watch ouer their flocks Act. 20.31.271 20. remembring that for three yeares space he ceased not to warne euerie one both night and day with tears that he kept nothing back that was profitable but shewed them all the counsell of God and taught them not onlie openlie but thorow euerie house Waigh with yourselues whether this partaineth not to you remember the greate instance of Christ vnto Peter three times saying If he loued him he should feede his sheepe Adde heerevnto your promise made vnto your ordination Ioh. 21. ●5 and that your authoritie is giuen you by these words Take thou authoritie to preach in this Congregation Your presentation institution induction tye you to one certaine Congregation and that Congregation payeth you tithes because you are their Pastour to feede them with doctrine therefore you are called Rector or Vicarius of such a Parishe Last of all thinke with your selues whether it bee aiest or a true saying of the reuerende Fathers Absentia Pastoris à Dominico grege Canon Residen Anno. 1571. secura illa negligentia quam videmus in multis distitutio ministerij est res inse foeda odiosa invulgus perniciosa Ecclesiae Dei Where they affirme Non residencie to bee an vnhonest thing in it selfe odious to the people and pernicious to the Church of God If you can not answer these things with a good conscience in the fight of God as I verilye thinke you can not then weigh with your selues whether your sinnes be not great and then being obstinatelie and with an high hande maintayned whether you doe not cause the wrath of God against vs. And so non-residence is a troubler of the state Concerning subscription I will endeuour to bee somewhat briefe forreuerence to their Fatherhoodes Subscription is sinne which I am perswaded would not so vehementlie vrge it vpon vs if they thought it to be sinne I will therefore shew onlie some two or three argumentes for this purpose And I humblie pray them and all men to waigh my reasons with patience equitie and truth and shewe me no fauour but as the honestie of my cause deserueth First therefore I say Euerie action which maketh a man a false witnes of God is sinne 1. Cor. 15.15 For if to beare false witnesse against a man bee sinne Iob. 13.7.8 1. Ioh. 3.9 Hier. 23. as precept 9. much more to report vntruthes concerning God For God is greater then man And he hath said that he will be against th●se Prophetes which speake vnto his people out of their owne heart that which hee commanded not But subscription causeth a man to testifie of God that hee hath done that which he neuer did As namelie in the booke of common pr●yer That by the Baptisme of his welbeloued sonne God did sanctifie the flood Iordane and all other waters In the first prayer of Baptisme to the mysticall washing away of sinne And that Imposition of handes in confirmation of children is a signe of the fauour and gracious goodnesse of God toward them And that In the last prayer in confirmation In the last prayer saue one in matrimony God hath consecrated the state of Matrimonie to such an excellent mysterie that in it is signified and represented the spirituall mariage vn tie betweene Christ and his Church Nowe these three testimonies concerning God are not to be found in his holy word therefore if we should subscribe vnto them we should bee false witnesses of God Againe Euerie action by which a man doth approue and allow such a speach which no man hath authoritie to speak and such affirmations as hee doth not know or such promises as thou canst not performe or regardest not euerie such action is sinne for we must keepe the cōmandements of the Lord Deut. 4.2 1. Pet. 4.11 without adding or diminishing and Peter biddeth thē which speak in the Church to speake the words of God and therefore Paule auoucheth the authoritie of his sayings affirming that the thinges he wrote 1. Cor 14.37 were the commandements of the Lord. And the wise Preacher chargeth vs in the case of speaking promising saying Suffer not thy mouth to make thy flesh to sinne Eccle 5.5 And they are reprooued by Gods spirit Colos 2.18 which aduaunce them selues in those things which they haue not seen But by subscriptiō we allow such speech c. For in the booke of orders the Bishop without any authority from God doeth say to the Priest receaue the holie Ghost And the booke of common praier the Godfathers and Godmothers doe say affirme in the childes name that hee beleeueth all the articles of the Christian faith and they knowe not that the childe doth so beleeue they doe there also promise that the childe shall forsake the Deuill all his works and constantlie belecue Gods holye word c. Which promise they can not performe And the vnpreaching Minister doth promise in their ordination to preach and administer discipline which promise they can not and regard not to doe and the non-resident doth promise to preach to this cōgregation which he neuer looketh after but

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 Pop● when his authority should reach butte● one parish and that therein he shoul● 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 popul●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 prefa● 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 4● 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 takē 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

yet is it aboue all other vsually hitt in our teeth Namelie they say we are like Papistes enemies to the Church and sometime they say we are worse and it pleaseth the packing Priest to make vs factious and vnderminers of States and Magistrates as the Iesuites comparing vs with them in fiue twentie lies in one place which although in the conscience of all honest men knowing vs and of the reuerend Fathers them selues it be most manifestly false yet because of the present state of things I will bestow a little time in the opening of the same And this I will doe by Gods grace by three arguments Firste by a simple comparison betweene vs al Papists Secondly by the affection vvhich is in them and vs. And thirdly by the likely effects If vve should both haue fauour toleration alike And this I will handle in three seuerall chapters as briefly as I can Not so much for the defēce of our innocencie vvhich by that vvhich is alreadie vvritten is sufficiētly maintained and approued but for the common good of the vvhole Church and namely of our reuerende Fathers and deare brethren which stand so earnestly for conformitie For I can not but thinke that this calumniation hath his first deuise from some glosing Papistes takeing aduantage by our to hott and eager persuite of each other to prepare a vvay by pulling downe raysing the one side vtterly to turne ouer to destroy the vvhole Church of God which I hope and am perswaded our mercifull God vvill neuersuffer him to doe Cap. 7. Wherein is proued that the Ministers seeking reformation falsly called Puritanes are not in any sorte to be compared to Papists in euill much lesse to be equalized with traiterous seminarie priests or Iesuites 1. By their contradictorie doctrine 2. By their contrarie actes and doings ONe part of the sufferinges of our blessed Sauiour Iesus Christ was this that hee was counted with the the transgressors Esai 53.12 therefore as Saint Marke saieth He was crucified betweene two theeues Wee are not then to think it strange to be matched Mare 15.27.28 with Anabaptists Donatistes Papists rebels and I can not tell what For the seruant is not greater then the Maister Ioh. 15.20 And I hope that if wee suffer with him in righteousnes we shall reioyce with him in glorie Let vs then examine this calumniation If we be like or worse then Papistes in euill to the Church of England it is eyther in our doctrine or in our doeings First I will prooue not in our doctrine We hold all the doctrine of faith with the Church of England the Papistes deny it that by two arguments the former is this we hold beleeue and teache all the articles of the Christian faith according to the holy Scriptures euen as the Church of Englande doth a thing so apparant as the Sun at noon daies And the Papistes are heerein directly contrarie to the faith and doctrine of the Church of Englande to the word of God approouing the same Therefore if sound doctrine and faith be the chief mark to know a good man and that the doctrine and faith of England be good true and that the doctrine of the papists be nought wicked and abhominable then are vve vvho follovv the good and true doctrine of the Church of England not to be compared to the Papistes in euill vvho are deadly enemies to the same Secondlie that part of doctrine vvherein we seem to differ from the reuerend Fathers of our Church being such as is before declared as agreeth to the principall Canon of our Church in generall in particulars vvith the vsage of the Apostles and vvith the lawes iniunctions Canons and apologeticall vvritinges of our Church against all vvhich the Papistes most constantly doe warre cauill therefore in this also vve be not to be compared vnto them My latter argument touching our doctrine We holde the Queenes supremacie the Papistes deny it is concerning the ciuill Magistrate We the Ministers a foresaid desiring the abolishing of all Popish remnants doe hold beleeue confesse that all obedience is to bee performed to the ciuill Magistrate although they vvere euill and infidels as the Scripture teacheth And that no Bishop Rom. 13.1 1. Pet. 2.13 Priest or Minister can depriue a King or discharge the subiects of the oath of allegeance And that our Queene Elizabeth God blesse her is supreame gouernour ouer all persons borne in her dominions whether they bee Ecclesiasticall or ciuill that no forren Potentate as namelye the Pope of Rome hath any iurisdiction vvithin her dominions and countries but is a vvicked vsurper ouer Kings Princes But all Papists if they be true catholikes as they terme themselues namelie all Priests secular Seminarie and Iesuite doe holde cleane contradictorie euen manifest treason and rebellion againste the ciuill power ordained of God Therefore there is no comparison to bee made in regarde of doctrine betweene vs the Papistes And that you may perceaue This slaunder is laid vpon all Protestantes that this concerneth all Protestantes as well as the Ministers falslie called Puritanes doe but consider these words of Bristow Of Catholikes thorowlie discharged of their fealtie yet for common humanity for their accustomed vse Motiue 40. for their cōtinual as it were natural institution the Prince is better obeyed serued thē of Protestants which in hart ar in a maner all Puritanes Note heere that I may vse M. D. Fulks words that Papistes professe them selues to be subiectes Ren●● of curteousie not of duetie of custome not of conscience of naturall institution and not of the law of God O Lord and Sauiour sende her M. few such subiectes seruants The currish obedience of Papistes Now this curteous or rather currish obedience is expounded vvhat it is by that beastly bull of Pius the fifth against our noble Soueraigne vvith the facultie granted to Campion Persons Read D. Fulk Auns to P. Frarin de clam pag. 35. by which the Pope licenseth the Papistes to dissemble their obedience vntill publicke execution of that Bull may be had that is to be priuie traytours till with hope of successe they may be open rebels We are obedient quiet the Papistes seditious and rebellious 2 Now for our doings vvhich it hath bene euer since our troubles vve need not to be ashamed to confes vve referre our selues to all men If vve haue committed any indignitie against her M. person Crowne or Soueraignty or had intelligence vvith anie of her enemies or gone about to drawe away the people frō their obedience or any such like But vve haue done in the knowledge of al men altogether cleane con trarie both by worde and deede in our preaching openly exhortations and example priuately And in our troubles vve haue willingly patiently submitted our selues to the punishmentes which haue bene inflicted vpon vs