maintenance in their offâ—â—e by most perfect and â—sâ—â—ne lawes in Gods word which lawes it is not lawfull for these Ministers or for the whole Church wittingly to neglect trangresse or violate in anie part nor yet to receive anie other lawes brought into the Church by any person whatsoever 21. None may vsurp or execute a ministerie but such as are riâ—tly called by the Church whereof they stand ministers vnto such offices and in such maner as God hath prescribed in his word And being so called they ought to give all diligence to fulfill their ministerie to be found faithfull and vnblameable in all things 22. This ministerie is alike given to every Christian congregation with like and equall power and commission to have and enioy the same aâ—â— God offerith 〈◊〉 men and meanes the same rules given to all for the election and execution thereof in all places 23. As every christian congregation hath power and coÌ„mandement to elect and ordeine their owne ministerie according to the rules in GOds word prescribed and whilest they shall faithfully execute these office to have them In super abundant loue for their worke sake to provide for them to honour them and reverence them according to the dignitie of the office they execute So have they also power and commandement when anie such default eyther in their lyfe doctrine or administration breaketh out as by the rule of the word debarreth them from or depriveth them of their ministerie by due order to depose them froÌ„ the ministerie they exercised yea if the case so require and they remayne obstinate and impenitent orderly to cut them of by excommunication 24. Christ hath given this power to receive in or to cut of anie member to the whole body together of every Christian congregation and not to anie one member apart or to more members sequested from the whole or to anie other congregation to do it for them Yet so as ech Congregation ought to vse the best help they can heervnto and the most meet member they have to pronounce the same in their publick assembly 25 Every member of ech Christian congregation how excelleÌ„t great or learned soever ought to be subiect to this censure and judgment of Christ Yet ought not the Church without great care and due advise to proceed against such publick persons 26 As Christ hath for the keeping of this Church in holy and orderly communion placed some speciall men over the Church who by their office are to governe oversee visite watch c. So lykwise for the better keeping thereof in all places by all the meÌ„bers hee hath given authority and layd dutie vpon them all to watch one over another 27 Finally whilest the Ministers and people thus remayne together in this holy order and christian communion ech one endevoring to do the will of God in their calling and thus to wallie to the glory of God in the obedience of faith Christ hath promised to be present with them to blesse and defend them against all fraud and force of theyr enemyes so as the gates of hell shall not prevaile against them 28 But when and where this holy order and diligent watch was intermitted neglected violated Antichrist that mâ—n of sinne did together with other points of Christian faith corrupt and alter also the holy ordinances offices and administrations of the Church and in stead thereof brought in and erected a strange new forged ministery Leitourgy and government Yea and the nations kingdomes and inhabitants of the earth were made drunken with this cup of fornications and abominatioÌ„s and all people enforced to receiue the beasts marke and worship his image and so brought into confusion and babilonish bonâ—age 29 The present Hierarchy retayned and vsed in EnglaÌ„d of Archâ—b Primates Lordbishops Metropolitanes Suffraganes Deanes Prebendaries Canons Peâ—icanons Arch-Deacons Chancellors Commissaries Priests Deacons or Halfpriests Parsons Biccars Curats Hireling roving Preachers Church-wardens Parish-clerkes Also their Doctors Proctors and other officers of there spiritual courts as they call them together with the whole rable of the Prelates and their Servitouâ—s from and vnder them â—et over these Cathedrall and Parishionall Assemblies in this confusion are a strange and Antichristian ministerie and offices and are not that ministerie above named instituted in Christs Testament nâ—â— placed in or over his Church 30 These their Popish offices Entrance Administration and maintenance with their names titles privileges and prerogatives also the power and rule they usurp over and in these Ecclesiasticall assemblies over the wholl ministerie wholl ministration and affaires therof yea one ouer another creating Priests citing suspending silencing deposing absoluing excommunicating etc. Their confounding of Ecclisiasticall and civile iurisdiction causes and proceedings in their persons courts commissions visitations the Priests of lesse rule taking their ministery from and exercising it vnder them by their prescription aÌ„d limitation swearing canonical obedience vnto them administring by their devised imposed stinted popish Leitourgie c. Finally the dispensations which they vse for plurality of benefices licences of non residency licence to mary and eat flesh both which with them are on certaine dayes aÌ„d tymes forbidden c. These we say are sufficient proofs of the former assertion the perticulars therin being duly examined by and compared to the rules of Christs TestameÌ„t Not to speake here of Baptisme administred by midwives of the Crosse vsed in Baptisme of questions propounded to the infants of the Priests surplice prayer over the dead at buriall kneeling at the Lords supper and other the like popish corruptions almost infinite reteyned and allowed among them 31 These Ecclesiasticall Assemblies remayning thus in confusion and bondage vnder this Antichristian Ministerie Courâ—â— Canons worship OrdinaÌ„ces c. without freedom and power to redresse anie enormitie among them cannot be said in this confusion and subiectioÌ„ truly to haue Christ their Prophet Priest and King neither can be in this estate whilest wee iudge them by the rules of Gods woord esteemed the true visible orderly gathered or constituted Churches of Christ wherof the faithfull may become or stand Members or haue anie Spirituall communion with them in their publick worship and Administration 32 Therfore are all that will be saved bound by Gods commaÌ„dement with speed to come forth of this Antichristian estate leaving the suppressioÌ„ of it vnto the Magistrate to whom it be loÌ„geth And all such also as have receyved or exercised anie of these false offices or anie pretended function or ministery in or to this falsâ— aÌ„d antichristiaÌ„ constitutioÌ„ are willingly in Gods feare to give over and leave those vnlawfull offices and no longer to minister in this maner to these assemblies in this estate Neyther may any of what sort or condition soever give any part of theirs Goods Lands Money or monry worth to the maintenance of this false ministeâ—ie and worship vpon
Certayne Letters translated into English being first written in Latine Two by the reverend and learned Mr. Francis Iunius Divinitie Reader at Leyden in Holland The other by the exiled English Church abiding for the present at Amsterdam in Holland Together with the Confession of faith prefixed where vpon the said letters were first written Esa 53.1 Who beleveth our report and to whom is the arme of the Lord revealed Printed in the yeare 1602. R.G. the translatour of M. Iunius his letters To the Christian Reader SVch as of late yeares have rent themselues from the holie service of God used im the publique congregations and Churches of England being destitute of any sound warrant from the worde of God have sought from time to time so much the more earnestly as the manner of such is to shroude themselves vnder the shadowe of humane authoritie HeÌ„ce it came to passe that Master Francis Iunius a maÌ„ of great learning and godlinesse was solicited by some of them as may appeare by these letters ensuing in the yeare 99. to be a favourer of their erronious opinions and of their vnchristian disordered and vndutifull proceedings whose answere being delivered by himselfe to a religious and worshipful knight and so comming to my handes I have presumed to communicate with thee by the motion of some godly and well disposed hoping that through the blessing of God and thy prayers it may proove a good meanes to stay such as are wavering to confirme such as doe stand and to recover such as are fallen For although he doe not enter into an exact discussing of the question with arguments objections and answeres yet he vseth a very grave and godly admonition which is oftentimes of greater fruite then a long and learned disputation And whosoever doth diligently studie the booke of God shal finde that the holy Prophets Apostles do in manie places insist upoÌ„ a plaine simple asleveâ—ation of the truth rather then vpon multitude of proof arguments Besides if we observe the story of the holy Martyrs of our own Church others we may preceive that by the sound profession of their faith and suffering for the same they have glorified God and advanced the kingdome of Iesus Christ aswel as others have done by arguments and reasons And yet notwithstanding if thou do well obserue these letters of Master Iunius thou shalt finde in them not vaine and emptie wordes but waightie and sounde reasons grounded upon the holie Scriptures of God Thus praying thee to take these first fruites of my poore laboures in this kinde in good part and beseching god to give a blessing hereunto I bid thee heartily farewel in the Lord. Thyne in the Lord R.G. The Answer to R.G. his Epistle prefixed before Mr. Iunius letters SUch as have separated themselves from the corrupt service of God vsed in the publick congregations and parishes of England being persecuted with afâ—lictions reproches and slanders both at home and in the land wheâ— now they live exiles have ben constreyned to publish to the world the confession of their Christian faith and causes of their departure from the foresayd English synagogues for clearing of the truth of God and witnesses of the same both which were much and many wayes calumniated More specially they dedicated that litle book to al Christian vniversities neer about to be discussed approved or reproved by the godly learned in them And sending one in particular to the hands of M.H. Iunius a man of great learning and godlines dwelling neer vnto them to be by him and the rest of his brethreÌ„ of the vniversitie at Leyden judged of they received from him a letter lately by one R.G. traÌ„slated and printed in English whether with the authors consent or not is yet vnknowne but the copy as the publisher sayth was given out by the author himself who might had done wel to have given a copy of the answer likewise or if he did the translator hath not dealt indifferently to publish one and not an other How ever it were al men may see how just and necessary occasion those eriled Christians now have to print their answer also which vpoÌ„ the receipt of his Letter they sent vnto him but hitherto have spared to give out any one copy either of his or theirs whether for doubt of their owne cause or reverend regard rather of that maÌ„ let the sequel declare and let the discrete reader by it judge whether party hath most advantage As for the translators censure that they sought to shrowd themselves vnder the shadow of humane authoritie this brief narratioÌ„ of the cariage of the matter and the plaine apologie which they make vnto Mr. Iunius of their proceedings wil shew it vnto al godly wyse to be but the surmise of a malicious hart And were it not that the weaknes and badnes of their cause compelleth them thus to doe it might seem strange that any of the church of England would publish such a writing as this in their owne defence as if it approved their estate and condeÌ„ned those foresayd Christian exiles when any whose eyes ar in his head may see by Mr Iunius his writing vnto them as Christian brethren and refusing at al to vndertake the maintenance of those English parishes or conviction of such as separate from them how far it is froÌ„ justifying those synagogues estate Yea al wiseharted may and will we doubt not easily discerne how naked and helplesse they be which neither by their friends at home nor the most learned abroad can otherwise be â—elieved then by such things as hitherto they have printed Or howsoever this present generation shall judge of these things yet the ages to come which wil be lesse partial wil easily give sentence The better to certify thee good reader of the whole cause and cariage therof here is with these Lecters set forth also their Confession of faith with the Episâ—le and preface as it is in Latine And wheras ther is since that time published also a second epistle of Mr. Iunius ther is now the answer to it set forth likewise which answer was presently written vpon the receipt of his Letter but not then sent for causes partly before noted and now more fully signified and sent to Mr. Iunius himself The things which here are mentioned of corruptions in some other churches and dealings that have passed about theÌ„ ar yet spared from being published in print at large til further occasion and provocation be Onely the general and brief hâ—â—ds of the matter in controversie at now printed as they were sent vnto Mr. Iunius although we were loth to do it but that their was necessarie occasion given by things which passed in the Letters as al meÌ„ may see Moreover it is not to be omitted how in the printed copy of Mr. Iunius Letter some things were corrupted by alteration omission and c. Otherwise then in the original by himself first sent they do stand and ar yet to
of the popes portuis with innumerable such lyke enormyties and fopperies wherewith it swarmeth And this is all the worship and service which many parishes have contynually except peradventure some wrytten homelyes which the vnlearned priestes read vnto them This service must first be read and hath the preeminence even on the Lordes dayes before any preaching yra before the Bible it self He that can read this booke distinctly is fit ynough with them to be priest yea many that have ben Artificers as Shoemakers Taylers Weavers Porters and c. and with out any giffes or knowledge at all save only to read Englysh have bene and are admytted and to this day maynteyned by the prelats in the ministery To these Churches ministers and servyce must all the people there come every daye yea though they have in the next parish a preacher and in their owne a dumbe vnlearned priest yet are they all tyed to their owne Church and minister and must at the least twise a yere receve the Sacrament at his handes If they refuse this or do not ordinaryly come to their parish Churche then are they summoned excommunicated and imprisoned tyll they become obedient In this bōdage are our countrymen there held vnder their Priests and Prelates and such as by the word of God witnes against and condemne these abhominations they hate punysh put to death and persecute out of the land Who now in whome any sparke of true light is cannot playnly perceive this their ministery worship and Churche to be false and adulterate doth Christes eternall testament or deyne and approve of suche popish Lordes and Prelats to reigne over his Churche are these those Christian Bishops that is Pastors Teachers and Elders which he hath set in his Churche and over his owne people vnto the worldes end Or can chose preachers which are thus created and deposed by thus sworne and obediēt vnto their spirituall lordes be deemed true teachers of the Gospell of Christ lawfully called and ordeyned to that ministerye Is that their Englysh Masse the trewe and spirituall worship of God according to his owne wil we are taught in the scriptures that there can be no agrement made betwixt Christ and Antichrist betwixt the Lawes of God and mens traditions that the servants of Iesus may not submytt unto or receve the marke of that beast neyther drinke of the cup of the whore of Babylons fornycations or buy any of her wares but must contend for the mayntenāce of that faith which was once gyven vnto the sainctes keeping their soules and bodyes pure from Antichristian pollutions touching no vncle anethinge nor having any fellowship with the vnfruteful workes of darknes least by partaking with their sunnes they receve also of their plagues and dryncke of the wyne of the wrath of God and be tormented in fyre and brimstone before the holy Angells and before the lambe for evermore If Christ be God let vs follow him but if the pope be God what shall wee say why have we left him his Church and ministery his worship and jurisdiction or what halting and mocking with the Lord is this to put away the popes person and retayne his prelacy and ministery his Lawes Traditiōs and Cannons his worship and service or at the least to frame vnto our selves a worship ministery and Church after the patterne and mould of the Apostacye of Roome which what other thing is it them to make an Image of that first wild beast and force men to worship it Thus seest thow briefely good Christian Reader the thinges which we mislike in the Churche of England and for which we have separated our selves as God commandeth To all these if we were amongst them s uld we be forced to submytt our bodyes and soules or els suffer violence at the handes of the Prelats and end our lyves by violent death or most miserable imprisonment as many of our bretheren before vs have donne For so great is the malice and power of those romysh priests that they persecute vnto death such as speake against them and such poore Christians as they cast into their noysome prysons can seldome or never get out except with shipwracke of cōscience vntyll they be caryed forth vpon the Bere Neyther is there any care taken for their reliefe in this case but being thus cast into pryson there they are deteyned without any alloweance of meate or money for their mayntenance be their want and poverty never so great If they have any thing of their owne there they are driven to spend it vp if they have nothing there they are left by the Prelats to feede on the ayre And that they maye more readily be sterved or weakened in the truth they are comonly shut vp in close prison their frends and acquayntance being not suffered to come at them Nay even their wyves and children being kept and debarred from them by the tyranny of these bloddye Prelats and their instruments whose hard hartes and vnnaturall cruelty if thou didest vnderstand gentle Reader as many of vs have felt and to this daye yet feele it would make thy hart to bleede considering their vnmercyfull and barbarous dealing And how many soules have perished in their prisons through miserable vsage how many have ben put to death and how many banyshed though we could to their eternall infamy relate to all the world yet wil we not blaze abroad their acts for we take no delight in laying open their shame but mourne for them in secret commytting our cause to God that judgeth justly knowing that he that maketh inquisition for blood remembreth it and will not forget the complaint of the poore And thou Christian Reader voutch safe to remember vnto God in thy prayers such as yet remayne in bandes and pryson amongest them for the testymony of Iesus enduring a hard fight of afflictions and having the sentence of death in themselves are lyke if the Lord send not vnexspected delyverance there to end their dayes Concerning our selves who through the mercy of God have found a place of rest in this land for which benefyt we are alwayes and every where humbly thanckfull we desyre Christian Reader thy charitable and Christian opinion of and holy prayers vnto God for vs whose kingdome we seeke whose ordinances we desyre to establysh and obey protesting with good consciences that it is the truth of his Gospell only for which we stryve against those cursed reliques of Antichristian apostasie vnto which we dare in no wise submytt our selves no not for a moment For if it be not lawfull for Christians at this daye to receyue the ceremonye◠of Moses Lawe together with the Gospell as the Passeover Circumcision the Priesthood Sacrifices and c. which yet were once commaunded by God himself how can we thincke it tollerable to observe the odious ceremonyes of Antichrist or submytt our selves to his lawes Priesthood Hierarchie and traditions which the Lord
iust and â—â—fficient authoritie of the father and in respect of his manhood from the waâ—â—h â—allâ—d and seperated aÌ„d anoynted also most fully and aboÌ„daÌ„tly with all necessary gifts as it is written God hath not measured out the Spirit vnto him 12 This office to be Mediator that is Prophet Priest and King of the Church of God is so proper to Christ as neyther in the whole nor in any part thereof it can be transferred from him to any other 13 Touching his Prophecie Christ hath perfectly revealed out of the bozome of his father the whole word and will of God that is needfull for his servants eyther joyntly or severally to know beleeve or obey Hee also hath spoken and doth speake to his Church in his owne ordinance by his owne ministers and instruments onely and not by any false ministery at any tyme. 14 Towching his Priesthood Christ beeing consecrated hath appeared once to put away sinne by the offring and sacrificing of himself and to this end hath fully performed and suffred all those things by which GOD through the blood of that his crosse in an acceptable sacrifice might be reconciled to his elect and having broken downe the partition wall and therewith finished and removed all those rites shadowes and ceremonies is nowâ— entred within the vayle into the holy of holiest that is to the very heaven and presence of God where hee for ever lyveth and sitteth at the right hand of Maiestieâ— apperring before the face of his Father to make intercession for such as come vnto the throne of grace by that new and living way and not that onely but maketh his people a spirituall howse and holy Priesthood to offer vp spirituall sacrifices acceptable to God through him Neyther doth the Father acceâ—â— or Christ offer vnto the father any other worship or worshippers 15 Towching his Kingdome Christ being risen froÌ„ the dead ascended into heaven set at the right hand of GOâ— the Father having all power in heaven and earth given vnto him he doth spiritually governe his Church exercising his power over all Angels and men good and bad to the preservation and salvation of the elect to the overruling and destruction of the reprobate communicating and applying the benefits vertue and fruite of his prophecy and Priesthood vnto his elect namely to the remission subduing and taking away of their sinnes to their iustification adoption of sonnes regeneration sanctification preservation and strengthning in all their conflicts against Sathan the world the flesh and the temptation of them continually dwelling in governing and keeping their harts in his true faith and fear by his holy spirit which having once given it hee never taketh away from them but by it still begetteth and nourisheth in them repentance faith love obedience comfort peace ioy hope and all christian vertues vnto immortalitie notwithstanding that it be somtymes through sinne and tentation interrupted smothered and as it were overwhelmed for the tyme. Agayne on the contrary ruling in the world over his enemies Sathan and all the vessels of wrath limiting vsing restrayning them by his mighty power as seemeth good in his divine wisdome and iustice to the execution of his determinate counsel to wit to their seduction hardning and condemnation delivering them vp to a reprobate mynde to be kept through their owne desert in darcknes sinne and sensualitie vnto iudgement 16 This Kingdome shall be then fully perfected when he shall the second tyme come in glory with his mightie Angels to iudge both quick and dead to abolish all rule authoritie and power to put al his enimies vnder his feet to separate and free all his choseÌ„ from them for ever to punish the wicked with everlasting perdition from his presence to gather ioyne and carry the godly with hmiself into endlesse glory and then to deliuer vp the kingdome to God euen the Father that so the glorie of the father may bee full and perfect in the Sonne the glorie of the Sonne in all his members and God bee all in all 17 In the meane tyme bisides his absolute rule in the world Christ hath here in earth a spirituall Kingdome and aeconomicall regiment in his Church which hee hath purchased and redemed to himself as a peculiar inheritaÌ„ce And albeyt that manie hypocâ—tâ—es do for the tyme lurke amongst them whiles the Church is militant here on earth yet Christ nothwithstanding â—oy the power of his word gathereth them which be his into the body of his Church calleth them from out of the world bringeth them to hid true faith separating them from amongst vnbeleevers froÌ„ idolatrie false worship superstitioÌ„ vanitie dissolute life and al works of darknes c. making theÌ„ a royall Priesthod an holy NatioÌ„ a people set at libertie to shew foorth the virtues of him that hath called them out of darknes into his mervelous light gathering and vniting theÌ„ together as members of one bodi in his faith loue and holy order vnto all generall and mutuall dutyes through his spirit instructing aÌ„d governing them by such officers and lawes as hee hath prescribed in his word by which Officers and lawes hee governeth his Church and by none other 18 To this Church hee hath made the promiseâ— and giuen the seales of his Covenant presence loue blessing and protectioÌ„ Here are the holy Oracles as in the Aâ—ke suerly kept and puerly taught Heere are all the fountaynes and springs of his grace continually replenished and slowing forth Heere is Christ lifted vp to al Nations hither hee inuiteth all men to his supper his mariage feast hither ought all men of all estates aÌ„d degrees that acknowledge him theyr Prophet Priest and King to reâ—â—yre to bee enrolled â—mongst his houshold seruants to bee vnder his heauenly conduct and goverment to leade theyr liues in his wâ—lled sheepfold aÌ„d watered orchard to haue communion heer with the Saincts that they may bee made meet to bee partakers of their inheritaÌ„ce in the kingdome of God 19. And as all his servaÌ„ts and subiects are called hither to presse their bodies and soules and to bring the gyfts God hath given them so beeing come they are heer by himself bestowed in theyr severall order peculiar place but vse beeing fitly compact and knit togeather by every ioynt of help according to the effectuall worke in the measure of every part vnto the edification of it self in love Whervnto when hee ascended vp on high he gave gifts vnto men and distributed them vnto several publik fuÌ„ctions in his Church having instituted and ratified to continue vnto the worlds end onely this publick ordinarie ministery of Pastors Teachers Elders Deacons Helpers to the instruction government and service of his Church 20 This ministerie is craftely described distinguished limited concerning these office their calling to their 〈…〉 administration of their office and theâ—â—
any commandement or vnder anie colour whatsoever 33 And being come forth of this antichristian estate vnto the freedom and true profession of Christ besides the instructing and well guyding of their owne families they are willingly to ioyne together in christian communion and orderly covenant and by free confession of the faith and obedieÌ„ce of Christ to vnite themselves into peculiar and visible congregations wherin as members of one body wherof Christ is the only head they are to worship and serve God according to his word remembring to keep holy the Lords day 34. Then also such to whom God hath given gifts to interpret the Scriptures tryed in the exercise of Prophecy attending to studie and learning may and ought by the appointment of the congregation to prophecy according to the proportion of faith and so to teach publickly the word of God for the edification exhortâ—tion and comfort of the Church Vntill such tyme as the people do meet for and God manifest men with able guifts and 〈◊〉 to such Office or Offices as Christ hath appointed to the publick ministerie of his Church But no Sacraments to be administred vntill the Pastors or Teachers be chosen and ordeined into theyr office 35 And then wheresoever ther shall be a people fit and men furnished with meet and necessary guifts they are not onely still to continue the exercise of Prophecy aforsaid but also vpon due tryall to proceed vnto choyce and ordination of Officers for the ministery aÌ„d service of the Church according to the rule of Gods word And so hold on stil to walke forward in the ways of Christ for theyr mutuall edification and confort as it shall please God to give knowledge and graâ—e therevnto And particularly that such as be of the seed or vnder the governmeÌ„t of anie of the Church be even in their infancie receyved to Baptisme and made partakers of the signe of Gods covenant made with the Faithful and their seed throughout all generations And that all of the Church that are of yeares and able to examine themselves doo communicate also in the Lords supper both men and women and in both kindes bread and wine In which elements as also in the water of baptisme even after they are consecrate there is neyther transubstantiation into nor coÌ„substantiatioÌ„ with the bodye and blood of Iesus Christ whom the heavens must conteyne vntill the tyme that al things be restored But they are in the ordinance of God signes and seales of Gods everlasting covenant with vs representing and offring to all the receyvers but exhibiting only to the true beleevers the Lord Iesus Christ and all his benefits vnto righteousnes sanctification and eternall lyfe through faith in his name to the glorie and prayse of God 36 Thus being righly gathered established and still proceeding in christian communion and obedience of the Gospell of Christ none is to separate for falts and corruptions which may and so long as the Church consisteth of mortall men will fall out and arise among them even in true constituted Churches but by due order to seeke redresse therof 37. Such as yet see not the truth may heare the publik doctine and prayers of the church and with al meeknes are to bee sought by all meanes Yet none who are growne in yeares may bee received into their communion as members but such as doe make confession of their faith publickly desiring to be received as members and promissing to walke in the obedience of Christ Neyther any infants but such as are the seed of the faithfull by one of the parents or vnder their education and government And further not anie from one coÌ„gregation to be received members in another without bringing certificate of their former estate and present purpose 38 And although the particular congregations be thus distinct and severall bodies every one as a compact and knit citie in it self yet are they all to walke by one and the same rule and by all meanes convenieÌ„t to have the coÌ„sell and help one of another in all needfull affaires of the Church as members of one body in the common faith vnder Christ their onely head 39 It is the office and dutie of Princes and Magistrates who by the ordinance of God are supreme governors vnder him over all persons and causes within their Realmes and dominions to suppresse and root out by their authority all false ministeries voluntarie religions and counterfeit worship of God to abolish and destroy the Idoll Temples Images Altars Vestments and all other monuments of idolatry and superstition and to take and convert to theyr owne â—â—vile vses not only the benefit of all such idolatrous buildings and monuments but also the Revenues Demeanes Lordships Possessions Gleaâ—es and maintenance of any false ministeryes and vnlawfull ecclesiasticall functions whatsoever within their dominions And on the other hand to establish and mainteine by their lawes every parâ— of Gods word his Christian Religion pure worship and true ministery described in his word to cherish and protect all such as are carefull â—o worship God according to his word and to lead a godly lyfe in all peace and loyaltie yea to enforce all their subiects whoever ecclesiasticall or civile to do their dutyes to God and menâ—protecting and mainteining the good punishing and restraining the evill according as God hath commaunded whose Lieutenants they are here on earth 40 And thus the protection and coÌ„mandement of the Princes and Magistrates maketh it much more peaceable though no wit at all more lawfull to walke in the wayes and ordinances of Iesus Christ which he hath commanded his Church to keep without spot and vnrebukeable vntill his appearing in the end of the world And in this behalfe therefore the brethren thus mynded aÌ„d proceeding as is before said are both continually to supplicate to God and as they may to their Princes and Governors that thus and vnder them they may leade a quiet and peaceable lyfe in all godlines and honestie 41 And if God encline the Magistrates hearts â—o the allowance and Protecction of the Church therin it ought to be accompted a singular and happy blessing of God who granteth such nourcing Fathers and nourcing Mothers to his Church And it behoveth all to be carefull to walke worthie so great a mercy of God in all thankfulnes and obedience 42 But if God withold the Magistrates allowance and furtheraÌ„ce herein yet must wee notwithstanding proceed together in ChristiaÌ„ covenant and communion thus to walke in the obedience of Christ aÌ„d confessioÌ„ of his faith and Gospell even through the middest of all tryalls and afflictions not accompting our goods lands wiveâ— children Fathers Mothers brethren sisters no nor our lyves dear vnto vs so as we may finish our course with ioy remembring always that we ought to obey God rather then man and grounding vpon
prudent part if thou abstaine from stirring the evill that is well appeased an impotent thing if thou doe contrariwise And to what end I pray you is it To the end that you might purge your selues But here is no man that doth repeate anew or lay these accusations against you Wherefore serueth this purgatioÌ„ that yee may be euen with them against whom yee coÌ„plaine But this is not the part of a Christian I doe not thinke that this is your meaning Is it to reforme them This indeed is an holy endeuour But if yee could not doe this when yee were present coÌ„sider what yee can doe when yee are absent But first of all consider with your selues by what meanes yee take this way namely to accuse to me to others to the publike in the theatre of the Church in the circle of the world Ah beloued brethren was it euer heard of that any priuate man to say nothing of a great communitie was euer amended by this course Further consider I pray you before whom yee bring these things I will speak of my selfe to whom alone yee would commit this your little booke I know not whether in this your little booke yee call upon me as an intercessor or examiner or a Iudge For if as an intercessor were it not better that your coÌ„plainâ—s were kept secret then layed open which tendeth to reproch and the Church of Christ innumerable soules weake strangers to be beaten with the types of your impression It is most manifest that they against whom yee deale wil be more prouoked by this grieuous sting If as an examiner by what right can I doe it who haue no lawful authority from God from the Church from the Magistrate or froÌ„ both the parties neither if it should be committed would I easily accept it I am so privie to my selfe of my owne insufficiencie for who am I or what am I that I should be able throughly to see euery particular thing concerning you and them which are required to a iust examination And this the right course of examination doth require otherwise as Seneca wisely saith he that judgeth one party being not heard albeit he iudgeth that which is right yet he is vniust Yee are not a little deceiued in this your iudgement beloued brethren Yee almost do me an iniury when ye call me to be a busie body or think that I wil take upon me the part of an examiner or that which is more subject to envie and farre from duetie of a Iudge And brethreÌ„ that which I say of my selfe thinke that is the answere of the other brethren which are any where els in Churches and Vniversities No wise man will rashly goe downe these steps or clime vp to this seate of judgement In deed concerning your faith and doctrine something may be said if you expound it and if the thing be done in order But touching the accusatioÌ„ of your couÌ„treymen and of mattets passed to and fro no wise man by my consent wil on this condition take vpon him the burthen of iudging And for Gods sake consider the event of this fact For I pray you whom would it profit if that were done which yee desire Certainly neither would it profit you nor theÌ„ nor these with whom ye soiourne nor the Church of God Contrariwise whom would it not hurt This thing would set you more on fire as contentions are woont the more to make hote the more they are stirred It would more alienate them whom yee pretend to be to injuriously enstranged from you For this is not the way of teaching nor of informing nor of seeking reconciliation It would rent asunder the good men whose hospitality yee doe now commodiously vse either froÌ„ you or amongst themselues which duetie they have not deserved of you by their hospitalitie It would set a more grievous fier on the whole Church and spread through all her ioynts which God turne away And that vnwise maÌ„ which should vsurpe this authority it would make a scorne to ill toÌ„gues while good men would pittie his vaine labour and your expectation Lastly that I may also adde this and marke brethren how sincerely and brotherly I deale with you albeit I might and would lawfully give sentence both of your faith which yee declare and also of the fact of accusatioÌ„ which yee bend against your countreymen Yet yee by this course and maner of dealing have taken from me the authority of doing that which yee require touching your fact your selves by this maner of request do hinder your owne desier Ye will marvalle perhaps at that which I say and yet it is so For you doe so require my iudgement as you doe also with all require the iudgement of all Vniversities and Students If you request this in common then you doe not desire that I should doe it alone but if particularly doe you thinke that any of vs will be so mad that when the judgement of so many good men and diligence is desired some one Palamon should take vpon him the chiefest parts and should by him selfe speake of that thing which is required of so many as learned yea better learned and better furnished with piâ—â—ie judgement and experience which requireth a serious consultation an holy communication and a ripe inoffensive judgment But now of the third thing what shal I say your selves I think beloved brethren do mynd that if I cannot on this condition neyther ought to give answer concerning the two points a foresaid it would be vtterly vnjust if I should as yet determine any thing on eyther side towching the coÌ„clusion which you draw froÌ„ thence that is from those premisses But I verily suspeÌ„d my iudgemeÌ„t brethreÌ„ I suspend my iudgemeÌ„t in this cause even as God nature reason and al lawes command me to do Ye know I think the causes by these things which ye haue now read shal learne besides by other things which God shal minister vnto you I hope by the spirit of trueth and wisdome I ought not to iudge with my selfe of matters vnknowne at least not so evident neither yet with such forward boldnesse to pronouÌ„ce among you or others the matter being not sufficiently manifest to my selfe God knoweth and iudgeth to whom stand or fall as many as are his servants Otherwise I trust yee are not ignoraÌ„t that there are three things which eueÌ„ froÌ„ the verie infancie of the Church the holy fathers would haue to be distinguished by the word of God among the people of God namely faith or doctrine conversation or manners and the order of discipline And all wise men haue taught this with one consent and delivered it to posteritie that where the foundation of the truth of doctrine remaineth which is the piller of saluation although with most corrupt manners and discipline there the Church remaineth that no man ought rashly to separate himselfe from that Church whiles he
vnto vs not by the Ministers of whome you speak but by the Magistrats which we do alwayes and every where acknowledg with thanckes Secondly what if these ministers men indeed learned and wise should be of the same mynd with you that they would not heare or speake any thing concerning our fayth and cause inasmuch as they would not be eyther intercessours or examiners or Iudges Furthermore what if our Confession of fayth have ben exhibited to them above three yeares synce that by them it might eyther be approved or the errours if there be any convinced What if some of them have denounced vs as hereticks and schismaticks What if they have received certayne articles full of lyes and sclaunders spread abroad against vs and yet to this daye have not gyven vs a copy of them no though they were desyred What if vpon occasion offered we have dealt with them touching certaine corruptions yet remayning in their Churches which notwithstanding they would not so much as acknowledg And finally what if we after the concealing and not regarding of all these thinges have now agayne this last yeare delyvered them the Confession of our fayth in wryting before it was put forth in print You see what we could answer in this behalf but we would rather have burned these thinges in forgetfulnes if you had not so vrged vs as from you they might not now be concealed Pardon you therfore and let them also we intreat pardon vs that we speak freely for you would have vs speak yea you constreyne vs against our will to wryte these things which we would have covered in silence hoping hereafter for better Besydes these we answer also that in the preface before our Confession is signified that not here only but almost every where we are traduced as heretickes and schismaticks and that therfore it concerned vs to declare our fayth and cause not to these only but vnto all The very thing which before vs on lyke occasion as is aforesaid both dyvers of the ffathers have don of old and in later wines almost all the reformed Churches and of the Martyrs not a few And hitherto of your reasons alleadged against the publyshing of our our fayth Which how weak they are now judg your self But suppose they were strong and that therfore herein we had erred that our Confession came forth in publyck yet now it is publyshed the errours if any be found in it are certeynly to be shewed and convinced by the word of God Otherwise you may easily gather that we shall be more coÌ„firmed in this fayth And seing you Learned Sr. do purposely wryte coÌ„cerning the Doctrine which we professe and yet shew not any one errour in the Doctrine consider wel what you have done Will you be ready to help them who erre as you think in the manner and circumstaÌ„ces and will you afford no help at all in the matter and fayth it self Far be this from you from your godlynes learning wisdome charity And thus much of the first poynt which you noted concerning doctrine 2 The second head is of the fact wherof as you say we accuse the Englysh Churches Here also we expected that you would have discussed those fower poynts which are particularly rehearsed in the preface of this book and which we shewed to be done and vsed by them dayly in their divine worship for which also we testifyed that we are banished and have departed from them But of these neyther have you not one word And yet this was the specyall fact which we noted for to be considered in that Church That other of the Prelats tyranny and persecution of vs we touched but by the way and in a few wordes We marvell therfore yea and greatly marvell that these thinges which directly concerne the matter and cause it self should thus every where be let passe by you who yet pretend to bring into the way such as do erre But les vs see nevertheles what the thinges are which you do here so much vrge The first is that those Churches from which we have departed should not by vs be accused About the word accusation we will not contend Onely this we say we vse it noâ— that we remember except wheÌ„ we treat of our owne cause who by them are accused of heresy schisme sedition etc. Of which for asmuch as we are accused among them here and every where what good man will deny vnto vs place of defence But you say no man desyreth to know why we came thence and that the injury also hath left to prosequute vs being departed from them How these things escaped you we marvell For in both of them you wryte other wise then the thing is For both many do dayly desier to know why we came thence and the injury hath prosequuted vs being departed into this place to this very day Of the former we need cyte no witnesses for they are almost infinite Of the latter besydes the Latine bookes publyshed at home by our owne contreymen besydes the libels which they have sparsed against vs in this city besydes the sclaunders wherewith then do also pursue vs every where besydes all these we say the Ministers them selves of the Churches Dutch and FreÌ„ch both here at Amsterdam and at Dordrecht are able to testifye they have received as we said afore certeyne articles full of lyes and sclaunders wrytten against vs and yet still they have them for ought we know Moreover if none of these things had falleÌ„ out opeÌ„ly before the world yet who knoweth not that Antichrists retinew such as be the Prelats do still resemble the nature and conditions of the Dragon who out of his mouth cast waters like a flood after the woman that he might cause her to be caryed away of the flood whom being present he could not devoure Rev. 12. and 13 chap. As for that you annexe of concealing injuryes it hath ben observed by vs as much as we could For neyther have we in particular related them neyther can we if we would We have noted only in generall that these Prelats have done the very things which the Scripture foretold should by the Beast and Antichrist be commytted Neyther are we in this kind of writing eyther the first or alone Thus heretofore have many of the servants of God wrytten who in their severall countries have ben many wayes veâ—ed by Antichrist Neyther that only but they have also noted downe the particuler persons names places tymes martyrdomes causes actions injuryes Search if you please the ecclesiasticall writers almost of everye age search the Acts and momments of the martyrs in this countrey in ours in Scotland in France in the other countryes almost all here about yea search the Acts of the Apostles and see if such particular historyes be not there also recorded Yet further tell vs we pray you if this course had ben held by all which you seem to exact of vs from whence then could you or any other have
that knowledg and evidence as now is had of the fulfilling throughout severall ages of those prophecyes which are in the Scriptures of the Beast of the false Prophet of Antichrist of his mystery exaltation tyranny marchants discovery fall etc. How should from their owne Acts the adversaryes mouthes be so stopped as now we see heare and read is dayly done by the martyrs and servants of Christ Lastly how could your self and other learned men have so expounded that divine book of the Revelation not to speak of other Scriptures lykewise interpreted as you have now already done which great fruit and gratulation of all the godly Of the end which here againe you vrge we have spoken both before in this letter and in the epistles prefixed to the book it self Adde herevnto that if the Prelats and other adversaryes of the truth be not by these and the lyke wrytinges amended they shall yet doubtlesse be made the more vnexcuseable The visard also by which they have deceyved you as it seemeth and almost all others was to be pulled of But this could not be donne for the knowledg of all as was meeâ— otherwise then by publyck wryting To omytt others we appeale vnto your conscience learned S. whether you did think the estate of that Church and of those Prelats to be such in any measure touching their Antichristian constitution leitourgy ministery Hierarchy which your self acknowledg to be that other beast in Rev. 13 11.18 as now for certeyne you heare and see it in that book as it were paynted out before your eyes But of these things ynough is sayd in the book it self Surely these and the lyke their vnfruitfull workes of darknes were to be reprooved not dissembled not allowed especyally seing they are so stiffely by them retayned defended vrged and that vnder a pretence of the Gospell with which they have no more agreement then darknes hath with light Beliall with Christ Neyther is this to take vp burthens of Accusations but to take away the visard of Antichristian apostasy and to witnes the truth of Iesus Christ against Antichrist which duty our Lord and Saviour Christ requireth of you of vs of all the godly the Lord we say who in these latter tymes hath begunne to discover that lawles man of sinne and will at length consume him with the spirit of his mouth by the word of the testimony of his servants So far of is it that they should be accounted busy bodyes which performe this duty to Christ or that we herein have don you any iniury So far of also is it that we should think what you speak of your self the same to be answered vs by the rest of the bretheren that are any where els in Churches in Vniversityes Not to speak of others we know that Mr. Beza that worthy servant of God hath in causes not much vnlyke answered otherwise But of this matter more herafter In the meane tyme that we also may deale syncerely and brotherly with you mynd we pray you whether you have not done your self iniury whiles you have climed into this seate so confidentâ—â— to pronounce that of others wherof as we think you cannot any way have certaine knowledg yea whiles you alone determyne of that matter which to use your owne wordes requireth serious consultation and holy communication Touching the event we commit it to God who we certeynly hope will worck al these things for good both to vs and to theÌ„ by whom we are exiled and to these amonge whom we sojorne and to the Church of God every where And to whom we pray you would it not be good if that were done which we desâ—er ffor our selves if we erre let the righteous smyte and reprove vs it shal be a benefyt and precious oyntment vnto vs. For our adversaries if they be the more estraunged it shal be their own fault not ours nor theirs that shall godlyly and freely testifie what they see in this cause And who knoweth whether by this meanes they may be brought to consider more then heretofore both of the vnlawfull constitution of that Church and of their outragious cruelty and therevpon seriously endevour a godly redressing of the former and an vtter repressing of the latter For the good among whom we sojourne they shall have better knowledg of our fayth and cause they may also grow vp together more strongly in the truth of the Gospell whiles thus they are stirred vp more carefully to endevour that the corruptions wherewith their Churches yet are faulty may be duly abolyshed and whiles such as are seduced by the errours of the Papists Anabaptists and other hereticks troubling these Churches are vpon this occasion drawne from such estate and stirred vp to search knowe and embrace the truth of Gospell Fynally for the whole Church we hope it shall hence also receive much profyt if this fayth and cause which now a long tyme hath ben condempned for schisme and heresy if also that Antichristian Apostasy which now a long tyme vnder the visard of godlynes hath deceived the world in the mystery of iniquity if these things we say being of so great moment be examyned and discussed by the canon of the Scriptures of so many and so worthy men furnyshed with learning godlynes judgment wisdome And thus much of the second poynt which was concerning the fact The third you say is of the conclusion inferred vpon comparing together the doctrine and fact aforesaid Here first you affirme you withâ—â—ould your self in suspence in this cause Be it so It is God that can reveale this also vnto you and perswade your conscience by his Spirit and word Then you annex some things concerning the doctrine and consent of the fathers and all wise men in all ages but you propound them so doubtfully that as touching our cause we cannot perceive what your meaning is Your wordes may so be vnderstood as we most willingly consent with you in this matter agayne they may be so taken as we dissent from you not a lytle nor without cause We are perswaded that separation should not be made from any Church eyther rashly or at all so long as we may remayne with sound fayth and coÌ„science You must therfore speak more playnely what you think of our separation if you suppose we have erred in this behalf all those things being discussed by the word of God which we have mencâ—oned in the preface and Confession aforesaid In the meane tyme heare and ponder well we pray you what Mr. Beza that learned man and well deserving of the Church of Christ hath wrytten and publyshed some while since concerning this question Thus he hath in his epistles publyshed in the right epistle sent to Ed Grir dall heretofore Pâ—elate of London wherein wryting of the state and corruptioÌ„s of the Churche of England he sayeth If it be trew which is commoÌ„ly reported and wherof my self am not yet perswaded that private Baptisme is there permitted to women I
vs which we wrote the day after we had received yours not afterward thought we needed not send it vnles some other occasion were offered both because your self intimated as if you would be silent if we wrote agayne and because in very deed you did in those letters yeeld vs the cause and answered nothing at all to any purpose eyther touching our Confession of faith which was publyshed or touching our former letters which we sent vnto you thereabout Of all which things now let the Reader judge If you aske why we chaunged our purpose and have now sent you this letter which was wrytten so longe synce â—o here this litle booke included withall to witt your letters traÌ„slated into English and set forth in print Wherevpon we are constreyned not only to send these wrytten vnto you but to set them forth in publyck also in the English tounge Yet let nothing here offend you for it is we if any that are injuried yea and the truth it self inasmuch as your first letter was publyshed alone without our answer which you receyved from vs. By whose fault to what end with what equitie mynd you well Sure that Priest which traÌ„slated yours wryteth in his preface how truly you know that your self delyvered the copy of your first letter to a worshipfull knight of whoÌ„ he receved it and turning it into English imprinted it Yet have we not hitherto gyveÌ„ vnto any so much as a copy eyther of yours or our owne providing what we could for your credyt ye so as we neglected our owne our selves and were traduced by others as now by this book publyshed will appeare vnto all But perhaps in this matter you purposed one thing he another Whatsoever it were now you cannot but see how the Prelats and Priests of our countrey do so interpret your letters as if they had bene wrytten against the truth of the Gospell of Christ which we professe and for defence of the Antichristian Apostasy and tyranny wherein they persist Which thing we leave vnto you to be weighed seriously before the Lord. Neyther is it to be omitted that your private letters are set forth in publyck yours we say who took it so yll that the CoÌ„fession of fayth of this whole Church should be made publyck whom these very letters of yours wrote so much of the publyck view of publishing the woundes of the Church vndiscreetly before so many deadly enemyes of God and the Church of not offending any one of Christs disciples of not provoking Churches of every one abounding in their owne sence c. It is marvell if your translatour turne not your owne wordes vpon your self and tell you that a Christian an humble and godly mind ought to be otherwise affected and setting a side the respect of their owne pryvate regard c. But this the more vnjustly if he made your letters publyck without your knowledg Which we indeed at first did suspect tyll we saw your second Epistle come forth some while after the other Neyther could we well thinke other wise of the matter specially seing you wrote vnto vs that we might rent the letters and that you also would conceale it Knowe moreover that in the edition of your letters there be certeyne clauses wherin the translation is not answerable to yours in latine sent vnto vs which we by your originall amend in our edition nowe ready to be published These and many other things which yet we conceale seem vnto vs to be of some moment But we are deceived perhaps in our owne cause and therfore you and your Translatour would omytting all coÌ„futation that others should have the iudgment therof you in delyvering he in publyshing your letters But why then did you not douchsafe to give vs any knowledg therof At least why did you not so provide as that letter of ours which was in your handes should also be translated and published Did you thinck that he which is first in his owne cause is iust Why then did you not also mynd that his neighbour comyng after him will make inquiry of him that so both partyes being heard judgment may be gyven according to truth and equity For which cause though we have hytherto borne this yet will we hereafter meet with such dealing by the best and fyttest meanes we can Neither doubt we but all these things howsoever now they stand will at length fall out for good both to vs and to all other which love Christ with all his ordinances and hate Antichrist with all his abhominations And having this hope we will expect and endure whatsoever it shall please God who is the Lord and faythfull maynteyner of his servants Concerning the differences wherof you write agayne in your letters which are betwene vs and the dutch Church of this city it needeth not that we wryte vnto non of the particulars otherwise then as before we have donne If you do yet desyre more we give you to vnderstand that above a yeare synce we delyvered in wryting the true and particular narration of the whole matter to the ministers and whole eldership of that Church who if yet they have not maâ— now communicate it with you By it also will appeare that we have donne what was our duty and as brotherly as we could If not let the errour be shewed and it shal be corrected God willing In the meane tyme because we are both pryvatly and publyckly so much vrged by you herevnto we will briefely note the chief heades wherin we differ from them and where about we have had dealing with them both before and synce you wrote vnto vs. They are these which follow 1. The estate of the Dutch Church at Amsterdam is so confused as the whole Church can never come together iâ— one the ministers can never together with the flock sanctify the Lords â—aâ—e the pâ—esence of the members of the Church cannot certeynly be knowen and fynally no publyck action wheâ—her exâ—ommunication or any other can riggâ—ip be performed VVhich is cotrary to these Scriptures 1. Cor. 12.27 and 11.20 23. Math. 18 â—7 with 1. Cor. 5 4. Act. â— 2.5 Numb 8.9 Act. 20 28. 2. They baptize the seed of them who aâ—e not members of any visible Church of whom moreover they have not care as of membeâ—s neyther admytt their parents to the Lords Supper Gen. 17 7.9.10.11 1. Cor. 7 14. Exod. 12.48 with 2. Caron 30 6. c. Numb 9.13 Hos 2 â— 4. with Rev. 17.1 Ezech 16 59 c. 3. In the publyck worship of God they have devysed and vse an other forme of prayer besydes that which Christ our lord hath prescribed Mat. 6. reading out of a book certayne prayers invented and imposed by man Exod. 20 4 5. and 30 9. with Psal 141.2 and Rev. 8 3. Lev. 10 1. Esa 29 14. with Mat. 15.9 Rom. 8 26. Eph. 4.8 1. Pet. 2 5. 4. That rule and commandement of Christ Mat. 18 15 16 17. they neyther observe nor suffer
he that doth the worck of the Lord frauduleÌ„tly and cursed be he that kepeth back his sword from blooâ— On the contrary Blessed be he that shall reward thee as thou hast rewarded vs o daughter of Babel to be destroyed Blessed be he that shall take and scattering dash thy children against the stones If this against Moab and the materiall BabyloÌ„ how much more against Antichrist and the spirituall Babylon with al the daughters and abominatioÌ„s thereof If this against the shadow and type how much more against the substance and body it self Of the argument of coâ—nsell ynough is said If you repeat it a thousand tymes and yet take not away our answer and reasons alledged in our first letters we will alwayes repeat the same answer againe Those many things which are conteyned in your letters and ours do now come forth in publick Neyther doubt we but this is the work of the Lord. See therefore that you be occupied therein religiously That any should speak of things controverted we desier not otherwise then the reformed Churches and those godly meÌ„ and Martyrs of Iesus who with like purpose have published their confessions of faith and causes of their troubles being so constreyned That your letters were not shewed by vs we wrote not but this that we gave not a copy of them to any for what cause we wrote in our former Shewed they were and read in the publick meeting of our Church If your mynd were to have them shewed to others that knew we not But now that you write this is your mynd we shall shew them together with ours publickly vnto all And if any have giveÌ„ forth any false reports conâ—erning them let theÌ„ now be ashamed In the meane time your self provided by sending yours at first vnsealed that they should be shewed to others and be read also of others before vs. Neyther doth it excuse the matter which you wrote in your second that â—â—e messenger shewed you not to wâ—oÌ„er whither you should have written and that therefore you sought and wayted an whole moneth being vncertayne thereof For we did signify both these expressely in the Epistle dedicatory prefixed before that book which by the messenger was delivered vnto you Els how knew you at the moneths end more theÌ„ before whither and to whoÌ„ to send Or when you knew why did you not seale your letters Was it because you would have the shewed We beleev it as also that for the same cause the copyes of theÌ„ were caryed into England And this too we knew before they were translated in English but we held our peace wayting to see what would follow therevpon Now your self see they are translated and given forth in publick For them therefore and with them we traÌ„slate and publish ours by which will appeare that we have dealt well with good men You may call them as you please it skilleth vs litle this is the very thing we desier and endevour that the simplicity of the Gospell of Christ the iniquity of the defectioÌ„ of Antichrist may more and more be made knowen vnto all If for this thing you pity vs we will beare it praying that God in Christ would pitty you Where you write that two of our company dined with that honorable Ambassadour it is not true that we know of Neyther can we cell what hapned at that dinner He sent not for vs to come vnto him neyther did we like to intrude our selves If by vs he would have ben certifyed of our cause we would have done it willingly and syncerely And you also when he demaunded of you might have shewed our letters with your owne and the coÌ„fession of our faith and given also copyes of both the letters So might the Translatour have given forth both in publick So had you provided that sentence should not be given the one party being vnheard Which thing Christian wisdome your self say suffreth not â—o be done in questions controverted In this behalf therfore you have erred and this by you is to be answered notwithstaÌ„ding that for his doing himself is to answer that translated and published yours without your knowledg For our selves if any where we erre shew it we pray you agayne and agayne by the word of God that is by the onely rule of truth and we shal yeeld most willingly And thus we pray God that he would guyde you together with vs and all his alway vnto Iesus Christ and that he would keep vs in him who onely is the way the truth and the life Whose name be blessed for ever Amen Amsterdam Iuly 21. 1602. Yours in the truth and peace of the Gospell of Christ F. Io. H. Ains D. St. S. Mer. C. Bom. T. Bis D. Bre. Together with the other brethren of the English Church at Amsterdam * For proof herof see Mr. Iunius owne words noted in the margine of his letter herafter folowing and compare also this edition of it with the translators before published Act. 28 22 b Rev. 12. c Psal 105 13 14. d 1 Pet 2.9 e Psal 46.1 f Apoc. 2 5. gap 2 Cor 6 14 15 c. Psal 9â— 20. 2 Thes 2 3. h Psa 37 27 Ier. 51 6. Rev. 18 4. 14 1. Neh. 6 6.7.8 Harmon of confess i 1 Pet. 2 5. Ier. 51 26 k Act. 2 38 40 41 8 36 37 15 9. Ioh. 10 3.4 5. Esa 35 8.9 l Ioh. 15 2.5 Mat â—8 15 17 Lev. 13 46. Numb 4.13 m Ioh 15 19. and 17.14 16. Mat. 3 12 Lev. 20.24 26. 1. Ioh. 4.5.6 About forty ecclesiastical popish offices are at this daye in the Churche of EnglaÌ„d never a one appointed by Christ in his testament Apoc. 13. vvith what words rites in what habit gesture these things are to be done they are taught in their rubâ—ik Some of them in certaine English books seâ— forth have reckned aboue 100. popish corruptions yet reteyned in this church o Rom. 12 1. Cor. 12. Eph. 4. p Iohn 4 24 Mat 15 9 q Deu 6 4 5 Mat. 16 6 2. Cor. 6 14 15 Psal 106 34 35.36 s Iude ver 3 t 2 Cor. 6 17. u Eph. 5 11. w Reb. 18 4 14 10 11. Mat. 6 24. x 2. King 16 10 11 12. Apoc 13 12 14 15. y Ier. 51 6. Mich. 2 10. Rev. 18 4. 2 Cor. 6 17. Act. 2 40. z Ps 9.12 Heb. 13 3 A Gal. 4.4.5 6. 5.1.2 Heb. 8. 9 10. chap. 2 Cor. 4 7 Iam. 2 1 * Deut. 6.4 1. Tim 2.5 Ephe. 4.4.5.6 1 Cor. 8.6 12.4.5.6.13 Ier. 6.16 Ioh. 14.6 ‡ 1 Tim. 6.3.13.14 Mat. 15.9 28.20 Deut. 4.2.6 12.32 1 cor 4.17 14.33 2 Tim. 3.15.16.17 Gal. 1.8.9 Reâ—el 22.18.19 * Ioh. 4.24 ‡ Exod. 3.14 Rom. 11.36 Act. 17.28 ☽ 1 Tim. 1.17 Esa 6.3 66.1.2 1 Ioh. 5.7 Mat. 28.19 Prou. 8.22 Heb. 1.3 Phil. 2.6 1 Cor. 8.6 Micah 5.2 Psal 2.7 Gal. 4.6 Ioh. 1.1.2.18 10.30.38 15.26 Heb. â— 14 * Ioh.