in Scotland and the giddie opinions of our home Puritanes The Families fault is therefore not a little in confounding that which his Highnesse with great iudgemēt hath distinguished and in taking his wordes absolutely to be vttered which are spokē but in a particular respect That the Familists be Puritanes in the latter sense his Maiestie sayth not and yet that the Familistes be a vile Secte of the Anabaptistes and of all other the most odious Puritanes his Highnesse doth affirme and his verdict they shall neuer be able to disproue though they do protest vow sweare neuer so much to be contrarie The Family of Loue. AND because your Maiestie should haue a perfecte viewe A Prochmary or an assured perswasion of the truth of the same our protestation if therfore there be any indifferent man of this kingdom that can iustly touch vs with any such disobedient and wicked handling of our selues as seemeth by your Maiesties book it hath been * H. N. hath so informed his Highnesse see the answere informed vnto your Highnesse vnlesse they be such our mortall enemies the disobedient Puritanes and those of their headie humors before named who are much more zealous religious precise in the tything of Mint Annis and Commin and in the preferring of such like Pharisaicall and selfe chosen outwarde traditions and groundes or hypocriticall righteousnesse then in the performing of iudgement mercy and fayth and such like true and inward righteousnesse which God doth most chiefely require and regard Math. 15.15 c. and whose malices haue for twentie fiue yeares past and vpwardes and euer since with very many vntrue suggestions and most fowle errors odious crimes the which wee could shewe if neede were sought our vtter ouerthrowe and destruction but that wee haue behaued our selues in all orderlinesse and peaceablenesse of life where we dwell and with whom we haue had to deale The Examination AFter their protestation Against their Proclamation now followeth aproclamation as it were for anie indifferent man to come in say his worst against them to proue them such indeed as the King sayth they are And yet it is to bee marked that of indifferent men they except against diuers as first against all strangers whatsoeuer and next against all disobedient Puritanes their mortall one wies and such like whose malice they haue had experience of these twenty fiue yeares and vpwardes A strange thing that men indifferent whether Strangers or of this Common weale should bee repelled as partiall witnesses as strange againe is it that their mortall enemies the Puritanes and their fauourers should be acknowledged of them to be men indifferent That they doe except against Puritanes I could not blame them being as they say their mortal and auncient enemies as are many mo besides had they not cōfessed them at least some of them to bee men of good conscience and indifferent but that they should except against any indifferent Strangers without shewing probable cause of the same doth argue in my conceipt that Strangers especially Hollanders Frize-landers and others in Base-Almaigne would vtter strange things of this Familie of Loue and charge them iustly with grosse wickednesse and impious misdemeanors if they should be heard But his Maiestie besides Strangers and pharisaicall Puritans hath others no doubt in his Kingdome which vnfainedly doe perform both iudgement mercie and faith not placing religion in outward obseruations who enquired after and called foorth can aduertise his Maiestie and the State both how duetifully towardes their Prince orderly towarde their neighbours and religiously in the Church of God they haue and do behaue themselues In the meane space till this be knowen which I cannot thinke is vtterly vnknowen to his Highnesse I wil set downe the iudgement of one euerie way a Stranger to vs against whom notwithstanding none exceptions I am sure will be taken by the Familie of Loue or any of them For they doe beleeuē if they beleeue his writinges hee noe more can erre in whatsoeuer hee saith than could the Prophets of God or Apostles of Christ (a) H.N. Prophet of the Spir. c. 13. §. 8. and that before whom and before the eyes of whose heart and spirit not only all their actions but also their verie secret counsailes and cogitations are naked and bare (b) Ibid. c. 3. §. 3. This man is H.N. himselfe that great Prophet or God rather among the Familistes Alas saith H. N. like as the world together with her wise and Scripture-learned are darkened and blinded in Heart and deafe in Vnderstanding which comprehend not the good being of the Loue nor yet consider on anie of all that which God through the Spirit of his Loue requireth but haue alway a lust to themselues and cleaue vnto the couetousnesse the voluptuousnesse of the flesh and the false wisedome which seduced them euen so I haue found many of you yea almost all H.N. his iudgment of the Familistes his followers which make boast of Loue and talke much thereof to stand in such like case and also aduisedly marked that yee vnder the pretense or color of the House or seruice of Loue haue takē to your selues the voluptuousnesse of the flesh 2. Pet. 2. b. Iude. 1. b. according to the manner of the World to bee your Freedome and your own Thoughts of the Good-thinking according to the Imagination of the Knowledge like vnto many vnilluminated Scripture learned and Good-thinking wise to be your wisedome and haue no regard to the godly life of the gratious word nor to the Counsell of the Testimonies of the holy spirit of Loue her Seruice And yet notwithstanding whē one asketh you whether ye haue adioyned you to the Loue or are minded to continue with a good will by the same yea aunswere and say expresly O yea we wil cleaue vnto the Loue and not forsake the same in any case All this saith H. N. (c) Proph. of the Spir. c. 2. §. 7. and that not of a few but of many yea almost all of the Familie of Loue who haue takē vnto thēselues the voluptuousnesse of the flesh to be their Freedome or Felicitie and he citeth both 2. Pet. 2. b. and Iude. 1. b as if they were the persons reserued vnto the day of iudgement to bee punished because they walke after the flesh in the lust of vneleanenesse despise rulers and speake euill of them that are in authoritie hauing noe regard of godly life Againe of his and this Familie saith the same H. N. (d) Proph. of the Spir. §. 9. verely after such a manner yee are towards the gratious word of the Lord and his seruice of Loue euen like vnto an whore which after her hearts Good-thinking to a cloaking of her whoredome chooseth an husband coupleth her selfe in marriage vnto him for that she mought boast her as a married wife vnder such a couering and boasting that she hath a husband committeth whoredome Seeing that
Marestie viz. that the writings of H. N. or seruice of Loue further true religion and godlinesse are most false and vttered either by some ignorants which know not what the Seruice of Loue meaneth or of policie to bleare his Highnesse eyes that hee should not perceaue the daunger of this pretended Loue Seruice Obserue next their opinion of this their Seruice of Loue as that it is the true safe-making Gods seruice besides which there is not any God seruice more neither in heauen nor yet in earth and that whoso haue not this seruice or withdraw themselues therefrom haue no liuing God and hence coniecture what their thoughts be not onely of the Seruice of the Church of England and all other Christian Churches but of the doctrine also in them professed with all professors of Christianitie ignorant and Aduersaries to H. N. and his newe Seruice Besides it is not to be neglected that the doctrine in the Seruice of Loue deliuered by H. N. in these places is called The newe day The day of the generall Resurrection The day of iudgement of the second comming of Christ of the restoring of all things of the fulfilling of all that which God hath spoken from the beginning of the world through the mouth of his holy Prophets and the Euangelists of his Christ All which plainly demonstrate H. N. his doctrine touching the generall resurrection the day of iudgement the second comming of Christ euerlasting life and finally the accomplishing of GODS promises made vnto the Patriarches Prophets and Church from euerlasting encluded in the writings of H.N. and so in the Seruice of Loue to be most hereticall and damnable This considered impudent and shamelesse are these Familistes that woulde beare the most religious Prince in hand that the writings of H. N. and Seruice of Loue make for the aduancement of godlinesse and honestie when rightly examined it ouerthroweth the very groundes and principles of true Religion without which there can bee no sounde practise of honestie and iustice among men The Family of Loue. TO the end that all people when they heare or read his writinges and doe thereby perceaue their sinnes The end of his writings and estranging from GOD and Christ mought endeuour them to bring forth the due fruictes of Repentance which is reformation and newenesse of life according as all the holy Scriptures doe likewise require the same of euerie one and that they mought in that sort become saued through Iesus CHRIST the onely Sauiour of all the world The Examination HEere reade wee the ende indeede of H. N. his wrightings Against the end of H. N. his wrightings viz. to inuite all men vnto repentance and newenesse of life and yet deserueth hee no praise at all as the Familistes woulde make his Highnesse belieue hee dooth for this exhortation of his For what meaneth hee by Repentance but that all men not yet of his Family should forsake or abiure the Religion which they haue beene brought vp in and vnlearne againe whatsoeuer they haue taken on and learned to themselues out of the Scriptures in the Christian assemblies where GODS word is read preached and hearde VVhat by newenesse of life But that wee become young ones in the Family or house of Loue VVhat by saluation but the state of a Familist which is all pure or of an Elder in the louely being All people sayth H. N. are called and friendly bidden through H. N. to the repentance for their sinnes and to the house of the loue of Iesus Christ the Rest of all the Saints or children of God (a) H.N. Cri voice c. 1. §. 1. Let euery one leaue now his owne word doctrine and taken on knowledge and also the word the doctrine and knowledge of al vnsent Preachers and good-thinking wise where-through yee are seduced c. and come now all to this same Sanctuarie of GOD (b) Ibid. c. 2. §. 5. meaning the house of Loue called before the Rest of all the Saints or children of God Come also now all which through your ignorant knowledge or misunderstanding haue withdrawen your selues sayth H. N. from this same stoole of grace and louely house of the Loue of Iesu Christ and from our Communalty taken occasion of offence at our littlenesse or simplenes at the godly Testimonies of our sayings and euen so made vp your selues as Resisters against vs and our good doctrine and exercises or orders separated your selues from vs and growen to be bitter minded or displeased toward vs together with all yee that haue mistrusted vs also not belieued the holy word of the eternall truth which we through Gods grace administer vnder the obedience of the Loue but doubted therof c. and repent you of your sinnes to your sanctification and to the health of your soules (c) Ibid. §. 7. On the other side saith H. N. All those which loue rather the darknes that the Light cleaue more vnto the world and the worldly thinges than vnto the gracious Worde in the Seruice of Loue heare belieue and followe rather their good thinking than the Testimonies of the holy Spirit of Loue which are set forth and offered vnto them by the Elders in the holy Communaltie of Loue out of the heauenly truth and euen so waxe offended thereat or hold them backe therefrom and resist the Seruice of Loue Those shall all if they turne them not to the Seruice of the Loue nor repent them of their sinnes become broken in pieces and iustly beare their blame or be punished with the euerlasting destruction and bide captiued for euer and euer with the death and mortalitie (d) H. N. Exhort c. 14. §. 10. Vnto this Repentance doth H. N. exhort This is the opinion which H. N. had and his disciples and schollers haue of themselues and their fauorers they are all forsooth in the state of saluation and cannot perish but they who neither bee Familistes nor wel-willers to their doctrine exercises and orders are all vnder the curse of God like eternally to bee damned vnlesse they alter their mindes and renounce their faith and religion thoughe grounded vppon the foundation of the Prophets and Apostles because with H. N. the Diuell is their Father (e) Spirit Land pres §. 9. and they are the children of wrath a cursed people coheires of the euerlasting fire (f) Ibid. §. 10. and shall bee cast into the bottom-lesse pit into the fire of Hell (g) H. N. Prouerbs c. 5. §. 15. Then which conclusions nothing is more Hereticall and accursed and this was it among other thinges why his Maiestie tearmed these Familistes Puritanes and a most vile Secte viz. euen because they deeme all the world besides themselues to bee but abhomination in the sight of God Their H. N. speaketh much of Iesus Christ in his bookes but in no one place that I coulde yet meete withall dooth hee acknowledge Christ to bee eyther true GOD or very man at least not
which with Him is Gods vnto his obedient Man H. N. And Godding the same with Him He hath manned him with the same and his will is that nowe in the last time through the seruice of Loue all people or generations of Men which are good-Willing to his Righteousnesse should assemble them vnto Him and his godded Man and euen so likewise with them all that is manly To the ende that they all should become of one Being with him and his Godded man and so bee all named Gods and Children of the most-highest Here is hee deified and made a God Is this fellowe and his writings to bee commended and that vnto a most religious King or not rather to bee abhorred and all that praise him both of Prince and people The Family of Loue. BVt doth * The conteÌ„ts H. N. his writings onely shewe in particular in his sayd wrightings as sayth he the vnpartiall Seruice of Loue requireth what is good or euill for euery one and wherein the man hath right or wrong in any point whether it be in the state of his soule towards God Most false Vide responsum or in the state of his body towardes the Magistrates of the world and towardes one another The Examination AS earst for the manner so heere haue we H. N. extolled for the doctrine and matter by him deliuered But as afore Against the doctrine of H. N. speaking to the purpose which heere they do they say the seruice writings of H. N. taught them all dutiful obedience towards God Magistrates c. agreeing therin with the holy Scriptures as they vnderstaÌ„d theÌ„ that is in that sense and meaning none otherwise which they giue of the Scriptures so in this place they say of H. N. that hee doth onely shew in generall in his writings what is good or euill for euery one and wherein the man hath right or wrong in any point c. but it is not as the holy Scripture in the natiue sense thereof without the Families partiall interpretations and glosses but as the vnpartiall than which nothing is more partiall seruice of Loue requireth Wee cannot therefore well vnderstand what is the godlinesse and iustice which H. N. in his writings dooth promote vnlesse we first know what this their Seruice of Loue heere mentioned is The vnpartial Seruice of Loue in this place mentioned is the religion principles and spirituall exercises of H. N. or his illuminate Elders in the Family of Loue. For the right conceiuing whereof we are to obserue how according to H. N. his doctrine there be eight thorough-breakings which is H. N. his word or Reuelations of Goods true light vnto mankindes H.N. Prouerbs Ch. §. 3.12 the first was to Adam held till Noe the second from Noe till Abraham the third from Abraham till Moses the fourth from Moses till Samuel Dauid and Salomon the first form them till Zorobabel the sixt from Zorobabel till CHRIST the seuenth from CHRIST till H. N. in whose dayes the Lord out of his mercifull loue raised vp the gracious word according to his promises and elected H. N. thereto if you will beliue him for to minister the same vnder the obedience of his loue to the erecting or restoring of his true sanctuarie and of the true offering and God seruice in the same Through which gracious word H. N. God reuealed sayth H. N. the appearing of the comming of his Christ and the newe day of his righteous iudgement ☞ as also the Flowing forth of his holy Spirit of loue to the awaking Rising vp of all his Holy-ones out of the sleep to the glorious Lordlinesse with Iesus Christ to an euerlasting fast-standing kingdome of the godly Maiestie vpon the eaâ—â— according to his promises Euen thus hath God declared sayth H. N. with H. N. the eight thorough-breaking of his true light vpon the earth wheein the Lord the God of Heauen restored the former kingdome with his garnishing together with all that which God hath spoken froÌ„ the beginning of the world through the mouth of his holy Prophets ☜ and of the Euangelistes of his Christ and the same eight thorough-breaking of the true light of God vpon the earth is the newe day to therenewing of the life which God hath tofore appointed to reueile the same in the last time for to iudge in the same the vniuersall Earth with righteousnesse to the condemnation of all the enimies of God and Christ together with all the enemies of the godly life and blasphemers of his holy Spirit and seruice of Loue and to the erecting of his vpright Sanctuarie the seat of his Maiestie and the vpright gouernment of his holy ones vnder the obedience of his loue vpon the earth and also for to declare euen so vpon the earth in the same true light of the newe or eight day the mysteries of God and Christ euen from the beginning of the world till vnto the end All these bee the verie words of H. N. touching his mysteries (b) Ibid. §. 16.17.18 the reuelation whereof by him vnto the elders and by them vnto the yong ones in the Family is by him called The seruice or ministration of the Loue. Of which light and seruice wonderfull things are beleeued by the Family I will onely cite a place shewing their conceipt of the seruice here mentioned I foretell you assuredly sayth Fidelitas that the abhominations of the wicked world haue therefore a circumspect consideration hereon O ye children of men shall break in among you and ye shall likewise be vehemently assaulted therewith Neuerthelesse if you holde you firmely to the requiring of the gracious word and his Seruice of Loue ye shall then be deliuered from the wicked assaultings which come against you out of the Abhominations of the wicked world and out of the falsehood of our Resisters and inherit the Crowne of the eternall life and the true anointing of the ioifull oyle of the holy Spirit of the Loue of Iesu Christ and euen so find by experience that our God of Loue is the true God and that we his obedient CoÌ„munaltie of the Loue are his acceptable people and that they also which bide estranged from the same God as also remaine without vs and our CoÌ„munaltie and without the requiring of the gracious word and his Serurce of Loue or withdraw themselues therefrom haue no liuing God nor yet true God seruice but are without God and without God seruice in this world For our God of Loue 〈◊〉 the true liuing God and besides him there is no God more and his God seruice of Loue which we minister vnder the obedience of his Loue is the true safe-making God seruice and besides the same there is not any God seruice more neither in heauen nor yet in earth Hitherto Fidelitas (c) Distinct. declar §. 1 c. 11. From which place of H. N. and Fidelitas note Christian Reader that their words vnto his
loue raised-up the gracious word according to his promises and elected H.N. thereto for to minister the same c. (c) H. N Prouerbs c. 1. §. 6. And in this Prouerbs againe Through which gracious word and N.N. God reuealed sayth he the appearing of the comming of Christ and the newe day of his righteous iudgement as also the flowing foorth of his holy Spirit of loue to the awaking and raising vp of all his holy-ones out of sleepe to their glorious Lordliness with Iesus Christ and to an euerlasting fast-standing Kingdome of the godly Maiestie vpon earth according to his promises (d) Ibid. §. 17. And afterward Thus hath God declared with H.N. the eight thorough-breaking of his true light vpoÌ„ the earth wherein the Lord the God of heauen restered the former Kingdome with his garnishing together with all that which God hath spoken from the beginning of the World through the mouth of his holy Prophets c. (e) Ibid. §. 18. In his exhortation God hath illuminated him he saith with his light for to illuminate or giue light to them that dwell yet in darknesse vpon the earth (f) 1. Exhor c. 19 §. 8. And finally in his first Epistle All people are called and friendly bidden through H. N. to the repentance for their sinne c. Not alone with his calling but also with all the Scriptures heauenly Testimonies and spirituall voyces of the Eternall Truth which are gone forth from the holy spirit of loue and brought to light through H. N. (g) 1. Epist or Cri. vâ—â—ce c. 1. § 1. And why all this but to the ende that as himselfe aduiseth the young ones in the Family should not distrust nor suspect any manner of euill or vnwisedome by him nor yet in any wise perswade themselues that the Exercises Documents and instructions which are taught or set forth before them by him the Father of the Family of Loue or oldest elder are too childish or too vnwise for the to follow after (h) 1. Exhort c. 13. §. 11. But the childe of God must alwaies haue in remembrance that many false Prophets are gone into the world and therfore is not to belieue whatsoeuer is affirmed but trie the spirits whether they are of God Because men receiue not the loue of the truth that they may be saued God will send them strong delusion that they shall belieue lies that they may be daÌ„ned which belieued not the truth but had pleasure in vnrighteousnesse (i) 2. Thes 2. V. 10.11 The more H. N. boasteth of himself that he is illuminated from aboue the lesse is he to be credited the more to be suspected Let him proue his preparation his election vocation and generall Apostleship from Gods word which he shall neuer doe or let him be accursed yet a because he arrogateth to himselfe the diuine nature and most heretically and blasphemously auoucheth that whatsoeuer the Prophets haue foretold are fulfilled in him and the like and all this to the end that his idle reuelations cloaked vnder his Loue-seruice may the more slily enter into the mindes of wel willing and good meaning people hold him and all that hold with and applaud him and his fanaticall speculations euermore accursed The Family of Loue. O Out of which Seruice or writings we be taught all dutiful obedience * Vntrue towards God and Magistrates The seruice of Loue. and to liue a godly and honest life and to loue God aboue all things and our neighbours as our selues agreeing therein with all the holy Scriptures as wee vnderstand them The Examination ALL this tendeth to the raising vp of credit to H. N. his writings which sheweth of what spirit these men are In their Courtly deuise inscribed vnto the last Earle of Lecester they let not to say that were all the books of H. N. rightly considered of with indifferencie so should they be found Assistants in all to the Religion established in the Church of England and no hinderers Here I take which they grant that the holy Scriptures teach all these things next that the religion established in the Church of England is sound and euery way good and true But that the Seruice of Loue the writings of H. N. truly indeed so teach as they would beare his Maiestie in hand I cannot thinke for diuers reasons 1. They hold That neither before nor without their most holy Seruice of Loue c. the true light hath not been set forth ministred nor taught that there shal likewise no other light nor cleerenes that can be true appeare nor yet come hereafter but the light of loue (a) H. N. 1. â—r doct c. 16. §. 10 which is the new doctrine deuised by H. N. that we so condemne 2. They teach that it is assuredly al false lies seducing deceitful that the vngodly or vnilluminated Men out of the imaginatioÌ„ or riches of their own knowledge out of their learnednesse of the Scriptures bring forth institute and teach (b) Ibid. §. 17. Then is not H. N. his doctrine Seruice of Loue grouÌ„ded vpon the written word of God but vpon I know not what visions Anabaptisticall reuelations and therefore to be held most execrable Thirdly they say There is nothing more needfull to the man at the first where-to enter into life then that he humble himself vnder the obedience of loue meaning the instructions of H. N. so become taught in the Seruice of Loue for to vnlearne againe al what he hath taken on and learned to himselfe (c) Spir. land c. 56 §. 7. which counsayle of vnlearning is rife and euery where as it were the first thing deliuered to the Nouices in the Loues seruice (d) H. N. exhort c. 13. §. 9. Cri. voice c. 1. §. 7. which manifesteth their religion to be newe and singular when the doctrine in our Churches taught and embraced must all be vnlearned and abhominable and corrupt for the entertaining of theirs which they vaunt to be celestiall Fourthly because they may not talke of their secrets either yet vtter their mysteries opeÌ„ly or nakedly in the hearing of their young children disciples (e) H. N. Prouerbs c. 22. §. 15. that is as H. N. sayth til they haue attained the age of 30 yeares and are come to their manly age and haue beardes (f) Ibid. c. 21. §. 1. They might and would talke of their secrets might their exercises and mysteries abide the hearing of godly modest persons as Gods holy word and our doctrine deriued from the sacred Scriptures will Last of al because the Seruice of Loue and books of H. N. so and none otherwise make to the aduancement of godlinesse and furtherance of virtue then they vnderstand the Scriptures And indeed the make od interpretations of Gods word turning light into darkenesse truth into falsehood histories into allegories and sound religion into fancies of men But as others
by the hard dealing of our aduersaries For we are a people but fewe in number and yet most of vs very poore in worldly wealth The Examination HIs Maiestie by good aduise and counsell hath ratified the Religion of his immediat Predecessor cōprised in 39. Articles agreed vpon by the whole Clergie of this Realme in a lawful assembly or Conuocation holden Anno. 1562. Hee hath also published his directions (a) Eccles constitut can an 1604. how all and euery his Subiects of England publikely shall carry themselues according to their religion in all places If these Familistes therefore will professe the same religion with him and his truly good Subiectes if they also will frequent orderly the sacred Assemblies and Sacraments if they will demeane themselues as it becommeth sober Christians and laye aside all H. N. his erroneous and detestable writinges if they will approoue the Seruice of the Church of England and finally forsake their conuenticling chaire preachinges and Seruices administred among them by their illuminated and codeified Elders they neede feare no persecution or trouble otherwise why should they not feare the sword when they will not be ordered by the word of God They say they are in number but fewe But herein they abuse his Maiesties royall eares and eyes It is well knowen howe twentie fiue yeares agoe the number of them was great and they dispersed in diuers partes as Surrey Sussex Middlesex Bark-shire Hamshire Essex I le of Eley Cambridge-shire Suffolke Norfolk in the North parts and finally in most shires of this Realme In those daies they did abound were growen to such a number as the displayer of the Secte deliuered howe his heart did rue to speake that which one of the same societie did auouch to him for truth (b) Display pref Not a fewe Ministers of the simple sort were with H. N. his fancies entangled nor the chiefest place of the Realme free from these men (c) Ibid. E. 4. a. Since that they are diminished I heare not but them to bee hugely encreased through rufull conniuence I haue arguments to thinke but that their encrease may be hindered I hope authoritie will take order They say they are also poore or the most of them but if the booke of their names called of them The booke of Life could be seene it would then appeare I doubt not that both the number of them is great and most of them very rich It is further obserued that those poore ones which suffer imprisonment any where for H. N. and his Seruice are well maintained while they are in durance which argueth that good contributions among them are made for the supportation of their Secte which cannot be performed without good store of wealth The Family of Loue. OSacred Prince we humbly pray Their Conclusion that the Almightie will mooue your Princely heart with true iudgement to discerne betwixt the right wrong of our cause according to that most certaine and Christian rule set downe by our Sauiour Christ vnto his disciples Math. 7.12 Yee shall know the tree by his fruites and in our obedience peaceable and honest liues and conuersation to protect vs and in our disobedience and misdemeanor to punish vs as resisters of Gods ordinance or the kingly authority most high office of iustice committed vnto your Maiestie to that purpose towards your subiects Rom. 13. The Examination THey woulde insinuate into his Maiesties heart how they are The good trees In their Courtly deuice they say that the onely difference betwixt them and the learned Preachers whom they take of all others to be their most capitall enemies is That what the said Preachers do say The Familists desire to doe as if they onely and none besides had a desire to doe the will of God But what speake I of desiring to do Gods will They do it indeed and really perform it For they cannot bring-foorth any thing else but all good and Loue (a) Docum sent c. 2. §. 1. nothing is able to plucke them from the Word nor to make them consent to any euill or vanitie (b) Ibid. c. 13. §. 5. That which they know not in the death is now appeared vnto them in euerlasting Life The death is nowe among them swallowed vp in the death the euerlasting Life is come vnto them in the Renewing of their Life The Hell is iudged or condemned to the pit of Hell The Heauen is shewed vnto them in the heauenly Being or forme (c) Spir. Land c. 44. §. 10.12 They are come to the Rest of all the Holy ones and children of God and euen so they eate of the wood of life which standeth in the middest of the pleasant garden and liue eternally (d) Ibid. c. 55. §. 9. They are subiect to no Gods nor lawes or Ceremonies but onely to the Lord their God and to his most-holy Seruice of Loue. They are not likewise subiect in bondage vnto the Creatures neither yet to any created thing but only to the Creator c. All their Life Minde and delight only is in God and God himselfe likewise with his mind Life or Spirit is in them and they are euen so of one Conformitie or substance with each other namely God and his people of peace (e) Ibid. c. 40. §. 1.2.18 There is no wickednesse nor malicious Imaginations among them neither yet vision of euill (f) Ibid. c. 33. §. 9. Holie good are pure are all their workes and thoughts (g) Ibid. c. 34. §. 11. They are Gods habitation (h) 1. Exhort c. 12. §. 38. c. 20. §. 7. the seale of Gods Maiestie (i) Proph. of the Spir. c. 7. §. 15. God his Saints (k) Ibid. c. 19. §. 14. his acceptable people (l) Fidel. decl c. 4. §. 11. the children of the kingdome (m) Spir. land pres §. 7. the holy Cittie of peace the new Ierusalem descended from Heauen (n) Ibid. §. 17. the rest of all the Saints or children of GOD (o) Cri. voice cap. 1. §. 1.3 the bodie of Christ (p) Ibid. c. 3. §. 2. one with GOD and GOD one with them (q) Spir land c. 36. §. 1. they are risen from the death with the Resurrection of the Righteous in the euerlasting Life and liue eternally (r) Ibid. c. 37. §. 2. Infinite such words and places from themselues and their H. N. might be alledged or shewe the heauenly condition of these aboue all other men iustifying his Maiesties words altogether that they are a vile Sect thinking themselues onely pure and in a manner yea altogether many of them without sinne the onely true Church and only worthy to be participant of the Sacraments and all the rest of the world to be but abhomination in the sight of God and so rightly properly and principally the most odious Puritans vnder the coape of Heauen The Almightie and all-prouident God which hath inspired his Maiestie with the
blessed gift of discerning spirits enhable his Maiestie with spirit and vertue from aboue that hee may remoue these stumbling blockes and causes of diuision if they will not repent and both in heart and hand ioyne with his Church and people For hee beareth not the sword in vaine Rom. 13. The Familie of Loue. AND gratious Soueraigne wee humbly beseech your Highnesse with Princely regard in equitie fauour to pouder and grant the humble sute contained in this most lowely supplication of your loyall true harted faithful afflicted subiects to remember that your Maiestie in your book of Princely graue fatherly aduise to the happie Prince your Royal Sonne doth conclude that Principis est parcere subiectis debellare superbos and then to doubt God will blesse your Highnesse and all your noble off-spring with peace long life and all honors and happinesse long to continue and raigne ouer vs. For the which we will euer pray with incessant prayers to the Almightie The Examination HITHERTO in their Supplication the Familistes haue quarrelled with his Maiestie for calling them Puritanes they haue callenged his Highnesse of vntrueth as vttering that in a publike writing against them which neither himselfe is able to iustifie nor any indifferent man dare auouch they confesse further they haue by them and haue reade certaine bookes which the royall and supreame authoritie of this Realme hath prohibited them either to reade or haue they haue commended to the Starres that monster among men H.N. both for his heauenly vocation calling Office bookes and writinges which not onely all the learned and godly Prelates and Preachers but the whole Church of England yea all Churches Christian as most impious and Antichristian vtterly condemne they haue intimated that neither his Maiestie nor his people vnlesse they submitte themselues vnto the Seruice of Loue deuised by H. N. shall be saued they haue enticed his Highnesse to read and peruse bookes both poysonfull and dangerous they haue condemned all other men in this Realme not siding with them as cursed and vnfruitefull trees and all this willingly studiously professedly and apparantly they haue done the least of these crimes deseruing royall indignation in an hie degree Now what doth our Familie Craue they pardon meekly at his Maiesties hands for these their offences audaciously committed Noe such thing yea they proceede in their disloyall course boldely crauinge though with humble wordes yet with proud hearts what they haue sued for may readily bee graunted them Yea as earst so here they both set out themselues as submisse and duetifull subiectes condemning all others especially their aduersaries as proude and wishing punishment vnto them and aduancement with fauour vnto themselues yea they let not to say how his Maiesty may feare great plagues to light vpon him if hee punish them but shall bee sure both hee and his posteritie of longe life much prosperitie and eternall happinesse if he shewe fauour to the Familie of Loue and their cause A gracelesse and audacious companie The Familie of Loue. MOst-gratious Soueraigne Their Postscript here followeth the briefe rehersall and Confession of the Christian Beliefe and religion of the company that are named the Familie of Loue. Which for the causes therein specified was by them set out in print about that time whē they were first persecuted imprisoned in this Realme for the same profession by their aforesaid aduersaries and by meanes of their false accusations and complaints vnto the Magistrates against them the which we haue thought necessarie to present here with vnto your Maiestie for that you may therby the better vnderstand of our innocent intent and profession whatsoeuer you shall heare reported to the contrarie by our enimies or by any that be ignorant therof humblie beseeching your Highnesse to vouchsafe to read the same and with your vnpartiall and godly wisedome to consider and iudge of vs and our cause in equitie and fauour accordinglie till your Maiestie shall haue further true intelligence thereof The Examination THe confession here mentioned and tendered as they saie I neuer sawe yet haue I heard well thereof It was published in the yeare of our Lord. 1575. That so long ago or since the Familie of Loue were persecuted and imprisoned for the same Confession or professing the same is both an egregious vntruth a slander of the State and a false information It is obserued concerning H. N. that for the propagating of his Loue Seruice hee hath bookes of sundry natures and sorts some for Nouices wel-willing ones and some for the elder sort grown into the manly vnderstanding of the Familie mysteries Of the former be N. N. his Instructions of the vpright Faith and christian Baptisme his Crying voice his First exhortation and such like which may bee confessed among the adulterous and sinnefull generation and the false hearts of the Scripture learned (a) H. N. 1. Exhort c. 6. §. 5.7.8.9 The latter sort containe the Loue secretes or priuie mysteries communicable only with such as are come vnto the manly age and haue Beards (b) H. N. Prou. c. 21. § 1. and sit vpon the seates of the Elders or wise and daiely heare the secret mysteries of all matters (c) Ibid. §. 2. Yee shall not talke of your Secrets either yet vtter your mysteries openly or nakedly saith H. N. vnto these Familists in the hearing of your young children and disciples but spare them not saith hee in the Eares or hearing of the Elders which can vnderstand the same and are able to beare or away with the sound thereof For it is giuen to the Elders to vnderstand the priuie mysteries of the wise and to expounde their parables (d) Ibid. c. 22. §. 15. So these Companions this Familie of Loue they haue among them good bookes after the Scripture learning common with vs and agreeable to the religion professed by his Maiestie and ratified by the lawes of this Realme and they haue also the workes and bookes of H. N. Elidad Fidelitas and other Familie Elders vndermining the found and Christian doctrine comprised in the Confession mentioned This Confession of theirs or ours rather they waus about which worde H. N. vseth in scorne of our Confessions and religion (e) Spirit land cap. 5. §. 5. as Children doe their Banners when they are at play but H. N. and their Familie Elders books are they which they only studie read at their meetings delight in and practice Besides which both Confession of ours and bookes of H. N. and such Illuminates they haue their Conuenticles verball traditions vnwritten or vnprinted verities and priuate exercices through which they growe vp in the Loue according to the Requiring of her Seruice (f) Elidads exhort § 5. where all things needfull to be knowen or declared are alwaies according to the capacitie of their vnderstanding brought and declared vnto thē (g) Ibid. §. 17. viz. vnto the young or newborne Children according to their yongnesse vnto the weake according to their weakenesse vnto the stronge vp-growing Men according to their habilitie or strength and vnto the Elders according to their Dayednes or olde age (h) Ibid. §. 18. where neither some heart All nor all heare some secrets or priuie mysteries of their Sect. It is not for the confession here spoken of it is for H. N. and other Familie books which they detaine by them and studie and for their vnlawfull Loue exercises and meetinges that they are troubled let them leaue burne or deface these bookes of H. N. and cleaue vnto this Confession and then without farther molestation imprisonment or persecution they may enioy the benefites and liberties of his Maiesties good subiects which that they may doe is mine hartie desire and prayer vnto Almightie GOD. FINIS