How Superior Powers Ought to be Obeyed of their Subjects, Chapter 14
CHAP. XIIII.
This is no doctrine of Rebellion, but the onelyonly doctrine of peace and means to inioye quietlie the comfortable bleſsinges of God, which oght not to be wiſſhed for onelyonly of the people, but carefully ſoght for alſo.
ANd althoghe this ſeeme a ſtrange doctrine, perrelous, and to moue ſedition amōgeſt the people, and to take from the lawfull Rulers all due obedience: yet whoſo will conſider the matter a right, ſhall finde it ſounde and true doctrine, and the onelyonly doctrine of godly peace and quietneſſe, and means to auoyde all ſtrief and rebellion, by whiche onelyonly Superiors ſhall rule in the feare of God, and ſubiectes reuerently obeye them without grudging or murmuring. For is there anie lawes more parfit then are the Lawes of God? Or did anie mā better know the nature of man, then he which created man? Or anie more deſierous to keepe them in his feare, and true obedyence, then God him ſelf, who choſe them for his people? Then who is ſo mad and impudēt,God which made man knoweth beſt what Lawes are moſte expedient for his preſeruation. to thinke that peace ād quietneſſe can be amongeſt anie people or nation, by obſeruing the Lawes of wicked men, rather then in reteyning the wholſome Lawes of God? That mā which is not able to rule him ſelfe, can better gouerne his ſubiectes and defende them, than God may his people? That the people ſhall rather enioye all bleſſinges of God, in yelding to the wickedneſſe of the vngodlie Rulers, then to ſee them ſtraightlie puniſhed for tranſgreſſions of the confortable Lawes of the almightie? For after that God had once geuen his Lawes to his people, he ſhewed them playnlie by Moyſes that he required nothing els of them,Deut. 10. but to feare him and to walke in his wayes, to louelove him, and ſerue him with all their harte and to keepe his preceptes and ſtatutes, which he cōmanded them that day. And why? bycauſe (ſaithe Moyſes) he is the God of Gods, the Lorde of Lordes, the greate mightie and dreadful God, whiche hath no reſpecte of perſones, nor taketh anie rewardes. And this fructe ſhall you be ſuer of in keepinge his Lawes. He wilbe your prayſe, ād your God:Deut. 4. that is (as in an other place the ſame Moyſes writeth) He will make you a wiſe people, a mightie Nation, prayſed and cōmēded of all Natiōs, which ſhall ſaye, This is onlie a wiſe people, and a people of vnderſtandinge ād mightie. For what people is ſo great, whiche hath their God ſo friendly and familiar with them, as the Lorde our God is in all thinges that we call to him for? For whiles we obey his Lawes, and ſuffer them in no caſe, ād in no perſone to be tranſgreſſed and left vnpuniſhed (to the vttermoſte of our power) we are aſſured that the bleſſinges which God after promiſed, ſhalbe powred vpō vsus: that is to be bleſſed at home and a brode, in the frute of our wombe,Deut. 28. of our lande, of our beaſtes and cattell. And the Lorde will make our enemies which riſe agaynſt vsus to fall before vsus, to entre in one waye agaynſt vsus, and to flee by ſeuen wayes afore vsus. And all the people of the earthe ſhall ſee that the Name of the Lorde is called vponupon amongeſt vsus, and ſhall be afrayde of vsus.
Yt is then no newe doctrine which God ſo longe ago taught to the Iſraelites, nor no raſhe or perelous doctrine wherby they are onelyonly made wiſe, and moſte ſtrongly defended. Nether yet dothe it miniſter occaſion of rebellion, without which there can be no godlie peace or quietneſſe, as your experience in Englande hath all readie (as I ſuppoſe) ſufficiently taught you: who hauehave felt rather hellike tormentes, and ſhamefull confuſion, ſince ye permitted the wilde bores to caſte downe the hedge of the Lordes vinyarde, that is, his Lawes and preceptes, then anie maner of godly peace, either in conſciences or bodies:Let your owne conſciēces be Iudges in this behalfe which miſerie ſhall hauehave no end before you reclayme with a vehement zele and louelove, your right title and poſſeſsion of Gods Lawes, which you hauehave moſte vnthankfully geuen ouer and neglected.
Yf the true zele of Gods people had bene in you when poperie began to be preached in the place of the Goſpell, when the Maſſe was reduced in place of the Lordes ſupper, and that by the ignorant Papiſts and malicious ſhauelyngs,The contempt of Gods worde is the dore to all licentious wickednes. when Antichriſt was reſtored to diſplace Chriſt: coulde ye hauehave ſuffered this vnponiſhed? Or if you had puniſhed it as you were then charged by Gods Lawes and mans, durſte they hauehave proceaded to ſuch impietie? If you had required the Magiſtrates to rule you in Gods feare and not in tyrannie, and that you woulde reuerence them as Gods miniſters ſo rulinge you, otherwiſe, not to acknowledg them but as his enimies, and ſo to take them: durſt either that Ieſabel ſo ragingly hauehave trodē Gods worde the Goſpell of Chriſt our Sauiour as a polluted ſowe vnderunder her feete, either els ſo raſhely deſtroyde her fathers and brothers Lawes before her? Durſte ſhe without all ſhame ſo openly and vnfaythfully hauehave broken promiſſe to them (whiche to their owne ſorrow, and all others this day) were her chief promoters? Aſſure your ſelfs no. If you had required all Maſſemongers, and falſe Preachers to hauehave bene puniſhed with deathe (as is appoynted by Gods worde for ſuch blaſphemers and idolatrers, and if they to whom it apperteyned, had denyed, your ſelues would hauehave ſeen it performed at all tymes, and in all places) then ſhuld you hauehave ſhewed that zele of God, which was cōmended in Phinees,Num. 25. deſtroyinge the adulterers: and in the Iſraelites againſte the Beniamités, as before is noted. Ye then had not the Priſtes of Baal ſo ſwarmed abrode, nor the ſeruātes of God hauehave bene in ſuch abundāce murthered. But great was our ſynnes before, that this deſerued: and colde was our zele to Godwardes after, that this ſhame hauehave ſuffred: and groſſe is our blynd dulnes, whiche wil not yet ſee nor ſeeke to remedie it.
what rules are to be obſerued in reſiſting the ſuperior powersNeuertheleſſe in all theſe enterpriſes you muſte be certaine and ſure of this one thinge, that vnderunder the name of Religion and pretence to promote Gods glorie, you ſeeke not either your priuate gaynes or promotiō, as did all the carnall Goſpelers, and ſuch as would be cō ted the chief pillers and mainteyners of the ſame in tymes paſt amongeſt you. And therfore vnderunder the cloke of Chriſt, ſeekyng the worlde, when Chriſt ſemed to hauehave the vpper hande: are now returned to their oldemaiſter Antichriſte, to be his hired ſouldiars, and to fight vnderunder his banner agaynſt Chriſt and his ſeruantes, by whom they were firſte promoted. Which treaſon God is prepared all redie to reuenge, to pluck from them his fethers, and to ſet furth to the whole worlde their ſhame and nakedneſſe. For he is a iuſt God,Pſal. 5. and hateth iniquitie, and therfore will be no cloke to couer their falſhode and couetouſneſſe.
Alſo ye muſt beware that priuate diſpleaſure, and worldly iniuries moue you not more to ſeeke reuengement of your aduerſaries, then the true zele and thirſte of Gods worde, the liuely foode of your ſoules. For then do you ſeeke your ſelues, and not God: then take you his office out of his hande, to whom ye oght to commit all your priuate diſpleaſures and iniuries:Deu 32. Ezech. 9. Rom 12. then can ye not loke to hauehave Gods right hande vponupon your parte, but rather may be aſſured to finde him your enimie, and ſtrongly armed againſt you. To reſiſte euill therfore is your parte, and to mayntayne Godlyneſſe, but ſymply and vnfaynedly, for the louelove of vertue, and hatred of vice, yf you will be ſure to proſper, and auoyde Gods heauy diſpleaſure,Pſal. 7. Iere. 17. who is the ſercher of your hartes and ſecreats, and will in tyme diſcloſe them and make them knowen to all men.
But you perchaunce would graunt me all this, that it is both lawfull and godly, if the people wholie together woulde follow the example of zelous Phinees and the Iſraelites,A doute which trobleth the people. as before was mentioned, and take puniſhment them ſelues vponupon all blaſphemers of God, manifeſt betrayers of their countrie, and cruell murtherers of their brethern: ſeing the Lawes of God and publycke peace can be by no other means reſtored. But when the people them ſelues agree not, when they are deuided amongeſt them ſelues, and the greateſt parte of them perchance papiſtes, and will be maynteyners of ſuch vngodly proceadings as are now broght in to Englande, how is it poſsible that by the weaker parte, Gods glory ſhulde be reſtored?
To this I anſwere, that as I know the reſtoringe of Gods worde,The anſwere. and comfortable doctrine of our Sauiour Chriſte to be the onelyonly worke of God, and of no man (thoghe he forſake not man as a meane external) and alſo am not ignorant that he regardeth not the multitude and ſtrenghe of man to accompliſhe his purpoſe,Num 13. 1 Sam. 14. Iudith: 9. Iudges. 6. who hath bene accuſtomed to geue the victorie to a few in nomber, and weake in ſtrengh, that the glorie might be his: ſo will I not counſelle you raſhely to caſt your ſelues in to danger, but patiently and erneſtly to call to the lyuing Lorde for mercy, and acknowledging your ſynnes (for which this plague is powred vponupon you) to deſier him to ſhewe ſome ſigne of conforte: who hath promiſed to heare your groninges, and to beholde your affliction,Exod. 2.3 as he did the groninges and oppreſsion of his people in Egypt, when they were broght to full repentance ād fealing of their ſynnes: ſo that he came downe from heauen, ād appeared to Moyſes, and ſent him to be their Capitayne, whom they once had forſaken: as you hauehave done Chriſte.
Iudg. 3.And as he alſo ſent Othoniel to deliuer his people, whē they cryed vntounto him in that captiuitie that they were in vnderunder the idolatrous kynge of Meſopotamia for the ſpace of eight yeres.A ſuer ſigne that God heareth our prayers when he geuith vsus a meane to deliuer vsus.
Nether is this ynough to call vponupon God for helpe, except ye vtterly forſake the wicked doctrine and doinges of the papiſtes, ād ſeeke alſo (to the vttermoſt of your power) for remedie in folowing the example of the people of God, as it is writen: whiche did not onelyonly ſerue God and call to him for helpe, at what tyme they were deſtitute of their worthie Capitayne Iudas Machabeus:1. Mach. 6 but alſo ſoght it, and demanded it where it was like to be founde. And aſſemblinge them ſelues together, came to Ionathan his brother, deſiering him to be their guide and Capitayne, to helpe them in their miſerie, and to defende them agaynſt the enimies of God, their whole nation being then moſte cruelly oppreſſed on eueryevery ſide, and the moſte parte of them in vile ſlauery, ſeruinge the ſtrāge Gods of the heathen. Thē Ionathā pityinge their eſtate and his owne, did not deny their requeſte, but willingly toke in hande that dangerous enterpriſe, beīge aſſured that the cauſe was lawfull, to maintaine to his power Gods glorie ād to ſuccour his afflicted natiō, as his brother Iudas had done before him. And doinge the ſame with a ſimple eye, accordinge as he was boūde, God proſpered his doinge, and he had good ſucceſſe
Therfore yf they did well in demā dinge ſuccour, and he diſcharged his conſcience in graunting their requeſt, why is it not alſo lawfull for you to ſeeke helpe of thē that be able ād willing: and for them likewiſe to graūte helpe, to whom God hath lente it for that vſe eſpecially?
But I know your anſwere: experience (ſaye you) hath taught vsus the contrary. For if God had bene pleaſed herein with. Syr Thomas Wyat that valiant Capitayne taking in hande the like enterpriſe: it ſhulde vndoutedly hauehave had better ſucceſſe. But he being a man, and of God, of great eſtimation amongeſt all goodmen, was notwithſtandinge apprehended, condemned, and at the laſt (althogh he was promiſed his pardon) as a traytor beheaded.Sir Henry Iſley. And beſides him Sir Henry Iſley knight, with many godely men for the ſame facte, hanged, and murthered. The like alſo ye will affir me of that Noble man Henry Lorde Graye, Marques Dorſet, ād Duke of Suffolke:The Duke of Suffolk who onelyonly for the zeale that he had to promote Gods glorie, and the libertie of his countrie, prepared him ſelf with that power he coulde make to the ayde of the ſayed Wyat, accordinge to his promiſſe. But beinge deceaued, or rather betrayed by ſuch as he truſted vntounto,The Lorde Thomas Graye. was in the ende alſo apprehended, and with his brother the Lorde Thomas Gray (a Gentleman of great courage, and towardneſſe, likewiſe beheaded.
Althogh I minde not to ſtand long in the praiſe of theſe worthye mēs factes, who moſte cowardly were of many betrayed, which ſince perchance hauehave felt ſome parte of worſe miſery: yet ſo muche muſt I nedes confeſſe in their behalf, that none but papiſtes, or traytors can iuſtly accuſe them of treaſon or diſobedience. Of whō to be miſdained or ſlandered, is in the eyes of the godly, no ſmall cōmendation, ād prayſe. For to paſſe ouer with ſilēce the duke of Sulffolke (whoſe noble parētage and erneſt louelove that he bare to the promoting of Chriſtes Goſpell, and the welth of his coūtrie, is to all Engliſhe men ſufficiently knowne) what I beſeche you moued Wyat that worthy knight to riſe? Was it his pouertie? Beholde, he was a famous Gētleman of great landes and poſſeſsions, ſtowt and liberall in the ſeruice of his Prince, faithefull to his countrie, and mercifull to the poore. Soght he ambitiouſly honour? Which of his enemies coulde herewith iuſtly charge him? Did he this bicauſe he was of a troubleſome ād buſy nature, which coulde not be vnderunder lawfull gouernement. His great wiſedome, modeſtie, ād gentle behauiour at all tymes, ād to all perſons, did well declare the contrary: euer more being founde a faythfull Capitayne to his Prīce in the fielde, ād an obediēt ſubiecte at home. What thē moued him to this dangerous entrepriſe? Verely, the zeale of Gods trueth and the pitie that he had to his Countrie,what moued M. wy at to this enterpriſe. for the miſeries he ſawe to approche by the vſurped power of vngodly Ieſabell, and her merciles papiſtes the ſowldiars of Antichriſte. Yf it be treaſō to defend the Goſpel and his Countrie frome cruel ſtrangers and enemies, thē was Wyat a traytor ād rebell. but if this was his duetye, and all others that profeſſed Chriſte amōgeſt you, then are all ſuch traytours, as did deceaue him: and ſuch as toke not his parte alſo, whē tyme ād occaſiō by him was iuſtly offered.
And thogh his enterpriſe had not ſuch ſuceſſe, as we would hauehave wiſſhed: yet was it no worſe then our cowardneſſe, and vnworthineſſe deſerued. Whiche nether oght of anie therfore to be condemned, nether ſhulde be anie diſcouragemēt to others in the like. For ſome tymes we ſee the verie ſeruantes of God to hauehave euill ſucceſſe in their doinges,How dangerous it is to iudge the cauſe by the ſucceſſe. Iud. 29 according to mās iudgement: and yet God is well pleaſed therwith. As the example of the Iſraelites, wherof we made mention before dothe moſte manifeſtlie approue: at what tyme they armed them ſelues agaynſt the Beniamites, and that at the commandement of God, and yet were twiſe diſconcfyted, loſing the firſt tyme 22. thouſand men: and the next day folowing 18. thowſand: bothe tymes, conſulting with the Lorde, and folowing his commandement.
If thou wilt here pronounce accordīg to the effecte, behold, thou ſhalt preferre the vile ād adulterous Beniamites to the ſeruaūtes of God: thoſe which moſte abhominably abuſed the Leuites wiffe, to them that with the zele of God ſoght to hauehave the tranſgreſsion puniſhed. Euen ſo, ſaye I of worthie Wyat: Yf you iudge his facte according to the ſucceſſe in mans reaſon: then ſhall you prefarre to him all the falſe and flattering Counſellers, all wicked and blouddy Biſhoppes, and all others that would be counted Nobles, which in very dede be traytours to God and his people. But Wyat, I dowte not, departed with prayſe the ſeruant of God, where all theſe are left to perpetual ſhame and deſtruction without ſpeedie repentance. O noble Wyat, thou art now with God, and thoſe worthy men that died for that enterpriſe▪ Happy art thou, and they which are placed in your euerlaſtinge inheritance, and freed from the miſerie of ſuche as were your enimies, in ſo iuſte and lawfull a cauſe: who liue as yet patrones of idolatrers, of theues and murtherers, agaynſt whō thou and thine ſhall ſtande one daye as iudges to their cōdēnation.
For what can you Nobles or Coūſellers ſaye for yourſelues at that daye, whē God ſhall call you to accompt (ye knowe not how ſone) which hauehave permitted Wyat, and with him the whole Churche and comon welth of England to fall into the handes of Gods enimies, and would not reſkewe him, ſome of you hauing then in your handes ſufficient power not onelyonly to hauehave ſupported him and others which feare God accordinge to duety ād promiſſe. but to hauehave tamed the rāping lyons, raginge beares, ād raueninge wolues?The condē nation of the Nobles in forſakinge Wyat. HaueHave ye not herein iuſtly cōdemned your ſelues as faynt harted cowardes and manifeſte trayters, not onelyonly to Wyat, but to God him ſelf, to his poore oppreſſed ſeruantes, and to your owne natiue and ruynous coūtrie? But your vngodly fetches and wicked doinges (wherof I am not all together ignorant) with your names, I do now purpoſlye omitte: perchāce God in the meane ſeaſon will chaunge your myndes, ſoftē your harde hartes, and call you to repentāce. Otherwiſe doute ye nothīge, but God will miniſter either to me, or ſome other (or it belonge) the like occaſion to ſet forth your ſhame and nakedneſſe to all poſteritie, as you moſte worthely hauehave deſerued: who hithervnto hauehave ſhewed your ſelues (in contemnyng ſo many ād notable occaſiōs offered by Gods prouidence,Goſpellers fearinge man more then God are made inſtrumēts of Satan. as well ſynce as in the dayes of Wyat) to be mē in whom is nether zele to religion, nor louelove to your coūtrie. And therfore I leauinge you to Gods mercies, or fearefull iudgementes, will ſpeake a worde or two by the waye, to thē which will be called Goſpellers, ād yet hauehave armed them ſelues agaynſt the Goſpel drawing forth with them out of their countrie to mayntayne Philipps warres, and to pleaſe Ieſabel (who ſeeketh by that means, to cut their throtes craftely) their poore and ignorant tenā tes and other ſouldiars without knowledge, whiles their brethern be burned at home and their countrie like to be waſted, ſpoyled, oppreſſed, poſſeſſed, and repleniſhed with vngodly Spanyardes. Is this the louelove that ye beare to the worde of God? (ô ye Goſpellers) hauehave ye bene ſo taught in the Goſpel to be wilfull murtherers of your ſelues, and others abrode, rather then lawfull defenders of Gods people, and your countrie at home? Is Gods cauſe become iniuſte ād not meete to be defended: and the cruel murther and ſhamefull ſlaughter of Princes approued? This hathe not the Goſpell taught you, but chieflye in all your doinges to ſeeke the kingdome of God, next to louelove your neighbour as your ſelues: and in no caſe to be murtherers (as all you are) that either for pleaſure of Princes, or hope of promotion, or gayne of wages are become Capitayns, or ſouldiars in vnlawfull warres, eſpecially in this caſe and daungerous tyme.
Then which of you all now for ſhame can accuſe that zelous and godly man Wyat, whither ye be of the Nobles, Coūſellers, Lords, knightes, or of the comon ſouldiars? I wil make your owne conſciences iudges in this matter, whither worthie Wyat or you ſhuld be takē for traytors? He,whither wyat and thoſe that died with him: or the Counſelers Nobles and other that yet lyue are traytours. who in the feare of God and louelove towardes his countrie ſoght to defende all, ād to diſtroye none: or you, who ſeekinge the defēce of none, labour to deſtroy all? He, who indeuered him ſelf to withſtande wicked Ieſabel, and the onelyonly traytors of Gods truthe, and their coūtrie, as Prieſts, Biſhopps, and papiſtes: or you that hauehave bene their maynteyners, with ſhildes ād bucklers. He, who according to the worde of God, ſoght with the daunger of all his goods, landes, and liffe, to keepe out ſtrāgers, which were comynge to rule ouer you, and to deuoure you: or you, which hauehave bene meanes with your liues, lands, and goodes to bringe them in, and to defend them? He, who would be openly knowen in his doinges as he was in harte, their enimie: or you which hate them inwardly, and yet do what you may to ſhewe your ſelues friendes outwardly? But tell me your gaynes in the end. To conclude, he who did his indeuour amonge his contriemen at home to defend them,Souldiars goinge with their Captayns to vnlawfull warres and leuing their coūtry deſtitute, are rebells to God and traytours to their country. Gen. 9. Deut. 5. Leui. 24. The condē nation of London in forſakinge wyat. or you whiche helpinge your enemies abrode, labour to deſtroie your friēdes and countrie at home?
Alſo you ſubiectes ād ſouldiars, which are gone with them to butcher your ſelues and others without cauſe or cōſcience, contrarie to the worde of God, be you aſſured that before him you ſhall be condemned as rebells and diſobedient perſones, where as your godly bretheren which in a iuſt and lawfull cauſe died with faithfull Wyat, are alowed before God, and of all goodmen commended.
O London, London, thou that boaſted thy ſelf to be the Ieruſalem of all Englā de, wherin Chriſt chieflie was preached, and the truethe of his Goſpell beſt knowne, remēber how thou forſookeſt that godly Capitayne, ād what promiſſe thou madeſt him. Thou (I ſay) which mighteſt hauehave bene an example and cōforte to all the Cities, and Townes in Englande, ād to hauehave made the papiſtes to tremble ād quake for feare. God graunt that for thy faynt harte in that behalf, and ſhamefull falling from God in murthering then and ſynce ſo many of his ſeruantes and Prophetes, thou be not left likewiſe deſtitute and deſolate, not one ſtone left vponupon a nother, as happened to Ieruſalē.Mat. 24. Thou canſt not herein defende thy ſelf, which ſynce haſt bene readie, and yet art to maintayne wicked Ieſabell in her tyrannie at home, ād in her vngodly & nedeles warres abrode with thy goods and bodie at her commandement, being therby made an ayeder, helper, and furtherer of all her vngodly oppreſsion and tyrannie. And therfore muſt nedes be partaker with her of the dreadfull plagues and puniſhments, which God hath appoynted for ſuch impietie.
Wherfore to conclude this matter, yf Wyats cauſe was iuſte and lawfull, as thou muſte nedes confeſſe: for if he were fautie in anie poynt, it was chieflie in this, that he pretended rather the cauſe of his countrie, then of Gods Religion, which allwayes oght to be preferred, and with out the which no Realme or nation may long cōtynewe in quietneſſe: for thē God keepeth not watche ouer thē. Yf alſo he was betrayde of others, and ſoght not to betraye any: if he purpoſed Gods glorie, and the defence of his countre: If the iuſtneſſe of the cauſe oght to trye his doīges, ād not the effect that folowed, or the preuētīge of tyme, where vntounto he after a ſorte was inforſed: thē oght no perſone, whither he be a Ruler, or ſubiecte, Counſeller, Noble, publicke or priuate to be diſcouraged, but rather incouraged by Wyats example. The people to ſeeke and demande helpe of thē that are able, and they to graūt thē ſuccour willīgly: ſeeking by all means poſsible to reſtore Chriſt agayne, ād his kīgdome, with whom you hauehave loſt all godlye libertie ād quietneſſe: and to expell Antichriſt and all his adherentes, by whom you are broght in this miſerable ſlauery and bōdage, both of bodies and ſoules.
And thoghe it ſuccede not the firſt or ſeconde tyme, no more then did the entrepriſe of Wyat, or of the Iſraelites: yet when God ſhall ſee your zele and diligence, to be applyed onelyonly in ſeekinge to maynteyne his kingdome, and the glorie therof: he wil helpe no dowte at lenghe to confounde all his enimies, as he did the thirde tyme confort the Iſraelits to the vtter deſtructiō of the adulterous Beniamits.We oght to be cōtented with Gods worde onelyonly and loke for no newe reuelation. We muſt now looke for no reuelations from the heauens to teache vsus our duety, it being ſo playnely ſet before our eyes in his worde. And if in this caſe conſiderately begone in the feare of God, it ſhuld happen any of you to periſhe, conſider you periſhe but in the fleſhe to lyue with God: leauing in the meane tyme an example behinde you, that you liued in his feare and ſoght his glorie according to your duetye.