Short Declaration of the Mystery of Iniquity, Treatise · Part 1

Short Declaration of the Mystery of Iniquity · Treatise · Part 1

p. 37BVt ſhall wee now thinke wee have fully diſcharged our ſelves to God and men in ſpeaking generally vntounto all, and ſhall wee not in humility, perticulerly call vponupon thoſe ſervants of the lord, of whome he hath eſpecially propheſied, that they ſhall hate the whore and make hir deſolate and naked, & ſhall eate hir fleſh and burne hir with fire; & this ſhalbe done (ſaith the lord) by the Kings of the earth. Reuel. 17.16. of whome wee could be content not once to ſpeake for feare of offending, but therein is infirmity in vsus, and no faithfulnes to God, nor them. The wiſe King, (that knew right well the power and aucthoritie of a King) adviſeth not to ſtand in an evill thinge before the King for he will do what ſoever pleaſeth him Eccle. 8.3. But in a good cauſe, why ſhould wee feare to ſtand before Kings, ſeeing their thrones are eſtabliſhed by juſtice Pro. 16.12. Our cauſe then being good, for it is the cauſe of God, as all ſhall confeſſe. Thus much is it, that wee do in all reverend humility beſeech of all Kings & Princes, that they will performe this ſervice vntounto the lord according to this propheſie propheſied of thē, in the performance whereof the lord requires their fervēt zeale, which they ought to ſhew by their perfect hatred & deteſtatiō of the whore: by which zealous hate they are to be provoaked to make hir deſolate & naked, & to eate hir neſh & burne hir with fire: & after this manner & with theſe great & fervēt affections ſhall theſe Kings that obey the lord in this worke ſerve him. In all this wee beſeech that wee may not be vnderſtood as though wee ment, that Kings ſhould do this by their temporall ſword of juſtice, no, nothing leſſe: the lord requires no ſuch meanes in this buſines, for he hath teſtified by Propheſie, as wee have formerly ſhewed, 2. Theſ. .2. p. 38that he will aboliſh & conſume the man of ſinne, the miſtery of iniquity, which is this Beaſt, and whore, and citie, by the ſpirit of his mouth, & by the brightnes of his comeing: and therefore this propheſie may not be vnderſtood, that Kings ought to do this by their temporall power, but by the word and ſpirit of the lord in their teſtimony, withall holy zeale, and this cannot be done except they firſt take all their power and authoritie from the Beaſt, for no man can ſerv two Maſters, but he ſhall pleaſe the one, and diſpleaſe, the other: Kings cannot ſerve the lambe and the Beaſt, but they muſt needs hate the one and love the other, and this is moſt plainely ſet downe in this Propheſie. Revel. 17. for in the 13. and 17. verſ. it is ſaid of Kings, that they ſhall have all one mynd, & be of one conſent with the Beaſt, & ſhall give their power & aucthority vntounto the Beaſt, & ſhall feight with the lambe vntill the words of God be fulfilled. And in the 16. verſ. They ſhall hate the whore & make hir deſolate, for God hath put in their harts to fulfill his decree. Thus wee ſee theſe Kings propreſied of by the ſpirit of the lord, to do this great worke of God, when they ſhall take it in hand, they ſhall not halt betwixt two opinions, they ſhall not be, neither hote nor cold, but they ſhall be moſt zealonis for the glory of God, and ſhall no longer retayne anie frendſhip with the Beaſt (alwaies our meaning is ſpiritually): now …en thoſe Kings and Princes that will in this ſervice obey the moſt high God, and advāce his glory, that hath ſo greatly advanced them to high honor and dignity, let them take all their power and aucthority from the Beaſt, and with drawe all the affections of their harts and ſoules, and turne them to hatred and to an vtter abhorring of the Beaſt and whore, and ſo ſhall they make it manifeſt vntounto all the world, that they are true lovers of the lambe, p. 39and perfect haters of the Beaſt: and that they, are they in whome this propheſie is fulfilled. Oh, that Kings and Princes would ſtrive to go one before an other in giveing honor to God herein.

And amongſt all the reſt of the great and mighty Kings and Princes of the earth, loyalty, nature, and grace doth bind vsus, with diſires of exceeding dutifull and reverend affections, to wiſh and deſire that our lord and K. might be with the foremoſt in this great and acceptable ſervice of the King of Kinges, and lord of lords, which were a worthy ſervice, moſt well beſeeming our lord the King for whome the King of heaven hath done ſo great things: and if our lord the King will do this ſervice for his God, then muſt he not by his power, ſupport the Beaſt nor his image, which are one and the ſame power. And ſeeing our lord the King hath ſeene the deepe iniquity of the peremptory ruling Preſbitery, let him much more ſee the high iniquity, of the proud, ambicious, cruell, ruling Prelacy, which is a power ſet vp in the place of God, bearing the names of high blaſphemy. Oh let it be far from our lord the K., to give his power which God hath given him to puniſh evill doers, and to reward them that do well, 1. Pet. 2.14. Let it be far from our lord the King, to give this power to the Beaſt or his image, for that advanceth the miſtery of iniquity, and ſmiteth downe the miſtery of godlines. God hath not comunicated his owne power to Kings and Princes for this end.

And ſeeing wee have begun to ſpeake to our lord the King, let vsus declare what power and aucthority God hath given to him, wherevnto his ſubiects ought of conſcience to obey.

Our lord the King hath power to take our ſonnes & our daugthers to do all his ſervices of ware, and p. 40of peace, yea all his ſervile ſervice what ſoever, and he hath power to take our lands & our goods of what ſort or kind ſoever, or the tenth thereof to vſe at his will: and he hath power to take our men ſervants, and maid ſervants, and the cheife of our yong men, and Cattle, and put them to his worke: and wee are to be his ſervants 1. Sam. 8.11.18. in all theſe thinges our lord the King is to be ſubmitted vntounto, and obeyed.

Alſo he hath power to make all manner Gouernors lawes and ordinances of man 1. Het. 2.13.14. Thus doth God give our lord the King power to demaund and take what he will of his ſubiects, & it is to be yeilded him and to comaund what ordinance of man he will, and wee are to obey it. And in all theſe things wee acknowledg before God & men wee ought to be ſubiect; not for feare onelyonly, but alſo for conſcience ſake. …o…n. 13.5. Wee meddle not with anie conditions or contracts, made betwixt the King and his people, whereby our lord the King (in fauour) may, or doth abridg himſelfe of his prerogative, and ſo make himſelfe ſubiect to his owne covenants or conditions, which our lord the King ought to keepe though it be to his diſadvantage, if they be not meerly vnlawfull: but wee ſpeake onelyonly of that power, which God hath given to the King, all which our lord the King ought to vſe lawfully; but if he ſhould do otherwiſe (which God forbid) he is in theſe things to be ſubmitted vntounto Eccl. 8.3.4. and 1. Pet. 2.18.-24. & who ſoever reſiſteth, reſiſteth the ordinance of God & ſhall receive to them ſelves condemnation Rom. 13.2. Thus hath God given our lord the King, all worldly power, which extendeth to all the goods and bodies of his ſervants. And doth our lord the King require anie more? wee knowe he doth not: then let not p. 41our lord the King now be angry that wee his ſervants ſpeake the ſecond time vntounto him. Doth not the King knowe that the God, or Gods, and lord of …ords, hath vnderunder him made our lord the King an earthly King, and given him all earthly power: and that he hath reſerved to himſelf a heavenly Kingdome, a kingdome that is not of this world Ioh. 18.36.37. neither are, the ſubiects of his kingdome of this world, Ioh. 17.14. and yet this King was in this world and his ſubiects are in the world. Verſ. 12.: & that with this kingdome, our lord the King hath nothinge to do, (by his Kingly, power) but as a ſubiect himſelf: and that Chriſt is King alone, onelyonly high Prieſt and cheife Biſhop: and there is no King, no Primate, Metropolitane, ArchBiſhop, lord ſpirituall, but Chriſt onelyonly, nor may be, either in name or power to exerciſe aucthority one over another Luk. 22.25.26. Mat. 23.11.12. And will our lord the King not withſtanding all that Chriſt hath done for him, in giveing him ſuch a kingdome, with ſuch great dignity and power therein, will the King not withſtanding, enter vponupon Chriſts kingdome, and appoint (or by his power ſuffer to be appointed) Lawes, Lords, Law makers over or in this kingdome of Chriſt, who, (wee may be bold to ſay with warrant) if he were vponupon earth in the fleſh, he would be ſubiect to our lord the King in his earthly kingdome, for ſo was he to Ceſar Mat. 17. he paid him tribute, and he comaunded to giuegive vntounto Ceſar, thinges that were Ceſars. Yea he would not meddle with anie thing that belonged to the King, not ſo muchas to comaund the two beethren to devide the inheritance: nor to judg the woman taken in adultery. Far be it thē from the hart of our lord the King, to give p. 42his earthly power to anie to rule as lords over the Kingdome and heritage of Chriſt, which he hath reſerved to himſelf, to rule and governe onelyonly by his word and ſpirit, where no earthly power may be admitted, in that it is no earthly kingdome.

Behold now wee have begun to ſpeake vntounto our lord the King, and wee are but duſt and aſhes, and our lord the King is but duſt and aſhes aſwell as wee, therefore let not our lord the King be angry that his ſervants ſpeake the third time vntounto him, wee knowe our lord the King may do what ſoever pleaſeth him, and who ſhall ſay vntounto him, what doſt thou? Eccleſ. 8.3.4. Yet though he ſhould kill vsus wee wil ſpeake the truth to him. It is the Kings honor to ſearch out a thinge. Prov. 25.1. And wee knowe the King is a wiſe man and a man of vnderſtanding: thus then wee ſpeake vntounto him. Will the King challeng to himſelfe to ſitt vponupon the throne of David, and to iudg Iſraell? wee (the Kings ſervants) meane, will the K. have the ſame power now over the church & houſe of God, that the Kings of Iſraell had vnderunder the law? who ſatt vponupon Davids throne, will and ought the King to make a covenant and cauſe all to ſtand to it? and muſt all ſtand to it? and will & ought the King to compell all that are found in his dominions to ſerve the lord as the King comaunds? 2. Chro. 34.32.33. and will and ought the King to ſlay all that come not to the paſſover? Num. 9.13. If our lord the King have this power thē he ought duly to execute it, and then he ſitts vponupon Davids throne: and then the King of Spaine hath the like power to compell all in his dominions to ſerve God as he comaunds, & ſo every king ſitts vponupon Davids throne, and all Kings are herein to be obeyed: for will not our lord the King that is a man of vnderſtanding, yeild, that Queene Marie the p. 43Kings noble predeceſſor had the ſame power and aucthority by hir ſword of juſtice over hir ſubiects, that our lord the King hath, and that hir ſubiects were bound to obey hir in all things, and ſubmitt to hi… ſword of iuſtice, as well as our lord the Kings ſubiects are to obey him, and ſubmitt to his ſword of iuſtice: for all earthly Kings, have but one manner of power and ſword. Rom. 13. Chap. If our lord the King by his deſeruing iudgment ſee this, then our lord the King will eaſily ſee that as Queene Mary by hir ſword of Iuſtice had no power over hir ſubiects conſciences (for then had ſhe power to make them all Papiſts, and all that reſiſted hir therein ſuffered iuſtly as evil doers) neither hath our lord the King by that ſword of iuſtice power ouer his ſubiects cōſciences: for all earthly powers are one and the ſame in their ſeverall dominions. And if our lord the King will have anie other power it muſt be a ſpirituall power, and thē that muſt be with an other ſword, even a ſpirituall ſword, for an earthly ſword is ordeyned of God onelyonly for an earthly power: and a ſpirituall ſword for a ſpirituall power: and Offences againſt the earthly power muſt be puinſhed with the earthly ſword, and offences againſt the ſpirituall power with the ſpirituall ſword, and with this ſword / the King of Kings make our lord the King mighty through him / to caſt downe holds, caſting downe the ymaginations, & every high thing that is exalted againſt the knowledg of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Chriſt. 2. Cor. 10.4.5. Who is the fruit of Davids loynes, concerning the fleſh, and onelyonly, ſitts vponupon Davids throne for ever. Act. 230. Luke. 1.32.33. & Eſa. 9.7. And vponupon his kingdome to order it, & to ſtabliſh it with iudgment & with Iuſtice. The rod of whoſe power is ſent out of Syon, who is ruler in the midſt of his enimies, p. 44whoſe people ſhall come willingly. Pſal. 110.2.3. and requires not anie earthly power to build vp his Church, as he ſheweth, when he declareth, that all power was given him in heaven and in earth, he bids his Diſciples. Go therefore and teach all nations Baptizing them in the name of the father, &c. he that ſhall beleeve and be Baptized ſhalbe ſaved, But he that will not beleeve ſhalbe damned Mat. 28.19. Mark. 16.16. who when he aſcended vponupon high he led captivity captive and gave gifts vntounto men, he gave ſome to be Appoſtles &c. for the reparing or gathereing together of the Saincts Epheſ. 4.5.12. Here is ſhewed vntounto our lord the King, that which wee knowe he is not ignorant of, that Chriſt onelyonly ſitts vponupon Davids throne to order it and wee the Kings ſervants ſhew it, that the King might not be deceived by deceivers, who would perſwade the K. that he hath the ſame power over the Church of Chriſt that the Kings of Iſrael had over the Church of the old Teſtament, to this end, that they might vſe the K. earthly power, to rule over and build vp (as they pretend) the ſpirituall Tabernacle, Temple, and Church of Chriſt, which if the King ſhall ſuffer them to do, he ſhall ſinne againſt God in entring vponupon the kingdome of Chriſt, who onelyonly is King of Iſraell Ioh. 12.15. whoſe power and ſword are ſpirituall, whoſe Tabernacle, Tēple, and houſe is holy, made with out hands. 2. Cor. 3.17.1. Pet. 2.5. Heb. 9.11. and therefore hath given ſpirituall gifts vntounto men, for the gathering together of the Saincts for the worke of the miſtery, and for the building vp of his body which is his Church; and doth not will nor require to have people comaunded and compelled, by an earthly ſword or power as in the days of Hezekiah, and Ioſiah Kings of Iſrael: for that was an earthly or carnall comaundement. Heb. 7.16. p. 45and they had a worldly Tabernacle made with hands, and worldly ordinances, and Carnall rites. Heb. 9.1.2.10 and therefore were the Ordinances or law comaunded to be kept by a worldly power, and the Tabernacle to be built by hands: but now wee have a Tabernacle which the lord pight, and not man Heb. 8.2. and that carnall comaundement is changed Heb. 7.12. and wee have a comaundement after the power of endles life verſ. 16. vntounto the obedience of which law, no earthly Kings power, can cauſe or bring anie one man to obey, in anie one thing: and the which Tabernacle not made with hands, no earthly power, which conſiſts onelyonly of the ſtrength of hands, can cauſe to be built in anie one part thereof: but all this is to be done onelyonly by the K. of Iſraels power, who hath all power given him in heaven and in earth, whoſe power is all ſufficient to bring vnderunder obedience all his ſubiects, where vntounto no earthly power can be helpfull, whoſe ſword is his word, which is lively and mighty in operation, and ſharper then anie two edged ſword Heb. 4.12. and therefore needs not the helpe of anie Kings ſword. If his ſword will not prevaile to bring men vnderunder obedience to his owne lawes, what can our lord the Kings ſword do? it is ſpirituall obedience that the lord requires, & the K. ſword cānot ſmite the ſpirits of mē: & if our lord the K. ſhall force & cōpell mē to worſhip, & eate the lords ſupper, againſt their cōſciēces, ſo ſhall he make his poore ſubiects, to worſhip and eat vnworthily, whereby he ſhall compell them to ſinne againſt God, and increaſe their owne judgments.

On let not our lord the K. ſuffer ſuch evill to be done by his power; little doth our lord the King know how many thouſands of his people, have bene compelled through troble, and for feare of troble, p. 46to worſhip and to eat the lords ſupper vnworthyly, and ſo to worſhip and to eat and drincke to ther owne damnation: who, although they periſh in their owne ſinnes yet their blood wilbe required at their hands, that have compelled them ſo to ſinne againſt their conſciences, and the lord in mercy give the K. a hart to looke vntounto it, that it be not laid to our lord the K. charg, if he ſhall ſuffer them to exerciſe ſuch powre by his authority.

And wee bow our ſelves to the earth before our lord the K. in greateſt humblenes, beſeeching the K. to iudg righteous iudgment herein, whether there be ſo vniuſt a thing, and of ſo great cruell tyranny, vnderunder the ſunne, as to force mens conſciences in their religion to God, ſeeing that if they err, they muſt pay the price of theyr tranſgreſſion with the loſſe of their ſoules. Oh let the K. iudg, is it not moſt equall, that men ſhould chuſe their religion themſelves ſeeing they onelyonly muſt ſtand themſelves before the iudgment ſeat of God to anſwere for themſelves, when it ſhalbe no excuſe for them to ſay, wee were commanded or compelled to be of this religion, by the King, or by them that had authority from him. And let our lord the K. that is a man of knowledg, yet further conſider, that if the K. ſhould by his power bring his people to the truth, and they walke in the truth and dye in the profeſſion of it, in obedience to the Kings power, either for feare, or love, ſhal they be ſaved? The K. knowes they ſhall not but they that obey the truth in love, whome the love of God conſtrayneth, their obedience onelyonly ſhalbe acceptable to God. 1. Cor. 13. Thus may our lord the K. ſee, that by his Kingly power, he cannot cauſe or make men bring an acceptable ſacrifice to God, and will the King make men, (whether they will or p. 47no) bring an vnacceptable ſacrifice to God? and ſhall the King herein thinke he doth pleaſe God? God forbid. If the King will pleaſe God in ſuch ſervice, then muſt he ſeeke to convert ſinners from goeing aſtray Iam. 5.20. & turne men to righteouſnes Dan. 12.3. not with his ſword of iuſtice, but by the fooliſhnes of preaching, for that is the meanes whereby God hath appointed to ſave them that beleeve 1. Cor. 1.21. and 27. for God hath choſen & appointed the fooliſh things, of the world, the weake things: the vile things: the things that are diſpiſed: and things which are not, to confound and bring to nought things that are: and theſe things hath God choſen to ſet furth Chriſt, the power of God, and the wiſedome of God. Here is not the abſolute auctenticall word of comaund, nor the mighty powerfull puniſhing ſword of our lord the King required to this worke of the publiſhing of the Goſpell of Ieſus-Chriſt. And let the King call to mynd, that which (no doubt) the King hath often redd in the goſpell, according to Luk. Chap. 9.52.56. That when the Samaritanes would not receive Chriſt, and that his diſciples ſaid, wilt thou that wee comaund fire to come dovvne from heaven and conſume them. Ieſus rebuked them, and ſaid, …ye knowe not of what ſpirit ye are, the ſonne of man is not come to deſtroy mens lives but to ſave them: wherby the King doth ſee, that Chriſt will have no mans life touched for his cauſe, if the Samaritans will not receive him, he paſſeth by them: if the Gadarens pray him to depart he leaves them: if anie refuſe to receive his diſciples, he onelyonly bids them ſhake of the duſt of their feet for a witnes againſt them.

Here is no ſword of iuſtice at all required or permitted to ſmite anie for refuſing Chriſt. Then let not our lord the King ſuffer his ſwore of iuſtice, p. 48which God hath given him with power from himſelf, to defend and rule with aucthority, & keepe in all obediēce, his owne people, & people of God, vntounto the Ks. owne lawes & ſtatutes, which apperteynes to the well governing and ruling of the Kings ſtate & kingdome, which is worldly and muſt fade away. Let not our lord the K. ſuffer this ſword to be vſed to rule and keepe in obedience the people of God and of the K. to the lawes, ſtatutes, and ordinances of Chriſt which apperteyne to the well governing and ruling of the kingdome of Chriſt, which is heavenly and endureth for ever: the ſword of whoſe kingdome is ſpirituall, by the power of which ſword onelyonly, Chriſts ſubiects are to be ruled, and kept in obedience to him: by the which ſword our lord the K. muſt be kept in obedience himſelf, if he be a diſciple of Chriſt, & a ſubiect of Chriſts kingdome. And this takes away (with out gain-ſaying) all the Kingly power & authority of our Lord the K. in the kingdome of Chriſt, for he cannot be both a King & a ſubiect, in one and the ſame kingdome: the Kings vndeſtanding hart, will eaſily deſerne this.

Then let our lord the K. in all happines & proſperity ſitt in his owne Princely throne of that mighty Kingdome of Great Britanne. Which God hath given to the King and to his poſterity, and the lord give the K. a moſt wiſe hart to rule & iudg his people: and the lord give all his people faithfull harts to love & obey him: and let all thoſe the K. enimies that would not that he ſhould reigne over them, beſtayne before him.

And let our lord Ieſus-Chriſt in power and Maieſty ſitt vponupon Davids throne, the throne of the Kingdome of Iſraell / which his father hath given vntounto him, & let Chriſt according to his owne wiſedome p. 49iudg his people Iſraell, and let our the K. be his ſubiect, the which our lord the King yeilding himſelfe to be, the K. muſt needs grant that as he is an earthly King he can have no power to rule in this ſpiritual Kingdome of Chriſt, nor can compell anie to be ſubiects thereof (as a King) whilſt the K. is but a ſubiect him ſelf for there may be but one King in Iſrael.

And let not our lord the King be now angry, and his ſervants will ſpeake but this once. Will our lord the K. being him ſelf but a ſubiect of Chriſts Kingdome, take vponupon him by his Kingly power to make Primats, Metropolitans, Arch. Biſhops, and lord Biſhops to be lords in the Kingdome of Chriſt, and over the heritage of God? And will our lord the K. do this againſt the whole rule of Gods word? wherein there is no one tittle to warrant our lord the K. thertoo. Will not our lord the K. be ſupplicated by the humble petition of his ſervants to examine his power & authority herein? Farr is it from the harts of vsus the Kings ſervants, to move the King to depart from the leaſt tittle of his right that belongs to his Royall Crowne & dignity: and farr be it from the King to take from Chriſt Ieſus anie one part of that power & honor which belongs to Chriſt in his Kingdome. Let our lord the King pardon his ſervants for medling in this matter: for wee profeſſe our ſelves bound (vponupon the perill of our ſoules) to be faithfull ſubiects both to Ieſus Chriſt our K. & to our lord & K. & there fore it ſtands vsus vponupon, to know what belongs vntounto Chriſt our heavenly K. and vntounto our earthly K. and Chriſt our ſpirituall K. hath freely ſpoken vntounto vsus, & cōmaunded vsus to give vntounto our K. that which is our Ks. & will not our lord the K. ſay as freely vntounto vsus, give vntounto God, that which is Gods? Wee doubt not but our lord p. 50the King will ſay ſo, why then we appeale vntounto our lord the K. that is our earthly K. & lett the K. ſpeake according to the true iudgment, of his hart, will the K. ſay, that it belongs to him to make ſpirituall Lords over the houſe of God? And will the K. warrant his ſaying to be Good? And if the King warrant it onelyonly by his Princely prerogative, may wee therepō give vntounto the King this power in ſubmitting our ſelves to ſuch ſpirituall Lords, and to their power? were not this to take from our Spirituall Lord and King, that which is even his owne name, title, and power, and give it to another? what greater evill can be comitted againſt Chriſt, then to take his honor and power from him and give it to earthly mē, who ſhould feare & tremble before him, in giveing to him glory & honor, and not takeing from him. Let not our lord the King be partaker in ſuch great evill to ſuffer, a power and name of blaſphemy to be ſet vp ſo directly againſt the expreſſe comaundement of Chriſt, who forbidds all Lordly titles and ruleing power one over another in his Kingdome: we dare not but thinke it is done ignorantly, both by our lord the K. who ſuffers this, and by them that adminiſter in this greateſt evill, wee the Kings ſervants ſay, this greateſt evill, in that it is the abomination of deſolation ſet vp in the high places, which are the dayes of greateſt tribulation, that ever was or ſhalbe, the which dayes except they ſhould be ſhortned no fleſh ſhould be ſaved.

And if it ſhall not yet appeare vntounto our lord the that this Hyrarchy of Arch-Biſhops, and lord Bs. is this abhomination of deſolation ſet in the high places, then wee beſeech the K. vponupon our knees, by his higheſt honor and renowne, by his trueſt juſtice & moſt righteous iudgmēt, by his moſt Godly Princlike care of the ſalvation of al his ſubiects, and laſtly p. 51& above all by his cheifeſt love vntounto God & to his holy truth. That our lord the King will with his Royall cōſent give way that this cauſe may come to an equall tryall, but thus farr: that the K. will but take & hold his ſword of iuſtice from this Hyrarchy, that they may not ſmite the faith full true, & loyall ſubiects of the K. therewith, neither to death, nor to impriſoment, nor to baniſhment, for ſpeaking or writing onelyonly againſt their Kingdome. And let our lord the King (by the humble ſupplication of vsus his ſervants) be intreated, to leave them to defend their ſpirituall power and names by the ſword of the ſpirit, (which ought onelyonly to be the weapon of their warefare, if they be ſpirituall Lords as they pretend, and then ſhall …ur lord the K. ſee this cauſe truely decided, to the Ks. honor and great comfort: for the K. knowes that this Hyrarchy, withall their learned dependancy, if their cauſe be good, they cannot loſe it for want of learning, in that they have wiſedome & learning if it be according to godlines, ſufficient to convince the whole earth, and if they can with all that maſſe of learning, mainteyne their Primacie, and Prelacy, Arch-Biſhopry and ſpirituall Lordſhips, then may our lord the King let them enioy it with comfort; but if they cannot with all the ſpiritual weapons and armor they have, vphold it, then let it fall and go into the bottomles pitt, from whence it is come. Revel. 9.2. and whether it muſt go, though all the Kings on the earth ſhould ſtrive to vphold it. Revel. 20.1.2.10. Let not our lord the K. therefore give the leaſt ſupport therevnto, by the power of his ſword. The lord grant that wee may find fauour in the Kings eies, in this ſo iuſt and equall a cauſe, which is, that wee may but try the power of theſe (called) Spirituall Lords: and that by earthly power p. 52they may not force men to yeild vntounto their ſpirituall aucthority. How can it but ſeeme equall in the Kings ſeight, that ſpirituall lords ſhould have no more ſpirituall authority, then they can gett and mainteyne by ſpiritual power. And if the Hyrarchy themſelves thinke it vnequall that the doctrine of their power ſhould be tryed, & be not moſt willing & ready therevnto, but ſhall by pollicie & ſecret intimations ſhift it of, then ſhall our lord the K. that is wiſe eaſily deſerne that their deeds are evill, and they hate the light neither cometh to the light leaſt their deeds ſhould be reproued Ioh. 3.20. But they that do truth, come to the light, that their deeds may be made manifeſt that they are wrought according to God. Thus ſhal our lord the King & all the world, have a ful tryall of them, whether their deeds are wrought according to God, or no, for if they will now come to the light of Gods word in the ſight of all men, and manifeſt their deeds to be wrought according to God, then have they approved them ſelves: but if they do not, then hath our Saviour Chriſt here condemned thē with his owne mouth, and let our lord the King alſo condemne them in his owne wiſedome. Shall wee need to be importunate with our lord the King in this cauſe of his poore people which concernes the condemnation of all their ſoules? what need wee, ſeeing our lord the King knowes, that a King that iudgeth the cauſe of the poore rightly, his throne ſhalbe eſtabliſhed for ever. Pro. 20.14. Then let our lord the King here the cauſe of the poore: and the rather in that the Kings moſt noble Predeceſſor, hath before iuſtly adiudged the ſame cauſe, and freed his people ſo far of the bondage wherein they were. King Henry the 8. that Prince of great renowne, freed his people from the bondage of the firſt Beaſt, eſpecially in p. 53theſe two great and maine perticulers, in cauſing the ſcriptures to be ſet over and printed for the people in their owne language, that ſo they might heare the word with their owne eares: and alſo that their worſhip ſhould be in their owne tongue, that they might ſpeake to God with theyr owne tongue, and not in a ſtraing tongue, as they did.

Let heaven and earth iudg, and let our lord the K. iudg, & let all the Kings people iudg, whether this was not the depth of all darknes, when men might not knowe what God ſpeake vntounto them, nor knowe in their publique worſhip what they ſpeake vntounto God. Let our lord the K. iudg whether ever there was ſuch ſpirituall cruelty vponupon the earth, when the poore people of God for whome Chriſt died, were debarred from the preſence of God, in their publique worſhip, & might neither heare god, nor ſpeake to God, with their owne outward cares & tongues, but as the Miniſters of the mā of ſinne appointed and in aſtraing tongue, as they taught them. Wee knowe our lord the K. doth ſee that heere the abomination of deſolation was ſet vp in the high places: as alſo that the Corpes of the two witneſſes of God propheſed of Reuel. 11.8. (which are the word and ſpirit of God) lay dead in the ſtreets of that great Citie, there being no true vſe at all of them, and the people being deprived of the life of them, for the word was a dead letter vntounto them, and the ſpirit a dead ſpirit.

The Kings predeceſſor of famous renowme, thus freed his people from that bondage of the firſt Beaſt: but there is riſen vp a ſecond Beaſt, which exerciſeth the power of the firſt Beaſt, and now our lord he Kings people cry vntounto the King with the ſighes and groanes of their ſpirits (and p. 54would cry alſo with a lowd voyce, but for feare of the Beaſt) and humbly beſech the King that he would put too his helping hand to free his people from the bondage of the ſecond Beaſt, that their ſoules may not periſh to everlaſting perdition, which all muſt do which are vnderunder the bondage of the ſame, and ſo continewe. And now let the King heare with an eare of compaſſion, and ſee with an eie of pittie, the cruell ſpirituall bondage that his poore people are kept vnderunder by the ſecond Beaſt in theſe perticulers.

The Kings people have the word in their owne language and may pray in their owne tongue: But they muſt not vnderſtand the word, but as the Lord Biſhops will have it vnderſtood, and they muſt not pray nor adminiſter in the holy things but as they appoint. Now let the King with a godly wiſe hart conſider in what woefull Spirituall bondage, Gods people, and the Kings, are kept by this Hyrarchy. Now plainely would our lord the King ſee the cruell Spirituall tyrany hereof, if the King would make it but his owne cauſe. Would not the King thinke it a muſt cruell tyranny, if the King ſhould be by force compelled to vnderſtand and beleeve the ſcriptures as the Hyrarchy of Rome would have him? And to worſhip God and adminiſter in the holy thinges as that Hyrarchy would appoint? And if the King would not ſo do, that then that Hyrarchy ſhould have power to put the King in priſon, and if that would not ſerve the turne, to procure or cauſe the Kings life to be taken from him, or at leaſt to baniſh the King from his Kingdome, & nation would not our lord the K. thinke this great tyrany & cruell bondage? Wee knowe the King would: for which cauſe the K. and his predeceſſors have caſt of this bondage. p. 55Then let the King ſee that the Kings people are vnderunder this ſame bondage: for if they will not vnderſtand the ſcriptures, and worſhip God, as the Hyrarchy of Arch. Bs. and lord Bs. comaund & appoint, they ſtraight ſend a purſivant, apprehēd them by violence and force, impriſon them, ſometimes divers yeres, manie times not ſuffering ſo much as their wives to come at them, and if their lives cannot be gotten, then procure their exile or baniſhment. The lord give the King a hart to pittie his people herein, the King is ignorant of theſe dealings, and none dare tell the King thereof, the Prelacy have bene ſo mighty and ſo cruell.

And will it pleaſe the King to veiwe the cauſe of his people, (being true and faithfull ſubiects) yet further: what doth it profitt the Kings people to have the word of God to heare, and read it, ſeeing they are debarred of the ſpirit of God to vnderſtand it, but according to private interpretation, by the the lord B. as though they had the ſpirit and could not err. Oh that our lord the King that is a man of excellent wiſedome, would but bēd his wiſedome to behold, how that herin (wherein the whole power of the Beaſt conſiſts) this Hyrarchy of Arch-Bs. & lord Bs. doth nothing differ, from the firſt Beaſt: for the firſt Beaſt kepes both the word and ſpirit from the people: and they kepe the ſpirit of God in bondage, & then is the word of God of no effect, debarring the people of God thereof, tying them to their ſpirits in the vnderſtanding of the ſcriptures which none may try whether they be of God or no, but muſt beleeve and obey, or els go to priſon, and if they will not yeild either he hanged or baniſhed.

Iudg? O King is this a rule of direction, and ordinance of the Lambe? That comaund p. 56Biſhops to be gentle, towards all men, apt to teach, ſuffering the evill men patiently; inſtructing them with meeknes that are contrary mynded, proveing if God at anie time wil give them repentance, that they may acknowledg the truth, and come to amendment, &c. 2. Tim. 2.24.25.26. By theſe fruits may our lord the King & his people knowe the Biſhops of the lambe, that is lowly and meeke, and bids, learne ſo to be of him. Mat. 11.29. but to pull men (that are contrary mynded) out of their houſes by Purſevants, to caſt them into priſon, and cauſe them to lye there at exceſſive charges, vtterly vndoeing them, their wives, and children, and bringing them to all out ward miſery: and cauſing them to be baniſhed, from vnderunder their natural Prince, (to whome they are moſt true ſubiects) furth of their native country, and from their fathers houſes, and all their frends and familiars. Will not our lord the King ſay that theſe are the Biſhops of the Beaſt, who is like a leopard, and his feet like a Beares, and his mouth as the mouth of a Lyon Reuel. 13. of whome they learne, to be proud and cruell. And all theſe eviles and manie moe, have come vponupon the Kings people becauſe they will not vnderſtand the ſcriptures by the ſpirit of the lord Bs. and pray in their worſhip to God by the direction of their ſpirit.

Will our lord the K. heare the earneſt complaint of his people herein: and grant redreſſe that as the Ks. people, by the meanes of the Kings moſt noble predeceſſor enioy that bleſſed liberty to read and heare the word of God in their owne language and to pray in their publique worſhip in their owne tongue: that ſo by our lord the Kings meanes the Kings people may enioy this bleſſed liberty, to vnderſtand the ſcriptures with their owne vnderſtandings, & pray in their publique worſhip with p. 57their owne ſpirits, and then if men err, their ſinne ſhalbe vponupon their owne heads, & the Kings hand ſhalbe innocent & cleare from their tranſgreſſion, which it cannot be, if the K. ſhall willingly ſuffer his power to be vſed to compell men to pray, and vnderſtand by the direction of the Lord Bs. ſpirit: and if the King ſhall give his power to the Lord Bs. but to compell mē to eat meates which through our lord Ieſus Chriſt are all cleane, yet to him that iudgeth them vn cleane to them they are vncleame. Rom. 14.14. in which caſe if a man freely of his owne accord, do eat and doubt, he is condemned, becauſe he eateth not of faith; why then, if a man in this caſe be forced by the Kings power, (whether he will or no) to eat when he doubteth, and ſo he be condemned verſ. 24. is not this to wound the weak conſcience, and to ſin againſt Chriſt? 1. Cor. 8.12. and can our lord the Kings hand be innocent herein? When by the Kings power men ſhalbe compelled to ſin. Oh that the King would then ſee, that if he may not give his power to rule mens cōſciences in the leaſt things, that are indifferent, much leſſe hath the King power to comaund mens conſciences in the greateſt thinges betwene God and man.

This being ſo, wee the Kings ſervants (with all the humility & reverence that can or may be given to anie earthly Prince) do out of the true Loyalty, obedience, & faithfulnes of our harts, thus ſpeake vntounto the King: Let it ſuffice our lord the King and let it not ſeeme a ſmale thinge, that the God of Gods hath made our lord the King a mighty earthly K. over divers nations: and hath given our lord the King an earthly power, to make lawes, & ordinances (ſuch as the King in his owne wiſedome, ſhall thinke beſt, and to change & alter them at his pleaſure) to rule, and governe his people by: and to p. 58appoint Gouernors & Officers to execute the Kings will, and all the Ks. people are bound of conſcience to God, and duty to the King to obey the King herein, with their goods, bodies, & lives in all ſervice, of peace & warr: and who ſoever ſhall reſiſt the King herein, they reſiſt the Ordinance of God, and ſhall receive iudgment from God, beſides the puniſhmēt with the ſword of iuſtice, which God hath given to the K. to puniſh evil doers that trāſgreſſe the K. lawes. And God hath alſo honored the K. with titles and names of Maieſty that are due vntounto himſelfe. Pſal. 82.16. Dan. 5.18. & hath comaunded honor to be given vntounto the K. 1. Pet. 2.…7. And God hath comaunded all his people ſpecially to pray for the K. 1. Ti. 2.2. Let this Kingdome power & honor fully ſatiſfie our lord the Ks. hart, & let it ſuffice the K. to have all rule over his peoples bodies & goods; & let not our lord the K. give his power to be exerciſed over the ſpirits of his people, for they belong to another Kingdome which can not be ſhaken Heb. 12.22.23.28. differing from all earthly Kingdomes: for our lord the K. knowes, that the cheife of earthly Kingdomes are compared to gold, ſilver, braſſe, iron, Dan. 7.37.46. But this is the Kingdome which the God of heaven hath ſet vp, which ſhall neuer be deſtroyed; & this Kingdome ſhall not be given to another people, but to the holy people of the moſt nigh God; & all powers ſhall ſerue & obey him. dā. 2.44. & 7.27. Therefore in this Kingdome, let our lord the K. give vsus his ſervants leave, againe to tell the K. that he muſt be a ſubiect, & that our lord the K. hath no power nor prerogative (as a King) to make lawes, for in this Kingdome, there is but one law-giver, who is able to ſave & to deſtroy. Iam. 4.12. neither hath our lord the King power to appoint Officers in this Kingdome and much leſſe to make ſpirituall lords over p. 59this Kingdome to bring all mens ſpirits in ſubieccion to their ſpirits in the vnderſtāding of the ſcriptures and worſhipping God.

Wherein leaſt wee may ſeeme to ſpeake vntruely to the K. wee humbly beſeech our lord the K. that it may be law full for his ſervants, with his Princely fouour to ſhew the K. ſome few perticulers out of a multitude. And firſt wee ſhew the K. that whereas our Saviour Chriſt Mat. 18.15.…0. gives a rule of direccion to admoniſh a brother, if he ſin, not ſpeaking perticulerly of ſome ſinnes, but generally of all or anie one ſinne, as wee the K. ſervants vnderſtād with all the vnderſtanding that God hath givē vsus. The lord Bs. ſay, this is not to be vnderſtood generally of every ſinne againſt God but perticulerly of ſome, and herein muſt wee be ſubiect to the ſpirit of their vnderſtanding and that rule of Chriſt muſt be made no ſure nor perfect rule. Next let vsus ſhew the K. that if there be ſuch a ſin comitted, as the Bs. do iugd to be a ſin, according to their rule, (which let the K. give his ſervants leave to ſuppoſe to be adultery & that it proceeds or comes to this degree that it muſt be told vntounto the Church, which wee vnderſtand to be the whole congregatiō, moe, or leſſe: The lord Bs. by their ſpirit of vnderſtanding, ſay, tell the Church: That is to be vnderſtood, tell the Ordinary, which is either the Biſhops chācellor, or the Archdeacons Officiall, they are they, that have power to bind in earth, & it ſhalbe bound in heavē, & their fees being, paid thē, they have power to looſe on earth, & it ſhalbe looſed in heaven. Oh that the Ks. eare would but heare half the depth of this iniquity, & the Ks. ſervants knowe the Ks. hart would never endure it that his peoples conſciences ſhould be thus wounded and their ſoules deſtroyed, by being cōpelled to ſubmitt to ſuch ſpirits of vnderſtanding. p. 60Furthermore let our lord the King knowe that whereas the Holy ghoſt teſtifieth Act. 14.23. ſaieing that they had ordeyned Elders by Election in every Church, and praied and faſted: this wee vnderſtand, was the whole Congregations faſting and praying, and Election; and that the Church hath power to appoint ſome to ordeyne or lay on hands, if there be no Elders as they did Act. 13.2.3. but all this (ſay the Lord B. by the ſpirit of our vnderſtandings) doth belong vntounto vsus, and the Patron: and the people have nothinge to do, but muſt be content to have ſuch a Paſtor, as wee appoint, though they never heard him, knewe him, nor ſaw him: and although the congregation after, ward ſhould like neuer ſo well of him; yet the Lord Biſhops they have power to take him away from them, & to deprive him, and ſilence him, & puniſh them if they heare him, although he be never ſo well approved amongſt them. Thus muſt the Kings peoples be compelled to vnderſtand the ſcriptures, for the advancement of their power of Ordination, and deprivation. And whereas wee the Kings ſervants vnderſtand, according to the beſt vnderſtanding that God hath given vsus that Th-appoſtle Paul, giving a rule of direction for the people of God, how to worſhip God, when they come together 1. Cor. 14.26.33. That every one as he hath a Pſalme, or a doctrine, or a tongue, may ſpeake to edification, and if anie thinge be revealed to another that ſitteth by, the firſt is to hold his peace, for all (that have gifts) may propheſie one by one: and in all this, God is noe the God of confuſion, but of Order. Thus do we hold the diſciples of Chriſt, ought to come together, to worſhip God and edifie one another, in the libertie of the ſpirit, according to the gifts and graces that are given to p. 61every one Rom. 12.6. And that every man as he hath received the gift, may adminiſter the ſame one to another 1. Pet. 4.10. The lord Bs. vtterly deny the ſubſtance of all this vnderſtanding, and their ſpirit of vnderſtanding directs, that when the Congregation, is come together, the Preiſt, or Curate, that is licenſed by them, onelyonly muſt performe the worſhip, and muſt beginne their worſhip with their booke, ſtrictly tying them to ſuch ſentences: and then to that which is written after: then a Confeſſion: then an abſolution, with virſickles and anſweres, and Pſalmes, and leſſons, and Te Deum, and the Latany. 3. daies a weeke, and at other times, when the Ordinary ſhal comaund.

Thus may our lord the King ſee, how his peoples ſpirits are in bondage to the lord Bs. ſpirit in the vnderſtanding of the ſcriptures: and they muſt of force againſt their conſciences, vnderſtand them as they comaund, or els go to priſon.

And our lord the King may alſo ſee that whereas neither Chriſt, nor his Appoſtles, ever commaunded, or practiced anie ſet forme of worſhip, whoſe ſpirit had bene moſt fitt to have ordeyned ſuch an order, yet the Lord Bs. (in the perfect jmage of the firſt Beaſt) have compoſed a proportion, and framed an order of praiers and readings for the worſhip of God, comaunding abſolutely the obſervation thereof, forceing the ſpirits of the Kings people to be ſubiect to ther limitations herein: and ſo deliuer Gods people their bread by waight, and their water by meaſaure, not ſuffering the hungry to be ſatiſfied with the bread of life: nor the thirſty to be quenched frō the rivers of waters: but forceing the vnwilling to drincke ſtolne waters out of their Ceſexons, and eat hidden bread out of their ſtorehouſes: but the ſimple that eat and drinke thereof, p. 62knowe not that the dead are there, & that their gheſts are in the depthes of hell. Pro. 9.17.18. Let not our lord the K. be deſpleaſed, ſeeing his ſervants ſpeake but the words of ſobriety: and if the K. ſhall thinke wee miſap…y thē, that is the thinge which wee ſo humbly & earneſtly beſeech the K. may come to tryall; by the Ks. free conſent, and that the Kings hand of power may not be againſt the iuſt and due tryall thereof.

Now when wee the Kings ſervants do ſue for a tryall, wee diſire our lord the King not to conceive that his ſervants meane a day of diſpute, and ſo to handle the cauſe of the lord, as men that contend for prizes, who ſubmitt their cauſe to private cenſure, for that it is private and concernes but themſelves: but our humble and moſt equall ſute to our lord the K. is, that ſeeing this Hyrarchy of Arch. Bs. & lord Bs. do challenge ſuch power & prerogative over our conſciences, that all who cannot of conſciente yeild it vntounto thē, may walke according to their conſciences, and publiſh their defence againſt them: & that theſe that beare the names of ſpirituall lords, may by ſpirituall power onelyonly, convince their gain-ſayers: and not pretend to be ſpirituall Biſhops, and vſe onelyonly the Kings temporall ſword to rule and convince men with: And that our lord the King would ſuffer vsus his ſervants to demaund of them (that take vponupon them to be lord Bs. of whome they have learned to rule by ſuch power, and who hath taught them to put the contrary mynded in priſon; & how they wilbe able to anſwere him (that will bring the greateſt of them to anſwere) who taught all his diſciples, to … not the contrary mynded with meeknes, proveing if at anie time God will give them repentance, and hath taught them to be gentle ſuffering the evill 2. Tim. 2.24.25. And let our lord the p. 63King give vsus his ſervants leave to aſk theſe Lord Bs. whether they thinke that God hath forgotten this his comaundement? or that he wil quite forget to put it in their accompt, becauſe they have al together forgotten to keepe it?

Oh that our lord the King would but take his ſword out of theſe lord Bs. hāds, to whoſe Officie it doth in no ſort apperteyne, if they were Chriſts Biſhops and that the K. would let them onelyonly vſe that ſword which is ſharper then anie two edged ſword, which onelyonly belongs to Chriſts Biſhops in their Office, let the King turne them out, and let them (if there be anie māner of vprightnes in them) come furth with that ſword and armor onelyonly, which the holy ghoſt hath appointed them if they be Chriſt diſciples Epheſ. 6.11.17. And wee wil come to them through Gods grace in the ſpirit of love and meeknes: but when they ſmite vsus with the Ks. ſword of juſtice, & maynteine their aucthority onelyonly by that power, and yet wilbe ſpirituall lords how can wee with faithfullnes to the cauſe of God, but ſhoot them thorow with the arrowes of the Almighty, & filling them the double. Revel. 18.6. Diſcover by the word of truth the height of their iniquity: for if it may pleaſe our lord the K. to conſider there is no other way to try, and diſcover them whether they be ſpirituall or no, but to apply the word of God vntounto them, examine, & compare them by it, as the Church of Epheſus did them which ſaid they were Apoſtles but were not, & found thē lyars. Reuel. 2.2. & if this Hyrarchy of Arch-Bs. & lord Bs. will not nor may not be tryed by the word of God but will ſtill cauſe, (by all the meanes they can) as many as will not worſhip it, ſhould be killed, ſo that none may ſpeake, or write againſt it, but they ſhalbe by death, by impriſoment, or by baniſhmēt p. 64deſtroyed, thē our lord the K. cā iudg, that knowes the practice of the firſt Beaſt in all theſe things, that where the firſt Beaſt hath full power, none may write, nor ſpeake, nor looke amiſſe, but they dye, the King can iudg, whether this Hyrarchy of Arch B. and Lord B. be not the ſecond Beaſt, who hath thus cauſed to be made the jmage of the firſt Beaſt. And if the Kings people may not thus ſay and write, and by the word of God, prove this Hyrarchy ſo to be; but muſt without gainſaying, beleeve the ſcriptures & worſhip God, as they comaund, then are they Lords over our faith, and the people of God have no power from God to vnderſtand the ſcriptures, but all power is given to them: and then muſt wee beleeue they cannot err.

And wee beſeech our lord the King (that is a man of wiſedome) to give righteous iudgment herein, whether the Lord Bs. do not challenge onelyonly to themſelves all power to vnderſtand the ſcriptures and not to eer, when they will by force and violence of impriſoment, baniſhment, or death Compell the Kings people to yeild obedience to their vnderſtanding onelyonly: for if the Kings people muſt not beleeve, that they onelyonly have the power of the ſpirit, and cannot eer, how comes it that the Kings people muſt be compelled onelyonly to obey them in all their vnderſtandings and practices? Except the Kings people muſt obey them though they do err. And if our lord the King will not altogether turne his eare from the deepe complaints, of his ſervants, then let the King heare his ſervants in this point, which is ſo hatefull to the King, and is of all eſtates (that have anie vnderſtanding in the miſtery of godlines) ſo much deteſted; yea the Lord B. themſelves do in words profeſſe great deteſtation p. 65thereof: and that is; that preſumptious ſin of blaſphemy of that Romiſh Beaſt, who holds, he cannot err, and therefore thinkes that he may change times and lawes, as is propheſied of him. Dan. 7.25. and this he doth, as our lord the King well knowes, appointing or comaunding, lawes, days, and times, & forceing obedience, and ſaying he cannot err: ſo that what ſoever he doth it muſt be obeyed, as holy, and good. Oh that our lord the King & all his people, would ſee that the Hyrarchy of Arch-Bs. and Lord Bs. do no leſſe, although in word they deny it, yet in deeds they practice and hold the ſame thinge, that they cannot err. And this can never be denyed, neither ſhall they ever be able to open their mouth to deny it, if they might but be brought ta anſwere: for ſhall they ever be able to anniſwere it, that they ſhould expound the ſcriptures, & make ſpirituall lawes Canons, and decrees, & comaund abſolute obedience: and in divers of their Canons, decreeing excommunication ipſo facto, but that they ſhalbe forced to ſhew by their deeds that they cannot err: & men muſt obey them vponupon that ground, becauſe they cannot err, or els vponupon this ground, that they muſt be obeyed although they do err: for they muſt be obeyed: vponupon which laſt ground, thauſends do obey them. But wee beſeech our lord the King that it may be lawfull without offence vntounto the King to try the Hyrarchy vponupon the firſt ground, which is, that as the Hyrarchy of Rome ſay in words, they cannot err: that ſo in their deeds this Hyrarchy do abſolutely profeſſe they cannot err. Wee with our beſt ability make it plaine to our lord the King and to every eie and eare thus.

The Hyrarchie of Rome, expounds the ſcriptures: makes lawes, Canons, and decrees, and binds all mens conſciences to obey, forceing them therevnto p. 66by excommunication, impriſoment, baniſhment, death, & none may examine the power, aucthority, or warrant thereof by the ſcriptures, but all muſt be received for holy and good, becauſe the Hyrarchy of Rome, ſay in words they cānot err. And wee beſeech our lord the K. to ſee that the Hyrarchy of Arch-Bs. and Lord Bs. do all the ſame thinges; they expound the ſcriptures, make lawes, Canons, & decrees, & bindes all mens conſciences to the obedience thereof, forceing the Ks. true & obedient ſubiects therevnto, by excomunicatiō, impriſoment, baniſhment, (the K. in mercy & juſtice reſtraning them of blood) & none may examine the power & aucthority of anie of their decrees by the ſcriptures, but all muſt be received for holy, & good. Doth not the K. in the wiſedome of his hart ſee, & may not all the K. people ſee, that this Hyrarchy of Arch-Bs. and lord Bs. in all their deeds, do ſhewe, they challeng to have the ſame power not to err, which the Hyrarchy of Rome do ſay in words they have? & thus do they abſolutely in deeds profeſſe they cannot err, which the Hyrarchy of Rome profeſſe in words, and herein the Hy: of Arch-Bs. & lord Bs. are the more deceipt full deceiveablenes of vnrighteouſnes.

And now wee beſeech the Creator of harts to give our lord the King a new hart to conſider of all the exalted abomination of deſolation executed & practiced by this Hyrarchy of Arch Bs. and Lord Bs. and let our lord the K. know, that it concernes the King highly on to conſider of it, in that it is ſet vp, and ſupported, and all the cruelty thereof executed by the Ks. power, whereby they make our lord the K. gilty, of all the impriſoment, baniſhment & perſecution, which by the Kings power, they impoſe vponupon all the faithfull ſubiects of the King who with ſtād their abhominations But aboue all, let our the p. 67King (for the glory of God, and for the ſalvation of the Kings owne ſoule) ſuffer vsus the Kings ſervants, thus far to prevaile with the King that our Lord the King would but ſearch the ſcriptures (whereby the K. knowes he muſt be directed, if he wilbe ſaved) and let the King ſee with his owne eie, what ſhowe of warrant can be found, that the King ſhould take vntounto himſelf power to Elect Biſhops. Oh wee beſeech the King that the ſucceſſive poſſeſſion, and the goodly apparence of this power may nothinge ſway with our lord the King herein: but let the King ſet before his eies, the worthy recorded remembrance (by the ſpirit of God) of Cyrus King of Perſia, who brought furth, the veſſells of the houſe of the lord, which Nabuchadnezzer had taken out of Ieruſalem, & had put them in the houſe of his God Ezra. 1.7.11. Not regarding the monuments of his predeceſſors great cōqueſt, nor the diſpoyling of his Gods of ſuch bewtifull ornaments: nor the departing with treaſure of ſo great value. All theſe reſpects could not hinder this King for reſtoring the veſſells of the houſe of the Lord. Let our lord the K. be no leſſe mynded to the houſe & Church of God: but let our lord the King freely reſtore at once, to the Church and houſe of God the whole glorious power of Chriſt the onelyonly King thereof, and perticulerly that moſt bewtifull ornament of Election and ordination of the Biſhops and deacons thereof, who ought to be elected & ordeyned according to the rule of the holy ghoſt Act. 14.23. & 6.3. and who ought to be qualified withall and every one of thoſe gifts and graces ſet downe vp Th-appoſtle 1. Tim. 3. & Tit. 1. yea & their wives & childrē alſo, or els it is grevious iniquity to chuſe them. And who muſt onelyonly by their Office beare thoſe names & titles which the holy ghoſt hath given them: p. 68and lead or rule by that power which Chriſt hath appointed, and by thoſe lawes, and ordinances: and live by thoſe maintenāces, if they ſtand need. And will our lord the King change all theſe and manie mo lawes, ſtatutes, and ordinances, which Chriſt Ieſus the mediator and King of the new Teſtament, hath appointed and ordeyned in his Church? Will the King take this power to himſelf to Elect in ſuch manner, and ſuch men, as the King thinkes good? And give names, titles, and power ſuch as beſt pleaſeth the King? Hath Ieſus-Chriſt with his blood purchaſed to himſelf this honor to be the head of his Church? Epheſ. 5. And hath he ſhewed himſelf a faithfilll Mediator? And hath he bene accounted worthy of more glory then Moſes? And hath he builded his owne houſe himſelf? Heb. 3. And ſhall he be diſpoyled of all his honor? And will our lord the King be entiſed by evill men to enter vponupon the inheritance of the Sonne of God, in appointing and (by the Kings power) ſuffering to be appointed Lords and lawes in and over the houſe of God which are not according to the patterne? Which lords, becauſe Chriſt is not their buckler, nor faith their ſheild: nor the ſword of the ſpirit the weapon of their warfare, they have deceitfully ſeduced our lord the King bringing themſelves vnderunder his protection for their defence, and getting the Ks. ſword into their hands to deſtroy all that ſpeake or write againſt them, preferring their owne Kingdome before either Chriſts Kingdome, or the kingdome & State of our lord the King as wee have already ſhewed vntounto the King in that they with ſuch loveing patience ſuffer and permitt ſo manie thouſands of Romiſts, who by their profeſſion, and the practices of ſome of them are dangerouſly oppoſite to the Kingdome of Chriſt, and to the King and State: p. 69But theſe Lords Bs. Cannot in anie wiſe endure one, that doth faithfully ſeeke for reformation, becauſe ſuch are onelyonly adverſaries to their kingdome. Wee ſtill pray our lord the King that wee may be free from ſuſpect, for haveing anie thoughts of provoking evill againſt them of the Romiſh religion, in regard of their profeſſion, if they be true & faithfull ſubiects to the King for wee do freely profeſſe, that our lord the King hath no more power over their conſciences then over ours, and that is none at all: for our lord the King is but an earthly King, and he hath no aucthority as a King but in earthly cauſes, and if the Kings people be obedient & true ſubiects, obeying all humane lawes made by the King, our lord the King can require no more: for mens religion to God, is betwixt God and themſelves; the King ſhall not anſwere for it, neither may the King be iugd betwene God and man. Let them be heretikes, Turcks, Iewes, or what ſoever it apperteynes not to the earthly power to puniſh them in the leaſt meaſure. This is made evident to our lord the King by the ſcriptures. When Paul was brought before Gallio deputie of Achaia, and accuſed of the Iewes for perſuading men to worſhip God contrary to the law. Gallio ſaid vntounto the Iewes, if it were a matter of wronge or an evill deed, o ye Iewes, I would according to right mainteyne you, & he drave them from the iudgment ſeat Act. 18.12.17. ſhewing them that matters of wrong and evill deeds, which were betwixt man & man apperteyned onelyonly to the iudgment ſeat, and not queſtions of religion. The like is ſhewed by the Twne clerke of Epheſus in Act. 19.38.39. And further Paul being in like caſe accuſed of manie thinges Act. 24. in the 25. chap. he appeales to Ceſars iudgment ſeat, where he ſaith he ought to be p. 70judged approveing and juſtifieing thereby, that Ceſars power & judgment ſeat was the holy Ordinā ce of God: and our Saviour Chriſt is himſelf obedient therevnto, & comaunds & teacheth his Diſciples obedience: but this judgment ſeat, & power which was of God, had nothinge to do in the cauſes of the Religion of God, as our lord the King may ſee: for if it had, then could not our Saviour Chriſt have comaunded obedience therevnto, but he muſt have vtterly overthrowne his owne kingdome and power: Neither could Th'appoſtle Paul, have ſaid he ought to be judged at Ceſars judgment ſeat if Ceſar had, or might have judged in cauſes of Religion to God, for then had he vtterly overthrowne the Office of his Appoſtle-ſhip, and then had he ſubmitted his Appoſtle-ſhip wholy to the judgment of Ceſar, and ſo had the power and aucthority of it, bene altogether deſtroyed, & made of no effect, which might in no wiſe be.

Now let our lord the K. (whoſe honor it is wiſely to judg in thinges that differ) judg, whether there be in theſe daies, anie other earthly power or anie other ſpirituall power, but the ſame that was in Chriſt and his Appoſtles times, in which times, all earthly power, was in the hands of earthly Kings and Princes, and them that were in aucthority vnderunder them, and Chriſt and his Appoſtles diminiſhed not Kings and Princes of the leaſt tittle thereof. And all ſpirituall power was in the hands of Chriſt and his Appoſtles, that were in aucthority vnderunder him, of which ſpirituall power & aucthority, Chriſt nor his Appoſtles would ſuffer no earthly K. to diminiſh them of the leaſt tittle thereof, but rather gave them their lives: if then our lord the K. do deſerue that earthly Kings and Princes, had the ſame power then that Kings p. 71and Princes have now, and that Kings & Princes had no power then over mens religion, which was ſpirituall and belonged to Chriſt: men were then to give vntounto God, that which was Gods: and vntounto Ceſar, and ſo vntounto all earthly Princes, onelyonly that which apperteyned to them. Then let our lord the King judg by what warrant of Gods word the King can now, take to himſelf a ſpirituall power, and ſet vp an Hyrarchy of Arch Biſhop & Lord B. and give aucthority to them to make lawes and Canons of Religion, and to give them power to compell men vntounto the obedience there of; by ſuch ſeveer courſes as they have done. Let our lord the King conſider (and the Lord give the K. wiſedome therein) that if no King nor Prince could have ſet vp ſuch an Hyrarchy, with ſuch power and titles then, but they had vtterly troden vnderunder foot all the dignity and power of Chriſt and his Appoſtles (for Chriſt, and his Appoſtles muſt have bene ſubiect therevnto) neither may anie King ſet vp ſuch an Hyrarchy now, becauſe it doth vtterly tread vnderunder foot, all the dignity and power of Chriſt and his Appoſtles, as well now, as it had done then: for wee have now Chriſt and his Appoſtles in all their power & dignity as well as they had in thoſe dayes according to that ſaying of our Saviour Chriſt in the parable. They have Moſes and the Prophetts.

And wee humble beſeech our lord the K. a little to ſuffer the fooliſhnes of his ſervants, although wee may ſeeme as fooles vntounto the king herein. If there had bene ſuch a ſteaing Hyrarchy ſet vp in Chriſt and Th-appoſtles daies, would the Hyrarchy have ſuffered vsus (that are thouſands of the K. of great Brittans ſubiects) to have gone to Chriſt & his Appoſtles to have aſked them, whether wee ſhould p. 72have obeyed them or no, in all their Canons and ordinances? And whether wee ſhould have given thē thoſe titles of ſuperiority, and all that ruling power which they challeng over vsus the Kings ſubiects? ſureby they will ſay, they would not have denyed vsus that liberty to have gone, in ſo waighty a cauſe, and being ſo manie, to have aſked Counſell of Chriſt, and his Appoſtles, what wee ſhould have done: 20. thouſands being ignorant, and 10. thouſands being doubtfull whether anie ſuch power might be ſubmitted too or no; and thouſands being out of all doubt, that it might not be ſubmitted vntounto; they will ſay they would not have denyed vsus: but wee knowe what their Canons would have made of it, and wee may ſuſpect juſtly, that they would have enformed the King that it were very dangerous to ſuffer ſo manie to go vntounto Chriſt, and his Appoſtles for counſell and that it were not fitt to ſuffer ſuch giddy heads to have that libertie, for makeing rents and diviſions: and that it were much more ſafety, for the King to ſuffer them, to make all whole by their power, and to ſubdue ſuch buſie refractary ſpirits. Let the King with fauour ſuffer his ſervants, thus to ſpeake by the way, leaſt peraduenture anie ſuch thinges come in the way. And wee the Kings ſervants now takeing it for granted that the Arch Bs. and lord Bs. (that profeſſe ſuch great holines) would not have deneyd vsus to have gone to Ieſus Chriſt and his Appoſtles to be directed. And if Chriſt and his Appoſtles, had, (in the hearing of all our owne eares, being ſo ma witneſſes) comaunded vsus abſolutely not to yeild the Arch-Bs. and lord Bs. anie ſuch power or names, could wee yeld it them? Although the Arch-Bs. and Lord Bs. ſhould (with 20. thouſands of witneſſes) affirme, that Chriſt and his Appoſtles p. 73ſpake otherwiſe, to their hearing. Would our lord the King thinke it equall, that wee ſhould be forced to beleeue their hearing, becauſe they are lord Bs. contrary to the hearing of our owne eares, & being ſo manie witneſſes of one Nation and tongue, beſides hundreth thouſands of witneſſes of other Nations & tongues? Wee knowe our lord the K. would thinke it no more equall (if the caſe were ſo) that wee ſhould be forced to beleeve the lord Bs. hearīg, then that they ſhould be forced to beleeve our hearing.

Then iugd O King, for the caſe is all one and the ſame: for wee have Chriſt and his Appoſtles in their writings, and they do abſolutely ſpeake to our vnderſtandings, that in no wiſe there ought to be anie ſuch Hyrarchy of Arch Bs. and Lord Bs. in Chriſts Church. And the Lord Bs. ſay, that Chriſt and his Appoſtles, ſpeakes to their vnderſtandings, that there power and names are not cō trary to Chriſts words. Can our lord the King (that is accompted a moſt wiſe and iuſt Prince in his iudgment) iudg, that wee are all bound to caſt away our owne vnderſtandings of Chriſts ſpeaking, and are to be compelled to beleeve and vnderſtand Chriſt to ſpeake, as the lord Bs. vnderſtād Chriſts ſpeaking? Oh let our lord the King with compaſſion, conſider, whether ever ſince the heavens and earth were created, there was a more vnequall extreame cruelty then this, that the Kings people ſhould be compelled (in a cauſe that concernes the everlaſting condemnation of their ſoules & bodyes to Hell) of force to ſubmitt their ſoules and bodies to the vnderſtanding of the Lord Bs. that are not able to direct themſelves from the waies of death, but are periſhed every man, that ever bare that Office with thoſe names and power, if they repented not thereof, although they had no other ſinne: and p. 74they alſo that do now beare that Office with thoſe titles & power ſhall likewiſe all periſh to everlaſting deſtruction, if they do not repent thereof, and caſt it away: the ſpirit of the lord hath ſpoken it Reuel. 19.20. the Beaſt was taken, and with him that falſe Prophet that wrought myracles before him, whereby he deceived them that received the Beaſts marke, and them that worſhipped his jmage, theſe both were caſt aliue into a lake of fire, burning with brimſtone. And thus manifeſting to our lord the K. that Ieſus Chriſt is onelyonly K. of Iſraell, that ſitts vpō Davids throne, & therefore onelyonly hath the power of the King of Iſrael, and none may partake with him in that kingdome and power, who had the Spirit without meaſure: and yet neither he, nor his Appoſtles that had the Spirit without error to deliuer the Counſels of God, did ever by example, practice, nor by rule comaund nor give power that anie ſhould be compelled by anie bodily puniſhment to obey their lawes and Ordinances, which were infalibly true holy, and good: How much leſſe ought our lord the King to comaund, or give a power to Arch-Bs. & lord Bs. (men full of the ſpirit of error) to make lawes & Canons with aucthority from the King to compell by impriſoment & ſharpe perſecutions, the Kings true ſubiects, and people of God vntounto the obediente thereof: who for their religion to God (although they be contrary mynded to the K. therein) ought not (ſeeing they deſerue not) to be puniſhed either with death or bonds: & this is cōfirmed to the K. by the teſtimony of King Agrippa and noble Feſtus the governor, who adiuged Paul to have done nothing worthy of death or bonds, but that he might have bene looſed, if he had not appealed to Ceſar: & yet Paul was contrary mynded to Ceſar & to the jewes in his religion to God: p. 75But they iudged him by the lawe of Nations: by the power of which law, the Kings of the nations are to rule & judg, according to their owne ſeverall lawes, againſt which law, Paul had not tranſgreſſed for his cauſe was concerning the faith of Ieſus Chriſt which could not be judged by that law.

And let our lord the King give his ſervants leave to comend this to the Kings beſt obſervatiō, which is worthy to be obſerved: that, where ſoever in the new teſtament throughout, the profeſſors of the faith of Ieſus, were adiudged by earthly rulers & Governors, for anie thinge that they did or held of conſcience, to God, & of faith to Ieſus Chriſt, if earthly Rulers and Gouernors tooke the cauſe in hand by their power, the iudgment was alwaes wicked and abhominable. And if our lord the King will but begin his obſeruation at the fore-runner of Chriſt, Iohn Baptiſt, whome Herod put in priſō and beheaded. And then let the King come to Ieſus Chriſt, whome they iudged and crucified, finding no evill he had done. And ſo if it pleaſe the K. to looke throughout the whole booke of the Act. there the King knowes how the diſciples of Chriſt, were impriſoned, threatned, beaten, ſtoned: The made Saul hauock with his letters of Comiſſion, and entred into every houſe and drew out both men, & wemen and put them in priſon. Then Herod ſtretched furth his hand and vexed certen of the Church, and Killed Iames the brother of Iohn with the ſword, and Caught Peter and put him in priſon. Then were Paul and Sylas taken at Philippi, by the Gouernors and people, and were ſore beaten & caſt into priſon, and the Iailer comaunded to kepe them ſurey, being charged to preach Ordinances which were not lawfull for the Romans to receive nor obſerve.

Here may our lord the King ſee a true patterne, how the people of God are perſecuted, when the p. 76Civill power doth iudg their cauſe of their faith, and profeſſion in their religion to God. Thus have worldly Gouernors delt with the Church of Chriſt, when the diſciples fell vnderunder their cenſure for their faith to God. And all theſe ſentences of death, bonds, and perſecutions the King can iugd to be vniuſt and vnlaw full, in that theſe Rulers and Gouernors had no lawfull power nor aucthority to iudg Chriſt, nor his diſciples for matters of faith, they being in all other thinges obedient to their lawes. But men wil ſay all this is anſwered in one word. They were heathen Rulers. Now if our lord the K. will challeng a Prerogative or power, becauſ. he profeſſeth Chriſt, then let it be lawfull for the King ſervants, to tell the King that it he will profeſſe to be a diſciple of Chriſt, that gives the King no power to do anie of all theſe thinges to impriſon, to baniſh, to put to death, that belongs onelyonly to his earthly Kingdome: for Chriſt and Appoſtles had no ſuch power given them: neither taught they the diſciples to take vponupon them anie ſuch power, and to execute it vponupon the contrary mynded, but taught them the cōtrary to inſtruct thē with meeknes, and by preaching the word ſeeke their converſion, with all long ſuffering, and not to deſtroy them by ſevere puniſhments: yea the diſciples of Chriſt muſt wait and labor for the grafting in againe of the Iewes, according to the propheſies of the ſcriptures. Rom. 11.24.27. and therefore the King knowes they may not be deſtroyed, although they be the greateſt enimies of Chriſt that are vponupon the earth, and have, and yet do caſt the greateſt reproach and contempt vponupon Chriſt, with ſuch words, as are moſt fearfull to vtter: yet muſt the diſciples of Chriſt wait for their converſion, and not worke their deſtruction. And let our lord the King call to mynd, p. 77how the Appoſtle Paul teacheth all the diſciples of Chriſt to be mynded towards all infidells Rom. 1. 14.15. where he ſaith. Iam debter both to the Grecian and to the Barbarian both to the wiſe and to the vn wiſe. And the ſame Appoſtle 1. Cor. 9.20.21.22. ſaith, To the Iewes I become as a Iew: to them that are vnderunder the law, as though I were vnderunder the law: to them that are without the law as though I were without the law: to the weake I become as weake, that I may wīne the weake, I am made (ſaith Th-appoſtle) all thinges to all men, that I might by all meanes ſave ſome. All theſe inſtructions and directions, are for our lord the King to direct the King how he ſhould go in and out with holines & all meeknes before his people to wynne them to Chriſt: and not to ſet vp a Cruell Hyrarchy to make havock of the K. people, (as. Saul did) pulling them out of their houſes both men and wemen: caſting them into priſons: forceing them to flee the land, and perſecuting them with all cruelty. May the King ſuffer all this to be done by his power, vponupon this ground of being a Chriſtian King? the Kings ſervants ſhewe the King yet once againe in all humility, that Chriſt the King did not ſo himſelf: he never appointed to be puniſhed anie one man for deſobeing his Goſpell, with the leaſt bodily puniſhment. And therefore wee inſtantly exhort our lord the King that the King would be no longer ſeduced by thoſe moſt dangerous deceivers, that have gottē the Kings power to puniſh thoſe, that Chriſt, the King of Iſraell would not puniſh: & that perſuade the King that the King hath the ſame power in the Kingdome and over the houſe and people of Chriſt, that the Kings of Iſraell had in that Kingdome, and over that houſe, and people of God, as it was the Church of God.

p. 78Wee (according to our great weaknes) have ſhewed to our lord, the King before, that the King cannot challeng that power, meaning onelyonly in reſpect of Religion. And wee will by the Kings favour repeat the ſubſtāce, of the whole ground in few words: and wee beſeech the King that wee may the rather do it, in that the whole cauſe depends thereon. And wee repeat it vntounto the King in theſe few words, which ſhall never be diſanulled or made void, whilſt the heavens and earth endure: not becauſe they are our words, God forbid, anie ſuch arrogancie ſhould poſſeſſe our harts: but they ſhall never be made void, neither ſhall anie ever be able to gain-ſay them with anie ſhew of truth, becauſe they are the words of the everlaſting God of truth, whereby wee ſhew vntounto the King, that the King cannot have that power (in reſpect of Religion to God) in the kingdome and over the houſe and Iſraell or people of Chriſt now, that the Kings of Iſraell had in the old Teſtament, or in the tune of the law. The ground wee repeat vntounto the King is this. That the kingdome of Iſraell was an earthly or worldly kingdome: an earthly or worldly Temple, Tabernacle, or houſe: an earthly or worldly people: and the King an earthly King, who in and over all that kingdome, Temple, and people could require onelyonly earthly obedience. But the kingdome of Chriſt now, is an heavenly kingdome not of this world: his Temple, Tabernacle, or houſe an heavenly Temple, Tabernacle, or houſe, his people, a heavenly, or ſpirituall people, not of this world: and the King Chriſt Ieſus a heavenly ſpirituall King. requiring ſpirituall obedience.

Therefore our lord the King can not as a King have anie power over this kingdome, Temple p. 79Tabernacle, houſe and People of God in reſpect of the Religion of God: becauſe our lord the King his kingdome is an earthly kingdome: and to our lord the King belongs onelyonly all earthly obedience ſervice, and duty, which ought to ſuffice anie earthly man. And the God of all Grace, give our lord the King a gracious hart fully, to be ſatiſfied and contented with that great honor power and dignity that belongs vntounto the King and to give glory and honor to God for it, that it may go well with the King and his poſterity for ever. And the God of heaven deliver the King from all ſuch enchanters of Egipt, as ſhall perſwade the King to take vponupon him the power of the Kings of Iſrael, over the Church of Chriſt, onelyonly for the ſetting vp, and ſupporting of their High Prieſt hood with vrim, and Thummim, with Pompe, and power: and the Leviticall revenewes of Iſraell, which they challeng and hold as apperteyning thervnto forceing the Kings people by cruelty to obey them, as though with them onelyonly remayned, the oracles of God.

And now if they will ſhew anie manner of vprightnes vntounto God, or faithfulnes to the King or anie regard to Gods people, let them not mainteyne their kingdome, which they have obteyned of the King by deceit and flatteries, as is propheſied Dan. 11.21. Let them not mainteyne it by the Kings ſword and power: but let them come furth with that ſword and power, whereof they glory ſo much, and vſe ſo little, and mainteyne their names power & cruelty with it, and wee profeſſe before God, & the whole hoaſt of heaven: & before our Lord the King and all his people, that if they can prove evidently to our conſciences by the holy word of God, that wee may obey them in all their p. 80Canons and decrees, and give them thoſe names and titles, without the everlaſting deſtructiō of our ſoules and bodies in hell: yea if they can but prove that wee ought to reſt or depend vponupon their iugdments & vnderſtandings in the expoſition of anie one part of Gods word: or that they have power to ordeyne and appoint anie one Ordinance, or the manner of adminiſtring anie one Ordinance in the worſhip of God and Church of Chriſt, wee profeſſ. vntounto our lord the King wee will yeild them all the obedience they require. But if they will prove theſe thinges onelyonly by Conuotation Canons, how can our lord the King require that the Kings ſervants ſhould diſhonor God, by caſting his holy truth away, and with it the ſalvation of our ſoules, and depend vponupon their Canons, and yeild them obedience, and periſh both in ſoules and bodies. Wee have rather choſen thus to ſay downe our lives at the feet of our lord the King in preſenting the cauſe into the Kings preſence. Saying with Eſter. If, we periſh, we periſh for coming thus boldly vncalled into the Kings preſence: but we will wait with hope and expectation, that through the gracious worke of the lord, the King will hold furth his golden rod, that wee may live: and not ſo onelyonly but alſo that by the Kings meanes comfort and delivrance ſhall appeare vntounto Iſraell. And that our lord the King will ſay, as that great King of Perſia ſaid, Ezra. 1.2. The lord God of heaven hath given me many Kingdomes of the earth, and hath comaunded me to build him an houſe in Ieruſalem, who is he amongſt you of all his people, with whome his God is, let him go to Ieruſalem & build the houſe of the lord God of Iſraell. And as King Darius ſaid, Ezra. 6.7.16. Suffer the worke of the houſe of God, that the Iſraelites may build this houſe of God in his place, that they may offer ſweet p. 81odours vntounto the God of heaven, and pray for the Kings life and for his ſonnes. And as Artahſhaſhte King of Perſia ſaid Ezra. 7.23. what ſoever is by the comaundement of the God of heaven; let it be done ſpedily for the houſe of the God of heaven, for why ſhould he be wroath againſt the Realme of the King, and his children.

Thus beſeeching the director of all harts to direct the Kings hart in theſe thinges, wee continew praying for the King and his Sonne, and the Kings Realmes and children. That the King and his ſeed, to Gods glory, may ſitt vponupon the throne of Great Brittane whilſt the earth endures, poſſeſſing from God, wiſedome and Riches, and Honor befitting the dignity of their high Renowne: & that they may walke in the waies of god that god according to his promiſſe may prolong their dayes. And the Lord give all the Kings people faithfull, vpright, and honeſt harts, that they may all with one hart as one man. Feare God: and Honor and obey the King, with all the honor and obedience that hath, or can be due to anie earthly King or Prince, which is, all earthly and worldly obedience with lands goods, bodie, and life.

And wee moſt humbly ſupplicate our Lord the King and all the honorable and worthy Gouernors vnderunder the King that they will not ſuffer them ſelves to be miſſed in judgment in condemning vsus as movers of Sedition, and our bookes for ſeditions bookes, becauſe wee differ from the recieved profeſſion of Religion in the land, but that they will according to that great gravity and wiſedome that is vponupon them, wey what Sedition is, and they will eaſly find that to profeſſe and teach a differing judgment in Religion to the State, cannot be proved p. 82Sedition: for then had our Saviour Chriſt, and all his Diſciples bene found ſeditious perſons, which neuer could be proved againſt them: neither could Tertullus with all his Oratory prove Paul a mover of Sedition to Felix the Gouernor who was willing to pleaſure the Iewes in this matter Act. 24. if he could have found anie advantage againſt Paul: but vnderunder all that excellent and mighty Gouerment of Ceſar, vnderunder whome there was ſo manie wiſe Kings and noble Gouernors, difference in Religion could never be proved Sedition againſt the S…ate. Neither could it ever be proved Sedition in all or anie of thoſe that differed from the profeſſiō of Religiō eſtabliſhed in Q. Maries daies although they taught and profeſſed the ſame as even the Lord B. them ſelves will confeſſe.

And it is neither accounted nor found Sedition, in divers excellent well Gouerned Nations round about, to profeſſe and teach a differing judgment in Religion from the profeſſion generally eſtabliſhed, as our Lord the King and all his worthy Gouernors ſee and knowe. It is but the falſe ſurmiſe and accuſation of the Scribes and Phariſeis, who feared their owne kingdome: and of Demetrius the Silver-ſmith with the Craftsmen, whoſe Craft was in danger, whereby they gott their goods Act. 19. they them ſelves raiſed tumults and moved Sedition, and ever laid the blame vponupon the Diſciples: even ſo is it now and ever wilbe, that ſuch as feare their owne kingdome and private gayne, do, and will falſly accuſe the Diſciples of Chriſt as movers of Sedition againſt the State. And if the lord Bſ. will not be found falſe accuſers herein, as their predeceſſors have bene, thē lett thē (if they can) forbeare to accuſe before they have cauſe.

p. 83But let them take heed leaſt when they ſhall ſee fyve in one houſe devided, three againſt two, and two againſt three, the father devided againſt the ſonne, and the ſonne againſt the father ect. let them take heed, they call not that Sedetion, if they do, they ſhall call Chriſt a ſower of Sedetion, for what was his diſire, but that the fire of ſuch Sedetion ſhould be kindled Luk. 12.49.52.53. And may it pleaſe our Lord the King and all that are in authority of Gouerment vnderunder the King, with their wiſe judgment to conſider that it wilbe a ſtraing thinge to condemne men for Sedetion, who profeſſe and teach that in all earthly thinges, the Kings power is to be ſubmitted vntounto: and in heavenly or ſpirituall thinges, if the King or anie in authority vnderunder him ſhall exerciſe their power againſt anie, they are not to reſiſt, by anie way or meanes although it were in their power, but rather ſubmitt to give their lives, as Chriſt & his Diſciples did, and yet kepe their conſciences to God: and they that teach anie other Doctrine, let them be held accurſed.