Necessity of Reforming Our Churches, Title page – Dedication
REASONS TAKEN OVT OF GODS WORD AND THE BEST HVMANE TESTIMONIES PROVING A NECESSITIE OF REFORMING OVR CHVRCHES IN ENGLAND. Framed and applied to 4. Aſſertions wherein the foreſaid purpoſe is contained. The 4. Aſſertions are ſet downe in the Page next following.
I beleeved, therefore I hauehave ſpoken.
Pſal. 116.10.
One thing is neceſſarie.
Luc. 10.42.
1604.
The 4. Aſſertions.
Pag. 1.
1. It is neceſſarie to reforme the Churches of England, their Ministerie, and Ceremonies.
Pag. 57.
2. For the ſpace of 200. yeares after Christ the Viſible Churches vſing governement were not Dioceſan Churches,but particular ordinary Congregations only: and the Biſhops (as they were peculiarly called after the Apostles) were only Pariſhionall not Dioceſan Biſhops, differing from other Pastors only in Prioritie of order not in Maioritie of rule.
Pag. 67.
3. The Scriptures of the New Testaments do cōtaine & ſet forth vntounto vsus (beſides the government by Extraordinary Offices, Apostles Prophetes Evangelistes) an ordinary forme of Church-governement vſed then.
Pag. 70.
4. The ordinary forme of Church-governement ſet forth vntounto vsus in the New Testament, ought neceſſarily to be kept ſtill by vsus; it is not changeable by men, and therefore it only is lawfull.
To the high and mightie Prince IAMES by the grace of God King of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland, Defender of the faith, &c. Grace and peace be multiplied in Christ our Saviour.
RIght high, mightie, and gracious Soveraigne, in moſt humble wiſe your Maieſties loyall & devoted Subiects who for the ſafetie of our ſoules deſire the Reformatiō of our Churches according to Gods word, do caſt downe our ſelves in the true affection of our heartes before your Royall preſence, whom we acknowledge to be the nobleſt pillar of the Goſpell and the greateſt hope for the propagation and eſtabliſhing thereof that is in all Chriſtendom. Beſeeching your Highnes to extend your Kingly ayde and furtherance vntounto vsus in our foreſaid moſt neceſſarie and iuſt deſire, with protection alſo toward our innocencies againſt the Oppreſſion of our Adverſaries in this cauſe. Their Oppreſſions of vsus are and have ben many, very grievous. and of long continuance. For the which we▪ have knowen that your Maieſtie formerly hath ben touched with a godly & tender commiſeration towards vsus. As it is with all humble thankfulnes acknowledged (to your immortall honor) by * a Reverend Father,M. Cartwe. Epiſt. to the King before his Homil. on Eccleſ. one that heeretofore taſted therof, and now lately ſleepeth in the Lord. The truth of God maintayned then, is the very ſame which we now dutifully ſeeke for. Our conſciences are rather more certified of the goodnes and neceſſitie of theſe Ordinances of God, by how much more tyme we have ſpent ſince in examining and trying the Reaſons alleaged to and fro about the ſame. The great increaſing alſo of Papiſtes and Libertines among vsus ſince this time, aſſureth vsus that the preſent Eccleſiaſticall Orders are more friendly to them then to the ſynceritie of the Goſpell. Beſides, the moſt lamentable diſſentions and diverſitie of opinions in matters of Religion breaking foorth every where among the people (contrary to lovely Vnitie, which the Dioceſan Biſhops do vainly pretend to be a proper fruit of their Office, and contrary to that which other Churches refuſing them and their Traditions do ſweetly inioy) this animateth vsus with all dutifull indeavour to ſeeke this Reformation aforeſaid ſo divinely cōmended vntounto vsus. Laſtly, we have had it from your Maieſtie very oft, that whatſoever things in our Churches we can ſhew to be Contrary to Gods word, ſhalbe by your gracious meanes removed: and whatſoever (yet out of vſe with vsus) may appeare by Gods word to be Neceſſary; ſhall be eſtabliſhed. May it pleaſe your moſt gracious Majeſtie, let this word ſtand. We crave, we deſire nothing more. And leſſe then this how can we deſire? I hope it is ſhewed and declared competently in the Treatiſe following that the matters in queſtion wherewith our conſciences are troubled, are in very truth Contrary to Gods Word. And heere we moſt humbly beſeech your Majeſtie on our bended knees to think of vsus no otherwiſe. The Lord is witnes to our ſoules, we by not; that of meere conſcience to God we ſeeke the right, and refuſe the wrong, namely theſe Humane Traditions Eccleſiaſticall: and not (as our Adverſaries ſuggeſt) of any contentious or peeviſh mind. There is no other reaſon in the world moving vsus in this matter, but becauſe we ſee it with our eyes that all ſuch things are directly Contrary to Gods word; and that Chriſtes owne Ordinances which yet we want are neceſſary to be enjoyed for our ſoules health. They are vaine words of men vnadviſed, yea of corrupt mindes, and ſtudying to flatter, which ceaſe not to inculcat (and ſpecially in greateſt preſence) that theſe thinges are Indifferent, and arbitrary. I pray God it com not to paſſe by ſuch reaſoning, that many will hold all things indifferent likewiſe: indifferent of what Religion they be: indifferent whether of any, or of no Religion. Which conceits I feare already are entered in to the hearts of many, yea of thouſands in England. But we beleeve (and the truth is) Gods word never knew any indifferency in matters of the Church or of Religion: wherein all things (whether great or ſmall) have ever ben either ſimply good or evill, neceſſarie or vnlawfull. Our Adverſaries do ſharply riſe vp againſt vsus, and labour to charge vsus with moſt odious reproches and accuſations, chiefly laid out to your Majeſtie and others neere you. Where as they know well, that we com nothing ſhort of themſelves touching any duty to your Highnes Crowne and Dignitie. And in affection to your perſon we hauehave ben before them all, yea then when it hath gon the harder with vsus for it. Only in a point of Religion we differ from them, that we beleeve Gods written Word ought to be our ſole warrant for all things Eccleſiaſticall, and even ſo namely for thoſe with vsus now in controverſie, if at all they be lawfull. Which point they vtterly deny. And for this cauſe they cry out importunatly that we are Schiſmatikes. There is no end of their ſpeeches and writings loading vsus with this extreame injurie. Wherevnto though we hauehave to long vſed more then patient ſilence, yet allwayes we can not do ſo.Ierom. ad Pammach. We are taught by a worthy ſaying of an ancient Divine; Jn crimine Haereſeos neminem oportet eſſe patientem. When any is accuſed of Haereſie or Schiſme, (as we are) he ought by no meanes to put it vp in ſilence, but to make his lawfull defenſe, Wherefore I thought it needfull (being, though the meaneſt of my brethren, yet by Gods grace one of his ſervants in the Miniſtery of the Goſpell, and being not only in generall, but alſo“Anſwer to the hū ble Petition of Miniſters deſiring Reſ. &c. in particular thus traduced by them) needfull therefore I thought it to be to giuegive out ſom Reaſons of our faith and conſcience in this cauſe. Whereby our innocencie & ſound judgment heerein (through Gods bleſſing) ſhalbe made manifeſt, and our Adverſaries chiefeſt evaſions being taken away the truth and neceſſity of this Reformation is more diſtinctly and cleerely demonſtrated. I deny not (moſt noble Prince) but that there be divers Brethren deſiring this Reformation, who yet affirme not all that I affirme in this Treatiſe, or ſomething not ſo fully. Neither are the Dioceſan Biſhops, nor their followers, all wholy of one mind. Yet touching vsus, I know we wholy agree in the groūd of our deſire; which is the Sufficiency and perfection of Gods word in whatſoever matters meerely Eccleſiaſticall. I ſay, meerely Eccleſiaſticall. For in matters any way Civil no man doubteth but God hath left liberty vntounto mans judgment and liking. Howbeit not ſo in things meerely Eccleſiaſticall; as after ſhall further be ſhewed, God willing. And thus every ſober minded man well conſidering the Reaſons heereafter deduced from this ground, will (I hope) in ſhort time not hardly accord with vsus.
But now it remayneth (Gracious Soveraigne) that I intreate your Majeſtie, which in moſt lowly and humble maner I do, to pardon my boldnes. Firſt in gathering theſe Reaſons, & to ſuch a purpoſe as heere is ſignified. Secondly in preſenting them to your Highnes. Thirdly in preſuming heerein to alleage and cite ſome of your owne goulden ſentences. Your religious wiſedom eaſilie perceaveth that this purpoſe, beſide mine owne due defence; concerneth a moſt waightie and holy work: viz. the Reformation of many and great diſorders (as we are perſwaded) in our Churches, which hitherto hauehave ben the proper cauſes of vnſpeakeable hinderance to the Goſpell, and of calamitie to infinit faithfull lovers thereof among vsus. In which regard how glorious a worke this will be and how acceptable to God, how honorable for your ſelfe, and how neceſſary for vsus, your Highnes (I am ſure) right well vnderſtandeth; and I hope by viewing theſe ſmall labours of mine you may ſomwhat more vnderſtand. My deſire was to be brief and plaine in ſo important a cauſe. Wherefore I hauehave touched the pith of all in a few, namely in 4. Aſſertions fortified with ſhort and cleere proofes. And to whom ought I chiefly to offer them but to your Highnes? Cōſidering that you have willed vsus to preaſe by patience and well grounded Reaſons to perſwade all the rest to like of our iudgements, In Baſilicon Doron, to the Reader.or where we ſee better grounds on the other part to incline therevnto. Which by Gods grace we ſhalbe ready alwayes to performe. Conſidering alſo that yours is the Soveraign power heere to give generall redreſſe to theſe our not only temporall, but alſo ſpirituall grievances in our conſciences. And conſidering that you not only know, but alſo embrace and profeſſe moſt religiouſly the ſame maine Principle of our faith and ground of this perſwaſion of our Conſciences which we reſt vponupon: viz. The holy Scriptures abſolut perfection in matters Eccleſiasticall. Laſtly, conſidering how you have eſtabliſhed the Churches in your Maieſties other Kingdom of Scotland, and in your Ilandes of Ierſey and Guernſey, accordingly already. Therefore have I ben bolde in all duty to offer theſe Reaſons to your Maieſtie, as to one whom they principally concerne. Where alſo we do all beſeech you to ſuffer theſe words of exhortation. Be ſtrong in the Lord, and looſe not the things which you have don. Yea proceed, and do this noble work among vsus alſo. The Lorde is with you, while you be with him. When you follow cloſe his wayes, your very enemies ſhalbe at peace with you. It ſhalbe eaſie to do it. To your people generally it wilbe moſt acceptable, as a thing looked for before: to all neighbour Proteſtant Countreys ioyfull, as wherein we ſhalbe all neerer linked togeather. To be ſhort, every way it ſhall bring more Honor and leſſe inconvenience to your eſtate, then perhaps you may ſuppoſe. Finally, Gracious Soveraigne, as touching my preſumption in medling with your writings and applying them to this purpoſe, I can ſay nothing, but only ſubmit my ſelfe to your wiſe, vertuous, and religious conſideration. Sure I am, when we your loyall and faithfull Subiects did firſt ſee and read the ſame, it was the greateſt ioy and comfort to our heartes that could come vntounto vsus. And therfore I could not but give ſom notice thereof, alwayes in the moſt dutifull & obedient affection of my heart that I can expreſſe. The Lord Ieſus in mercy bleſſe your Maieſtie for euer, & preſerve your precious ſoule from flattery and falſhood. AMEN.
Your Maieſties humble, obedient, and faithfull Subiect HENRY IACOB, a Miniſter of Gods word.
Colimus Imperatorem vt hominem à Deo ſecundum, & ſolo Deo minorem.
Tertull. ad Scapul.