Theses, Text
THESES MARTINIANAE: That is, The vnanſwerable Concluſions of MARTIN, wherein are plainely ſet downe many ſtraunge and vnknowen things (if hereafter they may be prooued) againſt the Biſhops.
Compiled by Martin the Great: found and publiſhed by Martin Iunior, for the benefite of poſteritie, if his fathers ſhould be ſlaine.
1 THat al the officers of a true & lawful church gouernement in regarde of their offices, are members of the viſible bodie of Chriſt, which is the Church. Rom. 12.4,5. &c. 1. Cor. 12.8,28.
2 That none but Chriſt alone is to ordeine the members of his bodie, to wit, of the Church: Becauſe
3 That the Lorde in his worde hath left the church perfect in all her members, which he ſhold nor hauehave done, if he had not ordeined all the officers, namely, the members thereof, and ſo hee ſhould leaue the building of his church vnperfect, and ſo it muſt continue, for who wil preſume to finiſh that which hee hath left vndone in the building of his Church.
4 That to ordeine a perfect and an vnchangeable gouernement of the Church, is, a part of Chriſtes prerogatiue royall, and therfore cannot, without the great derogation of the Sonne of God; bee claimed by any Church or man.
5 That if Chriſt did not ordeine a Church-gouernement, which at the pleaſure of man can not be changed, then hee is inferiour vntounto Moſes, for the gouernment placed by him might no man to alter, and thereto might no man adde any thing. Heb. 3.2,3.
6 That the Lorde in the Newe Teſtament did appoint as perfite and vnchangeable a forme of Church-gouernement in the offices and officets thereof, as Moſes did in the olde.
7 That the Lorde neuer placed any offices in the Newe Teſtament, but the offices of Apoſtles, Prophets, Euangeliſtes, Paſtors, Doctours, Elders, and Deacons.
8 That vntounto the end of the worlde there were no other offices to bee placed in the Church, but onelyonly theſe.
9 That none of theſe were, and ſo no offices of a lawful Church-gouernement are to be remoued out of the Church, by any but by the Lorde Chriſthimſelfe, who placed them, becauſe they are the members of his body, in the placing or diſplacing whereof, man hath no skill, nor yet commiſſion to deale.
10 That the Lord for the cauſes ſeeming good to his owne wiſedome (whereof any further then hee hath ſet downe in his worde man is not to enquire) hath remoued out of the church the offices of Apoſtles, Prophets, and Euangeliſts.
11 That the want of theſe can bee no maime vntounto the church, ſeeing the Lorde by remoouing them thence, ſheweth, that the body can hauehave no vſe of them.
12 That the church is nowe vntounto the worldes end, to hauehave none other offices in it, but of paſtors, doctors, elders, and deacons.
13 That the diſplacing, or the want of theſe, is a maime vntounto the church: And therefore.
14 That the churches of God in Denmarke, Saxony, Tygurium, &c. wanting this gouernment by theſe offices, are to be accompted maimed and vnperfect.
15 That it is as good a reaſon, yea, and a farre better, to ſay, that learned men, and valiant captaines, muſt hauehave their eyes put out, becauſe Homer and Ziſca were blinde, as to auouch that the church of England may not bee gouerned by Paſtors, Doctors, Elders, and deacons, becauſe other good churches want this regiment.
16 That to place others in the ſteade of theſe, is both a maiming and a deforming of the church.
17 That no magiſtrate may lawfully maime or deforme the body of Chriſt, which is the Church: And therefore.
18 That no lawefull Church-gouernement is changeable at the pleaſure of the magiſtrate.
19 That the platforme of gouernement by Paſtors, Doctors, Elders, and Deacons, was not deuiſed by man, but by our Sauiour Chriſt himſelfe, the onelyonly head, and alone vniuerſall Biſhop of his church, as it is ſet downe Rom. 12.4,5. Epheſ. 4.12. and 1. Cor. 12.8,28. God hath ordained, ſaith the Apoſtle.
20 That no inconuenience can poſſibly come vntounto anie ſtate, by receiuing this gouernement.
21 That the true ſtabilitie of al chriſtian ſtates and common-wealths conſiſteth in the ſound execution of this church-gouernement, by Paſtors, Doctors, Elders, and Deacons.
22 That of neceſſitie all chriſtian Magiſtrates are bound to receiue this gouernment by Paſtors, Doctors, Elders, and Deacons, and to aboliſh al other church-gouernements.
23 That a church gouernement, being the ordinaunce of the magiſtrate, or of the church, is an vnlawfull church-gouernement.
24 That it is meerely and vtterly vnlawfull for anie man, church, or ſtate, to ordeine anie church-gouernement, or anie church officer, ſaue that gouernement, and thoſe officers before named: Becauſe.
25 That a church-gouernement conſiſting of any other officers, but Paſtors, Doctors, Elders, & Deacons, is a gouernment of maimed and miſhapen members: Therefore
26 That our church-gouernement in England by lord archbiſhops, and biſhops, is a gouernment of maimed, vnnaturall, and deformed members,ſeruing for no vſe in the church of God: Therefore alſo
27 That no lord biſhop is to be maintained in anie chriſtian common wealth.
28 That thoſe kingdomes and ſtates, who defend any church-gouernement, ſaue this of Paſtors, Doctors, Elders, and Deacons, are in danger of vtter deſtruction, in as much as they defend the maime and deformitie of the church: And therefore
29 That our lord archbiſhops and biſhops, in defending this their vngodly gouernment, are, not onelie traitours to God and his church, but vtter enemies vntounto her Maieſtie, and the State, in as much as they enforce the Lord by theſe their ſins, to drawe the ſworde againſt vsus to our vtter ruine.
30 That our lord archbiſhops & biſhops holde it lawfull for our magiſtrates to maime or deforme the church.
31 That they holde Ieſus Chriſt to hauehave left behinde him, an vnperfite and a maimed church, wanting ſome of her members.
32 That they holde it lawful for the magiſtrate to aboliſh the true and naturall members of the body, and to attempt the making of newe by his owne inuention.
33 That they, to wit, archbiſhops and biſhops, are the maime of our church, and like to bee the deſtruction of our common-wealth.
34 That the warrant that the archbiſhops and biſhops hauehave for their places, can be no better then the warrant which the maintenaunce of the open and moſt monſtrous whoredome in the Stewes had in times paſt amongeſt vsus. For by the wordethey are condemned to be the maime or deformitie of the church, or both. And as for the laws that maintaine them, being the wound and ſore of the church, they are no more to be accounted of, then the lawes mainteining the Stewes.
35 That the places of lord biſhops are neither warranted by the word of God, nor by anie lawfull humane conſtitutions.
36 That the gouernement of the church of England, by lord archbiſhops and biſhops, is not a church gouernement ſet downe in the worde, or which can be defended to be Gods ordinance.
37 That the gouernement of lord archbiſhops and biſhops is vnlawefull, notwithſtanding it bee mainteined, and in force by humane lawes and ordinances.
38 That the humane lawes mainteining them, are wicked, and vngodly, and to be abrogated of al chriſtian magiſtrates.
39 That to be a lord biſhop then is ſimplie vnlawefull in it ſelfe, that is, in reſpect of the office, though the man ſuſteining the ſame ſhould not abuſe it as our prelates do.
40 To be a lord biſhop in it ſelfe ſimplie, beſides the abuſe, conſiſteth of two monſtrous parts, wherof, neither ought to be in him that profeſſeth himſelfe a miniſter.
41 The firſt is, to beare an inequall and a lordlie ſuperioritie ouer his brethren in the miniſtery, and the reſt of the church of God vnderunder his iuriſdiction.
42 The ſecond is, the ioyning of the ciuill Magiſtracie vntounto the Miniſterie.
That both theſe partes are condemned by thewritten word of God. Luke 22.25. 1. Pet. 5.1,2. Mat. 20.25. Marke 10.42. 1. Cor. 8.10. Luke 12.14. 2. Tim. 2.4. and Iohn 18.36. compared with, Matth. 10.25. Luke 16.13.
43 That the hierarchie of biſhops, in their ſuperioritie ouer their brethren, and their ciuill offices hath beene gaineſaide and withſtoode by the viſible church of God ſucceſſiuelie, and without intermiſſion for theſe almoſt 500. yeeres laſt paſt.
44 That this cauſe of ouerthrowing the ſtate of lorde biſhops, and bringing in the equalitie of Miniſters, is no new cauſe, but that which hath bin manie yeeres agoe helde and maintained, euen in the fire, by the holie martires of Chriſt Ieſus.
45 That this wicked gouernement of biſhops was an eſpeciall point, gaineſaid by the ſeruants of God, in the time of King Henrie the eight, and Q. Marie; and in the withſtanding whereof they died, the holie martires of Chriſt Ieſus.
46 That none euer defended this hierarchie of biſhops to be lawfull, but Papiſts, or ſuch as were infected with popiſh errors.
47 That we hauehave not expelled and baniſhed euerie part of poperie, as long ae we maintaine L. biſhops and their ſeates.
48 That the offices of lord archbiſhops and biſhops, together with other their corruptions, are condemned by the doctrine of the church of England.
49 That the doctrine of the church of England condemning the places of lord biſhops, is approoued by the ſtatutes of this kingdome, and her Maieſties royall prerogatiue.
50 That to be a lord biſhop, is directlie againſt the ſtatute 13. Elizab. rightlie vnderſtoode, and flatlie condemned by her Maieſties royall priuiledge.
51 That al her Maieſties louing ſubiects, Miniſters eſpeciallie, are bound by ſtatute (and hauehave the alowance of the doctrine of the church of England publiſhed with her Maieſties prerogatiue) not to acknowledge, yea, to diſauow, and withſtand the places and callings of lord biſhops.
52 That the doctrine of the church of England in the dayes of King Henrie the eight was the doctrine which the bleſſed martires of Chriſt Ieſus M. Tindall M. D. Barnes, and M. Fryth taught them and deliuered vntounto vsus.
53 That this doctrine of theirs is now to be accoūted the doctrine of the church of Englande, in as much as (being the doctrine of Chriſt & his Apoſtles) it is publiſhed in print by Maſter Fox, and that by her Maieſtiies priuiledge.
54 That this their doctrine is mainteined by ſtatute, vnderunder the name of the doctrine of the faith and ſacraments.
55 That the doctrine which according to the word is publiſhed by Maiſter Fox in the booke of Martyres, ſeeing it is, cum priuilegio, is alſo to bee accompted the doctrine of faith and ſacramentes in the church of England, and ſo is approoued by ſtatute.
56 That vponupon theſe former groundes wee may ſafely holde theſe concluſions following, and are thereby allowed by ſtatute, and her Maieſties prerogatiue.
57 That by the doctrine of the church of England, it is not poſſible, that naturally there can beanie good lord biſhop, Maſter Tindalls practiſe for prelates. pag. 374.
58 That by the doctrine of the church of England, a biſhoprike is a ſuperfluous honour, and a lewd libertie, ibid.
59 That by the doctrine of the church of England, our biſhops are none of the Lordes annoynting, but ſeruants of the beaſt.
60 That by the doctrine of the church of England, our lord biſhops are none of Chriſts biſhops, but the Miniſters of Antichriſt.
61 That by the doctrine of the church of Englande, our biſhops and their gouernement are no part of Chriſts kingdome, but are of the kingdome of this world.
62 That by the doctrine of the church of England, lord biſhops are a part of that body wherof Antichriſt is the head.
63 That by the doctrine of the church of England, the places of archbiſhops and biſhops are the ſeates of Antichriſt.
64 That by the doctrine of the church of England, a biſhop can hauehave no other lawfull authoritie, but onelie to preach the word.
65 That by the doctrine of the church of England, the deſire of a biſhopricke, or anie other honor in a miniſter, is a note of a falſe Prophet.
66 That according to the doctrine of the churche of Englande, all our biſhops and their chapleines are falſe prophets.
67 That the doctrine of the church of England concerning the ciuill offices of our Prelates, is, That all ciuil rule and dominion is by the word of God flatlie forbidden vntounto the Cleargie.
68 That according to the doctrine of the churche of England, the miniſterie and the magiſtracie cannot by the ordinance of God bee both in one perſon.
69 That by the doctrine of the church of England, the ioyning together of the miniſterie in one perſon, doeth put euerie kingdome out of order.
70 That for a lord biſhoppe to bee of the priuie counſell in a kingdome, according to the doctrine of the church of England, is as profitable vntounto the Realme, as the woolfe is to the lambes.
71 That biſhoppes ought to hauehave no priſons wherein to puniſh tranſgreſſors.
Marke this (good Reader)72 That according to the church of Englande, all Miniſters be of equall authoritie.
73 That according to the doctrine of the churche of England, thoſe Doctors (who are dayly alleadged by our biſhops in the defence of their ſuperioritie ouer their brethren) to wit, Cyprian, Ierom, Auguſtine, Chryſoſtome knewe of no authoritie that one biſhop ſhoulde hauehave aboue another, neither thought, or once dreamed, that euer anie ſuch thing ſhould be.
74 That according to the doctrine of the churche of England, a biſhoppe and an elder, or a miniſter, note out in the word of God the one and the ſelfe ſame perſon and church-officer, the contrary whereof is popery.
75 That by the doctrine of the church of England, it is popery to tranſlate the worde Presbyteros into Prieſt, and ſo to call the miniſters of the Goſpell Prieſts.
76 That according to the doctrine of the churche of Englande, D. Bancroft in his Sermon atPaules the 28. of Ianuary 1588. mainteined a popiſh errour, in auouching, that in the dayes of Cyprian there was a difference betwene a biſhop and a prieſt or miniſter.
77 That according to the doctrine of the churche of England, Iohn Cant. is a mainteiner of a popiſh errour, in terming the miniſters of the Goſpel by the name of prieſts.
78 That according to the doctrine of the churche of England, our prelates hauehave no authoritie to make miniſters, or to proceede to anie eccleſiaſticall cenſure.
79 That by the doctrine of the church of Englande, to hauehave a biſhops licence to preach, is the very marke of the beaſt Antichriſt.
80 That by the doctrine of the church of England, the godly miniſters ought to ordeine thoſe that would enter into that function, without anie leaue of the Prelats, & not ſo much as once to ſuffer them to take anie approbation of the Prelats.
81 That according to the doctrine of the churche of England, there ought to be no other maner of eccleſiaſticall cenſure, but that which is noted, Matth. 18.15,17. which is, to proceede from a priuat admonition to one or two witneſſes, & thence to the church, that is, not to one, but vntounto the gouernours of the church, together with the whole congregation.
82 That according to the doctrine of our churche, the citations, proceſſes, excommunications, &c. of the Prelates, are neyther to be obeyed nor regarded.
83 That according vntounto the doctrine of the church of England, men ought not to appeare intheir courtes, ſeeing their proceedings are ſo directly againſt the trueth, as now they are manifeſted to be, ſeeing the doctrine of the church warranteth them no ſuch calling.
84 That according to the doctrine of the churche of England, that a man being excommunicated by them, ought not to ſeeke any abſolution at their hands.
85 That according vntounto the doctrine of the church of Englande, eueryevery miniſter is bounde to preach the Goſpell, notwithſtanding the inhibition of the biſhops.
86 That according vntounto the doctrine of the church of England, a man being once made a miniſter, is not to be kept backe from preaching, by the inhibition of any creature.
87 That according vntounto the doctrine of our church, our prelates notably profane the cenſure of the church, by ſending them out againſt thoſe, who are not offendours againſt God, for money matters, and other trifles, &c.
88 That according vntounto the doctrine of the church of England, it is great tyrannie in them, to ſummon and cite poore men, as they doe, to come before them, for hearing the word, or ſpeaking againſt their hierarchie.
89 That it is tyrannie by the doctrine of the church of England, and the badge of Antichriſts diſciples, for our prelates to breake vp into mens conſciences, to compell them by othes, to teſtifie againſt themſelues.
90 That by the doctrine of the church of England, our prelates learned this abomination of Pilate Matth. 26.93.
91 That according vntounto the doctrine of the church of England, none ought to be in the miniſterie, but ſuch as are able to preach.
92 That according vntounto the doctrine of the church of England, Nonreſidents, and pluralities of benefices, are moſt intollerable in the ſight of God and man.
93 That all true ſubiects hauehave better warrant to denie the ſuperioritie of biſhoppes, then the biſhops hauehave to impoſe themſelues vpō the church.
94 That her Maieſties true ſubiects in oppugning the ſtate of L. biſhops hauehave the warrant of the word of God, the warrant of our laws and ſtatutes, the doctrine of the church of England, the conſent of the church of God for the ſpace of aboue 400. yeeres, and her Maieſties priuiledge.
95 That the biſhops hauehave nothing for their defence, but the corruption receiued into our church contrary vntounto the word, cōtrary vntounto our ſtatutes, contrary vntounto her Maieſties priuiledge, contrarie vntounto the doctrine of our church.
96 That our biſhoppes in this controuerſie for their hierarchie, hauehave not me, poore man, for their onelie aduerſarie, but our ſauiour Chriſt, his Apoſtles, and holy Martires, our lawes and ſtatutes, her Maieſties priuiledges, and the doctrine of our church hath long agoe condemned them for traitors vntounto God, vntounto his word, his church, and vntounto our lawes and priuiledges.
97 That Maiſter Thomas Cartwright, together with all thoſe learned men, and my ſelfe alſo that hauehave written againſt the ſtate of the Clargy, could do no leſſe then we hauehave done, except wee woulde betray the trueth of God, the lawes of this lande,and the doctrine of our church.
98 That our magiſtrates in mainteining both the doctrine of our church, and alſo the hierarchie of our biſhops, mainteine twoo contrarie factions vnderunder their gouernement, which their wiſedomes knowe to be dangerous.
99 That this faction is likely to continue vntill eyther of the parties giuegive ouer.
100 That thoſe who defend the doctrine of our church in oppugning of our biſhops, neyther can nor wil giuegive ouer the cauſe, in as much as it is confirmed by the word profeſſed in our church allowed by our ſtatutes, and mainteined by her Maieſties priuiledge.
101 That the biſhops will not giuegive ouer, in any likelihoode to die for it, as long as the ſtate will mainteine them.
102 That the continuance of theſe contrarie factions, is likely in a while to become very daungerous vntounto our ſtate, as their wiſedomes, who are magiſtrates doe well know and perceiue.
103 That their wiſedomes then are bounde, euen for the quieting of our outward ſtate, to putte downe eyther the doctrine of our Church, or the corruption, viz. our biſhoppes, and their proceedings.
104 That they cannot, without the endaungering of themſelues, vnderunder the wrath of God, and the odious and moſt monſtrous ſinne of ineuitable Apoſtacie from the trueth, put downe, and aboliſh the doctrine of our church.
105 That they can not any longer mainteine the corruptions of our church, namely, archbiſhops and biſhops, without the ſhamefull contradictionof our doctrine, and the diſcontentednes of their ſubiects.
106 That all Miniſters are bound by ſubſcription, by vertue of the ſtatute that requireth their ſubſcription vntounto the doctrine of faith and ſacraments in the church of Englande, to diſauowe the hierarchie of biſhops.
107 That it were well, that all theſe miniſters who are vrged to ſubſcribe would require a reſolution in this poynt, before they yeelde their ſubſcription.
108 That Doctour Bancroft in affirming her Maieſtie to be a pettie pope in his Sermon preached at Paules the ninth of Februarie 1588. preached treaſon againſt her Maieſties royall crowne and dignitie.Pag. 68. lin. 19
109 That the ſayde Bancroft is a traytor, in affirming, her Maieſtie to vſurpe that authoritie within her dominions, in cauſes eccleſiaſticall which the pope vſurped in times paſt.
110 That our biſhoppes in ſuffering the ſayde Sermon to be publiſhed in print, conteining the former points of treaſon, are acceſſary vntounto Bancrofts treaſon.
That our prelates. Heere the father lefte his writings vnperfite, and thus perfitely beginnes the ſonne.