The Plea of the Innocent, Title page – Table of contents
THE PLEA OF THE INNOCENT: Wherein is auerred; That the Miniſters & people falſlie termed Puritanes, are iniuriouſlie ſlaundered for enemies or troublers of the State. Publiſhed for the common good of the Church and common wealth of this Realme of England AS A COVNTERMVRE Againſt all Sycophantiſing Papſts, Statiſing Prieſtes, Neutraliſing Atheiſtes, and Sataniſing ſcorners of all godlineſſe, trueth and honeſtie. Written: By Ioſias Nichols, a faithfull Miniſter of the Ghoſpell of Chriſt: and an humble ſeruaunt, of the Engliſh Church.
Micah. 7. verſ. 8.9.
Reioyce not againſt me, O mine enemie, though I fall I ſhall riſe: when I ſhall ſit in darknes, the Lord ſhall be a light vntounto mee. I will beare the wrath of the Lorde, becauſe I hauehave ſinned againſt him: vntill he pleade my cauſe, and execute iudgement for me: he will bring me forth to the light, and I ſhall ſee his righteouſnes.
1602.
The contentes of this Booke.
Chapter. 1. Wherein is ſhewed
1 They bee not Puritanes in deede who nowe in Englande are ſo called Pag. 1.
2 That name is verie fit and proper for all Papiſtes pag. 4.
3 What are the cauſes that ſome of her Maieſties moſte faithfull and obedient ſubiectes, are termed Puritanes pag. 5. &c.
4 The true ſtate of their cauſe pag. 12.
Capit. 2. Wherein is declared
1 That the Miniſters and people, which hauehave deſ…d & ſought reformation of ſome thinge in the Eccleſiaſticall ſtate of this lande, are warranted in their do…ings by the principall rule and Canon of our Church, namelie the holy ſcriptures. pag. 13. 14. &c.
2 Martine Marprelate, the Browniſtes, & Hacket ſtirred vp by Satan to hinder their good cauſe pag. 32. 33. 34.
3 Preaching againſt Non reſidentes and the vnpreaching miniſterie, and all the exerciſes of the people, aggree to holy Scrip. Pag. 35.
Cap. 3. That the Miniſters and people who hauehave deſired reformation in ſome church matters, hauehave therein followed the Chriſtian lawes and godlie proceedings of the eccleſiaſticall ſtate Pag. 38. 39. &c.
Chapter 4. Wherein is prooued
1 That it can not bee, that the Miniſters and people deſiring reformation, ſhould bee enemies to the ſtate pag. 58.
2 They can not but vnfainedlie louelove the Queenes moſt gracious Maieſtie Pag. 60.
3 They doe heartilie reuerence, and thankefullie obſerue the Lordes of her moſt honorable priuie Counſell Pag. 65.
4 They reioyce to liue vnderunder the cōmon lawes and ciuill cōmunitie of this Realme Pag. 69.
5 And in all their doeing maintaine the faith, and promote the good proceedinge of the ſtate of the Church Pag. 71. 72. &c.
Chap. 5. This teacheth, that the Reuerende Biſhoppes and other Prelates of the Church of Englande, ſtanding for conformitie (ſuch as indeede vnfainedlie doe fauor the preſent ſtate of the Church, and doe faithfully holde and beleeue the true religion and faith of Chriſt, maintayned by publicke authoritie among vsus:) are one and the ſame, with the godlie Miniſters and people which deſire reformation of ſome thinges in the Eccleſiaſticall ſtate.
1 Beeauſe they doe diſagree in ſome things & yet be faithfull brethren Pag. 83.
2 This life affoordeth not abſolute and vnchaungeable vnitie Pag. 85.
3 They agree in all ſubſtantiall pointes of our Church, as it aggreeth with holy Scripture. Pag. 90.
4 God by perſecution can make them, in deed to appeare to be one. Pag. 95.
Cap: 6. Wherein is plainely opened, That there can no good reaſon be ſhewed, that the godlie Miniſters ſeekeing reformation, are enemies to the preſent ſtate:
1 Becauſe their conſciences is cleare in Gods ſight Pag. 99.
2 They defende no euill actions in them ſelues Pag. 100.
3 They can not bee charged with the faultes of ſtraungers, Anabaptiſtes, fooliſh Martine, or of frantick Hacket Pag. 102.
4 Nor with vnthankefull obſcuring of Gods merciemercy for their fanſies, &c. Nor with innouation or ſchiſme Pag. 113. &c.
5 They can not bee charged with anie thinge againſte her Maieſties Perſon, Crowne, or Dignitie Pag. 132.
6 Or that they are againſte all Superioritie in Miniſters, or the true power and honour of the miniſterie Pag. 140,
Cap. 7. Wherein is proued, that the Miniſters ſeeking reformation, (falſely called Puritanes) are not in any ſort to bee compared to Papiſtes in euill, much leſſe to bee equalized with traitors, Seminarie prieſtes or Ieſuites.
1 By their contradictorie doctrine. Pag. 145.
2 By their contrarie actes & doeings. Pag. 149.
Cap. 8. The Miniſters vvhichwhich deſire reformation in ſome thinges of our Church matters, can not feare but euer louelove her Maieſtie and all the godlie wiſe Magiſtrates vnderunder her. But the Papiſtes cleane contrarie. Pag. 151.152. &c.
Cap. 9. Wherein is plainelie ſhewed,
1 That it is moſt profitable, to the preſent ſtate and gouernement, and greatlie for her Maieſties ſafetie, to heare the petitions of the godlie Miniſters ſeeking reformation, and to tolerate them in their miniſterie. Pag. 162. &c.
2 To harken to Papiſtes and to tolerate them, is moſt exceeding daungerous and pernicious Pag. 170.171. &c.
Cap. 10. Wherein is demonſtrated,
1 That the vnpreaching Miniſtrie, Non-reſidencie and ſubſcription are troublers of the ſtate Pag. 184.185. &c.
2 They are breeders of Atheiſme and Poperie, and ſo ouerthrowers of the whole lande, if their be no remedie in time. Pag. 212. &c.
3 At which the Atheiſtes laugh to their own confuſion. Pag. 208. &c.
Cap. 11. Wherein is diſcried, that neither the reuerend Fathers and learned Prelates, ſtanding for conformitie, neither the godlie Miniſters deſiring reformation, are the onelie and proper cauſes of theſe troubleſome diſſenſions and euils following the ſame. But their are ſome other thinges, more ſpecially to be looked into, which may and ought to induce both parties vntounto peace, and to ioyne louinglie, in the building of Gods houſe: and that all Engliſh people doe humble themſelues by prayer vntounto God, and carefullie conforme them ſelues to the Ghoſpell of Chriſt. Pag. 224.225. &c.
God ſaue our moſt gratious and Chriſtian Queene ELIZABETH.