Brief Discourse of the Troubles at Frankfort, Letters 2
The anſwere off the miniſters off Geneua to certeine brethern off the churche off Englande concerninge ſome controuerſie in the Eccleſiaſticall policie.
BEinge right earneſtly and often required by certeine deare brethern off the churche off Englande that we woulde in their miſerable ſtate geue them ſome kinde off counſaile whereon theire conſciences might be ſtaied / the Iudgemente off many beinge therin diuers: we did longe differre the ſatiſfinge off their requeſtes vppon waightie cauſes. And we aſſure the reader that euē nowe alſo we moſte gladly woulde houlde oure peace / were it not a matter of conſcience to reiecte the ſute of the brethern ſo often enforced and with moſte greuous groninges reneued. Off whiche ſtifned ſilence off ours theis were the cauſes / firſte / as on the one part we dowte not off the credit off the brethern / as thoughe they had not ſincerely deſcribed the ſtate off the cauſe vntounto vsus / ſo on the other ſide it is moſte harde for to ſuſpecte ſuche thinges / ſo clene beſides all office off Biſhopps muche leſſe perſwade oure ſelues the ſame by ſuche perſonages done.
And farther / what men are we that we ſhulde determine vppon ſuche cauſes. Alſo / iff it were lawfull for vsus either by authoritie / or els by conſent or requeſte of either parties / to geue ſentence here vppon / yet were yt a mater moſte wrongefull either partie not harde or not preſent to determine. Laſte off all feare miſtruſted leaſte ſo great a miſchieff ſhuld by this oure counſell (howe ſimple ſo euer it is) rather become rawe thē ſkin̄ed: it beinge a ſore of ſo deſperate a nature / as that it ſemeth to be / that praiers and patience can onelyonly ſalue the ſame.
Seinge then / that by the ſundrie requeſts off the brethern / we are ſo hardly perſwaded / that off force we ought to geue them ſome kinde off aduiſe: We do openly proteſte / that we ſo geue to ſame herein as thoſe that will not in anie wiſe preiudice the other partie / muche leſſe chalinge to vsus a iuſticiers roume ouer anie. And all thoſe men (into whoſe handes theis do come) we do in the lorde deſier / that they be not herewith offended / but do perſwade themſelues that theis contentes are bothe ſimplie and faithfully written off vsus as vppon a queſtioned cauſe graunted / that the conſciences off the brethern whiche deſier it / might ſome waie be better apeaſed / whiche to ſet altogether at nought were a dede wholi… voide off charitie.
Therfore / the cauſe ſtandinge as we ar… informed / we profeſſe plainely and in Good faithe that our Iudgementes ouer theis queſtions are thus.
It is demaunded / whither we can approue this diſorder in callinge off men to the function off the Miniſtery / whiche is / that the multitude off thoſe whiche ſue for order ſhalbe enrolled in the miniſterie bothe withowte the voices off elders and alſo no certeine cure appointed them but lightly examined off their liues and behauiour / to whom alſo / at the luſte of the Biſhoppe ſhall libertie be geuen afterwards to preache the worde off god for a time preſcribed / otherwiſe to reherſe onelyonly the churche ſeruice.
We anſwere / that ſuche callinges off Miniſters / whither we anſwere them by the rule off Gods expreſſe word… or ells by force off Cannons that are beſte tried and allowed are holden and eſtemed of vsus / altogether vnlawfull / abeit we knowe that it is better to hauehave halfe a loffe then no bread. But we beſeche god with oure whole hartes that it alſo will pleaſe him to beſtowe vppon the kingdome off England alſo the ſame (that is) a lawfull and ordinarie callinge off men to the miniſterie of the worde and Sacramentes. For it beinge either kept owte or hindred / the benefit of the doctrine of truthe muſte of force by and by vaniſhe awaie or ells be holde vp by ſome meanes that is ſtrange / yea / altogether ghoſtlie and ſupernaturall.
Furthermore / we do in Goddes moſte holie name moſt humblie ſue to the princes ſoueraigne maieſtie / that with the whole force off her minde / ſhe endeuour the correction off this point wherin the whole grounde and ſtaie of the churche off England and therfore of the Realme alſo / dothe ſtand and perſiſte.
And thirdly we do with teares beſeche bothe thoſe high perſonages that are of hir maieſties honorable counſaile / and thoſe which hauehave ſucceded in the place off the popiſhe Biſhopps / (vndowtedly through the ſpeciall merciemercy off the high and Good god) that they owte off the ſelff ſame place where ouerthrowe and diſtruction did yſſue / they ſhulde vtterly deſtroye that tyrānye whiche hathe thus caſte downe headlonge the verie Chriſtian church and we craue of them in the dredfull name of god before whoſe redouted throne of iudgement we all ſhall be areſted that with al conſideration and mindfullnes of the yeres paſte and conſcience of their dewtie and charge / they will not ſlack to vowe and be…othe the…r whole diligēce / aſwell in orderinge the meanes that maie accōp…he this thinge as in perſwadinge the Queens maieſtie therto / and that they ceaſe not at all this thinge beinge vnacheued / cheflie / ſeinge god hathe beſtowed vppon them / the princely maieſtie off ſo ſinguler a Miſtris as …rom whoſe handes they can not but hope for all princely and excellent thinges / vnleſſe they liſte in their owne caſe to faile themſelues. But ſome wil aſke / howe ſhall we doo in this pointe / vntill then: verely iff the caſe were oures we woulde not receiue this miniſterie vppon theis conditions iff it were profered: a great deale leſſe woulde we ſue for it. Notwithſtandinge / we exhorte theis men to whom god hathe by this waie made entrance to the enlarging off the glorie off his kingdome that in the feare off god they do couragiouſly abide therin / yet with the condition that it maie be lawfull for them holily and regiliouſly to exerciſe all their whole miniſterie. And therfore maie alſo propounde / and vrge thoſe thinges in their cures which doo allwaies apperteine to the aduauncement off the better eſtate therin. For otherwiſe / if they be forced of this libertie and ſo willed to winke at manifeſte abuſes / that they ſhuld alſo approue theis thinges whiche dowtleſſe ought to be redreſſed: what thinge els can we perſwade them then that they ſhulde retire from this / to their priuate lyffe rather then withoute conſcience to noriſhe that miſchief whiche dothe off force drawe whith it the whole waſtinge and decaie of all the congregation? Yet we hope that the Queens highneſſe and ſo many honorable and good men will in ſuche ſorte plante their diligence that rather priuiledge off libertie maie be graunted to the conſciences of ſo manie godlie and lerned brethern then that theis horrible eue…s ſhulde folowe: To were / that the paſtors off the flockes ſhulde be conſtrained either againſte the ſoundnes off their conſciences to do that whiche is euell (and ſo to be chained in other mennes ſinnes / or ells to reſigne their miniſterie / for that third neceſſitie that will enſue this whiche is / that againſte the princes and Biſhops willes they ſhou… excerciſe their office) we do ſo muche the more tremble at / bycauſe of thoſe reaſons whiche off themſelues are plaine enoughe / albe…t we doo not vtter them.
It is a…ſo deſired off vsus to anſwere plainely and truly whither we do allowe t…e diſtinction ordeined in the wearinge off copes and garments aſwell for the common vſe / as for the miniſterie.
We therfore do flattlie anſwere the cauſe ſtandinge as we do vnderſtande / that thoſe men that are authors hereoff do deſerue moſte euell off the churche and ſhall anſwere at the dreadfull barre off Chriſte his Iudgement For although that we thinke that that politique order whereby not citezins alone / but alſo the degrees off functions are marked and noted is not to be diſcommended wholie at all: yet we are off opinion that not euerie marke and note is ſtraight way to be vſed. For put the caſe that the miniſters were commaunded to weare the pied coate off a foole or the garmente off a vice in a plaie / were it not manifeſte ſkorninge off the miniſterie ſo to do? And thoſe that vſe theis other garments and aparrell cōmaunded / do ſeeme verely to vsus to treſpaſſe ſomewhat worſe then ſo / bicauſe that the lorde hath not onelyonly reared and ſet vsus this prieſtlike apparell as a toie to be laughe at euen off many off the Papiſtes themſelues: But it is alſo certeine / that the ſame is poluted and defiled with infinite ſuperſtition. But ſome men will pleade the antiquitie theroff. Surely they are olde / and yet the Apoſtolique ſymplicitie wherin the churche did floriſhe / is a great deale more auncient then this. Alſo / yff it pleaſe him to wade yet further to ſerche abowte theis matters / it ſhall be eaſie enough to ſhewe that theis thinges / whiche after that / did ſerue for the note and marke off the miniſterie were firſt vſuall amonge the people and common. And therfore whence commethe it / thinges beinge altered after ſo longe a ſeaſon / that this forein and ſtrange guiſe ſhuld be reteined.
Dothe it not come off a zeele bothe euell and vnprofitable▪ But ſome man will ſaie: Theis thinges for all that are thinges off the middle ſorte and indifferent. We graunte in dede that they are ſuch yff your will conſider them ſimply and in their owne nature / and aparte from all circumſtances▪ but who are they that will ſo waie and conſider them For theis m…n that are yet Papiſtes / what purpos ſo euer this ciuill lawe dothe pretend / are ſurely by theis meanes eſtabliſhed deeper in this ſuperſtition whiche hathe ſo ouergrowen them. And theſe men that began ſo earneſtlie to abhorre ſuperſtition / that they nowe did deteſte monimētes and reliques theroff: Howe muche are they offended and woūded herein. As for thoſe whiche are further / and better lerned / what frute reape they theroff. And farther is this difference and marke off the functions of ſuche importaunce / that therfore the conſciences off ſo many ſhuld be troubled▪ eſpecially ſeinge the reaſon and purpos therof newlie ſet a broche is but drawen euen from thoſe that are themſelues the manifeſte ſworne enemies to ſounde doctrine? What meaneth it alſo / that off thoſe alſo that are termed to be Eccleſiaſtically brought vpp and are in the miniſterie not the ſmalleſte parte / are ſaide to hauehave their papiſtrie in their breſtes abowte with them? Is this the good houre wherin they ſhall better profit by reſtoringe off this attire? or ſhall they not rather vaunte their creſtes as in hope to hauehave poperie reſtored againe? Iff anie ſhall obiecte the circumſinge off Timothy and other like examples: we right earneſtly praie him to conſider what Paule woulde hauehave ſaide yff any man ſhulde hauehave made this lawe / that eueryevery man that is in the miniſterie off the goſpell ſhalbe conſtrained to weare the garmentes off the Phariſies / or that they in the apparell off prophane prieſtes ſhulde preach the goſpell and adminiſter the Sacramentes / and not onelyonly circumciſe their children / nowithſtandinge that vnderunder ſome couler of reaſon / this ciuill cōmaundement might ſetfoorthe the ſame. yea to what ende are theis things brought in. for howe ſo euer they might at the firſt be tollerated till that by litle ād litle they might be takē awaie / yet beinge once remoued owte off the churches / we ſe not withe what commoditie they can be reſtored to their poſſeſſion againe. Therfore we do eftſonnes repeate that we before ſaid / that we can not allowe this deuiſe nor yet hope for any good to inſue theroff Notwithſtandinge / we will gladlie geue ouer this opinion yff we ſhall lerne better reaſon therfore. What then (will the brethern ſaie on whom theis thinges are ſo throwen (iudge yow what we ought to do herein? we anſwere / that there nedethe in this anſwere a diſtinction. For the caſe off the miniſters and the caſe of the people are not all one herein. Furthermore: Manie thinges maie / yea / and ought to be borne and tollerated whiche are notwithſtandinge not iuſtly commaunded. firſte therfore / we anſwere / that albeit theis thinges (as we iudge) are not rightly reſtored to their poſſeſſiō in the congregations / yet / ſeinge that they are not off thoſe kinde of thinges whiche are of their owne nature impious and vngodly / they ſeeme to vsus not to be off ſuche waight that the ſhepardes ſhulde rather geue ouer their functions then receiue the apparell / or that the flock ſhuld refuſe the publick foode of the ſoule rather then to receiue the ſame from the ſhepardes / that is appareled herein: onelyonly / that as well the ſheaphardes as their flockes maie not ſinne againſte there conſciences (ſo that the puritie off doctrine it ſelff remaine vntouched) we do perſwade the miniſters / after they hauehave bothe before the queens highneſſe and alſo before the Biſhopps. ſet their conſciences at libertie by modeſte proteſtation (as dothe apperteine to ſuche Chriſtians as ſeeke not ſedition and tumulte) and yet graue accordinge to the importaunce of the cauſe / that they do in dede openly in their pariſhe / ſtill beate vponupon thoſe thinges / that maye ſerue to the vtter takinge awaie off the ſtumblinge blocke. And that as God ſhall geue occaſion they will wholie geue them ſelues bothe wiſelie and meekely to correct all thoſe abuſes / but yet to beare thoſe thinges whiche they cannot ſtreight waie change / rather then forſakinge their congregation they ſhulde geue occaſion to Sathan / that ſekethe nothinge els to ſtirre vpp greater and more perilous miſchiefs then theis. As for the people (the doctrine remaining vnhurte) we do exhorte them that for all theis thinges they will diligently heare the ſame / to vſe the Sacramentes Religiouſly / and ſo longe to grone to God with earneſt amendment off liffe vntill they obtaine off them that which dothe appertaine to the full redreſſe and amendment off the churche.
But againe yff that the Miniſters be commaunded not onelie to tollerate theis thinges / but alſo that they ſhall withe their ſubſcriptions allowe them as lawfull / or ells by their ſtillnes foſter them: what can we ells perſwade them to doo but that hauing witneſſed their innocencie and in the feare off the lorde tried all meanes / they ſhulde geue ouer their functions to open wronge. But oure hartes betide vsus off Englande muche better thinges then theis extremities.
Y… is demaunded off vsus what we do Iudge off the trollinge and deſcantinge off the Pſalmes / croſſinge off thoſe babes that ſhalbe baptized / and off the demaundes in baptiſme / alſo off the rownd vnleauened waffercake and knelinge in the lordes ſupper.
We anſwere / that kinde off ſinginge ſemethe to be the corruption off the pure ancient churche ſeruice and glorifinge of God therin. And as for croſſinge off babes / whatſoeuer practiſe there hathe byn theroff in time of olde / yet is it moſte certeine that it is truly in theis dais throughe ſo late greeneſſe off the ſuperſtition ſo moſte abhominable / as that we iudge thoſe men to hauehave done aſſuredly well that hauehave once driuen this rite owte off the congregatiō wherof alſo we ſe not what the profit is. And we dowte not but the demaūds in baptiſme hauehave creapt into the churche vponupon this occaſion / becauſe that through the negligēce of the biſhops the ſame forme of baptizinge of childrē was reteined which at the firſt rearing of the primatiue churche / was to be vſed at the baptizinge off thoſe that beinge off yeres did entre the profeſſion off Chriſte. This thinge alſo we maie perceiue by manie the like yet in vſe in the popiſhe baptiſme. Wherfore euen as the creame and charme vſed in baptiſme are by gods lawe aboliſhed although they were ancient / ſo wiſhe we alſo theis demaundinges / beinge not onelyonly vaine but foliſhe ſhuld be alſo paſſed ouer albeit that S. Auguſtine himſelff dothe ſeeme in an Epiſtle off his to ſuſtein it by certeine deuiſed conſtruction.
The bread whither it ought to be made with leuen or withowte we thinke it not greatly to be ſtriuen for / althoughe we Iudge it more fit and conſonant withe Chriſtes inſtitution to hauehave the bread at the commmunion / whiche is vſed at the common table: for why did the lorde vſe vnleuened bread / bicauſe that in that houre wherin he thought good to inſtitute his holie ſupper / not one man in all Iewrie vſed anie other. Therfore / it behoueth vsus to reſtore the Iewiſhe feaſte off vnleuened bread or ells muſt it be graunted that is better to vſe the common and accuſtomed bread off all tables accordinge to the example off Chriſte / notwithſtandinge that the bread that he then tooke was vnleuened: For off the practiſe off the primatiue churche whiche the Greek churche dothe yet in this behalff reteine we ouer paſſe to write off.
Furthermore knelinge at the verie receypt off the ſacramente hathe in it a ſhewe off Oodly and Chriſtian reuerence and might therfore in times paſte be vſed with profit / yet for all that bicauſe owte off this fountaine the deteſtable vſe off bread worſhip did folowe / and dothe yet in theis daies ſtick in many mindes / it ſemethe to vsus that it was iuſtlie aboliſhed owte frō the congregations. Therfore / we do beſeche the moſt Good and great God that it woulde pleaſe him to inſtructe bothe the Queens maieſties highneſſe and alſo the Biſhopps with ſuch deuiſe as ſhall be moſte nedefull for the perfect doinge owte off theis filthes / and that at once. In the meane time / bicauſe theis thinges / alſo are not ſuche as are in their owne nature Idolatrous we do Iudge that they ought ſo to be dealte with / as we hauehave aduiſed in the thinges goinge next before.
It is demaunded off vsus whether we allowe that baptiſme whiche is adminiſtred by midwiues.
We anſwere that not onelyonly we diſſalowe that baptiſme as the reſt off thinges before ſpoken off / but that we do iudge it alſo intollerable. For it is a thinge that hathe riſen aſwell of ignorance of the verie vſe of baptiſme / as the publique miniſterie of the churche. We Iudge therfore that the miniſters are bownde ſharply to rebuke this abuſe / muche leſſe ought they to holde this falſe baptiſme / for good and firme. The reaſon why / the leened on oure ſide hauehave often declared. And we are alſo readie when it ſhalbe nedefull to declare.
It is alſo reported vntounto vsus that the kaies off bindinge and loſinge are practiſed in certeine courtes off the Biſhops / neither by the ſentences and iudgements off elders / whiche office that churche hathe not yet receiued / nor accordinge to the worde off God: but the authoritie off certeine lawiers and other like / whiche is more / often times by the authoritie off ſome one man / and that alſo for ſuche kinde off actions as are pure monie matters euen as the miſuſe off the ſame was in popery.
Wherto we anſwere that it ſemethe to vsus almoſte incredible that any ſuch cuſtomes and examples (beinge moſt peruerſe) ſhulde be vſed in that kingdome / where as puritie and ſoundnes off doctrine is. For the right off excommunication and byndinge off the offender ſhalbe founde neuer to hauehave bin before the time of the Papiſtes in the power and hand off on… ſole perſone / but did apperteine to all the whole elderſhipp / frō whiche alſo the people themſelues were not raſhlie ſhut owte. Bicauſe this alſo the lawierlike hearinge off ſuites that appertaine to liuinges did fall to the Biſhops charge altogether through abuſe. For that place wherin the Apoſtle talketh off daies men vmpires at Corinth is to no purpoſe where as the magiſtrate is a Chriſtian: nor did the Apoſtell euer thinke to burthen the Elderſhipp with the hearing off ſuche meere ciuill cauſes. And it is moſt certeine / that the Biſhopps off the elder age off the churche / hauehave had the determining off ſuch controuerſies not for anie authoritie that they had therin but through the importunitie off ſuters / and that as howſolders vmpires and daies men Alſo / notwithſtandinge amonge thoſe men where this were ſh… wed vntounto / thoſe did moſt wiſely gouerne themſelues whiche choſe rather to folowe the example off Chriſt oure Sauiour / who refuſed to be the vmpire in deuidinge off the patrimonie / or els Iudge in the matter off adulterie / when bothe the ſame were preferred vntounto him.
Therfore / yff in Englande anie thinge be done contrary to this / ſurely we ought to thinke that by ſuche ſentences and Iudgementes / ther is not anie man before god any more bownde then by the popiſhe excommunications. And we wiſche that this torment howſe off conſciēces and lothſome prophanation off the Eccleſiaſticall and meere ſpirituall iuriſdiction might by the authoritie off the Queens Maieſtie owte off hande be aboliſhed no otherwiſe then the marringe off the very doctrine it ſelff. And that Elderſhippe and Deacons maie be reſtored and ſet vpp according to the worde off God and cannons off the pure churche / whiche thinge / yff it be not done / verelie / we are ſore afraide that this onelyonly thinge will be the begin̄inge off manie calamities / whiche we would god / would turne awaie from vsus. For it is moſte certeine that the ſonne off god will one daie from heauen roughly reuenge theis manifeſt abuſes / wherwith the conſciences off oure brethern are troubled / excepte ſpedely / redreſſe be had therin.
In the meane whiles / the thinges whiche are not well done by the one partie / maie be well enoughe tollerated (as we thinke) by thoſe men whiche beare the thinge whiche they can not change. Yet thus farre: as that they allowe not the thinge it ſelff for good / but do onelyonly redeeme their vniuſte diſquieting by patience. But yff ſo be that they ſhalbe forced / not onelyonly to tollerate this facion but alſo to approue this excommunication as lawfull and be conſtrained to aſke vnlawfull abſolution to aſſent to this manifeſt abuſe / we then exhorte them that they will rather ſuffer anie kinde off trouble then to do herin againſt their conſciences. But to what ende is all this: For verilie / we do promes oure ſelues muche better thinges then theis / yea / off all thinges the beſte euen at this pinche / eſpecially off that Realme in whiche / the reſtoringe off Chriſtian Religion hathe byn ſealed and confirmed with the bloud of ſo many excellent martirs alſo. OnelyOnly / we feare this / leaſte that which hathe befallen ſo many countries ſhuld happ…n to Englande / to wit / leaſte / bycauſe the due frutes off repentance are not brought foorthe / the angrie god ſhuld dooble oure darkneſſe / the light of his goſpel beinge firſt taken from vsus. Off this content are oure dailie preachings in oure congregations / and verely / we thinke the ſame ought to be done off a… Miniſters off Gods worde eſpecially in theis oure daies. That they chieſty ſet forwardes this principle off the goſpell whiche dothe apperteine to earneſt amendment off lyffe. For this point achiued / vndowtedly the lorde ſhall geue bothe counſaile and zeale and all thinges els whiche do neceſſarely apperteine to the accompiſhement off the reparation off the churche / alreadye begone. And before all we doo require and with teares humbly craue that oure good and right worſhipfull in the lorde the brethern off the Engliſhe churches / all bitternes off minde ſet aparte / whiche we ſurely feare / after what ſorte it hathe on either ſide forced this euell / would patiently beare and ſuffer eche other / ſo longe as puritie off Chriſtian doctrine it ſelff and ſoundnes off conſcience dothe remaine: Willingly to obaye the Queens Maieſtie who is full off compaſſion: And all other prelates. And fynally / that with all concorde minds in the lorde / of they manly ſet againſt Sathā / who ſekethe all occaſion of tumulte ād infinite calamities: yea / although they hauehave not like iudgement of all ſorte off prealaets at the firſte. for this oure writinge / god is oure witneſſe / doth not tēde to this purpos / that either parte ſhuld vſe it againſt other as that we ſhuld ſend it to yow as an apple of contention: Although we hauehave concerninge theis matters declared oure Iudgements / euen ſymplie / as vppon a ſuppoſed caſe / (god is oure witnes) beinge euercome withe the continuall ſute off oure brethern. And we ioine oure dailie praiers to the groninges off all the godlye on that ſide the ſeas / that it maie pleaſe the moſte mercifull god hauinge compaſſion on mannes frailtie / to directe the Queens highenes / and all the nobles off the realme off Englande. Alſo eueryevery prelate / and fynally / eche workman off this ſpirituall buildinge with his holy ſpirite moſte effectuouſly / ſo as the worke off the lorde ſo often begonne and ſo often ſtaied may luckely be ſet forwarde to the great quietnes and concorde off all men not onelyonly the olde ſtaines in the docrine it ſelf and Eccleſiaſticall diſcipline alſo / beinge at lenght vtterly done owte / but alſo all monſtrouſnes off errors and whiche Satan newlie ſekethe to bring into the churche againe driuen awaie. Whiche voucheſaffe to bring to paſſe through his holy ſpirite / the moſte kinde father in Ieſus Chriſte / his verie ſonne eternall and conſubſtantiall with him / in whiche perſones / we profeſſe one god / and not diuers / ought to he worſhipped for euer.
Amen at Geneua the 24. October. 1547. Your brethern in Chriſte to all your godlines moſte aſſured.
Theodor…s Beza, &c.
Remundus Caluetus
Nicolaus Coladonu…
Io. Gai…g…aeziu…
Io. Tremlerus
Iohan …inaldus.
Ge. Fauergius
Car. P.
…gid. Ca…ſeu…:
Io. Parnilius.
Kuds Fauerius
Vrb. Calue…us
Slm. Golerlius
Pet. Carpenteru….
Franſc. Portu…
Cor. Barlierd…
Hen. S.
Ab…n. Dup…eu…
A Copie off the letter ſent to the Biſhopps and Paſtors off Englande / who haith renunced the Romaine Antichriſte and profeſſe the lorde Ieſus in ſinceritie.
The Superintendent Miniſters / and commiſſionars off charges within the Realme off Skotland: To thair brethern the Biſhopps and Paſtors off England / who haith renunced the Romaine Antechriſte / and do profeſſe with theim the lord Ieſus in ſinceritie / deſire the parpetuall encreaſe off the holie ſpirite.
BY worde and writ it is come to our knowl…dge (reuerend Paſtors that diuers off our deereſt brethern) amongſt whom are ſome off the beſte lerned within that Realme / are depriu… from Eccleſiaſticall function and forbidden to preach / and ſo by yow that they are ſtaie… to promote the kingdome off Ieſus Chriſte / bicaus their conſciences will not ſuffer to take vppon them (at the commaundement off the authoritie) ſuch garmentes as Idolatres in time off blindes hauehave vſe… in thair Idolatrie / whiche brute cannot be but moſte dolorous to our hartes / mindfull off that ſentence off the Apoſtel / ſainge / yff ye byt and deuoure one an other / take head leaſte ye be conſumit one off an other. We purpoſe not at this preſent to entre into the grownd off that queſtion whil…e we heare off / …ither parte to be ag…tate with gre…er vehemencie then well liketh vsus to wit. Whidder that ſuch apparell is to be coumpted amongs thinges that are ſimplie indifferint or not / but in the bowells off lord Ieſus we craue the Chriſtian charitie maie ſo preuaile in yow / in yow we ſaie / the paſtoris and leaders off the flock within that Realme.
That ye doo not to others that / which yow woulde not others ſhulde doo to yow. Ye cannot be ignorant how …ende… a thinge the conſcience off man is. All that hauehave knowledge are not a like perſwadet. your conſciences reclames not a… wearinge off ſuch garmentes / but many thouſants both godlie and lernet are otherwiſe perſwadet whoſe conſciences are continually ſtricken with theis ſentences: what haith Chriſte Ieſus to doe with beliall? what feloſhipp is thair betw…xt darknes and lic…t? yff ſurpleſe / corner capp / and tippet hauehave byn badges off ydolatres in the verie acte off their ydolatrie / what haht the preachers off Chriſtian libertie and the open rebuker off all ſuperſtition to doe with the dregges off the romiſhe beaſt? Our brothern that off conſcience refuſſe that vnprofitable apparell / doo neither damne your nor moleſt yow that vſe ſuch vaine tryfles. yf ye ſhall do the like to thaim / we dowte not but thairin ye …all pleeſe god and conforte the hartes of many whilke are wonded with extremitie / which is vſed againſt thoſe godly and our beloued brethern. Coloure off rethorik or manlie perſwaſion will we vſe none / but charitab… we deſire yow to call that ſentence off pitie to minde: feed the flock off God which which is committed to your charge caringe for them not by conſtranit but willingly not as though ye were lordes ouer goddis heritage / but that ye maie be examples to ye flock. And farder alſo / we deſier yow …o meditate that ſentence off the Apoſtle / ſaing: geue none offence / neither to the Iewes nor to the Grecians nor to the churche off God? In what condition off time ye and we bothe trauiel… in the promoting off Chriſts kingdomm we ſuppoſe yow not to be ignorant. And therfore / we are more bolde to exhorte yow to walke more circumſpectlie / then that for ſuch vanities / the godly ſhulde be troubled. For all thinges that maie ſeeme lawfull / edifie not. Yff the commaundement off authoritie vrge the conſcience off yours and our brethern more then they can beere: we vnfenedlye craue off yow / that ye remember that ye are callit the licht off the worlde and the earthe.
All ciuill authoritie hath not the licht off God allwaies ſchin…ge before their eies in the ſtatutes and commandements / but thair affections of times ſauour to muche off the earthe and off wordly wiſedome.
And therfore / we think that ye ſhuld baldlie oppone your ſelff to all pouer that will or dare extoll the ſelff not onelyonly againſt / God but alſo againſt all ſuche as do burthen the conſciences off the faithfull farder then god hes burthenit theim / by his owne worde. But here in / we confeſſe oure offence in that we hauehave entred farder in reaſoninge then we we purpoſet / an promiſet at the beginninge. And therfore / we ſhortly returne to our former humble ſupplication / which is / that our brethern who amongs yow refuſe the Romiſhe ragges / maie finde off yow the prelatis ſuch fauours as our heid and maiſter commandis eueryevery one off his members to ſhewe one to an other / whilke we lucke to reſaue of your gentlenes / not onelyonly for that ye ſeer to offend Goddes maieſtie / in troubling off your brethern for ſuch vane triffles. But alſo / bicauſe ye will not refuſe the humble requeſtes off vsus your brethern and felowe preachers off Chriſts Ieſus / in whom / albeit their appeere no great wordly pompe / yet we ſuppoſe yow will not ſo farr deſpiſe vsus / but that ye will eſteeme vsus to be off the nomber off thoſe that fight againſt that Romain Antechriſte / and traueil that the kingdomme off Chriſt Ieſus vniuerſally maie be mainteened and auanced. The daies are euill. Iniquitie abownds. Chriſtian charitie (alas) is waxin colde. And therfore we ought the more diligently to watche. For the howre is vncerteine when the lorde Ieſus ſhall appeere / before whom we your brethern and ye may geue an accoumpt off our adminiſtration.
And thus in concluſion / we once againe craue fauor to our brothern which graunted / ye in the lorde ſhall commaunde vsus in thinges off dooble more importance. The lorde Ieſus rewle your hartes in his true feare to the ende. And geue vntounto yow and vntounto vsus victorie ouer that coniured enemie off all true Religion▪ To witt / ouer that Romaine Antechriſte / whoſe wonded he…d Sathan by all mannes lab…ris to cure againe / but to deſtruction ſhall he and his mainteiners go / by the power off the lorde Ieſus. To whoſe mightie power and protection we hartely committ yow.
Subſcribet by the handes off Superintendentes one parte off Miniſters / and ſcribet in oure generall aſſemblies and fourth ſeſſion theroff.
Ad Edenbroug the 28. daie off December 1566. Your louinge brethern and fellovv preachers in Chriſt Ieſus.
Io. Craig.
Iaco. Mailuil.
Rob. Pont.
Guil. Gisliſonus
Nic. Spittall.
Io. Row
Da. Lyndeſay
Io. Erſkin.
Io. VViram.
Io. Spottiſwoood.
THus hauehave yon hard in theis .2. letters / the Iudgementes off thoſe excellent churches of the french and the Skottiſhe touchinge the thinges in controuerſie. Nowe / yff to theis I ſhuld adde all other whiche are off the ſame Iudgement and of their opinion: the nomber off churches would be ſo many / that the aduerſaries ſhuld euidently ſe and perceaue what ſmall cauſe they hauehave to charge vsus thus with ſingularitie / as though we were poſt alone / and none to be off oure opinion. And it maie here alſo be noted / that the moſte auncienteſt fathers of this oure owne countrie / as maiſter Couerdale / maiſter D. Turner / maiſter Whithead / and many others ſome dead ſome yet liuinge from whoſe mouthes and pennes / the vrgers of theis receiued firſt the light off the goſpell (could neuer be brought to yelde or conſent vntounto ſuch thinges as are now forced with ſo greate extremitie.
Finis.
Correction off thos faultes which might ſom… what ſtay the reader the firſt nombre ſhewing the page / the ſecond the line.
PAge 2. line 18. enioned, reade enioyed. pag. 3. lin. 5. is. Re. yt. pag. 10. li. 22. your, R. yow. pag. 25. li. 12. diſcent. R. diſſent. pag. 27. li. 4. parie R. partie. pag. 38. lin. 24. ende, R. tende. pa. 44· li. 9. ceri…ine, R. certeine. pa. 47. li. 20. lette, R. letter. pa. 65. li. 17. ſubſcription, R. ſuperſcription. pa. 72. l.. 36. world. R. would. pa. 76. li. 10. ſtucke the paſtor, R. ſtucke to the paſtor. Li. 15. wiſon, R. wilſon. pag. 82. lin. 19. were, R. where. pag. 86. li. 5. congregagation, R. congregation. pag. 97. lin. 30. dinner, R. dynner. pag. 123. lin. 7. the, R. then Pa. 132. lin. 22. incompent, R. incompetent, pa. 179. l. 23. td, R. to. pag. 194. lin. 8. conſ…ners, R. couſeners, pag. 200. lin. 22. to R. the.
End of the text · William Whittingham, Brief Discourse of the Troubles at Frankfort (1574)