Heresiography, Chapter 1

Heresiography · Chapter 1

p. 1Chap. I.

Of the Anabaptists.

For the discovery of this Sect I purpose to set down,

1. Their Originall and first Proceedings.

2. Their Errors and Blasphemies.

3. A Confutation of their Errors.

4. The Orthodox Doctrine of the Church of England opposite to their Errors.

5. The severall Sects of Anabaptists.

6. Of their manner of Rebaptizing, and other fashions.

7. How Christian Princes & Magistrates have suppressed them: and especially how they have beene punished among us.

p. 28. Of their audacious boldnesse at this day to publish Bookes in defence of their Errors, and to challenge our Protestant Divines to publike disputations: and to intrude into our Pulpits to vent their Blasphemies.

9. Their moderne Tenents which they owne.

1. Of their Originall and first proceedings.

ABout the yeare of our Lord God 1521.… Doctor Luther preaching the Gospel in Saxony, Almighty God blessing his labour, a new Sect (among many others through the instigation of the Devill) began to spring up in the said Coun…y of certain fanaticall people, who boasted that they talked with God, and God with them, who commanded them to kill all the wicked, that is, all that were not of their Sect, and make a …ew world, in which the innocent and godly should live and reigne alone. The Author of this Sect Melancton affirmeth to be one Nic…las Storke, who would tell his followers that God spake to him by an Angell, and revealed his will to him in dreames, promising him the place of the Angell Gabrie…, and the Empire of the whole world. He affirmed the Saints must reigne in this world alone, and that he must be their Leader, to kill all the Kings and Princes of the wo…ld, and to repurge the Church. He tooke upon him also to have the gift of discerning spirits, and to know the Elect.

In this mans Schoole was one Thomas Muncer brought up,Anno 1525 Horten. de Anab. pag. 11. who amplyfied much his Masters Doctrine. Hee b…gan to preach at Alsted in Turingia, where he made first an a…ociation, administring an oath to all that promised to assist him in killing the ungodly Princes and Magistrates: So long as hee preached but his dreames and Fancies the Elector of Saxony bore with him; but after he b…gan to preach killing of Princes and Rebellion, he banished him from Saxony, who … to Nurenberg, and being driven from thence to Mulhus in Tu…ingia, to which place divers of his old Disciples resorted: whatsoever he determined was received as an Oracle, especially when he preached that all goods must be …, and … p. 3men to be free and of equall dignity an acceptable Doctrine in those parts, where the Nobility used their Tenants like slaves; upon this his preaching about 40000. Bores and Trades-men rose up in Suevia and Franconia, …who tooke some of the Nobles, r…nsacked, plundered and burnt houses▪ carrying all before them. Muncer also having prepared Munition, and raised a numerous multitude (the meaner sort of people leaving their ploughes and loomes) armed themselves to become adventurers in this holy war: one Phifer a chiefe Associate of Muncers, rusheth into the Countries adjoyning, and destroyed many Towns, burnt many houses, and brought away some of the Nobles bound, with a great Booty; which good successe elevated the minds of these Sectaries and caused a defection in the County of Mausfelt: Muncer hoping this defection to be universall, taketh his journey to Frankhus, where the Frankhusians joyned with him. But before this snowball grew greater by rolling, Count Mansfield raiseth Forces, sets upon Muncer, and slew 200. of his men; Muncer renueth his Army, pitcheth upon a hill by Frankhus intrenched with Carts. Count Mansfield with the Princes his Assistants pittying the rude company, sent to offer them impunity and generall pardon if they would but yield up the Author of that sedition & returne home. Muncer falls to preaching, te…ling them that he was sent from God to command and lead them in this action, and that they should certainly overthrow these and all other enemies of God, it being Gods promise (who cannot lye) That the righteous should wash their feet in the bloud of the wicked; and that he had promised him Victory,Sl…id…. …4. indowing him with such strength that he was able to turne all their bullets back with his Coat, so the Botes refused peace; upon this the Princes began to play upon them with their Ordnance, the Bores neither advanced nor fled, but fell a singing, Come holy Ghost, confiding and expecting that God would fight for them from heaven according to Muncers promise; But when the intrenchments of their Carts were broken, and the Princes Army came to handy-blowes, 5000. of them being slain, away fled the Bo…es, some one way, some another, but most of them …o Frankhus, which City the Princes tooke with Muncer who p. 4lay hid therein, who with Phifer and 300 more were executed and put to death. Muncer was so dejected at his death that he could not make confession of his faith; but with much adoe he could speake after the Duke of Brunswicke, who taught him what he should say. Thus the Suevian Rebellion was extinguished, the root and branch seeming to be cut off; But the seeds remaining, Germany swarmed with Anabaptists, ane… name, but in effect the old Sect with some additions. Melchior Hopman who called himselfe Elia, one of greater learning and parts then Muncer, began to vent the same Errors at Stransgburg, Ch. Nelles. pag. ….for which he was imprisoned, & all his followers severely i… prest. This Sect was disperst in the higher and lower Germany, especially among the meaner sort of people; saith Hertensius one of my Authors,Ho tens. pag. 12. in tanta ho…um homi…um colluvie nc unus quidem i…ventus o…edilite as dedice. it. Sleid. 152. among that numerous rabble scarce one was found that was a Scoller, or could write or read.

The whole world was little enough for ther ambition which they attempted to obtain, beginning their Empire at Munster. In the year 1532 Munster received the Gospel, & in the yeare 1533 there comes to Town Iohn Becold a Taylor of Leyden, & with him, or after him a great multitude of his fraternity, most of them Hollanders: These keeping Conven…icles, got in few months a great party in Munster, & incensed one another with desperat… resolutions. The Magistrates not yet infected with their errors, commanded the Sectaries to depart the City; they going out…t one gate, came in at another, saying, they must not desert Gods cause. The Landgrave of Hesse pittying the distressed case of this City, sent Divines to set a bound to the unlimited extravagancy of the Anabaptists, offering disputation to them, which they refused, & took a more compendious way to work their own ends: One of them feigning himselfe to bee seazd with a propheticall spirit, ran about the City crying, Repent, & be baptized again, left the wrath of God fall upon you; many cryed with him, this crying ended in ransacking rich mens houses, & laying hands upon the owners; others rushed into the market…place crying out, that all that were not re-baptized must be killed presently. The Evangelicks or Protestants gathered themselvs in a place called Over water, & there fortified themselves: after 3 daies there was a Composition made, that either p. 5Party should enjoy the freedome of their Religion. This composition gave the Anabaptists time to strengthen their party, for they sent their letters to Wezell, Lumber. Horten. page 16.and other places, the tenor whereof was, that God had sent an holy Prophet to Munster, who spake wonders, and shewed the right way to salvation; and if they would leave their houses, and come to Munster, they should have ten times more than they left at home, and with spirituall wealth attaine all worldly riches. These faire promises drew the scumme of the Towns adjoyning to Munster, (the poore and idle sort liking that Religion best, that maketh all men alike, all goods common, that payeth no Rent, Tribute, nor Tithes, that puts downe those Lawes and Magistrates that restraine their licentiousnesse) so that in a short time the City was full of strangers, who looked upon it us upon the land of Promise. The Anabaptists knowing their strength ranne to St. Maurice Church▪ burnt it, seized upon the Armory, pillaged and defaced other Churches, depopulated the Colledges, burnt a faire Library, and finally drove the Protestants out of the City, crying out get yee hence all yee wicked, else yee shall all be slaine.

The Anabaptists being Masters of the City, began to erect a government, (although they were enemies to all Superiority, necessity and nature forcing them to chuse some governours, but the Prophets over-ruled all: one of the first orders that they made was, that every man should bring his gold, silver, and goods into the common stock upon paine of death: and there were two maiden Prophetesses that discovered the Concealers; also they ordered that all books should be burnt but the Bible, which was performed. Iohn of Leiden being in a Propheticall Trance after he had slept three dayes, pretending to be dumbe, called for writing Tables,Hortens. p. 26. in which he writ downe that it was the will of the heavenly Father, that twelve men by him named should governe the City, which was also put in execution, the ancient Magistrate being discharged. Also that it was the good will of the Father that a man should not bee tyed to one Wife,Page 28. but to marry as many as he pleased: when some would not approve of this Doctrine, he cyted them before the p. 6twelve Governours, swearing upon the new Testament that this Doctrine was revealed to him from heaven, and to testifie the evidence of the spirit, hee commanded some of the opposers to be beheaded: forthwith many Preachers confirmed this Doctrine, but the greatest confirmation was the Prophets practise, who presently married 3. wives, & left not till he had fifteen: many followed his example, and it was accounted a matter of praise to have many wives: After the promulgation of this Ordinance, the Brethren ran to the hansomest women, striving who should be first served, and lay with them without any contract.

After this,Hortc…s p 31. one Iohn Tuscocurer a new Prophet, called the Congregation together, and declared that it was the will of the heavenly Father, that Iohn of Leyden should be King of the Universe; That he should sit upon the Throne of his Father David; That he should kill all the Kings and Princes, destroy the ungodly, and save the people that loved righteousnesse. This Prophesie the multitude entertained, and proclaimed Iohn of Leyden King of Zion with great acclamations.

The new King being a Tailor, made use of his skill, and translated the Copes and Carpets of the Churches into Robes, and set forth his Majesty in gold and silver, his horses were also sutably harnessed, with saddles and foot-cloathes embroydered with gold: he rode abroad in very great state, having his chiefe Officers before him; next before him were two young men, the one carrying a Bible, the other a sword: He himself wore a great chaine like the Collar of some Order; his Motto was Rex justitiae hujus mundi, the King of righteousnesse of this world. After him followed fifty Pensioners well clad: three times a week he kept Court, sitting upon a high Throne in great Magnificence, under him sate Knipper dolling Governour of the City, and lower, his foure great Counsellours of State: In that Court he judged all Controversies, most of which was about Divorces, for by their new orders any man that was weary of his wife, might put her away and take another. Among other memorable acts of this new King, I read, that one of his wives offending him, he tooke her into the Market-place p. 7and cut off her head, causing the rest of his wives to dance about her, and give thanks to their heavenly Father, and then the King began to dance himself, commanding the people to dance with him. Againe Thuscocurer the Prophet came to the King sitting in his Throne in more than ordinary Majesty, saying to him, King Iohn, the Gospel must be renewed by thee. Thus saith the Lord God, goe and say to the King of Zion, that hee prepare my Supper in the Church-yard of the great Church: and that he send forth Preachers of my word into the foure quarters of the world to teach all Nations the way of righteousnesse, and to bring them by the spirit of their mouthes into my Sheep-fold.

So a publike Communion was celebrated,Sleidan 154. Ho ten p. 34. which they made a full meale: a great Feast it was, both for persons, as also for meat, for there were about foure thousand Communicants, and three courses of meat; but between them (saith my Author) there was an entercourse, for the King accused a man of Treason, and cut off his head and returned againe, and with bloudy hands he tooke upon him to administer the body and bloud of Christ, assisted with the Queen, who did the office of a Deacon, the like did the principall Officers of State. After Supper the King asked the people, whether they were all heartily disposed to doe Gods will, and to suffer and dye for the faith: To whom the people answered with one voyce, that they would.

Then rose the Prophet and said; Thus saith the Lord, Page 35.chuse men among my people to send to the foure quarters of the world, to doe wonders among the Nations, and to publish my wondrous things among strange people. Then he read the names of 28. of whom himselfe was one; these Apostles went to the Cities to which they were sent, crying in the streets that they should repent, or else shortly be destroyed: these men were apprehended in the Cities and put to death, and so there was an end of their Apostleship.

All this while the City was besieged by Count Waldeck the Owner thereof, and so fore oppressed with Famine, that they were faine to ea…e Dogs, Cats, Rats, sodden Leather, yea some p. 8their owne children. The Princes of the Empire assembled at Coblents, pittying the seduced people, sent letters to the people of Munster, representing to them their fault and danger they were in, and that if they did not submit to their naturall Prince, they should draw the whole force of the Empire upon them: this was about December, 1534, Hilversum also one of their Prophets being taken by the besiegers, writ out of the Camp a most sensible Letter to the people of Munster, wherein he acknowledgeth that his former Prophesies were impostures, and entreated them to open their …yes to see how they were deluded by a company of Rascalls, what a beastly life they lead, having violated all Lawes of pudicity and honestie. These Letters moved the hearts of many, who were weary of their lives that they lived in, and were also pinched with hunger, and they began to murmour against the King, who calling them together made a fine speech to them, saying that he would never have thought that they being born again by a new baptisme, would shew themselves so impatient for Gods cause whereas they should have followed St. Pauls example, bearing nakednesse, hunger, and cold to attaine the heaven of salvation: That God was powerfull enough to send them Manna and Quailes from heaven? That he had great Troops in Holland and Freezeland, that would certainly come with great provision of victualls and beare the enemy back? That God had revealed to him that at Eafter they should be delivered for certaine. Finally, the Towne was taken, Iune 1535. having endured a siege of eighteen moneths: after the taking of the Towne, it was ordered that the innocent people should be spared, and that all the good Citizens that were come out or kept in by force, should have restitution of their goods. The Citizens that yeelded were spared, but the fierce Anabaptists who could never bee tamed, and lay hid in severall holes, were sought out and killed. The King resisted to the last, and being taken with Knipperdoling and others, was sent prisoner to a Castle, drawne thither, tyed to a horse taile; hee was condemned and executed as a Traitor, being tyed to a stake, and pulled in divers parts of his body with hot pincers p. 9for an houre and more, and then stricken to the heart with a dagger: with him suffered Knipperdoling. The King abjured his Errors; but Knipperdoling dyed like a mad beast: After their deathes they were put into Iron Cages, and hanged upon the high steeple of St. Lambert. Thus dyed this imaginary King, and Anabaptistrie was suppressed in Munster.

As the Anabaptists had surprised Munster, so they had the like projects in many other places, but with ill successe: As one Iohn of Geles was sent to Amsterdam, and finding the people fit objects for his delusions, hee told them wonders of the new Kingdome of righteousnesse at Munster, their liberty of living, their pillaging of Churches, and the inriching themselves with the goods of the ungodly, and of the great designes of their King, of the prophesies of the propagation of his Kingdome, with such discourses. In their private Conventicles they filled the mindes of the people with a frantick zeale, and made them long to be fing…ing Church-Plate, and the goods of the ungodly, pretending that it was an easie matter to surprise Amsterdam, which Town (with others) God had given to the King of Zion, as the first fruits of his Reigne over the world: Hereupon they enterprised the taking of the Towne, and to kill the Magistrates as they were feasting in their Towne house; but by the providence of God they were deceived of their purpose. They wanting their Signall, which was the ringing of the Towne-Bell, which was not done, (a drunken man having taken away the rope) the Company assembled not: many of the Anabaptists were slaine, and others received condigne punishment.

The Anabaptists after the death of Iohn of Leyden chose another King, who with his high Treasurer was taken at Virecht and kept in prison: among the exployts of that elected King, he brought his wife into a wood and there killed her,Hort. page 74. that without interruption he might lye with her daughter; and he also cut a young wenches throat, lost she should detect him: good store of Plate was found in his house, p. 10most of it Church Plate: the King and his Treasurer was burnt.

I read of another King of the Anabaptists called Ian Wilhems, whose execrable deeds and actions are written in Dutch and translated into French by Ch. de Niclles. Ch. Niclles. page. 3.This Ian Wilhems was Sonne to one Theodore Wilhems, a Vicar in Ruremond in Gelderland: this King kept his Residence in divers places, as at Ar…hem first; and afterwards at Lovain, Wesel, Alden, Ch Niclles, page 52.Calcar, Harsem, and last of all at a Village called Avendrop, not farre from Wesel, to which place divers resorted who had beene in the siege of Munster: This man succeeded Cornelius Appleman: who was executed for his wicked Acts in the City of Virecht.

Which Appleman succeeded Ian Cordwainer, who going about to restore the broken fantastick Kingdome of the Anabaptists, was discovered by some of his followers to be Captaine of the Theeves and Church robbers, and executed at Brussels.

This King Wilhems affirmed the Doctrine of the Anabaptists taught in Munster to be the true Doctrine to bring men to salvation, and that God for his austere life had given him grace to make knowne his law more cleerely and purely than it had been ever before,

He wrot a book intituled,Ibid. page 55 Du mariage impure des faux Evangeliques, in which he defended Poligami.

He rob'd and spoyl'd the Countrey about him, affirming that to rob the ungodly was no sinne at all for the people of the new Ierusalem, because the good of the land belonged onelyonly to lesus Christ and his Disciples. This wicked Rout called themselves le people de Ian Wilhelmes.

He used a sword,Page 61. which he called the sword of God and Gede….

This holy King had 21. wives to encrease his holy seed, among whom he had Elsken Thewes, Four conscione multipher le nomo e deu peuple di dieu.and Elizabeth her daugh…er: also Clare and Elizabeth, sisters daughters of Ian Marsens. Of his facinorous Acts, and names of his Queens you may read more at large in the History of his life, written by p. 11Ch. Nells.Ch. Nicll p. 56 This fanetick King was burnt according to his deserts the 12. of March, Anno 1580. and divers of his Complices were executed at Wesell, Cleve, ond other places.

In this History before releated,The … of the …. we may see the great Hypocrisie of these Sectaries, who when they crept first into Munster made a shew of great holinesse▪ great humility, great innocence: they would not sweare, not use any obscene speech, their ordinary communication was of mortification; But when they became Masters of the Town, they broke the lawes of all pudicity and honesty.

More especially an Anabapeist might not beare on office in a Countrey village, but afterwards Iohn of Leyden their Prophet would be King of the Universe, they would not suffer a man to weare a Ring, or a woman a silken Gowne: But after the surprise of Munster, no Prince was so gloriously arryed as King Iohn and his Officers an this other Attendants.

They pretended that it was not lawfull for a Christian man to beare Armes or to punish offenders, whereas in Munster they exercised all manner of cruelty: King Iohn cut of his wives head in the Market-place, another Prophet his brothers head before his Father, affirming it to be the will of the heavenly Father. And whereas some good Citizens were grieved at their disorders, and groaned under their Tyranny, and went about to shake off the yoke of King Iohns oppression, about 50. of them were taken and put to death with all manner of cruelty. Iohn of Leyden incouraging them, saying that in that their doing they should doe God good service.

The History of the Anabaptists you shall finde in the fifth and tenth book of Sleidens Commentaries: Master Bull…ger hath written the same, and confuted their Errors: Lambe…tus Hortensius hath written of the Anabaptist's of the Low Countries, and Iohn Gastius Minister of Zuricke of their doings in Zuitzerland.

p. 12II. The Errors of the Anabaptists, set downe by Pontanus,Set downe by …ontanus and Bullinger. Osiander, Bullinger, and others.

Errors not to be tolerated in the Church.

1. THat Christ did not assume his flesh and bloud from the Virgin Mary.

2. That Christ is not true God, but onelyonly endued with more gifts than other men.

3. Our righteousnesse not to depend upon faith in Christ, but upon the workes of Charity and Afflection.

4. They reject the Doctrine of Originall sin and those Doctrines that depend upon it.

5. They deny Baptisme to Infan…s, because they cannot make confession of their faith, affirming that the Baptisme of children came from the Pope and the Devill: they call Baptisme of Infants the marke of the beast.

6. They re-baptize them that have beene already Baptized.

7. They dream that before the day of judgment their Church shall destroy all the wicked, and obtaine a Monarchy, in which the godly shall reigne alone.

8. They allow men free will in spirituall things.

9. They separate themselves from all other Churches, accounting themselves onelyonly pure and holy without sin.

10. That the Office of the Ministerie is of no great effisicacie,Gastius p. 10. Anabap. Sumunt sibi omnes praedicandi … and that Lay men may preach and administer the Sacraments.

p. 13Errors not to bee suffered in a Commonwealth, without the Ruine of it.

1. That it is unlawfull for a Christian man to be a Magistrate, and that the people may depose them.Sleid. com. lib. 10. licere plebeis in magistratibus … sumere.

2. That it is not lawfull for a Magistrate to punish any malefactor whatsoever with death.

3. That a Christian man cannot with a safe conscience take … Oath.

4. Nor by oath promise fidelity to any Prince or Magistrate whatsoever.Non licere Chri…tani… justurandum … cere, Sleid. lib. 10.

Errors not to be tollerated in Families.

1. That a Christian man may not with a safe conscience possesse any thing proper to himselfe, but whatsoever he hath hee must make common.

2. That wives of a contrary Religion may be put away, and that it is lawfull for them to take others.

3. That a Christian man may have many wives.

III. The Confutation of these Blasphemous and detestable Errors before named.

THat Christ tooke not flesh from the Virgin Mary.Error 1. This Error is flar against the first promise of Christ,Answer. G…n. 3. The seed of the woman shall break the serpents head. Against the promise made to Ab…aham, Gen. 22. In thy seed, &c. To David, Psal. 132. 11. Of the fruit of thy body, &c. Luke 1. That which is borne of thee, saith the Angel to Mary, Rom. 1. 3. Who was made of the seed of David, according to the flesh, whence in the New Testament he is called the Son of man. As also Isay p. 14the son of a Virgin, which could not be if he had not taken flesh upon him from the Virgin Mary: neither should our flesh have any hope of eternall life if he were not made flesh, neither should his passion or resurrection profit us at all. In this point the Anabaptists are worse than the Papists, yea then the Turkes themselves, who confesse that Christ was borne of a Virgin. The Melchiorists, a kinde of Anabaptists, doe not onelyonly hold the opinion above named, but also are so diabolicall and blasphemous as to curse the flesh of the blessed Virgin,Maledicta sit c…ro Mariae, Bull in advers. Anabab fol. … 6…. by maintaining this error: The Anabaptists manifest themselves to be of the number of them whom the Apostle St. Iohn speaketh, 2. Eph. vese 7. For many deceivers are come into the world, who confesse not that Iesus Christ is come in the flesh.

That Christ was not true God.Error 2.

This blasphemous Error is contrary to the holy Scripture,Answer, as Ioh. 1. The word was God, Ioh. 10. I and the Father am one, Ioh. 4. He that seeth the Father, seeth me: I am in the Father, and the Father in me, Col. 2. 9, For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead corporally. Againe, 1 Iohn 5. We are in him that is true, even in his son Iesus Christ, that is, the true God. And againe, if he were not God, no created power had been sufficient for the worke of our redemption and satisfaction of Gods wrath. This blasphemous opinion reigneth among the Anabaptists in Moravia: I doe not find this to be maintained by our English Anabaptists, but to be the opinion of Servetus, who was burnt at Geneva and his followers.

Not to be saved by faith in Christ.

What can be more contrary to the holy Scriptures than this detestable Error: Error 3.read Iohn 3. 16.Answer. So God loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that who so beleeveth in him shall not perish, but have life everlasting. Rom. 3. 24. We are justified freely by grace through the Redemption that is in Iesus Christ, Rom. 3. 28. We conclude that a man is justified by faith, without the workes of the Law.

By the work of Charity and Affliction, the passion of Christ p. 15is a sufficient ransome for all our sin, 1 Iohn 1. The bloud of Christ purgeth us from all out unrighteousnesse, Isa. 43. 25. I am he that blotteth out all thy transgressions, for my own sake, and will not remember thy sinnes, Heb. 9. He hath obtained for us eternall redemption, nothing here perfect, 1. Cor. 13. Neither in his sight can any man living be justified. Psal. 143. 2. Neither any troubled conscience can be pacified, Rom. 5. 1. Being justified by faith, we have peace with God, through our Lord Iesus Christ. And for afflictions they are either just punishments for our sins, or fatherly corrections to stir us up to a holy life.

They reject the Doctrine of originall sin, because (say they) Christ hath taken away all evil,Error 4. whether it be the inclination or concupiscence, according to that, Behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world. Also that children whereas they do neither good nor evill, are under grace and without sin, but so the Infants of all nations and Infidels may be saved, being without sin: but the contrary appeareth by the effect of sin. The reward of sin is death, Rom. 6. And David confesseth expresly. Psal. 51. Behold I was borne in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me. And St. Paul calleth our inbred concupiscence sin dwelling in us. And Eph. 2. We were by nature the children of wrath.

They deny the Sacrament of Baptisme to Infants.Error 5.

The ground of this Errour is Ignorance, they not knowing what Baptisme is, pretending Faith and Repentance to be the estence of Baptisme, which Infants are not capable of, and therefore not to be baptized.

To this I answer; As faith and repentance was not the essence of Circumcision, but the outward circumcising of the flesh, and the inward circumcising of the heart.

So the essence of Baptisme, is not faith and repentance, but the outward washing of the water, the word annexed, and the inward washing of the Spirit.

Our Lord affirmeth, Joh. the 3. Except a man be born again by water and the holy Ghost, &c. St. Augustine affirmeth, Although p. 16sound faith be not present: yet the Sacrament of Biptisme may be sound.…emiae paid Respen. 1. The Greek Patriarch, writing to the German Divines, affirmeth in Baptisme the matter to be water, the forme the words, viz. This servant of God is baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and holy Ghost: the instrumentall cause to be the Minister.

The Anabaptists attribute too much in this Sacrament to their repentance, faith, mortification, and merit, and little or nothing to Gods mercy, which is most contrary to the nature of this holy Sacrament, which sealeth up unto us out receiving into Gods favour and grace for his owne mercies sake without any merit of ours.

To palliate this their abhominable error, they pervert divers places of holy Scripture, as Matth. 28. Mar. 10. Out of the order of words, Goe and teach all Nations, baptizing them: Because that teaching is set befor baptizing, they would have children taught before they are baptized.

To this I answer, 1. Whereas teaching is set before baptizing, Matth. 28. Baptizing is set before teaching, Mar. 1. 4. John did baptize in the wildernesse, and teach the baptisme of repentance: And againe, where it is said, repent and beleeve: whether is faith or repentance first required?

But where finde you (say they) a literall command in all the new Testament for the Baptisme of Infants?

To this I answer: The new Testament doth not literally command, Remember to keep holy the Lords day, nor to say grace before and after meales, or to pray with our Families evening, or morning or for women to receive the Communion, and many other such like things, which are moral duties, & may be sufficiently proved by consequence out of the holy Scriptures. As for example in this very Text which they alleadge against the baptisme of children: the baptisme of children is there commanded: Goe and teach all Nations, baptizing, &c. The meaning is, goe and teach all them that are capable of teaching and baptize them that are capable of baptizing: to make this more plaine.

Is a man should bid his servant, goe sheare all my sheep and p. 17mark them: if that servant should sheare all his sheep, and mark them only that he had shorn, and not mark his Lambs, because he could not shear them: doth that servant fulfill his Masters command? No more had the Apostles done, if they had not marked his lambs as well as his sheep; although they were not capable of teaching, yet they were capable of marking or baptizing. In lawes and precepts that be generall, the numeration of singulars are not necessary; because lawes doe command the whole kind: and therefore the holy Apostles baptized whole Families, in which we find none excep…ed, as St. Peter baptized Cornelius and his Family, Acts 10. 48. St. Paul baptized the Jaylor, and all that belonged unto him, Acts 16. 33. Lydda and her houshold, Acts 16. 15. The houshold of Stephanus, 1 Cor. 1. 16, &c.

Again, whereas our Lord commandeth, Mark 10. Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not. How properly can an Infant come unto Christ but by Baptisme? Repent they cannot, beleeve they cannot, as the Anabaptists affirm: But by baptisme they may come, where the Minister in Christs stend receiveth them and blesseth them; and why all this? Of such is the Kingdome of God, and therefore saith our Lord, Forbid them not.

St. Peter saith, Acts 2. 39. The promise is mad: to you and your children; and therefore be baptized. To whom the promise is made, and covenant, let no man forbid baptisme, which is the seal of the Covenant.

Again, the faith of the Parents may warrant their Infants baptisme: yea, though they have but an hystoricall faith, and not a justifying, if they can credere ad baptismum, though not adsalutem: this faith maketh their children capable of baptisme: many in the Apostles time were baptized, having onelyonly an historicall faith, as S…mon Magus, and others.

Moreover, these phrases, Teach and baptize, Repent and beleeve, Beleeve & be baptized, are meant of such as were of riper years, and made profession of the Christian faith, or else the estate of Christian infants in the Gospel, were much worse then the condition of the Israelitish Infants under the Law: p. 18which to affirme, is an horrible indignity offered unto Christ. Last of all,Blasphemy. most blasphemously they call baptisme of Christian mens children, the mark of the Beast, and to come from Antichrist, and especially from Pope Innocent the third, who lived about the yeare, 1213.

Learned Mr. Calvin Instit. 4. cap. 16. ss. 6.affirmeth the baptisme of children to be a holy institution alwayes observed in Christ Church.

All the reformed Churches use it,Vid. The harmony o… their conf sio…s Orati 40. upon Levit. and it hath ben the practice of the universall Church.

The Greek Church (who yearly excommunicate the Pope) to whom St. Paul preched, baptize their Infants, as Gregory Nazianzen affirmeth.

And Origen, who lived about the yeare 226, about 1000, yeares before Pope Innocent, whom the Anabaptists would make the author of pedobaptisme.

The Russians, who received the faith from St. Andrew the Apostle,Hoc si qu…s neglex…rit & deriserlt, mortis poena affilgetur, Re…ig. Moscov…t. … 17▪ and account the Pope of Rome an Heretick, hold a necessity of baptisme, and put to death them that neglect and deride baptisme: what would they doe with these men who blaspheme it?

The Abyssi…s, or Ethiopians, who received Christianity from St. Matthew the Apostle, doe baptize their Infants: viz. their male children at fourty dayes of age, and their females at eighty.

The Armenian Christians, to whom St. Barthoiomew preached the faith,Gu…do de …res. baptize their Infants. Baronius writeth, that these Christians had a thousand Bishops.

The Iacobites, Th… a Iesu de conv…r omnium gent. 1. lib. 7. p 506:who are a numerous sort of Christians, doe the same: yea, they mark their children with a hot Iron with the signe of the crosse, alluding to the words of St. Iohn: He shall baptize you with the holy Ghost, and with fire.

The Cophtie,Th, a …esu ividem. or native Christians of Egypt, to whom Saint Mark preached, baptize their Infants: these Christians have no communion with the Pope of Rome.

The Indians to whom St. Thomas brought the faith,Navig. …oseph. indi, cap 134. do the like.

The Matacasion Christians in Africa, The it. cos. lb 4. 2.affirme children dying p. 19without baptisme, to be deprived of eternall beatitude.

The Melchites, Boler, relat. lib. 2. page 3.one of the greatest fort of Christians in the Orient, as Boterus affirmeth, do the same.

The Nestorians under the Patriarch of Muzal, who as Cardinall Vitriacus affirmeth, are more numerons with the Iacobites, then the Christians of the Latin and Greek Church, doe the same: These account the Pope of Rome a reprobate Bishop.

The Circassians, Mengrellians, Georgians, Maronites, Cephalians; with all the orthodox Christians in the Universe baptize their Infants.

Erasmus wondreth what evill Devill entred them, who forbid the baptisme of children used by the holy catholick Church for above 1400. years.

Also the Britains, to whom Simon Zelotes preached have alwayes baptized their children, and have honourably esteemed of that Sacrament administred to their children, until some of these hereticks fled hither out of Germany, where they burnt, hanged, and drowned men of that Sect, till they had suppressed them. They came into England about the year 1535. and, as they could be found, we did the like to them, burning some, and banishing others: but since the yeare of our Lord 1640. they have crept out of their holes, lift up their heads, chalenge our Divines to publick disputations, preach in our Churches, publish their blasphemies, print their bookes, seducing multitudes of people.

And moreover, to speak of the curelty of these Sectaries,The barbarous cruelty of these Sectaries. who depriving Infants of baptisme, put them all out of the estate of grace. We read of Herod the Tyrant, who destroyed all the children in Bethlehem, and the coasts thereof; is not this a far more cruell sentence, to set all infants in no better state then Pagans and Infidels, without Christ, Aliens from the Commonwealth of Israel, as strangers from the convenant of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world? Can any sober Christian but think this to be a barbarous cruelty? It is not lawfull to take childrens bread, and give it to dogs: but these conclude children to be no better then dogs. The Propher Elisha p. 20wept when he look… upon Hazael, fore-seeing that …e should dash the Infants of Israel against the wall: Hazael thought himselfe worthy to be so esteemed, if ever he should …e any such things. And certainly thus to deprive Infants of baptisme, is a more cruell act then to dash their bodies against stones.

Let these men also consider how much they provoke Christs displeasure against themselves: he was greatly displeased with his Disciples for forbidding little children to come to him: and one day they shall find him much more displeased with them▪ who with great violence oppose the bringing of children to Christ in this holy Sacrament, and with wrong, injury and slander: prosecute the Ministers of Christ, who administer this Sacrament to Infants, condemning the…or Ministers of Antichrist: yea, condemning all Churches …or Antichristian, who will not cast their children out of …be covenant of grace. The Lord open their eyes that they may see their errour, and repent of it.

To conclude, the baptism… of children is commanded in holy Scripture: the holy Apostle, baptized whole families, the ancient …athers testifie the same; the holy Catholick Church of God alwayes used it. Let not the Devill enter into the heart of any man to bel…ve a f…acick, unlearned, mechanick man, not an Angel from h…aven that teacheth a contrary doctrine: What greater mischiefe can the Devill and his Imps do, then to make a schisme in the Church, and rob Almighty God of all his Lambs… and cut off so many millions of souls from the communion of the Church?

And also whereas our pious parents brought us to Christ, and dedicated us to God the Father, Sonne, and holy Ghost: let us take heed that we do not renounce that holy Covenant, as Witches doe when they compact with the Devill: remember our Lords words; How can yee escape the damnation of hell?

They baptize them that have already been baptized.Error 6.

They do that which the Scripture never commandeth,Answer. Ep…. 4. St. Paul calleth it, One Baptisme, neither was …ebaptization p. 21ever received in the true Church of God; yea the Church taught that they that were baptized by such Heretickes as erred not in the Doctrine concerning the Trinity were not to be re-baptized. Also the Imperiall Law punished them with Capitall punishment who submitted themselves to a second Baptisme.

They dreame of Monarchy,Error 7. in which the godly shall reigne alone, and destroy the ungodly, which is false; for Christs Kingdome in this world is spirituall, in which troubled consciences shall be victors, and receive solid consolation against sin, the devill, and all manner of temptations. Our Lord himselfe saith, My Kingdome is not of this World, John 18. Likewise saith St. Paul; The weapons of our war are not carnall, but mighty in operation, 2 Cor. 10. Our Lord telleth us that the separation betweene the godly and ungodly shall not be untill the last day, Luke 18 Againe, That the Sonne of man comming, shall hardly find faith upon earth, Luke 17. In that night there shall be two in a bed, the one received, the other refused. And Mat. 15. That the Angles shall separate the godly from the ungodly, and the tares to remaine with the what untill the Harvest. This Monarchy St. Peter confuteth in his second Epistle 2. 9. Saying, the Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust against the day of judgement to be punished: Therefore they are not to reigne alone here, the ungodly being killed. And although the Prophets seeme sometimes to speake of a corporall Kingdome, yet they expound themselves, shewing that they speak of his spirituall Kingdome. To reigne with Christ 1000. years before the ending of the world was the old Error of the Chiliasts, condemned above 1000 years agone by the Church of God,

They allow men free will. Error 8.So that we may doe those things which God commanded, and omit those things which God hath forbidden; otherwise (say they) God gave his Law in vaine: neither would he punish delinquents if he had not given them the power of free will.

It is answered,Answer. it is impossible that in our corrupt nature we p. 22should keep the Law, because it doth require a whole and absolute obedience in all things inward and outward; of all the heart, all our soule, and all our might: And the sense of the flesh (as St. Paul testifieth) is enmity to God. Also, the naturall man doth not understand the things that are of the Spirit, 1 Cor. 2. Also Iohn 3. Man cannot take to himselfe any thing except it be given him from above. So Eph. 2. The unregenerate man is said to be dead.

They separate themselves from all other Churches, Error 9.accounting themselves onelyonly pure and holy; and for this cause some of them will not say this Petition of the Lords Prayer (Forgive us our trespasses) saying, they are pure and without sinne:

To this I answer with St. Iohn, 1 Epist. 1. 8. If we say we have no sin, we deceive our selves, and the truth is not in us; if we confesse our sins, he is faithfull to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all our unrighteousnesse: If we say we have not sinned, we make him a lyar, and his word is not in us. To conclude, the Anabaptists that say they have no sin, are of the Devill the father of lyes, going about to make God a lyar who is truth it selfe.

The Office of the Ministery to be of no great efficacie with them.]Error 10. They doe not onelyonly contemne the Office of the Ministery, but also the holy Scripture. As Muncer would speake scoffingly of it, Bible, Bible, Bable, Bable: they depend too much upon peculiar Revelations.

The sincere preaching the word of God in the publick Congregations by the Ministers of the Word lawfully called,Answer. profiteth much. Mal. 2. The lips of the Priest shall preserve wisedome, they shall require the Law from his mouth. Ezech. 44. The Priest shall teach my people the differences betweene the holy and the prophane, and cause them to discerne betweene the uncleane and cleane. Rom. 1. 16. The preaching of the Word is the power of God to salvation to every one that beleeveth. Rom. …0. 1 Co… 1.1 Cor 1For this cause Christ taught in the Synagogues. Every one among p. 23them taketh upon him to preach as a Minister, Iohn Becold a Taylor of Leyden. The Apostle teacheth us Heb. 5. That no man take this calling upon him except hee bee called of God. Rom. 10. How shall they preach except they be sent? And this standeth with good reason, for every true Minister standeth in Gods roome, being the Lords Embassadour to deliver his will. Who dareth take upon him to be the Lords Embassadour except he be sent? I have not sent them (saith the Lord) and yet they run and prophesie lies in my name. Piety and Justice are the two Bases or Pillars that beare up humane Society: and whereas the Devill goeth about in these his Impes to overthrow the dignity of the Ministery and of the Magistrate, what doth he else but endeavour to bring the whole world to Ruine and Confusion?

The Confutation of their Errors not tolerable in a Comman-wealth.

THat it is unlawfull for a Christian man to be a Magistrate or to be subject to a Magistrate.Error 1. And why? They object that subjection came in with sin; but Christ hath taken away sin, and therefore no subjection.Resp. To this I answer; subjection is two fold, servile or civill: servile is the vassalage of a slave, which was not before the fall: civill for the common good was before: the former a curse, the latter a blessing: Eve was subject to Adam before either of them sinned. 2.Object. They object that every beleever is now in the Kingdome of Heaven, Christ alone must reigne. Ans. Resp.There is a spiritual Kingdome standing in grace, peace and joy, in which there is no distinction of persons. There is also a civill Government, which cannot subsist without distinctions and order: there must be Masters and servants; subjects and Governours; and necessity requireth it, it is the bond of the Common-wealth. There is a Regiment in the Hoast of Heaven; there is a Regiment in the Body, the members move by the direction of the Head; there p. 24is a Regiment in every Family, the servants acknowledge the Master▪ and the children their Parents. Among the irrationall cr…atures the Bees have their King. the Cranes their Leader, and the … principall Beast. St. Paul calleth Magist…a…y a divine Cr…ance all Gods O…dinances a… good & lawful: … 8… Psalm… … called Gods because they are in Gods …lace. The Anabap…sts themselves who despised Government finding the necessity of it in Munst…r, so that they could not subsist without Go…ernment, chose themselves a King with inferiour Officers under him.

That it is not lawfull for a Magistrate to punish,Error 2. because reveng… is forb…dden Christian m…n.

In this they erre, not distinguishing betweene revenge and punishment, which is from the Magistrate by reason of the execution of the Law grounded upon Gods Law, a lawfull punishment appointed by God. The Magistrate (saith St. Paul) is the Minister of God appointed for thy go…d: either for our naturall good, preserving our lives which bloody men would soone ruinate, who feare not so much hell as the halter: For our civill good, preserving our goods and Possessions: For our morall good, in rewarding vertue, and punishing vice, he beareth not the sword in vaine: For our spirituall good, by coactive power enforcing men to the duties of Godlinesse. In that notorious Apostasie of Israel, when so many execrable enormities were committed; When Micah had a house of Gods, the Levite wanted maintenance; when his Concubine was ravished to death, Iudg. 17. 18. 19. chapters.Judg 17:18Judg 17:19the Spirit still prefixeth, at that time there was no King in Israel. Wee are beholding to Governement for Order, Peace, and Religion: for Order, wher… no King is, every man will be his owne King: for Peace, he that will bee his owne King, will bee another mans Tyrant: for Religion, every Micah will have a House of Gods without Governement.

To conclude, Adulterers, Murtherers, Traytors, Witches, Burners of Houses may be put to death by the Magistrate to whom the sword is given, and they are not killed, but such p. 25in suffering, doe receive a just guerdon for their offences.

That a Christian man may not take an oath,Error 3. because Christ saith. Thou shall not sweare at all, which is repeated, Iames 5. And that it is enough to say, Yea, yea, and nay, nay.

Answ. Christ doth not forbid an oath before a Magistrate, as it is a testimony of truth: he reproveth the Pharisees, who taught men that they should sweare, not onelyonly by the name of God, as God had commanded, but also by heaven by the earth, by their heads, &c. This vitious kind of swearing he forbiddeth, onelyonly because these things cannot be witnesses of the things averred, nor punish lying. Neither doe the words following, Let your communication be yea, yea, and nay, nay, take away a lawfull oath; but admonish the godly of the goodnesse of truth, and hatred of lies. That a godly man may lawfully take an oath, appeareth by these reasons, following: 1. From the authority of holy Scripture, By the name of God thou shalt sweare, Deut. 6. 4. The reason is set down, Heb. 6. Because the Lord is greater, and that an oath is the end of all controversies: so Psal. 15. He that sweareth to his neighbour, and deceiveth him not. 2. From the example of Christ and holy men in the old and new Testament, Genes. 24. 26. 3. From the worship of God: for an oath is part of Gods worship, being a calling upon God to be a witnesse of the truth, and an avenger of the lie.

Nor by oath promise any fidelity, or bind himselfe to any Prince or Magistrate whatsoever.

This opinion openeth a gap to all Treasons, Rebellions, and Truce-breakings whatsoever. If it be not lawfull for a Christian man to bind himselfe by an oath, then i… is unlawfull for a Christian man to keep such an oath. Isaac made a covenant with Abimelech King of Gerar, to doe one another no hurt: which being sealed up with an oath, could not be violated without sinning. The Prophe… Ezekiel calleth the oath of obedience (which Zedechiah King of …srael made to the King of Babel) the oath of God: although the said King was a tyrant p. 26and an usurper, without any lawfull succession from David; yet he confirmeth it by the mouth of his Prophet, Ezek. 17. 19. As I live, I will surely bring upon Zedechia mine oath that he hath despised, and my covenant which he hath broken, upon his own head.

Again, you may see how great a tie an oath is, and how severely Almighty God doth punish the violation thereof in the story of ths Gibeonites, Iosh. 9. Joshuah and the Princes having made a league with them (being beguiled by them, pretending that they came from a farre Countrey) the congregation murmuring against the Princes, were answered by them after this manner, We have sworn to them by the Lord God of Israel, now therefore we may not touch them, lest wrath be upon us, because of the oath which we swore unto them. About 4000 yeares after, Saul in his zeale to the children of Israel, shew the Gibeonites; for which cause, 2 Sam. 21. the Lord plagued the whole Land, sending a famine upon them for three yeares, declaring himselfe, that it was sent because Saul had slain the Gibeonites, who hanged up seven of Sauls sons given them by David, and then God was intreated for the Land.

3. Confutation of Errors not tollerable in Families.

THat a Christian cannot with a good conscience have any thing proper,Error 1. but all things common.

This community they ground upon the example of the Apostles in the Acts. Answer. Answer.An Example maketh no Law, neither was this universall. Peter saith to Ananias, Acts 5. 4. Whilst it remained was it not thine own? Again, 2 Cor. 9. Every man as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give. The property of goods is confirmed in the seventh Commandement. Again, 1 Tim. 6. The Apostle chargeth rich men not to be proud, but bountifull; not to forsake their goods, but to use them well, by giving alms. Again, Prov. 5. 16. Let thy fountains p. 27be dispersed abroad, and rivers of wa…ers in the streets: let them onelyonly be thine own, and not strangers with thee; out of which we may gather, that every man hath a property in his own

That if their wives be not of their Religion,Error 2. they may put them away.

Answer. Answer.This is against the definition of marriage, which is a lawfull copulation of a man and woman not prohibited by the degrees of consanguinity or affinity.Qu…dam impuri nebulones persuaserunt juxta …auli vaticinium, 2. …. m. 3. stultis mulierculis ut relictis propriis maritis ipsus sequeretur, Bulling, adver. An…b…pt. l…b, 1. fol. 8. The marriage of an Infidell before God, is in it selfe no sin.

The Apostle perswadeth the beleever not to put away his unbeleeving wife, 1 Cor. 7.

Joseph in Aegypt married the daughter of an Heathen Priest, And Moses took the daughter of Jethro, who was not of the Circumcision. Marriage is a lawfull copulation of a man and a woman, not to be dissolved during life, but for adultery.

That it isError 3. lawfull to have many wives.

To this I may oppose the words of Saint Paul, 1. Cor. 7. 2. To avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and every woman her own Husband, Heb. 13. Whoremongers and Adulterers God will judge. Exod. 20. 14. Thou shalt not commit adultery. Malachi 2. 15. Did he not make one?

4. The Orthodox Doctrine of the Church of England, contrary to these detestable errors, taken out of the 39. Articles.

HAving handled much poyson, I thinke it fit to give the Reader to preserve him from infection, some Methridate out of the Paunarium, or Medicinable box of our Mother the Church, viz. Out of the Articles of Doctrine agreed upon for avoiding of diversity of opinions, and establishing of consent p. 28touching true Religion: To which Articles every Minister refusing to subscribe, should ipso fasto be deprived, and all his promotions to be void,Anno 13. Reg. Eliz. as if he were naturally dead. Read the Statute.

1.Article 2.

That Christ took flesh from the virgin Mary.

The Sonne which is the Word of the Father, begotten from the everlasting Father, the very eternall God of one substance with the Father took mans nature in the womb of the blessed virgin of her substance; So th…t two wh…le and perfect Natures, (that is to say) the God-head and the Man-hood, were joyned together in one Person never to be divided, whereof is one Christ very God and very Man, who truly suffered, was crucified, dead and buried, to reconcile us to his Father, and to be a sacrifice not onelyonly for originall guilt, but also for the actuall sinnes of men.

2.….

That Christ was God.

There is but one living and true God everlasting, without body parts, or passion of infinite power, wisedome and goodnesse, the maker and preserver of all things both visible and invisible; and in the Unity of this God-head are three Pers…ns … one substance, power, and eternity, the Father, Son, and holy Ghost.

3.Article 11.

Of our justification by Faith.

We are accounted …ighteous before God, onelyonly for the merit of our Lord and Saviour JESUS CHRIST, by faith and not for our own works or deservings: wherefore that we are justified by saith only, is a most wholsome Doctrine, and very full of comfort.

4.Article 12.

For good Workes.

Which are the fruits of Faith, and follow after justification, p. 29alb…it they cannot put away our sinnes and endure the severity of Gods judgements, yet they are pleasing and acceptable to God in Christ, and so spring out necessarily of a true & lively faith, insomuch as by them a lively faith may be evidently knowne, as a tree is discerned by the fruit.

5.Article 9.

Of Originall sinne.

Originall sinne standeth not in the following of Adam, but it it the fault and corruption of the nature of every man that naturally is ingendred of the off-spring of Adam, whereby man is very far gone from Originall righteousnesse, and is of owne nature enclined to evill, so that the flesh lusteth alwayes against the Spirit, and therefore in every person borne into this world, it deserveth Gods wrath and damnation; and this infection in nature doth remaine, yea in them that are regenerated, whereby the lust of the flesh cald in Greek foreign, which some doe expound the wisedome, some sensuality, some the affection, some the desire of the flesh, is not subject to the Law of God.

And although there is no condemnation to them that beleeve and are baptized: yet the Apostle doth confesse that concupiscence and lust hath of it selfe the nature of sin.

6.Article 27.

Of the Baptisme of Infants.

Baptisme is not onelyonly a signe of profession and marke of difference, wherehy Christian men are discerned from other that be not Christned: but it is also a signe of regeneration or new birth, whereby (as by an instrument) they that receive Baptisme rightly are grafted into the Church: the promises of the forgivenesse of sinne, and of our adoption to be the sons of God, by the holy Ghost are visibly signed and sealed.

Faith is confirmed, and grace encreased by vertue of p. 30prayer unto God. The Baptisme of young children is in any wise to be retained in the Church, as most agreeable with the institution of Christ.

7.Article 10.

Of Free-will.

The condition of man after the fall of Adam, is such, that he cannot turne and prepare himselfe by his owne naturall strength and good workes to faith and calling upon God. Wherefore we have no power to doe good workes pleasing and acceptable to God, without the grace of God by Christ preventing us, that we may have a good will, and working with us when we have that good will.

2.Article 15.

Of being without sinne.

Christ is alone without sin; If we say we have no sin, we deceive our selves, and the truth is not in us.

9.Article 37.

Of the Civill Magistrate.

We give unto the Kings most Excellent Majesty that Prerogative which we see to be given to all godly Princes in holy Scriptures by God himselfe, that is, that they should rule all estates and degrees committed to their charge by God, whether they be Ecclesiasticall or Temporall, and restraine with the Sword the stubborne and evill doers.

The Lawes of the Realme may punish Christian men with death for heynous and grievous offences.

It is lawfull for Christian men at the commandement of the Magistrate to weare weapons and serve in the wars.

p. 3110.Article 38.

Christian mens goods are not common.

The riches and goods of Christian men are not common, as touching the right, title, and possession of the same, as the Anabaptists doe falsely boast.

11.Article 39.

A Christian mans Oath.

As we confesse that vaine and rash swearing is forbidden Christian men by our Lord Jesus Christ and Iames his Apostle: so we judge that Christian Religion doth not prohibite, but that a man may sweare when the Magistrate requireth, in a cause of Faith and Charity, so it be done according to the Prophets teaching, in judgement, justice, and truth.

5. Of the severall sorts of Anabaptists.

IT betell the Anabaptists as other Heriticks, to wit, having once forsaken the truth, there is no end of their Errors. As the Spirit encreased, so many things were altered, and new things received by the brethren as Oracles from heaven.

First, they break asunder into foure Sects, and David George tooke upon him to reconcile them,Histor. David Georg 1. fol. 17. who being possessed with the Devill, prefer'd himselfe most blasphemously before Christ himselfe; dayly they were divided more and more.

There are foureteen severall sorts of Anabaptists according to their severall sorts of Errors or Authors set downe p. 32by Alst edius in his Indice Theologia Polemina, Page 565. viz.

Muncerians.

Apostolikes.

Separatists.

Catharists.

Silentes.

Enthusiasts.

Liberi.

Adamites.

Hutites.

Augustinians.

Beucheldians.

Melchiorites.

Georgians.

Menonists.

Whose severall Errors I purpose to touch.

Muncerians, 1. Muncerians.so called of Muncer before named, who raising a sedition of Boores in Germany, was defeated, taken and beheaded about the yeare of our Lord God, 1525. He preached that all goods must be common, and all men free, and of equall dignity. That God had commanded him to destroy all the ungodly,Sleid. Com. lib. 5. and to repurge the Church.

Apostolikes, 2. Apostolikes.a kinde of Anabaptists, because they would be like the Apostles, they wandred up and downe the Countreyes without staves, shooes, money, or bags, preaching up and downe their celestiall vocation to the Ministerie of the Word, they washed one anothers feet; and leaving houses, wives, and trades; they were so burthensome to the brethren, that at last they were excommunicated as idle drones. They dissolved the bands of marriage when they lifted, putting their wives away as oft as they pleased.

p. 33Separatists, 3. Separatists.a kinde of Anabapt…sts, so called, because they pretended to be separated from the world: They condemned fine cloathes: To them that laughed they would cry; Woe bee to you that laugh, for hereafter yee shall mourne. They did look sadly, and fetcht deep sighes; they avoyded marriage meetings, fealts, musick, and condemned bearing of Armes, and Covenants.

Catharists, 4. Catherists.who deny children Baptisme, affirming that they have no Originall sin, and pretending themselves to bee pure and without sin. These will not say this Petition in the Lords Prayer, forgive us our Trespasses.

Silentes, 5. Silentes.who despise all humane constitutions, and dispatch their businesse with great silence, they answer all questions of Religion with much silence

Enthusiasts, 6. Enthusiasts.who pretend that they have the gift of Prophesie by dreames, to which they give much credit. They would lye in Trances like men having the falling sicknesse, and then would declare st…ange things which God had revealed to them, viz. That Anabaptisme was holy: that Pedobaptisme came from the divell, and that Zwinglius was in hell, &c.

Liberi, 7. Liberi.a sort of Anabaptists, who understand the liberty we have in Christ carnally: and, being freed from Christ, they thinke themselves freed from paying any rent, tribute, or tithes, and take unto themselves liberty to commit all uncleanesse whatsoever.

Adamites, 8. Adamites.a kinde of Anabaptists, who think cloathes to be cursed, and given to man for a punishment of sin, whereas they thinke themselves to be innocent and without sin.

Hutites, 9. Hutites.who boast themselves to be the only children of God, and hei…es of heaven, so called of Iohn Huta; this Iohn Huta dyed in prison. These Anabaptists deny the deity of Christ.

p. 34Augustinians, 10. Augustinians.who affirm the entrance into Paridice to have been shut up untill Augustine the Bohemian opened it for himselfe and those that were of his Sect.

Beuckeldians, 11. Beuckeldians.a kind of Anabaptists so called of Ioh. Beuchelzo…us; these affirme Polygamie to be permitted in the Gospell, and that it is a holy thing to have many wives.

Melchiorists 12. Melchiorists.are Anabaptists, so called of Melchior Hofman, who was their Prophet at Strausborough, whom they do expect to come at the day of Judgement with Elias. They also affirme the blessed Virgin Mary not to be the Mother of our Lord, but to be as a Conduit through which Christ passed, so that hee tooke nothing from her, neither was borne of her. This Hofman was so wicked as to say, Malidista sit caro Mariae.

Georgians, 13. Georgians.certaine Anabaptists, followers of David George, who was father of the Familists, boasted that he was a great Prophet, the Son of God, greater than Christ: and hee should rise three yeares after his death, and restore the Kingdome of Israel.

Menonists, 14. Menonists.called of Menon a Frisian, by whose name the Anabaptists were generally called, as if all their other denominations had been lost and buried.

These foureteen are named by Astedius: Mr. Bullinger in his first book against Anabaptists, Hist. Anabap. pag. 53.nameth others, as some of them under pretence of childish innocency, played many odde pranks: one having kept his excrements in store many dayes, powred them out in the street, and turned himselfe naked into them, saying, unlesse we be made like little Children, we cannot enter into the kingdome of heaven. 15. Pueris similes.Others for the same reason would ride upon sticks and Hobby-horses like children in great companies, and women would run naked with them, and then in pure innocency they lay together, and so in the end it proved childrens play indeed.

p. 35Servetians, 16. Sevetians.a blasphemous kinde of Anabaptists, so called of Servetus, a Spaniard, whose Heresies are set down by Prateolus, Bullinger, and others; he called the baptisme of children an horrible abhomination: he would not have them baptized before they were thirty yeares old. This Servetus denyed the Deity of Christ, and was burnt for his blasphemous opinions, October, 27. in the yeare of our Lord, 1553. at Geneva.

Libertines, 17. Libertines.who make God the author of sinne, and deny the resurrection of the body: against these Mr. Calvin hath written a Treatise; Bullinger telleth us of divers sotts of Anabaptists called Liberi, vid. sup.

Denkians, 18. Denkians.a sort of Anabaptists, of which Denkius was chief, who taught that the Devill and wicked men should be saved. This Denkius was converted by Oecolampadius Minister of Basil.

Semper Orantes, 19. Orantes.who would alwayes pray, and neglect all other duties.

Deo relicti, 20. Deo relicti.Anabaptists that relying onelyonly upon God, refuse all meanes that God hath appoynted.

Monasterienses, 21. Monasterienses.or magnificent Anabaptists, so called because of their bravery under their King Iohn, who added many things unto the hodgepodge of their errors: as the having many wives, which he pretended to receive from the heavenly Father; and it was no burthen for a man to have never so many in Munster, they being provided for out of the common stock. They put away barren women, and women past children as good for nothing, and committed them to Curators to keep: whereas they had many wives, yet it was accounted a great offence for one wife to looke (distorto vertu) but awry upon her sister wife, yea, accounted a capitall crime.

Yea, at this day they have a new crotchet come into their p. 36heads,22. Plunged Anabaptists. that all that have not beene plunged nor dipt under waters, are not truely baptized, and these also they re-baptize; And this error ariseth from ignorance of the Greek word, Baptize, which signifieth no more then washing or ablution, as Hezychius, Stephanus, Scapula, Budaeus, great Masters of the Greek-tongue make good by many instances and allegations out of many authors.

In holy Scripture it is used generally to wash, Luke 11. 38. The Pharisees wondred that he had not first washed, foreign So Heb. 9. 10. foreign. Mark. 7. 3. Except they wash oft they care not.

And both are allowed by our Church; and sprinkling hath been rather used among us, by reason of the coldnesse, of our climate, and the tendernesse of our Infants.

They will tell us that Christ was baptized in the River, and the Eunuch in the River.

True it is,The Abyssins baptize not in Fonts as we do, but in the Church-porch, but with a potful of water … Alvares of the …hiop…ans. c. 5 Cyp. Epist. 76. ad Mag…. for then they had no Churche, nor Fonts, which now are to be used; but in what river was Cornelins and his family, or the Jaylor and his family plunged in?

Againe, if the spirituall grace be sufficiently expressed by a little water sprinkled, as by ducking in a river: then dipping is not necessary; as a little bread in the Sacrament of the Lords Supper, is of as much efficacy as a whole loafe. The Apostle telleth us, Heb. 9. 13. ofsprinkling them that were uncleane.

St. Cyprian telleth us true baptisme to be as well by sprinkling as by dipping.

It is impossible (saith Mr. Bullinger) to set downe all the differences and contrary opinions of the Anabaptists, with all their pernicious Sects and Factions; and true it is that almost everie one of them hath some peculiar toy or figment in their heads, upon which they are divided, and oft excommunicate one another.

p. 376. Of their manner of Re-baptizing, and other Rites.

THey flock in great multitudes to their Jordans, Manner of Rebaptizing.and both Sexes enter into the River, and are dipt after their manner with a kinde of spell, containing the heads of their erroneous tene…s, and their ingaging themselves in their schismaticall covenants, and combination of separation.

In the Thames and Rivers,Manner of receiving the Communion. Of their marriages. the Baptizer, and the party baptized go both into the Rivers, and the parties to be baptized are dipped or plunged under water. They receive the holy Communion most unreverently, sitting with their hats upon their heads.

For their Marriages,Gast 363▪ de Catabap. erroribus. they mary not in their Congregations, but in private, after this manner: Barbara (saith the Bridegroome) wilt thou have me the brother of the Lord, a man newly regenerate of water and of the holy Ghost? are you of that Church whereof I am a member? She answereth, I am re-baptized (God be praised) and w…ll co-habite with no man but with a brother of the same faith; to whom the Bridegroome replieth, give me thy hand, and give me a kisse, and I take thee to wife, both for ou… faith approved in Baptisme, and because my spirit is exceeding enamoured of thee▪ the Bride saying the same words, the marriage is consummated.

For their spirituall marriage,Spirituall marriages. which is their promiscuous uncleaninesse.

They affirm, those women sin grievously that ly… with their husbands that are not re-baptized,Bulling adver. Anabapt. lib. 2. fol 42. because they are Gentiles; but it to be no sin at all for them to lye with any man that hath bin re-baptized because the heavenly Father hath so cōmanded.

Gastius reporteth,P…ge 36 de Catabap. error. that a certain Mayd of modest behaviour, who had dwelt with her Master honestly many years, being seduced by the Anabaptists, lived among them, and after a monethmonth returned to see her old master, who saluted her merrily p. 38after this manner: why dost thou suffer thy selfe to be seduced by those impure knaves? a woman having once lost her honesty, what hath she left her? The wench answered, they told me that the heavenly Father commanded it, and therefore I was most obed…en… in all things to all m…n, and denied no man the duty of spirituall marriage that did require it: Her Master answered, fie upon thee bol… whore, that doest not onelyonly glory in thy great sinne, but also accountest thy abominable wickednesse to be pleasing unto God! Thus they deceive the poor people,Bulling. adver Anabap pa 4 Communitie of women. they perswade simple women under pretence of Gods commandement, that they cannot be saved except they prostiture their bodies to their brethren,Bu…ling adver Anabaptist l 2. fol. 37. and play the ha…lots.

For this Community of women they had divers reasons worthy of Registring.

That Christians must renounce for Christs sake those things that they love best,Qudam imp… ri nebulones pers adebant I vibus mol erculls on osse ip…as salvari …isi pud citi…m suam p…ostitue… rent, abu…ebantu… autem non absque blasphemia verbo Domini. &c. and are most deare unto them, and therefore women must renounce their beloved honesty.

That so Christs sake wee must undergoe all manner of infamy.

That Publicans and Harlots shall enter Heaven before the Pharis…es, and therefore common women before honest Matrons.

Again, as we are all one spirit; so we must be all one body; again, one faith, one charitie.

For their manner of**Ordnation. Ordination of their Ministers.

The Anabaptists are all Preachers, every man at his pleasure taketh upon him to be the Lords Embassadour: as Iohn Becold the Tayler of Leyden; I ohn Matthias the Baker of Hartem; and hence have our Coblers, Shoomakers, Ostlers, &c, learnt to take upon them this divine calling, of which the holy Ghost speaketh, No man taketh this calling upon him except hee be sent of God.

For their learning:Learning. they have none at all, all Bookes they burnt in Munster but the Bible; many of them can scarcely read; yea Gastius affirmeth that many of their Preachers never saw a Bible.

For their places of assembling,Places of mee…ing. they doe not meet in Churches; p. 39their going thither (say they) is like the going of the Heathen to their Idoll Temples; but rather in woods and secret places, and this rather in the night then in the day, darknesse being fittest for their devotions. In Munster they burnt the Church of St. Maurice, and made Store-houses of others.

For their manner of preaching, they please the common people well in preaching community of goods, every man to bee alike, exemption from paying of Rent, Tribute, and Tythes; putting down of Magistrates; and commonly they raile as if they were mad against the Reformed Preachers that go about to detect their Errors, and teach them obedience.

They affirm Luther to be worse then the Pope, and hate the Protestant Preachers more then the Popish Priests.

For miracles they can doe none, except it be a miracle (saith Gastius) to make halfe-witted men starke mad, or to make full Ambries soone emptie. One of their Prophets pretended to do a great miracle, viz. in the night time he caused to be put a great number of fishes into a soule puddle where the people used to wash horses, and in the morning he called the people together, and prophesied: Thus saith the Lord, cast nets into this puddle, and you shall get good …ish (a thing incredible) for never fish was seene there; but at his command, his Disciples cast a net and inclosed multitudes of fi…hes, so that the net brake. Thus the prophane Rascall (saith my Authour) would imitate the miracle of Christ, and God in his anger gave efficacie of errour to that false miracle, by which he deceived many.

7. How Christian Princes have suppressed these Sectaries, and especially how they have been punished in England.

AS you have heard of their detestable and blasphemous Errors; so I purpose to speak a word or two of the severe punishments inflicted upon those wicked Sectaries.

p. 40Anabaptisme continued in Germany in its vigour not much above ten years,Gast. 250. they were destro…ed and suppressed by the Christian Princes and Magistrates; at Frankhus there were slain about 5000 of them and 300 executed with Munter; at Norinberg also a great number were slaine;G…stius▪ de Anabapt. exord. lib. 1. Decre…lt senatus Tigu…nus merge…eeum qui merserit baptismo eum qui …rius emerse at. Gast p 178. lib … no die mul…i ob at a…baptismums …bmer si sunt. Howes Chr…p 576 at Zuricke they drowned the… that were re-baptized; at Vienna they did the like; at Passom many were burnt and drowned; in the Low Countries at Amsterd…m, Leyden, Hartsem, and in all other places else, they were everly punished. Pontanus writeth of the destruction of …50000 persons.

The Christian P…ces and Magistrates never left burning, drowning, and destroying them till their remainder was contemptible: a remnant of them came into England in two ships▪ where they have lyen lurking. They came hither about the year 1535. In the yeare 1538. …e read of them in our Chronicles, viz. upon the second day of November▪ in the said year foure Dutch Anabaptists …are fagots at Pauls Crosse;Howes Chr. p. 4. 6. and againe, of the burning of two Dutch Anabaptists in Smithfield the 27th day of November.

Againe,How 579. of two Dutch Anabaptists burnt in the high way beyond Southwarke, How 679.leading to Newington, Auno 1539. Againe, upon Easter day 1575, of a Congregation of Dutch Anabaptists discovered in a house without the Barres at Algate, of whom 27 were taken of them, foure recanted at Pauls Crosse the 25th day of May, in forme following.

Whereas l. T. R. H. being seduced by the Devill the spirit of Error, and by false teachers have fallen into most damnable and detestable errors, namely.

1 That Christ tooke not flesh of the substance of the Virgin Mary.

2 That the Infants of the faithfull ought not to bee Baptized.

3 That a Christian man may not be a Magistrate, or beare the sword or office of Authority.

4 That it is not lawfull for a Christian man to take an oath.

Now by the grace of God, and through conference with p. 41good and learned Ministers of Christs Church, I understand the same to be most damnable and detestable Heresies, and doe aske God before his Church mercy for my sayd former errors; and doe forsake, recant, and renounce them, and abjure them from the bot…ome of my heart, protesting that I certainely beleeve.

1. That Christ tooke flesh of the substance of the Virgin Mary.

2. That the Infants of the faithfull ought to be baptized.

3. That a Christian man may be a Magistrate, beare the sword and office of Authority.

4. That it is lawfull for a Christian man to take an oath.

And further I confesse, that the whole Doctrine established and published in the Church of England, and also that is received in the Dutch Church in London, is found true, and according to Gods Word, whereunto in all things I submit my selfe, and will bee most gladly a member of the sayd Dutch Church, from henceforth utterly a bandoning and forsaking all and every Anabaptisticall errors. Anno 1575, in the 17th yeare of Q…een Elizabeth of blessed memory, one man and ten women, Dutch Anabaptists, were in the Consistory of Pauls condemned to bee burnt in Smithfield: but after great pains taken with them, onelyonly one woman was converted, and the other were banished the Land.

The 22th of July in the same yeare, two Dutch men, Anabaptists, were burnt in Smithfield, who dyed in great horror, c…ying and roa…ing: this was the entertainment that these Sectaries had in times past.

In the yeare 1561▪ a Proclamation was set forth by Queen Elizabeth, Cambden in the life of Qu, Eliz. p. 35.whereby she commanded the Anabaptists and such like Hereticks which had flocked to the Coast-Towns of England from the parts beyond the Seas, under colour of shunning of per…ecution, and had spread the poyson of their Sects in England▪ to depart the Realme within 20 dayes▪ whether they were … borne people of the Land, or Forreigners, upon paine of imprisonment and los…e of goods.

p. 428. Of the audacious boldnesse of these Sectaries at this time.

BEfore you have heard of the condition of these Hereticks in times past: but with griefe of heart I speake it. Now they lift up their heads, they write books and publish them in defence of their detestable opinions, of which I have seen some: the one by one Edw: Barber, and two other by A. R. Anno 1642. A fourth by one Lamb, with others, and this without any controle that I can heare of. Yea, they challenge our Divines openly to defend their Tenets by disputation, and to satisfie the people. Doctor Featly gave them a meeting in Southwarke, where foure of their Disputants appeared on their side, besides a great number of the vulgar: of which meeting the Doctor hath given the world an account. Would to God our Rel…gious Patriots assembled in Parliament would at length take care (as they have done of the Romish Emissaries) to suppresse these, that the name of God be not blasphemed: that they may not infect the simple people with their abhominable Errorus. Was not all Israel plagued for the execrable things taken by Achan? who can tell whether the plagues of God that are upon us, are for not punishing these detestable Sectaries and others? Alas our poore Church is oppressed, and who layeth hand to help. The plague of Heresie is among us, and we have no power to keep the …ick from the whole.

The Wolves that were wont to lye in the woods, are come into our Sheep-fold, and roare in the holy Congregations. Oh thou Shepheard of Israel, why hast thou broken down the hedge of this thy Vineyard which thy right hand hath planted? The Bore out of the wood, and the wild beas… out of the Field do devoure. Oh remember not against us our former iniquities, let thy tender mercies prevent us, for we are brought very low.