Dialogue Between a Soldier and a Chaplain, Title page – Dedication
A PLEASAVNT DIALOGVE, Betweene a Souldior of Barwicke, and an Engliſh Chaplaine. Wherein are largely handled & laide open, ſuch reaſons as are brought in for maintenaunce of popiſhe Traditions in our Eng. Church.
Alſo is collected, as in a ſhort table, 120. particular corruptions yet remaining in our ſaide Church, with ſundrie other matters, neceſſarie to be knowen of all perſons.
Togither with a letter of the ſame Author, placed before this booke, in vvay of a Preface.
1. Cor. 6. v. 15.
What cōcord hath Christ with Belial?
1581.
To my Reuerent Fathers and Brethren in Chriſt, Maſter Couerdale, Mai. Turner, M. Whittingham, M. Sampſon, M. Doctor Humphrey, M. Leauer, M. Crowley, and others that labour to roote out the weedes of Poperie: Grace and Peace.
BEcauſe wee are created for Gods glorie, and the edification one of another in Chriſte, and are all bounde to ſerue therevnto by wealth or woe, life or death: & chieflie they, to whom God hath giuen the greater giftes, & whom he hath called to greater roomes, are moſt boūden to be zealous for gods glorie, with godly ielouſie to preſent the church & ſpouſe of Chriſt vnderunder their charge, a pure Virgin to Chriſt hir huſband: and that by no ſubtiltie, as the Apoſtle warneth, they ſhould bee corrupted from the ſimplicitie in Chriſt. Therefore I nothing doubting of your zeale and diligence, my reuerende Fathers & deare Brethrē, who being in authoritie, are firſt called to the battell to ſtriue for Gods glorie, and the edification of his people, againſt the Romiſhe reliques and ragges of Antichriſt, but that yee will couragiouſly and conſtantly in Chriſt throwe out theſe ragges of Gods enemies. And I do further require you in the name of God (ſo farre as my ſimplicitie may be bolde to require your wiſedomes) that ye will by this occaſion, laye open other as great enormities, that we all knowe, and labour to race out all the dregges and remnauntes of tranſformed Poperie, that are crept into Englande, by the too much lenitie of them that wilbe accounted the Lordes of the Cleargie. And for my part, by the grace and power of my God, though I ſinfull wretch hauehave no ſuch giftes nor authoritie, as can much further the cauſe or comfort you in your godlie trauailes: yet ſhall I and many more with me, A good deſire.pray for you, and with our ſimple giftes will deſire you, that we may ioyne together with you, to ſuffer togither in ſo good a cauſe, that is ſo much for gods glorie and the edificatiō of his Church, in the pure ſimplicitie of Chriſtes worde and Sacramentes, wherein our enemies and perſecutours are ſtraūgly bewitched, I wote not by what diueliſhe cuppe, that they do make ſuch a diuerſitie betwixt Chriſts wordes and his Sacramentes, that they can not thinke the worde of God to be ſafely inough preached, & honorably inough handled without cappe, Cope, or ſurpleſſe: but that the Sacramentes, the Marrying, the Burying, the Churching of women, and other church ſeruice, as they call it, muſte needes be declared with Croſſing, with Coping, with Surpleſſing, with kneeling, with prety wafer kakes, & other knackes of Poperie. O Paule that thou wert aliue, thou durſt tell theſe politicke gentlemen, that there hath bin to much labour beſtowed vponupon them in vayne. Thou durſt ſay vntounto them as thou diddeſt to the Corinthes, That they éate not the Lordes ſupper, but playe a pageaunt of their owne, to blinde the people, and keepe them ſtill in ſuperſtition, farre from the ſimplicitie of Chriſtes ſupper: to make the ſelie ſoules beleeue, that they hauehave an Engliſhe Maſſe: and ſo put no Too true.difference betwixt trueth and falſhoode, betwixt Chriſt & Antichriſt, betwixt God and the Deuill. They are ſtraungly bewitched, I ſaye, that will binde their Engliſhe prieſthoode and ſacramentes to garments: but much more enchaunted, that can finde no garments to pleaſe them, but ſuch as hauehave bin openly poluted with Poperie, ſuperſtition and Idolatrie. But moſt of all in this poynt ſhall their madnes appeare to al poſteritie, becauſe they make theſe Antichriſtes ragges Cauſa ſine qua non, in Chriſtes holy Miniſterie: ſo that theſe ſhall make an Engliſh Prieſt, be he neuer ſuch a dolt or villaine: as we hauehave very many, and without theſe Romiſhe reliques not Paule him ſelfe (as one of them did blaſpheme) and the reſte in effect do plainly affirme. Well, by Gods power wee hauehave fought with the wolues, for theſe and ſuch like Popiſhe chaffe, and God hath giuen the victorie: wee hauehave nowe to do with the Foxes, let vsus not feare. There is no crafte, cunning, or pollicie againſt the Lorde. Our B. are Foxes.We hauehave Chriſt and his Apoſtles, and al the Prophetes euer ſtryuing againſt the hypocrites of their tyme, on our ſide. A ſtrawe for Popiſhe policie. We hauehave the worde of God to warrant vsus to roote out all monumentes of ſuperſtition and Idolatrie: and are charged to abhorre them, to count them accurſed, and to defye them and deteſte them, as a menſtruous cloathe. They hauehave not the worde of God. And what wiſedome is in them ſayeth God by his Prophete Ieremie? They talke of obedience and concord, but there is no obedience againſt the Lord, nor any concorde to be deſired, but where Gods glorie and veritie is preferred. Elſe better to hauehave all the worlde to runne in hurlie burlie, and heauen and earth to ſhake, then one iote of Gods glorie ſhould decay, ſo farre as in vsus lyeth. Wee hauehave their owne lawes and proclamations to roote out all monumentes of ſuperſtition and Idolatrie, and their owne wordes are contrarie to theſe their owne doings. They repent the reformatiō proclaimed, as did the Iſraelites. They buylde agayne that which they once deſtroyed. And this do they openly, that all the worlde may wonder at their follie. But what they do ſecretly, God will one day hauehave declared openly: yea they make the name of God, and his doctrine that we profeſſe, to be euill ſpoken of already by many of their doinges. Their iudgement haſteth, that for ſuch cauſes perſecute Gods true Preachers. Wherfore let vsus not feare their threateninges. There can none perſecute vsus for this traſhe, but ſuch as are neyther whot nor colde; and then they ſhalbe vomited out, vnleſſe their zeale increaſe, or they that are Atheiſtes, ſuch as hauehave no god before their eies, but their god is their belly. And thoſe are worldpleaſers, or open Papiſtes, whom God hath giuen vp to a reprobate ſenſe. Wherefore we muſt thus take it, that they are gods roddes for our ſinnes, becauſe wee hauehave bin no more zealous in Gods cauſe, nor carefull to ſeeke his glorie. That wolfe wincheſter, & his butcher Boner fought once againſt vsus. for the groundes of this geare: but loe, howe the Lorde, within two or three yeeres ouerthrew them all to giuegive vsus courage to goe forwarde. We are to ſlacke and negligent: That monſter remayneth & is fedde, as the Papiſtes ſaye, for their ſakes. And we graunt that his paūche is fedde for ſome ſecrete purpoſe. We do crye, kill this traytour, enemie to the Crowne, to the Realme, to god & man, whiche burned Gods holy Teſtament, and murthered his Saintes and ſeruauntes. We hauehave the lawe of god and man for vsus. We are anſwered. Nay your ſelues ſhalbe compelled to turne your cloathe, your coates and cappes, and to get you into his liuerie, and to be like him in his garmentes. O Elias that thou haddeſt liued, or that thy ſpirit were amongſt vsus. The Papiſtes which are in the countreys glorie in theyr aſſemblies, that the whotte goſpellers, ſhall now be dryuen to weare their attyres. Let vsus neuer giuegive them any cauſe of ioye, though we ſhuld dye for it. Moyſes will not yeelde a hoofe of a beaſt in Gods buſines. He will not leaue a loupe of a Curtayne vnmade, nor make a buttō or a claſpe more or leſſe. Eleazar would not diſſemble by eating of vnlawfull meates. The faithful Iſraelites would not receyue ſo much, as an Iuey buſhe. Cō trariewiſe, Origen carrying a braunche, and profeſſing that he bare it for Chriſte at the firſte, was compelled afterwards to open Idolatrie: So curſed a thing it is to giuegive any place to the wicked. All the Papiſtes that ſay, they worſhip Chriſte in the croſſe and God in the Sacrament, doo ſtill vnderunder theſe wordes continewe in Idolatrie. Beware of deceytfull wordes that couer wicked purpoſes to drawe vsus from Chriſtian ſimplicitie. And let vsus ſtande conſtantly agaynſt all abuſes: repent for our former coldnes in Religion and other ſinnes, and call for helpe from aboue. For the arme of our Lorde is not ſhortned. Wee are aſſured that wee ſeeke Gods glory, and our aduerſaries may ſee if they can ſee any thing, that this thing whiche they ſeeke is not for Gods glory: ſeeing the Papiſtes the enemies of God, do ſo deſire it, and glory in it, that we, whom they moſt hate, can not be ſafe, but vnderunder their garmentes. We are aſſured that wee ſeeke Gods glory, when wee followe Chriſte, his Apoſtles and Prophetes, who euer diſpiſed theſe Phariſaicall outward faces and viſardes. Chriſte Mat. 15.findeth faulte with the garments of the Phariſees. Paul counteth all his Phariſaicall ſhewe to bee dounge. Zacharie ſayeth, that the falſe Prophete Phil. 3.ſhalbe aſhamed of his prophecy, and forſake his garmentes, wherein he deceyued. And ſhall the Zacha. 13.true Prophets be faine to creepe into their cowles? For by the ſame authoritie that the Queene commaundeth one, ſhe may commaunde any peece of Popery, ſo that ſhe name it policie. But Ezechias and Ioſias knewe no ſuch authoritie. They ſaye, that it is for pollicie, and I do eaſely beleue it, that they do care, leſſe for Chriſtes Religion, than for pollicie. But let them beware that they follow not Ieroboam, that made ſuch like Prieſtes for policie, as would do as he commaunded them. Achaz of pollicie brought ſuch an Aultar into Ieruſalem 1. Reg. 12.as he did ſee at Damaſcus, where he had ouercome the Idolaters and their Idolles. But curſed was 2. Reg 16.his pollicie, and ſo are they all, that will retayne any thing of their old Idolatrie. Nabuchodonozors Idoll was ſet vp for vnitie & pollicie: But without Daniel. 3.the warraunt of Gods holy word, there is neither good vnitie nor pollicie. That godly Father Bucer calleth the Tenthes and firſt Fruites, ſacriledge and robberie, though they bee kept ſtill for pollicie. The Croſſe and Candleſtickes vponupon the Queenes altar, are ſuperſtitious, though they bee kept there I wott not for what pollicie. The adoration of the Sacrament, in the Countreys where they knocke and kneele to a wafer, is a Popiſhe pollicie. That VVomen baptize, that pluralities, tot quots, impropriations, non reſidences, diſpenſations, ſuſpenſions, excommunications, and abſolutions for money are graunted, it is euill, like as are many other enormities borowed from Rome, which remayne in the name of pollicie. All theſe thinges were abhorred as Popiſhe, ſuperſtious, and Idolatrie among our Engliſhe Goſpellers, both Biſhoppes and others, when they were vnderunder Goos rodde in pouertie. But they hauehave nowe learned Courtly Diuinitie, to grounde all vppon pollicie. Humble them agayne (O Lorde) that they do not forget thee nor thi poore people: whom thou haſt ſo dearely bought, whiche by theſe their policies are blinded, and careth for no more, but that they may hauehave this ſuperſtitious ſhew, which is ſtill ſo maynteyned. Let him mumble as he liſt, if he be thus apparelled, all his ſeruice is good ynough, otherwiſe it is nothing worth. Thus cauſe you them to periſhe, by your pollicies, for whome Chriſt hath dyed. Furthermore, if Popery be ſuperſtitious and Idolatrous, euill and wicked, as yet there was neuer a worſe thing in the worlde, then are we commaunded to abſteyne from all participation thereof, and from all the ſhewe thereof: Ab omni ſpecie mall, that is, from all ſhewe of wickednes. Theſe garmentes were the ſhewe of their blaſphemous prieſthood: herein they dyd ſing and ſaye their ſuperſtitious Idolatrous ſeruice: they dyd ſence theyr Idolles and helpe forwarde their Idolatrous Maſſes. What pollicie can it bee then to weare this geare, but a ſuperſtitious, wicked & Popiſh pollicie? They do it for policie, they ſay, that theyr Prieſts may be knowen and magnified of men Did not the Phariſees vſe the ſame pollicie, to do all theyr workes and make all their garmentes, both Philacteris vponupon theyr heads, and theyr wyde and ſyde Robes and borders, that they might be more aſpectable and notorious to the people? but theyr woo is threatened aboue all other ſinners. To ſuch hypocrites, as beyng voyde of all true holyneſſe, delite in all outwarde ſhewes: theyr curſe is moſt inculcate. Their pollicie is, that the Prieſtes ſhall weare white in the Churches, to ſignifie theyr vertue, their purenes, & holyneſſe: and when they go forth of the Church, they muſte weare blacke gownes and blacke hornes, for contrary pollicies, and for diuers ſignifications. Our Maiſter Chriſtes pollicie was expreſſed in one worde, Feede, Feede, Feede: and the Prophetes before, and the Apoſtles afterwarde. If Chriſt be the wiſedome of the Father, the true Miniſters ſhalbe well ynough knowen, by that one marke which he giueth: And if he hauehave not that marke, better vnknowen then knowen, both for him ſelfe & others: therefore lett them not ſaye for ſhame, that they ſeeke gods glorie, Chriſtes will, or the edification of his Church, by their pollicie. Whyles they threaten and ſtoppe the ſpreading of Gods worde and feeding of Chriſtes flocke, commaunded by writing to excommunicate the moſt faythful labourers in the planting of the goſpell, becauſe they will not weare the ragges of Poperie, to expulſe the moſt valiaunt Souldiours agaynſt the Romiſhe Antichriſt: the moſt earneſt ouerthrowers of the kingdome of Satan, which ſtandeth in ſinne and blindnes. O beware you that wilbe Lordes ouer the flockes, that you be not ſore puniſhed for your pryde towardes your brethren, and your cowardlineſſe in gods cauſe: that for Princes pleaſures & pompoſe liuings, do turne Poperie into pollicie, and to become our perſecutours vnderunder the cloake of pollicie: It were better to looſe your liuings, then to diſpleaſe god in perſecuting of your brethren, and hinder the courſe of the worde. But as our duetie is, we will praye for you, and for all our Brethren in the Miniſterie, that God of his grace woulde graunt vsus more zeale for his glorie, than any of vsus hath had heretofore: more deſire to edifie Chriſtes people in pure ſimplicitie, to preſent them a chaſte Virgin vntounto Chriſt, then hitherto hath appeared, that when the head ſhephearde ſhal cal to account, wee bee not aſhamed: but being founde perfecte in all good workes, may receyue the Crowne prepared. As for you deare brethren, whome God hath called into the brunte of the battell, the Lord keepe ye conſtant, that ye yeelde neyther to tolleration, neyther to any other ſubtill perſwaſions of diſpenſations, or licenſes whiche were to fortifie theyr Romiſhe practiſes: but as you fight the Lordes fight, be valiaunt. God will not leaue you, neyther forſake you, as you ſeeke gods glorie: god wil glorifie you: and as by you Chriſtes Church is edified, comforted and confirmed in Chriſtian ſimplicitie, ſo ſhal you receyue comfort by Chriſt your head Captayne, when you ſhalbe called to giuegive accomptes of your ſtewardſhippes, and to be rewarded for your fidelitie. The matter is not ſo ſmall as the worlde doth take it: It will appeare before all be ended, what an harde thing it is, to cut of the ragges of the Hiora of Rome. It is beautiful, but poyſonfull: there is no dallying with ſuch a mounſter, beware of looking backe to Sodome, or delight any whit in ther garments of Babilone: neither once touche the poyſoned Cuppe, though it be of golde or glittering. Let vsus repent of our former ſinnes vnfaynedly, and then ſhall we abhorre and ſtampe vnderunder our feete theſe ragges that were appoynted to ſuperſtition and Idolatrie. Let vsus hate the blaſphemous Prieſthood, ſo iniurious to Chriſtes prieſthoode, that eueryevery patche and token of it, be in execration, deteſtation, and accurſed: and take no parte of it vponupon our heades nor backes, leaſt we be accurſed as it is. Let vsus not make the heritage of god as a byrde of many colours, holding of diuers religions. Let vsus not mixe the Iewes with the Gentiles. Let vsus not in no wiſe mixe this our Religion with any thing of Antichriſt: Let vsus not confirme the blinde in their blindneſſe, neyther the weake in their ſuperſtition. But rather let vsus take awaye, if we can, the names, memories, and al monuments of Poperie, and that Antichriſtes prieſthoode. Let vsus open our windowes with Daniel, and profeſſe what we are: their crueltie ſhalbe our glorie. Let vsus followe Paul, that knewe that the true goſpell could not be retayned, if any Iewiſhe cerimonies were maintayned. Let vsus rather neuer weare any garment, then we ſhould weare thoſe, whereby our brethren ſhould be weakened, offended, or boldened to take parte with the Idolaters, and ſo through our hautines in knoweledge, our weake brethren periſhe, for whom Chriſte dyed. Beholde and marke well, howe they fall backewarde that yeelde in any iote, and ſee howe they are edified, and increaſe in godlines, which holde that right way that you go, in the which the Lorde increaſe you, and vsus all, and ſtrengthen vsus with his holy Spirite, that we may continewe to our lyues end, always both by our thoughts, wordes, and works, to aduaunce his glorie and honour, dayly more and more, nowe and for euer, Amen.
A. G.