Letter to Ministers in Geneva, Exhortation
TO THE REALME OF ENGLAND and to all …state within the ſame Iohn Knox … true repētance to be … God the father of our Lord I … Chriſt with the Spirit of wiſdom, d…r…tion and true vnderstanding.
AFTER that I had ſomewhat conſidered what from the beginning hauehave bene the great mercies of God towardes his afflicted people,In deliuering them out of the bōdage of Egypt & captiuitie of Babilon Ieroboam and Rehoboam Kings of Iſraél & Iuda with their poſterities. and what alſo hauehave bene his ſeuere iudgementes executed againſt ſuche,A…lo… & M…naſses. 2. Par. 24. 4. King. 2… as ether preferring darknes to light dyd followe the deuiſes and inuentions of men, ether that enraged by the malice of Satan, hauehave declared them ſelues open ennemies to God & to his veritie reueled: I thoght it my duetie in fewe wordes to require of thee, & yt in Gods name ô Englād in general ye ſame repētāce & true cōuerſiō vntounto God, yt I hauehave required of thoſe, to whome before particularely I wrote. For ī verie dede whē in dolour of hart I wrote this former lettre,Apoc. 3. I nether looked nor cold beleue, yt ye Lord Ieſus wolde ſo ſuddainly knocke at thy gate,Prou. 1. or call vponupon thee in thy opē ſtretes,Iohn. 14. offring him ſelf to pardon thy iniquitie, yea to enter into thy houſe▪ and ſo to abyde & make his habitation wt thee, who ſo inobediently had reiected his yoke,Hebr. 10. Luk 11.20. ſo diſ…ainfully had troden vnderunder fore the bloode of his teſtament, and ſo cruelly had murthered thoſe, that were ſent to call the to repentance. This thy horrible ingratitude cōſidered, I dyd rather loke for puniſh…mentes & plagues vniuerſally to hauehave bene powred forthe, then for merciemercy by the ſounde of his trumpet, ſo ſuddainly to hauehave bene offred to any withī that miſerable yle. But when I dyd more depely waye, that ſuche is the infinite goodnes of God, and that ſuche be alſo the bright beames of his moſt iuſte iudgements, that when ſoeuer he taketh into his protection by the conuenant of his worde any Realme, Nation, Prouince or Citie,As he dyd the ſead of Abrahám. ſo that of merciemercy he becommethe to them cōducter, teacher, protector and father, that he neuer caſtethe of the ſame care and fatherly affection, which in his worde he dothe once pronounce, vntil they do vtterly declare thē ſelues vnworthy of his preſence▪ whē this (I ſay) I dyd conſider & waye, I was in iudgement ſomewhat reformed. For I finde yt ſuche was his care & cōſtant louelove to ye whole ſede of Abrahā (I meane of thoſe yt deſcēded of Iacob) yt albeit in manie thīgs they prouoked him to anger, yet dyd his infinite goodnes euer finde & make a waye, by y• wt his merciemercy was ſēſibly felt of yt people, euē in their greateſt extremities. For not onelyonly dyd he ofte pardō their offences,In caſting out 7. nations be…or them and deliueryng them from their oppreſſors. lōge kepe them in the lande, wc he had promiſed, & geuen to the ſede of Abrahám, but alſo he was with them in fyer & in water: yea when they were as rotton ca…ions buryed as it had bene in their graues in Babilon,Gen. 12.13. Pſal. 66. Eſai. 43. yet dyd he laye in pledge the glorie of his owne name for their deliuerance,Ezech. 20. Eſai. 42.43 yea and faithfully aboue mans expectaciō dyd he performe it.Eſ…r. 1. N…he. 2. for he brake downe the pride of Babilon, & ſo dyd open the pryſon,Eſai. 14.43. & brake vp the gates of yron, which helde them in thraldome.Eſai. 48. Eſai. 42. And why ſo? he him ſelfe dothe anſwer, ſayīg, For mine owne names ſake wil I do this, and my glorie wil I gyue to none other, &c. And ſo this his louelove and fatherly care was ſo conſtant and vnmoueable, that nothing coulde vtterly chaunge it from the people,Matth. 1. vntil his deare Sonne Chriſt Ieſus dyd come of them and amōgſt them to notifie and declare that ſouerayne felicitie promiſed to Abrahám,Gen. 12. I meane that all natiōs ſhulde be bleſſed in his ſede, wt was Chriſt Ieſus, who comyng amongſt his owne was of thē reiected, denied, refuſed & ſhamefully put to deathe vpō a croſſe betwixt two theues.Iohn. 1. Luk 13. And yet ſo tender was Gods care ouer them, that before their polluted and wicked handes were externally almoſt waſhen frō his blood he ſent vntounto them the meſſage of reconſiliation,Act. 1. not onelyonly to thoſe that were at Ieruſalē, but euen to ſuche as were diſpe…ſed amongſt the Gentiles,Paul the Apoſtle of the Gentiles preached firſt to the Iewes. as in the Actes of the Apoſtles is plainly witneſſed.Act. 13.14.17.18.19.21.22.28. For this prerogatiue had euer the Iewes, that firſt to them were offred the glad tydinges of the kingdome, vntounto ſuche tyme as they declared thē ſelues by open blaſphemies, continual reſiſtance, and cruel perſecution, moſt worthy to be depriued of that honour. This long ſufferance & carefull calling of that vnthankeful people proceded from the ſame fountaine, frō the which their firſt vocation dyd procede & flowe, that is, from his eternal goodnes, which dyd ſo long fight againſt their malice, that all creatures muſt iuſtifie God in his fearful,Gods fearful iudgements vponupon the Iewes euen to this day. but yet moſt iuſte iudgementes once executed and yet remainīg vponupon that rebellious people.
The ſame order I ſe dothe God kepe with thee ô yu happie and moſt vnhappie Englād. happie, not onelyonly becauſe thy God by his own hād hath oft deliuerd thee from corporal bondage of diuers and ſtrange nations, as of Saxons, Romains, Gothes & Danes,Gods vnſpeakeable mercies beſtowed vponupon England. but eſpecially for yt that by ye power of his eternal veritie (& that of his fre grace with out …y deſeruyng) he dyd of late yeares breake & deſtroy the intollerable yoke of thy ſpiritual captiuitie, and broght the forthe as it had bene from the bothome of hel & from the thraldome of Sathan, in which thou waſt holden blynded by Idolatrie and ſuperſticion, to the feloſhip of his Angels and to the poſſeſsion of that riche inheritance prepared to his deareſt childrē with Chriſt Ieſus his ſonne.Matt. 25. But ô vnhappie and more then vnhappie, that haſt declared thy ſelf ſo vnthankful and rebellious to ſo louing and ſo mercifull a father, who fy…ſt gaue thee life, when thou dideſt lye polluted in blood, and dead in thy ſynne and nowe dothe offer him ſelf to be thy God,Ezech. 16. gouernour and father,The ſhameful defection of England. after that thou moſt trayterouſly conſpiring with Sathan by ſolemned othe haſte renounced his veritie. O vnhappie and more then vnhappie art thou (I ſay) if that this thy treaſonable defectiō, and Gods louing kindnes, yet callig the to his fauours, dothe not pearce thy hart with vnfayned repentance. For as this merciemercy and louelove of th… God far ſurmoū …eth the… eache of all mē … vnderſtanding▪ ſo can not his iuſte iudgementes longe delaye to power forthe thoſe horrible vengeances, which thy monſt…ous vnthankfulnes hathe long deſerued, if thou …as God forbyd) nowe ſhutt vpp thine eares, blynde thine eies, & ſo harden thy ha…t, that nether thou wilt heare, ſe nor vnderſtād the grauitie of thy fall, & that vneſtimable goodnes of thy God thus louingly calling the to thy ancient honours & dignitie againe, I nether dar nor wil ceaſe nowe by my penne (be it neuer ſo rude) to crie vntounto the that, which ſometymes from the mouthe of my Maſter Chriſt Ieſus I hauehave pronounced in the hearing of many: that if thou ſhalt not knowe this merciful viſitacion of the Lord thy God,Gods mercies once agayne offred to England. and ſo prepare thy ſelf with a penitent & thākful hart to receyue, yet while tyme is, his large graces offred, that then thy habitatiō ſhalbe left deſolate,Ezech. 12. Zach. 7. and where thowe haſt of lōg tyme bene the delectable garden planted by the Lords hande, thou ſhalt become a barren wildernes, apt for nothing but to be brent and conſumed by fier.
The warrant of this my proclamation and ſentence (howe foliſhe & vayne ſo euer it appere to mās reaſon) I hauehave not by cōiecture nor opiniō of mā, but frō ye mouthe of my God thus ſpeakīg by Moiſes: Beware (ſaith he) that amōgſt you be not a roote yt buddeth forthe gall & wormewood,Deut. 29. ſo that whē he ſhal heare the wordes of this execratiō, ſhal yet promeſſe to him ſelf felicitie in his hart, ſaying, peace ſhalbe to me althogh I walke after the luſt of myne owne hart, &c. The Lord wil not be merciful ſaith Moiſes to ſuche a one, but the furie of the eternal, and his hote diſpleaſure ſhal bruſt forthe againſt ſuche a man, and vponupon him ſhal lye (that is continually abyde) all the execrations, that be written in this boke, and the Lord ſhall blot out his name frō vnderunder ye heauē, &c. Thus far ſpeaketh he againſt particular men, and againſt the whole multitude he proceadethe in this maner: The generation foloinge your ſonnes, which ſhal aryſe after you, and the ſtranger, that ſhal come from a far countrie, when they ſhal ſe the plagues of this lande and the incurable diſeaſes, by ye which it ſhal languiſh and conſume as it were by brimſtone and ſalt burnyng the whole lande, ſo that it can not be ſowne, nether yet in it dothe any herbe ſpringe vp nor ryſe, &c. then ſhal all nations ſaye▪ why hathe the Lord done thus to this lande? ô what is the wrathe of Gods great fury? and they ſhal āſwer, For becauſe they hauehave lefte the conuenant of the Lord the God of their fathers, which he dyd make with them, when he broght them fo…the of Egypt.Idolatrie was the cauſe of thoſe horrible plagues. For they hauehave gone and ſerued other Gods (I ſay) whome they knew not, and therfore was the furie of the Lord kyndled againſt this land, ſo that he broght vponupon it all the execratiōs & curſes writtē in this boke. And the Lord in his wrathe, furie and great indignatiō hathe wrooted thē out of their owne lāde, & hathe diſperſed thē in an other lāde, as this day dothe witnes &c. This ſame is written with greater circumſtances in the boke of Leuiticus,Leu 1.26. which place if ye cōſider wt this, and conſidering Gods eternal veritie to hauehave his effect in eueryevery age & natiō, which ſo dothe offende, then ſhalt thou ſee, ô England,Iere. 7. that this is the iudgement which thou ſhalt not, nor cāſt not eſcape, if ſpedily thou repent not thy ſhameful defectiō & with all humilitie returne to the Lord, whome ſo traiterouſly and ſo publikely of late dayes thou haſt refuſed. For theſe ſeuere iudgemē tes once executed againſt Iſrael and Iuda may be to thee,4. Kin. 25. who once haſt profeſſed thy ſelf ſubiect to God, and haſt vnthankfully departed from his ſeruice,Let the iuſte puniſhements of other nations … the, o England, to repen…ces & yet of merciemercy is called againe: to the (I ſay) may thoſe ſeuere iudgemē tes be a mirror & glaſſe, in which thou maiſt beholde what ſhalbe thy final & miſerable deſtructiō, if by vnfayned and ſpedie repentāce thou remoue not the vengeance, wc hangethe ouer thy head. And to the ende that better thou mayeſt trye & examine thy ſelf, I wil ſhortly touch the ſtubburne inobedience of that people, the long pacience and gentle dealing of God with their moſt miſerable and lamentable deſtruction.
Thre hundreth yeres and mo from the departure of the ten tribes from the houſe & royal ſeate of Dauid dyd Iuda prouoke God to diſpleaſure, nowe by Idolatrie,In this tyme reigned Rehoboam, Abiah, Ioram & 10 others, all Idolatrous kinges. nowe by hill aulters, nowe by cō federacie and ioyning of handes with wicked princes & vngodly nations,4. King. 14 15. 3. King. 16. 4. King. 8 by whome they were euer drawne from depending and truſting vponupon God to the vayne truſt and confidence of men. Againſt theſe and other vices from tyme to tyme dyd God ſend his prophetes to call them to repentance and did alſo rayſe vp ſome tymes good and godly Kings to make publique reformation as towching the religion.2. Para. 19. But what reformation was found in lyfe,2. Para. 17. maners and conuerſation, what reuerence dyd the multitude beare vntounto God, how was the religiō imbraſed in their hartes, and how long was it reteined in ſuche perfectiō as was cōmanded, the prophetes do teache, & hiſtories beare witneſſe and plainly affirme, that euen in the dayes of the moſt godly Kinges (of Ezechias & Ioſias I meane) the Scribes & Lawiers dyd write deceytfully to thruſt out the weakeons frō their cauſe,La…iers. Eſai. 10. Iudge… & Prince. Eſai 1. Eſai. 5. to ſpoyle the wydow, & to oppreſſe the orphelin. Their Iudges were bribers, and their princes were partakers with theues. They ſaid that euil was good, and good euil,Eſai. 57. they wolde hauehave pleaſing things ſpokē vntounto them▪ and commanded, that no mention ſhulde be made of the holy one of Iſrael. for his word was a burthen vntounto them.Iere. 23. Nobles. Of the Nobilitie ſome were traytours, ſome auaricious, ſome vnconſtant as wauerīg reedes, ſome gredy dogges and vnſatiable wolues,Eſai. 56. deuoring the praye wherſoeuer they might catche it. The people of the lande were deceitful,Commons. all handy crafts, marchandiſe and vittayles were corrupt by their couetous practiſes. They were ready but to ſclander and oppreſſe the pore, the nedy and the ſtrāger. The coniuration of prophetes was in the midſt of them, euen as a roring lyon, &c. They healed the ſores & botches of the people, princes & gouerners with vnprofitable plaſters & laid ſoft pillowes vnderunder the heades of ſuche,Prophetes & prestes. as ſecurely ſlept in all iniquitie. The preſtes had violently rent in ſunder the Lawe of God, they had prophaned his ſanctuary by their owne inuentions, and by reteining ſuche a myxed and inuenomed religiō, as from olde Idolators they had receiued,The corruptiō & mixture of Religion. and that becauſe it pleaſed their kinges,Ezech. 8.9. chiefe rulers, and gouerners, it muſt nedes be good and pleaſe them.Ezech. 22. They made no difference betwixt that which was holy and cleane (becauſe it proceaded frō God) & that which was prophane & filthye, which wicked Idolaters had inuented and deuiſed. The paſtors finally were become dumme dogges,Paſtors. their watchemen were blīde giuē to exceſſe, ſlowth fulnes and ſleape, & to be ſhort; they came to that corruptiō, that the Lord dyd ſeke a man to repaire the hedge agayne, & to ſtād in the gappe before him,Ezech. 22. that the land ſhulde not be waſted, but yet he founde none. for all were declined, all ſoght their own aduā tage, no man called for iuſtice & equitie, no mā was iudged of faithe and veritie. They broght forthe coccatriſe egges,Eſai. 59. their fete rā to miſchief, thei made haſt to ſhed innocēt blood,Beholde, ó England, this vniuerſal defection, compare it with thy former & yet preſent ſtate, & be warned. they nether knewe, nether yet would knowe the way of peace, but to ſuche horrible confuſiō came all things, that the veritie was baniſhed, and whoſoeuer departed from iniquitie, was made as a praye to all men. Which thīgs, when the Lord dyd conſider, and dyd ſee, that none wolde ſet them ſelues, no man (I ſaye) that opponed him ſelf to ſo horrible iniquitie: his owne arme gaue him ſaluation, and his owne iuſtice dyd holde him vp, &c. he powred forthe (after dyuers plagues) his furie vponupon that nation at once, and in the hote fyer of his anger dyd he conſume them, and ſo dyd rewarde their wicked wayes vponupon their owne heades, as before was threatened by the mouthe of Moiſes.Deut. 18.
Theſe teſtimonies and many mo (which to auoyde prolixitie I omit) we hauehave of the prophetes, how corrupt was the whole body euē in the dayes of the moſt godly Kinges, yea, euen in the dayes, when the plagues were vpō them. And the hiſtories do witnes, that no ſoner dyd euer any Idolater riſe, but that ſo ſone from the higheſt degre to the loweſt, from the prince to the Prophet (a meane nombre except) were all redy to obey,Such as th… price is, ſuch commonly are the people. what ſoeuer was commanded by ſuche as were placed in honors and auctoritie. The hiſtorie dothe farther witnes, that the princes of Iuda after the deathe of Iehoiada, by whoſe wyfe Ioas was preſerued in that moſt cruel murther of all the kingly ſeade made by Athalia, and by whoſe moſt faithful diligence the ſame Ioas was in the ſeuenthe yeare of his age made king ouer Iuda:2. Para. 24. the conuenant and leage, before broken by Idolatrie, was renued agayne betwixt God and the people,4. King. 11. and betwixt the people and the king: to witt, that the one and the other ſhulde be the people of the Lord, by renuing of which cōuenant vnhappie and cruel Athalia was killed,This had bene thy bounden dutie ó England in the dayes of that moſt execrable Idolatre… Marie. the people dyd enter into the houſe of Baal, brake it downe with his altars and images, euen to powder, and finally before ye altars of Baal dyd moſt iuſtely kyl Mathā Baals great preſte: after ye deathe (I ſay) of Iehoiada, by whoſe godly prouidence all theſe thīges were broght to pa… ſe ye prīces of Iuda came & bowed thē ſelues vntounto the King, making no doute this petition vntounto him, that they might hauehave the religion,Note this practiſe & the ſucceſſe therof which lōg had bene reteined amongſt the Kings of Iuda, euen from the dayes of Salomon, & yt they ſhulde not be ſo ſtraytly bonde, as the conuenant made by Iehoiada commanded▪ ſo they wolde not returne (as may appeare they did alledge) to Baal, but ſtande content with their hylaltars, their thickets of wood and ancient Idols. And that this was their petition the hiſtorie giueth playne light. For it ſaith, And the King hard them: & they leauyng the houſe of the Lord the God of their fathers, ſerued thickets, and Idols, which thing albeyt it dyd ſo diſpleaſe the Lord, that he ſent his prophetes ſharply to reb…ke their vnthankful defection, yet was there no redreſſe. For the King, princes and people were conſpired againſt God, and ſo from Idolatrie proceded to cruel murther, as the hiſtories doth witnes in the dayes of Achas. The ſame abominations remayned in all eſtates. For Vrias the highe preſte him ſelf at the commaundement of the King buylded an altar as the King had ſent him a paterne from Damaſcus,4. King. 16. & ſo left the altar of the Lord, and brent ſacrifice vponupon that great altar, &c.
In the dayes of Ezechias (that zelous and Godly King) what were the hartes of the nobilitie and people towardes Gods true religiō, it may appeare by the ſequel. For ſtreght after his death dothe the whole multitude returne with Manaſſes vntounto Idolatrie, abhominations and cruel murther, yea euen while the King dyd lyue, that treaſonable traytor Sobna;Sobna Treaſorer. ēnemie to God, to his true whorſhip and to his prophetes, was treaſorer and in higheſt auctoritie.
Ieremie & Ezechiel do witnes that the p…inces, prophetes & people were ſo corrupt euen to the verie day of the deſtruction, yea, and after the ſame, that Zedechias (of nature by all apparāce not verie cruel, but yet faint harted for lacke of faith was cō pelled at their commandement to put Ieremie in priſon and to gyue them permiſsion to put him to death at their pleaſures, whoſe lyfe by Gods mightie prouidence yet preſerued, and being called to the preſence of the kinge, to whome he gaue in Gods name moſt holſome counſel, yet durſt not the Kīg for feare of his princes nether follow the ſame,Iere. 36. nether yet let them vnderſtande what cōmunication was betwixt the Prophet and him.
Ezechiel in his viſion ſaw the people and princes declined from God, and dyd alſo heare theſe wordes ſpokē by God: The iniquitie of the houſe of Iſraél, and Iuda is great aboue meaſure, the earthe is ful of blood, and the Citie ful of defection.Ezech. 8.91 For they hauehave ſaid, The Lord hathe left the earthe, and the Lord ſeethe vsus not.
After that moſt miſerable deſtruction of Ieruſalem, when a remnant of the poore people and Nobilitie (who had eſcaped the edge of the ſword) were left in the lande with the prophet Ieremie and with Godolias the ſonne of Ahikam,Iere. 40. their olde venome of rebelliō againſt God & his reueled wil was nothing purged. For albeyt that the princes, Iohannan the ſonne of Carea; & Iezanias the ſōne of Hoſeas with the whole people had promiſed vntounto Ieremie by a ſolemned othe to do whatſoeuer the Lord ſhulde commaunde vntounto them by his mouthe: yet when he commaunded thē in the name of the Lord to abyde in the lande and not to carie the people to Egypt, they nether feared, nor aſhamed to ſay vntounto him, thou ſpeakeſt a lye, the Lord hath not ſent the to vsus, commaūding that we ſhulde not go to Egypt,Iere. 43. &c. to Egypt wil we go,Iere. 44. and we wil ſerue the quene of heauen, &c. euen as our ancient kinges, and fathers dyd before vsus: and ſo in deſpite of God, of his prophet, and of his worde reueled vntounto them departed from the lande, which the Lord had giuen to the ſeade of Abraham, vntounto Egypt infected withe all Idolatrie. And thus from their original they continued in rebelliō euē to the ende, when they dyd vtterly forſake God. for what ſoeuer they pretē ded, it was nothing els, but a playne denial of God, of his leage & of his conuenant, to contract familiaritie, alliance or peace agaynſt his playne precept with that nation, from whoſe tyrānie God had before deliuerd their fathers. And therfore he gaue them: moſt ſtrait commandement, that they ſhulde neuer returne to that bondage agayne.
How long and how paciētly dyd God fight againſt this their rebelliō, is eaſie to be vnderſtād by the hiſtories and prophets: but how ſeuere in the ende were the plagues and iuſte vengeance powred vponupon the kinges, princes & people,Behold ye frutes of Idolatrie. dyd verie Ethnickes thē ſelues giuegive teſtimonie & record. Their land & cities were ſpoyled, burnt and left deſolate: womē for hungre cōpelled to eate their owne children. Oft were they broght in thraldome & ſubiection of ſtrangers, and finally the glorie of the Lord was remoued from his ſanctuarie,4. King. 6. wc he him ſelfe dyd ſweare yt he woulde prophane by reaſō of their great abominations.Ezeh. 9. And ſo he dyd, for it was brent,Iere. 39. the veſſels and ornamentes of it caryed to Babylon, the whole Nobilitie of Iuda, and the Kinges ſonnes were kylled in his owne preſence, after whiche moſt miſerable ſight his owne eies were put out, he led to Babylon, where he remayned priſoner vntil his death. Thoſe that departed to Egypt dyd neuer returne agayne to Ieruſalem,Iere. 43. but periſhed moſt miſerablie, as the prophet dyd threaten.
…This is the glaſſe, this is the minor (ô England) in whiche I would, that dayly thou ſhuldeſt behold, what ſhalbe the final end of thoſe, that do abuſe the long ſufferinge of God moſt mercifully calling all to repentance. Yf thou ſhalt thinke thy ſelf pure and cleane from any of the crimes, which before is noted in that people, alas thou ſhalt declare thy ſelf more then impudēt. For all other your iniquities omitted, this your laſt and vniuerſal turning from God by the open denyal of his Goſpel profeſſed, declareth you from the higheſt to the loweſt manifeſt tray tours againſt his godly maieſtie. It is you all together, who moſt cruelly hauehave ſhede the blood of a nomber of your brethern and ſiſters,Reue. …. wt from vnderunder the alter crie to be reuenged. There is no perſon giltles in Gods preſence, who hathe bowed their knees to Idolatrie (what ſoeuer excuſe they liſt to pretend) but as al are Idolaters, ſo are and ſhalbe reputed murtherers before God, wc do not waſhe awaye that infamie & innocent blood by vnfayned repentance.The names of ſo many as could be now gotten, are annexed in the end.
No other aſſurāce will I requyre that your plagues are at hande, and that your deſtructiō approcheth, then that I ſhal vnderſtand that ye do iuſtifie your ſelues in this your former iniquitie. Abſolue and flatter you who ſo liſt, God the father, his ſōne Chriſt Ieſus, his holy angels the creatures ſenſible and inſenſible in heauen and in earth ſhal ariſe in iudgement and ſhal condem you, if in tyme ye repent not. The cauſe yt I wrappe you all in Idolatrie, all in murther and all in one and the ſame iniquitie, is that none of you hath done your duetie, none hath remembred his office and charge, whiche was to hauehave reſiſted to ye vttermoſt of your powers that impietie in ye beginning.The duetie of England when Idolatrie was firſt erected. But ye hauehave all followed the wicked cō mandement,Oſeas.. 5.7. all hauehave conſented to cruel murther, in ſo far as in your eies your bretherne hauehave moſt iniuſtly ſuffered, and none opened, his mouth to cōplayne of that iniurie, crueltie & murther, I do euer except ſuche, as ether by their death, by abſteyning from Idolatrie or by auoyding the Realme for the iniquitie in the ſame committed, dyd giuegive teſtimonie, that ſuche an horrible falling from God dyd inwardly greue them. Theſe I except, but all the reſt, euen from the higheſt to the loweſt I feare no more to accuſe of Idolatrie of treaſon aginſt God committed, and of cruel murthering of their brethern, then dyd Zacharias the ſōne of Iehoiada feare to ſay to the king, princes & people of Iuda, Why hauehave ye tranſgreſſed the commaundemētes of the eternal? It ſhal not proſperouſly ſuccede vntounto you,… Para. 2. but euē as you hauehave left ye Lorde, ſo ſhal he leaue you.
And albeyt my blood ſhulde be ſhed for this my affirmation, as his was, yet hauyng the teſtimonie of a good conſcience, that I ſpeake not nor write not of priuate malice againſt any perſon, I wil ſtil crie as before. For at your handes (onles that ſpedely and vnfaynedly ye repent) ſhal God require all the blood, not onelyonly whiche lately hathe bene ſhed by your moſte wicked permiſsion, but alſo of all thoſe, that for the ſame cauſe hauehave ſuffred from the beginnyng.Math. 23. Tremble therfore,By true repentāce you ſhal eſcape Gods vengeance. feare, confeſſe and vnfaynedly repent, that ye may eſcape the vengeance prepared. Your humiliation, confeſsion and repentance may now obteyne no leſſe of Gods great merciemercy, then dyd Ioſias, his nobles and people in the ſame caſe,4. Kin. 3… to whome in all things you are ſo lyke, as one beane is to an other. For no crime is ſo haynous, whiche God will not caſt in the bothome of the ſea, ad bury in perpetual obliuion, if you with vnfayned hartes turne to ye Lord your God, whome ſo greuouſly you hauehave offended.
This conuerſion and repentance requireth no dout a reformation, remouyng and ſuppreſſing of all abuſes, all wrong, all violence, all oppreſsiō & fraude how long, in whome & by whōe ſoeuer they hauehave bene mainteyned, practiſed or permitted. But remitting all ſuche thinges, as be without the religion, to ſuche as God ſhall farther moue with his holy ſpirit to inſtruct you, I ſay that your conuerſion vntounto God and vnfayned repentance requyreth two thinges.Two thinges required in ye …eformation … religion. Firſt, that the religion and true honoring of God may be at once broght to that puritie, which his worde requyreth. Secondarely, that order may be taken, ſo far is in you lyeth, that the ſame religion, which God approuethe, may be kept inuiolable amongſte you for euer, and that the people vniuerſal may be inſtruct in ye ſame.
For the firſt point touchinge reformation of religion yu muſte at once ſo purge and expel all dregs of papiſtrie, ſuperſtition and Idolatrie, that thou (ô England) muſt iudge and holde execrable and accurſed, what ſoeuer God hath not ſāctified vntounto thee by his worde, or by the action of our maiſter Chriſt Ieſus. The gliſteringe beautie of vayne ceremonies, the heaping of thinges perteyning nothinge to edificatiō,Vayne ceremonies, and ſuch as ſerue not to edification, oght to be aboliſhed. by whomeſoeuer they were inuēted iuſtified, or mainteyned, oght at once to be remoued and ſo trodden vnderunder the obedience of Gods worde, that continually this ſentence of thy God be preſent in thy hart and readie in thy mouthe, Not that which appeareth good in thy eies ſhalt thou do to the Lorde thy God, but what the Lord thy God hath cō maūded thee, that ſhalt thou do: adde nothing to it, diminiſhe nothing from it.
Let not the King and his proceadinges (what ſoeuer they be) not agreable to his worde be a ſnare to thy conſcience. O curſed were the hartes that firſt deuiſed that phraſe in matters of religion, wherby the ſimple people were broght to one of theſe two inconueniences: to wit, that ether they dyd eſteme euerie religion good and acceptable vntounto God,… prince … parlament … to do … thinge in … matters of religion without the aſsurance of Gods worde. which the King and parlament dyd approue and commande, or els, that Gods religion honor and ſeruice was nothinge els, but deuiſes of men. O England, England, let this blaſphemie be firſt of all others remoued. For how horrible is it to remember that the religion, and honoringe of the eternal God ſhalbe ſubiect to the appetites of foliſhe and inconſtant men▪ Let Gods worde alone be the rule, and line to meaſure his religion. What it commandethe, let that be obeyde: what it commandeth not, let that be execrable becauſe it hathe not the ſanctification of his worde vnderunder what name or title ſoeuer it be publiſhed.
Halt no longer on bothe partes: let not theſe voices preuayle in your parlament: This to our …gement is good and godly,The voices & counſel of ſuch as are nether hote nor colde. his the people can wel beare, his repugnethe not to Gods …orde, and when the people be …etter inſtructed, then may we …rocede farther &c. O diſſem…ling hypocrites, playne meſſin…e…s of Sathan. Now I do write, whiche ſome tyme I hauehave ſaid to our faces, that whatſoeuer God in matters of his religion) hathe …ot ſanctified by his expreſſed worde, the ſame, I ſay, before his …aieſtie remaynethe execrable, …olluted, and defyled and ſo in fewe wordes, this is the firſt point, which your true conuerſion requireth: to wit, that his onelyonly worde reforme his religion.
The inuiolable preſeruation of Gods religion (whiche is the ſecond point) requireth two principall thinges: the one that power nor libertie be permitted to any, of what eſtate, degre, or autoritie yt euer they be,None oght to be freed frō the yoke of diſcipline, nor permitted to decline from ye religiō of God. ether to lyue with out the yoke of diſcipline, by Gods worde commaunded, ether yet to alter, to chaunge, to diſanull, or diſſolue ye leaſt one i…t… in religion, which from Gods mouthe thow haſt receyued. But let his holy and bleſſed ordinaunces, by Chriſt Ieſus to his Church commaunded, be with in thy limittes and bondes ſo ſure and eſtabliſhed,None compellinge Gods people to Idolatrie oght to be permitted to reigne ouer them. that if prince, king, or Emperour would enterprice to change or diſanul the ſame, that he be of the reputed ēnemie to God, and therfore vnworthie to reigne aboue his people, yea, that the ſame man or mē, that go aboute to deſtroy Gods true religion once eſtabliſhed, and to erect Idolatrie, which God deteſteth,Deut. 13. Idolaters oght to be put to death.be adiudged to death according to Gods commaundement: the negligence of which parte hathe made you all (thoſe onelyonly …xcepted, whome before I hauehave …xpreſt) murtherers of your bre…hern, deniers of Chriſt Ieſus, & manifeſt traytours to Gods ſo…eraigne maieſtie. Which hor…ible crimes if ye will auoyde in …yme cominge, then muſt ye I meane the princes, rulers & …eople of England) by ſolemned the renue the cōuenant betwixt God and you in the ſame forme …s Aſa king of Iuda dyd in the li…e caſe.
They made a cōuenant (ſaieth …he hiſtorie) that they wolde ſeke …he Lorde God of their fathers with all their hart,2. Para. 15. and with all …heir ſoule, and that whoſoeuer …hulde not ſeke the Lord God of …ſrael, he ſhulde die the deathe, …hether he were great or ſmall, man or woman. And they dyd …weare vntounto the Lord with a …reat othe, and with the ſounde …f trumpet and of ſhaumes, and of this othe dyd all the Iewes r… ioyſe. For with their whole ha… they dyd ſweare, and they sog… God with vnfayned affectio… and he was founde of them,The Lord is found of all them, that vnfaynedlie ſeke him. an… the Lord gaue them reſt on eue… ſide. This is thy duetie and this the onelyonly remedy (ô England) … ſtay Gods vengeance, which … thou haſt deſerued, and ſha… not long eſcape, if his religion … honor be ſubiect to mutation an… change, as oft as thy rulers liſ… or as by reaſon of death they ſha… be changed and ſo this brieſ… is the firſt thing, which tho… muſt with inuocation of God… name prouide for eſtabliſhing of his true religion.
The other part, touching th… inſtruction of the people, ſtandeth muche in the faithful, diligence of thoſe, to whome th… charge of preaching ſhalbe committed. But whē I remembre tha… horrible confuſion, which befo…e was mainteined euen by thoſe, which wolde be eſtemed chief pillers of religion, I do more feare to be playne in this matter, then in all that, which before I hauehave ſpokē. For it may be that in ſpeaking the ſimple trueth I may diſpleaſe thoſe, whome willingly for no earthly profet I wold offende. Neuertheles ſeing the cauſe is not myne, but perteyneth to Chriſt Ieſus, and to the feeding of that flocke, which ſo earneſtly and tenderly he dyd commend to Peter,Iohn. 21. and to all his faithful paſtors to the worldes end, what ſoeuer man ſhal iudge, I dare not ceaſe in Gods name to require of you a ſeuere reformation of thoſe thinges, which were before vtterly diſordered.Eſai. 56. And firſt in the name of the Lorde Ieſus I require of you,No dūm dog… nor poiſoned papiſte oght to hauehave any charge of Chris… …ock. that no dūme dogg, no poiſoned and peſtilent papiſt, none, who before hath perſecuted Gods children or obſtinately mainteined Idolatrie, be placed aboue the people of God to infect and poiſon (fo… other profet they ſhal do none) the ſoules of thoſe, whome Chriſt Ieſus hathe redemed with his pretious blood. Secondly that-benefice vponupon benefice be heaped vpō no mā, but that a ſufficient charge with a competent ſtipend be aſsigned to the workeman. For ô how horrible was that cōfuſiō,Pluralitie of benefices reproued. that one man ſhulde be permitted to hauehave 2.3.4.5.6. or. 7. benifices, who ſkarſely in the yeare dyd ſo often preache: yea, that a man ſhulde hauehave the charge of them, whoſe faces he neuer ſaw. Let that peſtilence, proceading from auarice, be vtterly auoyded. Let not men at their pleaſures preach when and where they liſt, but ſo ſone as a Godly order may be eſtabliſhed, let the partes and bondes be aſsigned to eueryevery one. Londō in tymes paſt was indifferently prouided for,London. but alas what barbarous ignorāce was in the reſt of the Realme.
Thirdly let no man be charged in preaching of Chriſt Ieſus aboue that, which one man may do, I meane, that your Biſhoprikes be ſo deuided, that of eueryevery one, as they be nowe (for the moſt part) be made ten, and ſo in eueryevery Citie and great towne there may be placed a godly learned man with ſo many ioyned with him ſo preaching and inſtruction, as ſhalbe thoght ſufficient for the bondes committed to their charge. The vtilitie wherof you ſhal vnderſtand within few yeares greatly to redoūde to the profit of ye ſimple flocke.The great dominions and charge of prowde prelats is the inuention of Antichriſt. For your prowde prelates great dominiōs & charge (impoſsible by one man to be diſcharged) are no parte of chriſts miniſterie, but are the maintenā ce of the tyrannie firſt inuented & yet reteyned by the Romane Antichriſt.
Fortely that diligent hede be taken, that ſuch, to whome the office of preaching is committed, diſcharge and do their dueties. For it is not, nor wil not be, the chanting or mumbling ouer of certeyne pſalmes, the reading of Chapiters for mattens and euen ſong, or of homelies onelyonly, be they neuer ſo godly, that fede the ſoules of the hugrie ſhepe. Chriſt Ieſus him ſelf, his holy Apoſtles, and that elected veſſel Paul do teach vsus an other leſſon, all commanding vsus to preach, to preach, & that to preach Chriſt Ieſus crucified,The office of … Miniſters. &c. What efficacie hath ye lyuinge voice aboue ye bare letter red, the hungry & thirſtie do feele to their cōfort: but the other maketh for maſter parſons purpoſe, who reteining in his hādes a nō bre of benefices appointeth ſuche in his place, as are altogether deſtitute of the gifte of preaching. But let all ſuche belly gods be whypt out of Gods holy Tēple.Philip. 3. Matt. 20.
Fiftely let none, yt be appointed to labour in Chriſtes vineyearde,The miniſters of the w…rde oght not to exerciſe any ciuil office or to be intangled with the affaires of the Realme. be entangled with ciuil affaires, and as ye call them, the affaires of the Realme, except it be whē the ciuil magiſtrate and miniſters of the worde aſſemble together for executiō of diſcipline, wc is a thīg eaſie to be done without withdrawīg any perſō frō his charge, if that, wc is before expreſſed, be obſerued. For as touching their yearly cōmynge to the parlament for matters of religion, it ſhalbe ſuperfluous and vaine, yf Gods true religion be ſo once eſtabliſhed, that after it be neuer called in controuerſie.
And as touching execution of diſcipline,Diſcipline muſt be executed without reſpect of perſōs that muſt be done ī euerie Citie & Shier, where ye Magiſtrates & miniſters are ioyned together without any reſpect of perſons, ſo yt the miniſters, albeit they lack the glorious titles of Lordes, & the deueliſh pompe, wc before appeared in proude prelates, yet muſt they be ſo ſtowte & ſo bolde in Gods cauſe,The Miniſters muſt be ſtowt and bolde in Gods cauſe albeit they wāt the glorious & vayne titles of Lordes. that yf the King him ſelf wolde vſurpe any other autoritie in Gods religion, then becometh a membre of Chriſts body, that firſt he be admoniſhed accordīg to Gods worde, and after, yf he contemne the ſame, be ſubiect to the yoke of diſcipline, to whome they ſhal boldly ſaye, as Aſarias the highe preſte ſayd to Vſaias the king of Iuda:3. Par. 26. It is not lawful for the, ô Vſaia, to offer incenſe, but it apperteyneth to the preſtes the ſonnes of Aharon, who are conſecrated to burne it. Paſſe out therfore, for thou haſt offended,4. King. 26 which thing ſhal not redounde to thy glorie, &c. This is the duetie (I ſay) of all Chriſtes faithful miniſters, whenſoeuer any man, be he kinge or Emperour, vſurpeth to him ſelf autoritie againſt God, to rebuke him openly, to reſiſte & gainſtāde him to the vttermoſt of their power, whome the Lord by the ſpirite of his mouthe and power of his worde ſhal cōfounde, euen as he dyd the pride of Vſaias, yf they be ſtrong & valiant in Gods cauſe.
Now laſt (omitting things of no leſſe importance to your wiſdomes) for the preſeruatiō of religion it is moſt expediēt,Scholes to be vniuerſallie erected. that ſcholes be vniuerſally erected in all Cities, and chief townes, the ouerſight wherof to be committed to the magiſtrates and godly learned men of the ſaid Cities, & townes, that of the youth godly inſtructed amongſt them a ſeade may be reſerued and continued for the profet of Chriſtes Church in all ages.
An anſwer to two obiectiōs.It remayneth briefly to anſwer to two things, wc may giuegive you occaſion to …aint in this the Lordes wo…ke. Firſt the lacke of workemen to put things in ſuche order as is requiſite: and ſecondly the feare of tumult and ſedition within your ſelues, or inuaſion of forren Nations. In Gods Name I feare not to affirme that nether the one nor the other ſhal hurt you in the end, yf you with your whole hartes ſeke Gods glory to be promoted, and all ſortes of abominations to be rooted owte. For yf you pray with earneſt affection, he ſhal indue ſuche as ye know not with wiſdome and knowledge to rule in his Church to the comfort of his flocke. There be mo laborers, then the eies of man ſeeth, that profitably wolde worke in the Lordes harueſt. And as for feare of ennemies, they may with Choron, Dathan and Abiron conſpire againſt Moiſes and Aron,Num. 16. 2. Para. 20. with the Moabites and Ammonites againſt Ioſaphat,2. Para. 32. or with proude Sinnacherib againſt Ezechias and afflicted Zión. But rather or thou ſhalt de confounded, yf with a perfite hart thou ſeke the Lord thy God,Num. 16. 4. Kin. 20. 2. Par. 32. rather (I ſay) ſhal the earth open and deuoure ſuch rebels, rather ſhal thine ennemies eueryevery one murther other, & rather ſhal ye Angels of the Lord fight for thy deliuerance, or the worke be hindered and periſhe in thy handes.
But yf thou, ô England, for any reſpect delay thy repentance and conuerſion vntounto God, yf thou ſhalt ſtil foſter in thy boſome the generation of vipers, yf thou ſhalt reteine in honour & autoritie ſuche, as hauehave declared them ſelues ennemies to God and to his eternal trueth not by any infirmitie, but of determined malice & ſet purpoſe, to murther & deſtroy Gods choſen children: yf finally thou ſhalt not ſtudy to wroote out and cut of ſuch rotten membres, as can do nothing, but infect the whole body: then call I to witnes againſt the both heauē & earth,Deut. 4. that I and others the ſeruantes of God, who faithfully & in tyme hauehave wa…ned thee of thy duetie and vengeance to come,Be warned o… England, yf yu w…lt eſcape Gods vēgeāce are & ſhalbe cleane frō thy blood, which ſhortely ſhal periſhe, yf thou contemne the admonitiōs of Gods meſsingers. To late it ſhal be for thee to howle & crie, when the flame of Gods hote diſpleaſure ſhal begyn to burne. It wil not thē be ye flattering intiſemē tes and vayne policies of ſuche, as ſ…ke more thē ſelues then Chriſts glorie, that wil extīguiſhe it. No, it ſhal burne and ſhal deſtroy the head and the tayle, the prince and the falſe prophet, the roote & the brāches of ſuch impietie. Be warned therfore, yf thou liſt eſcape vengeance, which is already prepared for the inobedient.
But ô you that in ſorow of hart ſee theſe abominations,Such as vnfaynedly feare the Lord ſhal finde comfort in their greateſt daunger. that lament and do not pollute your ſelues with them, let your hartes reſt vponupon the Eternal, who ſhalbe to you a rocke & a ſtrong caſtle of defence. Althogh the heauen and the earth ſhulde be confounded, yet ſhal his merciemercy deliuer you from danger, & in verie experience and ioy of hart ye ſhal ſinge: ô Lord, thou art our God,Eſai. 25. we ſhal exalt & confeſſe thy Name, for thou haſt done wōderous thinges. Thy counſels are profounde, far of to mans iudgement, but yet are they true & ſure. The ſtrong tenthes and the palaces of the proude haſt thou broght to ruine, ſo that they ſhal neuer be reſtored again, and therfore the ſtrong people ſhal glorifie thee, yea, the Cities of tyrannous nations ſhal feare the, &c. Beholde this is our God whome we hauehave abiddē, he hathe ſaued vsus. This is ye Lord, whome we looked for, we ſhal reioyce and be ioyful in his ſaluatiō, &c. This (I ſay) ſhalbe the ſong, which in experience of the Lordes deliuerance your hartes ſhal ſing, euen when Gods moſt ſeuere iudgementes ſhal in your eies be executed againſt the vngodly, and therfore call thou for ſtrength to continue to the ende.
A PRAYER.
GOD the father of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt by the power of his holy Spirit ſo illuminate and ſo moue your hartes, that clearly ye may ſee & perfitly vnderſtād, how horrible hathe bene your fall from his veritie, how fearful and terrible it is to fall into his hādes without hope of merciemercy, & what is that his vnſpeakeable merciemercy, which yet agayn he offreth vntounto you, and that it may pleaſe his eternal goodnes to indue you wt ſuch wiſdome, prudence and fortitude, that ſeing his good pleaſur in his worde reueled, without all feare ye may follow the ſame to the aduauncemēt of his glorie, to the conſolatiō of his afflicted Church, and to your euerlaſting comfort through our onelyonly mediator, redemer, peace maker & lawgeuer Chriſt Ieſus our Lord▪ whoſe holy Spirit rule your hartes in his true feare. So be it.
From Geneua the 12. of Ianuarie. M.D..LIX.