Exhortation Unto Governors and People in Wales, To the council – To the reader 2

Exhortation Unto Governors and People in Wales · To the council – To the reader 2

p. 65TO THE LL. OF THE COVNSEL.

ANd for aſmuch, as both in this place, for tollerating the dumb miniſterie, and in the book page. 36, for ſuffering non-reſidents, and the papall Lordſhips of our 4. L. Bb. in Wales, I affirm our gouerriours to be guiltie of fearefull ſinnes before the Maieſtie of God, I am with all the humilitie, reuerence and ſubmiſſion, my heart can conceiue, to vſe a ſpeach vntounto your HH. my Lordes of p. 66her maieſties priuy Coūſel. The cauſe that moueth me heerevnto, is, the diſcharge of my dutie towards the Lorde my God, towards his Church, towardes my natiue Countrey, and towardes your Honours, which could not ſtand with my ſilence in this point: concerning the Lord, becauſe I am a poore wretched ſinner, vppon whome he hath ſhewed great merciemercy, in calling mee to the knowledge of his ſon, and pardoning my dreadfull ſinnes; I hauehave taken a bond of my ſelfe by his grace, to be come an enemy vntounto ſinne, in my ſelfe eſpecially, and in all others as far as my calling will permitte, without reſpect of perſons, time, place, eſtate or condicion of life whatſoeuer. And therfore your Hh. are not to marueile, if I ſeeke the ouerthrowe of theſe places, callings, and corruptions (L. Biſhops, readers and non-reſidents I mean) whoſe continuance ſtandeth with the lords moſt notable diſhonour, and deteſt ſinne euen in your Hh. whoſe aucthority, good name, credit, eſtimation, and high places (next vntounto her royall Maieſties) I ought, and by the grace of God will defende, againſt all the detractours there of, with the loſſe of my life, when it ſhall be needfull. As for the Church of God: wherevnto I hauehave bene begotten, through the word preached, by means of my abode in Englande, in theſe peaceable dayes of her highnes, I hauehave wholye dedicated my ſelfe to ſeeke the flowriſhing eſtate thereof. By labouring to beautifie the ſame, both in the plucking vp of thoſe filthie Italian weeds, wherewith now it is miſerablie deformed, and planting therein, whatſoeuer may bee to the cōlines of gods orchard. For my pore country, becauſe it hath pleaſed the Lord of life, that therein I firſt ſaw the light of the ſon, and hauehave beene by my parents there liuing, brought vp in both the vniuerſities p. 67of this land, I hauehave vowed my ſelfe dutifully to benefite the ſame, whether by my life or by my death, I do not greatly weye.

And wherein ſhall I ſtand my deare countrimen in any ſtead, if not by ſpeakinge in their cauſe, that are not able to make knowne their owne wantes. If not in bleſſing the deafe eares, in remouing the ſtumblingblock from before the eyes of the blind, if not in labouring to bring them to heauen, who of their owne natures ſhould liue eternally in a worſe place to their own wo. The aforenamed callings and corruptions, ſtanding as enemies in the way to hinder my brethren from eternall life; I profeſſe my ſelfe to ſeeke their ouerthrowe and confuſion: And by the Lordes aſſiſtance, as longe as I liue I will neuer leaue them, vnles they leaue the maſſakring of the ſoules of my brethren. In reſpect of your HH. ſeinge I receiued the former bleſſings throgh your hands, by meanes of the outward peace, whereof her right excellent Maieſtie hath made the whole kingdome partaker from the Lord; I canot of conſcience, but in moſt ſubmiſſ. reuerend, and humble ſort, put you in minde, of the eſtate wherein you ſtand before the Lord at this day.

I affirme therefore (and I would to God I coulde tell howe, more dutifully to expreſſe in wordes, that whiche in heart I hauehave moſt dutifully conceiued) that all of you are in a feareful manner, both in this life, and in that to come ſubiect, to the intollerable maſle of Gods wrath, the execution whereof, ſhall vndoubtedly come vponupon you and your houſes, vnles you preuent the fiercenes of his indignation: And that for theſe 2. cauſes. Firſt, inaſmuch as the whole countrie of Wales for the moſt part, all this time of the Goſpell in England, hath bene without the publike p. 68ſeruice of God, in the publike meetings of your people, in ſuch ſort, as moſt parriſhes within Wales hauehave wanted the means of ſaluation all this time of your gouernement. The trueth of this aſſertion is manifeſted in this little booke (becauſe they hauehave wantedaaIa. 2.21: 1. pet. 1.25. Iob. 33.23. 1. cor. 1.21. rom. 10.14 eph. 1.13. & 2.17. act. 20.32 prou. 8.34.35. iſai. 53.11.Job 33:23Job 33:1 preaching) and I hauehave elſwher to my power laboured to make it known vntounto her Maieſtie, & the parliament. Conſider my Lordes, what care you hauehave had of the ſoules of men, and howe in the day of account theſe things will be anſwered: Conſider how lamentable a caſe it is, that in the flowriſhingſt gouernment for outwarde peace, that is againe vnderunder the coape of heauen, where publicke idolatrie hath bene banniſhed, not one familie, or one tribe, but a whole nation ſhould periſh and be deſtroyed for want of knowledge. And ſee whether I hauehave not ſufficient cauſe to deale with you, in the behalfe of my countrimen. My crie, my crie, is not the crie of guiltles and innocent a blood,b Deut. 21.8.Deut 21:8 which were verie wofull, but of loſt and damned ſoules which is moſt lamentable, & giuegive eare vntounto it my LL. leſt the blood of ſoules be laid to your charge, & required at your hands. If I be thoght to report an vntruth, in regard of the eſtate of the Church in my countrie, let me bee brought face to face for the triall hereof, with thoſe vntounto whom the care (I ſhould ſay the ſpoile) of the Church there is committed, and being conuinced to hauehave vttered an vntrueth, let me hauehave no fauor, but die the death, before your Honours, and my blood bee vppon mine owne head, for impeaching the credit of the princes of my people, vndutifullie by publike writing, whoſe eſtimation, I know it to be vnlawfull for mee, euen in thought once to violate. I do here therefore before your HH. offer to proue, that the moſt congregations in Wales, want p. 69the verie eſſential outward marks of a true church, and ſo the meanes of ſaluation, and the comfort of faith, by the right adminiſtration of the ſacraments: I alſo offer to proue, that you ſhalbe reckoned with, without your ſpeedie repentaunce, becauſe that in this point you hauehave plowed but iniquitie and ſowed wickedneſſe, and ſo as Iob ſaith, you ſhall reape the ſame. Belieue them not that tell you all is well,Iob. 4.8.Job 4:8 vnderunder your gouernment in Wales, and that they are a ſort of clamorous and vndiſcreet men, that affirme the contrarie. Beleeue them not that tell you that it belongeth not vntounto your dutie to be careful of the eſtate of the Church; & that the Lord requireth no more at your hands, but to maintain outward peace As though men committed to your gouernement, were but droues of bruit beaſtes, onelyonly to be foddered, and kept from externall inuaſions and inrodes: giuegive care rather vntounto the woordes of the prophet, who with a loude voice, crieth vntounto you, why will you die, you, your families,Ierem. 27.23.14.Jer 27:23Jer 27:14 and your people by the ſword, by the famine, and by the peſtilence, and why wil you be damned, as the Lord hath ſpoken againſt (I may allude without iniurie to the word) all thoſe gouernours that will notaaEzra. 7.17.23. pſal. 2.10. & 101 2. chro. 29.10. & 30.9. & 34.27. exod. 20.10. gen 18.19.2. chron. 15.12.13. & 17.7Ezra 7:17Ezra 7:23 ſee their people prouided of the meanes of ſaluation. Therfore heare not the wordes of the Prophetes that tell you, you ſhall neither ſee ſworde, or famine, though you be ſtill as careles of your people, as you hytherto hauehave bene looke the puniſhement both of the flatteringe prophets, and of thoſe that are deceiued by their flatterie. Ierem. 14.16. Heare them not I ſay, but obey the Lorde in the execution of that dutie which he efflagitateth at your handes, by calling of your people vntounto the knowledge of his ſonne, that you may liue for why ſhould this land bee made deſolate for this p. 70your careleſnes. Ier. 27.17. They propheſie vanity & a lie vntounto your HH. that ſaie peace, peace vntounto you, while in this point you deſpiſe the Lorde, and walke ſtill in this ſecure courſe, or elſeaaIere. 23.16.17.Jer 23:16Jer 23:17 Ieremie is deceiued, if they be prophets. And if the word of the lord be in their mouthes,bbIerem. 27.18.Jer 27:18 let them intreat the Lorde, her Maieſtie and your HH. (and ſtirre you vp to ſee) that the miſerie of helpleſſe Wales may be conſidered off. You are in a miſerable taking, my LL, that either you hauehave none about you, to tell you of theſe things, or that men dare not tel you of thē, you are more miſerable if being warned of your eſtate, you be hardened ſtill in this ſecuritie. But this is not all.

Secondly therefore, the Lords wrath hangeth ouer your heads for tollerating in Wales the dumb miniſtery, the vſurped and Antichriſtian ſeates of Lorde Byſhops, and other Romiſh offices there remaining and ſo tollerated, as by your conſente and authoritie they are in force. If Moſes by a poſitiue law, ſhould hauehave allowed the offring of ſtrange fire, by Nadab and Abihu, tollerated the miniſterie ofccLeui: 20.18 23 blemiſhed and deformed Leuites, enacted that one not being of the line of Aaron, might preſſe before the Altar,ddNom. 16.10. & 18.7. to offer the breade of his God, if Dauid had made it lawfull for Huzza to lay his hand vponupon the Arke, if Ioſiah or any of the godly rulers had giuen leaue vntounto the curſed ſhepherds in their daies, to place others in their ſteedeeEzek. 44.8.Ezek 44:8 to take the ouerſight of the Sanctuarie, briefly had eſtabliſhed any thing contrary to the commandement, in the Churche-gouernment preſcribed by Moſes, had they not bin in danger of Gods wrath? queſtionles they had. And ſhal your HH. be diſpenced with, being guilty of tollerating and eſtabliſhing greater thinges amongſt your people in Wales, in ſtead of the gouernement p. 71preſcribed by Ieſus Chriſt, aſſure your ſelues no. I do therefore in this point for the diſcharge of my conſcience and dutie towards the Lord, his church, my Countrey, and your Hh. taking my life in my hand, teſtifie vntounto you before the eternall GOD and his church, that our vnlearned miniſterie is no miniſterie in deede, that the calling of our L. Bb. Archdeacons, Commiſſaries, ſomoners, and al other the excrements of the Romiſhe vomit, as non-reſidents, &c, remaining in Wales, are intolerable before the Lorde: and that it is not likely that euer your Hh. tollerating theſe things any longer, ſhall eſcape the reuenging hand of God. The truth hereof, I make knowne briefly, (bicauſe I would not be tedious) vntounto your Hh. by the reaſons following, and offer to prooue theſe things more at large vppon the perill of my life, and by the grace of God will, againſt our 4. L. Bb. all their Chapleins, retainers, fauourers, and welwillers, whether in either of the two vniuerſities in this lande, or in anye place els in earth, or in hell, for in heauen I knowe they hauehave no fautors. Theſe things I offer to prooue againſt D. Bridges, who lately in a booke of 7. ſhillings price, hath vnderunder-taken their defence, wherein beſides the wrong done vntounto the Church of God, he hath offered her Maieſtie and your Hh. moſt vndutifull iniurye, by going about▪ for the defence of his bellye, and the bellies of the reſt of his coate, to ouerthrowe her Maieſties title of ſoueraigne preheminence, and to alienate the heartes of the loyalleſt ſubiectes in the land, from their moſt louing and carefull Prince & gouernours; As though her Maieſtie and your. Hh. ment to turne the edge of the ſword againſt them, who indeed deſerue not to be ſmitten with the ſcabard. And I will prooue, that he hath crammed into p. 72this gorge, as plaine poperie for the defence of our prelates: as euer Belarmin, Turrian, Harding, Saunders, or any other the fierbrands, and enſign-bearers of Romiſhe treaſon againſt her Maieſties crowne, hauehave brought for the title of the popes ſupremacy. Although he hath bene, and I doubt not ſhalbe ſufficiently anſwered, by thoſe, whoſe bookes hee is not worthie to beare, yet, in aſmuch as hee in this booke hath ſhewed him ſelfe to bee an Ammonitiſh, Tobiah, againſt the building of Ieruſalem in Wales, by deſending (alaſſe) reliquias Danaum, the very breaches and ruines of the Babyloniſh ouerthrow, which by the iuſt iudgement of God vnderunder poperie, we hauehave ſuſtained to be the perfecteſt building that Syon can be brought vntounto, and ſo by this ſlaunder, withſtandeth the ſaluation (which I doubt not) her Maieſtie, and your Hh. wiſhe vntounto my Countrey; I hauehave ſo framed my reaſons folowing, as they ouerthrowe the verye foundation and whole frame of that wicked booke. And on the condicion, that his cauſe maye falſ. If I (beſides that which others wil do (ouerthrow him, & his cauſe, I offer before your Hh. to lie in irons, & eat the bread of affliction, vntill in a twiſe 7. pennie booke I diſprooue by the worde, make an vtter ſpoyle, ruine, & ouerthrow, of whatſoeuer he hath brought for the defence of that, whiche in the gouernement, is oppugned according to the woorde, by the learned in this Lande. I ſpeake not more confidentlye then I ſhould do, for I know the cauſe to be a moſt confident and ſure cauſe, and therefore not timorouſlye to be dealt in, but in the feare of God, with all boldnes to be ſtood too and aduouched.

Nowe that our dumbe miniſters, non-reſidents, L. Bb. Arch-deacons &c, are nothing els but an p. 73increaſeaaNom. 22.14. of ſinfull men, riſen vppe in ſtead of their fathers the Idolatrous monks and fryers, ſtil to augment the fierce wrath of God againſt this land, and you our gouernours, and that this booke of D. Bridges, and whatſoeuer els hath bene written for their defence, are nothing els but edicts, traitors againſt God, and ſlaunderers to your ſacred gouernement, to defend the ſale and exchange of church goods, and the verye diſtruction of ſoules, to ſpeake all in a word, that both theſe cortuptions and their defences, are condemded by the Lords reuealed will, as things directly againſt his will, and the lawes of his maieſtie expreſſed in his written word, and therfore not to be tollerated by your Hh. vnleſſe, you thinke you may tollerate ſinne by law, nor yet once to bee ſpoken for, or countenannced, vnleſſe you woulde plead forbbIudg. 6.31.Judg 6:31 Baall, I prooue by theſe reaſons.

That forme of Church-gouernment; which maketh Ieſus Chriſt to bee inferiour vntounto Moſes, is an vngodly gouernement, flat contrary to theccHeb. 3.6. nom. 12, 7.Heb 3:6 worde, and therefore in no caſe to bee tollerated, and the booke, or bookes defending the ſame, are vngodlye wicked, and lying bookes. But our Church-gouernment in Wales, by L. Bb. Arch-deacons, dumbeminiſters, and other eccleſiaſtical officers there, (as for non-reſidents, let this one reaſon for all ſerue againſt them, they, in aſmuch as in them lyeth, bereaue the people, ouer whome they thruſt themſelues, of the onelyonly ordinarye meanes to ſaluation, which is theddRom. 10.14. 1. cor. 1.21. 1. pet. 1.21.Rom 10:14Rom 10:1 word preached,) is ſuch a gouernment as maketh the Lord of life, Ieſus Chriſt inferior vntounto Moſes, and this book of Doctor Bridges doth the ſame, therfore this gouernement in a gouernement not to be tollerated by law in any ſtate, vnleſſe men would feele gods heauie iudgements for the ſame, p. 72duplicate page p. 73duplicate page p. 74and therefore alſo a gouernement moſt pernitious and daungerous vntounto the ciuill magiſtrate where it is eſtabliſhed, and this booke or bookes defending the ſame, are vngodly, wicked, and lying books, traiterous againſt the Maieſtie of Ieſus Chriſt, crying for the importable vengeaunce of God vppon ſuch Magiſtrates as tollerate them. The propoſition is not to be doubted off. The aſſumption is thus prouided. That gouernement, and that booke, whiche holdeth Ieſus Chriſt, God and man, to hauehave preſcribed no external form of gouernment in his church but ſuch as at the pleaſure of the magiſtrate, when time and place requireth, may without ſinne be altered: preferreth Moſes before the Lord Ieſus: This is manifeſt out of the expreſſe word out of the text. Heb. 3.2.6. Becauſe that the Lorde Ieſus beeing the ſonne, in this place is compared with Moſes a faithful ſeruaunt, is preferred before Moſes, in regarde of the externall gouernement, which Moſes had ſo faithfully preſcribed, as it was not to bee altered or chaunged at the pleaſure of any magiſtrate, vntill the meſſiah ſhould cauſe the oblations to ceaſ.aaDan. 9, 27.Dan 9:27 For whatking was there euer in Iudah, that without the breach of Gods lawe, could euer alter the externall forme of the iewiſh Church in the Leuitical prieſthood & officers. And that the compariſon between the ſonne, and the ſeruant Chriſt and Moſes, is concerning the externall, and not concerning the ſpyrituall gouernment of the inner man, as D. bridges ſayth it is plaine, bieauſe that Moſes had nothing to doe with the gouerning of the inner man, & therefore it were no prerogatiue for the Lorde to be preferred in faithfulnes before Moſes,bbpage 55. lin. 30. in that thinge wherein Moſes neuer dealt. Nowe I aſſume that our fourme of Church-gouernement in Wales, p. 75and this wicked booke, holdeth Ieſus Chriſt to hauehave ordained ſuch an externall forme of gouernment in his Church at his departure from earth to heauen, as at the pleaſure of the magiſtrate may be altered, without the brech of Gods inſtitution: which thing D. Bridges affirmeth page. 55. and all our prelates will graunt that the magiſtrate may alter the forme of gouernement now eſtabliſhed, and therefore this gouernement, and this booke preferreth Moſes before Ieſus Chriſt. And I cannot ſee how far this differeth from blaſphemie. Now if Chriſt ſhuld be ſaide to hauehave ordained no externall regiment, then Moſes is far before him, and ſo the thirſt of ſuperioritie in our prelates and their accompliſhes is turned into extreme drunkennes of impietie by this aſſertion.

I beſeech the Lord in merciemercy to open your Hh. eies, that you may ſee how he and his people hauehave bene dealt with, by retaining ſuch lawes in force, as iuſtle and ouerthrow the royall prerogatiue of his ſonne. And the Lord make you to ſee whether thoſe men that defend the intereſt of the ſonne of God in this point, againſt the tyrannicall vſurpation of prelats, and hauehave brought for his title, vnaunſwerable euidence, out of the ſacred records of Gods owne writings (offending either in matter or circumſtance, in no one thing: but that they hauehave not dealt more earneſtly with your Hh. and more ronndly with the aduerſaries in the right of their maſter) hauehave deſerued to be impriſoned, thruſt out of their liuings, reuiled, railed vppon, and ſlaundered, (by vngodly and wicked prelates,) vntounto your Hh. as ſeditious and diſcontented men with the ciuill gouernment, dangerous ſubiects, and enemies to her Maieſties crowne. And ſurely the cauſe being made knowen vntounto you p. 76as it is, howſoeuer the Lord may beare with your ouerſight heretofore, in the ignorance of the waight thereof: yet if you do not now abrogate and aboliſh ſuch a Church gouernement wel may you hope for the fauour and entertainment of Moſes, that is, the curſe of the law, but the fauour and louing countenance of Ieſus Chriſt, I doe not ſee how you ſhall euer inioy.

My ſecond reaſon. That forme of church-gouerment, and booke or bookes, whiche maketh the eccleſiaſticall regiment, to bee an humane conſtitution, that is, ſuch a conſtitution, as is incluſiuely acording to the word, any more then the ciuill gouernment, which,aa1. Pet. 2.13. & 2. Pet. 2.10.1 Pet 2:132 Pet 2:10 alſo muſt be incluſiuely according to the word, and ſo may at the magiſtrates pleaſure be changed as the ciuill gouernment may, that gouerment, and that booke or bookes, (beſides that they prefer Moſes before Ieſus Chriſt as before) is a wicked gouernment, and they wicked, ſophiſticall and vngodly bookes: But our gouernement in Churche cauſes, andbbpage. 55. this booke with all other books of this greiſt, make the eccleſiaſticall gouernment to bee nothing elſe but an humaine conſtitution, whiche may bee altered at the magiſtrates pleaſure. Therefore our Church-gouernement in Wales, and this booke or bookes, are vngodly and wicked. The propoſition is prooued by theſe reaſons. Firſt becauſe they make no difference betweene that which belongeth to the true worſhip of God, as eccleſiaſtical gouernement doth, & that which appertaineth vntounto ciuill pollicie.2. Peter. 1.3.2 Pet 1:3 Contrary to the Apoſtle who affirmeth in expres words, that we hauehave receiued by the knowledge of God, whatſoeuer belongeth vntounto true religion, for ſo the word Euſebeia (tranſlated godlines) ſignifieth in that place, wheras there was neuer p. 77yet any place of ſcripture found, wherin we are ſaid to hauehave by the knowledge of God, whatſoeuer belongeth to anthropinen kteiſin, the ciuill magiſtrat called mans ordinance by the ſame apoſtle.aaPeter. 3.…3. Wherin thoſe thinges which are inuented by them that neuer knew God, may be incluſiuelie according to the worde. Secondly Eccleſiaſticall gouernement being granted to be an humaine conſtitution, maketh the Pope to hauehave ſufficient b warraunt out of the worde, not of his idolatrous and falſe religion,And D. Bridges auoucheth▪ this for good doctrin as I will ſhew. but of his ſuperioritie ouer ciuil magiſtrates, and al the Paſtors in the Churche. For why ſhould not hee (the ciuill magiſtrate granting him this ſuperioritie as they vnderunder his iuriſdiction do) be allowed by the word to be aboue the Emperour, and all other magiſtrates and miniſters whoſoeuer, if the eccleſiaſticall gouernement be an humane ordinance. For I am aſſured that the Emperor and all other princes in Europe may chuſe a magiſtrate ſuperiour vntounto them all if they will. And why may not he be a Byſhop or an Arch-biſhop, if the Church-gouerment be an humane ordinance, or if it be lawful for either of them to be a Lord and be are ciuill office. Thirdly if Church-gouernment bee an humane conſtitution, then it may be lawful for a Church-gouernour to preach, adminiſter the ſacraments, ouerſee, excommunicate, &c. and to be a king. For the Apoſtle maketh it lawfull for any ſupplying the place of an humane conſtitution lawfully, to bee a king, and I would they durſt denie it? And where then learned they that diuinitie, that it is more againſt the word, for a Biſhop to be Baſileus a king, Hyperichon a ſuriour, Hegamon a captaine or gouernour,bb1. Pet. ….13. Luk. 22.25.Luke 22:25 beeing titles ſanctified by the holy ghoſt for ciuill offices, then Curios a Lord, Hyperpheron a prelat of the p. 78garter, Euergetes a lords grace. The former & the latter being by our Sauiour himſelf forbidden vntounto Biſhops or miniſters. The ſecond vz. Hyperpheron neuer read in the worde, that I can remēber. If they ſay, that the abuſe of lordlines and graceleſſe grace, is forbidden by Chriſte; they hauehave bene anſwered, they are anſwered, and let them replie if they can, that the Lorde neuer allowed abuſe or tyrannie in ciuill gouernours, wheras he doth not forbid them to rule as Lordes, and to be called grace, and therefore ſpeaketh of the ſanctified vſe of gouernement and titles: which ſanctified vſe lawfull in the ciuill magiſtrates, hee denieth to be lawfull in his miniſters. Becauſe therefore, firſt to make that which belongeth to the outward worſhip of God, to hauehave no more ground out of the worde, then that which appertaineth vntounto the ciuill magiſtracie. Secondly to allow of the Popes ſuperioritie, and to affirme that a miniſter may alſo be a king, are wicked and abſurd aſſertions, directly againſt the word as we ſee. Therfore it is wicked in like manner, to make the Eccleſiaſticall gouerment to be an humane conſtitution. And not vnlikly alſo by litle & litle, as experience in poperie techeth vsus, to paue the way for the vndermining of the ciuill gouernment. For why may not a forged donation of Conſtantin, or Ludouicus Pius, in time ioyn the crown of England to the ſea of Dauid, or Bangor eſpecially, which from Ioſeph of Aremathea can be prooued to hauehave a little better continuaunce of perſonall ſucceſſion, then Rome can from Peter, aſwell as it ioyned the kingdome of Scicilia, the Dukedome of Naples the iſlands Corſica Sardinia, &c. vntounto the Popes miter?

The thirde reaſon is thus ftamed (and I will be briefe) That forme of Church-gouernment & that p. 79booke or bookes, which teacheth that there is ſomthing to be obſerued, beſides that, which was concluded in the cōmiſſion giuen by our ſauiour chriſt vntounto his Apoſtles,Matth. 28.19.20Matt 28:19Matt 28:20 wherein they were enioyned to teach vsus to obſerue whatſoeuer hee had commaunded them, is a gouernement execrable and accurſſed, (and ſo are the bookes) by the ſpirite of God in plaine wordes. Gal. 1.9. And beeing ſuch, farre be it that either the gouernement or the bookes ſhoulde be maintained by law, ſuch a curſſe being pronounced againſt the retaining of execrable things, as we find: Deut. 7.15. But our fourme of Church-gouernment in Wales and this booke, with manye others publiſhed by auctoritie, teach the ſame. For where is it included, much leſſe, preſcribed in the woorde, that our ſauiour Chriſt abolliſhed an outwarde gouernement of the Church, in the Leuiticall pollity, being in no ſort an humaine ordinance, but altogither preſcribed by the Lorde him ſelfe, to the ende, that vnderunder the Goſpell, there ſhould be no gouernment, but an humaine ordinaunce, that might bee chaunged at the pleaſure of man; Or where is it reuealed, that the apoſtles gaue the ciuil magiſtrat, when any ſhould be in the Church, the commiſſion to aboll ſhe the presbyterie eſtabliſhed by them, as our aduerſaries confeſſe, (as the b word ſaith by god himſelfe,aa1 Cor. 13.5.12 Epheſ. 4.4. rom. 12.6. 1 pet. 4.10. Mat. 21.25. & 12.11.1 Cor 13:51 Cor 13:12Eph 4:4Matt 21:25Matt 12:11 and therefore not to bee abrogated vntill his pleaſure in that point be known) becauſe there was no chriſtian magiſtrate. Therefore this gouernment and this booke or bookes are execrable and accurſſed.

Laſtly, that fourme of gouernement, and that booke or bookes, which affirme the kingdoome of Chriſt in the ourward gouernment to be a kingdom that cānot be ſhaken, that is altered or remoued as p. 80the ceremoniall gouernement was, affirme that which is contrarie to the expreſſe written worde of God, Heb. 12.28. and therefore not to be tollerated in anye chriſtian eſtate. But our Church gouernement in Wales by L. bb. Arch-deacons, dumbe miniſters, commiſſaries, &c, in their making of minyſters, cenſures, excommunications, &c, is ſuch, and ſuch is this vnlearned heape and ſophiſticall booke or bookes. Therefore both the gouernement and the booke or bookes affirme things contrary to the word, & ſo are not to be tolerated vnleſſe we would hauehave the Lorde bring ſpeedye ſhame and confuſion vponupon vsus:Pro. 26.2.7Prov 26:2Prov 26:7 for maintaining ſinne by law. The propoſition is moſt apparant; Becauſe that by the words (kingdome that cannot be ſhaken) muſt needes be ment perticularlye, whatſoeuer ſignification elſe they hauehave as more generall) the outward gouernement receiued vnderunder the Goſpell ſince the aboliſhing of the ceremoniall law, which being compared in regard of continuance, and remoouing, or doing away, which Moſes his gouernement, is ſaid to be a kingdom that cannot be ſhaken, that is, ſuch as the Lord neuer meaneth to alter again vntounto the worlds end, as to hauehave another placed in the ſtead of it by him ſelfe, much leſſe by man, whereas that vnderunder MoſesaaHag. 2.7.Hag 2:7 is affirmed by Haggay, and here by the apoſtle, to bee a kingdome or gouernment that can bee ſhaken or altered. And this is the proper meaning of the place. For by the worde kingdome, that cannot bee ſhaken, muſt needs be ment, either the aſſurance of ſaluation which we hauehave vnderunder the goſpel, or our enioying and poſſeſſing of eternall life, or els the outward gouernement, not onelyonly in the preaching of the worde, and adminiſtration of the Sacraments, but in the very church offices, the manner p. 81of their choice, and their ſubiects wherein they are occupied. But as concerning the aſſurance of ſaluation in this life, and the poſſeſſion of eternall life in heuē, which the fathers vnderunder the law had, it was no more to be ſhaken then ours, the meanes therevnto by the word preached, they had aſwell as wee, and ſo in theſe reſpects they had a kingdome that could no more be ſhaken then ours. It remaineth therefore, that theirs was to be ſhaken, in regard of theyr outward gouernement, and therfore ours vnmoueable in this reſpect, which were ſenſeleſſe to be affirmed, if Chriſt in his kingdome, wherevnto wee are heere ſubiects had inſtituted no externall gouernement. Can that bee vnmoouable which is not at al? more ſenſeleſſe it were to thinke this kingdome to be vnmutable, in regard of the ſacraments, and not of the perſons and offices, who were to deale with thoſe miſteries.

To come againe to your Honors, you are not to learne, that to defend by lawe, or countenaunce by aucthority the breach of Gods ordinance, is the defence of ſin, the defence of the ſin is hatred of God, who rewardeth thē to their face that hate him, deu. 7.10. & therfore alſo you are not to be taught, what horrible ſinnes you committee, in countenauncing and maintayning ſuch execrable impieties. They ar no trifles as you ſee. And I aſſure you, that Dathan and Abiram, the ſons of Eliab, menaaNom. 26 9. famous in the congregation, had more colour of right to claime vntounto them ſelues, either the ciuill gouernement from Moſes, or the prieſthoode from Aaron, becauſe they were the ſonnes of Reuben the firſt born vntounto whoſe lotbbGeneſ. 49.4.Gen 49:4 had he not defiled his fathers bed by all likelyhoode, either the ſcepter or the prieſthood ſhold hauehave fallen, then theſe vſurpers hauehave to claim p. 82the places they are in, whereunto either by right of inheritaunce according to the fleſh, or ordinaunce from God, they can lay no title. You are wiſe inough I hope to conſider, what it is to tollerate the manifeſt breach of Gods law. Well if you be not carefull herof, yet at the leſt, look how you countenance the manifeſt ouerthrowe of her Maieſties ſepreame authoritie and royall ſoueraigatie ouer her people, both miniſters and others which D. bridges as flatly ouerthroweah in this booke, as euer did any that gaine-ſaied the ſame. For the proofe hereof, let his owne wordes bee brought foorth and arraigned bebefore your Hh. page 448. line 3. theſe be his words. Doth S. Peter then forbid, that any one elder ſhould hauehave and exerciſe any ſuperiour gouernment ouer the cleargy, vnderſtanding the cleargie in this ſenſe. If hee doth not but alloweth it, and his ſelfe practiſed it, then howſoeuer both the name, both of gouerning and of Cleargie may be abuſed, the matter is clear, that one prieſt or elder among the reſidew may hane, a lawfull ſuperiour aucthoritye ouer the cleargie, that is, ouer all the vniuerſall bodye of the Church in euerie perticular or ſeuerall congregation,Compare Belacap. 10. lib 5. Con. 3. with this page, and you ſhall finde the one to hauehave ſpoken for the arch biſh. the ſame …at the other …oth for the …ope. and ſo not onelyonly ouer the people, but alſo ouer the whole order of miniſters. Thus far are his words A ſhameles & miſerable doctor he is, if he dare denie them, but more miſerable and ſhameles, if affirming them he dare looke any chriſtian ſubiect in the face, much leſſe your Hh. Belarmine the chiefe popiſh writerin our daies, hath ſaid no more for the pope in fiue whole books written vponupon this controuerſie. Out of the D. words I thus reaſon. Whoſoeuer affirmeth that one prieſt amongſt the reſidue may hauehave a lawfull ſuperiour aucthoritie ouer the vniuerſall bodie of the Church, hee (beſides the inducing p. 83of a forrain power (affirmeth that a prieſt may exerciſe a lawfull ſuperiour authority ouer her Maieſtie, and all other magiſtrates, much more miniſters within the vniuerſallbodie of the Church,1. Eliza. 1 13. Elizab. 1.1. Elizab. 5 and ſo directly is within the compaſſe of treaſon, by the breach of the ſtatuts, prouided for the maintenance of her Maieſties ſupremacie within her owne dominions. But D. Bridges doth this,Doctorem ad capitale judicium voco poenae talionis me offe rens, niſi laeſa maieſtatis rerum prob auero modo ipſe ſibi conſtiterit. Ac deum teſtor me non patroni iugalum petere, ſed cauſa let his own words witnes againſt him. Therfore he affirmeth that ſom one prieſt may exerciſe a lawfull ſuperiour authoritie ouer her Maieſtie, and ſo is within compaſſe of the ſaid ſtatutes, if he dare ſtād to that he hath written. Nothing can be inferred out of his words, but that which is ſet downe in the propoſition, for I am ſure, he wil not be ſo impudētly traiterous, as to deny hir Maieſtie to be contained within the vniuerſal bodie of the Church. For by this meanes the wretched man would make her Maieſty to be an infidel, and ſo ſhould ſnare himſelfe againe within the compaſſe of * treaſon. And if he ſaye, his meaning is not that this prieſt ſhould be a forainer,13. Eliza. 1. and ſo thinketh to delude the ſtatuts, the plaſter maketh the wound farre more grieuous and irkeſome. For firſt the iniurious indignitie is far greater vntounto her right excellent Maieſtie, to make her owne vaſſall, to bee a ſuperiour gouernor ouer her, vntounto whom no prince els in all Europe, will yeelde any homage, then to acknowledge her ſelfe to be within the ſheepefolde of a forraine Pope, who it may bee is a Noble man borne, and hath the Emperor, & the greateſt ſtates in chriſtendome, vnderunder his paſtorall charge. In the ſeconde place, what notable contumelie is this for the noblekinges of Denmarke and Scots, the ſtate of Germanie, Heluetia and all others, that hauehave reiected the Popes authoritie as vnlawfull, not onelyonly p. 84in regard of his idolatrie and pride, but euen of his lordly rule and ſupreme dignitie, to holde it lawfull for them to hauehave an Engliſh prieſt to vſurpe authoritie ouer them and the Churches within ther dominions? And I cannot expreſſe what indignitie it were to conceiue ſo vilely of her Maieſtie, the whol aſſemblie of parliament, and your Hh. as to deeme, that you baniſhed poperie out of the land no otherwiſe, then you thought it lawfull notwithſtanding, for an Engliſhe prieſte (I keepe the prieſtly D. owne wordes) in ſtead of an Italian pope to hauehave ſuperiour aucthoritie ouer the vniuerſall bodie of the Church. And howſoeuer ſome lawyers not vnderſtanding how the ſtate of the queſtion concerning the popes prerogatiue is ſet downe by the beſt late popiſh writers, might finde ſhifts for D Bridges, to auoid the danger of the ſtatute, becauſe there is not a particular inſtance brought in by him of a particular prieſt, and a particular prince: yet herof your Hh. may be aſſuredly perſwaded, that if the thinges ſet downe in this wretched and ſlaunderous booke, be tollerable & canonical, the queſtion concerning the popes ſupremacie, (whiche is the point I vrge, and not the treaſon) is granted on the papiſtes ſide. For if it be yeelded, that one prieſt or elder among the reſidue, may hauehave a lawfull ſuperiour authority ouer the vniuerſall bodie of the Church, that an Apoſtle might be a biſh. affirmed byaapage 272. D. Bridges, that Peter was prince of the Apoſtles, being the title, & as it were the iuibuſhe ofbbpage 445. 446. 2. pages, in this dutifull booke, that from Peter the originall of vnitie did ſpring, that the Church might be grounded vponupon vnitie (alledged by the D. out ofccpage 445. Ciprian: The like ſentence beeing no leſſe then thriſe brought in by Bellarmine out of Ciprian alſo, to the ſame purpoſe: p. 85if theſe things I ſay, be granted, what can the papiſts deſire more to inferr the popes ſupremacie? for eyther they will prooue Peters ſucceſſour to be this prieſt, or ſome other muſt be brought, that can ſhew better euidence then he can. This is Bellarmines own reaſon. De Rom. ponti. lib. 2. cap. 12. 753. D. and theſe be the points, in the proofe whereof hee hath ſweat and laboured ſo ſore, in his firſt two books, de Rom. pontif. And if the auoiding of a particular inſtant would anſwere the ſtatute, no popiſh traitors hereafter will be gotten within the compaſſe thereof, ſeeing in generall tearmes they may lawfully auouch the popes ſupremacie, and ſtande vntounto this high treaſon the particular opening wherof, would coſt them their liues, and they will ſay no more, but that one prieſt may hauehave a lawfull ſuperiour authoritie, as D Bridges ſaith Peter had, ouer the vniuerſall bodie of the Church. Now whether this prieſte be the pope or no, or whether the pope may hauehave this ſuperioritie ouer her Maieſtie, as being within the bodie of the churche or no, they leaue it to the conſideration of others, the inſtance woulde bee as much as their life were worth. And what ſhold they endanger their liues by vttering that, in particular, which in generall belike may be affirmed with ſafetie. The generall aſſertion, that a prieſt may hauehave a lawfull ſuperior authoritie ouer the vniuerſall body of the church, being true and voide of treaſon: why ſhall not the particular inſtance that the pope may be this prieſt which may hauehave this ſuperiour authoritie ouer hir Maieſtie, as being included within the vniuerſall bodie of the church be ſo to? if one prieſt may hauehave this authoritie? what ſhall hinder whie the pope may not be this prieſt (though hee be not) his idolatrie he may leaue, his pride he may leaue, p. 86his triple crowne he may leaue, his name of pope he may leaue, and whie then may not he ſomtimes, though not alwayes, be capable of this lawfull ſuperiour authoritie,Many of the Popes themſelues neuer ſat at Rome but either at Lions, Arminia or Avinion, looke Platina, Ba…e. Pantal. &c. as well as ſome other prieſt? yea, but this prieſt muſt not hauehave his ſcare at Rome. Thē he will remooue his chaire vntounto Rauenna, or Canterburie, and ſo there ſhalbe no difference between him and this prieſt wherof D. Bridges ſpeaketh. And by this good diuinitie, Sixtus the fifth, now pope of Rome, being no idolater, void of pride, abandoning his triple crowne, and name of pope, remoouing alſo his ſeate vntounto LAMBETH, might bee that one prieſt, among the reſidue, that might hauehave a lawfull ſuperionr authoritie ouer the vniuerſall bodie of the church, as D. Bridges without bluſhing hath affirmed. Let him nowe go and barke at the godly miniſters in this land, as he doth ſlaunderouſly in the preface of his prophane booke. The intentes of vndermining the cinill gouernment, are found in the vndutifull casket of his own boſome, whereof their clothes are not once priuie. What ſhoulde I at this time lay open any more of his vndutifull poſitions? his booke I will at all times prooue to bee nothing els, but a popiſh quilt, let him challenge me of mine offer when he wil. This matter concerning her Maieſties ſupremacie, being too too haynous of it ſelfe, I meane not to agrauate and make more odious. Your Hh. may ſee, how peſtilent and pernicious this wicked gouernment of our prelats is, euen vntounto hir Maieſties ſupreame and ſuperiour authority, which neuer any ſincerelie ſeeking for reformation, at any time eyther denied or diminiſhed, the ſame being rightly vnderſtood according to the meaning of the ſtatute. And whatſoeuer hee hath ſaide of the godly learned miniſters, you ſee that it is he & his p. 87fathers houſe, with the gouernment thereof, that go about to tread vnderunder foot the Lords annointed. And this is the good diuinity that this Balaam for his lucres ſake, is not aſhamed to teache, and your Hh. dread not to tollerate. As though we hadde to little to anſwere before the Lorde, for the Antichriſtian dominion of the pope in this lande, hee muſt needs make a prieſt in the land which may fetch the plague from other nations to bee powred vppon vsus. Rather then the madnes of ſuche a prophet ſhould be vnrebuked, the very dumbe aſſe, ſpeaking with a mans voice, would gain-ſay the fury of ſuch a philiſtian tongue: I cannot thinke my Lordes, but that the Lorde hath ſome memorable plagues reſerued for you and vsus vnderunder your gouernment, if notwithſtanding all theſe things, you ſtil countenance ſuch … in Iſraell, as beeing the very ornaments of the Lords tabernacle.

I hauehave ſet downe out of the infallible trueth of Gods eternall word, the reaſons whereby the holie ghoſt cutteth the throare, of all the corruptions in our church, and hath giuen a deaths wounde, vntounto the vitall parts of this popiſh ware-houſe of Doctor bridges. And let me ſee who will dare to replie vponupon them? As for D. bridges him ſelfe, his vnfauery and vnlearned ſtile, his popiſhe reaſons, long ſince banniſhed out of the ſchooles of all ſound deuines, hys tranflation of other mens writings, throughout hys whole booke, his vngodly and abhominableaaPage 655. praier that the preaching of the word may neuer bee had generally throughout the land, his ſcripturebbPage 287. being the ſubſcription of the ſecond epiſtle toccPage. 562.349.560. Timothie, his alleadging of writers, as cleare againſt himſelfe, as blacke is to white, as of Auguſtine, Caluin, Aretius, &c, hisddPage 44…. imperfect periodes without ſence or ſauour, p. 88hisaaPage a 272. Biſhop Iames, Arch-biſhops,bbPage 259.69 266 Tim. and Titus, his tranſlations ofccPage 450. vos autem nolite vocari rabbi, into will not you bee called rabbi, with thouſand other monumens of his prophane imprety, ſottiſh ignorance, and want of learning, euidently conuince, that he was neuer as yet, in Platonis Politia, where any good learning grewe, but hath wallowed him ſelfe all his life, in Romuli fece, whence learning hath ben long ſince banniſhed, & godlines neuer ſhone. And therfore he of al others can diſproue nothing: vnleſſe the queſtion before hand be granted of his ſide.Yet let him know, that I wil either be anſwered, or hauehave the cauſe granted at his hands. For to omit, that in 160. ſheets of paper, he hath don nothing, but ouer thrown him ſelfe, vtterly ſhamed his whooriſhe cauſe, by ſhewing the nakednes thereof, tranſlated other mens writings, taught the reader howe to vnderſtand the learned diſcoarſe, and added marginall notes, ſo that if other men had neuer written, he would hauehave ſaid nothing, this ſhalbe found vndoubtedly true throughout the whole booke, that he hath made a couenant before hand, not to diſpute, vnleſſe you graunt concluſion, & all, and rather flatlie to be non plus then prooue any thing. But our 4. biſhops and their fautors are, or would be accounted learned, I deſire no more againſt them al, but to be iudicially heard, according to the word, if I bee diſprooued in any one thing I hauehave written, I will not deſire to liue.

Hence it muſt needs followe, (your Hh. hauing regard vntounto the ſtate of your ſoules, and bodies before the Lord, and your good name amongſt poſterities) that if theſe things ſet downe bee true (if not bring vponupon me deſerued ſhame & puniſhment) you will either redreſſe the miſerable eſtate of diſtreſſed Wales, by erecting there a godly miniſtery, and abboliſhing of al Cananitiſh reliques: or for the maintenance p. 89of a few vnconſcionable and godleſſe men, aduenture to vndergo the fiery and flaming execution of the burning decree of Gods anger. My LI. be not deceiued, the Lord of heauen is angrie wyth you, and his wholeaaIoſh. 7.9.21. ezech. 38.22.Josh 7:9Josh 7:21 hoaſt for the Babiloniſh garments of theſe Achans. Retaine them no longer, if you woulde not fall before the enemie; When the Lorde ſhall plead with you, your wiues, children, families, and the whole land, with peſtilence, or with blood, as he is likely to do, for theſe wadges of execrable gold, it is not, the pontificall Lordſhips of byſhops, at whoſe commaundement, the lordes ſword willbbIerem. 47.6.Jer 47:6 returne againe into his ſheath, when your gaſping ſoules, ſhall cry for mercy at the Lords hands, it is not the proud, & popelike Lordſhips of biſhops, their vſurped iuriſdictions, their prophane excommunications, their railing ſlaunders againſt Gods truth and his ſeruants, their blaſphemous breathing of the holye ghoſt vppon their Idol prieſts, that will driue the Lord to giuegive you and cōfort. Let me therfore (though my perſon bee baſe, & contēptible) entreat your Hh. that the iudgements of God againſt ſin, both in this life, and in the other of eternal woe and miſerie, may appeare ſo terrible in your eies, & of that vndoubted conſequence, as you will no longer retaine vnderunder your gouernment theſe thynges, whoſe continuance doe giuegive the Lord iuſt cauſe in this life, to pronounce this, ſentence, by the mouth ofccIere. 22.29.30.Jer 22:29Jer 22:30 Ieremiah againſt eueryevery one of you, and execute the ſame. O earth, earth, earth, heare the wordes of Iehouah, write theſe men deſtitude of children, men that ſhall not proſper in their daies, yea, there ſhall not be a man of their ſeed that ſhall proſper, and ſit at the counſell table, or beare rule in England anye more. And in the life to come, to ſaye: moreouer, p. 90theſeaaLuke. 29.27: mine enemies that would not ſuffer mee to beare rule ouer them, and their people, bring hither and ſtay before my face, yea, binde them hand and foot, and throw them to vtter darknes, where there is weeping and gnaſhing of teeth. And let me, crauing vppon my knees, with all ſubmiſſion, and earneſtneſſe, and more earneſt if it were poſſible obtaine, that my countrey-men by your meanes may hauehave the word preached, euen the meanes, wherby they may liue for euer with Abraham, Iſaac, and Iacob in the kingdome of heauen. Graunt them this my Lords though I die for it. Oh I would thinke it an happie death, which ſhoulde make mee the firſt meſſenger to carie ſuch ioyful newes vntounto the bleſſedbbLuke. 16.Luke 16 Saincts, and aungels in heauen, as that Wales were conuerted from ſinne. And this the Lord knoeth is the only ſcope of my writing, and not the diſcrediting, and galling of our lord-biſhops. Let not their places withſtand the ſaluation of my brethren, and the true ſeruice of God among them, and if euer I either write, or ſpeak more againſt them, any further then their ſears are like to bee the ruine of her Maieſtie and your Hh. let it coſt mee my life. Heare me in this ſute, good my Lords, the rewarde whereof, your ſoules ſhall find, otherwiſe, I am likelye to become a weariſome, and an importunate ſutor vntounto you. The coūtenance of that creature is as yet vnſeene, that ſhal enforce me (by the lords aſſiſtance to take a deniall at your hands.

The cauſe is ſo iuſt, that if it were (as ſometimes it was by theccAct. 17.19.Acts 17:19 Apoſtle himſelfe decided), in the Athenians Areopago, a court for heathen iuſtice of famous and celebrated memorie, I doubt not but it ſhould be heard. And ſhall it not hauehave iuſtice at the chriſtian counſell table of England? Iuſtice my Ll. I ſay, for I ſeeke nothing els, but that the ſtatutes of p. 91the God of iudgement & iuſtice, may be made knowen in my deare countrie, where now they are vnheard off, Then the which, I knowe not what can be more iuſt, neither can I ſee what iuſtice in trueth, canne bee miniſtred by them that neglecte this cauſe. Verelye, for mine owne part (GOD ayding me) I will neuer leaue the ſuit, vntill I either obtain it at your hands; or bring the Lord in vengeance & blood, to plead with you for repelling his own cauſe

Here I know it will be anſwered, that counſellors can do nothing in the matter, her Maieſtie hath referted all vntounto the prelates, in church cauſes. They hauehave dealt with her, they cannot, they may not be heard. Be it that her maieſtie hath bin mooued by you for the redreſſe of the church, you ſhuld do it again, & againe, and neuer leaue vntill you be heard. Great matters are neuer brought to paſſe, without great & mightie endeuours. Our ſinnes hauehave otherwiſe deſerued, then that the Lord ſhould at the firſt incline merciemercy vntounto vsus, in the ſight of her highnes. would any of you alter any part of the gouernment of his familie, being perſwaded by leude flatterers, that all were well, vnleſſe the abuſe were ſhewed, & you earneſtly delt with for a reformation? And can you blame, that our ſoueraigne is hardly drawen to reforme the Church, whoſe eſtate euen in her hearing, is ſaid daily out of the pulpit, to bee moſt flowriſhing, whereas the deformitie thereof is not made knowne vntounto her? I knowe it is no ſmall perſwaſion that ſhould draw a Monarch, to alter and eſtabliſhe new lawes; vnles the vnanſwerable neceſſitie thereof were made knowne vntounto hir or him. Hir Maieſtie knoweth not (I ſpeake as I am perſwaded) the exacting neceſſitie that lieth vponupon her ſhouldrrs, of re…ning the Church. e She knoweth not the eſtate p. 92of her vntaught and damned ſubiects to bee as it is. Wherefore ſerue Counſellers, if her eies muſt be euerie where to ſee euerie thing? And what do your Hh. ſee, if you ſee not our caſe, and lament it? In this point I grant her eies ſhould be her owne chuſers: but if of ouerſight the waightieſt matters bee omitted, ſhould not you my Ll. put her in minde hereof, and in ſubmiſſion intreat her, yea and neuer leaue entreating, vntill ſhe yeeld, to turne away the wrath of God from her ſelfe and her kingdome, by aboliſhing vngodly ordinances, and reſtoring beutie vntounto Siō. Which of you is he that hath, that doth, or wil performe this duetie to our Soueraigne? which of you will make knowne vntounto her this which I hauehave written? I knowe I ſhalbe traducted, (and torne againe in pieces with ſlaunders) as a ſeditious firebrand of newe attemptes, to ſtir vp her people to innouation, at the leaſt, let me be made knowne vntounto her by this name, that ſome way I may come to the triall of my cauſe in hand, and my warrantable proceedings therein. I am neither papiſt, Annabaptiſt, libertine, familian, one that dareth ſeperate himſelf from the godly aſſemblies in this lande, where the worde preached ſoundeth, nor yet one that holdeth any thing, either in ſubſtance or circumſtance contrary to the wholſome doctrine expreſſed or included in Gods reuealed word, of the old and new teſtament: therefore let me hauehave the benefite of a Chriſtian, if not of a chriſtian ſubiect, not to be condemned before my cauſe be hearde; whiche is not mine owne, but the cauſe of God his Churches, my countries and your Hh. I hauehave forged the moſt notable ſlaunders that euer were coyned, or elſe the eſtate of my country is moſt miſerable, and yours no p. 93leſſe lamentable if it ſo continue. And if you make not the ſame known vntounto her Maieſtie, & labor not to amend it, the Lord make Queene Elizabeth and her crowne free from the blood of her deſtroyed people, and I pray God my Ll. their ſouls be not required at your hands, and the Earle of Pembrokes, when you and hee ſhall not be able to anſwere for them. But it may be you will ay, that the worke is ſo difficult that it cannot poſſiblie be performed. Doe what lieth in you, and then the Lorde is aunſwered. The farther you wade herein, the eaſier will be the paſſage. Becauſe it is a worke of difficultie, therfore muſt you needes hinder the ſame by law, as you do in tollerating theſe abuſes? Becauſe the whol work is difficult, therefore ſhall it not be begon? Becauſe it is a hard matter to plant the ordinaunce of God, therefore muſt the breach thereof be in force and maintained? Becauſe in Canaan, the ſons ofaaNom. 13.14. Anak, and towns walled vp to heauen (mountains of pietended excuſes) hauehave bin ſeene, therefore muſt you needes ſuffer the people brought by her Maieſtie, out of Egypt, to remaine ſtill in the wildernes, on this ſide lordan, euen vnderunder thoſe men, the dumbe miniſters, nonreſidents, L. Bb. I mean, who are fit for nothing, but to be captaines,bbNom. 14.4. (whenſoeuer opportunitie ſhall ſerue) to bring them again into Egypt? Becauſe our land by reaſon of our continuaunce in ſinne, and that we hauehave not had skilfull workemen among vsus, doth not nowe bring forth religion and godlines in the meaſure it ſhoulde, therefore muſt you needs be ſure, that prophanenes and Atheiſm ſhalbe ſowne, and the breach of Gods law flowriſhe there in the perſons of theſe men. Therfore the iuſt Lord will be iuſt, inccRead Ezek. 2… Zeph. 3.3.Ezek 2Zeph 3:3 the middeſt of you, whenſoeuer he reckoneth for theſe things, becauſe you are p. 94ſo far from doing what you may, in the planting of godlines, that you ſuffer impietie againſt his maieſtie to bear ſway, and that by law & autoritie? Concerning the hardnes of the worke, this I make knoen vntounto you, that if you wilbe ruled by the canon of the word, you ſhalbe abl with eaſ, & the good liking of your people, to do ſo much therin, as you ſhal deliuer your owne liues from the heauie wrath of God. But if that rule ſhall not take place, anye farther then it may ſtand with the countenance of L. biſh. and other corruptions of the Eccleſiaſticall ſtate (for as concerning the ciuill gouernment, the Lorde knoweth howe farre I am from dealing with it) I ſee not what you can ſay vntounto the Lorde, when he hath made you and your people, an aſtoniſhmēt, and an hiſſing vntounto all the nations vnderunder heauen: butaaNehem. 9.39.Neh 9:39 ſurelie thou art iuſt in all that is come vponupon vsus, for we would not be ruled by thy word.

Well, the word teacheth and requireth 2. things, and no more of you in this worke. In both it requireth your obedience if you would be directed by it. Firſt, it requireth that Wales may be redreſſed, by proclaiming that commiſſion giuen by our Sauiour Chriſt vntounto his Apoſtles in eueryevery corner thereof,Math. 28.19.Matt 28:19 & both the parts of the commiſſion, it requireth to be kept inuiolable, as well that, of go preach & baptize as the other, of teach them to obſerue whotſoeuer I hauehave commanded you. Secondly, while you ſtay the Lords leaſure, to raiſe vp fit men for this worke in eueryevery congregation, it requireth that the people where preachers cannot be placed at the firſt, may hauehave ſome ſtay, that inconueniences bee auoyded. For the Lord will not hauehave religion ſo vndiſcreetly eſtabliſhed, as that incōueniences (as much as may be) be not wiſely preuented. In effecting hereof, two p. 95things are to be looked vntounto, both of them greatly furthering the worke. Firſt the bleſſing of God is to be laboured for, by humbling your ſelues and your people, with Daniel before the Lord,Dan. 9.1.3.Dan 9:1Dan 9:3 in faſting and prayer, and then you ſhall ſee, he will be with your endeuours. Secondly, you muſt enioyne eueryevery man according vntounto his place, to hauehave a hande in this worke, and encourage the gentlemen, and people that ſhalbe found forward, by gracing and countenancing them for their forwardnes in religion, and ſhewing that the more forward they bee, the more credit they are like to purchaſe with your Hh. And you muſt not ſuffer an vncircumciſed mouth to bringaaNomb. 14.36 a ſlander vppon that good lande whereunto the Lorde offereth to bring you and your people, if you would obey, much leſſe to lift vp abbNom. 14.10. ſton againſt Caleb or Ioſhuah, that withſtande the furie of a who I wicked hoaſt in the Lords defence. For otherwiſe, if you ſuffer all to ſit ſtill, and looke vppon our deſolations; the moſt to liue on the ſweetnes of our ruines, and diſcountenance all that labour therein: you can looke for nothing elſe ſhortly, but this lamentable complaint, and it is a great work of God, that we hauehave not hard the ſame long ago, of eueryevery profeſſor in this land. Whither ſhalccDeut. 1.18.Deut 1:18 we go? our brethren, and their harde entertainment hane diſcouraged our hearts: would roddNom. 14.2.4. God that we had died in the land of Egypt, would to God wee were dead: were it not better for vsus to turne into Egypt? come let vsus make a captain, and returne thither. The land in deed is a good land, whereunto when our ſoueueraigne brought vsus out of Egypt, wee entended to make our iourney: but alaſſe, we are neuer able to ſtand againſt the pouertie, loſſes, impriſonment, diſcountenance by our ſuperionrs; that our brethren p. 96hauehave ſuſtained, which hauehave ſet their faces towards this land, neuer able to ſwalow vp the ſlanders, and bitter names of Puritanes, preciſians, traitors, ſedicious libellers, that we ſee, raiſed againſt thoſe that would bring vsus thither. And therfore my Ll. in vain ſhal you vſe other means, & leaue this vnattemted.

The redreſſe of Wales conſiſteth of two partes both muſt bee ſpeedily ſet vppon by your Hh. or elſe certainly the iudgements of God wil finde you out. Firſt you muſt aboliſh out of the Churche, whatſoeuer you finde to be a breach of Gods ordinance (as I hauehave proued dumb miniſters, nonreſidents, & 1. biſh. to be) or els your reformation will be little better, then that of theaa2. King. 17.33.2 Kgs 17:33 Samaritans, who feared Iehouah, but worſhipped their owne gods. Secondly you muſt place as many godly learned, as can be found, to call the people, and ſee them prouided for. If the complaint be made for want of ſufficient men, and ſufficient ſtale for their liuings: for the men, take al thoſe whom the lord hath made fit for this work, & hee can require no more at your handes vntill hee raiſe more, which if he neuer doe, your good endeuors and encouragements vntounto ſtudents & others, not being wanting to bring this to paſſe, he cannot in iuſtice puniſhe you, though your people bee not taught. Bicauſe you hauehave ſeene al thoſe wel beſtowed, whom he quallified for that calling, & ſo do now expect a bleſſing from him vponupon your labours, that you might ſend more. The ſubterfudge will be, but the couert of a net, to aske (as cōmonly our prelats do) how there ſhoulde be poſſiblie founde, as many learned men as Wales requireth, ſeeing they who are founde, are not placed there. And doe you deale well with the lord, that be cauſe al canot be brought at once to ſerue him, as hee willeth, therefore they p. 97that may ſhall not? The ſame is to bee ſaide of the miniſters liuings. Remoue the dumb miniſters, nonfidēts, the L. bb. (if you will not do this, you go beſide the word of God, & ſo there is no direction for you) and there will be mo liuings void, able to maintain godly miniſters, then ſhalbe, I feare me, good men found to ſupplie the places. And verely, I maruaile what men perſuade thēſelues, the Lord to be, wheras they thinke hee can be ſatisfied with ſuche ſielie ſhifts? is it not a ſtrange matter, to finde Church liuings in Wales for L. bb. nonreſidēts, & idoles, to ſin againſt God, and ſtarue ſoules withal, and deny any to be there, for godly miniſters do honor God, and work the ſaluation of his people. The children muſt ſtarue for want of breade, becauſe the dogs before their eies muſt be fed therewith. Good reaſon? yea, but the remouing of thoſe men, would be likelie to ſet the land on fire. Marke how ſutile the deuil is, in the maintenance of his kingdome. When godly miniſters are deprined, becauſe they will not link thē ſelues with wicked B. b to betraie the kingdonm of Chriſt, and ouerthrow the lawes of this land, there is no inconuenience ſered. But if ſatans meſſengers be once ſhoued at: behold, the land wil not be able to beare this loſſe. I grant in deede my Ll. that men which make no conſcience for gaine ſake, to break the law of the eternal, and maſſaker ſoules (as theſe do) are dangerous ſubiectes, and not to be truſted any further, then they are fed.

The ſtay therefore muſt be either in regarde of theſe men, or the common people. Theſe men are of 2. ſorts, ſome few hauehave gifts for the miniſtery, thoſe would be imploied that way, and compelled to bee faithfull. The moſt of them are vnſauerie ſalt, notwithſtanding far be it that they and their families, p. 98ſhould be turned vntounto the wide world to ſeeke their liuings, and therefore ſome part of that which now they poſſeſſe with ſacriledge, beſtowed vponupon them, being out of the miniſterie, they might enioy with a good conſcience. And a ſmall thing this way allotted vntounto them, woulde be bleſſed, wheras whatſoeuer now they poſſeſſe is execrable. For the people, the ſtay for them is, eyther in regard of the publike meetings on the Sabboth, or the ſacraments, mariage, and burial. For the keeping of the Sabboth. The word requireth they ſhould, if poſſibly they can, reſorte where preaching is, vntill good miniſters bee placed in eueryevery parriſh. If the places be too farre, as commonly our parriſhes be very large, and it is not likely in ſhort time to plant preachers, ſo neere together, as the people may eueryevery Sabboth reſort to them, they muſt be enioyned to meete togither in their pariſhe churches, & ſome diſcreet man from among themſelues appointed to read the word, and vſe ſom forme of praiers as ſhalbe thought meeteſt by the aduiſe of the godly learned. Concerning the ſacraments, the word requireth they ſhould reſort vntounto a preaching miniſter for them,There is adulterie amongſt the …fidels, therefore a miniſter is not eſſentially required in Matrimonle. Ruth 4.10.11.Ruth 4:10Ruth 4:11 & not attempt to keepe their children vnbaptized any longer then they muſt of neceſſitie. Marriage is moſt conueniently to be done by the miniſter. But it is no proper eſſentiall worke of the ^a miniſter, and therfore may be ſolemniſed by others, at the magiſtrats appointment. Concerning buriall, it is a worke of chriſtian charitie, and being the laſt dutie that we are to performe towards the departed, we ought to accompanie them decently, and orderly, with all comlineſſe vntounto the graue. The word mentioneth or includeth no forme of prayers vſed at burials, therefore they ar ſuperfluous, nether is the miniſter as in an actiō p. 99belonginge to his office, to hauehave any more to doe herein, then any other of the brethren

Thus hauehave I ſet downe vntounto your Hh. the onelye courſe in regard of ſubſtance, that the word waranteth to bee taken in ſuch a deformed eſtate, as ours is. And now my Ll. let my counſell bee acceptable vntounto you,aaDan. 4.24.Dan 4:24 breake off your ſinnes, by rooting out theſe plants, which the Lord neuer planted in hys vineyard, and your iniquities by adoring the ſame, as much as in you lyeth, ſo there may be an healing of your former ouer-ſight. If not, the lords face will be againſt you, yours, and the whole land for euill and not for good. O my Ll. is it not a miſerable caſe, that mē ſhold ſo liue vnderunder your gouerment in this life, as they canot poſſibly but liue in hel in the life to come. O my Ll. heaen cannot be obtained when we are gone; Oh my Ll. now is the time for the goſpell to flowriſh in Wales or neuer; Oh my Ll. if her Maieſtie, and your Hh. (whome from my very heart I wiſh the Lord to bleſſe) ſhould be gone the way of all the world, for mine owne part, the very ſtaffe of my hope, to ſee any good doone amongeſt my brethren, ſhould be broken. Blame me not therefore, if I deale earneſtly in a cauſe of ſo great a moment, and ſo vnlikely to be obtained of our wofull poſterities, whome my ſuit in a moſt nere ſort concerneth. Oh whye ſhould they hauehave cauſe to ſaye, the Lorde bee iudge betweene vsus, and the gouernours, whiche were vnderunder Queene Elizabeth in the daies of our fathers, for they might hauehave opened our eies, and healed our wounds, which now, (alaſſe) are deſperat and paſt recouerie.

It is now ful 29. yeares and vpward, ſince Babilon hath bin ouerthrown in Wales, rather by the voice of hir Maieſties good lawes, (whome good Lord forget p. 100not for this woorke) then by the ſound of anye trumpet, from the mouthes of the ſons of Aaron among vsus. But alaſſe, what ſhall we and our poſteritie be the better for this, if Syon bee not built. And what comfort can Zerubabell or nehemiah hauehave to bring a people out of Babilon, if they meane but to reaedifie Sbilo, ſeeing it is the beautie of Syon, wherin the Lord delighteth. Wee hauehave cauſe indeede to thanke God, that this wicked eitie hath bene by hir Maieſtie in ſome ſort broken downer but we are neuer the better, ſeeing the walls of Sion lie euen with the ground. Nowe for the ſpace 28. yeares, no man greatly labored to hir maieſty, the Parliament, your Hh. or to the people themſelues, either by ſpeaking or writing in the behalfe of either of theſe vnreconcilable eities. Men belike thinking no more to bee required at their hands, then the razng of Babell, & the deuil as yet contenting himſelf with Bethel. The laſt yeare, as I am almoſt peſuaded, the verye ſame day, or by all likly-hood the very ſame week: vponupon a ſuddain, the enterpriſes of the building of both, in 2. ſeueral books, iſſuing from two of the remoteſt corners in our lande (South-wales, and North-wales) was taken in hand. The one of the bookes pleading the cauſe of Sion, cōming forch priuiledged by publike authority, & alowāce, was directed vntounto hir maieſty & the Parliament, requiring at their hands, by vertue of the lords own mandatory letters, the performance of this work, ſhewing by euidence of greteſt antiquity, this to bee required of duety at their handes, as a part of the homage due vntounto his highnes, whoſe feudaries and vaſſalles, all the princes & ſtates vnderunder heauen muſt acknowledge themſelues to be, & a portion of that inheritance, beeing theirs by liniall diſcent from their predeceſſors, the godly p. 101kings and rulers, who time out of mind, alwaies laied their ſhulders vntounto this burthen. The other written in Welch, printed in an obſcure caue in Northwales, publiſhed by an author vnknown,Y druch Chriſt. anogaw. & more vn learned, (for I thinke hee had neuer read any thing, but the common publiſhed reſolution of R. P. a book containing many ſubſtantiall errors, frier Ruſh, and other ſhamefull fables) ſtood to by none, & hauinge no reaſons to ſhew why his Babilon ſhould be reaedified, it contained it ſelfe within the handes of a few ſimple priuate men and neuer durſt vntounto thys hour, be made known vntounto your Hh. Both the books in this thing had the ſame ſucceſſe, in that both togither they fel into the hands of the prelats, who as they pretend are enemies vntounto both places, but vndoubtedly vntounto Syon, eſpecially, as it appeared by their harde dealing with the pation of that cauſe, whereas the fautors of the other, were either not at all dealt with, or very curteouſly entertained of thē. The reaſon of their enmitie vntounto both: but their hatred vntounto Syon, is, that neuer I feare me, meaning to go thither,This is ſpoken in regard of the Church-gouermen. and conſtrained by law to be enemies vntounto the other, they hauehave of the golde of Caldea, & the droſſe of Ieruſalem compacted thē a citie, wherwith they meane to content themſelues, vntill they returne vntounto Babel againe, or (the Lord be merciful vntounto them) vntounto a worſe place. HaueHave they not therfore good cauſe to be the more beholding vntounto the one for the golde, then to the other for the droſſe? Well my Ll. bee you aſſured hereof, that they who ſtirred vp both theſe inſtruments both at one time, wil neuer ſuffer them to ceaſe, vntil in Wales, either a church of Chriſt, or a ſynagogue of ſatan be built. Out of queſtion, the concurring of both cauſes ſheweth, that the Lorde hath ſome ſecreat worke in the p. 102matter. Satans inſtruments for their parts, were neuer buſier, ſince hir Maieſties raigne, then they are at this hower, and ſhall be ſtil? they trecherouſly againſt the lawes of God and this land, ſeek to bring the people again vntounto AEgypt. I acording vntounto both dutifully endeuour, neuer to let them reſt, vntill it pleaſe God, by hir Maieſtie and your Hh. to bring them within the lande of promiſe, no though they were vppon mounte Nebo, whence with their eies they might view the ſame. They hauehave dealt, & deale ſecretly with poore ſoules in darke corners, & dare not make known their fabulous cauſe. I hauehave dealt all this while, in the face of the ſun, and now before your Hh. I want not a good cauſe, and by the grace of God, it ſhall not want a defender, or hide the face as long as I liue. Whether you countenaunce it or no, I know it ſhal one day preuaile, when this wil be the Lord knoweth beſt: but the matter is, whether you wil imbrace chriſt in the building of his church or ſathan in continuing the breaches thereof. Therfore my Ll. entertaine THIS CAVSE, and you giuegive ſatan the foile, reiect this, and you ſtreng then him. And trie, if you denye it the hearing, whether the very papiſts in this land, will not be thereby encouraged to ſupplicate vntounto your Hh. that you woulde grant them the liberty of their ſeared conſciences, to commit publike idolatrie.

Al that hitherto I hauehave ſpoken, I hauehave ſpoken, either in the cauſe of chriſt, which is a good cauſe, or in the cauſe of ſathā. If I ſeek the building of his ſynagog, wil you let me liue? if of the church of chriſt, wil you denie me your helpe? which yet againe, and againe in the name of the eternall God, I require & for the pretious death & paſſions ſake of Ieſus chriſt I earneſtly deſire at your hands. My Ll. as you wold p. 103hauehave the Lorde to entertaine your ſoules in the life to come, as you would hauehave him ſhew you any merciemercy, as you louelove her Maieſtie & hir life, as you would hauehave the continuance of her raigne ouer vsus, which the lord vndoubtedly thretneth to ſhorten, becauſe he would bring ruine vponupon you & vsus all, for the contempt of his trueth, as you woulde not hauehave your names razed from vnderunder heauen, as you would not hauehave the Lord to bring vponupon vsus the Spaniſh, Italian Romiſh, or Guiſian forces, as you woulde not hauehave thoſe, who ſhall liue to ſee the deſolation and deſperate ſorrowe, which the Lorde is to bring vponupon this lande, not abide to ſee, you, and your children ryde or go in the ſtreets, as you would not hauehave the moſt contemptible to ſtretche forth his hande vponupon the deareſt things you poſſeſſe, & offer violence before your eies, vntounto the fruit of your bodies: ſo entertain this cauſe, graunt this ſuite, and hauehave a care of the Lords true ſeruice, in Wales: etherwiſe I feare me, the vengeance of God will neuer leaue you & your poſterities, as long as there is a man of your houſes vnderunder heauen. And notwithſtanding the caſe of the Earle of Pembroke is neuer the better, if he ſtil preſume to beare rule within theſe gates, where the Lords Sabboths are not ſanctified.

Ezekiel in deede is not now liuing, to put you in minde of the neceſſitie of redreſſing of thinges amiſſe, by laying open the corruptions of all eſtates vnderunder your gouernement, as he doeth, cap. 22, of his propheſie. His words I will ſet downe, that your Hh. may waye our eſtate with the time wherin the prophet liued, and ſee whether the Lord will ſpare you and vsus, if we ſtill prouoke him to ſmite. There is a conſpiracie of her prophets in the middeſt thereof,Ezek. 22.25.26.27.28.29.Ezek 22:25Ezek 22:26Ezek 22:27Ezek 22:28Ezek 22:29 faith the prophet, like a roaring lyon, rauening the p. 104pray, they hauehave deuoured foules: they hauehave taken the riches and precious things: they hauehave made hir manie widowes in the midſt therof: hir prieſts hauehave broken my law, and hauehave defiled mine holy things: they hauehave put no difference betweene the holy & prophane, neither diſcerned between the vncleane and the cleane, and hauehave hidd their eies from my Saboth, and I am prophaned among them. Hir princes in the midſt thereof are like wolues, rauening the prey, to ſhed blood, & to deſtroy ſoules for their owne couetous lucre. And her I rophets hauehave dawbed thē with vntempered morter, ſeing vanities, & diuining hes vntounto them, ſaying: thus ſaith the Lord Iehouah, when Iehouah hath not ſpoken. The people of the land hauehave violently oppreſſed by ſpoiling and robbing, and hauehave vexed the poore and needy: yea, they hauehave oppreſſed the ſtranger againſt right. Thus far Ezekiel. Be the ſinnes of our prophets, of our princes, & of our people the ſame, that heare he ſpeketh againſt, be they greater, or be they leſſe: yet without controuerſie,Verſe. 30 if the Lorde may ſaye, I hauehave ſought for a man among the coūſellors of England, thatſhuld make vp the hedge, & ſtand in the gap before me for the land, that I ſhould not deſtroy it, but I found none: then wo be vntounto vsus, for that ſhal follow, which is ſet downe in the prophet. Therefore hauehave I powted out mine indignation vponupon them,Verſe. 31 & conſumed them with the fire of my wrath: their owne waies hauehave I rendred vponupon their heads, ſaieth the Lord Iehouah. And vnleſſe there were iuſt cauſe to think that this Lord had either already, or ſhortly ment to pronounce this ſentence againſt vsus, wee might contemne & ſcorne at the carped aſſaults of the Spanyards, or any other the enemies of the goſpel and her Maieſties whoſoeuer. But as long as we p. 105giuegive not the right hande vntounto the Lorde by entring into his ſanctuarie, we hauehave iuſt cauſe to feare a nation that is no nation, much more a people in number as the ſand, which is by the ſea ſhore. Our leags and moſt ſtable couenants with the enemies the lord will ſoone diſanull, ſtanding thus at the ſtaffes end with his maieſtie as we do. And asaaIerem. 37.Jer 37 Ieremie ſaid vntounto the king, and ſtates in his time: though we had ſmitten the whole hoaſt of the Spanyardes (that intend our ouerthrow) & there remained bur wounded men among them: yet ſhould euerie man riſe vp in his tent, and ouerrun this lande. Let vsus looke aſſuredlie, whenſoeuer the abiecte and contemptible enemie ſhall aſſaile vsus, abiect and contemptible I ſaie, in all reſpects in compariſon of the value and ſtrength of our men and munition (and the lord increaſe them a thouſand folde more) that this God whoſe ſeruice is ſo little eſteemed of vsus, will ſend a terror into the harts of our valianteſt, and ſtouteſt men: ſo that he, whoſe heart is as the heart of a lyon, ſhall become as weake as water: and one enenimie ſhal chaſe a thouſand of vsus, becauſe the hand of the lord will be againſt vsus for our ſinnes. It is not therefore the Spaniſhe furniture and preparations: but the ſinnes within the land, that we are moſt of all to feare. For although the armie of the Spanyarde were conſumed with the arrowes of famine: although the contagious, and deuouring peſtilence had eaten them vp by thouſands: although their tottering ſhippes were diſperſed and carried away with the whirle-winde and tempeſt: although madnes & aſtoniſhment were amongſt them, from him that ſitteth in the throne, vntounto her that grindeth in the mil: although the lords reuenging ſword in the hand of the ſauage Turke had ſo preuailed againſt p. 106them, as it had left none in that vncircumciſed hoſt, but languiſhing and foyled men, notwithſtandinge a contēptible & withered remnant of the plague & famine: a nauie of winde and weather-ſhaken ſhips: a refuſe of feeble and diſcomfited men, ſhalbe ſufficiently able to preuaile againſt this land, vnleſſe an other courſe be taken for Gods glory in Wales by your Hh. then hitherto hath bene.

If I did ſpeake vntounto infidels and vngodly atheiſts, I know I ſhould not be ſo plaine, becauſe vntounto ſuch the trueth is at ſometimes vnſeaſonably ſpoken. But I ſpeake vntounto your Hh. that hauehave vndertaken the profeſſion of Chriſtianitie, and therefore ſhoulde be at all times fit to heare the trueth of your God. And I know no temporizing trueth, no temporiſing iudgements of God againſt ſinne, no trueth that is to be concealed vntounto Chriſtians, becauſe their Hh. cannot brooke the ſame, no trueth my LL that is, either not at all, or minſinglye not to bee vttered, becauſe ſtates louelove not to heare thereof. So that I was in this matter, not to conſider what your high places were content to hear but what was the dutie of your high places to heare. And therefore I ſhould thinke it, I proteſt an vndutifull and flattering petition, to intreat your Hh. not to be offended with me, for vttering the trueth. As though I ſuppoſed you woulde thinke it wonderfull that a man ſhould aduenture to ſpeake euen in the cauſe of his GOD, anye farther then ſtood with your good liking.

I know the infirmities & wants of men that deal in good cauſes, are commonly beaten vponupon the bak of the cauſe they handle. Therefore the Lord knoeth how carefull I hauehave beene to keepe it vnſpotted, and my ſelfe out of all vnneceſſary daunger. Setting p. 107downe nothing before I had weighed what might enſue, either in regard of the mater, or maner of deliuery. This I am aſſured, that in the whole woorke, there is nothing whereby any law of the land canne take holde of me. But why did I publiſh a matter of ſuche waight, before I acquainted your Hh. therewith? Grant the pitition, & I will redeeme mine overſight heerein, (if it can be prooued any, which I know to be none) with the loſſe of my life: if you do not meane to yeeld vntounto it, neither would you hauehave done it being mooued thervnto by priuate writing. The cauſe I make known; to the end it may be granted, and herein let not my life be precious vntounto me, vponupon the neceſſity of the publiſhing thereof I ſtand: bicauſe that the world maye ſee, when you redreſſe thoſe things, that you did nothing, which you durſt leaue vndone, vnleſſe you would hauehave brought ſwift deſtruction vponupon your ſelues, and the whole lande. But what folly is it to think, that ſuch great matters in our daies wil be reformed? Rather what iniury do they to your Hh. that thinke you will countenance any longer the breache of Gods lawes. And in this point let the good opinion, that they which aleadge ſuch pretences conceiue, be weighed with my dutifull perſwaſions of your Hh. and both our cauſes iudged accordingly. For mine own part, I thinke the maieſty of the cauſe to be ſuch, as they who are the lords, dare not but entertaine it, & tremble to think that all this while it hath bene ſo careleſly attended vponupon. And it is in the behalf therof, that I hauehave preſumed to deale with you, who other-wiſe durſt not hauehave ſuffered my voice to be hard in the ears of the rulers of my people. Let what I hauehave written be examined, yea by mine aduerſaries them ſelues, (if I hauehave anye) and it ſhall appeare that I hauehave made a p. 108conſcience how I hauehave dealt with my ſuperiours, eſpecially thoſe concerning whome it is ſaid, you are gods, leaſt I ſhould ſeeme to leaue behinde mee the leaſt print, of a minde in anye ſorte tending to diffame them or their gouernment. As I hauehave beene carefull herof: ſo let the Lord, yea and no otherwiſe, (which I ſpeake as far as my corruptions do permit) graunt this cauſe and my ſelfe alſo if it be his wil, fauour in your eies. Indeede in regarde of the cauſe I commandatory wiſe vntounto your Hh. but in regard of my ſelfe, I come in feare and trembling, as vntounto the lords vice-gerents, entreating moſt humbly, that the dignitie of ſo worthy a cauſe be thought off, nothing the more diſhonorably: becauſe it is brought in my hands. And I proteſt, in reſpect of my ſinnes, that the Lord may iuſtly denie it the fauor it deſerueth in your eies, bicauſe I am a dealer therein. But this ſhould be no cauſe why your Hh. ſhould giuegive it a repulſe. For in the eies and ears of al the world I make it known, that it is the cauſe of the liuing god, wherein I deale, and that if it had beene poſſible for me to hauehave written more humbly & dutifully, I had done it. Or if I had ſeene any way, that might hauehave bene likelier to preuail with my ſuperiors then this courſe: I take the Lord to record vntounto my ſoul, that I would not hauehave vſed this. And I would to GOD I could tell how to make the cauſe plaucible. So far I am from ſetting down any thing, that might carrie with it any ſhew of occaſion to hinder and diſgrace the ſame. Well, I hauehave done my endeuour: the ſucceſſe I expect at the lords hands, vntounto whom I commend the cauſe, and the ſaluation of that pore people.

The ſworde of iuſtice (reached vntounto you by the Lord himſelfe, to take puniſhment of him only that p. 109is anaaRom 13.4.Rom 13:4 euil doer, I fear not: becauſe I hauehave not offended. If it ſhould be drawn againſt me, for this action the preſident wold be ſuch as they, who ment hereafter to propheſie vntounto your Hh. might be aduiſedly counſelled,bbMicha. 2.6.Mic 2:6 not to prophiſie, & the Lord as a token of your iuſt deſtruction to enſue, would ſay they ſhal not propheſie nor take ſhame. If I hauehave ſpoken any vntruth, beare witneſſe thereof, if a truth, I dare by the lords aſſiſtance ſtand to it, and demand what he is, that wil preſume to obiect, and throw himſelfe vntounto the vengeance of God, by puniſhing me an innocent? The Lord may for my other ſinnes, bring mine head vntounto the graue with bloud: but in this cauſe, what hauehave I offended? and therfore vndoubted woe will betide him that ſhall moleſt me for this worke, Howſoeuer it be, thus I hauehave performed a dutye towardes the Lorde, and his church, my countrey and your Hh. which I would doe if it were to be done againe, though I were ſure to endanger my life for it. And be it known. that I am not afraid of earth in this cauſe. And if I periſh, I periſhe, my comfort is that I know whether to go, and in that day, wherin the ſecreats of all hearts ſhabe manifeſted, the ſinceritie of my cauſe alſo ſhall appeare. It is enough for mee that howſoeuer I be miſerable in regard of my ſins, yet vntounto Chriſt, I both liue and die, and purpoſe by his grace, if my life ſhould be prloonged to liue herafter, not vntounto my ſelf, but vntounto him & to his church, otherwiſe then hithertoo I hauehave doone. The Lorde is able to raiſe vp thoſe that are of purer hands and lippes then I am to ſpeake and write in the cauſe of his honor in Wales, & the Lord make them, whoſoeuer they ſhalbe neuer to be wanting vntounto ſo good a cauſe, the which becauſe it may be the Lordes pleaſure, I ſhall leaue them behinde me in the worlde, I p. 110earneſtly and vehemently commende vntounto them as by this my will and teſtament: And hauehave you pore Wales in remembraunce, good my Lordes, by eſtabliſhing the word preached there, that the bleſſing of many a ſaued ſoule therein, may follow her maieſtie, and your Hh. ouertake you, light vponupon you, and ſticke vntounto you for euer. The eternall God giuegive hir Maieſtye and your Hh. the honour of building hys church in Wales, multiply the daies of hir peace ouer vsus, bleſſe hir and you, ſo in this life, that in the life to come the inheritance of the kingdom of heauen may be hir and your portion. ſo be it good Lord.

Were my dutifull heart towards your Hh. throughly knowen, then I doubt not, but I ſhould bee better knowen vntounto you then by my name.

IOHN PENRI.

TO THE READER.

Maſter D. SOMES booke was publiſhed this day, I hauehave read it. The man I reuerence from my heart as a godly and learned man. The reaſons he vſeth againſt me, in the queſtions of the reading miniſtrie, and communicating with them, I had aunſwered as you may ſee in this booke before he had written. They are faultie, either becauſe they deſire that for graunted which is the queſtion, or make thoſe things of like nature, wherein there is a great diſſimilitude, as the arguments drawen from the magiſtracie and the Leuiticall Prieſthood. I hauehave anſwered thē. The cauſe, & the reuerence I owe vntounto the man, though the reaſons he vſeth, deſerue not to be twiſe read ouer) will enforce me to anſwere him at large. There be certaine faults eſcaped in the print, beare with them.

End of the text · John Penry, Exhortation Unto Governors and People in Wales (1588)