Against the Outward Apparel and Ministering Garments of the Popish Church, Letter 1
¶ To all my faithful brethren in Chriſt Ieſu and to all other that labour to weade out the wedes of popery, Peace in the Lorde Ieſu be with you, and make you perfite in all good workes to doe his will, working in you that which is pleaſant in his ſight, through Ieſus Chriſt our Lord.
DEare Brethren,
becauſe we are creatid for gods glory the edification one of another in Chriſt, and are bounde to ſerue thervnto by wealthe or woo, lyfe or death, and cheifly, they to whom God hauehave geuen the greter gyftes, and whom he hath callyd to higher romes, are moſte bounde to be zelous for gods glory with godly zelouſie to profyt the churche and ſponſe of Chriſte vnderunder their charge, and that by no ſubteltye as the Apoſtel warnithe, they ſhulde be corrupted from the ſymplicitie of Chriſt: therfore there is no doubt of your good zealle and diligence. My good fathers & deare brethren, who at firſt callid to the battel, to ſtriue for gods glory and the edification of his people, againſt the Romiſh reliques and rages of Antichriſt, I doubt not but that you wyl coragiouſlye and conſtantlye in Chriſt, rape at theſe rages of Gods enemyes, and that you will by this occaſion race vp many as grete enormites that we all know, & labore to race out all the dregges & remnants of tranſformid popery, that are crept into England, by to much lenite of them that wylbe namid the Lordes of the cleargie: what is he that hath the zeale of gods glory before his face, that wyl not ioyne both in prayer, and in ſufferinge with you, in ſo good a cauſe, that is ſo much for gods glory, and the edificacion of gods church, in the pure ſimplicite of Chriſtes word & ſacramentes, wherin our enemies and perſecutours are ſtrangely bewitchid. I wote not by what Circes cupe, that they do make ſuche a diuerſite betwixt Chriſtes worde & his ſacramentes, that they can not thinke the worde of God ſafelye ynoughe preachid, & honorably inough handlyd, without cap, cope, ſurplis. But that the ſacraments the maryinge, the buryinge, the churching of wemen, & other church ſeruice, as they call it, muſte nedes be decored with croſſinge, with capping, wt ſurpleſſing, with knelinge, with preti wafer cakes, and other knackes of poperi. O Paule that thou were a lyue, thou durſt tell thoſe politike gentelmen, that ther hath bin to much laboure beſtoued vponupon them in vaine, thou durſte ſay vntounto them, as thou dideſt to ye Corinthians, that they eat not the Lordes ſupper, but pley a pagent of their owne to blynde the people, and kepe them ſtill in ſuperſticion, fare from the ſymplicite of Chriſtes ſupper: but howe many ſely ſowles is ther that dothe beleue veryly, that they hauehave an Engliſh maſſe, and ſo put no difference betwene truth & falſhod, betwene Chriſt and antichriſt, betwene God and the deuell, they are ſtrangely bewitched. I ſay that thus wyll bynde theyr Englyſhe preſthode & ſacraments, but muche more enchauntid that can fynd no garments to pleaſe them. But ſuch as hauehave ben polutid openly with popiſhe ſuperſticion & Idolatry, but moſt of all in this point ſhall theyr madnes apere to all poſterites, that they make theſe Antichriſtian rages Cauſam ſine qua non, that is, a cauſe without which ther is no holy miniſtery in Chriſt, ſo that this ſhall make an Englyſhe preſte, be he neuer ſuche a dolt or vnlearnid in the knouledge of the ſcripture as we hauehave very manye, and without theſe romiſſhe reliques not Paule hym ſelfe ſhalbe admittid (as one of them dyd blaſpheme & the reſt of them in effecte do affirme) well agaynſte ſuche popiſhe chaffer and popery, hathe byne longe agone foughten withe all, when the gret captaines of that religion lyuyd, and yet God gaue the victory. Therfor let vsus not fear now, although it doth begine to ſture agayn, for ther is no craft, conuinge, counſell, wyſdom, or policy againſt the Lord. We hauehave Chriſt & hys Apoſtells & the Prophetes euer ſtryuing agaynſt the Ipocrites of their time on our ſyde: a ſtrau for popiſhe polici we hauehave the worde of God to warant vsus, to rote out al monuments of ſuperſticion and Idolatry, & are charged to abhor them, to accompt them, accurſed, and to defy them, and to deteſt them as menſtreous clowtes, they hauehave not the worde of God for them. And what wyſdom is in them, ſayth god by his Prophet Ieremi, they talke of obedience & concorde, but ther is no obedience againſt the Lorde, no nor concorde to be deſired, but wher gods glory and verite is preſerued, Els better to hauehave al the worlde in hurly burleis, and heauen & earth to ſhake, then one ioyte of gods glory ſhulde decaie. So far forth as in vsus leithe, we hauehave theyr owne lawes and proclamacious, to rote out all monuments of ſuperſticion and Idolatrye, & theyr oune wordes are contrarye to theyr doinges. Yt ſhulde apere that they repent their reformacion proclamid, as did ye Iſralites, they buylde agayn that which ons they hauehave diſtroied and this is done openlye that all the worlde may wonder, and behold: but what is done ſecretlye, god wyll one daye hauehave it declarid openly, ye they make the name of god & this doctrine that we profeſſe to be euell ſpoken of alredy. By many of theyr doinges, theyr iudgement haſteth that for ſuch cauſes perſecute Gods true preachers. Wherfor let vsus not feare theyr threteninges, ther can none perſecute the godly for this cauſe & traſſhe. but ether ſuch as are nether hote nor colde and then they ſhalbe vomyted out vnleſſe their zeale encreaſe, or ſuch as hauehave no God before their eies, whoſe god is their bellie, or els open papiſts, whom god hathe geuen vp to a reprobate ſenſe, wherfore we muſt thus take it, that they ar gods rodds for oure ſinnes, becauſe we hauehave not ben more zelous in Gods cauſe, nether carefull to ſeke his glorye, that wolfe Wyncheſter & blodie bucher Bonar fought once againſt many godli men for the grounde of this gere, and thei had all the power of the Realme ſeruinge theyr luſtes, but beholde how the Lorde in ſhort time ouerthrew them al, to giuegive vsus coradge to go forwarde, the Lord forgeue vsus, we ar to ſlacke and neglygent in heauenly thynges, this monſter Bonar remainithe and is fed as papiſts ſay, for their ſakes, & it muſt be grauntyd, it is for ſome purpos, althoughe he be a traytor and an enemi to the crowne and realme, and bothe to God and man, whiche brunnid godes holy teſtament, murderid his ſaintes and his ſervātes. But what the Lord requyrith to be done wythe falſe Prophetes it is manyfeſt: we hauehave bothe the lawe of god & man for vsus, But we ar anſwerid nay, you your ſealues ſhalbe compellid to turne your coates and cappes, and get you into his leueris, and to be lyke him in your garments. O Elyas that thou lyuedſte, or that thy ſpyrit weare amongſt vsus, thou woldeſt ſay with the Prophet Sophoni, that God will vyſit the werears of this Idolatours garmentes or ſtrange aparell, thou woldeſt ſay, that thinges dedicatid once to idolatry, is not indifferent, thou woldeſt ſay reuerence to the ſacramēt is wrought by doctrine and diſcipline, and not by popiſſhe & Idolatours garments, thou woldeſt ſaye, what decency can ther be gaynyd to the ſacramēts, by that which hath byn deuiſyd & vſyd to deface it, if the golde ordeinyd by god for the reuerence and decenci of the Iewes temple, is not to be admittyd to beutify the churche of Chriſte, much leſſe copes brought in by papiſtes the enemyes of god, and alwayes continwyd in their ſeruice as ornamētes of their religion in no wyſe ought of vsus Chriſtians to be retaynid. But the papiſtes triumphe and glori in their aſſembles, that the hote goſpelars ſhalbe driuen to their doltiſhe attires, for the Lords ſake let vsus neuer giuegive them any cauſe of Ioye, thoughe we ſhoulde dye for yt: Moyſes wold not yelde on hoofe of a beſte in gods buſines, he wolde not leue the loupe vnmade nor make a button or a claſpe more or leſſe. Eleaſar will not decemble by eatynge of vnlawfull meates the faythfull Iſralites wolde not receyue ſo muche as an yui buſhe. Contrariwyſe Orygen caryinge a braunche and profeſſynge, that he bare it for Chriſt at the firſt. But was afterwarde compellid to open Idolatry, ſo curſid a thing it is to geue any place to the wicked: all the papiſtes that ſaye, they worſhip Chriſt in the croſſe, and God in the ſacrament, do ſtill vnderunder theſe wordes continew ſtill in their Idolatri, beware of deceitfull wordes, that couer wickid purpoſes, to drawe vsus from Chriſtiā ſymplicite. Let vsus ſtand conſtantly agaynſte all abuſes, and repent for our former coldnes in religion, and our ſynnes, and call for healpe from aboue, for the hand of the Lorde is not ſhortenid: we ar aſſured that we ſeke Gods glory, and our aduerſaries may ſee, yf they can ſe any thinge, that this thinge that they ſeke is not for gods glory, ſeing the papiſtes the enemyes of God, doe ſo deſyre yt and glory in yt. And reioyſe, that we, whom they moſt hate, cannot be ſafe but vnderunder their garments: we ar aſſurid that we ſeke godes glory in folowinge Chriſt his Apoſteles and Prophets. who euer diſpiſed theſe phariſaicall outward faces and viſures, Chriſte fyndethe fault withe the garmentes of the phariſeis. Paule counteth all his phariſaicall, ſhew to be donge. Zachari ſaithe, that the falſe Prophet ſhalbe aſhamed of his prophecye, and forſake his garments wherin he deceyuid. & ſhal the true Prophetes be fayne to crepe into their coules? for by the ſame autorite may be comaundid any peace of popery, ſo that it be namyd policie. Ezechias and Ioſias knew no ſuche aucthoritie, but they ſay: It is for policie, For it plainly apearithe that ther is leſſe care for religion, then for policie. But beware that the example of Ieroboham be not folowed, that made ſuch like preſtes for policie as wolde do as he commaundid them. Achaz of policie brought the faſhion of an alter into Ieruſalem, as he ſawe at Damaſcus, where he had ouercome the Idolatours and their Idolls, but curſed was his policie, and ſo ar all they that wil retaine any thinge of their Idolatrie. Nabuchodonoſors Idoll was for vnitye and policie, but without the warraunt of gods worde, ther is neyther good vnitye nor police. The godlie father Bucer callithe the tenthes and the firſt fruites ſacriledge and roberie, they be kept ſtil for policie. Croſſe and candelſtickes at ſuperſticious, though they be kepte. I wot not for what policie the adoration of the Sacrament in the countres, where they knocke and knele to a wa…r cake is a popiſhe policie. That wemen baptiſe, that pluralites, tot quots impropriacions, non reſidence, deſpenſacions, ſuſpenſions, excomunications, & abſolucions, for money ar grauntyd, yt is evell, like as are many other inormites borowed from Rome, which remayne in the name of policie. All theſe thinges were abhorryd as popiſhe ſuperſticions, and Idolatries, amonge our goſpellers both biſhops & others, when they were vnderunder gods roddes in pouerte. But how thei now hauehave learnid courtely deuinite, to grounde all apon policie? Humble them agayne o Lorde, that they do not forget the, and thy great kindnes and merciemercy ſhewid apon them, and ſture vp their hartes and myndes, that they may be carefull ouer thy pore flocke. O Chriſte, whom thou haſt dearly bought, by this theyr policy ar blindid, & carithe for no more, but that thei may hauehave this ſuperſticious ſhew which is ſo ſtifely maintained. Let him mumble as he liſte, yf he be thus apparelid, al his ſeruice is well ynough, otherwyſe yt is nothing worthe. Thus cauſe you them to periſhe by your polices, for whome Chriſt hathe dyed. further more, yf poperi be ſuperſtitious and idolatrous, evel and wicked, as yet therwas neuer a worſe thinge in the worlde, then ar we commaunded to abſteine from all participatiō therof, and from all the ſhewe therof ab omni ſpecie mali, that is, from all ſhewe of wickidnes. Theſe garments were the ſhewe of their blaſphemous preiſthod, herein they dyd ſinge and ſaye their ſuperſticious idolatrous ſeruice, they dyd ſence their Idolls and healpe forwarde theyr Idolatrous maſſes, what policie can it be then to weare this gere. But a ſuperſticious wickid and popiſhe policie, they doe it for policie, they ſaye, that their prieſtes may be knowen and magnified of men. Dyd not the Phariſies vſe the ſame policie, to doe all their workes and make all their garmentes bothe Philacteris vponupon their headdes, and their wide and ſyde robes and borders, that they might be more expectable, and notorious to the people? but their woo is thretenid aboue al other ſinners. To ſuche ypocrites, as beinge voyde of all true holynes, delite in all outward ſhewes, theyr curſe is moſt inculcate, their polyci is that ye preiſtes ſhall weare white in the churches to ſignify their vertue, their purenes, and holines. and when they go fourth of the church they muſt weare blacke gownes and blacke hornes, for cōtrary polycies, and for dyuers ſignificacions, Our maſter Chriſtes polycie was expreſſyd in one worde, fede, fede, fede. and the Prophetes before, and the Apoſtelles afterwarde, yf Chriſte be the wyſdome of the father, the true miniſters ſhalbe well inough knowen, by that one marke which he geueth: and yf that he hauehave not that marke better vnknowen then knowen, both for him ſelfe and others, therfore lett them not ſaye for ſhame, that they ſeeke gods glorie, Chriſtes wil, or the edification of his church, by their polycie. Whyles they thretē & ſtope the ſpredinge of gods worde and fedinge of Chriſtes flocke, cōmandyd by writing to excōmunicate the moſt faithful laborers in the planting of the goſpell, becauſe thei will not weare the rages of popery, to expulſe ye moſt valiant ſoldiars agaynſt the Romiſhe Antichriſt, the moſt earneſt ouerthrowars of the kyngdom of ſatan, which ſtandith in ſin and blindnes. O beware you, that wilbe Lordes ouer the flockes, that you be not ſore punyſhed for your pryde, towardes your brethren, and your cowardlines in gods cauſe, that for Princes pleaſures and pompoſe liuinges, do turne poperi into policie, and to become our perſecutors vnderunder the cloke of policie: it were better to loſe your liuings, then to diſpleaſe god in perſecutinge of youre brethren, & hinder the courſe of the worde. But as oure deutie is, we wyll praye for you, and for all our brethren in the miniſteri, that god of his grace would graunte vsus more zeale for his glorie, than any of vsus hathe had heretofore, more deſire to edifie, Chriſtes people in pure ſimplicite, to preſent them a chaſt virgin vntounto Chriſt then hitherto hathe apeared, that when the he deſhepherde ſhall cal to accounte, we be not aſhamyd. But beinge founde perfecte in all good workes, may receiue the crowne prepared, as for you deare brethren whome God hath callyd into the brunte of the batell, The Lorde kepe ye conſtant, that ye yelde nether to tolleracion, nether to anye other ſubtelte perſuaſions of diſpenſacions, or lycences which were to fortifie their Romiſhe practiſes. but as you fyght the Lords fyght, be valiant. God will not leue you, nether forſake you, as you ſeke gods glorye, god wyll glorifye you, and as by you Chriſtes church is edifyed, comfortid and confirmid in Chriſtian ſimplycite, ſo ſhall you receyue comfort by Chriſte your heede captaine, when you ſhalbe callyd to geue acomptes of your ſtewardſhippes, and to be rewardyd for your fidelite, the matter is not ſo ſmalle as the worlde do take yt, yt wyll appeare before all be endyd, what an harde thinge it is, to cut of the rages of the Hidra of Rome, it is beutifull, but poyſonful, ther is no daling with ſuch a mounſter, beware of lokyng backe to Sodome or delyght anye witte in the garments of Babilone, neyther once touche the poyſonid cupe, though yt be of golde or gliteringe. Let vsus repent of our former ſynnes vnfaynidlye, and then ſhall we abhor and ſtamp vnderunder our fette theſe rages, that were apoyntid to ſuperſticion and idolatry, Let vsus hate the blaſphemous preaſthode, ſo iniurious to Chriſtes preiſthode, that eueryevery pache and token of it be in execration, deteſtation, and accurſed, and take no parte of yt vponupon our heddes nor backes, leaſt we be accurſed as it is. Let vsus not make the heritage of god as a byrde of many colours, holdinge of diuers religions, Let vsus not mixte the Iewes with the gentills, let vsus not in no wiſe mixt this our religion with any thinge of Antichriſt, let vsus not confyrme the blinde in their blindnes, neyther the weacke in their ſuperſticion. But rather let vsus take awaye, if we can, the names, memories, and all monumēts of poperye and that Antichriſtes prieſthood. Let vsus open our wyndous with Daniel, and profeſſe what we ar: their cruelte ſhalbe our glorie. Let vsus followe Paull, that knew that the truthe goſpel cold not be retainyd, if any Iewiſhe cerimonies were mayntainyd. Lett vsus rather neuer weare anye garment, then we ſhould weare thoſe, wherby our brethren ſhulde be weakened, offendyd or boldenyd to take parte with the idolatours, & ſo through our hautines in knouledge, oure weake brethren periſhe, for whom Chriſt died. Behold and marke well, how they falle backwarde that yelde in anye iote, and ſe how they are edifyed, and increaſe in godlines, which holde that ryght waye that you goe in, the which the Lorde increaſe you, & vsus all, and ſtrenthen vsus with his holy ſpyrit, that we may continewe to oure lyues ende, al wayes both by our thoughtes, wordes, and workes, to avaunce his glorye and honor dayly more and more, now and for euer.
Amen.