A True Confession of the Faith, Title page – Preface
A TRVE CONFESSION OF THE FAITH, AND HVMBLE ACKNOVVLEDGMENT OF THE ALEgeance, vvhichwhich vvee hir Maiesties Subjects, falsely called Brovvnists, doo hould tovvards God, and yeild to hir Majestie and all other that are ouer vsus in the Lord. Set dovvn in Articles or Positions, for the better & more easie vnderstanding of those that shall read yt: And published for the cleering of our selues from those vnchristian slanders of heresie, schisme, pryde, obstinacie, disloyaltie, sedicion, &c. vvhichwhich by our adversaries are in all places given out against vsus.
wee beleeue therfore hauehave we spoken. 2 Cor. 4, 13.
But, who hath beleeued our report, and vntounto whom is the arme of the Lord reuealed? Isai. 53, 1.
M.D.XCVI.
To all that desire to feare, to louelove, & to obey our Lord Iesus Christ, grace, wisdom and vnderstanding.
THou canst not lightly bee ignorant (gentle Reader) what evills and afflictions / for our profession and saith towards God wee hauehave sustcined at the hands of our owne Nation: How bytterly wee hauehave been / an yet are / accused / reproched and persecuted wich such mortall hatred / as yf wee were the most notorious obstinate hereticks / and disloyall subiects to our gracious Queen Elizabeth / that are this day to bee found in all the Land. And therfore / besides the dayly ignominie wet susteine at the hands of the Preachers and Prophers of our tyme / who have given theyr tongnes the rems to spearke despightfully of vsus / wee hauehave been further miserably entreated by the Prelats and cheef of the Clergie:They shut … out lyv… in the Dung… they cast a stone vponupon vsus La…. 3.53. some of vsus cast into most vile and noysome prisons and dungcons / laden with yrons / and there / without all piti… / deteyned manie yeeres / no man remembring our affaction: vntill our God released some of vsus out of theyr cruell bands by death / as the Cities of Londō / Norwich / G…ocester / Bury / and manye other places if the land can testifie. Yet heere the malice of Satan stayed not it self / but raysed vp against vsus a more greevous persecution / even vntounto the violent death of some / and lamentable exile of vsus all;… 159…. April. 10. causing heavie decrees to come forth against vsus / that wee should forsweare our own Contrey & depart / or els bee slayne therin. This have our adversaries vsed / as their last and best argument against vsus / (when all other fayled) followinge the stepps of theyr bloody Prodecessors / the popish Priests and Prelats. Now therfore that the true cause of this their hostilitie & hard vsage of vsus may apppecre vntounto all men; wee hauehave at length amyds our manie doubles / through Gods favour / obteyned to publish vntounto the view of the world / … confession of our fayth & hope in Christ / and loyal harts / to wards our Prince / the rather to stop the mouths of impious and vnreasonable men / who have not ceased some of them / both openly in their Sermons & printed pamphlets / notoriously to accuse and defame vsus / as alsoo by all indirect meanes secretly to suggest the malice of their owne evill harts / therby invegling our soveraign Prince and Ru…s against vsus:aGen. 4. Num. 12. that when the true state of the controversie between them and vsus shalbe manifested / the christian (or but indifficent) Reader may iuge whether our adversaries hauehave not followed the way of Cain and a Balaam / to kill and curse vsus Gods sernants without cause. For if in this our Confession appeere no matter …orthie such mortal immitie and persecution / then wee protest (good Reader) that / to our knowledge / they neyther hauehave cause nor colour of cause so to entreat vsus / the nayneand entire difference betwixt their Synagogs and vsus / beeing in these Ar…cles fully & wholly comprised.
An other motive inducing vsus to the publication of this our testimonie / is / the ru… estate of our poore Contrymen / who remayne yet fast locked in Egipt / that …ous of servants / in slavish subjection to strange LLs. & lawes / enforced to beare the burdens and intollerable yoke of their popish canons & decrees / beeing subiect every day they rise to*Arch B…. …. Bvs. Suffragan… / … / Deance / Arch. Deac… / Commissarics / Officials / Doctors / Proctor… / Registres / scribe… / Pute chants / Summon… / Subdeancs / chaplaines / Part …. daries / Cannons / P…i-Canons / …ospellers / pist… le … / Chant…s / Sub-chanters / Wergiers / …. …n-players / Qu…sters / Persons / Vicars / Curats / Stidendarics / Dagrant. Preachers / Priests / De …cons / or half Priests / Church wardens / Sidem… Collectors / Clerks / Se… tins. 38. antichristian ecclesiasticall offices / and manie mot Romish statutes and traditions / almost without number: besides their high transgression dayly in their vaine will worship of God / by reading over a few prescribed prayers and collects / which they hauehave translated verbatim out of the Mass-book / and which are yet taynted with man… popish hereticall errors and superstions / in stead of true spiratuall invocation vponupon the name of the Lord.
These and manie other greevous enormities are amongst them / not suffred only but with a high hand mainterned / and Gods servants / which by the powre of his word and Spirit witnes against & condemne such abhominations / are both they & their testimonie / reiected / persecuted & plasphemed. What a wofull plight then are such people in / how great is their iniquitie / how fearfull iudgments doo ab… them? wee have therfore / for their sakes / manifested this our Confession of … vowed obedience vntounto that Fayth which was once gyuen vntounto theaIude. 3. Daincts / wherby they may bee drawne (God shewing mercy vntounto them) vntounto the same faith and obedience with vsus / that they perish not in their sinnes. For how could wee behould so manie soules of our dear Contr…inen to dye before our eyes & wee ho… our peace? And wheras they have been hecrtofore greatly abused by their tymeserving Priests / beeing givē to vnderstād that wee were a dangerous people / holding manie errors / renting our selves from the tue Church / because of some m… mities in men / some falts in their worship / Ministerie / Church gouvernment / …. that wee were Donatists / Anabaptists / Brownists / Schismaticks / &c. these few leaves (wee trust) shal now cleere vsus of these and such like criminations / and satisfie anie godly hart / yea every reasonable man / that will but with an indifferent ear heare our cause. For wee have always protested / and doo by these presents testifie vn to all mē / that wee neyther our selves doo / neyther accompt it lawfull for others to seprate frō anie true church of Crist / for infirmities falts or errors whatsoever except their iniquitie bee come to such an heith / that for obstinatie they cease to be a true visible Church / and bee refused and forsaken of God.Conferences betwixt certeine Preachers and prysoners Marc. 1590. Discovercy of the false Church 1590. Refutaton of Mr. Gi…ed pryn…d. 1591. And for this their renowined Church of England / wee a have both by word and writing / proved it vntounto them to bee false and counterfeit / deceyving hir children with va… titles of the word / Sacraments / Ministerie &c. having indeed none of these in the ordinance and powre of Christ emongst them. They have been shewed / that the people in Their Parish-assemblies / neyther were nor are meet stones for Gods house / meet members for Christs glorious body / vntillb1 Peter. 1 / 23. Iohn. 3.3 they bee begotten by the seed of his word vntounto fayth / and renewed by repentance. Their generall irreligious profanne… ignorance / Atheisme and Machevelisine on the one side / & publique Idolitrie / vsuall blasphemie / swearing / lying / kylling / stealing / whoring / an… all maner of imptetie on the other side / cRevel. 21 / 27 2. Cor. 5 / 17. Ezech. 44 / 9. Act. 8 / 37.vtterly disableth them from beeing Citizens in the new Hierusalem / sonnes of God & heires with Christ and his Saints / vntill they become new creatures. Their slavish bondage vntounto the antichristian… tyrannous Prelats / whom they celibrate and honour as their Lords & rever…n Fathers spirituall / accepting their popish Canons and Iniunctions for laws … their Church / their marcked Priests / Preachers / Parsons / …ars &c. unlewe of Christs true Pastors and Teachers / running to their Courts and Confisterits at every summons &c. doo manifestdRom. 6.16. Mat. 6/24. Reue 13.16 / & 14.9.10. &…. whose servants they are / & to whom they yeeld their obedience. Their learned Ministerie even from the highest Arch-prelat to the lowest Vicare & half-Priest th…th been…by the powre of our Lord Iesus Christ-cast down into the smoky fornace of that pyt of bottomles dieptheSee Revel. 9.3. with their …une annotacation / vponthat place. 2. King. 16 / 10 11. &c. Reu. 13 / 14. from whence they arose / revealed by the light of his word / to bee strange / false / popish & antichristian / the very same / and no other then we…e hatched and advanced in their Metropolitane Sinagoge of Rome / from whence they have feched the very paterne and …ould of their Church / Ministerie / Service & Regiment / even the very expresse Character and image of that first wild beast of Italy / as all in whom an… sp…rk of true light is / may easely discerne. With mese and manie other lyke weightie arguments have wee pleaded against that our whorish mother / hir Priests and Pre…te / which as a heavie mylstone presseth hir down to hell:…pos. 1 / 2. for the vyalls of Gods wrathfull iudgments are powred vponupon them / which maketh them so to storme rage and curse / gna…ing their tongues for forrow & payne of these wounds / and not yet finding grace to repent of and turne from their sinnes.Men. 16 / 10. …. dIn Newgat… Mr. Crane a man about 60 yeers of age Richard Iacson / Thomas Stevens William …owton / The mas Drewe… / Iohn Swalter / Roger Ryppon / … bert …woburne / Scipio Bellot / Robert BowleIohn Barnes beeingsic / vntounto death / was caryed fort… depatred … …f. shortly … after. Mothor Menet of 60. yeers. … Roc of 60. yeers Mothes Tailont / Iudeth My…er. Margaret Farret-beeing …ch vntounto death was caried forth / and ended hir lyfs … a day or two after. Iohn Purdy in B…dw…l. Mr. Denfordin the Gatehouse about 60. yeers of age. Father Debnham in the white-lyon about 70. yeers / George Bryty in Counter woodstreet. …enry Tho… sō in the … Iohn Chandice in the Count. Pou… …y / beeing sick vntounto death was carryed forth & dyed within few dayes. Waltar Lanc in the Fleet. Thomas …bewet in Countee Woodstreet.For when wee have proclamed this our testimonie against them / how have they behaved themselves / but as savage beasts renting and tearing vsus with their teeth / never daring to come vntounto the triall of the word of God / eyther by free wryting or conference / but greedily hunting after Christs poore lambes / and so manie as they could get into their pawes / misvsing their bodyes with all exqvisite tyrannie in long and lamentable emprisonment / bedsies despight and reproches without mesure. So that through their barbarous crueltie*Och that they were wise / then would they vnderstend this… …ey would consider their later end. Deut. 32.9. 24. soules have penshed in their prisons / with in the Cittie of London only / (besides other places of the Land) & that of late yeeres. Manie also have they / by their immamtie / caused to blaspheme and forsake the hath of our glorious Lord Iesus Christ / and many mo they terrifie and keep from the same. For all this / yet were not these savage men satisfied / though blood in abonndance ran out of their wyde mouths / but they procured certeine of vsus (after name yeeres emprisonment) to be indighted / arrayned / condemned and hanged as scious / (how vniustly / thou Lord iust and true knowest) Henry Barrow / Iohn Greenwood (and Iohn Penry) whose perticular examinations / araignments and maner of execution / with the circumstances about them / if thou didst truly vnderstand (gentle Reader) it would make thy hart to bleed / considering their vnchristi…and vnnaturall vsage. About the same tyme they executed also one william Deus / at Thetford in Northfolke / and long before they kylled two men / at Bury in …uffol… / Coppyn and Elias / for the like testimonie. Others they deteyne in their …ysons to this day / who looke for the like measure at their mercelesse hands / yf God in mercye release them not before. Our God (wee trust) will one day rayse by an other Iohn For / to gather and compile the Actes and Monuments of his later Martyrs / for the vew of posteritie / tho yet they seem to bee buryed in obli…ion / and sleep in the dust. Then will this last infernall Cergie alsoo appeere in their proper colours / and befound nothing inferiour to their bloody predecessours …poysoned mal…ce and and tyrannie but rather even to exceed them / in regard of the tyme. Alas for our poore Contreye / that it should bee so againe defiled with the blood of the scients / which cryeth lowde from vnderunder the Altar / and speaketh no leter things for it / then did the blood ofaGen. 4…10. Habel. Needs must the righteons Lord referue a scarfull vengeance for such a Land / and make it an example to all Natons / yf speedely they …urge not thewselnes by notable repentance. But oh how far are they from this / which harden their …arts against vsus / as did the Egiptians / and cease not to add vntounto their formor iniquities / still pursuing vsus with their accusio…ed hatred / who seeke the welfare of their soules / & Offer them the things which concerne t…eir peace / which they refuse. Thy peace o England hat hoorought thy …oe / and thy long prosperitie / thy ruin / thou hast been fat…thou hast waxed grosse / thy hart is covered / thow hast forsaken the God that made thee…and despised the rock of thy falvation / thy sinnes have reached vp to Heaven / & God hath remembred thine iniquities to gyue vntounto thee according to thy worcks. Behold / the tempest of the Lord is gon forth with wrath / the wirle winde that hangeth over …ll light vponupon the heads of the wicked / the indignation of the Lords wrath shall not returne vntill hee hane doon / and vntil hee hane performed the intents of his hart: In the later dayes thow shait vnderstand it. • Our God shew mercy to them that are his in thee / and hastely draw them out of the fire / that they perish not … …hy sinnes. And most af all wee are sorie for our dread sovereigne Queen / whom …ee hauehave alwayed loved / reverenced and obeyed in the Lord that shee should so bee …awn by the subtle suggestion of the Prelats to smyte hir faithfullest subieers having hir finger so deep in the blood of Gods children / wherby shee hath not only befiled hir precious soule in the eyes of hir God / but also brought an evill name vponupon h…r meck and peaceable Government heere on Earth / in all Nations rown about hir who doo with greef behold that Land to persecute and waste true Christians now which was erewhiles an harbour and refuge for Christians perse… ted in other places. But as wee are verily perswaded that hir Ma…s. clemenc… hath been much abused by the wretched vnconcionable false reports and instiga… ons of the Priests / so will wee not cease (though wee bee exiled hir Dommions) with fervent harts to desier hir Nighnesse prosperitie & pray that hir sinnes ma… bee forgiven hir / lamenting that Gods benefits / and great d…yverances / should … foone of hir bee for gotten / & so ill requited / by this hard vsage of his poore servants for his fave. And if shee proceed in this course / alas how shall shee ever bee able t… behold the face of hir God with comfort? wherfore our soules shall weep in secret for hir / and wee will not ce…se to pray the Lord to shew hir mercy / and open hir eyes before shee dye. And lykewuse for those honorable Peeres hir grave Councellors / who also have consented to this our hard measure / although our innocencie hath been sufficiētly manifested vntounto the cōsciēces of some of the cheefest of thē / our humble request is / that they in the scare of God may weigh their proceedings against vsus / & remēber their accompt that they shall shortly make vntounto the Iudge of hea… and earth / where Christ will reckon vntounto them al the tribulations of his poore despised members on earth / as if they had been inflicted vponupon his own glorious person / and will render reward accordingly.…at. 10.40. … & 25.44.45. The Lord giuegive them true wisdome / th… they may learne / at last / to kisse the Soone before hee bee angry / and they prrish in the way.Psal. 2.10. As for the Priests and Preachers of the land / they / of all other me… / hauehave bewrayed their notable hypocrisie / that standing erewhile against the English Romish hierachie / and their popish abhominations / hauehave now so redely submytted themselves to the Beast and are not only content to yeeld their canonicall obedience vntounto him / and receiue his mark but in most hostile maner oppose and s…t themselues against vsus / not ceasing to add vntounto our aflictions / scorning and reviling vsus / and alienating the mynds of manie … …pic harted people / whoe are (wee doubt not) iuchnable enough vntounto the truth / were it not that these their lying Proph…s did strengthen their hands / that they may not returne from their wicked wayes / by promising them lyfe and peace / where no peace to. These hauehave long busic… themselues in seeking out new shifts and cavills to turne away the truth / which presseth them so sore and hauc at last been dryven to palpable & grosse absurditie… / seeking to dawbe vp that ruinous antichristian muddy Wall / which themselves d… once craftily vnderunder mine. And heerin wee report vsus to the learned discourses of Do. Robert Some / and Mr. Gistard who hauehave so refereed their wrytings with reproches / slanderous vntruths / and false collections on the one side / and manifest digressions / shiftings & turnings from the state of the question in hand / on the other side / as wee think the lyke presidents can hardly be shewed in anie wrytings of controversie in these t…es and specially Mr. Gistards last answere / which (… secmeth) hee did in haste: wherin … boyes play / in skipping over many whol leaves of …s abversaries booke / (leaving thē both vnanswered & vntouched) hee hath so wisely caryed hunself in those tuings winch hee professeth to answere as a man afrayd once to come neers the battel and mayne coutroversie in hand / run…ing our into vaine and frutlesse excursories / never approving by the word of God t… places and offices of his Lords the Prelats / with their retinue / Courts / Ci…n… &c. neither the publick … ministerie or people of this their Church of England. Fro bee knew well … adve…aries were fast locked & wa…hed in pry…o… from wryting anie more / and their books intercepted / so that few men could ame to the brew of them: Hee might therfore deale as hee lysted himself for as own best ad vantage / and be are the people in hand that hee had confuted his Brownists and Donatists / for the prynt was as free for him / as the close pryson or them. But God (wee trust) will give meanes one day / that some things / …ch as yet are hid / shall come to light. In the meane tyme / thow for thy satis…ing (Christian Reader) examin the mans wrytings / and see how hee hath an…ered vntounto these criminations / or purged his Church of them. Look what scrip…es hee hath brought for defence of his spirituall Lords / their places and proce…gs / their Courts / Cannons / Dignities / &c. what warrant in Christs Testa…ent hee hath found for his service-booke and all the abhominable rites therin… his Angelies / Saincts and Lady days / popish Fastes / Lent / Embers and …ves: How hee hath approved their English missall Prayers / Letanie / Collects …d Trentalls / their mar…ng / burying / churching of women / wretched abuse of …th Sacraments / their Romish Goss…pps / hollowed Font / Crosse / inchanted Collects / their processions / bishopping of children / and a thowsand such like trnm…es / which were all blamed vntounto him. Yea / come vntounto their own Ministeric / & …hold from whence hee hath fetched the genealogie of those Anakims and horned …ds of the Beaste. Arch bbs. Lord bbs. Deanes / Arch-Deacons / Chancel…s / &c. or of their Mr. Parson / Vicar / Curat / and the rest of that rabit: How …e opproveth their offices / ellections / callings / entrāce / ad…umst… ations / Bishop…ks / Dcanries / Prebends benefices / &c. by the ordinance of our Lord Iesus in … newe TestamentfMat. 18.…. …eb. 1.2. Eph. 4. … 13. Gal. …. 10. left vntounto his Church to the worlds end.
These are some of the innumerable abhominations / wherwith wee charged …rr Church / which they must eyther …ustifie by Gods word / or cleere their Church of them. Now hee that findeth not these things approved in his wryings / …ay easely perceiue how hee hath uever medled with the mayne coutroversie be…een vsus. Wherfore eyther let him dischardge …ns Church of these accusations / …ne must wee and all Gods children still by the powre of the word of God con…ne them / and send home againe these Rounsh wares into the Land of Shinar … whence they came / and the Lord that condemneth them is a strong God.Zach. 5.1….
On the other side wee desire thē that they wold shew vsus by the Scriptures …r errors wherwith they chardge vsus / & for which they thus hate vsus / what they …oue in our Doctrine or practise. As for our selves / wee protest with simple …ts in the presence of God / and his holy Angelles / vntounto al men / that wee doo … wittingly & willingly mātame anie one error against the word of truth (though …ee doubt not but as all other men wee are liable to error / which our God wee …st will in mercy forgiue vntounto vsus / ) but hold the grounds of Christian Religion …th all Gods antient Churches in Iudea, Rome, Corinth, Ephesus, Gala…a, Pontus, Cappadocia, Asia and Bythinia, and with all faythfull people at his day in Germanie, France, Scotland, the Lovv-Contries, Bohemia, Watmande of Confect.… other Christian Churches rownd about vsus / whose con…essions published wee … heere to wytnes the sinceritie of our aith / and our agreement and vnitie with …em in the points of greatest moment and controversie between vsus and our adver…ies. And wheras our Preachers were wont to tell vsus / that their Church …deth the foundation and substantiall grounds of Rilligion / Faith in God and Iustification by Christ alone / &c. and therfore / norwithstanding their wants and …ruptions / they had the essence / lyfe and beeing of a true people of God: wet …ust now they will let vsus that make the lyke plea / find the lyke favour / & accompt … as a true Cougregation of Christ / and blaspheme vsus no longer by the names of Broswnists / Donalists / Anabaptists / Schismaticks &c. for will they slay th… that Christ gyveth lyfe vntounto? shall profession of faith saue them / and shall yt… vsus lykewise / that make the same profession? Or yf theytake exception at our… let them shew what one truth they hold / wher in wee agree not with thē / or wh… good thu…g they have in practice / that wee do not the sainew. et worship the tru… God in spirit and truth / having his word truly taught / his Sacraments right administred (at such tyme as our God douchafeth vsus the meanes for administration of thē at all:)Tho… Lord preparest a table before vsus in sight of one adversaries Psal. 23.5. That ministerie of Pastors, Teachers / Elders / Deacons / … which they somtymes stood for / wee (through Gods great mercy) obteyned th… before their faces / which they yet never did. That government of Christ by… own lawes / ordinances / & holy cenfures (which they call Discipline) wee fa… fully obey and execute:gBee. ….41. receiving into our societie all that with faith and re… tance come vntounto vsus willingly:hMat. 18.8.17 / …. Cor. 5.4.5 / Tit 3.10. Rom. 16.17. casting out againe / and removing by the powre… our Lord Iesus Christ all notorious & obstinate sinners / hereticks / schismatick… or wicked lyvers whosoever / without respect of persons. Only wee reiect the… bominable Romish reliques which they yet retein and mainteine / to the high… honour of God. And for the sinnes wherwith wee charge them / they are so app… rant / as even our forest addersarie somtymes confessed and complayned of them… that in great measure openly / muchmore secretly emongst themselves / as is… known. But let vsus heare themselves speak / as they have published in prynt to the view of the world. Of their people / the members of their Church they gyve this commendation.
… Dialogue of the Ocife of their Chu…ch Page. 99.The greaeest multitude, by many partes doo not vnderstand the Lords prayer, the ten Commandements, or the articles of the faith,… the Doctrine and vse of the Sacraments, in anie competent measu… There bee thou vvsands, which bee men & vvoemen grovvne, vvhichwhich if a man aske them bow they shalbee saued, they cannot tell. Are not these meet stones now for gods bous? …1. Pet. 2.5.9. Heb. 8.11.As for vvickednes in pryde, euvie, hatred, and all finnes that can bee named almost, yt doth overflow: & yet you are not ashamed to say, are they not Christians? Concerning their own ministerie and government, they hauehave lykewise hEdmonition to the Part. in the Preface / defended by T. C.complayned hovv they lack both a right Ministerie of God, and a right government of his Church, according to the Schriptures. More pertienlarlyiTable of Reeicles propounded by the Divinirie Readee in Cambridg. T. C. That that prophane iurisdi…tion of Lordly Lord Arch. bb s. Bb s. Arch-Deacous, Chancellors Officials, &c. a… contrary to Gods government, and vvholly vnderpropt by the Cano… and popish law, and withall ioyned with hypocrisie, vaineglorie, lordlynes & tyrannie, euē for these respects, if ther were no more, are to bee v… terly rooted out of the Church, except possible wee meane by reconciliation to make Christ and antichrist friends. Item mIn the same Table.that that ougly & ylfauored hyerarchie or Church-princelynes, which instituted at the fi… by Antichrists devise, did afterward vilely serue the Pope of Rome to… complishe the myst…rie of iniquitie, and to distroy the Church… Christ, and doth yet still at this day serue him, must bee so abolished that no remnants, ne yet anie shew therofremayne, yf so bee wee wil… …aue Christ to reigne ouer vsus. ItemuMartles Marprelat. that the Lord Gouerners of their Church bee Peti-Popes, & Peti-Antichrists, and Bishops of the Deuill. These Testimonies have wee from their own wrytings / & manie such lyke. For these impieties hauehave wee seperated our selues from those tages of vncleane byrds / …llowing the… Sen 19 / 14 Isa. 52 / 11. Iir. 51 / 9. Act. 2 / 40. 2. Cor. 6 / 17. Rev. 18 / 4. counsell of the Holy-Gost / lest-wee should communicate with their sinnes / and bee partakers of their plagues. With what equitie now can these Priests so blaspheme and persecute vsus for reiecting the heavie yoke of their tyra…us Prelats / whom they themselues call antichristian & Bishops of the Devill: …r forsaking their Priesthood / which they hauehave complayned is not the right Mi…erie. with what conscience could Mayster Giffard (of all other men)pAnswere to the Browni…s / pag. 4. & 50. so be…mently charge vsus with intollerable pryde / presumption / and intrusion into Gods …dgment seate / to judg and condemne wholl assembles which professe the Faith of Christ sincerely &c. in most sa…age and desperate maner to rend and teare vp the …eake plants &c. The Lord rebuke Sathan / and iudge betwixt vsus. Our enimies …fest arguments against vsus hitherto / hauehave been reproch and cursed speaking / with violence and opression. But let them know and vnderstand / that for all these …ings God wil bring them vntounto iudgment / whē they shall receiue such recompence of their error and wickednes as is meet.
The last and great scandall which offendeth manie and turneth them out of the …ay / is the seed of discord which Satan hath sought to sowe emongst our selues / …tting variance emong brethren / prevayling mightely in the children of perdition / whom hee hath eyther turned back into apostacie / or dryven into heresie or schisme. …eerby hee hath caused the truth of God to bee much evill spoken of / and to suffer …eat reproch at our aduersaries hands / whoe hauehave long wayled for our halting. Such things (good Reader) are neyther new nor stronge vntounto vsus / (though much is bee laiuented / ) yt beeing the lot of Christs Church to hauehave such trobles within yt self / and as incident to the same as is the crosse of outward tribulation.Dan. 11 / 34 Neyther can anie that knoweth the state of Gods people / or the word of God aright / …ke for other things in this world / where wee are but strangers & pylgrims / warting against manic and nughtie adversaries / even the Prince of darknes / with his … of spirituall wickednesses. Wee are taught of God… 1 Cor. 11 / …. that ther must bee discen… & heresies emōgst our selves / that they which are approbed may bee knowne / …that greevous woldes should enter in emongst vsus / and of our selves men arise / speaking perverse things to draw away disciples after them.bAct. 20 / 29.30. By such sukorned …sts of satan doth ourcDeut. 13.3. Lord sift & trye vsus / whither wee love him with our wholl …rts or no. wherfore thoughdIoh. 6 / 66. never so many forsake vsus / & oureeLam. 1 / 7. own frends dole …faithfully with vsus / fPsal. 73 / 1.yet wee know assuredly it shalbe well with I sraell / even to the pure in hart. when wee call to …ynde / gGen. 4.the murder of Cain.hGen. 9 the deriding of Cham / iGen. 21.the flowting of I sinacl / kGen. 27.the hatred of Esau / lGen 3….the envie of the Patri…rks / mNum. 16.the rebellien of Corah / n2. Sam. 15.the conspiracie of Absalon / oMat. 16.the treason of Iu…es / pAct. 5.the hypocrisie of Ananias and Saphira / q2. Tim. 42.the Apostacie of Demas / t…vel. 2.the …eresie of Nicholas / and manie suchlike mischevous practises in old tyme with in …e housholds of the Saincts / and Churches of God / wee mervell not though in …ese last & evill dayes some childrē of Belial / that were of old ordeyned vntounto this …ndernmation / rise vp in the Church and work the vnrest and sorrow of the same. The tyme is come that iudgment must begin at the house of God / the Lord will …oue vsus to the vtmost / and suffer Sathan to wynnow vsus as wheat / but Peters faith is prayed for that it fayle not / and hee that shall contynue to the end / hee shal… saued. This is our comfort that God will heerby purge his vine and disclofe the disguysed hypocrits which come vntounto vsus in sheeps garments / but his own portion hee will brin I thorov. Thes. 2.10.11.12. the fire / and fine them as the Silver is fined / and will trye them as the Gold is tryed / to the prase & glory of his own great name. These things are stumbling blocks vntounto the blynde and hard harted worldlings / who hauehave no louelove vntounto the truth / nor wilbee brought vntounto the obedience of the same. It is … with God to let them bee octended by such things. But hee knoweth to delyuer the godly out of temptation.2. Pet. 2.9. Let him therfore that readeth consider / & the Lord gyue him vnderstanding in all. Weigh all things vprightly in the ballance of the Sanctuarie / and iudg righteous iudgment. Bee not offended at the simplicite of the Gospell / neyther hold the Faith of our glorious Lord Iesus Christ in respect of meas persons. Gods cause shall stand when al that handle yt amisse shall fall before ….M…. 11.5.6. Wee offer heere our Fayth to the view and tryall of all men. Tryall things and keep that …ch is good: and yf thou shalt reape anie frute by these our labors (gentel Reader) gyue God the glory.
Though Babael should mount vp to heauen, and thou she should defend hir strength on high, Yet from me shall hir destroyers come saith the Lord Ierem. 51.53.
Saue vsus o Lord our God and gather vsus from among the nations, for to celebrate thy holy name, For to glory in thy prayse. Psal. 106.47.