Faults escaped.  
Pag, Lin. Faults. Corrections. 80. 9 in them▪ and were in them. 219. 14. Tius Titus 230. 25. ● that Dioceses were ● 231. 11. 25 85 241. 33.  ture be subverted, 71. in margin Act. 3▪ 6. Act. 6.3. 163. in marg. Mat. 86. Math. 16.  
The Christian Reader will pardon the rest.   

Mr HENRY BARROWES PLATFORM. Which may serve, as a Preparative to purge away Prelatisme: with some other parts of Popery. Made ready to be sent from Miles Micklebound to Much-beloved- England. Together with some other memorable things. And, A familiar Dialogue, in and with the which, all the several matters contained in this book, are set forth and interlaced. After the untimely death of the penman of the foresaid Platform & his fellow prisoner; who being constant witnesses in points appertaining to the true worship of God, and right government of his Church, sealed up their testimony with their blood: And patiently suffered the stopping of their breath, for their love to the LORD.  
Anno 1593. Printed for the year of better hope.   

To such as are already true Christians, and all that desire so to be; health & salutation, in the Author of salvation.  
THis Conference or Discourse between Desiderius and myself: Together with other things of excellent argument, (worthily beloved,) was for your sakes (by our mutual consent) put to printing. Reap therefore the benefit thereof, and defend it from the unjust cavils of all that set against the same. And for the literal faults therein, amend with the pen I pray you, as they are espied in the reading. And if in the materials, all things hang not well together in your sense, consider them better by the word of God, and what agreeth therewith, cast not away; neither receive any thing that dissenteth therefrom. But try all things, and keep that which is good.  
M. M.   

TAke wings o Book and fly abroad with speed,  
The things in thee are good for men to reed;  
Which have not seen what thou canst to them show,  
And what thou speak'st is meet for all to know:  
Who would discern some things amiss that be,  
Within the Land of our nativity:  
To such thou shalt be judged wondrous kind,  
Because thou canst right well inform their mind:  
In such a sort as they shall bettered be,  
And well advantaged by the things in thee.  
Yet foes enough thou shalt be sure to find,  
'Mong Priests that have the souls of many pined:  
And Prelates too, which very seldom preach,  
Or suffer those that carefully would teach  
God's truth, and give Christ's sheep their wholesome food,  
All such Restreyners make the sinful brood.  
And of that Rank not one of them is found,  
That feeds the flock in wholesome pasture ground.  
If such bring food, they poison give withal,  
Which proveth worse than wormwood mixed with gall.  
They suffer not the milk of God's word pure,  
To work upon the souls of men a cure:  
Though sincere milk thereof, that some is it,  
Which makes for God the soul of each man fit.  
And thou directs them in no other wise,  
Nor wouldst have any follow such men's guise;  
As will not to that wholesome Word bend care,  
And all his paths unto Jehovah's sear.   

A Dialogue or Discourse, passing between Desiderius and Miles Micklebound, by occasion of their old love and new meeting.  Miles Micklebound. 
RIght glad am I to see you Desiderius: but who ever would have thought to have met you here in these parts? Some great & weighty cause doubtless hath occasioned you to come hither. But I pray tell me, how do all our friends in England, and what good news bring you from thence?  Desiderius. 
It may be thought a wonder to see yourself here (my much beloved Miles▪) for it was reported that you were at Rome, that you were the Pope's scholar, etc. But I am glad to see you so far from his city of seven hills, where his seat is. And that puts me in better hope concerning you then others have.  Miles 
For certain Desiderius, I am and always have been, further off and more opposite to the Pope's religion and learning, then now distant from his city and seat, where I never yet came not purpose to come, unless I should happen to long for fire and faggot.  Desiderius. 
That increaseth my hope, & to bring like joy unto yourself, know this, that our friends in England are generally well, as I see you are, whereof I am not a little joyeux.  Miles. 
And how goes it with religion? Are there not good hopes for reformation?  Desiderius. 
The hopes that way, are as few & small as ever they were; Howbeit that which you call reformation, others do count deformation.  Miles. 
But how then is it with the Prelates, Are they so proud; or do they domineer & bear like sway as heretofore?  Desid. 
Yea doubtless. For there are none that are put down more than the Puritans (as they are called,) nor none that rise up faster than the Prelates, as you call them.  Miles. 
Then in deed there can be no present hope, for Bishops and the abuses brought in by them, are a bane to the beauty of true religion, and do greatly hinder all sound and sincere walking therein.  Desider. 
Multitudes are otherwise minded than you are, and many wiser than I do think them to be the very pillars of the Church, and chief upholders of true religion. And what should I then think of the matter?  Miles. 
Not as the multitude do, for than you think erroneously. And if these be the pillars or props of any Church, it must needs be the church of Antichrist. For we find no warrant in all the scriptures, that their offices, callings or administrations, have any place, power or right in the Church of Christ, as shall plainly appear hereafter. But where you seem to let your judgement rely upon the multitude, and to approve of that which wiser than yourself do justify; you are taught not to follow a multitude to do evil, Exod. 23. And the divine proverb showeth, that it is as great an evil to justify the wicked as to condemn the innocent. But, as woe is pronounced to him that calls good evil; so likewise to him that calleth evil good. Esa. 5.29. For your judging of matters in case of religion, you ought to look to the law and word of God, and not to the wisdom of man. For the wisdom of the wise men of this world is foolishness with God, and the wisdom of God is foolishness with them. The Philosophers and other wise men, could never by their worldly wisdom attain to the right knowledge of God & heavenly things. This appertaineth to the foolish things of the world, which God hath chosen to confound the wise. As saith the Apostle, 1 Cor. 1. Read the whole chapter at your leisure, for your better information. But I pray you how said you that it was with the Puritans?  Desiderius. 
I observe that there are none more detested mocked & trodden down then are they, nor none more upholden than those that you so much dislike, even the Bishops. For they rise up hastily, & put the other down most hatefully.  Miles. 
It is then with the Bishops according to the old proverb, evil weeds do grow apace. And Mr. tindal in the practice of Prelates, showeth to this effect, That as the Ivy compasseth the oak, and groweth up about it, till it is higher than he oak itself; so doth the Prelates with their Princes. Hereof we have seen lamentable experience in the papacy. For the Bishop of Rome hath gotten himself aloft, advancing himself above the trees, as it is in jotham's parable, judg. 9.7. etc. that is, above Princes, even Kings and Emperors, whom he makes his vassals and kissers of his feet. We ●●ad in ●yst, of one of those Bishops, that 〈…〉 upon the Emperor's neck; and having s●t on the crown with his hand, he struck it off with his foot. To show that he had power to 〈◊〉 up & call down Kings at his pleasure. God grant that such precedents may be a warning for all Kings and Princes to keep down such climbers, while power is in their hand to restrain their unnatural growth. But is it not to now, that the Arch Bishop's grace is come to the Title of a Prince, and Precedent in the Right honourable privy counsel? And are not also the inferior Bishops invested with the style of Barons and Peers of the Realm? Which titles and authorities are in deed fit for Peers and Magistrates in the common wealth, not for ministers of the Church, but is forbidden unto them in the sacred Scriptures. And yet such titles do men give, and these Bishops presume to take notwithstanding. And that, not as they are employed in civil affairs; but, as they are ministers and spiritual men; and are therefore called spiritual Lords, even as the others (truly honourable) are called the Lords temporal, and are so distinguished one from another. The abuse ought to be much lamented and utterly abandoned. And these are of that brood which the learned linguist Mr. Hugh Broughton usually calleth the banned Bishops. But tell m● how do they now behave themselves in their usurped authorities?  Desiderius. 
It may be answered, That that is not usurped which is given. But Princes do give them their authority. Therefore they usurp it not.  Miles. 
If the Prince of princes hath not given it them but forbidden it, they are usurpers; & the donation of earthly princes cannot make them to be otherwise; seeing it is unlawful for the one to give, & for the other to receive such authorities and titles. But you answer not my demand, how they behave themselves therein?  Desiderius. 
They imprison, put to silence, & degrade at their own pleasure, and (to speak the truth, they) stand more upon the observation of their own unholy ceremonies, then upon Gods most holy oracles. And all that refuse to bow, they will bend; till they break the back of their conscience. So that I see no end of their evils, neither can I dive into their doings, for a suitable discovery, without much sorrow of heart.  Miles 
When john Baptist sent Disciples unto jesus to ask him whether he was he that should come, or whether we should look for another? Our Saviour answered, Go and tell john, what things ye hear and see. The blind receive sigh● and the halt walk: the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear. the dead are raised up, and the poor receive the Gospel. Math 11.4 5.6 etc. Now these being the works that the true Christ should do, & jesus doing them, john knew and taught his disciples to know, that that was in deed the very Christ promised. Even so those works that you say the Bishops do, being the works of Antichrist; do tell & reach that these Bishops are truly Antichristian. And the discovery of their doings hath been sufficiently performed heretofore by sundry persons & in diverse manners: by some merrily, by some modestly, by some gravely, all sound. Therefore take you no care for that service, neither let any be dismayed for their loftynes & tyrannical carriages. A lofty sail with great winds will soon break down a rotten mast. And the higher the Bishops climb, the nearer they are to their fall, & the greater shall it be. Yea who can tell how soon the winds of God's wrath shall blow upon them, against which they shall not stand. The Axe of God's word is ready hastily to hue them down, did not human authority hinder the stroke of it to support the lordliness of these Prelates for a season. But when the time is come which the Highest hath set, human authority shall no longer hinder, but help to further God's work. As it was in the days of Cyrus' King of Persia, when the deliverance of God's people came so suddenly, as they were like those that dream, (Psal. 126.) which is, as if they reasoned in themselves, are we delivered or do we but dream of deliverance? The first Babylonians had their fail, and who need make doubt that these who are Babylonians spiritual and were typed out by the former shall taste of their cup? and when they have drunk, then may this race of Anchrists' clergy dolefully sing the downfall of their offices and Bishoprics. For down they must, maugre the Devil deviser and first foun●der of their function. (Though Babel should moun● up unto heaven, and though she should defend he● strength from on high, yet from me shall her destroyers come, saith the Lord. jer. 51.53.)  Miles. 
I dare not be so severe to censure them in respect of their office, (which may be holy, though they are unholy,) but in respect of their harmfulnes in their office, which I cō●fess, is too too apparent and past all denial.  Miles. 
If a wolf should forbear to ravine and cease to do harm, yet is he a Wolf still, and hath in him the same wolvish nature; and who then would trust him in a flock of sheep, or commit the guidance of them to his charge? Even so, if those Bishop; and false ministers should forbear to do harm, yet are they the same false ministers still, being not sent of God, not sanctified unto his people, and therefore ought not to be trusted with the sheep of Christ, not be a guide unto them, but to be thrust out, although for the time present they did no harm at all. Thus might they both please God in doing his will, and put away from themselves all danger and dread which continually do compass them whiles they are led by such guides. Yea the peril whereof is much greater than if they were sold to be under the conduct or command of the chief Captains under their most mortal and manifestly known enemies. For such danger is but temporal, but this eternal. That concerneth 〈◊〉 the body only, this the soul, and body ●o. Take heed therefore what ministers you commit yourself unto for the guide of your ●●●e, lest whiles they should feed you with the ●holesome milk of God's word, they fill you with the poison of their own or other men's inventions. This is a true position that no mi●isters may stand in any Church of Christ that ●re not Ministers of Christ, and have their calling and sending from him mediately or immediately. And as the Apostle saith, No man ta●● this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God as was Aaron, Heb. 5.4. But those B ps. have no such calling or sending, & so have no lawful right to administer in the church of Christ, or to be retained therein. Again, Christ's Church may be perfect & entire, without the forenamed Bishops or others of their brood; so may civil societies also; and heathen idolatry likewise: only the Antichristian Syna●● of Rome, and all others in her fashion, cannot be perfect and entire, but defective and lame without them. Therefore I wish that all such offices were sent thither again, or to the bottomeless pit from whence they came, out of the smoke, with that heap of Locusts, Rev. 9.2.3. where the note upon the English Bible approveth this that I say, for there it showeth in direct words, that those Locusts are false t●●chers, heretics, and worldly subtle Prelates, 〈◊〉 Monks, Friars, Cardinals, patriarchs, Archbishop's Bishops, Doctors, Bachelors, and Masters which forsake Christ, to maintain false doctrine. And tho●● Lord God of hosts strong and mighty brin● it to pass that they may have no more autho●ritie over thy people, than they ought to yield themselves unto.  Desiderius. 
You have very fitly compare● them unto wolves, for they devour and mak● havoc of the flock, so as the poor sheep o● Christ, can hardly be suffered to feed in an● good pasture. And much is the mischief they do in the land. In which respect I desire with my heart that England were quit of them, fo● a full freedom from all their tyrannical jurisdiction, which as it is to some very hurtful; so is it unto me detestable and most hateful. For lambs should not be lions, nor sheep should not be wolves.  Miles. 
And I would we were quit of them not only as they are harmful, and havock-making creatures, but as they are false functions and ministries that God never instituted. For that was the ground whereupon josiah that godly King, put down the Chemarims, or Priests of Baal, 2 King 23.5. And histories do make mention of Flaming, & Archflaming, that were in our own Land, before ever any Arch Bishop was there. And although they are not so hurtful as are these Bishops, (save ●●ly that they led the people on in Pagan 〈◊〉,) yet being false functions, down went ●●ey likewise, as did the Chemarims & other ●●e functions of old. And the same doom for these now, who cannot choose will they 〈◊〉 they, but must taste of the same cup, when ●●e time is come that justice shall take place against the false functions of this later age, against all the inventions of men, and false ordinances, in and about the worship of God, ●●d performance thereof. For these are special 〈◊〉. But to say that false functions may be ●●ployed in true services of God, when the ●ersons possessing them, do cease the doing charm; then if the Devil himself should cease ●● forbear to do harm, that ground would ●ead men to a love and liking of him, or lean●●g to him. Whereas all men notwithstanding were bound to hold him at the swords point ●s the great enemy of mankind, whom ne●er any man ought either to trust, or to give over the combat against him, till they have expulsed him. And even so for his Ministers. Lay this well to heart Desiderius, & look well to your reasoning, for I perceive we shall have a conference profitable to be printed, so as I add unto it some other worthy things that I have to show unto you. And if I can conveniently get it done among these strangers, t● printed shall it be.  Desiderius. 
I assent unto it. And to proc●●● on in our discourse I tell you, that Bishop's 〈◊〉 spoken of in the holy scriptures which y●●● self do profess to be the ground of all thi●● in religion. Doth not Paul the Apostle bo●● to Timothee and Titus speak of Bishops, a●● shows what they ought to be; & saluteth 〈◊〉 Bishops & Deacons at Philippi in his Epis●●● to that Church? So that it seems that 〈◊〉 their office, but the abuse in their office oug●●● to be withstood and abolished. And why th●● do you condemn the office itself?  Miles. 
I condemn not, neither fin● fault with the name of a Bishop, nor yet wi●● the office of a Bishop, in th'Apostles sense an● intendment. For his meanings is of such Bishops as aught to be over a particular church or congregation, not over many congregat●●ons. And as the word Bishop, is derived fro● the Greek word which signifieth Overseer; so 〈◊〉 Pastors, Teachers, and Governors over part●●cular congregations are such Bishops. Whero● there may be many in one Church to feed 〈◊〉 in the faith, and to govern it in holy order, 〈◊〉 in the fear of God, according to his word● not as Lords over their faith; but in all humility and meekness as ensamples to the flock, 〈◊〉 Pet. 5. But that one Bishop should be over many churches, even over a 〈…〉 Province, or Diocese, and exercise domin●●●● over them, as their Lord spiritual, and that with all rigour and tyranny, this is a changing of the holy ordinance of God to make their own craftiness to prosper, as it is in 25.●oncerning ●oncerning Antiochus Epiphanes. And by their grounds, there may aswell be a Bishop over all Christendom. And so came that unholy father the Pope to be mounted up into ●is chair of pre-eminence, wherein he poisoned all Christendom with his abominations. Such dominion hath Christ forbidden to his Ministers. Mat. 20.25. etc. Luke 22.25. ●6. But he alone is our Archbishop and Lord spiritual, who walketh in the midst of the 7. golden candlesticks, or churches. The others may we not acknowledge so to be, nor allow them so to do by any power from him. But these are rather of and have their power from the spirit that ruleth in the air, and in the children of disobedience. And are not sent of God, except in his wrath for a scourge unto peoples and nations of the earth. The ecclesiastical titles which they claim unto themselves are peculiar privileges to our Lord jesus only, and are to be given him to the glory of his name: but his glory therein will he not give to any other. Furthermore when such names and titles are given unto men, they are the names of blasphemy, Revel. 13.1. So th●● it is the Arch and Lord Bishops that I disclaim and testify against, which have jurisdiction o●ver a Diocese, as a Diocesan Bishop, or ov●● half a kingdom as a provincial Bishop, or o●ver a whole kingdom as primate: Fo● by like ground, there may be a Bishop ove● all Bishops and kingdoms in Christendom▪ Which yet were detestable before God, & to such men also, as are enlightened by his spirit▪ The man of sin, and mystery of iniquity sprung up by degrees till it came to that height and our Englih Prelates do help to hold 〈◊〉 up still: But God that condemneth it will bring it down. But I hope that some others bette● furnished with books, ability & leisure, the●● I either am or can possibly be, in this pilgrimage from my native country, will by this occasion both confer the prophecies in the holy scriptures, and gather together a Catalogue of writers as a cloud of witnesses, for further manifestation of the truth against these remnants of the Antichristian race, although very much is done that way already. For touching the ministery of Arch and Lordbishops aforementioned, with other ministries under them: That their offices were never appointed by Christ, but is a new ministery devised by man, both in their office, entrance, administration and maintenance, and ought not therefore to be continued; the scriptures have showed such light as have filled our land full of proof 〈◊〉 several works aswell of the people called Brow●ists, as of the forwarder sort of Ministers. And it is certain that all such offices are of evil note, & of very bad esteem in all well reformed Churches in the world. Also the holy Martyrs and writers old and new have condemned them. Mr Chadderton of Emmanuel College in Cambridge hath truly taught and confidently affirmed, in his Sermon on Rom. 12. That the Church (speaking of the Church of England) abhorreth and loatheth the things which are abounding in her; as namely Ache Bishops, Lord Bishops, Deans, Arch Deacons, Chancellors, Commissaries, Officials, and all such as are rather members and parts of the whore and strumpet of Rome, then of the pure virgin and spouse of the immaculate lamb. Therefore (saith he) she will have these (if they will needs be of her body) to show that they be created of God, and united unto her by Christ her head. If they will needs be of the heavenly jerusalem, let them show that they came down from heaven, and who gave them from thence. For the Apostles never knew them. Zion hath not heard of them. jerusalem which is above will not acknowledge them. The watchmen (no doubt) being a sleep, they have crept into the city of the Lord. But now they are espied, now the church complaineth of them, both because they have no title nor interest in it as public members: As also because of the length of their unlawful swords they keep out the lawful members of the body. We therefore which are the Lords remembrau- ●ers must never s●ffer him to rest, till he hath expelled out of I●rusalem, wherein they have no right to exercise 〈◊〉 unlawful authority. Thus far goeth he ●e●e verbatim. And it were endless to set down wh●● others have written in this kind agreeing therewith  
Wicl●ffs Tenth Article, Mr Fox (who wrote th●● Acts & Monuments of the Church) maketh to b● this, That there be 12. Disciples of Antichrist, Pope's Cardinals, patriarchs, Archbishops, Bishops, Arch●● deacons, Officials, Deans, Monks, Canons, Friars Pardoners. And Mr Bales descendeth to the lower degrees of popish ministers, even to Sir john the parish priest, which together with the former, he calleth the names of blasphemy written upon the head of the beast. Mr Barnes in the 6. Art. for which he was condemned, said I will never believe, nor can ever believe, that one man may by the law of God be Bishop of 2. or 3. Cities, yea of a whole Country, for that is contrary to the doctrine of Paul who writing unto Titus, commandeth that he should ordain a Bishop in every town.  
Hooper on the 8. Commandment showeth, that one man may nor have two livings, & then he addeth: But this is claw me and I will claw this: If the Bishop permit not their Priests to have two Benefices ●● might likewise happen the Priests would say that the Bishop should be Bishop but of one city: and indeed so it should be, and till Magistrates bring them to that point, it shall be as possible to hear a Bishop wade godly and simply through the scripture, in all case of religion, as to drive a Camel through the eye of a needle. etc.  
The foresaid Christians called Brownists, whom I find very sound in these things, have in their Apology pag. 50. proved by 8. good Reasons, That the Hierarchy & ministery of Popes, Archbishops, Lordbishops, Suffragans, Deans, Archdeacon's are Antichristian. And then by 12. sufficient Reasons more, do prove that the Hierarchy and ministery aforesaid, may not be set over the Church of Christ; nor retained therein. For which I refer you to the said Apology, which you may procure amongst the people of that profession at London, or else where. It were tedious to tell the names of all the writers against the foresaid Hierarchy and ministery of Archbishops and the rest of that rabble: but endless to set down all that is written concerning them and their princelynes. I will here only insert a few more testimonies of the ministers themselves, who being of one church with the chief ministers their own masters, may better be credited against them, then mere opposites which are not of them, but separated from them. And first for Henoch Clapham who in ans. to the Bishop's Arguments saith, in the 2. section of the 2. part of his Survey of the Church.  
Their cock sure Argument (as they take it) is this; Christ promised to be with his Apostles unto the end of the world at the giving of the commission, Mat. 28. 19.20. And Timothee is charged to keep the commandment pure unto the coming of Christ: But none of those persons should live unto the end. Therefore he spoke to some other in their persons, who must be as were the Apostles and Evangelists Lords over Pastors & Churches. And who should these be but such Lord Bishops as themselves who have and occupy jurisdiction & power over all the Churches and ministers of England.  
If this be true that our Bishops be Apostles (for if the successors should have had an other name the scripture would have registered it) If I say they be Apostles, than England hath not dignified them truly, in saying, The Lord Bishop of such a place, who rather should have said, My Lord Apostle of London, My Lord Apostle of Lincoln: Even as it was said, Peter the Apostle of the circumcision, and Paul the Apostle of the gentiles. Then likewise England should for that great blessing have been more bound to praise God, she having more Lord Apostles of her own, than was in the whole world unto Christ, who sent forth so few as twelve, & Paul with Barnabas. They being for the most part men of occupations, but these being men of state and stately Lords. But before we admit them for Apostles let us compare them with Christ's. The first were elected and ordained to their office, either by Christ the head, or together by some particular Church: But these either by A Prince or by the Cannons of that sea confirmed by an Archbishop.  
Secondly, they were appointed to office to the end they might feed feed feed the Lords sheep. But our English ones, are appointed to their rooms in their old age to the end they may now (together with the Levites of 50. years of age) rest their bones and feed their own bellies.  
Thirdly, the first were tied to no one sea, but were sent to teach all nations: These keep themselves within a stinted compass, teaching few or none once in a long time.  
Fourthly the Apostles of Christ could not discharge their work but by coming through many wants; These of our land may discharge their work by leaning on their elbows in the midst of their Lordly platters.  
Fiftly, the first were appointed to gather churches and establish all holy order. As for these, not one of them ever gathered a church, but have kept many in disorder.  
Sixtly the first had attending on them (for the furtherance of their Apostolical work) blessed Evangelists and preaching Disciples. These latter have first a company of ruffling Chaplains that can handle cards and dice well, secondly a company of swash-rutting serviters that can teach all the parish to swear and wear all foolish fashioned apparel.  
Seventhly, the first were plain simple hearted Ministers. These are Lords in name, Lords in living, Lords in pomp, Lord's checkmate with the nobleest Peer of our Realm.  
Eightly the first were brought before lordly ri●lers, for preaching Christ and his kingdom, these convent preachers before them, & say, if we silence them not by bonds, imprisonment, gallows; the● will cause the civil Magistrate take away our Episcopal kingdom.  
Ninthly the first established wise godly Elders in every congregation: These establish dumb dogs & greedy hogs in their parishes & confused assemblies.  
Tenthly, the Apostle Paul upbraided the Church of Corinthe for not exercising the power of our Lord jesus committed unto her in delivering up the incestuous to Satan. These Bishops are not so foolish, but have got all the power into their own hands, sending that latin burbolte our of their unholy court.  
Eleventhly, the first sought no kingdom here, because they looked elsewhere to sit on a throne with jesus: But these so seek kingdom & establish their houses here, as if they were of mind with the governor of the feast in Cana of Galilee that sweet wine is best at the first.  
Twelvethly, the Apostles of Christ were the chosen penmen of the holy Ghost, and therefore their writings are of sufficient credit in themselves and canonical: As for our English-ones, God never chose them for such purpose, and therefore their writings which are almost none, and their sermons which are almost as few, are to be suspected, and to come under examination.  
Lastly to give 13. to the dozen, the Apostle Paul did think, they were set forth the last Apostles, 1 Cor. 4.9. These men come more then XV. hundred years after that they were Apostles. Likewi 〈…〉 these opposites can meet together in one subject, black can be white, and Ataxia can be Eutaxia, Disorder, good order, I shall never believe that Lord Bishops are either Apostles or Evangelists, or yet so good as Pastors.  
This comparison he wrote when heretofore by his separation he was called a Brownist, and now it may serve as a glass for his Lords spiritual to behold themselves in. But how he esteemeth of them now, or how he maketh the matter with them, having i● priesthood from and under them, I cannot tell. It is doubtful he hath learned to die a black into whi●e, and to make Ataxia, to be Eutaxia, disorder, good order. But let his conscience see to it, lest he be condemned thereof. For if his own heart condem●e him, God is greater than the conscience.  
The next testimonies are from such as never separated. Mr Fenner hath published in Defence of godly mo●sters against Bridge's slanders, pag. 111, that of S. P●ul were now in England, & no greater man than he was made by Christ, he might not be equal with these Bishops: For they are spiritual Lords, he was never so: they might send for him by a Pursuivant, lay him in the Counter, or command him to the Fleet, so could not Paul do the least Minister of the Gospel. And again in the same book p. 123. speaking of their offices he saith, Our kind of Bishops, the Commissaries, the Archdeacon's and such like, we account them no natural members of the body of Christ's Church because they are of human addition, not borne with her, nor grown up with her from the cradle.  
Mr. Cartwright in his first reply, pag. 8. & 88, striking at the chief and strength of their ministery, to were, at the Arch Bishops, and Archdeacon's, under whom the other Bishops & ministers do execute their offices, proveth that these functions are not in the word of God, but of the earth, new devised ministries, and such as can do no good. Yea that the Arch Bishop's office, is the weck of the popish Hierarchy, come out of the bottomless pit of hell.  
Mr Travers in Defence of Ecless. discipl. p. 88. ● 91 against D. Bridges, proveth by diverse good & sufficient reasons, that their Bishops are neither Pastors nor Teachers. Upon which one in a certain place inferreth, And what ordinary Ministry of the Gospel then do they execute? As for extraordinary, the Prelates were not known, when they were in the world: beside that they are as unlike them as darkness is to light.  
And upon my memory I dare say, that in the Demostration the author speaking of this lofty ministry, saith, that they are plants which our heavenly Father hath not planted, and must be plucked up by the roots. And how Mr Chaderton hath painted them out I have showed before.  
Finally, all the seekers of Reformation, have in the Admonition to the Parl. 2. treatise: sect. 14.18.20. professed, that the Names and offices of Archbishops, Archdeacon's, Lordbishops etc. are together with their government drawn out of the Pope's shop, Antichristian, Devilish and contrary to the scriptures: That the Parsons, Vicars, Parish priests, stipendaries etc. b● birds of the same fither: And in a word (as hath been noted before) that they have an Antichristian Hierarchy and popish ordering of Ministers strange from the word of God and the use of all well reformed Churches in the world. Thus may we learn of our own worthies at home, if we will not learn of others abroad, who have been forced to separate from church & ministry for such fowl, gross, most horrible & unsufferable corruptions, as are both in the one and other. And well I remember that Mr Beza contra Saraviam mentioning but 3. or 4. of the corruptions there, saith (if it be so) that then it is not a corruption in Christianity, but a manifest defection from Christ.  Desiderius. 
Trouble not yourself further in this matter at this time, for you have spoken thereof both largely and plainly, opening as it were a window through the which I see a great light, and as my name by interpretation is Desire; so do I most earnestly desire the same light might shine clearly in eyes of all other men's understanding. And now I would I were as well able as willing to make suit to the higher powers that by their lawful authority, the unlawful offices & jurisdictions of the Prelates might be abolished. The performance whereof as you know, would make way for establishing of godly preachers throughout the land, and removal of all dumb dogs and ilde drones, which feed their own bodies & starve other men's souls. Might this gracious work be once effected, there would be full supply for many painful and well deserving preachers, out of those fat Bishoprics and ric● revenues, which now serve but for a few (& yet too many) proud prelate's, and their swaggering retinue. But some that were fit to be suitors in this worthy cause, will surely faint, either for fear of man's face, or for want of faith in God.  Miles. 
Yet let all men be comforted in this, that God will have his work done, when and by whomsoever he shall appoint the performance thereof. For strong and Mighty is ●he Lord of Hosts, able to do all things, when man is weak and unable to do any thing. He hath spoken the word and it shall stand, yea his word is ●ure word, Hab. 3. who then shall resist? And who knows not that the Aboats and the rest of that generation, ●ad as much ●oo●ing in England as have now the Bishops and wer● (in their time) as much supported by human authority as are they? yet being parts of that an i●●ristian synagogue & spiritual Babylon which the Lord hath threatened to consume, they are consumed, rooted out, end quite abolished, and that with as much detestation as these their brothers are now had in admiration: who being grown great & go ten up aloft, are also terrible to the peoples, wherein they fitly resemble the Anakims' & race of the Gi●nts in Canaan, for fear of whom the hearts of the Israelites melted: wherein they & ten of the 12 spies greatly sinned: but ●aleh & josuah who were faithful, encouraged the Lord's people to go up against them, and possess the good land which the Lord promised them. Be you careful to follow the example of the faithful & not of the fearful, even ●s you desire to have sin subdued, and the unrighteous ordinances of Antichrist overthrown, that the Lords blessed ordinances, which he hath promised to his people now under the Gospel, may be established and enjoyed among them. Labour you as an instrumental means, to make the same light appear unto others, which you say hath arisen unto yourself; that both they and you may walk in the light, as children of the light & of the day; forsaking all d●eds of darkness. Continue constant in a good testimony, and bereave not yourself of the fruit that will follow. Seek unto him for your help, who is Lord of Lords, and King of Kings, who hath the hearses of all Kings and Princes of the earth to turn ●hem as it pleaseth him. And secondarily seek unto higher powers, the Prince Peers and Magistrates, with earnest suit according to your place and utmost means that you can make, for furtherance of a full reformation and freedom from the former abuses: which I steadfastly believe God will accomplish at one time or other. Therefore when you have begun well, be not weary of well-doing. And remember for your exampleing and encouragement, the good hand of God that was upon Nehemias when he sought the wealth, prosperity, and re-edifying of jerusalem, and what furtherance he found at the hands even of a heathen King, Nehem. 1. chapt. which should put you into a strong hope of good success and gracious grants from our Christian King.  
But where you s●em to desire that the livings of idle and Antichristian Prelates, might be converted to the maintenance of painful & Christian preachers, you aim not aright at the glory of God, which cannot be advanced by seeking to have his Ministry maintained by those livings, that were formermerly consecrated to idolatry, and yet used to the high dishonour of God, in maintenance of part of that great swarm of popish officers, whereof some are cast out of the land, and many do yet remain. Whereas if men will be the true Ministers of Christ, they should content themselves ●o live by the means that he hath appointed, that is; by the voluntary contribution of the Lords free people, Saints by calling. And as for all such idolatrous livings, they ought in every Country, by the Magistrates of the same to be converted to civil uses: wherein how much the more that charity is respected, so much the more shall God therein be honoured. All such livings are of the stolen goods which Antichrist hath purloigned from the common wealth & civil estates of people, to enrich his Clergy withal: and for supporting of his other abominations. So as such goods and livings cannot rightly be employed till they be converted ●o civil uses again. Which will be as the taking of the purse from the thiefs hand to give unto the true man. But whiles you think to beg these idolatrous livings from the Prelates to the Preachers, your suit is not worth the suing for, neither will God be pleased therewith. The preachers that will depend upon God & follow his word are to have their wants supplied otherwise, as is abovesaid. But thus though you seem to forsake the error that you were in about the Bishop's office, yet you are in an other error about their livings, which you think aught to be for other Ministers. And herein I will put myself to new pains to inform you better.  Desiderius. 
We have lately heard a Bell sound, that it is a just judgement of God, upon K. Henry the 8. that there is not one of his posterity left to sit upon his throne, for bereaving the Church of the Gleabes, Abbey lands etc. and employing them to other uses. And how then shall the taking away of the Bishops livings from the Clergy to the laity, from the service of God in the Church, to the service of the common wealth; be esteemed less than a sinful and sacrilegious act?  Miles. 
Such Bells (as you speak of) that sound so badly, deserve well to lose their clappers, or to be hung out of all men's hearing. For the work of that worthy King, in suppressing those Abbeys, Friaries, Nunneries and the Vermin living in them, was all within the limits of his office and duty, as was also the converting of those livings to his own or other civil uses. In which, the more he respected the glory of God and charity, the more worthy was his work, and deserved the higher praise even as those Kings and Princes shall do whom God will employ as his instruments, for rooting out the remnant of that race, the Arch and Lord Bishops, with a number of false functions, and anti christian offices under them, and converting o● their livings likewise to civil uses. For these livings and ecclesiastical offices and ministries maintained by them, have no better foundation than had the other. And these that yet remain, are (of a truth) brethren of the same brood, and birds of the same feather; had the same Sire, and were all hatched after the same fashion with the former, that are driven away.  Desiderius 
You may therein be mistaken. For those abbots and the like, were indeed first invented, instituted & ordained in the Roman church; by authority of it, & of the head thereof the Pope; and if you will I can further & yet truly say, by the permission of God and power of the Devil was that done: But our Bishops were made and ordained in our English Church of Protestants.  Miles. 
Be it so, yet that makes the sin never the less, but rather will cause the punishment from God to be the grea●er; in as much as they know more, and yet do the same evil with others that know less. And the nearer that men come unto God, the greater in his sight are the sins that they commit. Therefore the Priests in Israel offered greater sacrifices for their sins, then ordinary Israelites that fell into the same. Therefore also, judgement first beginneth at the house of God, etc. Now as all Churches in the world are bound to receive such ministries only as God hath appointed and none other; so whosoever do institute, appoint, ●●nd or receive, any office of ministery that God hath not instituted, appointed & sent, do greatly sin. And if a true Church shall do it, they sin more heinously than a false church that doth the same. Therefore your plea is nothing worth, save against yourself & our church of England, if it be (as you hold it) a true Church. And when Lord abbots etc. were cast out of it, yet Lord Archbishops, and Bishops etc. were still retained, that had their being at the same time, & their original with those that were rejected. But such Bishops & inferior ministers as they have made since, was by imitation of the Papists, who had them in their church constantly, before we had any at all: and although they made some change of persons for those places, yet was there no change of the offices themselves, but they remained the same in Q. Elizabeth's days, that they were before in Q. Mary's days. And there were diverse of the same persons that were Bishops and Priests in Q. Mary's days▪ that kept the same offices in Q. Elizabeth's days, by the former calling that they had in Popery, and held still the same Bishoprics, Parsonag●s & livings, that were allotted them for maintenance in the very same ministery before. And they only recanted of some popish heresies in doctrine and opinion, with renunciation of the supremacy of the Bishop of Rome. And some of them die not that, as I have seen under the hands of 14. witnesses which was addressed to the Arch Bishop by way of complaint against their popish Parson Mil●● Bennes of Sevenock, who was left upon them from the time of Q. Marie. Neither were such (if they recanted) esteemed worse than such as were made by themselves, but rather reckoned for the better. And he that is made a Bishop or priest at Rheims o● Rome, coming to England with such recantation as aforesaid, is admitted to administer without any new ordination. Whereas the ministery of Pastors made in the reformed Churches must pass under a new ordination before they may administer there. Which showeth rightout what office and ordination it is that they like and love best.  Desiderius. 
I pray you let me ask you, what difference you put between the Israelites sin in worshipping the calves, or God by the calves, as they pretended: and the papists sin in worshipping their images, or (as they would have it,) God by their images?  Miles. 
I see in that small difference, for Israel was then a false church though it had been of the true. And the heap of papists are likewise a false church, though the Church of Rome before time was true. And whether men make the images of calves or of other creatures, for any worship to God they are all inventions of men, the works of their ●endes, and mere idols, which have no warrant in God's word, but are an open and direct breach of the second Commandment▪ And in some ignorant papists that pray unto the image itself as a thing of divine inspiration, it is a transgression of the first.  
But now to return to the sound of your Bell, which you brought as an instance against converting of false church livings to civil uses. How contrary was that sound to something, which others ha●e written of that very point in our own tongue, according to truth? Mr. Fr. john's. in Ans. to M.H. jacob, hath words worthy of note, p. 199. saying, We acknowledge with thanks to God and her Majesty, that cut of her highness Dominions there be already abolished many of the abominations of the Romish Baby 16. And we pray God, that for as much as many of them be yet remaining etc. that if it be the will of God, her High ●es may be the instrument to suppress and abolish these also, and to establish the whole truth of God according to this word. And further, that she may take to her own Civil uses the Lordships and possessions of the Prelates and other Clergy, as God hath foretold and appointed should be done with them (Rev. 17.15. & 1▪ 17.18.) And as King Henry the eight (her Majesties Fath●● of famous memory) did with the abbots, Monks, Fryess, Nuns, and with their possessions and revenues.  
Which happy work, by what Princes soever it be done (as certainly will come to pass, for the Lord of Hosts hath spoken it) it will greatly redound to the glory of God, the honour of themselves, the free passage of the Gospel, the peace of the Church, & benefit of the whole Common wealth.  
Again a faithful witness of the truth, to ● George joy upon Dan. in the year 1545. writ down ingeniously his own & other men's judgement, concerning the livings and maintenance the Prelates and other Clergy. Upon the 5. of D●●niel this question is made, use● Than it is there thus answered, The vessels profane by Belsazar were consecrated by the Word of God: Wher●●fore he sinned in profaning them. But the goods & lew● of our Temples, Abbeys and Bishoprics are not consecr●●ted to such uses by God's Word, but by their own invent●●ovetous charm: wherefore Emperors, Kings, an● Princes may take them away and put them to better uses, 〈◊〉 to the maintenance of schools, universities etc. Thu● wrote and witnessed those blessed servants of Go● heretofore. Upon which I would infer that if th● Magistrates may employ such livings to maintenance of schools & universities, than also for founding & upholding of Hospitals, alms-houses, & the like, for help of poor, widows, fatherless, & strangers for the impotent sick and helpless of all sorts, fo● making and repairing of bridges, high ways, etc. And also if it please the head of the Commonwealth, and need so require, they may serve for support to the state, for royalty of the Court, for maintenance of lawful wars against the enforcing of foreign foes, or rebellions of domestical enemies, and a number the like services, wherein such livings might be lawfully employed with comfort and safe conscience: all which may seem to be implied in the former writer's word et cetera, to be their meaning likewise. And we may read in the Acts and Monuments in the histories of john Wicleff, William Swinderby, Sr. john Oldcastle Lord Cobham, john Claydon, and other the Martyrs of Christ, who held & professed these orders of Archbishops, Lordbishops, Archdeacon's &c. to be the Disciples of Antichrist, yea very Antichrist themselves: That the possessions and Lordships of the Clergy are the venom of judas shed into the Church, etc. Act. & Monum. edit. 4. p. 150. a 468. b. 562. b. 363. a 6 9 b.  Desiderius. 
Why whither will you now run?  Miles. 
Into the truth I trust, with all faithful witnesses of the same: & no further than I am taught by the word and spirit of God.  Desiderius. 
But you have not always been of this mind, that such livings ought not of right to appertain to the ministery of the Gospel. Nevertheless if you have seen a further light by the opposers of Prelatisme abroad, than you had at home, it would be good to make your friends and country partakers thereof.  Miles. 
Very gladly shall I do that. But first you are to observe this for yourself, that the holy Martyrs and witnesses of Christ were of this mind long before me, as I have showed and could show yet further if need require. And for that I have not always been of this mind, it is sufficient that I came unto it when God gave me means to see that it was the mind of his High Majesty, whereunto & all men ought to conform ourselves. The Apostle Paul was not always of the mind that jesus o● Nazaret was the Christ: But some while he persecuted such as professed him, till he saw otherwise. And then he became a preacher of the same truth both abroad and in bands unto the death. And eve● so Lord jesus just and righteous, give me constancy in witnessing this part of thy truth against the Prelates, their offices, entrance, administrations, manner of maintenance and large jurisdictions, all which are unlawful and contrary to the scriptures. As for your desire or hope of help from abroad; I could wish you rather to turn your eyes another way, and look nearer home. For I am persuaded that there are not greater means of help to be found in the world for this service, than God hath raised up, in and unto our own land, of the true borne subjects and natural children thereof. And that both of the forwarder sort of Ministers, and learned men in our Church of England, as also, and more specially of the people called Brownists; who by their diligence in the scriptures and advantage of their cause, are most strongly furnished against the Prelates, against their Antichristian jurisdictions, and Lordly livings etc. At whose hands if help were sought, especially of the learned among them, great help might be had.  Desiderius. 
And may not the like helps be had from the Anabaptists also? for they are likewise very opposite to the Bishops.  Miles. 
They are so. And to give them their due, many of them are very honest men with all; but yet they disadvantage themselves sundry ways. First, by their heretical opinions. 2. Because they have, approve and allow, of general Bishops, for baptizing, etc. in all their assemblies; at least, in so many of them as hold one society, and are of one communion. And so what they condemn and cast down in others, they (after a sort) do justify and hold up in themselves, by their own practice. But the practice & profession of the other (mistermed ones) acordeth in one, and strengtheneth one another.  Desiderius. 
I am glad you conceit the ways of the Anabaptists no better. For I had you in some jealousy concerning them. But it is sorrow enough that you prefer the Brownists before our forward Ministers.  Miles. 
I have good reason in this case so to do. For as they hold it unlawful for our Ministers of England, to have those idolarrous livings aforesaid, so they hold it unlawful for their own, and all other ministries to have them; but would that they were returned again to the Commonwealth from whence they were taken. But our forward Ministers, that with the Prelates down, and their livings to be taken from them, would gladly have them for their own use, as you likewise pleaded for them. And I fear they hold it no better than sacrilege if they be otherwise employed. Whereof your own self also made question a little before. But to speak the truth without respect of persons and to flatter with none, these things in thern are mere trifling, if not also hypocrisy, arising of covetousness. For if they be lawful for themselves, they are lawful for the superior Ministers also, by whom these inferior ones were made. If they say nay; For their inferior ministery is a true ministery; but the Lordly ministery is not so: therefore these livings belong unto them and not to their Lords. Herein they deceive themselves, but let them not deceive you nor others. For seeing the inferior ministery is derived from and made by the superior; either then the superior ministery must be true, or these of their making cannot be true. But the other being false that maketh, these must needs be false that are made by them. For every creature bringeth forth according to his own kind, whether it be man, or birds or beasts, whether clean or unclean. And if the root be holy, so are the branches: But if the root be corrupt and impure, the branches must needs be so likewise. Adam and Eve corrupted, brought forth a man in their own likeness, that is▪ one corrupted like themselves. But I can show you diverse ways whereby you may discern, that the Brownists (a● you call them) are the best Champions to fight this battle, and are most likely to win the field.  Desiderius. 
I cannot tell. I am sure they are counted a s●ct, and are every where evil spoken of.  Miles. 
But the question is, whether it is for evil doing, or for well-doing? If for well doing, they are ●o bear it patiently as partakers of the cross and sufferings of Christ, whose faithful servants and witnesses of old, even in the Apostles days were counted a sect likewise, even the sect of the Nazarites, and were every where evil spoken of in like sort. But did it therefore follow that they were according to the report & esteem that was amongst men concerning them? Or should men therefore have rejected them, or any good thing among them? Let it be far from you so to think, and further off in that sort to speak, either of those former, or yet of these later Christians. Christ himself was the chief corner stone, whom the builders refused, yet he became the head of the corner. And surely these me which you and others are ready enough to refuse for help in this service, are the most sound & sufficient of any that I know for convicting of our common adversaries and terrible opposites the Prelates and lofty Clergy of the land. Wherefore I would advise you and all, never to shun, but diligently to seek, & thankfully to receive their help when it may be had. And if we see them to err in any other thing (as all men are subject to error) ●et readiness be showed in the spirit of meekness to help them. Thus shall we both please God & comfort one another.  Desid. 
Therein you say well. But where you charge the Anabaptists with heretical opinions, (& true it is that such they hold) I pray you how much better is it with the Brownists? They condemn (as the report goes) not only the best people of the land: but also condemn and forsake the faith professed and maintained there, counting it the faith of the devils, and professing another faith for themselves. Now for my own part, I am not only persuaded, but fully assured through the mercy of God, that the faith professed in England is the true saving faith of Gods elect, and if ever they be saved themselves, it must be through the same faith in Christ. Therefore if they be guilty of that report, my soul shall have no pleasure in them, till they return by repentance. For, to err in that point is a matter of no small importance.  Miles. 
That report is either a mere slander, raised up by the Devil in his instruments for the disgrace of their cause, or if ever it was spoken by any of them, it must be some one very simple, that erreth therein through ignorance; or some that are strongly carried with zeal against the false & confused order of that Church; and not distinguishing between order and faith, may happen through haste or inconsideratenes to call the one by the name of the other. And so when they speak of the impure faith of the Church of England, may intend only the impure and corrupt order that is therein.  Desiderius. 
If you had not holpen with such a lift, they had lain under it for me. But sure such zeal is preposterous zeal, and such inconsiderateness, is heady, rash and undiscreet ●ar●age, not agreeing with Christianity, not beseeming sobriety.  Miles. 
Be it so. Yet can you not justly impute that to a whole company which is done by one or two, when the rest do not approve it, but are against it. And there is no religion wherein there are not some that miscarry themselves, either through zeal, or ignorance, or else in heady, rash and inconsiderate speech. Yet such as so offend among these, are liable to the rebuke of their Presbytery and Church itself, if the case so require. And the main difference between them and England, is about outward orders and ordinances, and the faith professed by both, is one and the same. And concerning the matter of heresy, they never were not can be convicted thereof. And when they sent their confession of faith to the Reverend learned man M. Francis junius, desiring him if he saw them to err in any thing, to show it unto them: He vouchsafed to write and send them a friendly and brotherly answer: But declared no error nor heresy in all that they wrote unto him. Neither did any of the learned in the Universities of L●yden, Saint andrew's, H●idelberge, Geneva, and other like schools of learning in the L●w countries, Scotland, Germany and France, to whom they directed their Confession of Faith many years since. And whereas the Heads and Doctors of Oxford, do carp against them in their Answer to The humble Petition of the Ministers of the Ch● of England: and these defending themselves in their Apology & calling upon them by many reasons for proof of their accusations, they reply to Puritans & Papists, but do let these alone unanswered: & for what cause, wise men may easily conjecture.  
And now Desiderius, that you may the better perceive that they hold the same faith with us in Engl. & what their difference from us in other things is, hear what themselves have professed and printed. In the Preface of their Confession of Faith, thus they write. And further we testify by these presents unto all men, and desire them to take knowledge hereof, that we have not forsaken any one point of the true Ancient Catholic & Apostolic faith professed in our land: but hold the same grounds of Christian religion with them still, agreeing likewise herein, with the Dutch, Scottish, German, French, Helvetian, and all other Christian reformed Churches round about us, whose Confessions published, we call to witness our agreement with them, in matters of greatest moment, being conferred with these Articles of our Faith following. The things then only against which we contend, and which we mislike, in the English parish assemblies, are many relics of the man of sin (whom they pretend to have abandoned) yet retained among them, and with a high hand maintained, upholden, and imposed. etc.  
And Mr Henry barrow one of their writers, in a letter of his scent unto a Right honourable Lady, & published in their Apology, concerning this point saith, That he did gadly embrace and believe the common faith received and professed in the land, as most holy and s●und▪ And that he had reverend estimation of sundry, & good hope of many hundred thousands in the land: though he misliked the present constitution of this Church, in the present communion, ministery, ministration, worship, government and ordinances ecclesiastical of these Cathedral and parishional assemblies.  Desiderius. 
If the rest of them be like him, then are they not so uncharitable in their judging of our people, as some men say they are.  Miles. 
They generally put difference between all good men's Church estate, as they are under the ordinances of Antichrist, and their personal estate, endued with many heavenly and holy graces. Therefore open not your ears too wide in hearing reports, for many that are given out against them, are surely false. But hear a little further what themselves do profess. Mr Barrow in his writing entitled a few observations to the reader of M. Giffords' last reply, s. 4. saith thus. Have we not commended, the faith of the English Martyrs, and deemed them saved, notwithstanding the false offices and great corruptions in the worship they exercised, not doubting but the mercy of God, through their sincere faith to jesus Christ extended and superabounded all their sins seen and unseen. And what now should let, that we should not have the same hope, where the same precious faith in sincerity and simplicity is found? So that they neither neglect to search out the truth, nor despise the truth when they see it, etc. And this he further cleareth in the same section.  
Mr john Penrie likewise, in his Examination hath these words, For I know the doctrine touching the holy Trinity; Nature, and Offices of the Lord jesus; Free justification by him; both the sacraments etc. published by her Majesty's authority and commanded by her laws▪ to be the Lords blessed and undoubted truths, without the knowledge and profession whereof no salvation is to be had. And showeth the things that he disliketh, and for what cause he durst not partake in the public assemblies of our land, notwithstanding the former truths there taught and professed.  
And again in his Confession of faith he saith, The truth of doctrine touching the holy Trinity, touching the natures and Offices of Christ▪ justifying faith, Sacraments and Eternal life, and the rest, established by her Majesty's Laws, and professed by herself, their Honours, and such as have knowledge in the assemblies of this land: I acknowledge from my heart to be such, as if I maintained not the unity, and held not the communion of the same doctrine with them in these points, I could not possibly be saved: For out of the communion of the true profession, which her Majesty hath established in these and the like truths, there is no hope of salvation left: But join notwithstanding in the public assembles of this Land, I dare not, for the former causes.  
I do moreover willingly confess, that many, both of the Teachers, and also of the Professors within these Parish assemblies, have so embraced this truth of doctrine, established and professed in this Land, as the Lord of his infinite goodness, hath granted them the favour, to show outwardly many tokens, whereby (in regard of the Lords election) I profess before men and Angels, that I judge them to be members, of that body, whereof the son of God Christ jesus 〈◊〉 the head. Only herein the Lord be merciful unto them, (as to myself in regard of my sins:) that they are not under that outward form of government which Christ hath left, etc.  
And whereas Mr jacob would father upon this people, that they hold every person in England which holdeth the public faith, is no true Christian. Mr johnson in his answer, pag. 7. saith thus; Touching this point, I mind the state of their people two ways: the one concerning their several persons considered a part from the constitution of your Church; the other concerning their estate and standing in that constitution. Concerning the former of these, (that is, considering them a part from the constitution) I acknowledge that in diverse of them there appeareth such knowledge and faith of the Gospel with the fruits thereof, as they may well be thought▪ in regard of God's election in Christ, to be heirs of salvation, and in that respect to be true Christians: God pardoning unto them their standing under Antichrist, which they do not see or mind. But I sear lest many more were heretofore partaker of this grace then be now since your Antichristian estate and the unlawfulness to a●ide therein hath been discovered. Concerning the latter, (that is, in respect of their estate & standing in that constitution of your Church) I am persuaded whosoever so stand, holding your public faith and multitude of Antichristian abominations withal they cannot by the word of God be judged true Christians, as touching their outward estate in that Church of yours: but stand all subject to wrath, God imputing this their sin unto them. And that all therefore whosoever willbe assured of God's mercy and salvation, aught with speed to go out of your Church, it still remaining in Antichristian estate. etc.  
Thus Desiderius, I have showed you what diverse of them have written and professed in and about the point by you objected: & if it be not sufficient I will show you more.  Desiderius. 
You may spare that labour for I am fully satisfied.  Miles. 
And for that cause I was the more large: As also that (when these things are published) others at home & abroad may likewise receive satisfaction. And if any of the people themselves have been so overseen, as to speak according to the report that you heard, they may (by this means) be again brought to their own grounds, which some through simpleness, rashness, or inconsideratenes may forget, & offend against the same: But the more circumspect and wise, are more considerate and wary. Thus being somewhat weary, I will rest from discoursing a while; and in the mean time, you may read these three writings which will be worth your pains and the printing. And they also will clear that people and the truth, from such clamours as you have heard concerning them. The first is a letter which one of them in Ireland wrote unto a Scottish preacher there, Ao. 1594. wherein is laid down sundry grounds of their separation. The other are two Petitions: the first whereof was written by Mr Henry Barrowe in the days of Q. Elizabeth of famous memory: the second by another of their writers, 〈◊〉 the time of the first Parliament holden in the happy reign of our now Sovereign, King james.  
To Mr Wood Wisdom and grace from God most high.  
WHereas you seemed very desirous to have us set down in writing our faith and profession concerning the true Church, together with the causes of our separation from the English and Irish parish assemblies, promising yourself either to assent unto us, or show sufficient cause of your dislike by writing also, with defece of your church's estate &c: We, as willing to render an account of our belief and practice unto all men that shall demand the same, and desirous of your salvation, and fellowship in the holy faith (if such be the will of God) & ourselves of further instruction and light by any that can inform us from the word, have condescended unto your request, believing & confessing concerning this part of the Gospel, as followeth.  
That the true Church of God on earth, is communion and fellowship of 
* Isa. 60.11. 1 Cor. 1.2.  righteous men and women, 
† Act. 15.9.  whose hearts God hath purified by saith, 
‡ Mat. 11.27.28.29.  call and gathering them ●nto himself, and under his true obedience by the sceptre of his word and spirit, 
| Lev. 20.24 job. 15.19.  separating them from the world of Infidels Turks ●ewes and false Christians, 
” Act. 2.42.42.  to live together under his holy covenant, obeying and wo●●shiping him in spirit and truth, 
●phes. 4.3.  keeping th● unity of the Spirit in the band of peace an● love and unfeigned.  
That this Church (
Psal. 2.28 Act. 10.35.  although dispersed among many nations over the face of the earth,) 
‡ Cant. 6.8. Ephes. 4.4.5.  is one, as God is one, hath one faith, Lord, 
| Mat. 28. ●0. Ex●. 12.49.  religion, law and government in all places, & unto it the scriptures and 
* 2 Tim. 3.16 17.  written word o● God, is given for the direction thereof and edification in all things, whereunto each member is bound 
” Deut. 17.18.19.20.  as well Prince as people, to observe inviolably whatsoever is therein commanded, unto the world's end; and that no man, nor the whole church itself, hath authority to alter change inovate break abrogate or superordeyne 
* Gal. 3.15. Prov. 30.6 Deut. 12.32.  any thing unto or from this Law of the Most high, neither may the church or any member thereof receive or obey other constitutions and traditions 
† Deut 5.3.32. Gal 1.8  of men or Angels without incurring the wrath of God.  
That this Church is the bride and body of Christ, the city & house of the great King, whereinto may enter 
‡ Esai 35.8.9. Psal. 24.3.4. Rev. 21.27.  no profane person o● impenitent sinner, but only such as by faith, and repentance have washed away the guilt of their sins in the blood of the lamb, & 
| joh. 3.3.1. Pet. 1.23.  are borne a new by the seed of the word, & 
” josh. 24.15.16.22. Act. 2.41. Psal. 149.9 Mat. 18.15.  by a willing covenant made with the Lord, are under his government & sceptre of grace, and so do lead godly and christian lives.  
That in this House, 
* Hos 2.1. ●. Mat. 16.19.  every servant and member hath a like interest and liberty in the word of God, by the power thereof to reprove condemn & slay sin in themselves & ●●l other men, and are all bound to watch o●●er, exhort, and admonish one another 
† Collos. 4.19  even their shepherds & leaders if need so require.  
That this Church hath power from Christ 
* Mat. 18.8.9.15.16 17.18. 1 Cor. 5 4.5.6. Num. 19.20 21.22. & 5.2.3.  to censure reprove and cast out of their fellowship all obstinate offenders and wicked men, lest by any such the whole body should be infected and perish.  
That they also have authority 
† Ezek 33.2. Act. 1. & 6.14.  to elect, call and set over them watchmen and shepherds of their souls to break unto them the bread of life, whom they are bound again to sustain 
† Gal. 6.6.  with all their temporal goods, so far as their abilities extend, and the Ministers duty shall require.  
That whensoever the whole 
| Num. 15.30.31 Hos. 2.2. Prov. 13.13. Rev▪ 2.5.  Church or any member thereof wilfully transgresseth the law of the Lord, and persisteth obstinate and incorrigible in any sin, refusing to hear the voice of Christ, they will cease to be the people and servants of God, neither can be so esteemed until they repent.  
That all that willbe saved, 
” Deut. 12 5 13.14. Pro. 9 1.2.3.4. Zachar. 2.10.11. Cant. 1.6 7.  must join themselves to some particular Church of Christ, to live therewith in faithful obedience peace order and love; 
* 2 Cor 6.14.14.15.16.17 18.  forsaking all false and adulterate synagogues, of which sort we affirm the ordinary parish assemblies of our woesull country to be, and therefore have abandoned them for these weighty causes.  
1. They are not a communion of 
† Psal. 14. ●●  Saints, 
‡ joh. 17. ●● 16.  called and severed from the world, but do consist of all sorts of men, retaining a multitude of irreligious, profane, Atheists, Blasphemers, Idolaters, whoremongers, and all manner wicked persons within her Majesty's dominions.  
2. They have not been won unto th● faith 
* Rom. 10.14 15.17.  by the preaching of the gospel, ney●ther ever made 
† Act. 2.37.41.  willing covenant to walk up rightly before the Lord; but were drawn by civil force in the beginning of her Majesty reign.  
3. Their public worship of God in thei● assemblies, is false and idolatrous, 
‡ Exod. 20.4 Mat. 15.9.  translated out of the Pope's blasphemous Mass book the cursed invention of the man of Sin, imposed both upon the Lord and them.  
4. The Ministry of Lordly Lord Arch bishops, Bishops, Deans, Arch Deacons etc. Parsons, Vicars, Curates, etc. is not the true 
| Rom. 12. 1 Cor. 12. Ephe. 4.  Ministry of Christ in his testament, neither acordeth thereto in name, office, calling, entrance, administration or maintenance, bu● is the same which was found and left in the Pope's Church.  
5. Their Church 
'|' Mat. 6.24 Rom. 6.16. Gal. 5.1. Revel. 13.16. & 14.9.10.  is in bondage & bears the yoke of Antichrist, the burdenous traditions ceremonies & injunctions of their Lords the Bishops their courts and canons.  
6. They are 
* jer. 7.12.13.14. & 19.15.  obstinate and incorrigible in these and other their transgressions, and wil● not be brought unto the true obedience o● Christ and practice of his laws, but speake●vil of the truth▪ and witnesses of the same and of them 
† Mat. 23.34 35.36. Gal. 4.29.30.  some they have killed, many imprisoned, all persecuted banished and blasphemed.  
Therefore this people in this fearful estate cannot in any just intendment be esteemed the children or church of God. Nevertheless the firm foundation of God standeth, having this 〈◊〉 seat, the Lord knoweth those that a●● his, and let every one 〈◊〉 naming the name of the Lord depart from iniqu●y● 2 Tim. 2.19.  
Delivered to Mr Wood a Scottish preacher in Ireland, anno 1594.  

The humble, most earnest, and lamentable Complaint & Supplication of the persecuted & proscribed Church and servants of CHRIST, falsely called Brownists, Unto the high Court of Parliament.  
THe most high GOD, possessor of heaven and earth, bringeth at this present before your Lordships and Wisdoms (Right Honourable) his own Cause, his own People, his own sworn and most treacherous Enemies, together with the most shameful usage of his truth and servants, that ever hath been heard of in the days of Zions professed peace and tranquillity.  
His Cause and People he offereth unto your consideration and defence, in our Profession and Persons: His Enemies and their outrage against his truth and servants, in the persons & bloody proceedings of the Prelates of this Land and their Complices.  
We profosse the same faith and truth of the Gospel, which her Majesty, which your Honours, this whole Land, and all the reformed Churches under Heaven this day do hold and maintain. We go beyond them (being our only fault, even in the judgement of our tyrannical and most savage Enemies) in the detestation of all Popery, that most fearful Antichristian Religion▪ and draw nearer in some pointsby our practice unto CHRIST'S holy order and institution. This is our Faith, this is our Cause (right Honourable) yea the Lords Cause in our sinful hands.  
For the profession & maintenance of which Faith, the forenamed Enemies of GOD detain in their hands within the Prisons about London (not to speak of other gaols throughout the Land) about three score & twelve persons, Men, women, young and old, lying in cold, in hunger, in dungeons and in irons. Of which number they have taken the Lords day last, being the 3. of this 4. month, 1592. about some 56. persons, hearing the word of God truly taught, praying & praising God for his favours showed unto us, unto her Majesty, your Honours, and this whole Land; and desiring our God to be merciful to us, unto our gracious Prince, & country. Being employed in these holy actions, and no other (as the parties who disturbed them can testify) they were taken in the very place where the persecuted Church and Martyrs were enforced to use the like exercises in Queen Mary's days.  
The former number are now unbaleably committed by the Prelate or Bishop of London unto close (for the most part) several prisons; As Bryde-well, the Lymboe or Dungeon in Newgate; the Feet, the Marshalsee; the Counters; the Clyncke; the Gatehouse; the Wotte-Lyon etc. Wherein we willingly acknowledge the lot and inheritance in this life of our Forefathers and Brethren, the holy Martyrs of the former age, and the entailed A●eldama or bloody succession of the See of London and that whole lineage. Well here our brethren lie (how long Lord holy and true thou knowest) in Dungeons, in hunger, in cold, in nakedness, and all outward distress; For these bloody men will allow them neither meat, drink, fire, lodging, nor suffer any whose hearts the Lord would stir up for their relief to have any access unto them: purposing belike to imprison them unto death, as they have done 17. or 18. others in the same poisome gaols within these 6. years.  
The Wife & Husband being now taken by them, they permit not to be in the same, but have sen● them to be closely kept in other prisons. What the poor Family doth at home in the mean time, your Lordships may consider and justly pity. Some of this company had not one penny about them when they were sent into close prison, nor any thing being abroad (which is the case of the most of them, if not all) to procure themselves and their poor families any maintenance, save only their hardly labours and trades. Whereby it is come to pass that these Enemies of God do not only starve and undooe a number of men in the prisons, but even a lamentable company of poor Orphans, and servants abroad. Their unbridled slanders; their lawless pri●e searches; their violent breaking open and rifling of our houses; their lamentable and barbarous usage of women and young children in these hostile assaults; their uncontrolled the every, robbing & taking away of whatsoever they think meet for us in this case; their unappeased & merciless pursuit of us, from our houses, trades, wives, children, especially from the holy society of the Saints and Church of God, we are enforced to omit lest we should be over tedious to your Lordships. But their dealing this way towards us is so woeful right Honourable as we may truly demand with grief of heart, whether the foreign Enemy, or our native Country men do possess and bear rule over us in our dear and native country.  
Their whole dealing herein is most barbarous, most inhuman, but specially most unchristian; and such as exceedeth the cruelty of the heathen and popish professed Tyrants and Persecutors. The records of the heathen persecution under Nero, T●ajan, Desius, Galienus, Maximinian, etc. can scant afford us any examples of the like cruelty and havoc. For the heathen Romans would murder openly and professedly: These godless men have put the blood of war about them in the day of the peace & truce which this whole land professeth to hol● with jesus Christ and his servants▪ Bishop Bonner, Story, Weston dealt not after this sort: For those whom they committed close, they would also either feed, or permit to be fed by others, and they brought them in short space openly unto Smithfield, to end their misery & to begin their never ending joy. Whereas Bishop Elmar, Do, Stanhope, and Mr justice Young, with the rest of that persecuting & blood thirsty faculty will do neither of these. No Felons, no Murderers, no Traitors in this Land are thus dealt with.  
There are many of us by the mercies of God still out of their hands. The former holy exercise and profession we purpose not to leave by the assistance of God. We have as good warrant to reject the ordinances of Antichrist, and labour for the recovery of Christ's holy institutions, as our Fathers and brethren in Queen Mary's days had to do the like. And we doubt not if our cause were truly known unto her Majesty and your Wisdoms, but we should find greater favour than they did, whereas our estate now is far more lamentable.  
And therefore we humbly and earnestly crave of her Majesty and your Lordships both for ourselves abroad, and for our Brethren now in miserable captivity, but just and equal trial according unto her Majesty's Laws. If we prove not our adversaries to be in a most pestilent & godless course, both in regard of their Offices and their proceedings in them, and ourselves to be in the right way, we desire not to have the benefit of her Majesty's true and faithful subjects, which of all earthly favours we account to be one of the greatest. Are we malefactors? Are we anywise undutiful unto our Prince? Maintain we any errors? Let us then be judicially convicted thereof and delivered to the civil authority: But let not these bloody men both accuse, condemn, and closely murder after this sort, contrary to all law, equity, and ●●●science, where they alone are the plaintiffs, the accusers, the judges, and the executioners of their most fearful and barbarous tyranny.  
They should not by the Laws of this Land go any further in cases of Religion, than their own ecclesiastical censure; and then refer us to the civil power. Their forefathers, Gardyner, Boner, Story deal thus equally, And we crave but this equity. Oh let her excellent Majesty our Sovereign, and your Wisdoms consider and accord unto this our just Petition: For streams of innocent blood are likely to be spilled in secret by these blood-thirsty men, except her Majesty and your Lordships do take order with their most cruel & inhuman proceedings.  
We crave for all of us but the liberty either to die openly, or to live openly in the land of our Nativity. If we deserve death, it beseemeth the majesty of justice not to see us closely murdered, yea starved to death with hunger and cold, and styfled in loathsome Dungeons. If we be guiltless, we crave but the benefit of our innocency: viz: That we may have peace to serve our God and our prince in the place of the Sepulchres of our Fathers.  
Thus protesting our innocency, complaining of violence and wrong, and crying for justice on the behalf & in the name of that righteous judge the God of equity & justice, we continue our prayers unto him for her Majesty and your Honours whose hearts we beseech him to incline towards this our most equal & just suit Through CHRIST JESUS our Lord.   Desiderius. 
I pray you tell me, Was this Petition of Mr Barrowes own writing?  Miles. 
The draft of it was, and some copies also. One of which I have seen in the hands of a Gent. very fairly wri●ten, and out of it was this same exactly taken. But read the other, and then tell me your judgement of them both.  

To our Sovereign Lord the King's most excellent Majesty, together with the Honourable Nobility, Knights, and Burgesses now assembled at the High Court of Parliament.  
MAy it please your Majesty, Honours, & worships, graciously to respect the humble suit● of God's poor afflicted servants, and well affected loyal subjects to your Highness & Honours. We are many of us constrained to live in exile● out of our native Country, others detained in prisons, all of us in some affliction, which the Prelates and Clergy of this Land have infflicted upon us for our faith in God, & obedience to the Gospel of our Lo: jesus Christ, We have never to this day been convinced of heresy, error or crime for which we should sustain the great calamities we have endured. The grounds of Christian religion professed and maintained in this Land and other Churches round about, we also with one heart and spirit assent unto and profess. Enemies we are to all Popery, Anabaptistrie, or other heresy, schism, rebellion, treason or faction; and whatsoever else is contrary to the wholesome doctrine of the Gospel or the prosperity and good estate of this Realm. Our only desire is so to serve God as that we may please him with reverence & fear: abstaining and keeping our souls and bodies, from all remnants of the Roman Religion, Idolatry, superstition and vain will worship of what sort soever. We witness against the unlawful pompous Hierarchy, & priest hood of this nation, as utterly disagreeing from the Testament of Christ and ministery there appointed, in their Offices, callings, administrations and Lordlike livings & maintenance. Against the confuse, profane and it religious multitude of all sorts of vicious livers baptized into and retained in the body of this Church of England without voluntary profession of, and holy walking in the faith of the Gospel: against their manner of worship & service, by reading prayers out of a book, in stead of true spiritual invocation on the name of the Lord: and briefly, against all other popish aboses & relics of the man of Sin whatsoever. And because this our testimony maketh against the irregular authority of the Prelates, reproveth their evil actions, and disproveth their Pomp, statelynes, rich revenues, stipends, etc. therefore have they in all hostile manner set themselves against us, persecuting us unto bands, exile and death itself; reproaching us as Schismatics, Donatists, Brownists, seditious persons etc. though they could never convince us of these, or any the like crimes: and though we have not ceased, neither by God's grace will cease, to wish and procure good to their souls & bodies in the Lord. Now therefore our humble request is unto your Majesty, Honours; and worships, that notwithstanding these differences we may be suffered to return into our native country here to live in peace practising the faith of Christ which we profess, and have long since set forth to the view of the world in our public Confession wherein none hitherto have showed us any error: and seeing that peoples of other nations are by your Majesty, and Honours, suffered in this Realm, though differing from the ecclesiastical state of the same; we hope that your highness natural & loyal subjects, may find like favour at your hands. For although we cannot but hold and witness the truth of God against the corruptions remaining: yet hold we ●● in no wise lawful for ourselves or any subjects to attempt the reforming or abolishing of these, or any the like abuses, for God hath committed the sword into your Majesty's hand alone, who in his time will persuade (we trust) your royal heart to fulfil his will and execute his judgements upon the remainders of the spiritual ●abylon, which will turn to as great honour to God, honour to your Majesty, and good of this Realm as the abolishing of Abba●s, Muncks, Friars, Mass, Images etc. hath ●urned heretofore. So the Lord of Lords and King of the Rulers of the earth will 'stablish your Crown etc.▪ Kingdom unto length of days: And howsoever this our suit shallbe regarded, we will not cease in all places of our pilgrimage to pray for and procure the good of your Majesty, your Honours, worships, and all our country, whom God Almighty bless with long life & happy days on earth and crown with everlasting glory in the highest heavens. Amen.   Desiderius. 
Now have I read this Petition also, and I thank you for them both; for me thinks they are able to give content, satisfaction, and worthiness to speak, even in the presence of a Prince. A wonder it is if they moved not Magistrates to pity and compassion, save only that our Lordly Ministers are subtle incensers & great resisters. God give them repentance unto life, if through their malicious sinning they be not appointed unto death. But I much lament that our dear Country should be so stained with suffering them to exercise such cruelty towards tho●e that witness the ●ruth in any part thereof. It is therefore a much better thing for any to partake of their afflictions, then with their persecutors in their oppressing of them. For of the people of God afflicted the Apostle saith; It is a righteous thing with God, to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you, And to you which are troubled rest with us, when the Lord jesus shall show himself from heaven, with his mighty Angels, In flaming fire, ●●●dring vengeance etc. 2 Thess. 1.6.7. etc.  Miles. 
It is well observed Desiderius. For tha● day of the Lords coming shallbe unto his people & weldoers, a day of gladness and much joy▪ but unto the wicked and evil doers it will cause great terror and fear. To them it will be as the Prophet joel saith, A day of darkness and of blackness, a day of clouds and obscurity. joel 2.2. Then shall they cry hills and mountains cover us from the presence of him▪ that suiteth on the throne. (Then shall a good conscience be more worth than a world. And whosoever would have it at that day must labour to have and to hold, to nourish & entertain it, all the days of his life; lest when he seeks for it he find it not. And they that once have it, let them take heed they make not shipwreck thereof.) But for the comfort of all such as are persecuted for conscience sake, and to the terrifing of their persecutors, the Apostle useth this worthy speech, And in nothing fear your adversaries which is to them a token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God. Phil. 1.28.  Desiderius. 
You began to speak of the unlawfulness of appropriating such livings to the maintenance of the true ministery & worship, which the idolaters consecrated unto false ministries & false worship: I desire you clear that point further if you can. For one would think there can be no use made of them tending more to the honour of God, than the employing of them to his service and worship.  Miles. 
The same colour might have be set upon the offering up of diverse strange beasts in sacrifice to the Lord, which yet might not be done by any man, at any time, for any cause. And this which you object, carries no fairer a show with it, than did Saul his sparing the fat cattle of Ameleck under the same pretence of offering them in sacrifice to the Lord: but not being according to the mind of God manifested by his word, but contrary to the same▪ it was imputed unto him for rebellion and transgression, which are matched by the Prophet with witchcraft, wickedness, and idolatry. 1 Sam. 15. For the Lord hath no such pleasure in sacrifice, as when his voice is obeyed. (ibidem.) And thus may you see that Saul's good intent had as fair a colour as can be set upon the employments of popish livings to true Church uses; yet was this a special cause of his ruin, and cutting off from his kingdom. God requires not that to be done, which is right in the eyes of man, but all that he commandeth, and is according to his will revealed, that is to be observed with all strictness, care, love, readiness and good conscience. We must not be wiser, nor holier than God, neither do more in his worship and service than he commandeth. And seeing he hath no where commanded nor given such livings for his Church and ministery, how may any man appoint or appropriate them thereunto? If God had commanded all such livings to have been destroyed utterly, and made void from all use of man, (as he commanded Adam and Eve not to eat 〈◊〉 all of the tree of knowledge of good and evil,) should he not therein be obeyed? How much more readily then should men submit unto him therein, seeing he alloweth them for charitable uses in the common wealth, & hath appointed another manner of maintenance for the ministery of his Church, as hath been showed before.  
And as it is plain that men have no commandment from God to bring in such livings for church uses; so neither may they do it voluntarily, without commandment. For all voluntary religion and will worship is vain, and all worship to God, by the inventions, traditions and precepts of men, is also vain. Esa. 29.13. Mat. 15.8.9. Cull. 2.21.22.23. and against the 2d. Commandment. Exo. 20.4.5.6.  
Moreover by the law of God in Deut. 33, it is unlawful for any man to bring the hire of a whore, into the house of the Lord our God, for any vow, (Which vows were voluntary.) And the reason why such might not be so brought, is there expressed to be, because it is an abomination to the Lord our God. Then whosoever bringeth into his house, for maintenance of his ministery, Worship or the like; the livings consecrated to the idolatrous worship & ministery of that Popish heap of Antichristians the false Church, such (I say) do bring in the hire of a whore, which by this law is unlawful for men, and abomination unto the Lord. For no man can justly deny that spiritual whoredom is as great a sin as carnal, neither can any truly affirm, that ever there was a more abominable 〈◊〉 for spiritual whoredoms and adulteries than i● the church of Rome, which hath made all nation drunk with the cup of her fornications, and hat● received much hire of many lovers, that have (fo● their dalliance and pleasures with her) greatly in riched her. Whereupon it will inevitably follow, & men may safely conclude that the hire of this spiritual whore is as loathsome, intolerable & unlawfully for any service in and about the Church and worship of God, or support of his ministery, as the hire of any carnal whore in the world ever was. For a● the laws of God are spiritual, and have in them besides the outward letter, a spiritual sense and understanding; so must we by the same law forealleaged hold both these as an abomination to the Lord our God. Let every one therefore that hath his true fear, beware that they neither bring in not assent unto the bringing in, for maintenance of the true ministery and worship, the hire of that Popish Church which is so exceedingly adulterate from the right way, worship, order and faith of God, & so old (yea so incorrigible) in her evils, as the conscience of good Protestants do well know, and need no further conviction that she is not, neither possibly can be, the true Spouse and Church of Christ in such estate; but a most abominable harlots, wedded to her Lord God the Pope, as he is called by themselves in their own writings. Though indeed he be the very Antichrist, and suitable head of that idolatrous church, which in all 〈…〉 self above King and Kaesar, nay more than so, even above all that is called God or that is worshipped. ● Thes. 2.4. And how then should the hire & wage, that is, the livings and revenues, befallen unto this filthy woman the false Church, for her fornications, be now converted and given unto the true Spouse and Church of Christ, or unto the ministery thereof. Is there any honest man (think you) that will endure to see his wife decked with the known jewels & gifts that some notorious open harlot had received of her lewd lovers? And may we think that Christ jesus will endure his Spouse the true Church, to be decked, supported and laciviously set up with the hire of the whore of Rome, that false & counterfeit Church, as though he had no other means to maintain her, then that which is evidently the wage of wickedness and engine of evil?  Desiderius. 
But how can the Popish church livings be accounted engines of evil?  Miles. 
Thus, First they did appertain to the Common wealth, and were in all deceiveableness of unrighteousness craftily purloigned drawn and converted to antichrist's church and clergy. From the time whereof they challenge the only right & prerogative concerning them: though in deed they were then perverted from a right and lawful use, to an unlawful, wrong and wicked use. For men ought to honour the Lord with their riches, etc. (Prov. 3.9.) and not thereby to advance Antichrist and his religion. God is honoured by riches, only when they are employed acco●●ding to his Law & appointment. But these bein● employed for sinful services contrary to the Law men are ready enough for desire of enjoying suc● settled livings to enter into and continue in an ido●latrous, treacherous, & Antichristian estate. Therefore such livings are engines of evil.  
Secondly, they being once made ecclesiastically caused great covetousness to come upon our Protestant Bishops and Priests, that of a desire to have wha● the Popelings left, they played catch that catch may, as if they thought themselves (as I know the● are) the next heirs and nearest of kin unto the for●mer Clergy, the burners of Gods holy Bible, an● murderers of our forefathers the Martyrs. And ar● not these engines of evil?  
3. And while they are continued in this ecclesiastical use, they are great allurements to the Iesu●ites and seminaries Priests, (the Pope's marked Miinisters, the merchants and sales-men of his Babylonish wares,) to plot, contrive and practise, their treasonable courses against Kings and Princes, no● caring for the overthrow of States and Countries▪ so as they may again make way for the sale of thei● said wares, and repossess the former consecrated livings to themselves again, wwhich are now in the hands & use of the Protestant Clergy, whom therefore the Papists do divulge as thiefs. And are they not engines of evil?  
4. And again, the continuance of them in the use aforesaid, do strongly nourish their hopes to see a day for their own seating in them again. Whereas if that ecclesiastical use were changed, and the things established to a good civil use, their hopes would utterly vanish away, & Princes should be settled in much more safety than they are or can be whiles these baits remain. And are not these then, rightly termed engines of evil?  
Fiftly, they being not restored to the common wealth, from whence they were taken; but serving for the pomp of proud Prelates and Priests, usurpers keeps owners from their right; and through want of supply in such outward helps, some do starve, others do steal, through which many are hanged, God is dishonoured, the gospel disgraced, the face of good people ashamed, and true christian hearts are wounded. And are not these the very engines of evil?  Desiderius. 
Enough Miles the point is plain. And I see by these that you might make a whole volume of that argument only.  Miles Micklebound. 
But what think you then, were it not better that our Clergy would carry themselves concerning these livings, as honest Abraham the father of the faithful did about the spoils of Sodom which he recovered from the five Kings, who had immediately before taken them for a spoil from Sodom. Of the which, Abraham would not take for himself so much as a thread or a shoe latchet, lest the King of Sodom should say, I have made that all false and antichristian ministries (yet re●●yned in the land) ought by the Prince's authority to be rooted out. The second, That (by like authority) their antichristian & idolatrous livings ought to be converted to (charitable) civil uses: & are not to be given or appropriated to God's true ministery for the maintenance thereof: neither ought it to receive the same. For it stands not with the honour of God, that Beth-el, God's house, should be garnished and supported with the things belonging to or taken from Beth-aven the house of idols. As if the Almighty wanted other means for support of his own house, and must needs be beholden to the house of idols to help him and his. This sin is in nature somewhat differing from the sin of the Babylonians in stealing away the vessels out of the Lords house to busy in the belching banquets of Belshazzar; but it differeth not in substance from it.  Desiderius. 
You call the writing, the first part etc. which implieth a second likewise. But is there so?  Miles. 
I never saw it; but I hope ere my return, I shall see Amsterdam and Leyden, where I shall make diligent inquiry among the people there. But doubtful it is, that after the Bishops heard of the first part & of an intendment of a second, that they hastened the authors death, to stop the current that began to run so strongly against them. Wherefore I exhort you to use this well, read it advisedly, and the Lord direct thy spirit to the right understanding & good use making of all things. And so fare ye well till to morrow and the day after.   

THE FIRST PART OF THE PLATFORM, PENNED BY THAT WORTHY SERVANT OF JESUS CHRIST▪ and blessed witness of his most holy Ordinances, to the loss of life; Mr. HENRY BARROWE.  
1. THat the offices of Archbishops, Lord Bishops, Archdeacon's &c. with all their Courts and under officers ought by the commandment of God to be suppressed by the Prince's authority: and the persons usurping the same, hereafter to be compelled to walk in some lawful calling either in the Church or common wealth, as God shall make them fit and call them thereunto.  
2. That this whole ministry and offices of Deane, Subdeane, Prebends etc. Parson, Vicar, Curates, Stypendarie Lectorers, as the ●aile of the Dragon ought by the Prince to be suppressed and abolished: And the persons usurping the same to be compelled from henceforth to walk orderly in some lawful calling or office, in Church or common wealth, as God maketh them fit & calleth them lawfully thereunto, using the gifts that God ha● given them aright to the glory of the give● the good of the Church.  
3. That the Lands and lordly revenues ● these Archbishops, Lord Bishops, Deane etc. together with the gleabes, temporality etc. ought to be resumed by the Prince, an● wholly converted to civil uses.  
4. That the Prince may give unto her su●●jects the owners of them, their several tith●● aswell open as privy, or reserve so much 〈◊〉 way of tribute thereof as shall seem good u● to her Majesty.  
5. That the true ministery ought not t● be maintained by such gleabes, tithes, set st●●pends, or by the rated wages of the profane but by the free contribution and dutiful b●●nevolence of the faithful, especially of th● Congregation unto which they administer▪  
6. That the Prince ought to proclaim ● publish the gospel of Christ, with the tru●● preaching and sincere practice thereof in a●● things that God shall give knowledge of: An● to forbid & exterminate all other religion's worship & ministries within her dominion●▪  
SEeing that holy and mighty God of heaven and earth will only be worshipped & served ●n his Church according to his own prescript will in his word, 
Exod. 20.2 3.4.5. Ma● 15.9. Num. 3.10 Rom. 12.7.8.  and not by any devises of men how holy or expedient soever they may seem to themselves, and by that ministery only which his son the Lord of the house hath instituted in his last will and testament, and not by any other or strange ministery: Seeing ●o great blessings & promises both ●f this life and of the life to come are made to those people & church●s that thus worship and serve the Lord according to his own holy will, as we most plentifully & comfortably read in the scriptures, 
Deut. 28.29.30.31.32. ch.  and on the contrary such dreadful plagues & fearful judgements denounced against & executed upon those Nations and people that make a ●hew otherwise to worship & serve God according to their own devises or policies: 
Zech. 11. Ezek. 14. jer. 23. 2●.22.  Seing God always speaketh by his own ministery 〈◊〉 his own people, and never by a● false Sinistery▪ but always sende● the one in his espetial mercy 〈◊〉 prepare and make fit unto his he●●veny kingdom, 
Prov. 2.10.11.12. etc. Pro. 16.17. & 14.12.  the other in h●● wrath and displeasure to seduce 〈◊〉 prepare all degrees unto judgement it behoveth every soul in what 〈◊〉 state soever to look diligently un●● & to be well assured of their way wherein they walk and are led: 
16. Mat. 7.  B● petially & above all, it is the offi●● and duty of Princes and Rulers 〈◊〉 whom the word and sword of Go● is therefore committed, 
Deut. 17.18.19. 1. King. 2.3.2 Chron. 15. & 17. & 29 & 30. & 34. chap.  most car●●fully to advance & establish in the dominions the true worship & M●●nisterie of God and to suppress 〈◊〉 root out all contrary, as they te●●der their own salvation at that da● 
Amos. 5.4.5. Dan. 3.10. Reve. 14.4.9.10.11.12. Luk 12.4.5.  of all accounts and the salvation 〈◊〉 all that people under their charge Private members howsoever the● ought to refrain and to keep the●● souls and bodies undefiled from ● false worship which is imposed, suffering rather in all patient and christian manner, whatsoever may be inflicted upon them for the same, (as they that fear more to offend God then men, 
1. Cor. 7.20 Tit. 3.1. 1. Pet. 2.13 16. ) yet ought they not to stretch forth their hand by force to the reformation of any public enormities, which are by the Magistrate's authority set up: For that were to transgress the limits of their own place and calling, to usurp and intrude into the Prince's royal throne and dignity. Which heinous presumption escapeth not due vengeance either in this life or in the world to come. 
Ezek. 4.4. & 22.30.31. Amos 3.7.8. Mic 3.8.2 Cor. 10.4.5.6.  But now howsoever no private subject ought to intermeddle with the execution of any thing, that belongeth to the Princes and Magistrates office, without the Princes special commandment and deputation thereunto: yet is it the bounden duty of every true hearted subject and faithful servant of God, to witness and cry out against all things that are exalted against the knowledge of God, to pray for and by all hum●ble, peaceable and godly means, t● advertise, exhort, and excite, thei● Prince and Magistrates to remove and depose all false worship & fals● ministers in the land. For this caus● have we the Lord jesus Christ's mos● unworthy servants and witnesses hi● thereto endured in all meek and pa●cient manner, the great outrage an● tyranny which this antichristian Ro●mish prelacy and clergy have lon● exercised over our poor bodies, ra●ther than to stoop down either t● that patched traditional worship which they devise and impose, o● unto that unlawful power whic● they usurp & exercise over all men consciences: yea at this present (●●specially upon your honours so gr●●cious acceptation) we are bold (y● in all reverence and humility) t● declare our loyal hearts and inti● affections as in the sight of Chris● unto our most gracious sovereign Queen Elizabeth, and unto this whole State, by discovering these deceivers, and manifesting these heinous abuses and intolerable enormities which remain in the Land by their means to the high displeasure of God, though it be with the present peril and danger of our lives, which those Antichristian Bishops armed with such power and hostility will soon upon the knowledge that we have revealed these matters dispatch one way or another: But we make no reckoning nor speech of these things, neither are our lives dear unto ourselves so we may finish up our testimony and course with joy, and by giving warning (if Gods will be) to prevent the heavy wrath and judgements of God that hangs over this whole land, for the heinous profanation of God's name, contempt of his word, and general impiety even of all degrees: All which enormities here to discuss in particular as they flow from them into all estates of the land would require a larger discourse than this present time or purpose will permit: Only in this place it may suffice that we engage our mortal lives & undertake upon the loss of the same to make manifest proof unto all men by the undoubted word of God in any free and christian conference either public or private: or to make evident demonstration in writing by the scriptures (if we may be permitted) That this whole ministry & public ministration, which is by them exercised in the Church of England is false & antichristian, such as cannot be joined to the gospel of Christ; nor used in the Church of Christ which being proved such, then is it the Prince's duty as she tendereth the salvation of her own soul, and the safety of all this people which the Lord hath committed unto her charge to abolish and depose the same.  
Neither is there cause why her Majesty should make more scruple or delay herein, than her most royal Ancestor of famous memory King Henry the eight did in much less light and assurance, when he expelled the Pope and suppressed the Abbeys etc. Especially when it shall be proved that the whole ministery which now remaineth even from the Primate Archbishop to the lowest Sommoner, together with their Courts, Canons Offices, Officers, etc. are of the same birth, belonged to the same apostatical throne, have as little mention, place or use in the testament and Church of Christ as they, and therefore ought in like manner together with their foresaid father and brethren be cast out, & not to be suffered in the Church or common wealth: Neither can this matter and motion now seem strange, seeing all foreign Churches in all other places have cast out and changed this ministery, howsoever either of ignorance or fleshly policy they might for a time give hands thereunto, yet except they can show that Christ hath instituted diverse & sundry kinds of ministries and governments unto his Church, one in one age and place, another in an other, 
Ephes. 4.4.5.6.10.11.12.13. Heb 3.6. & 12.27.28. & 13.8.  or that the ministery of the new testament is not certain, permanent and unchangeable, the same in all Churches, then doubtless these so diverse ministries, in name, office, entrance, administration, as theirs and this are, cannot both of them be of God. Again, even at home the forward preachers of these present times (not to speak of such motions unto the Kings of this land at sundry other times) have a long time sought and sued unto her Majesty and to the Parliaments for a Reformation, viz. That these Arch bishops, Bishops, Arch deacons, Deans, etc. with all their Courts, colleges, government and administration might be removed and taken away▪ their ample and great livings converted to the maintenance of sundry poor preachers, and that the Church might be restored to that ancient order and government which Christ hath instituted (by them called discipline): which matter they neither could nor durst have moved or attempted if the office, ministery, government of these Lord Bishops etc. had not been wholly antichristian, 
2 Chron. 29. & 35. ch.  and directly contrary to the testament of Christ: For if the office, ministry, and government of these Lord Bishops and their accomplices had been of God, they ought still of necessity with all reverence to have been reserved, the corruptions and abuses that had grown therein to be corrected and purged▪ But if their offices, ministry & government were the institution and ordinance of Christ, what a dangerous & execrable motion had it been to persuade the Prince and Parliament to reject and cast out the true Offices, Ministry and Government of Christ out of the Church? They that should thus reject Christ's ministery, 
job. 13.20. Luke 10.16  ordinances, or any part thereof, reject Christ himself, do violence to his members, spoil and ruinate the Church, and cannot be of God: But these men sought not the reformation or correction of the persons, or abuses of these Lordly Bishops, their Courts, etc. but the utter removing and abolishing of their offices, ministry and government for ever out of the land: whereby it is manifest these men (howsoever they have since changed their copy,) took them to be Antichristian and such as ought not to be used or suffered in the Church of Christ.  
And now that these Bishops and their train, their offices, ministry, government are thus found, even by the preachers themselves not to be of God, (as to any that will further examine than by the rules of Christ's testament cannot be hid or doubtful) we see not how even these Reformists themselves this choice reserved remnant, or this rabble of Parsons, Vicars, Vagrant hireling preachers, without certain place, office, or charge (which are but the very tail of the dragon) should be exempt from the same judgement, 
joh. 10.1.  seeing they all are derived and proceeded from the same apostatical throne that the Bishops, yea even from the throne of the Bishops. So that if the Bishops be not the true ministry of Christ, 
2 Cor. 6. 1● Ps. 94. 2●▪  but false and antichristian, then can they not make and ordain true Ministers, or in that office and estate have any thing to do in the Church of Christ. But all these most forward Preachers themselves with all the rest of these Parsons, Vicars, Curates, were all ordained & made ministers by these Bishops, and execute their ministery under them, according to their decrees, receiving their licence, swearing their canonical obedience, etc. Therefore if the one be antichristian and to b● cast out, so must the other of necessity: Especially seeing the names, offices, entrance, administration, and maintenance of these, are as false & contrary to the rules of Christ's testament, as those of the Bishops, & have no more place or mention in the testament and Church of Christ then their Lords and Bishops and their assistants have: Neither can we see with what conscience they could both denounce the Bishop's antichristian and to be abolished, and yet both receive their ministry from them and execute it under them, & that even when and since they laboured this Reformation: whose corrupt covetous mind yet further appeareth in that they sought the fat livings and Lordly revenues of these Bishops, Deans etc. which they erewhile blamed in those possessors, and so but laboured to do as much for their Lords the Bishops, 
Mat. 6.24  as the Bishops did to their Lord the Pope: which is but to cast out their name and persons, 
1 Thes. 2.3 4.5.  yet to reserve all their ●●vings and privileges, even all the fat and gainful ware of Amalek unto themselves. 
1 Sam. 15.21.  Thus howsoever they be divided amongst themselves (which 
Luke 11. 1●  is no strength to their kingdom) yet is it evident they came all of a brood, 
Rev. 9  even of that swarm of Locusts that came out of the smoke of the bottomless pit, when that key thereof was given to that fallen star Antichrist: which Locusts devoured all the fruits of the earth, & had the power of Scorpions to sting and invenome the consciences of their hearers: But now being discovered they shall together which the Beast (before whose throne they wrought their miracles with the east wind of God's judgements) be blown into the lake that is prepared for the Beast and for the false Prophet, 
Rev. 19.20  and not in this estate be allowed any place in the Church of Christ for ever.  
And now that this whole minis●tery, both Lord Bishops and thei● assistants, Collegiate Deans & thei● associates, Tithing Parsons and thei● Curates, together with all these mercenary vagrant preachers are found to be strange and antichristian, such as are not to be used, suffered or maintained in the Church of Christ, it remaineth that we entreat of their fat portion & large livings, to whom of right they now belong, whether to the Church or Common wealth, to the Ministry or to the Prince. To this or any false ministry they cannot belong, 
Psal. 16.4. 2 Chron. 13 9.10.  because a false ministry is not to be suffered much less to be endowed or maintained in any Christian common wealth: Neither can the true Church or Ministry prescribe or challenge any present right or interest in these lands or endowments of this false Ministry. Christ hath provided and instituted for his ministery an other kind of maintenance than such royalties, 
1 Cor. 9 7. etc.  Lordships, glebe lands, tithes, or 〈◊〉 stipends: 
Gal. 6.6. 2 Cor. 9 1. Cor 16▪ 1.2.  The true ministry is ●o live and to be maintained of the ●lock to which they attend and administer, and that not by tenths or thirds, by stints or rates, by bargain, ●aw, or imposition, but by the loving, free, yet dutiful contribution of the flock, as the ability of the one extendeth, and the needs of the other require, each one most willingly not by constraint imparting even of all their goods unto them to ●eleeve their wants, not to nourish ●hem in superfluity, 
Phil. 3. 18.19.  idleness, etc. These worldly promotions, tithes, set stipends etc. belong rather to idle ●ellies & hirelings, then to the true ministery of Christ, whereof they are and always have been rather the corruption than the maintenance. These would but hinder & extinguish the continual love, care, benevolence and duty of the flock unto their ministry; 
1. Pet. 5.1.3.  as also the labour, diligence, and watchfulness & faithfulness of the ministery to their flock as we have lamentable expe●●●ence in the present estate of this ●●●nistery and people generally. 
Rom. 12.7.8. 1 Cor. 12 29. Ephes. 4.11.  Aga●●● the number, estate, and needs 〈◊〉 the ministry are so uncertain, the● sometimes being more, sometimes fewer to be maintained, accordi●● to the greatness and variable esta●● of each congregation (and not 〈◊〉 each parish one only, as here) 〈◊〉 ministry also some of them havi●● families greater or less, and sund●● necessary occasions so uncertainly they cannot be provided for, rate●● and limited by any better or oth●● laws and orders then those Chr●●● hath set down in his testament. 〈◊〉 conclude, this alloting of Lande●● Tithes &c. to the ministery in every parish both is preposterous, sei●● as yet there is not in every such p●●rish, no not in any one parish, a people rightly gathered unto, and jointed in the faith orderly together, 〈◊〉 for a ministry, much less any tr●● Ministry, rightly chosen and established amongst them: and also it presupposeth yea maketh a necessity that there must be and always shall be unto the worlds end (so long as there be any inhabitants) a true Church and Ministry in every parish, and so confirmeth that popish error of local and personal succession, besides sundry other inconveniences that would ensue thereof. This little that hath been said may suffice to show that the true Church and ministery of Christ have no claim, interest nor right unto, neither use of these Lordships, gleabes, tithes, set stipends etc. which erewhile were possessed by these Prelates & prowling Priests, then must they of necessiey belong and return unto the Prince and common wealth from whence they first proceeded: Now whether unto the King as supreme Lord, or unto the lords patrons that owe the advousons may some question arise, which controversy being a matter in law, shall much better be pleaded and decided b● her Majesty's Sergeants and Iudg● then by us that are ignorant of the● matters. Only this concerning the office of these patrons we say that we find no mention thereof i● the testament of Christ (where a● the offices of his church are perfectly described, nor any use thereof i● the Church of Christ, but rathe● find it greatly prejudicial and con●trary unto the liberty and holy or●der of the Church. For Christ hat● appointed that every particular Church all the members thereof ga●thered together as well learned as o●ther, 
Act. 6.2.5. & 14.23. Titus 1.5. 1 Tim. 3.10  with one accord should mak● choice of their ministery after du● proof according to the rules prescribed. Which choice can not be made or order kept when one man (were he never so wise) taketh away the power and duty of the whole Church to make the choice, how much less when the Patron that oweth the advouson, is many times a stranger both to the Priest & people, ignorant, and unable to discern or judge of the gifts, fitness, life of the person chosen and presented, the Patron many times being a child, a woman, yea peradventure a profane or wicked person, a Papist, an Atheist, an Heretic etc. which choice the miserable people rue that are subject to these woeful orders, and must endure whatsoever these lords their Patron & Ordinary do, be the Priest never so bad. Neither can all the learning & wisdom these Bps. have or want their orders, laying on their hands, or breathing their unholighoste upon them, make either this trust and calling of these patrons good, or the Parsons thus called true Ministers of Christ. All that God hath appointed to the Ministry he calleth lawfully to the ministery, neither can any that want this lawful calling be lawful Ministers: Now than the office of these patrons being found thus contrary to the word of God, thus prejudicial and pernici●ous to the Church, 
Num. 16.5 40. Num. 17.8. Heb. 5.4.  ought also by the Prince to be abolished: which office being taken away we see no● how any man can challenge the re●venous belonging thereunto as to their private use. When in the bes● consideration these patrons wer● but as Deputies or Feffees of trus● to see the Town furnished of a con●venient Priest in due time, & might not at any time detain any part o● the revenues to their own private vse● Such as challenge by impropriati●on claim by a new title & advance the Prince's right from whom they received the same. Which showeth that the Prince hath power to change the use and bestow the Lands as pleaseth her only to civil use. But as to these tithes which these ravenous Priests extort from all her Majesty's subjects thrusting in their sickle into every field, 
Num. 18.21. etc. 1 Sam. 2.14.15.16. Mat. 23.14.23.  their fleshhooke into every poor body's kettle, without regard of faithful or unfaithful, rich or poor, devouring widows houses, and poor succourless children under colour of long prayers, tithing even to the Mint and Anise, though the Prince ought to take them out of these greedy harpies hands, & may of her royal authority assume not only them, but even what part of her subjects goods it shall please her, 
Rom. 13.6. Mat. 17.25.27.  in way of tribute: yet if her Majesty of her bounteous disposition shall vouchsafe to give back and restore these tithes to their peculiar owners, especially to the poor, or to reserve what portion thereof she please to her own use, she shall both enrich and highly content all her subjects, and bind them most firmly unto her: & far surpass in bounty, not only all her royal progenitors, but even rather all the Kings and Emperors that ever were in the world, and relieve more poor hungry souls every day, than the King Assuerosh did at his long lasting sumptuous feast, 
Est. 1.3.4.5.  which shall no doubt be more acceptable & be held more pure religion and undefiled before God, 
Esa. 58.6. & 1.17.  thus to visit the widow and fatherless in their tribulation, 
jam. 1.27.  to smite off this more heavy yoke then ever was imposed by any King of this Land, and let the oppressed go free, and to keep herself unspotted of the world; then to make sumptuous feasts unto the rich, or to offer store of burnt offerings unto God.  
And as her Majesty shall hereby release the bodies of her oppressed subjects, from daily grievous exactions of these greedy Priests; so much more shall she relieve many a sorrowful distressed soul: yea even the whole Land that long have been misled & held under these more than Babylonish yoke & Egyptian bondage of their Antichristian power, ministry and traditions, by proclaiming unto all her subjects the joyous heavenly pure gospel of Christ, 
2 Chron. 17 7.8.9.  calling all men by all means to the holy free and sincere practice thereof in all things as God shall give sight, 
Esa. 2.2.3. joh. 12. 3●. 2 Chro. 19.5 6.7. Deu. 1.15.16.17.  prohibiting, restreininge and abolishing all contrary religions & practice, and by seeing the Law of God in both the Tables daily observed by all estates and degrees within her highness Dominions. And lo how the Lord inviteth and inciteth her highness hereunto preferring her & giving her the pre-eminence of this glorious work before all the Kings of the world as also how richly he rewardeth all that further this high service both by putting into their hands the rich spoil of this confused Babylon, & by bringing them to Zion the City of his solemn feasts. O what a joy, what a jubilee, what a happy day were this to the whole Land, far surpassing that at Machanajjm to see our heavenly King Christ jesus thus with one accord received and welcomed into his kingdom, his Church? How should Gods name & our Queen's praise be celebrate for this by every mouth even with a general applausion and Celeusme? The sound whereof should not only fill this Land, but be heard into all others to the giving them example & stirring them up unto the like extirpation of all Idolatry, and unto the true practice of the Gospel: what Christian, yea what stony heart would hinder God from this glory, the Prince from this fame, the people from this comfort, themselves and all others from this salvation?  
How heinous then is the sin & impiety of the Divines & Prophets of these times, against God, their Prince, and the whole land, that by their uttermost power & endeavours seek to stop and turn back her Majesty, her most honourable Councillors and Nobles from this holy straight course, by speaking evil of the Gospel & ordinances of Christ, and perverting the straight ways of God, 
Act. 13.8. 2 Tim. 3.8.  by leading and holding captive them and the whole Land under their false worship and antichristian ministry to the seducing and destruction of all their souls, 
Rev. 13.6.7.15.  and by accusing, reproaching, slandering, persecuting, false imprisoning, and if they could hanging and burning all such as either in all humble & Christian manner stand and plead for the sincere and true practice of the Gospel, 
Jude 3. Gal 5.1.  or by the light thereof discover and eschew the popish corruptions and abominations which they impose and maintain contrary to the truth of the Gospel. These are the only means whereby these Prelates defend themselves or convince their adversaries, which if they were but even a little while plucked out of their hands by her Majesty, and the honourable Governors, and called to the spiritual sword to defend their doings by the direct rule of God's word, than were they disarmed, discovered, and confounded at once, then should it soon be seen how well these timber, 
1 Cor. 3.13. Eph. 5.13.  straw, and stubble buildings, of theirs would endure that fiery trial of God's word, 
jer. 5.14. Rev. 11.5.  then should all these controversies soon be be at an end. Yet because they bring certain delusions, calumniations and impediments, in human wisdom, worldly policy, and divillish deceit, which may deter, trouble, and keep back the weak and simple from this holy reformation and sincere conversion to the gospel of Christ, we will in the mean time address ourselves in all brevity to remove some of their chiefest stumbling blocks out of the way, 
●sa. 62.10.  that an aggest and straight causey may be showed unto all men, leading into the Church of God, and holy practice of the gospel of Christ.  
They object and publish,  
That to abolish this present ministery, worship, traditions, government of their Church, would be an intolerable innovation and most dangerous alteration, to the subversion of the State, both in regard that these Bishops are Pears of the same, and their power, Courts and ordinances, have been a long time established and confirmed by sundry Parliaments and so all that speak against them and their proceedings, are enemies unto, and speak against the peaceable estate of this Land.  
To these politic objections and carnal reasons, we answer with the Apostle, 
Rom. 8.6.7  That the wisdom of the flesh is death, but the wisdom of the spirit life and peace, for that the wisdom of the flesh is an enemy against God, for it is not subject to the Law of God, neither indeed can be. 
Mat. 21.44.  They therefore that thus stumble at the word of God shallbe broken, and they upon whom it thus falleth shall be ground to powder. They that call all men unto the Law of God & to the Testament of Christ, 
jer. 6.16. Deut. 4.6. Esa. 8.20. 2 Pet. 1.19. 2 Tim. 1.13.  do not innovate: but they that depart in any jot and swerve from the same, they innovate: The word of God is the Archtype and ground work of all States, degrees, actions, both ecclesiastical and civil, 
Rom. 2.16.  whereunto they must be framed, whereby they shall be judged, no other thing standing before the face of that great judge then his own revealed will in his word: whatsoever then is agreeable unto the word of God is agreeable unto the State, and whatsoever is contrary unto the word of God, is contrary unto the State. If then the estate of these Prelates, Clergymen, ministry and their proceedings, can not be approved by, but shallbe found repugnant unto the Testament of Christ, then are they pernicious & contrary to the State, drawing into the heavy wrath of God unto utter subversion and destruction: Then are they for the safety of the State, to be abolished, and they whosoever they be enemies to God, to their Prince & unto the whole State that persuade the contrary upon any earthly respect or worldly policy, upon any pretext of expediency, profit, peace etc. Alas there is no peace to the wicked and disobedient. 
Esa. ●7. 21. 2 Thes. 1.8 Esa. 60.12.  That Nation and that Kingdom that will not obey unto the Gospel of our L. jesus Christ shall perish, and those Nations shallbe utterly destroyed as the Lord hath not vainly threatened in his word: 
Num. 18.7 2 Chron. 27 18.  And as to the persons of these Lordly Prelates and Peers to Nobles (or rather some of them without Peers & above all the Nobles in the Land) we abash not to affirm them to be no members of this state, either civil or ecclesiastical, as in regard of their offices, functions and dignities etc. civil they cannot be because they pretend to be Archbishops, Bishops etc. These are no civil honours nor offices, neither may be executed by any civil persons: Truly ecclesiastical they are not, 
1 Pet. 5.4. Phil. 2.11. john 13.13  because we find no mention in Christ's testament of any such Arch or Lord Bishops, save our Saviour Christ himself only who is the chief Bishop & Lord of the house. He hath often and earnestly forbidden all other Bishops, yea himself whilst he was here in the flesh refused such civil dignities, 
Luke 12.13 14. joh. 8.11. 2 Tim. 2.4. mat. 20.25  titles, offices, and jurisdictions, which these men or rather monsters are not ashamed notwithstanding Christ's express inhibition to receive and carry, 
Luke 22.25.26. joh. 13.15. Mark. 9.35.36.  colouring their pride under the Prince's commandment, as though either the Prince might give or they receive that which Christ forbiddeth them: Or as though their holy father the Pope might not so justify all his blasphemous titles and fastuous pomp by Princes and Counsels: Thus commingle and confounded they these distinct ordinances & callings of God the ●●il and ecclesiastical offices & functions in their own persons, and blasphemously usurp the very peculiar names, offices and honours proper to CHRIST alone, whereby it is apparent by all these concurring notes, 
2 Thes. 2.4. Mat. 24.15. Rev. 13.  that they are the very Antichrist that Beast that confound all the orders and ordinances both of Church & common wealth, and are the very bane poison & ruin of both Church and common wealth, as if we should search out & bring to light the havoc & misrule they keep both in Church and common wealth we could make evident to all men: But to our purpose; They and all their train are strangers in this common wealth. This Kingdom stood and flourished before any Lord Bishops were, and shall much more when they are gone. What miss hath this State or common wealth of their elder brethren the Lord abbots and the Munks, Friars and those vermin? yet were they rooted to seeming as deeply in this State both in the Church and common wealth as they, their Clergy and Ministry now are, & carried as great a semblance of holiness, religion, antiquity, utility as these do, & might as well have been reserved and reform as any of these. They are all Brethren, of a birth they sprang all of one head, and together with their head to one end they shall, for the Lord hath spoken it. As to the Laws wherewith they would fortify themselves and bind others so long as they are but the Laws of men, 
Esa. 32.25.  and not the Laws of God, 
Mic. 6.16.  yea contrary to the laws of God, they are but as the new cords of the Phi●listimes, not able to strengthen their mast, they shall neither avail them nor yet bind our Sovereign Queen and this whole State. The Kings of this Land together with the assent of the Nobles and Commons have always taken absolute power to correct or abrogate any Laws that are found contrary to the word of God. There is no cause they should now fear the false Prophet's threats, 
Deu. 18.22  whilst they have the warrant of God his word for what they do: For God shall bless them in the deed.  
Further they suggest, That this Reformation would extinguish all learning, take away the study of all liberal Arts, and so would draw the people and whole Land into ignorance, atheism, barbarity, dissoluteness, and in the end change the government from a Monarchy to Democraty or Anarchy.  
These calumniations tending to the high contumely & reproach of that ministery, order and government which Christ hath prescribed in his testament, yea even of the Gospel & sacred person of Christ himself, 
1 Cor. 16.22.  deserve rather censure than answer. 
1 Tim. 6.3.4.  The untruth thereof is evident in that such effects were never found to follow the sincere practice of the Gospel, 
Esa. 2.9. Hab. 2.14.  to which whoso consenteth not, is puffed up and knoweth nothing how wise or learned soever he seem in his own 
joh. 6.45.  eyes: 
1 Tim. 3.15 Esa. 66.11.12. & 24.23. & 60.19.20. Zech. 14.6.7. Re. 21.23.  where the Gospel is purely taught and faithfully obeyed, there saith the Prophet shall the earth overflow with knowledge as the sea with waters: And as to the Church of God it is said the pillar and sure keeper of truth, the nursery of all good education, the school of all holy knowledge, no enemy but a favourer of all lawful arts and science: where the glory of God and the Lamb are the light thereof: 
Mic. 4.2.3 Esa. 2.3. 1 joh. 1.6.7  where the lively graces of God's spirit are ever burning and never quenched. There are all men of all degrees instructed in their duties from the highest to the lowest: And whoso walketh not in the light as Christ is in the light can have no fellowship or place there: 
Esa. 35.8. joel 3.17. Zech. 14.21. 1 Pet. 2.9. Esa. 11 6.7.8.9.  Into the Church of Christ entereth no profane, ignorant, or ungodly person: The Leopard must leave his fierceness, & the Cockatrice his poyzon, so that the young kid may feed with the one, and the weyned child play at the hole of the other, before they can be received as members: And being entered there can no inordinate walking, 
2 Thes. 3, 6 14. 1 Cor. ●1. 16.  no dissolute or unruly person be there suffered: The Church hath always vengeance ready against all disobedience by the spiritual weapons and judgements of God's word. 
Mat. 1●. 12 2 Cor. 10.4 5.6.  The government thereof (as the Prophet ravished in the contemplation thereof saith) shallbe of peace & exactors of righteousness: 
Esa. 16.17.18. Mic. 4, 3.4.5. 1 Co 14.33.  violence shall no more be heard in the Land, neither desolation nor destruction in the borders: They shall there break their spears into scythes & their swords into mattocks: Christ's servants are an humble, meek, peaceable and obedient people, loyally subject and assuredly faithful to any civil government the Lord setteth over them. 
Tit. 3.1. 1 Pet. 2.13 14. Rom. 13.1.2. Eccles. 8.2. etc.  They reverence and willingly obey even their heathen tyrannous Magistrates, with out resistance even to the death, how much more their Christian, faithful, loving Magistrates, partakers with them of the same comforts & hope? All power here is yielded and rendered to the civil Magistrate, every soul being subject, & no part thereof taken away, or taken together with the civil Magistrate as these Princely Prelates with their Palatine royal privileges and these Lordly Bishops with their Courts and civil jurisdiction. Neither can Satan himself without impudent slander accuse the servants of Christ of sedition or disobedience, 
Rev. 17.5. & 18.2. Prov. 5.3.4.5. & 7.10. etc. & 9.14.15.  much less of such dissoluteness, violence, atheism barbarity: No, these with infinite other enormities flow from the false Church from Babylon the mother of all the abominations, dissoluteness, confusion, impiety, where all are received, feasted, blessed, even every unclean bird, 
Psal. 94.20 Rev. 13.2.6.7. Dan. 7 8.25.  and hateful spirit: Their ungodly throne, their false and deceitful ministry which showeth them not the Counsels of God, which discovereth not their transgressions, neither hath any spiritual weapons or power against any sin be it never so heinous, but war together in most desperate manner and oppose themselves against the ordinances of Christ his Gospel, are the very cause of this impiety, profaneness, ignorance, and atheism that aboundeth. And this we say that if God's ordinance, even the Prince's laws and sword, (which yet punisheth some offences) kept not out barbarity, & dissoluteness, more than their ministry, there should be no peace nor order, neither might one live by an other in their Church: So that, this their Pseudohierarchie is the most pestilent Anarchy that Satan and all his instruments shall ever be able to raise up, 
2 Thes. 2.9.  as wherein he hath bestowed his uttermost power, delusions, and deceits to suppress the holy practice of the gospel, and to keep Christ out of his kingdom.  
There now remain certain difficulties & impediments which are propounded by way of question, and being of no great moment are as soon answered as propounded.  
They demand; If these spiritual Courts of theirs were taken away, what order then should be taken for Matrimonies, adulteries, testaments, with which the common laws of this land meddle not? and also how the civilians should then live? We answer, That the trial, judgements, punishments of these causes and offences belong unto the civil Magistrates office, 
Luke 12 13.14. joh. 8.11.  & neither to the Church nor to any private men. God shall give our Magistrate's wisdom if they take counsel at his word, 
Deut. 4.5.6.7.8.  to provide for the reformation of these and many other abuses. And as to the officers of these Courts, they are to be compelled to walk orderly in some lawful calling: 
2 Thes. 3.10.12. Ephes. 4.28 Prov. 20.17.  There are many godly means for them to live by their diligent endeavours in this common wealth: but howsoever they may not be suffered to live or to continue in their ungodly trade: Neither ought the Prince to stay upon their worldly provision from executing the will of God which so nearly concerneth her own salvation, 
Mat. 10.33.  and the salvation of all her people.  
They further demand; If these livings, and revenues of this present Ministry should be quite taken away, how then the true Ministry should be maintained, or these Bishops and Priests hereafter live? To the first we have already answered; That the true ministery should be maintained of the free, yet dutiful benevolence of the faithful, especially of that flock unto which they attend and administer, according to the present ability of the one and needs of the other. If they here object that if the ministry should have no more certain or other maintenance, they should then famish, the people now generally being so worldly, covetous, and uncharitable, as they will hardly pay that which is by law enjoined, much less give of their own accord. We answer, that this no way hindereth the maintenance of the true Ministry, 
1 Thes. 5.12.13. 1 Tim. 5.17. Heb. 13.7.  but bewrayeth rather the unfaithfulness and impiety both of the people and present ministery: Of the people, in that they no more regard, love & reverence to their Ministry, if so be it were of God: 
Mat. 7.6. jer. 4.4. Amos 6.12. Hos. 4.8.9. Eze. 13.4, 8.9. Mal. 1. Zech. 11.4.5.  Of the Ministry in that they so evil instruct this people, standing Ministers and Hierders unto the profane, worldly, irreligious multitudes, administering or rather sacrilegiously prostituting and selling the most holy things of God, as the sacraments etc. unto them all in this estate for their tithes and wages, 
2 Cor. 6.14 15.  which no true Minister of Christ may do. The Ministry of Christ belongeth not unto neither will take charge over such profane worldlings, 
Gal. 6.6. & 4.14, 15  there can be no spiritual band or communion betwixt them. The true sheep & faithful people of Christ will not only bestow their earthly goods, but even their lives for those that bring unto them these heavenly treasures, that tread out the corn and divide the portion unto them, 
1 Cor. 4.11 Rom. 15.27.  that labour for, and watch over their souls etc. Impossible than it is that the true Ministers of Christ should want means to live whilst they execute their office faithfully (especially where the State receiveth & favoureth the gospel: 
2 Thes. 3.6 10.14. Rom. 16.17.18. ) Neither are they any longer to be maintained than they execute their office faithfully, or they any longer bound to the flock or any member thereof then they remain in the faith and obedience of the word of God. Thus still breaketh out the corrupt mind & coloured covetousness of these tithing & hireling Priests that thus let out their tongues to hire, make merchandise of the word and port sale of their sacraments, making their bargain sure beforehand, which bindeth them together howsoever they do the work, or the people bring fruits of faith; These things are not regarded or looked to amongst them either of the Priest or people: Yet these things prove that there can nor may be no such set permanent livings allotted to the ministery of the Gospel. And now to the other part of their question, How these Bishops & Priests should live, if their livings be taken from them? We answer as above. They may for no worldly cause be suffered to continue in so unlawful & ungodly, yea so pernicious a course to themselves and to the whole land, but must be compelled to walk orderly in some lawful calling or other. 
Prov. 13.4, & 14.23.  God giveth much to the diligent, when the sluggard suffereth want worthily. 
Mat. 20.  Such as have faith & gifts unto edification never had greater cause to use them, 
1 Cor. 9.10.  to call the people to faith and to instruct them in the ways of the Lord. The more they thus labour the more they shall deserve to be cherished and esteemed: 
Psal. 37.25  The labourer is worthy of & shall not want his hire both with God & man: The others of them that have not these gifts may apply themselves in civil things, as to teach the tongues, to instruct children etc.  
They have yet an other question; how the people should be taught if all this ministry should be deposed? To which we answer: The people ought at no hand to be taught by a false Ministry. And further, though they be deposed from their Antichristian ministry, which they exercised to the destruction of their own souls, and of as many as heard and followed them; yet such of them to whom God hath given fit gifts and graces to teach, aught from henceforth to employ the same to the glory of God, 
Rom. 12. ●. 1 Pet. 4.10.11,  the benefit of others, and the building up of Christ's decayed Church. Thus shall the people have all the help they had before. To whom if you add such of the faithful as God hath given the gift of prophecy, 
1 Cor. 14.29.30.31.32.  and interpretation of the scriptures unto, who must and will labour in this work according to the measure of faith in all holy order and sobriety, 
Rom. 12.3.  as also those that the Lord shall daily raise up and send unto his vineyard, the people shall want no means of instruction, neither be destitute of any good gift, but have them much more plentifully and excellently then ever they had without comparison. Yea so shall God bless his own ordinances & their diligence and zeal, 
Ezek. 4.7.  as they shall in short time be thoroughly furnished of Teachers every where, and the work in all places be orderly set up. Only let no man despise the day of these small things, 
Zech. 4.10.  for they shall rejoice and see the stone of tin in the hand of Zerubbabel.  
Your Honours humbly in all duty bounden, HENRY BARROWE.  
RIght Honourable, we have as our frail memories and small measure of knowledge would suffer in the midst of many encumbrances in this our miserable imprisonment, drawn an unperfect discourse of such weighty causes, as we were desirous when God should call us thereunto, to make known unto her Majesty or some of her Honourable Council. And now by your Honour's desert and gracious allowance occasioned, we most gladly relate & present the same to your good Lordship only, as to one whose rare wisdom we know most able to discern, and whose care to preserve and defend the innocent according to right: Wherefore we most willingly put both this weighty cause & our woeful lives in your hand, to be preserved to some equal trial from our enemy's rage like to be increased here upon, in that it so nearly toucheth their estimation and worldly prosperity. And howsoever these high causes of God (which have not been hitherto looked into since the first defection from the sincere practice of the gospel in the primitive Church) may seem strange unto your Honour at the first view, especially if they be weighed with human reason; yet being examined by that Archtype and true pattern of Christ's testament, we doubt not but your Honour shall see with us how far the present State is swerved from the inviolable order prescribed; Especially, if your honour vouchsafe but to look into the office, entrance, and administration of this ministry, you shall soon see it (as some of their own writers confess & none can deny) to be received by succession from the Pope: who, though he were expelled with many of his enormities out of this Land by her Majesty's royal progenitor, yet remained these offices and laws, courts, worship etc. untaken away or suppressed, notwithstanding that the Lord of Hosts had said, they shall not take a stone of Babel for a corner, 
jer. 31.26.  nor a stone for foundations, for it shall be desolate for ever: So that it is impossible antichrists ministry should build up or serve in the true Church of Christ, himself having instituted and ordained an other ministery in his testament, and forbidden and accursed all such as have not their warrant from thence. It is then our purpose Right honourable to make plain in our Treatise that when the Pope was expelled, his ministry and orders which came out of the bottomless pit, were still reserved and set up in stead of the Ministry and Testament of Christ, and so still remain. Which their Ministry being thus found antichristian must by the Prince be abolished and suppressed, that God's wrath be not kindled against this whole Land, for the wilful violating & defacing of God's ordinances, bowing down unto, endowing and maintaining of such bitter plants of antichrist's grafting: Neither will it suffice to say, The Martyrs in Queen Mary's days stood in these offices in King Edward's days; seeing it were great impiety to justify any iniquity by the example of frail man (no man living without error.) For that were to set the Martyrs of Christ against Christ, & either to build our faith wholly upon men, and cast aside the Testament; or else to rip up the ignorances of men to maintain som● sin in ourselves, even presumptu●ously to tempt God to continue obstinate in known sin, which, fa● be it from us, seeing the spirit o● God teacheth us that neither Martyr nor Angel from heaven can justify any thing Christ in his word condemneth, nor may withdraw us from the evident rules in Christ's testament or from any jot thereof, much less from the pure and holy ordinances and government of Christ in his Ch: 〈…〉 have stood in such offices 〈…〉 known it unlawful, suffering v 〈…〉 they did see, Teaching us so far to follow their examples as they followed Christ: Neither need this matter now trouble us seeing all countries about us have suppressed the Bishops and their Courts with all that rabble and many other abominations which flow from the same and remain still with us. The most learned also of the Clergy of this Land have written and cried out for the utter abolishing of these offices: So that it is of all confessed that the Prince ought to suppress & abolish all such offices and orders as cannot be approved by the word of God. Shall then this famous Land Right honourable lie still in the known dregs of Popery under God's wrath for the same? Shall a few pompous Prelates for their own private lucre, pride and idleness, with hold the practice of Christ's testament, and mislead the whole land to judgement? Shall her Majesty's most loyal subjects be persecuted and miserably made away in Prisons, for not bowing down to these confessed abominations? Shall her Majestic and her most Honourable Council be thus guilty of innocent blood through the Bishop's evil dealings? God forbid. Especially the the Lord alluring her Majesty & the Council both with spiritual promises & heaps of earthly treasures (with much peace and happiness to the whole Land) without injury too, or just complaint of any her subjects, so highly shall they be contented: So that if this be not now received (being thus by God's providence put into your hands) it will be received in the age to come; whatsoever come of our miserable bodies, it will be looked upon. It is God's word wh●●● hath now discovered it, which goeth not out in vain, nor returneth fruitless, but surely effecteth the will of God. We have then further in our discourse right Honourable, taken briefly away some of these silver smiths deceitful objections, being ready upon the dispense of our lives, through the assistance of God's spirit, to make all appear missed, chaff, and dung that they can allege for themselves in this their estate. The other parts of our Treatise how this should be effected, what the true Ministry of Christ is, how it should be erected and brought in, we have purposely reserved till we know your Honour's pleasure for the discussing of these which must be agreed upon before we can proceed to the other, and then upon your honour's acceptation (though we are more willing, and have more need to hear & learn, then to instruct and speak) we shall to the utmost of our power make your Honour partaker of that truth God giveth us to see. Even of these things also which ought to be abolished we have yet refrained to mention some, which necessarily follow upon the rest, and will bring yet more present benefit unto her Majesty, of earthly wealth, an unutterable Sum: Not meaning of the Universities, for they may be employed to the maintenance of Teachers and Students in the knowledge of tongue● and other honest, christian, & lawful Arts, the Monkish orders, and profane learning, with all unlawful Arts abolished and suppressed. If any thing shall be objected against the points we have written, we beseech your 〈…〉 may b● set down and discussed either by public conference under notary, o● in private before your Honour with whom your honour shall think meet or in writing: yea if your Honour shallbe willing to hear any of the points discussed by the scriptures your Lordship may procure any of the learned whom yet your Honour may best trust in such business, & call us to trial in your own audience, without making any acquainted with the end of the Question, lest they deal partially, and so seek to trouble and not to edify, as their custom is. In the mean time by reason of our long close imprisonment, we having had no exercise to our bodies, air, or other things needful, even for the preserving of life this three years in effect, our bodies weak, and memories impaired, and greatly broken; as also in no small peril to be indirectly hastened to our grave by our adversaries in this prison, as they have heretofore endeavoured; Most humby beseech your Honour we may be placed at some honest man's house where your Honour please to appoint, or where we can provide, putting in sufficient bond for our appearance, when and where we shall be called to any lawful trial. Thus beseeching Almighty God by his own holy spirit to direct your Lordship in these weighty affairs, yea to draw forth your honourable years in health, safety, and prosperity, to your own endless comfort and good of the whole Land, craving pardon for our boldness, and giving most humble thanks for your honourable compassion already showed, we in all due reverence take our leave until we further understand your Honours will.  
From the Fleet this 13. of this 9 month. Your Honour's most humbly in the Lord to command john Greentwood. Henry barrow.   
Desiderius. 
GOod morrow Monsiour Mi●●●. ● am glad of your return; and tha● not only because I love your person & company but also that I may have a little further discourse with you who have been so profitable unto me b● writings and conference. Here I give you again the Platform, wishing that it & the rest were printed together; but especially if it hath a second part. Bu● how is it that towards the end of this there are cer●tain words wanting?  Miles. 
Those words were spoiled by ill accident in my custody; but the reader may gather the sense or help himself as he may: For I am now where ● cannot have another copy to perfect it: but our hope must be that London, Arnsterdam, or L●yden▪ will supply all such defects.  Desiderius. 
But what say you for the second part●  Miles. 
I know not where to have it, neither do I think that ever it was finished. For, the adversary-Prelats thought better to finish the author's lives.  Desid. 
Oh miserable murderers. God give them repentance, and raise up others that remain, with ability, power, will and readiness, to p●●form that thing which their fellows and friends christianly intended.  Miles. 
It were in deed a work worthy the undertaking, and I doubt not of the sufficiency of sundry men for the well performing of it, if they set themselves unto it.  Desid. 
To whom was this work presented?  Miles. 
As I have heard, To the Right Honourable S. William Cicill Knight, Barron of Burleigh, Lord High Treasurer of England etc.  Desiderius. 
They in their writing have praised his wisdom, but had he preserved their lives from the violence and cruelty of the Prelates, that would have praised his virtue.  Miles. 
What shall we say? there hath seldom any truth come to light but it hath cost some blood, & that should teach men to love it the better. Such use let all people learn to make of it.  Desid. 
What is that john Greenwood whose name also is subscribed in the end of this first part?  Miles. 
He was a coepartener with Mr Barrow in his testimony, imprisonment, and death itself. A learned man he was, as appeareth by an answer of his to Mr G. Gyfford touching read prayer. He had formerly been a Minister according to the order of the Church of England, but degraded himself by repentance, as he saith of himself in his Examination. And afterwards he was Teacher in a particular church separated from the public assemblies of the land. A Gentleman of a good house told me that Queen Elizabeth asked the learned Doct. Raynolds what he thought of those two men? And he answered her Majesty, that it could not avail any thing to show his judgement concerning them, seeing they were put to death: and being loath to speak his mind further, her Highness charged him upon his allegiance to speak. Whereupon he answered, that he was persuaded, if they had lived, they would have been two as worthy instruments for the Church of God, as hath been raised up in this age &c: Her Majesty sighed and said no more. But after that, riding to a Park by the place where they were executed, called to mind their suffering of death, (and being willing to take further information concerning them,) demanded of the Right Honourable E. of Cumb. (that was present when they suffered) what end they made? He answered, A very godly end, and prayed for your Maiesti●, the State, etc. Moreover Mr filips a preacher famous, having both heard and seen Mr. barrow his holy speeches, and preparation for death, said; barrow barrow my soul be with thine. For thus have I been credibly informed.  Desiderius. 
You have saved me a labour, for I had thought to have asked some questions hereabouts: but I am satisfied aforehand. Yet I pray you tell me the reason why they printed not this platform heretofore, and that especially against the King's Majesties first Parliament in England; For that was the time, then was the hope.  Miles. 
Had his Majesty any Arch or Lord Bishop in all his kingdom of Scotland? were not all pu● down? And who would not then have thought, but the like worthy work should have been done in England, after his Highness coming thither, to have brought those kingdoms and countries into Christian uniformity? This was their hope; who sought no praise to themselves; but desired that his Majesty should (as the instrumental means) have done it of himself, without any man's soliciting; that the whole praise should be primarily unto God the cause of all causes, and secondarily unto his Highness, for preferring the will of the HIGHEST, in so weighty a point, as the abolishing of Bishops, & converting of their livings unto charitable uses in the common wealth: But seeing things fall out contrary to expectation; It is (in my opinion) great pity, that such a work should any longer lie unprinted. Wherefore through their neglect, I will cause it to come forth; being persuaded it shall tend much to the honour of God and relief of many, which is both piety and pity. And if it prove any loss to proud Prelates the possessors of those overlarge-living, it is but their due demerit, and they may all learn thereby (God giving them such grace) to make much spiritual profit for their soul's health and comfort: whereof they have far more need, then of that abundance of bodily benefits. And in hope to effect the ends premised, I entreat all men who shall happen to have any of these copies, to make good use of them both for their own instruction and benefit, as also for the common good; and that especially against all succeeding Parliaments, till the mark aimed at be rightly hit, and the goal fully won.  Desid. 
But how know you they stayed the printing of the Plot against the Prelates, upon any such desire, hope, or consideration as you mentioned?  Miles. 
I had speech with Mr. Francis johnson one of the Pastors of that people, who came with other his assistants to make thei● humble suit to the King, & were ready to entertain conference with the Prelates, that his Majesty might the more perfectly have understood the innocency of their cause, and the evilnes of their adversaries: And that same party told me, if they should print the foresaid Platform, he thought it would give offence, and be very ill taken, inasmuch as it was thought that the King and Council would do something of themselves for the abolishing of Bishops etc. And so they patiently waited to see what would be done. And whereas God so disposed that Arch Bishop Whitgift at the beginning of the first Parliament after his Majesty's coming suddenly died, the said Mr johnson thus spoke unto me and others; That God had showed unto the King what he would have him to do with the rest of the Bishops, in taking away the chiefest of them at such a tyme. And as it was well observed of him; so I do most earnestly desire that all whom it concerneth will well call it unto mind, and duly consider of it, for such good use as the GOD of heaven would have to be made by men on earth. For seeing that he who is the God above all Gods, Angels, and men, did in his wisdom and providence, put down at such a time, him that was Bishop above all Bishops in the Land: and at once turned him out of the Council, Court and Parliament; as also from the Church, ministery, and world itself, happily it may insinuate that Bishops are unfit for, and unworthy of, all and every of those places, till they be cast in an other mould and made all new. And if there be no use of the highest and chiefest of them, and at the chiefest time, as God did seem to show unto his Majesty, and to the body of the land then assembled: Then may we think there is as little or less use of the inferior Bishops at any time.  Desiderius. 
I grant it worthy to be well considered and seriously thought upon. But whiles it is in mind I pray you tell me, who penned the second Petition that you showed me? For you named the author of the first, but not of the latter.  M. Micklebound. 
That was by one yet living, who knows nothing of my purpose in all this business, nor what I am, nor how I came by the copy, neither will I make known his name without his knowledge and consent: Therefore speak no more of that matter.  Desiderius. 
Yet you may tell me whether ever they were put up according to the direction or no●  Miles. 
I would if I could; but I think rather that they were not: And otherwise the sin of the Land was the greater that did them no good upon so weighty, so earnest, and so christian a suit; but left them under the tyranny of such bitter Bishops, of whom they are caused so much to complain. If they were not delivered, there is the more need to have them published, that such whose hearts God shall any way touch thereby, may make a holy use thereof, to his glory, the good of their own souls, the staying of God's wrathful judgements from their nation, and for benefit to God's people for time to come: So shall it fare better with the latter wltnesses of Christ, than it did with the former, that stood forth in the forefront of the battle against the Beast: Which war they waged with the loss of their lives: but happy they in the life to come. For blessed are the dead that die in the Lord, even so saith the Spirit. For they rest from their labours, and their works follow them.  Desiderius. 
Were ever any of them put to death?  Miles. 
Yea, and that I caused to appear before in part. Their Petitions also which I showed you, do manifest their hard entreaty sundry ways, and how that many of them through the envy of the Prelates, have been made to end their days in loathsome prisons. And besides that, six of them were executed unto the death, who sealed up their testimony with their blood; and most cheerfully left this world, to go unto Christ their Redeemer.  
The 6. executed were these.  
Mr barrow and Mr Greenwood, at Tyburn. Mr john Penrie, at Thomas a Water by London. Mr William Dennys, at Thetford in Norfolk. And two others, Coppin and Elias, at S. Edmund's  
Bury in Suffolk. And thus several places of the land, are sta●ed w●●h the blood of God's Saints, whose death is precious in his eyes, Ps. 116.15. King Saul, who slew the Gibeonites, had a better colour for that his fact; then can be set upon the kill of these Christians. For they were of the remnant of the Amorites, whom he might lawfully have destroyed, yet when peace was made with them whereby the Lord gave them life; Saul greatly sinned in putting them to death. And for this, the Lord brought famine upon the land in the days of David. Whereupon that righteous King said unto them that remained, What shall I do for you, and wherewith shall I make the atonement, that ye may bless the inheritance of the Lord? To whom they answered; We will have no silver nor gold of Saul nor of his house, neither for us shalt thou kill any man in Israel. And he said, what ye shall say that will I do for you. Then they answered the King, The man that consumed us, and that imagined evil against us, so that we are destroyed from remaining in any coast of Israel, let seven men of his sons be delivered unto us and we will hang them up unto the Lord, in Gibeah of Saul, the Lords chosen. And the King said, I will give them, etc. 2 Sam. 21. The days may come that God may also stir up this or some other Prince like David, to call into question the murdering (not of the remnant of the Amorites, but) of the home-born subjects of our own land, who deserved to live, rather than the prelate's themselves that caused them to die. But when justice by man, or judgement from God do take place, these bloody men will feel the reward of their iniquity. For Haman was not more enviously bend against the jews, for the rooting out of them, than our Haman-like Bishops have been for the destoying of these whom they rail against as Puritans, Brownists, Sectaries, schismatics, and what not? Thus abusing not only those who separate from their Antichristian jurisdiction, adulterate ministery, & false worship, with their government ecclesiastical; but some such also as stand unseparated from the same, who only agree in judgement with the former. But as I have put you in mind of the famine which God brought upon Israel in the days of David for that bloody sin done against the Gibeonites in the days of Saul; so you may remember and should not forget, that in our land, God brought a great pestilence in the days of King james, so as there died in one city London, above 3300. in one week: besides those that died in other cities and towns of the same plague. And who knoweth not but that it might be for that bloody sin against the foresaid Christians, thorough the instigation of the Prelates, who by their murders made these to be martyrs, in the days of Q. Eliz. who was of herself a most worthy Princess. God give men wisdom and grace to consider rightly of all things, and so of these two thus compared together.  Desiderius. 
But would you wish the like reward to our Bishops, that came upon Saul's bloody house?  Miles. 
No verily. But if I knew it to be the will of God I would. For we are taught to pray that his will may be done. Mat. 6. And if some of the● might be so served by the command of their Kings and Princes, it would make the rest prove mor● righteous, and less hurtful, than they have been, or yet are. But I wish with my heart their true repentance that they may escape the judgement of God, & find mercy with men; learning by this and other examples in the scriptures, to be weaned from their wickedness. But if ever any King or Queen do follow the footing of David, for the executing of wrath upon them; or if ever they do fall into the hands of such Lord Tyrants as themselves, then let them acknowledge God's justice, as did their forerunner, who said, as I have done, so God hath rewarded me. judg. 1.5. But to pass from this, & return to our former speech about idolatrous livings, wherein (while I think on it) let me know your mind, whether you have not by our conference, or by the Platform, or both, perceived that the English Bell had but a bad sound which would call men from honouring God, & that noble King Henry, for his heroical acts against Babel, in the overthrow of her buildings, and enriching the common wealth with the spoils.  Desiderius. 
I am very well satisfied, and I thank you for your pains and love, in applying yourself to my capacity, making me to know so many needful things in such ample measure; that though our sinful estate is discovered to be such in England, as giveth just cause of sorrow: yet my heart again rejoiceth that I see the way how to shun the danger of it.  Miles. 
That is well for you, and I wish the like good unto the whole nation of the English. But what say you to those exploits of King Henry the 8? For me thinks they made greatly against the beast, false prophet, and his marked soldiers, the merchants of his Babylonist wares, who were by this means put in doubt that their trade would decay and come to an overthrow. And if Princes in all dominions would now do the like against the remainders of those places & offices, the utter downfall of that kingdom of Antichrist would suddenly follow, to the high honour of God, and gladness of heart to all his people, which should with due regard behold the fulfilling of the prophecies foretelling such a work.  Desiderius. 
As one truth leads unto an other; so by degrees you have brought me to be of your mind in this point, like as in others. But wherefore are the chief defenders of this cause called Brownists?  Miles. 
Because one Mr Brown minister at Achurch heretofore professed their cause, published it in print, and for a time continued the practice of it, till the fear of persecution, & love of this world like Demas, or of ease like Isacar, made him to turn his back upon it. And yet (I think if he were asked) his conscience will not suffer his tongue to say, that it is not the truth: although he hath left the relief of Zion, to live upon the spoils of Babylon.  Desiderius. 
Were there none that did write for 〈…〉  Miles. 
Yes verily. The Prophets, Apostles, and Evangelists have in their authentic writings laid down the ground ●herof, and upon that ground is all their buiding reared up, and surely settled. Moreover, many of the Martyrs both former and latter have maintained it, as is to be seen in the Acts and Monuments of the Church. Also, in the days of Queen Elizabeth, there was a separated Church, whereof Mr Fitz. was Pastor that professed and practised that cause before Mr Browne wrote for it. But he being one of the first writers in her Majesty's reign, therefore those that followed him, (or Christ rather, thorough his means, directing them by God's word,) were called Brownists, as if they had been baptized into his name: Which were falsehood to think, & blasphemy to speak.  Desiderius. 
The name makes them very odious to others, and to say the truth, it caused me to carry some prejudice against them, to the forestall of my judgement in the things they hold.  Miles. 
There are too many that do so: But let not the name offend you or any; for there was never any truth brought to light, but Satan through his notable craft and cunning, hath caused some to paint it out after the names of men, that it might seem base and contemptible in the eyes of all, and to be ●eceived of none. Hereupon have Christians been called Hussites, Hugonotes, Lutherans, Zuingliaus, Calvinists, Puritan, Brownists, and the like. But there could be no name more odious than was given to our Master Christ himself, whom the wicked called Belzebub, and his people must (in their measure) be partaker of his reproach. Let none therefore seek to have a good name by doing any evil thing; nor yet for avoiding a bad name, neglect any good that God requires at our hands; neither let any man measure any truth by the face that foes do set upon it.  Desiderius. 
I perceive by your plea, that if these men had their right, they should be acknowledged for true Christians, and not to be calumniated by the name of Brownists.  Miles. 
Your perceiving then is good, & your words are just and right; for so they ought to be esteemed.  Desiderius. 
But why then do you so often call them so yourself?  Miles. 
For distinction sake only, but not at all in reproach: And if you could always understand me whom I mean, when I call them Christians, than would I give them no other name.  Desiderius. 
You have showed me that many of those people were imprisoned; some brought there to their end; others executed by death: and now I ask, whether any have been banished?  Miles. 
Ye sundry times. And once in my own sight and hearing at the Sessions in London, four of them were enforced to abjure the land, and in what sort and manner, it may appear by a writing that seems then to be taken by some that were beholders thereof, and affected therewith. Which writing was this.  


A Memorandum Anno Domini 1604.  
IN the Reign of our now Sovereign Lord King james, who is a defender of the Gospel, four persons were enforced to abjure the Land for the Gospel's sake, (who practised the Ordinances thereof, in obedience to the King Christ, whom God set to Reign in his Church, by the sceptre of his word:) separating themselves from our Church of England, refusing to communicate, join, or partake with the same, in the public ministery, worship, and government ecclesiastical, with many other corruptions derived from Popery, and are still retained in the body & bosom of the English Church. This abjuration was urged upon the Statute of the 35. of Q. Eliz. after they had suffered 3. months imprisonment: And (at the public Sessions in London,) it was thus carried; That they should take their oaths to depart the Realm within one month, and not to return again into any of the dominions of the late Queen, without leave from his Majesty, or his highness Successors. Their chief speaker pleaded, that they were true and faithful subjects to his Majesty, and had not deserved so to be dealt with; and desired to be discharged without an oath, and they would both promise and be bound to depart. But that not being granted; he desired that their oath might be with conditions and not so strictly against returning. For said he, we may be occasioned to travel by sea to other countries, & by cross winds be driven again into those dominions contrary to our purpose. Or, we may be taken at sea, and brought hither by force, and diverse the like; and so be forsworn though against our wills. Then it was told him that all such things was to be borne with. But he replied, it could not save their oath from being broken, without such things were expected. Moreover he told the bench that they held themselves so bound to Parents, Prince and Country, that if in an other land, they heard of any treason, it was their duty to come & disclose the same. And therefore said he, I will never take my oath without conditions: Which he affirmed sundry times. And when he saw notwithstanding, that the oath was strictly administered unto them according to the Statute, he adjoined this speech himself, But if the performance of any duty to Prince, Country, Parents, or the like, do move me to return, I will then be free of the oath. And thus he would have the Bench to understand he swore; but not otherwise. And they all keeping silence, the Towne-Clark answered; that in such case they should seek for leave. And the party replied, that, the case might require such haste as they could not stay for leave. Then were they commanded to pay their fees, and to be gone within a month.    
ANd was not this a lamentable case Desiderius, that in the days of the gospel, men should be thus entreated for the gospels sake, and for resistance of the ordinances of Antichrist?  Desiderius. 
Yes doubtless, if it were so.  M. Nick. 
Were so! Yes upon the adventure of my best limb, or life itself, it was so. And for those things wherein they differ from the opinions and practices in our Church of England, I never saw any truth more clear in all my life. As you also may easily perceive, if you scan the difference from point to point by the scriptures. And there is no truth in England but they hold the same: dissenting only from them wherein they descent from the word of GOD ALMIGHTY, which ought to be followed in every jot & tittle thereof.  
Now by the Memorandum that I showed you, I remember a saying in the Preface of their Confession of faith at their first publishing of it, which said, They hoped God would raise up another john Fox to compile together the latter Martyrs and Witnesses of our Lo: jesus in these our days. And it seems that the work goes forward, in that God stirreth up some to keep records of such things, for further use in time to come.  
Now for the Statute above mentioned, I know it was intended against popish Recusants, and not against these. And (without all question) their injuries have been more then enough, though Laws were not wrested against them. And this wrong was the greater, considering their love and loyalty to Prince & Country: But their judges must come before the judge of all the world that will do right. In respect whereof I pray for them that their case may be found clear, through repentance, which is the right way thereunto, if it be done in time. And for all the Saints here combating under the banner of the great Captain of the Lords Host, that is, jesus Christ, it behoveth them in patience to possess their souls, & look for their rest when the Lord cometh, who will wipe all tears from their eyes, & give them an inheritance everlasting, immortal, which fadeth not away, reserved in the heavens for them. Which shallbe enjoyed, when others on the left hand, shall both hear a contrary sentence, and receive a worse reward. But as Abigail the wife of Nabal is praised, in that she used such wise and good means to prevent and stay David from bringing that evil which he intended against Nabal and all his house, for his churlish, reproachful, and evil answer; so much more shall it be a praiseworthy work, & special part of good service & durie, in any that shall persuade & withdraw the Magistrates and people, from bringing any evil upon the servants of God, without a cause. For as the Psalmist saith, what hath the righteous done? To which every good Christian may answer, They have surely done that which deserves praise, and not punishment; not imprisonment, reproaches, confiscation of goods, banishment, untimely death, or any the like evil entreaty.  Desiderius. 
They may so answer, and that truly: but the world will not receive it. And now I pray you tell me, What difference do you put between those people called Brownists, and our sincerest and best professors of the Gospel called Puritan?  M. Mickelbound. 
The difference is laid down in few words, The former do both hold and practise the truth, and separate themselves from the contrary. The latter have the truth in speculation only, and either dare not or at least do not practise it. Neither dare or do they leave off all the unrighteous ordinances of Antichrist, but daily do bend and stoop unto many of them. And for what cause, others may well conjencture: but their own hearts can best tell it to themselves.  Desiderius. 
But those Christians called Brownists, are at great difference among themselves. For some holds private communion, others of them will at no hand allow it. And so there ariseth ill will, with decrease of love in one towards another. But I pray you which of those persons or opinions do you like best?  M. Mickelb. 
For their opinion, I would have my judgement spared at this time: Only this I say, that their difference is not such as ought to make any division between them: or to break off the communion and fellowship which they had before. And if any do, it is (doubtless) the fault of those that do it. They have need therefore to take heed of prejudice and preposterous zeal, which else will be as a mother & nurse to breed and bring up that wicked weed Envy, a capital vice, in stead of Christian Love, a holy virtue. Be they then exhorted to show forth the fruits of Christian moderation, bearing with, and supporting one another; praying with and for one another; entertaining holy peace between themselves, and with the Lord; setting against the sins in themselves, rather than that difference in their brethren; so shall they the better carry forth their good cause against their envious Opposites. For while they combine together among themselves, they shall be able to push, and at last to overthrow the Antichristian Kingdom and Hierarchy, against which they jointly bear witness. And thus shall they be truly zealous. As for their persons, there is neither of them do lose one jot of my love, if they continue their love to the Lord, and his commandments, walking faithfully according to that which he giveth them to see and know by his word, both in holiness to himself, righteousness towards men, and sobriety in themselves, with abstinence from worldly lusts. And if they alike thus walk, my love is alike unto them.  Desiderius. 
Some do object against them their manner of receiving the Lords supper, as being rude, unreverent, malapert, and too too presumptuous; sitting upon their seats, as if they were Christ's Comrades: whereas for more reverence they ought to take it kneeling.  Miles. 
This is no more against the former called Brownists, than it is against the latter called Puritans, even the best and sincerest of them: For they likewise so hold, that it ought not to be taken kneeling▪ but sitting: and either do or fain would so practise, if they could in safety, or durst endure the trouble following after it. But for the point itself, How do those objecters prove, that such manner of receiving, is presumptuous & c? But are not they presumptuous rather that shall make themselves wiser than Christ, and give laws in his kingdom or Church, which himself (the only Law giver) hath not given? Do they think that their good intents will carry out any thing in God's worship, which hath not warrant in his word? If that were so, then had not Vzzah been slain, for staying the Ark of God from shaking; 2 Sam. 6.6.7. Neither should King Saul have been rejected for saving alive the fat cattle of Amalek, to offer in sacrifice to God. 1. Sam. 15. But the point being sufficiently cleared by sundry writers, I refer you to them. And I, what should I need to say more but this, that ●ee must in all things look unto the first institution, as our Lord jesus himself also did, when men spoke unto him of putting away their wives, who told them that Moses for the hardness of their hearts suffered it; but from the beginning it was not so. And in like manner, to such as plead for kneeling at the receiving of the Lords supper, we may answer, that for want of love to the Lord and his truth, it hath pleased him to give them over to hardness of heart & strong delusions. And as the Papists those gross idolaters, receiving the signs of Christ's body and blood, to wit, bread and wine, thinking it to be the very body and blood itself, contrary to their own senses; they do for more reverence to it, kneel before it, and worship it as their God and Maker: even so our formal Protestants at the celebration of the Lords supper do likewise kneel; imitating therein those idolaters, and so nourishing that popish error of errors. But from the beginning it was not so. For at the first institution, it was received as they sat at the Table; But we can no where find in all the scriptures, that ever they received it kneeling; or that ever true Christians believed those holy signs were transubstantiated into the body and blood of Christ as the Papists falsely teach▪ Therefore as well that opinion, as their and the Protestants practice, is highly sinful, and for ever ought to be shunned. Both because God never required such a belief, nor appointed such a gesture in the act of communion, as they have taken up to themselves, from the brain of man's mere invention. We are therefore to take heed what examples we follow. Dinah the daughter of jakob, going forth to see the daughters of the country where they came, was defiled bodily: but some of our Protestants looking forth to see after what fashion the Papists served God before them, have been defiled spiritually. Whereas they should have remembered and observed, that which is written for our learning, (in Levit. 18.3.4.) and commanded Israel of old, saying; After the doings of the Land of Egypt wherein ye dwelled shall ye not do: And after the manner of the land of Canaan whither I will bring you, shall ye not do, neither walk in their ordinances, But do after my judgements, and keep mine ordinances to walk therein: etc.  Desiderius. 
It is a good instruction: And being well followed, it will prevent infinite errors and other abominations. But how do you manifest that the Papists do worship the signs of Christ's body and blood, as the very body and blood itself, and that contrary to their own senses, as you said. For if that be true, they are most vile idolaters indeed.  Miles. 
So they are. For when they receive the bread, they see it, feel it, smell it and taste it to be bread, yet they believe in the heart & say with the mouth, that it is body, even the same that was crucified on the cross; quite contrary to their own senses of seeing, feeling, smelling and tasting, as I said before. And that bread, which their own sense tells them, is no other creature but bread, do they adore and worship as the Creator, as God, & as Christ. And so in like manner believe they the wine to be the very blood of God Christ, which was shed for the redemption of the Church. Which horrible idolatry of theirs is as gross, as to worship & believe in a molten or carved image, in stead of the true God. And both these sorts of idolatry, are not only against the second commandment, but also against the first. Thus may you perceive that the Papists are deluded with a lie extraordinary; beleving the lying miracle of transubstantiation. Whereas in all true miracles wrought by Christ and his Apostles, never any were taught to believe any thing contrary to their own sight, and their other senses; but these seduced souls are miserably misled that way. And why? even because their lying prophets do so believe and teach. But is it not as strange that they will have so many Christ's at one and the same time? For after the words of consecration are used, those signs are transubstantiated into the very body and blood of Christ (by their opinion) & becometh the whole Christ: so that if they do the like in an hundred thousand places at once, they have then (if you will believe them) so many CHRIST'S. And they being all eaten up in one day, yet they can make as many more in another: and that as often as they consecreate their bread to such an end or use. And is not this a wonderful miracle, and these marvelous men, thas can by the words of their mouths effect such strange things? Or rather are not these monsters among men, to believe such strange and strong delusions? But so shall it fare with those that have not the love of the truth. 2. These. And now let us leave them to their wanderings, seeing they are so bewitched, that nothing which man can do, is able to draw them from their delusions into the right way and truth of the gospel sword Christ.  Desider. 
The more is the pity. For as we are debtor unto all; so I would we could do them good.  M. Mickelbound. 
They have the letter of the scripture in that point before spoken of. For Christ saith in joh. 6. This is my body: But they have not the meaning at all. Neither do they consider that all sacramental signs have the name of the thing signified. As for example: The tree of life, and the eating thereof, was a sacramental sign to them that should live in obedience to God, that they should have life. The tree of knowledge of good and evil, had the name of that which they should (by lamentable experience) find, if they (contrary to God's commandment) should eat thereof. The Altar, which jakob builded unto God, he called by the name of the Mighty God of Israel. Not that it was so indeed: But that it was a sign & remembrance, of that God who had appeared unto him, for his help; and had mightily delivered him from the furious hands of his brother Esau. And other the like examples are in the scriptures. Even so Christ saith of the elemental signs of bread and wine, in the Lord's supper: Take eat, etc. This is my body▪ this is my blood, etc. Not that they are so in deed, for when he spoke those words his blessed body was at the table among his disciples, and not in the bread; as they plainly saw with their eyes, and did know with understanding: But they were true signs of his body and blood, and as verily as they received them; so certainly should every true believer receive Christ and all his merits, to be fully theirs by faith. And the papists that worship these signs as the very body and blood of Christ, (because they were in mystery so called;) If they had lived in the days of jakob, they might as well, and it is like they would, have worshipped that Altar, as the Mighty God, because it was in mystery (that is, in sign and signification) so called. But as therein they should have been notable idolaters, so are they in worshipping a piece of bread which they eat, as God the Creator both of it & them. And seeing they think that to be their God, if now they would see their foolishness by a few words. I wish them to consider what becomes of it in short space after they have eaten it, & so they shall see that if ever it was a God, it soon vanisheth away and becometh none, which is contrary to the nature of the true God, who is eternal, immortal, unchangeable, etc. but the bread eaten, goeth into the belly, and is carried out into the draft, as Christ speaketh. So that this their God Bread, is more base than the God Bell, or any of the the Gods of the heathens. And are not these gross idolaters? Yea, this their absurd foolishness, was a stumbling block unto Averois, of whom I have read, that he said; Because the Christians eat that God which they worship, my soul shall be with the Philosophers.  
Wherefore, I would they might learn, that as the outward signs of bread and wine, being received into the belly, turneth unto the nourishment of the body, so Christ being received into the soul by faith, is the true nourishment thereof, and salvation of the whole man. For he hath redeemed us from death & destruction, justified us in the sight of God, and procured us life with him. All which we apprehend thorough faith. But in this truth I know you are already grounded, so as I need not speak further for your instruction; and as for them, should I speak, should I write, should I do all I can, it will not profit them. For (without the extraordinary work of God,) they must still believe as their church believes. For that cannot err, as they fond suppose. So that it may hold what it will and they must hold the same, without all trial or mistrust. Thus by one error, they are fast fettered in many; & must be left to their blind guides, till they fall together into the ditch. For other guides they will not have. Therefore I shall now spare a labour, and speak no further of this point.  Desiderius 
Thus brought I you out of the way wherein you were showing the unlawfulness of kneeling in the sacrament. Yet was it not without fruit, for even by that which you have said, men may plainly see, that we ought not to conceit or imitate those superstitious, idolatrous, and absurd Papists, who are so addicted to their own ways, and are like those that cried, Great is Diana of the Ephesians. Act. 19.28. And great with these, is their goddess the false church.  M. Nick. 
But what say you of the Christians whose cause I pleaded for, that addict themselves to the ways and word of God.  Desiderius. 
I freely acknowledge that such aught to be lovingly respected. And you have brought me to like better of them then ever I did; but especially that you so well cleared their doctrine of faith to be sound, and their separation to be but from sin, and such outward orders and ordinances, that are unsound and sinful: which they therefore forsake, that they might do the will of God according to his written word; the light of our feet and lantern to all our paths.  M. Nick 
You have said enough to clear them both from heresy and schism; for he is no heretic that is sound in the faith. And he is no schismatic that separates only from disorder & sin. For we ought not to communicate in sin either with men or Angels.  Desiderius. 
And that is the ground whereupon I myself neither do nor dare communicate in the Church of England with that sinful ordinance of man the service book, or book of common prayer.  M. Nick. 
If you profess so much in England by your practice, as you have here confessed with your mouth, you may happen to be called a Brownist, if not to taste of other hard entreaty.  Des. 
Yet the truth is the truth. Which as it appeareth unto me, so stand I bound to obey unto it. But I pray you why do the foresaid people solemnize marriage in civil Assemblies or dwellings?  M. Nick. 
Because it is a civil action, and ought civilly to be performed, according to the true nature of it.  Desiderius. 
Why, it is the judgement almost of all men to have it done in the Church by a Minister. And (in England) it is a common received custom to have it so performed.  M. Nick. 
I wish rather that for the proof of it you could have said, Thus saith the Lord. And then to have showed the chapter and verse where it is so said. But you have done nothing less, neither in deed it is impossible to be done: there being no such thing once named or implied in all the scripture. And consequently, the ground whereon you stand is not rocky and firm, but unsure and sandy, which shall wash away with the rain, & every house built upon such a foundation, when the floods come and the winds blow, shall certainly fall, as we may learn both by Christ's own doctrine in the Gospel, and reason itself doth show the same. And if an Argument drawn from a common custom be good, then if it be a common custom to have the Lords holy Sabbaths profaned with Bear and Bull baiting, with dicing and carding, with May games and morris dance, with lasciviousness and luxury, with rifling or reveling, etc. then all is good, and all may be done, sane conscientia: But I hope that both you and every child of God truly sanctified, do defy and abhor all such things, not only on the Sabbath days, but every day of the week, and of their whole life.  
And is it not a common received custom in England, to worship God by their book of common prayer in English, as the Papists by their Massebook in Latin, and by their Images, beads, crucifixes, and other the like; in stead of true invocation upon the Name of God by the work of his Spirit: But being all without and against the warrant of the word of God, yourself dare neither practice nor approve them. And why then do you not mind the like in other things no less unwarrantable. As is the solemnisation of marriage ecclesiastically, and other such like. Many abominations might be pleaded for by common custom, and multitude of men in that mind. But lay aside these sandy grounds, and hear the words of the Law, Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil, neither agree in a controversy to decline after many and overthrow the truth. Exod. 23.2.  
Believe it for truth, That  
All Church actions, are laid down in the scriptures, which is the rule of truth: But in them we find no mention of marriage to be a Church action: Therefore it ought not to be so made or used.  
And again, All the duties of the ministery are expressed in the scriptures: But in them there is no more mention or warrant for the ministers solemnizing of marriages, to the living, then is for their burying of the dead, which is just none at all. Ergo, they are both unlawful, and ought not to be done.  
And where you affirm the contrary, saying, it ought to be done by a Minister; do you mean a minister indefinitely, without any respect, whether he be true or false?  Desiderius. 
No, But I mean a true Minister only. For no true Christian ought to go to false minister for any such end.  M. Nick. 
Your reason is right and good: But then the Ministers of England have no right in that work, they being in respect of their offices, not true but false Ministers, and so proved.  Desiderius. 
But in respect of their gifts they may be said to be the Ministers of Christ. For many of them have excellent gifts.  M. M. 
So had Balaam likewise, who yet was but a false Minister and a Soothsayer. And so have many Lawyers & others in our Land, if they would and might be suffered to exercise their gifts, who yet are no Ministers at all. Gifts than do help to make men fit for a ministery, but do not make them ministers, much less true Ministers. For every true Minister must not only be qualified with gifts fitting for the same: But must also be lawfully called thereunto. Even as, every civil Magistrate & judge, must not only be qualified with gifts fit for the Magistracy and judgeship which he exerciseth, but must also be lawfully called thereunto, and rightly put into the possession thereof. But where you say, many of the Ministers of England have great gifts, and thereupon conclude them to be true Ministers, you therein condemn the dumb ministery that do but read their stervice only, and have no gifts for praying nor preaching.  Desiderius. 
It is no matter. Let them go undefended. For I hold them false Ministers, and meddle not with them.  M. Nick. 
Yet they have the same ministery with those that have the greatest gifts. So that if the one be false, the other is so likewise. Again, if men have never so good gifts, and be called unto a false ministery, they are (notwithstanding their gifts) false ministers. But now to return to our former point, and apply this to the purpose. Marriage is the ordinance of God; but a false ministry is the ordinance of the Devil. And (saith the Apostle) I would not that ye should have fellowship with the devils. 1. Cor. 10.20. These can have no more communion together then Light with Darkness, Christ with Beleal, or the Believer with the Infidel. All which is condemned, 2 Cor. 6.  
Moreover, If you would have no marriages right and lawful, unless they be solemnized by a true Minister; than you must either make the popish ministry in Q. Mary's days to be true Ministers, or else all that were then so married, to be unlawful marriages, and the children that were begotten of such parents to be illegitimate, that is to say bastards. But were it not a fowl extremity to affirm either of these? Doubtless a Mariner that should he so absurd in sailing, would soon run his ship upon the sands, or break it asunder against the rocks.  
Again, If marriages be only lawful that are made up in a Church by a Minister; then wheresoever there is not a Church and ministery, there can be no lawful marriage. But the Apostle teacheth otherwise and saith, that marriage is honourable among all, Heb. 13. And therefore not only where there is a Church and ministery, but also where there is none. So that marriage is God's ordinance, & lawful to be performed even among the Pagans.  
Furthermore, If marriage be only right & lawful, when and where it is done in a Church by the Minister▪ then are all marriages to be condemned that have been made up in Christian Countries civilly before the Magistrates. But that they may not be. For the word of God gives approbation to such marriages, in the marriage of Boaz & Ruth, whereof we read, Ruth 4.9.10.11.12. And on the contrary, show you if you can, any one place in all the holy scripture, that approveth of marriage to be either a sacrament, as the blind Papists would have it; or a Church action, for the minister to perform; as you and our Protestants do plead. By which plea & practise you notably nourish the old popish error, that Marriage is a Sacrament.  Desiderius. 
I will reason no further in this matter. For I perceive that both scripture and reason is against me. And when I find it so, down goes the bucklers. For I love not to be a proctor in a bad cause.  M. Mickelh. 
It goes well where there is so good a conscience. (But it is not so in the Spiritual Courts, which are as worthy to go down as your bucklers.) And had you held out longer, you had heard more. But here is this brief writing concerning the point, which in likelihood was written by some of that people of the right Christian procession; though I neither know how, where, nor when I came by it. But a special end of it might be in the providence of God for your good.  
Let him that readeth consider.  
THat which the word of God doth approve & incommend unto us to be good and lawful, that aught all to reverence and obey: Yea though the laws decrees & customs of men were to the contrary: Much more where any thing is done which both the law of God, & law of man doth allow to be lawful, none can disallow or speak evil of it, except they be such as either in bad conscience or great ignorance do open their mouths both against heaven and earth. Which fearful sin, the Lord keep all his servants from.  
Now to apply this to a question objected concerning marriage, I hold and affirm as followeth.  
Viz. That where a man and a woman (that may marry together by the word of God) do take one an other for husband and wife, by words of the present time, before lawful witnesses, using prayer to God to bless them therein, that (I say) is lawful marriage, and allowed both by the word of God and law of man.  
1. The Word of God. By the word of God, as may be seen in these scriptures, Gen. 2.22.23.24. Ruth 2.9.10.11.12. Math. Prov. 2.17. Rom. 7.3. Gen. 29.21.22.23. compared with 1 Tim. 4.5.  
Then also by the law of man, and that both by the common law of this land, and by the civil law also, and even the canon law itself.  
(2. The law of this land.) For the common law of this land, see the Statute of 32. Henr. 8. chap. 38. revived in the 1. of Q. Eliz. directly and of purpose alloweth and ratifieth all marriages done according to the word of God. The words of the Statute are these,  
Whereas heretofore the Bishop of Rome hath always entangled and troubled the minds of people against the regal power of this Realm of England, and also much unquieted the subjects of the same, by his usurped power in them, as by making that unlawful, which by God's word is lawful, both in marriages and other things, etc. And whereas also other prohibitions than God's law admitteth, much more debate and suit of law, with wrongful vexation of the innocent party hath been procured, and many just marriages brought in doubt, and danger of undooing, and also many times undone, and lawful heirs disinherited, whereof there had never else (but for that usurpation) been moved any question, since freedom in them was given us by the law, which ought to be most sure & certain, etc. Be it therefore enacted that no reservation or prohibition God's law excepted, shall trouble or impeach any marriages without the levitical degrees, & that no person of what estate degree or condition soever he or she be, shallbe admitted within any of the spiritual Courts, within this Realm, to any process plea or allegation contrary to this foresaid Act.  
Again in Anno 25. Henr. 8. ch. 22. the Statute hath these words as followeth,  
The Parliaments, Convocations, and Universities agreed, that even in matters of marriage, no man of what estate degree or condition soever, hath any power to dispense with God's laws.  
(3. Book of common prayer.) Whereto also the Book of Common prayer agreeth, which in express terms avoweth their matrimony to be lawful who are coupled together so as God's word doth allow, and declareth moreover, that the very thing which maketh marriage, is the covenant betwixt the parties themselves, when they take one another for man and wife, by words of the present time: as may be seen in the Book of Common prayer, in the charge given to the parties, & the parties speeches one to an other.  
(4. Civil law.) Next as touching the Civil Law, it defineth that to be lawful marriage, when the parties that may marry together and are of years do both of them consent in taking each other for man and wife, if they be at their own government, or if they have parents, with their consent. For this see Vspian. tit. 5.1. justinian institut. lib. 1. tit. 9.1. et tit. 10. Gaij institut. lib. 1. tit. 4.  
(5. Canon law.) Lastly touching the Canon law, it also defineth and declareth, that the only thing which maketh the marriage is the mutual willing consent of the parties, declared by words or signs of the present tyme. See for this Can. Sufficiat 27. ●. 2. et Titus de spous.  
But thus as aforesaid were he and his wife married together: that is, being such as might marry by the word of God, they took one an other for husband & wife, by words of the present time before lawful witnesses, having prayer also made unto God to bless them therein.  Desiderius. 
This writing is worthy to be printed with the rest, for although it be brief, yet (in my opinion) it i●●i●●ie, and to the purpose.  M. Nick. 
And I wish that by this occasion, the● would be stirred up to publish a larger work of the same Argument, which I certainly hear they have amongst them. For I doubt not but it would show you a better light, then yet hath or can shine from me in whom remaineth overmuch darkness.  Desiderius. 
It is like they will do it at your motion, and be otherwise thankful unto you for defending them and their cause.  M. M. 
The Apostle saith, (1. joh. 5.1.) Every one that loveth him which begat, loveth him also which is begotten of him. So that I have done but a duty and fruit of Love, in defending of them and their good cause, both which are of God: and if it deserve any thanks let them give it to him, who is worthy of all praise. As for me, they shall never know who I am if I can possibly keep it from them.  Desid. 
But I pray you where had you the other writing called A memorandum?  M. M. 
In the house of one that keeps Record of many things. Where it sufficed me to get a copy, which made me so much the richer, and the good man of the house was not the poorer.  Desiderius. 
We must now come to a conclusion, for other important affairs do call me from these businesses, which have been very profitable to me, & I pray put all to the printing, that our friends and Country may have the benefit. For to them I desire all good may come. But I have heard here is much popery in this place, which as it is no friend to our opinions; so I wish that it hinder not the printing of these points.  M. M. 
We will put it to the trial. But I wish that the Printers can read our English copies.  Desiderius. 
Oh that they might lively come forth to make their appearance powerful at the time of every Parliament, till some good do come thereof.  M. M. 
The Almighty can effect what it pleaseth him, when and by what means he will: But by that which I have seen both in Court and Country, I have (for the time present) little hope in man. Yet I am assured that the time shall come wherein God will honour some with the work of that good King josias, in a larger measure for reformation then ever yet was seen in England. And as any of these copies shall come into the hands of gracious persons, be they humbly entreated conscionably to consider of the matter, and accordingly labour to advance the glory of God, and to procure the good both of the King and Country, by effecting (through diligent suit, & holy endeavours) reformation in the things before treated on. Which so far as time, place, and purse will permit, shall be put to the Press. And so because of your haste I cease.  Desid. 
Fare ye well Monsieur Miles, Dieu vous guard ●al, and a thousands thanks for all you pains, etc.  Miles. M. 
Adieu Desiderius, and God direct you always to desire the furtherance of his glory, and your own faithfulness, to your endless comfort, Amen▪