We thought good to annex these things, to the end we might confute & ⟨image 137⟩confound those that spread abroad rumours, how that with us nothing is don in order & as ought to be don: that there is no Religion at all, no Ecclesiastical Discipline observed, no regard had of the salvation of mens souls, but that all is don quite out of order and seditiously, that all antiquity is despised, that liberty is given to all sensuality and lewd lusts of folks, that the livings of the Church be converted to profane and worldly uses, whereas in very truth we seek nothing else but that, that God above all most good, may have still his honour truly and purely reserved unto him, that the rule and way to everlasting Salvation may be taken from out of his very word, and not from mens fantasies, that the Sacraments may be ministered not like a Maskary or a stage play, but religiously and reverently according to the rule prescribed unto us by Christ, and after the example of the holy Fathers which flourished in the primitive ⟨image 138⟩Church: that that most holy and godly form of discipline, which was commonly used amongest them, may be called home again: that the goods of the Church may not be launched out amongest worldlings & idle persons, but may be bestowed upon the godly Ministers and Pastors which take pain both in Preaching and teaching: that there may from time to time arise up out of the Universities learned & good ministers & others meet to serve the common wealth: And finally, that all unclean and wicked life may be utterly abandoned and banished, as unworthy for the name of any Christian. And albeit we are not as yet able to obtain this that we have said, fully & perfectly, (for this same Stable, as one may rightly call it, of the Romish Augias, cannot so soon be thoroughly cleansed and rid from the long grown filth and muck) nevertheless this is it whereunto we have regard: hither do we tend: to this mark do we direct ⟨image 138⟩our pain and travail, and that hitherto (thorough God his gracious favour) not without good success and plenteous increase: which thing may easily appear to every body, if either we be con pared with our own selves in what manner of case we have ben but few years since, or else be compared with our false accusers, or rather our malicious slanderers.
Wee thought good to annexe these thinges, to thende wee might confute & ⟨image 137⟩confounde those that spread abroad rumours, how yt with vs nothinge is don in order & as ought to be don: yt there is no Religiō at al, no Ecclesiastical Discipline obserued, no regard had of the saluacion of mennes soules, but that all is don quite out of ordre and seditiouslye, yt all antiquitie is despised, that libertie is giuen to all sensualitie and lewde lustes of folkes, that the liuings of the Church be conuerted to prophane and worldlye vses, wheras in very trouth we seke nothing els but that, that God aboue all moste good, may haue still his honoure truely and purely reserued vnto hym, that the rule and waye to euerlastinge Saluacion maye be taken from out of his very word, and not from mens fantasies, that the Sacramentes maye be ministred not like a Maskary or a stage playe, but religiously and reuerently according to the rule prescribed vnto vs by Christ, and after the example of the holy Fathers whiche florished in the primatiue ⟨image 138⟩Churche: that that most holye and godly fourme of discipline, whiche was commonly vsed amongest them, may be called home againe: that the goodes of ye Churche may not be laūched out amō gest worldlinges & ydel persōs, but may be bestowed vpon the godlye Ministers and Pastours which take paine both in Preaching and teaching: that there may from tyme to tyme arise vp out of the Vniuersities learned & good ministers & others meete to serue ye cōmon welth: And finally, that all vncleane and wicked lyfe may be utterly abandoned and banyshed, as vnworthy for the name of any Christian. And albeit we are not as yet able to obteine this yt we haue said, fully & perfitlie, (for this same Stable, as one may rightly call it, of ye Romish Augias, cannot so soone be thorouglye cleansed and ridd from the long growen filth and mucke) neuerthelesse this is it whereunto we haue regarde: hether doe wee tende: to this marke do wee direct ⟨image 138⟩our paine and trauaile, and that hitherto (thorough God his gracious fauour) not without good successe and plenteous encrease: whiche thing may easily appeere to euery body, yf either we be cō pared with our own selues in what maner of case wee haue ben but few yeares synce, or els be compared with our false accusers, or rather our malicious slaunderours.
