A fresh suit against human ceremonies in God's worship. Or a triplication unto. D.…A fresh suit against human ceremonies in God's vvorship. Or a triplication unto. D.…

As if forsooth the Papists, though we for peace sake admitted of all those things, would ever amend their Doctrine, and banish out of their churches, or at any hand lay down their false and godless decrees, manifest and abominable superstitions and idolatries: and there will be some who will answer such books once dispersed. So of this English fire there will rise a ⟨p. 58⟩a new burning flame in Germany and France, on which hot coals the Papists as so many Smiths a forging, will sprinkle cold water to make the flame the more vehement. And is not this a goodly benefit? Who therefore doth not see that this counsel tends to the troubling of all Churches.

As if forsooth the Papists, though we for peace sake admitted of all those things, would ever amend their Doctrine, and banish out of their churches, or at any hand lay down their false and godlesse decrees, manifest and abhominable superstitions and idolatries: and there will be some who will answer such bookes once dispersed. So of this English fire there will rise a ⟨p. 58⟩a new burning flame in Germanie and France, on which hot coles the Papists as so many Smiths a forging, will sprinkle cold water to make the flame the more vehement. And is not this a goodly benefite? Who therefore doth not see that this counsell tends to the troubling of all Churches.

To conclude, that golden saying of a certain learned man is very true and certain, and approved by long experience, that indifferent things, that is, the question about indifferent things, is that golden apple of contention. So much shall suffice to have spoken of the troubling of public peace; what should I say of the consciences of private believers? It is manifest, that they are greatly troubled with this commandment, to put on these linen garments. For they do so greatly complain, that their lamenting voices and groans do reach unto, and are heard in Germany. Now how grievous and distasteful an offence it is to trouble the consciences of the godly, the holy Scripture showeth: partly when it commandeth that we make not the holy Spirit sad, neither offend the weak ones; partly when it threateneth grievous punishments against those who fear not to do these things: partly also when it propoundeth the examples of the Saints, and specially of Paul, who speaks thus: If meat offend my brother, Isle eat no flesh while the world standeth, that I may not offend my brother. For in those words he giveth a general rule, by his example, taken out of the doctrine of Christ, to wit, that no indifferent thing is to be admitted and yielded unto, much less to be urged upon others, and least of all to be ⟨p. 59⟩commended by decree: if in the admitting, urging, and commanding of it, the minds of good men, and consciences of the faithful be offended; for a tender conscience, which feareth God, is a thing most precious and acceptable to God. How therefore can that counsel be approved, which would have a law established and proclaimed by the Princes command for the use of garments to be used by Ministers in the ministry. For (to speak many things in few words) if such garments be to be propounded to the faithful, they are to be propounded either as indifferent, or as necessary: if the later, we do ungodlily, because we make those things necessary, which Christ would have to be free: If the former, then are they to be left free to the Churches. But by commanding and compelling, we make things that be free and indifferent, to be necessary, and so fall into the same trespass.

To conclude, that golden saying of a certaine learned man is very true and certaine, and approved by long experience, that indifferent things, that is, the question about indifferent things, is that golden apple of contention. So much shall suffice to have spokē of the troubling of publick peace; what should I say of the consciences of private beleevers? It is manifest, that they are greatly troubled with this commandement, to put on these linnen garments. For they doe so greatly complain, that their lamenting voyces and grones doe reach unto, and are heard in Germany. Now how grievous and distastfull an offence it is to trouble the consciences of the godly, the holy Scripture sheweth: partly when it commandeth that we make not the holy Spirit sad, neither offend the weak ones; partly when it threatneth griveous punishments against those who feare not to do these things: partly also when it propoundeth the examples of the Saints, and specially of Paul, who speakes thus: If meat offend my brother, Ile eat no flesh while the world standeth, that I may not offend my brother. For in those words he giveth a generall rule, by his example, taken out of the doctrine of Christ, to wit, that no indifferent thing is to be admitted and yeelded unto, much lesse to be urged upon others, and least of all to be ⟨p. 59⟩commended by decree: if in the admitting, urging, and commanding of it, the minds of good men, and consciences of the faithfull be offended; for a tender conscience, which feareth God, is a thing most pretious and acceptable to God. How therefore can that counsell be approved, which would have a law established and proclaimed by the Princes command for the use of garments to be used by Ministers in the ministery. For (to speak many things in few words) if such garments be to be propounded to the faithfull, they are to be propounded either as indifferent, or as necessary: if the later, wee doe ungodlily, because we make those things necessary, which Christ would have to be free: If the former, then are they to be left free to the Churches. But by commanding and compelling, we make things that be free and indifferent, to be necessary, and so fall into the same trespasse.

Moreover, either they be ordained of God by Moses, or they be delivered by Christ God manifested in the flesh, or they be ordained by the holy Ghost working and speaking in the Apostles, or they are of men, either godly or wicked. Those Ceremonies & Levitical garments, which were ordained of God by Moses, ought all of them to have an end after the death of Christ, as the Scriptures show plainly, especially the Epistles of Paul to the Coloss. and Hebr. therefore they cannot be revoked and called back without the transgression of Gods will. It cannot be said that Christ taught them, because there is no word extant to that end, but rather he taught plainly oftentimes, that all Moses his Ceremonies were ended. And the same ⟨p. 60⟩I affirm concerning the Apostles. It remains therefore that they be said to be of men. If they be from godly men, then were they ordained of them, either to edification, or for order and comeliness. But they avail not to edification, that is, to further comeliness, but rather tend to the overthrow of it, as we saw before; neither for any good order, but rather they tend to disorder, for there is a confusion of godly & wicked Bishops, whereas it is meet and equal, that one of them be discerned from another, even by their garments also. Neither do they make Christs spouse comely, as we showed a little before. Therefore we ought not to yield unto them. And such things as have been invented by men, void of Gods Spirit, do nothing appertain to us. Lastly, the Apostles used not these garments. For we have no authentic testimony. Now the church is to be fashioned after the rule of that Apostolical Church in Ceremonies and garments, as well as in Doctrine. What do we then with these garments in the Church? By whose authority can they be approved? What profit or wholesome use can the Christian people have by them? But on the contrary we have showed that godliness is weakened by them, the pure worship of God is violated, Popish superstition is by little and little called back, the godly be offended, the wicked be confirmed and hardened in their ungodlinesses; the weak in faith are brought into hazard of their salvation; there are occasions of many evils given; Monks and other Popish preachers are hereby helped to confirm their followers in their superstition; the wrath of God is provoked against us;

Moreover, either they be ordained of God by Moses, or they be delivered by Christ God manifested in the flesh, or they be ordained by the holy Ghost working and speaking in the Apostles, or they are of men, either godly or wicked. Those Ceremonies & Leviticall garments, which were ordained of God by Moses, ought all of them to have an end after the death of Christ, as the Scriptures shew plainly, especially the Epistles of Paul to the Coloss. and Hebr. therfore they cannot be revoked and called back without the transgression of Gods will. It cannot be sayd that Christ taught them, because there is no word extant to that end, but rather he taught plainly oftentimes, that all Moses his Ceremonies were ended. And the same

Now seeing the matter stands thus, most gracious Queen, not only I, but all my fellow-ministers, and all the godly prostrate before you, entreat your Majesty, and for Jesus Christs sake, whom we are persuaded you love from your heart, we humbly beseech your Majesty not to embrace that counsel aforesaid, neither to give ear to such counsellors. For these counsels (most godly Queen) are not for the good of that your church and kingdom, nor for the honour of your Majesty, seeing they neither serve to the increase of godliness, nor to the retaining of the honesty of the Church, neither to the preservation of public peace, but rather very greatly weaken all these good things,¹ which your Princely Majesty ought chiefly to stand for. Let your Majesty rather bend all your thoughts, authority and power hereunto, that first and above all you may have Bishops, who be truly godly, and well exercised in the holy Scriptures, as by the blessing of God you have very many, and that ⟨p. 62⟩you make much of, and give ear to them. Secondly, that you be careful that with all diligence they may discharge their office, watching over the flock, teach sound doctrine, confute heresies, drive away Wolves, keep every man in his own calling, and exhort and stir up every man to lead a life beseeming a Christian. The Elders also and Deacons, are to be admonished, that every one be diligent in his own office, and if need be, they are to be compelled by your gracious Majesties authority, that neither the former by their sleeping and winking at the misdemeanours of the flock, suffer the reins to be loosed to all licentiousness, and to the lusts of the flesh; neither that the later, by reason of their immoderate care for their own private businesses, neglect the poor people of the Church, and omit such other things as belong to their office. For these three sorts of men be the very sinews of the Church, upon whom the salvation or destruction of the Church doth chiefly depend.

Now seeing the matter stands thus, most gracious Queene, not onely I, but all my fellow-ministers, and all the godly prostrate before you, intreat your Majesty, and for Iesus Christs sake, whom we are perswaded you love from your heart, we humbly beseech your Majesty not to embrace that counsell aforesayd, neither to give eare to such counsellors. For these counsells (most godly Queene) are not for the good of that your church and kingdome, nor for the honor of your Majesty, seing they neither serve to the increase of godlinesse, nor to the retaining of the honesty of the Church, neither to the preservation of publick peace, but rather very greatly weaken all these good things,

Furthermore, your gracious Majesty ought to use great care and diligence, that the Universities, and in them good and godly teachers, be well looked to, cherished, liberally maintained and preserved, for these are as the mothers, and nurses of the Churches, in which and by which those are to be fashioned, borne, brought up and adorned, who being fit, may be called from time to time to rule and govern the Churches. Last of all, such things as cannot be corrected and amended by the word and discipline of the Church, as it is necessary, that according to Gods word they be cut off and taken away by the sword of the Magistrate, ⟨p. 65⟩so your gracious Majesty is to take care of them: as adulteries, blasphemies, and other capital crimes of that sort. For God hath given the Magistrate the sword for this end, that ungodly seducers, filthy knaves, and unquiet men being restrained, the rest may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. This is the matter (most gracious Queen) whereon you are to spend your thoughts, hereabout are your counsels to be occupied, here is all your strength to be showed, namely, that (to end in a word) we all denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, may live soberly, justly, and godlily in this present world. For this is the true and fairest garment of all other. For which every man ought to take care, to wit, that having put off the old man with his works, we put on the new man, that is, our Lord Jesus Christ, neither are there any other true ornaments which become Christian Bishops, besides those which the Apostle hath laid down in his writings to Tim. and Tit. A Bishop must be unreprovable, the husband of one wife, watching, sober, modest, harborous, apt to teach, not given to wine, no striker, nor given to filthy lucre, but gentle, no fighter, not covetous, one that can rule his house honestly, having children under obedience in all honesty, not froward, not angry, righteous, holy, &c. For garments and ornaments of Aaron's high Priest, were types of these true ornaments; those were the shadows, these be the body. Wherefore let those be gone, and let these abide still. And then at length shall we have the whole Church, and so the Bishops rightly and truly apparelled.

Furthermore, your gracious Majesty ought to use great care and diligence, that the Vniversities, and in them good and godly teachers, be well looked to, cherished, liberally maintained and preserved, for these are as the mothers, and nurses of the Churches, in which and by which those are to be fashioned, borne, brought up and adorned, who being fit, may be called from time to time to rule and governe the Churches. Last of all, such things as cannot be corrected and amended by the word and discipline of the Church, as it is necessary, that according to Gods word they be cut off and taken away by the sword of the Magistrate,

Once again I humbly beseech your gracious Majesty, that thinking no more of those outward garments, you will mind and consider how these true and spiritual ornaments may be retained, put upon, and kept in the Churches. And as I said in the beginning, that according to your gracious Majesties clemency, you will be pleased to pardon my boldness in writing. Our Lord Jesus Christ long preserve your gracious Majesty safe and sound to us, and to the whole Church. From Heidelberg. 10. Septemb. 1571.

Once again I humbly beseech your gracious M•jesty, that thinking no more of those outward garments, you will mind and consider how these true and spirituall ornaments may be retained, put upon, and kept in the Churches. And as I said in the beginning, that according to your gracious Majesties clemency, you will be pleased to pardon my boldnesse in writing. Our Lord Iesus Christ long preserve your gracious Majesty safe and sound to us, and to the whole Church. From Heydelberg. 10. Septemb. 1571.

FINIS.