B07586:17
A Christian letter
A Christian letter, containing a grave and godly admonition to such as make separation from the church assemblies in England and elsewhere. Written in Latin, by that most Reverend and learned man, Master Francis Junius, divinity reader at Leiden in Holland, and translated into English, by R G..A Christian letter, containing a graue and godly admonition to such as make separation from the church assemblies in England and elsewhere. VVritten in Latine, by that most Reuerend and learned man, Master Francis Iunius, diuinitie reader at Leyden in Holland, and translated into English, by R G..
London: printed for Robert Dexter, 1602
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
I verily brethren suspend my judgement in this cause even as God & nature, & reason, and all laws command me to do. Ye know the causes by these things which ye have now read, & shall learn besides by other things which God shall minister unto you (I hope) by the spirit of trueth and wisdom. I ought ⟨image 8⟩not to judge with my self of matters unknown, at least not so evident, neither yet with such forward boldness to pronounce among you or others, the matter being not sufficiently manifest to my self. God knoweth and judgeth them which stand or fall, as many as are his servants. Otherwise I trust ye are not ignorant that there are three things which even from the very infancy of the Church, the holy fathers would have to be distinguished by the word of God, among the people of God; namely, faith or doctrine, conversation or manners, and the order of discipline. And all wise men have taught that with one consent, and delivered it to posterity, that where the foundation of the truth of doctrine remaineth, which is the pillar of salvation although with most corrupt manners and discipline, there the Church remaineth, & that no man ought rashly to separate himself from that Church (whiles he may tarry in it without shipwreck of faith and conscience) or take from it the name of a Church, especially seeing every Church consisteth of Pastors and flocks, which if some Pastors or Prelates trouble, yet it is unmeet that this name either should be taken away from the other Pastors, which Christ doth witness by the doctrine of truth, or from the flock which Christ hath purchased with his own blood, and doth daily sanctify with the washing of the new birth by the word. This ought to be sufficient for you if any thing offend you at home. Now the fatherly & merciful providence of God hath provided for you elsewhere. Certainly whiles ye inveigh against those Churches, ye shall make that your cause never the better, neither more probable with good men: which thing if ye have not yet considered and conceived by my advise and counsel, and by the admonition of those which wish you well; experience it self at last (God grant it be not to late, and inform you in good) will prove all these things unto you.
I verily brethren suspend my iudgement in this cause euen as God & nature, & reason, and al lawes command me to do. Ye know the causes by these things which ye haue now read, & shal learne besides by other things which God shal minister vnto you (I hope) by the spirit of trueth and wisdome. I ought ⟨image 8⟩