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For our part, we have not so learned Christ. But we say with St. Paul, Let every man abide in that calling in which he is called; whether he be bond or free. That he may be taught by the grace of God, how to abound, and how to want; how to be rich, and how to be poor. And blessed be the Lord of Israel, that hath established for his people (not of transitory things) so great a warrant of faith. For in all poverty, sorrow, care, affliction, what comfort do I feel, when I can say with the prophet David, I hold my peace, O Lord, because thou hast done it! How happily do I see the troubles to come, when God shall wipe away all tears from our eyes! And again, in all abundance of riches, honour, favour, authority, what witnesses are they unto me of God's goodness! when I can say in the midst of them, Vanity of vanity; and all is vanity: when I faithfully dispense that is committed unto me: when I truly believe, that my treasure is not earthly: when I look through honour, and see in spirit, that to fear God and keep his commandments, this is all the happiness under the sun. It is a cursed community that taketh this blessing from us. And Satan turneth himself into an angel of light, when he maketh such entrance into the pathways of love.

57 God hath given to every man goods to dispense; to some

more, to some less, even as he would: and unto all a property in the things they have. Which truth shall stand, when heaven and earth shall pass. For it hath the strength of the law of the Lord, Thou shalt not steal. And upon it Christ will build up the inheritance of his saints for ever, when he shall say unto them on his right hand, When I was hungry, you gave me meat, &c. As likewise with it he shall condemn his enemies, and make it known, he gave unto every one a property in his goods, when fear and ter ror shall teach them his judgments; and in his wrath he shall speak, Go ye cursed into everlasting fire, prepared for the Devil and for his angels. When I was hungry, yee gave me not meat, &c. Then this is it I do believe, and this I do teach, there is no such community in the church of God; nor ought to be; nor ever was since God first

created man upon the earth. They have opened wide glass BOOK windows for anabaptists to enter into the commonwealth, I. that of late have written, that in the apostles times all things were common. Let them preach on so; and the end cannot be good. Wee know no such community, nor the church of God.

The apostles are our last schoolmasters, and their gospel we will hold to the end. It is written, They that believed had all things common: and they sold their possessions and goods, and gave it to every man, as they had need. Acts ii. 44. But they sold it themselves. And yet our Saviour Christ said, he was a true Israelite. So that selling or giving, it was still their own. And what can be more plain, than the saying of Peter to Ananias, speaking of his land, When thou hadst it, it was thine own: and when thou They gave hadst sold it, it was in thine own power, Acts v. 4. And therefore there was then no community, tho' some sold their Barnabas lands, as the time required: they did it by the motion of the Zaccheus Spirit of God. They did it not by commandment or law of sold but the church.

But I need not say more of this. For all is but a colour. They do not think me an anabaptist, that do most accuse me. And I would they did remember, Non eget verbum Dei mendacio, ut loquamini pro eo dolos. It is as true now as it was in the days of Job. And it testifieth as well now a want of truth, where any thing is holden up by falshood and deceit.

And now to say more what I think expedient; and humbly to bring your honours in remembrance of the peace of the church. I would a great many preachers in London, which are unlearned, and rash of speech, were admonished by the bishop of their doings. For while they flatter to get livings, they make the pulpit to be contemned. I heard of late one in the wide church of Paul's, preach much for authority of bishops; and what a thing it were to have them honorable, and said thus; "I would five or six of the "council were Aarons. I would the lord keeper were a bishop. Not that I think justice ill ministred, but I would

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it them

selves, and

sold all, and

half.

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"have the clergy in honour. I would a bishop were master "of the rolls. I would all the six clerks of the chancery were priests. This would make the order in estimation. "In time past a good justice of peace durst not offend a "parish or hedge priest. Now every broom-man in Kent"street will controwl bishops." These words they do not edify the conscience of man. He spake not as St. Peter commands, tanquam eloquia Dei.

It grieveth me to see one pretend the person of Christ; and to speak words of so great vanity. And yet this is but one man among many: whom if it pleased God, I would your honours did hear. But because I am not to accuse others, but to purge my self, I leave this, and will answer to one other accusation, which is yet against me, touching my lord of Canterbury.

I am charged, that I put off my cap, bade them hearken, and said, Now I will prophesie, Matthew Parker is the last archbishop that ever shall sit in that seat. Mr. Cartwright should say, Accipio omen. To this I answer, that I have confessed what I said; and here I send it witnessed by their hands that heard it. I put off no cap, nor spake of any prophesy. But Mr. Blage commending much a book which he was about, of the archbishops of Canterburies lives, I said merrily, as before a sick man, in whose chamber we were; that he should do wel to be somewhat long in this bishop's life: for peradventure he should be the last that should sit in that place. I do not excuse these words, 58 but leave to your honours to consider the weight of them. And I beseech God give me that grace, that hereafter I may be careful, that I speak so as St. Paul saith, that in all my words I may bring grace to the hearers. Onely this I beseech your honours with favour to remember, that seeing my private speeches so long time have been so narrowly searched, if mine open preaching had been more faulty, it had been more easily known.

And thus I leave further to trouble your honours: offering my self ready in what place soever I may be thought profitable in the church of Christ, I beseech that living

God long to keep you to his honour and glory, and your BOOK

endless comfort, Amen.

1573, Novemb. 27.

Number XXIX.

A letter of the lords of the privy council to the Dutch church: upon occasion of such as found fault with the customs of this church.

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AS our gracious queen, out of her pious principles, hath MSS. Eccles. Belgic. taken compassion on your being persecuted, and of the miseries you have suffered for the religion, (being com in her kingdoms,) and is willing to give you her protection; so shee expects from you such services as become honest and godly subjects; and all such actions as become thankful acknowledgments. And is very glad that shee hath hitherto found the performance of that duty; and hopes, that it will alwaies continue. But since there is a seditious sort of people sprung up, not content with the peaceable state of the commonwealth, seeking for occasions to broach what is new and strange; and that especially in regard of the usual forms of religious worship, and the ceremonies of the publick prayers: that so they might seem to be somthing, and to understand more than they which first instituted the same, by publick advise and counsils. This hath caused in her majesty apprehensions, least such tumultuous spirits should occasion you to misuse your privileges; imagining, that the way they invent will bee more acceptable to you, than that which is in use with us; as seeming more conformable with your customs than ours; and will pretend to the common people that you despise our way.

It is not unknowne to us, that in divers churches, ever since the Christian religion had a beginning, divers waies and ceremonies have been used, som standing, som falling on their knees, others flat downe, have addressed and prayed to God. And yet one and the self-same religion, if the prayers are don in truth to the true God, and no impiety and superstition mixt with it.

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In divers places and countries the same God, whose is the whole world, is believed and adored of divers nations, and in divers tongues and languages, and in divers manners, and with varietie of cloathing and ceremonies; yet is it the self same faith, the same religion, the same Christ, and God the Father of all.

Wee do not despise your custom, nor compel you to ours, but wee account your ceremonies good, as fittest for you, and most agreeable to the republick from whence you come. And wee hope also, that you in anothers commonwealth, will not be so ungratefully curious, that you will condemn those customs which wee have bin moved to establish out of the principles of true pietie and religion, with common consent of the whole kingdom, by the command of pious princes; and which the great labor of wise and learned men have ordained, as most proper for our people; and were confirmed by the bloud and death of many martyrs: and have bin for a long time thus settled amongst us: that you should not despise them, but rather these tu 59 multuous and disquiet people, who would bring confusion to what is so well setled; nor to approve or give aid to such actions, either by word or any part of your authoritie. And if any amongst them should presume to affirme, what you are cautioned against, yet would we not suspect such imprudence or inconstancy of your wisdom. Be it far from you, to do any thing whereby you might create any suspision of disturbing the peace of our common-welth, and the state of our religion, so wel setled, and so breed occasion of difference and discord.

For by your wisdom you know very well, that the queen's majesty would rather drive you out of her kingdom, than to suffer, that by such guests, (who were received on a religious account,) by such wicked and unkindely means, her state should bee brought in danger.

Therefore if there be any that seek to cause a discord between us, be they English, or of your own people, drive them from your flock, and suffer them not to make so ill a use of you. Or if there be any that, out of a wanton con