AND IN MANY PLACES OF GERMANY, FOR THE LORD’S SUPPER, BAPTISM, AND HOLY WEDLOCK. Set forth by Myles Couerdale. TO all them that hunger and thirst the glory of God and wealth of their neighbors, be grace, mercy, and peace, from the same everlasting God our most dear Father in heaven, through our Lord and only Savior Jesus Christ.

It were to me a singular comfort, my right dear and entirely beloved brethren and sistern in Jesu Christ, if I might be with you myself continually, and communicate unto you some part of little taste which I have received of the Lord my God for your sakes. And all the lawful ways that I could devise, have I sought this great while to obtain licence of the higher powers for the same purpose.

But it will not be. Wherefore, though I be hindered and kept from you by all the means that Satan and his members can imagine, yet shall ye have my poor heart; yet will I not cease to wish you good; yet will I do the best for you that I can, although it be but with my pen.

In token whereof I have set forth unto you the order and manner, that many which have received God’s word unfeignedly do use, not only at the most holy supper of our Lord, but also at the ministration of the blessed sacrament of baptism, and when any couple of persons are joined into holy wedlock. And this have I done to the intent, that when ye have spied and do see that this order is agreeable unto God’s word, not varying from the most wholesome doctrine thereof, ye may wish in your hearts to have God’s truth prosper likewise among you in the realm of England, and pray unfeignedly with me and all other sinners, that the Father of mercy and God of all comfort will so lighten and illuminate the hearts of our rulers, that they may follow the earnest monition of the second psalm, and be no more without understanding, but be wise betimes, and embrace the Son of God, while he offereth himself unto them; and not only to suffer the word of God to have the upper hand above all other doctrines, but also themselves to lay to their hands in abolishing the blasphemous and damnable abuses, that are here as yet suffered about the foresaid three principles of Christ’s religion. Wherefore, dear brethren, when ye compare this order underwritten, which is the doctrine of God’s word and practice of the primitive church, to the vain ceremonies used here yet, after the church of Rome, lift up your hearts to Almighty God, and beseech him that for Christ’s sake he will once grant that these three, his holy supper, holy baptism, and holy wedlock, may be truly and sincerely ministered and practiced also among us, to the glory of his blessed name, and increase of his kingdom for ever. Amen.

THE ORDER TAKEN FOR THE DUE MINISTRATION OF THE HOLY SUPPER OF THE LORD.

For thy better instruction thou shalt first understand, that the blessed sacrament of the body and blood of the Lord, the worthy memorial of our redemption, is at no time denied to any christian man, when God’s word is truly preached, if he lawfully require it. And as none doth minister it save the priest, which is the officer appointed thereto; so is it not ministered but when there be other present to receive it as well as the priest. Now because that where God’s word is truly preached, men do see the fruit of the said holy sacrament, therefore resort they the oftener to the same holy supper of the Lord, and delight the more therein. But specially to see what a number come to it on the Sunday, and how reverently, it would do one’s heart good. And because they may the more fruitfully be partakers thereof, therefore on the Saturday, when the preaching is done (for every day they have a sermon), all such as are appointed in themselves to be partakers of the Lord’s Supper, come one after another to the priest; of whom they learn, not only what the sacrament is, and the right use thereof, but also they being repentant and sorry for their sins, and professing amendment, receive there God’s promises for their absolution, to the singular comfort of their conscience, and are exhorted by the priest to do against the morrow as the holy apostle Paul biddeth them; that is, even to try, examine, and prove themselves, whether they can be content unfeignedly in their hearts to take better hold on the kingdom of God, than they have done in times past; to be more stedfast in faith and hope toward God and his promises; to be more fervent in prayer and love toward God, and for his sake to shew unfeigned love toward every man; to forgive heartily, as they would be forgiven; to mortify their flesh daily more and more, by reasonable abstinence and godly exercises of the spirit, and virtuous occupation of the body; to be glad in distributing the works of mercy to the poor, etc. And when the priest, preacher, or curate (for all is one thing) hath given every one this, or such a like exhortation, and enjoined each one his penance according to his estate, (as subjects to be true and obedient to their rulers, servants to be faithful and diligent in waiting on their masters’ commandment, children to honor and obey their parents, and to learn virtue while they be young, householders to keep their houses in the fear of God, and so forth;) when the priest (I say) hath enjoined them thus to live and to increase in the same well-doing, he committeth them to God and to the word of his grace. And so they depart.

On the Sunday in the morning (at six of the clock in summer, and at seven in winter) the bell ringeth, and the people prepare themselves to the church, so that soon after the bell hath rung the second time, the church is almost full of men, women, and children. Then a little afore the hour is expired, they ring the bell the third time, which ceaseth not till the hour strike. And at the quire door, beside the table of the Lord, stand two good sober singing men, which (commonly a quarter of an hour afore the sermon) begin a psalm; and all the people, both old and young, with one voice do sing with them, after such a fashion that every note answereth to a syllable, and every syllable to one note commonly, and no more, so that a man may well understand what they sing. But first, for the most part, they sing the Paternoster in their mother tongue, and then the psalms, sometimes more, sometimes fewer, according as the time requireth, but all in their own language. Now, when the clock smiteth (which is commonly seven in summer, and eight in winter), the superattendent, or chief curate, cometh into the pulpit, and first of all he wisheth unto his audience and to himself grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father, through his blessed Son Jesus Christ our Savior. And to the intent that their hearts may be opened to the true understanding of the gospel which he is about to preach unto them, he exhorteth them to call for help to the Holy Ghost.

So after that the two foresaid men (or at the least one of them) hath orderly begun, all the church followeth, and sing with one voice unto the Holy Ghost this song, Veni , sancte Spiritus , etc. or such another like it, in their mother tongue.

Then the preacher taketh the gospel of that present Sunday (or some other place of the scripture that he is appointed to declare), and expoundeth it clearly by the other manifest places of the bible, noting in it such lessons, such consolations, and such ensamples, as are for the edifying of his audience.

Commonly, at the latter end of the sermon, he maketh a pretty short rehearsal of it, by the way of exhortation to the people, or prayer toward God. And then requireth he them to confess and knowledge their sins unto God with him, every man in his own conscience, and to say such or like words in his heart, as I have plurally expressed in the general confession, that I humbly offered to the king’s most honorable council for the edifying, anno 1539. When the priest hath prayed for all estates, and made this or such like confession in their name, he prayeth God to be merciful to them, to bless them, to shew the light of his countenance over them, and to have mercy on them.

Then giveth he them this, or such a like absolution, and saith:

To all them that repent and are sorry for their sins, detesting and abhorring their old wicked life; if they be hungry and thirsty for God’s mercy in Christ, believing surely to have forgiveness only by him, purposing to forsake all abomination of living, and from henceforth to live in the fear of God, and unfeignedly to keep his commandments; to all such (by the virtue of God’s word and commission of the same) I pronounce and warrant free remission and clean forgiveness of all their sins. To the other, that will not repent, but still harden their hearts against God’s truth, continually abiding in the blindness of false doctrine and filthiness of wicked living, having no purpose nor mind to come to repentance; to all such (by the virtue of the same word and commission thereof) do I pronounce damnation, and the terrible wrath of God, until they amend.

So after that he hath wished the peace of God unto his audience, he cometh down. Then all the congregation and church in manner aforesaid do sing the creed or belief in their own mother tongue. And when that is done, the Curate, or else his coadjutor, standeth up afore the table of the Lord, and requireth all such as are appointed then to be partakers thereof, to be well ware what they do, and make a just account with themselves after what manner they have proved and tried their own consciences, whether it be done unfeignedly and in an earnest manner, and whether f108 they be at one with all men, and so forth. If it be so indeed, he giveth God thanks for it. If no, he prayeth them right gently, that they will think no shame to absent themselves from this holy supper, till the reconciliation be made, lest they come to it unworthily. And then giveth he them this exhortation, or else another such like:

AN EXHORTATION AT THE SUPPER OF THE LORD.

Dear friends, we are all baptized into the death of our Lord Jesu Christ: wherefore after holy baptism we must all the days of our life fight and strive in continual battle and war against sin, death, and the devil; and so bear about with us in our bodies the passion and death of our Lord Jesu, and must prove by experience, that the enemies whom we have to do withal are neither weak nor feeble, but mighty and valiant, to whose power men are naturally subdued, so that upon earth there is none so mighty as to resist this power of darkness through his own strength; so feeble and weak is all our ability in comparison thereof. For the which cause God the Father, through Christ his dear Son, hath ordained another power and kingdom, in the which is righteousness and life; and through his death and blood hath he delivered us, and brought us from sin to righteousness, from death to life, from the devil to God; and hath included the kingdom of his grace in the preaching, believing, and following of his word; which, being begun in the holy Christianity, shall go forth until the last day; that we which receive, believe, and do after the same word, by the merits of Christ, our reconciler and Savior, should be and continue for ever his dear children, and heirs of the kingdom of grace, that is to say, of everlasting salvation; forasmuch as we through such faith do eat continually his flesh and drink his blood, that is to say, abide in him, and he in us.

To the intent now that this so great goodness, declared by the word of God, might daily among us be practiced, distributed, and exhibited; therefore hath the gracious and merciful Lord Jesus Christ instituted and ordained a remembrance of this his wonderful work, and commanded that we at his supper in the sacrament should eat his very body and drink his very blood; whereby the hearts of all such as are faithful believers and fear God, might be assured of this same grace of God and everlasting salvation: and also that in the holy congregation and church his glorious remembrance might be kept, that is to say, to give him thanks and praise, to sing, speak, preach, and read thereof; to exhort and comfort one another among ourselves: and finally, with all faithfulness one to shew toward another such love and favor, as we ourselves have received of our dear Lord Jesus Christ.

And forasmuch as we now are happened into these later days, in the which this so precious treasure is unhallowed and wickedly abused, this holy sacrament shall (for the necessary causes now rehearsed) be to us also a testimony of this present time before God and the world, that we do utterly both in word and deed refuse and forsake all the deceitfulness of the papistry, and that we faithfully with all our hearts submit ourselves under the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Wherefore, ye dearly beloved in the Lord, forasmuch as this matter is so weighty, even God’s own institution and ordinance, yea, and his commandment also, that we should do it; and likewise, seeing the necessity which should cause us to accomplish the same is so great, specially on our behalf toward God (to whom we owe a long Deo gratias , and thanks), we ought in no wise to refrain ourselves from it, neither suffer ourselves to be kept back therefrom; but ofttimes with repentant hearts to seek this our soul’s medicine and comfort of our conscience, believing what Christ saith to us herein, and doing as he commandeth us.

And as for those that seek no such repentant hearts, faith, and comfort herein, but live in open blasphemy, continuing in sin and wicked life, they shall know, that they are unworthy of this holy supper, and also excommunicate, till they amend.

But to the intent that the unrepentant may through the grace of God be lightened, and that we ourselves may fruitfully enjoy this supper to the amendment of our lives, and also that all Christendom generally may become the better, and be edified; therefore let us heartily make our prayer to God the Father of all mercy, believing assuredly that he will graciously hear us through our Lord Jesus Christ, who commanded us to pray, and promised us, saying: “Ask, and ye shall have; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you.”

Wherefore, in consideration of the same commandment and promise, lift up your hearts, and say thus with me in your prayer:

O Lord God, our Father in heaven, we thy miserable children upon earth beseech thee, that thou wilt mercifully look on us, and lend us thy grace; that thy holy name may be sanctified among us and in all the world, through the pure and sincere teaching of the word, and through earnest charity in our daily living, and our conversation. Seclude thou graciously all false doctrine and evil living, whereby thy worthy name might be blasphemed and slandered.

O let thy kingdom come, and be great. All sinful, blind people, and such as are holden captive of the devil in his kingdom, those bring thou to the knowledge of the true faith in Jesus Christ thy Son.

Strengthen us, Lord, with thy Spirit, to do and to suffer thy will both in life and death, in weal and woe; that our will may alway be broken, offered up, and mortified.

And give us our daily bread. Preserve us from covetous desire, and carefulness of the belly; that of thee we may be assured to have abundance of all good things.

Forgive us our trespass, as we forgive them which offend us; that our heart may have a sure and glad conscience, and that we never fear, nor be afraid for any sin. Lead us not into temptation, but help us through thy Spirit to subdue the flesh, to despise the world with his vanities, and to overcome the devil with all his crafty assaults.

And finally, deliver thou us from all evil, both bodily and ghostly, temporal and eternal. Amen.

They that earnestly desire all this, let them say, Amen; believing without any doubt, that it is granted and heard in heaven, according as Christ promised us, saying, When ye pray, believe assuredly that ye shall have it, and it shall come to pass. Amen.

Then rehearse he the words of the holy supper out of three evangelists, Matthew, Mark, and Luke, and also out of Saint Paul, Corinthians saying:

The Lord Jesus, the same night wherein he was betrayed, took bread, and giving thanks, brake it, and said: Take ye, and eat; this is my body, which shall be given for you. This do in the remembrance of me. In like manner, when supper was done, he took the cup also, saying: This cup is the new testament in my blood. As oft as ye drink this, do it in the remembrance of me.

This done, the whole church, in the manner abovesaid, do sing a psalm or two of thanksgiving for this blessed sacrament. And in the mean season, they that are appointed then to sup with the Lord, come soberly and with great reverence one after another (the men first, and then the women,) to the table of the Lord, where they kneeling (one, I say, after another) receive at the hand of one of the priests the sacrament in form of bread.

And then goeth he with like reverence to the other end of the table, and at the hand of another of the priests (which standeth there ready for the same purpose) he kneeleth down, and receiveth it also in the form of wine; and all the other follow reverently, and do the same. If one of the priests, or both, be disposed likewise as then to sup with the Lord, [he] kneeleth down, and his companion serveth him.

And even so doth he also to his fellow, in like manner and reverence.

If the communicants, and they that receive then the sacrament, be many, they sing the more psalms of thanksgiving; else sing they the fewer.

When this holy supper is done, and the partakers thereof that were appointed thereto, one of the ministers standeth up, and exhorteth the people to give earnest thanks to God, with this or such a like prayer:

O Almighty God, most merciful Father, thou that openest thy gracious hand, whereby all things living have their food in due season; we give honor, praise, and thanks unto thee for all thy benefits, both ghostly and bodily, which thou hast richly poured upon us, without any of our deserving; but specially we thank thee for this worthy memorial of our redemption, wherein thou hast nourished and fed our souls with the body and blood of thy dear Son, our Savior Jesus Christ, blessed for ever. Amen.

ANOTHER.

O Lord Jesu Christ, our Redeemer, honor and praise be alway given unto thee for feeding our souls with this spiritual and heavenly food. And we beseech thee for thy tender mercy, that as thou hast given it us for a sacrament of continual thankfulness, of daily remembrance, and of charitable unity; even so, most merciful Savior, lend us alway thy grace to be thankful unto thee for it, and not only by it to be continually mindful of our redemption, purchased through thy death and blood-shedding, but also in consideration thereof to increase in love toward thee, and all mankind for thy sake.

ANOTHER.

O Lord God Almighty, we thank thee with all our hearts, that thou hast fed our souls with the body and blood of thy most dear Son.

And we beseech thee unfeignedly so to illuminate our minds with thy holy Spirit, that we may daily increase in strength of faith to thee, in assuredness of hope in thy promises, and ferventness of love toward thee and our neighbors, to the glory and praise of thy holy name. Amen.

Thus the priest concludeth, and endeth the office of this present mystery, and blesseth the people, rehearsing these words of scripture. Numbers 6.

The Lord bless you and preserve you: the Lord shew his face to you, and have mercy on you: the Lord turn his countenance unto you, and give you peace. Amen.

And so they depart.

THE ORDER TAKEN F110 FOR THE DUE MINISTRATION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM.

On the Sunday, at one of the clock after noon, they have a sermon of an hour long, with like ringing and singing of psalms afore in their mother tongue, as they had in the morning, to the which pracing the people come as thick as they did then. And as they sing a psalm for grace to the Holy Ghost in the morning, so do they here also at every sermon, where or whensoever it be made. And like as in the morning, when the sermon is done, the preacher exhorteth them to confess their sins with him in their hearts, and thereupon doth absolve them by the power and authority of God’s word; so doth he here also in like manner, and in every sermon.

Then sing they a like song of thanksgiving, as they did in the morning, and as they be accustomed to do after every preaching.

In the mean season, while this psalm of thanksgiving is sung, (or else afore,) the font is prepared: the midwife is there present with the child, or more midwives, if there be more children to be christened, (as there be commonly), with a fair company of honest, sober women. And when the psalm is sung out, the minister, being there ready at the font, readeth a lecture of the bible; and when he hath declared it compendiously to the edifying of the congregation, he exhorteth them, that forasmuch as all men are conceived and born in sin, and that seeing it is unpossible for a man to come into the kingdom of God, except he be born anew and regenerate, they will shew and declare their godly love, and call upon God the Father, through Jesus Christ, and in his name, that he will mercifully baptize that child (or those children) with the Holy Ghost, and receive him (or them) to grace.

Upon the same exhortation they make their hearty prayer, beseeching God to have mercy on the child; and then addeth he this, or such a like petition in their name, saying:

O Almighty God, which in commanding us to pray hast assured us that we, believing stedfastly in thy promise, shall have all that we desire, specially concerning the soul, wherein we seek thy glory and the wealth of our neighbors; our humble petition to thee, O most dear Father, is, that forasmuch as this child is not without original sin, thou wilt consider thine own mercy, and according to thy promise send this child thy good Spirit, that in thy sight it be not counted among the children of wrath, but of light and grace, and become a member of the undefiled church espoused to Christ, thy dear Son, in faith and love unfeigned, by the means of the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

ANOTHER PRAYER.

O Almighty eternal God, most merciful Father, forasmuch as the just liveth by faith, and unpossible it is for any man without belief to please thee; we beseech thee, that thou wilt grant to this child the gift of faith, wherein thou wilt seal and assure his heart in the Holy Ghost, according to the promise of thy Son; that the inward regeneration of the Spirit may be truly represented by the outward baptism; and that the child may be buried with him into death, and be raised up by him from death again, to the praise of thy glory and edifying of his neighbor. Amen.

Sometime also the priest readeth this parcel of the 10 chapter of St Mark’s gospel, saying:

And they brought little children to him, that he should touch them. And his disciples rebuked those that brought them. But when Jesus saw it, he was displeased, and said unto them, Suffer little children to come to me, and forbid them not; for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily, I say unto you, whosoever receiveth not the kingdom of God as a child, shall not enter therein. And he took them up in his arms, and put his hands upon them, and blessed them.

Then the godfather, if it be a man child, (or the godmother, if it be a woman child,) holding the child in his arms, cometh and standeth by the priest, who asketh him, on the child’s behalf, if he forsake the devil and all his works? He saith, Yea; and upon the priest’s interrogation, he confesseth his faith in the face of the church. So the priest taketh the child in his left hand, and with his right hand he poureth water on his head, calling him by his name (as he did afore), and baptizing him in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

Finally, the minister committeth the children to the prayers of the congregation, and exhorteth the godfathers and godmothers most earnestly to see that the children be brought up and instructed in christian knowledge and virtue, the glory of God, and edifying of the commonwealth.

Then sing they a psalm that either concerneth some thanksgiving to God for his word, or else some necessary petition.

And so they depart.

Now in like manner as thou seest this blessed sacrament ministered on the Sunday, even so with like reverence do they use it at the same hour on those week-days that the congregation, in the authority of their head rulers, hath appointed to that use. And if the children in the mean time be in any danger, then the midwives baptize them. And as the congregation and multitude of the people is great at the ministration of holy baptism on the Sunday, so is it also on the other appointed days, though they be work-days. Whereby it is to be noted, that the institution and ordinance of God is in great reputation among them: for as it is ministered reverently, so is it heard with great devotion and ferventness; and though there be always some unthankful livers, yet the flock of Christ be ever bringing forth good fruits, and follow the word of life in their conversation.

THE ORDER TAKEN FOR THE DUE MINISTRATION OF HOLY WEDLOCK.

As touching God’s holy institution of marriage, thou shalt understand, that privy contracts be avoided as much as may be; and young folks are so well brought up in the fear of God, and instructed in the knowledge of his word, that they will not lightly be enticed to run on head, and marry without the honest consent of their parents and tutors. Again, the fathers and mothers which have young folks apt to marriage, are circumspect, not suffering their sons and daughters to go long beyond their time unmarried; but both for the avoiding of uncleanly conversation in their children, and also for their own discharge, they provide them honest marriages meet for them. Which thing to do they are not only [moved] in the daily sermons that they hear, but also by the old godly practices of such holy men as was Abraham, and Isaac, etc. Neither do the two young persons come together after a light or indiscreet manner; but even at their hand-fastening, (when the knot of holy wedlock is fast knit,) there are present the father and mother of the parties, or else (if they be dead, or absent,) their nighest kinsfolks and tutors; and so is also some honest discreet preacher or curate of theirs, who to the edifying of them maketh a godly collation out of God’s word, for their example, learning, and comfort in holy wedlock.

So when the time approacheth that they shall be married openly in the face of the church, the curate, in the presence of the whole congregation, giveth warning certain days afore, and requireth that if any man know some lawful impediment to hinder the said marriage, he will notify it at his monition. If no hinderance be made, then at the day appointed the bridegroom, having a company of honest men with him, and likewise the bride, having an honest company of women with her, come to the sermon in the morning, (which, as I said afore, is every day at seven of the clock in summer, and at eight in the winter,) and after that the preaching is done, and the sacrament ministered in the manner aforesaid, they come both before the preacher: in the mean time the whole church in their mother tongue do sing the 106th [128th] psalm, Beati omnes qui timent Dominum , etc .

Then the preacher speaketh to them both by name, and asketh them saying: M . and N . are ye minded to live together in holy wedlock, and to testify and confirm that same your purpose here in the presence of this congregation? They answer, Yea. Then (saith he) I take you all here that stand by to witness, requiring you to record the same, and to remember it: and saith moreover, If there be any man here that knoweth a lawful impediment by God’s word, that these two persons may not proceed forth together in marriage, let him speak now. So if there be none to make impediment, then the preacher saith: Forasmuch as here appeareth no hinderance to the contrary, but that ye may go forth together in holy wedlock, I pray God stablish the thing he hath wrought in you: seeing also that both your consents are knit in holy wedlock, and ye confess the same here openly before God and the world, I declare and pronounce you to be married together, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. And in so saying, he joineth their hands together, and addeth moreover: Let not man therefore separate them asunder, whom God hath coupled together.

This done, he exhorteth them to remember, how that God hath joined them in holy marriage, and (according to the commandment of God) to love one another, and so to keep their household, and to bring up their children (when God sendeth them) in the fear of God, that their whole living may redound to the glory of his holy name and edifying of the commonwealth.

Then rehearseth he this (or such another) prayer in the name of the whole church and congregation:

O Almighty God, Father of heaven, forasmuch as it hath pleased thee to call these new-married folks unto holy wedlock, like as at the beginning thou sawest it not good for a man to be alone; for the which cause thou madest him an helper like to himself, and so ordainedst that they two should be as one person; we beseech thee, that unto these new-married folks thou wilt grant thy holy Spirit, whereby they living in holy wedlock, may still trust in thy goodness, overcome all temptation, and lead a godly honest life, to the edifying of every man. Bless them also, that in the fruit of their body they may praise thee, and so bring up the same, that it may be to thy glory and profit of the commonwealth. Amen.

Then the church singeth a psalm of thanksgiving, and so departeth.

THE CONCLUSION OF THIS LITTLE BOOK.

Thou seest now, what order is kept in the ministration and use of the foresaid three holy ordinances of God; concerning the which I write here nothing of ‘had I wist,’ nor of uncertainty, but even as I know, and as I have not only seen with mine eyes and heard with mine ears, but been present also long and many a day at the execution, practice, and experience thereof: which things as I write to give all good hearts occasion of fervent prayer to God, that he will grant his word to grow likewise among us; even so in the virtue of God’s holy name, and for that precious blood sake of his most dear Son, I admonish and exhort all subjects to be patient, to avoid all kind of sedition, to commit the reformation of all errors, superstitions, ceremonies, vain traditions, wicked laws, and unjust statutes of men, even unto God the author of peace, and to the working of his Spirit in those princes and rulers whom he hath called to office for the same purpose. Let no man be slack in his duty, but give God that which is his, and to the king the things that belongeth unto him, according as Christ commandeth, Matthew 22, and as St Paul exhorteth, Romans 11.

This I say, to stop the mouths and the blasphemous tongues of such as will not cease to rail on men, and to slander me (yea, even to the king’s majesty), as though I were a perverter of common order, or took upon me to change the laws and to make new statutes. Nay, ye ungodly hypocrites, not so: but as I am sure that there is heavy damnation laid up for all such subjects as rebel or make sedition against the prince, or disobey the least commandment of God in their sovereign; even so am I assured, that there is no less damnation prepared for those rulers or heads that make unjust laws and cruel statutes to maintain their own lusts, and oppress the poor. I report me to the tenth chapter of Esay, the second and third of Micheas, and to the latter end of the fifth chapter of the prophet Hieremy. Let all rulers therefore beware, that they make no acts of parliament nor statutes against God’s word, and let all subjects learn of St Peter (1 Peter 2 <600201> ) to be obedient. And not only that, but if they be commanded any unlawful thing, then let them learn of the same St Peter (Acts 4 <440401> ) to obey God more than men.

In the mean time, till God’s blessed word only be ruler among us, and till all wicked inventions of men be abolished, let those that fear God unfeignedly be fervent in their prayers, and increase in all thankfulness and virtuous living towards God and men. Let no man, woman, nor child of God be slack in his duty; but let faith increase in strength, let hope be evermore assured of God’s promises, let charity always love God and her neighbor, and leave no good work undone, that may be to God’s glory and man’s profit. And then shall we be known not only readers and hearers of the truth, but true disciples of the same. And though we cannot attain to the perfectness of that commonwealth, which I spake of afore, (where God’s ordinances are so reverently ministered, the poor so richly provided for, and youth so virtuously brought up;) nevertheless we, doing our best, and begging strength of God to do more than we can do of ourselves, shall not only be allowed and accepted in his sight, but also have the continual assistance of his holy Spirit, whereby we sufficiently harnessed and armed against all temptations of sin, hell, devil, and our own flesh, shall as well have the upper hand of them, as we have (through the only power of God) overcome so many stormy winds and tempests of adversity in time past, and as we hope to escape these present troubles by the help of Jesus Christ, whose name be blessed for ever! Amen.

A LITTLE COMPLAINT, WITH A SHORT EXHORTATION, MADE UNTO ALL THEM THAT ARE NO DISSEMBLERS WITH GOD’S WORD, BUT UNFEIGNEDLY LIVE THEREAFTER.

Like as God (according to his most blessed nature) ever loving, gracious, merciful, and true, doth alway send his word afore he plague the world, and giveth us warning afore the destruction come, willing us to convert unto him, to forsake our own evil ways, and to lay hand on eternal life; even so contrariwise the devil, the father of falsehood and lies, envying man’s salvation, casteth ever one bone or other in the way, to hinder the glory of God, to stop his word, to keep back his truth, lest through the stedfast believing and following thereof his own kingdom should be minished, God’s amplified and increased. Sometime, to hinder the gospel of the glory of the great God, he stirreth up tyranny and cruelness, moving some rulers or great men of the world to take part against it, to persecute it, to trouble and vex them whom God hath called unto it. Ensample whereof ye see in Pharao, in king Achab, in Antiochus, in Herod, and in those great prelates that shewed their hot charity upon our Savior Christ and his apostles. The devil also, to set up his kingdom the better, getteth him chaplains for his own tooth, (such as were Baal’s prophets,3 Regum 1 Kings 22 <112201> ) that they may ever, either in confessions or otherwise, move kings and princes to take part against their own salvation, and to trouble such as tell them no dreams nor phantasies, but even the very word of God; as the prophet Micheas did.

Sometime (I say), lest the truth should be believed, the devil, as he is the father of lies, so getteth he false witnesses to testify even against Christ, and against poor Stephen and Paul, his servants; yea, and to preach, that their doctrine is naught, seditious, new learning, and heresy, Matthew 27 <402701> , Matthew 3 <400301> , Acts 7 <440701> , 24 <442401> ; that they will destroy good works, Romans 3 <450301> ; that they will keep no holy day, Matthew 12 <401201> , John 5 <430501> ; that they will not fast, Matthew 9 <400901> , Mark 2 <410201> , Luke 5 <420501> .

Thus (I say) is the devil ever about to overthrow Christ’s kingdom, and to set up his own. And because his lying chaplains should the better fight against Christ, he teacheth them to go craftily to work, to lie and spare not, to call the disciples of Christ new fellows, to say that they care neither for fasting, nor praying, for alms-deed, nor for good work; yea, make the world believe (saith the devil) that they care neither for one ceremony, nor either for one sacrament nor other. Such lying lessons doth the devil teach his scholars; and not only this, but also to wrest and wring the scripture from the manifest understanding of it: of the which juggling cast he hath given them an example in the fourth chapter of Matthew (Matthew 4 <400401> ) and fourth of Luke (Luke 4 <420401> ).

Who now, considering this great decay of godliness, that the devil hath brought into the world (partly through the tyranny that he hath stirred up in great men, partly through the false witness-bearing of hypocrites and lying teachers), hath not cause to mourn in this behalf? Who will not be sorry to see God’s holy word thus persecuted, thus exiled, thus evil reported, thus belied?

Nevertheless all this evil doth not the devil think sufficient: he cannot herewithal be content; but he entereth in also among them that profess the name of Christ, that are called his brethren and disciples, that pretend to love and favor his truth; and among them, look who is meet for his purpose, most inconstant, and least regardeth Christ’s words in his heart, of him he maketh either an whoremonger, a deceiver of his neighbor, or a follower of other vices of his own carnal lusts, robbing him utterly of that most holy, most stedfast, and living faith that Christ taught, and also of those worthy fruits of the Spirit of God, repentance and works of light, which the scripture speaketh of: by the means whereof, and because he bare the name of a christian brother, therefore, even as he behaveth himself now, and as he liveth, so must we be reputed of the ungodly, and such livers must we be called. If he be a breaker of peace, a maker of sedition, a drunkard, a false buyer and seller, a follower of filthy lusts, a bringer up of sects (as God ever suffereth them to be deceived that will not abide the order of his word); then must we also be called breakers of common order, railers, makers of insurrection, drunkards, false dealers with our neighbors, heretics, followers of fleshly and carnal liberty. Yet though all our teaching, writing, talking, and living, be to the contrary, yet bear we the blame: so blind is this wicked world in judgment, and so unthankful in their living are a great number of them that are called christian men (as I understand) on the other side.

Wherefore to you, dearly beloved in God, elect and chosen to an high vocation in Jesus Christ, even to be flesh of his flesh, and bone of his bones, to be citizens with the saints, and of the household of God, to you I make this my moan afore rehearsed; trusting, that though neither the world, nor those false brethren, which, because they were not of us are gone from among us, 1 John 2 <620201> , and are fallen in love with the world, after the example of Demas, 2 Timothy 4 <550401> , though neither of them both, I say, will hearken to the voice of God while it is called to-day, but still harden their hearts against God’s truth; my trust is, as I said before, that ye will hold your hand still on the plough, that ye will walk honestly now, while the mercy of God lendeth you the daylight. Ye know that our Lord said, “The night shall come, in the which no man shall be able to work.”

Ye see how our “adversary the devil goeth about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” Ye see what a number of great men on the one side have girded their swords about them, and stand even in complete harness to fight against the manifest word of God: ye see what swearing, what blaspheming of God’s name, what pride, what excess, what filthiness of body, and idleness is used, practiced, and daily maintained in their houses; ye see how they cannot abide the hearing of God’s word, but blast and blow against it, persecute it, and exile it, as much as in them lieth.

On the other side ye see, what a number of hypocrites, antichrists, false prophets, and flattering chaplains, are not only about great men, but everywhere in manner roar, and cry, and stamp against our Lord’s doctrine, keep the people still in blindness, and feed them with draft and dregs instead of God’s word.

Thirdly, ye see what a number here be in the world, which, pretending to love God’s word by their outward hearing, reading, and talking of it, live clean contrary against it, bring not forth the worthy fruits of repentance, are as great swearers, as filthy, as idle, as covetous, as deceitful in bargaining, as unapt to all good works, as they were afore they knew the truth: and by this means is it come to pass, that through such unchristian living the good word of God is more suppressed than either through the cruelty of tyrants or flattering lies of hypocrites: all which three sorts of enemies, because they are not of us, but without, therefore will I have the less to do with them.

But of you, dearly beloved, will I be bold to exhort you, for the tender mercy of God, that, in consideration of the premises, ye will walk godly and worthily in this wicked world, continuing (as I trust ye do) in stedfastness of the christian faith, in ferventness of love toward God, and toward your very enemies for his sake, in looking assuredly for his promises, being patient and joyful in trouble, earnest in prayer at all times, ready into true obedience, to keep all good order, to be exercised in all good works, every man according to the estate that God hath called him unto. As many of you as are called to office and common authority, to bear rule, or to give judgment in causes of the commonwealth, be diligent in your office, Romans 12 <451201> ; punish the evil, and maintain the good, f113 1 Peter 2 <600201> , Romans 13 <451301> ; accept no person in judgment, allow no false accusation, shed no innocent blood, Exodus 23 <022301> ; and hear the small as well as the great, Deuteronomy 1 <050101> .

As many of you as are called to the office of preaching, follow the apostle’s counsel: “Take heed unto yourselves, and to all the flock, in the which the Holy Ghost hath appointed you to be overseers, to feed the congregation of God,” etc. Acts 20 <442001> . “Feed Christ’s flock which is among you, and take the oversight of them, not as though ye were compelled, but willingly; not for the desire of filthy lucre, but of a good mind; not as lords over the parishes, but to be an ensample unto the flock.” 1 Peter 5 <600501> . “To cast away unghostly and old wivish fables, to be unto them that believe an ensample in the word, in conversation, in love, in the spirit, in faith, in pureness; to give attendance unto reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.” 1 Timothy 4 <540401> . “Study to shew yourselves to God laudable workmen, which need not to be ashamed.” 2 Timothy 2 <550201> .

All other estates among you I heartily exhort and require, every one to do their duty; as subjects to be obedient and true to their princes and higher powers, Romans 13 <451301> , 1 Peter 2 <600201> , Titus 3 <560301> ; men to love their wives heartily, as they are taught, 1 Peter 3 <600301> , 1 Thessalonians 4 <520401> , Ephesians 5 <590501> ; wives so to “behave themselves as it becometh women that profess godliness through good works,” 1 Timothy 2 <540201> ; that their chaste conversation may win the wicked, 1 Peter 3 <600301> ; men to deal gently with their servants, Ephesians 6 <490601> , Colossians 3 <510301> ; to bring up their children in the nurture and doctrine of the Lord, Ephesians 6 <490601> , Deuteronomy 4 <050401> ; servants to be faithful, true, and obedient to their masters, Ephesians 6 <490601> , Colossians 3 <510301> , 1 Peter 2 <600201> ; that they may do worship to the word of God in all things, 1 Timothy 6 <540601> , Titus 2 <560201> .

And if we thus behave ourselves, every one in his calling, then shall it come to pass, that even they which now blaspheme us as evil-doers shall at the last be ashamed of their part, and convert from their own evil ways to the true faith and living which is taught in the word of God; to whom, for his infinite grace and gifts thereof, be honor and praise now and evermore. Amen.