An admonition to the Parliament

To the godly Readers, Grace, and peace from God. &c.

TWo treatises yee haue heere ensuing (belo∣ued in Christ) which yee must read without a 1.1 parcialitie or blinde affection. For o∣therwise you shal neither see their meaning: nor refraine youre selues from rashlye con∣demning of them, withoute infre cause. For certaine men there are of great countenaunce, whiche will not lightly like of them, bicause they principally concerne theyr persons and vaiusre dealings: whose credite is greate, and whose freendes are manye, we meane the Lordly Lords, Archbishops, Bishops, Suffraganes Deanes, Vniuersitie Doctors, and Bachelers of Di∣uinitie, Archdeacons, Chaūcelors, and the rest of that proud generation, whose kingdome must down, hold they neuer so hard: bicause their tyrannous Lordship can not standeb 1.2 with Christes kingdome. And it is the speciall mischefe of our Englishe churche, and the cheefe cause of backewardnesse, and of all breache and dissention. For they whose authoritie isc 1.3 forbidden by Christ, will haue theyr stroke without their fellow seruaūts, yea, though vngratiously, cruelly and Pope-like they take vpon them tod 1.4 beat them, and that for theyr owne childishe Articles, being for the most part against the manifest truthe of God: First, by experi∣ence theyr rigoure hathe too plainely appeared euer since their wicked raign, and specially for the space of these fiue or six yeares last past together. Of the eno••∣mities, which with suche rigoure they maintaine these treatises doe in parte make mention, iustly crauing re∣dresse therof. But the matters do require a larger dis∣course. Only y^e authors of those, thought it their parts to admonish you at this time, of those inconveniences which men seme not to thinke vpon, and which with∣out reformation, cannot but increase further dissenti∣on: the one parte being proude, pontifycall and tyran∣nous: and the woorde of God for the other parte ex∣presse

& manifest, as if it pleased the state to examine the matters, it would be euident. And would to God, th•••• free conferēce in these matters might be had. For howe so euer learned and many they seeme to be, they should and may in this realme finde inowe, to matche them, and shame them to, if they hold on as they haue begon. And out of this realme, they haue all the best reformed churches thorowout Christendom againste them, they were once of our minde, but since their cō∣secration they be so transubstanciated, that they are be come such as you see. But in a few words to say what we meane. Ether must we haue ae 1.5 right ministerye of God,* 1.6 & a rightf 1.7 gouernment of his churche, accor∣ding to the scriptures set vp (bothe which we lacke) or else there can be no right religion, nor yet for contempt therof cang 1.8 Goddes plagues be from vs any while deferred. And therfore though they lincke in togither, and slaunderously charge pore men (whom they haue made pore) with greeuous faults, calling them Puri∣tanes, worse than the Donati••tes, exasperating & set∣ting on, such as be in authoritie against them: hauing hitherto miserably handled them, with reuilings, de∣priuations, imprisonments, banishments, & suche like extremities, yet is these poore mennes cause neuer the h 1.9 worse: nor these chalengers the better: nor god his i 1.10 hande the further of, to lincke in with his againste them: nor you (christian b••ethren) must neuer the ra∣ther without examinationk 1.11 condemne them. But thankfully take this tast which God by these treatises offereth you, & weigh them by the worde of God, and do your endeuor euery one in hisl 1.12 calling to promote his cause. And let vs all with morem 1.13 earnest prayer then we are wonte, earnestly commend it to God his blessyng: and namely, y^• it wil please him by his spirit, to lighten the heart of oure most gracious soueraigne, and the rest in authoritie, to the benefyte of his small flocke, and the ouerthrowe of theyr proude e••••emies, that godlinesse may by them procede in peace, & God his glory thorow Iesus Christ, be throughly aduaun∣ced.

Which we call God to witnesse, is our only labor and sute. And so presently we leaue you, heartily bese∣ching God to graunt it. Amen.

Notes

• a 1.1

  1. Thes. 5. 21 Ia. 1. 19. 20. Iam. 2. 1.
• b 1.2

  Math. 15. 13 Luke. 16. 15
• c 1.3

  Math. 20. 25. 26. Math. 23. 8. 9. 10. Mark. 10. 4.2. 43. Lu. 22. 15.
• d 1.4

  Math. 24. 48. 49.
• e 1.5

  Math. 9. 37. 38.
• * 1.6

  eph. 4. 11. 12
• f 1.7

  Mat. 18. 15. 16. 17.
• g 1.8

  Prou. 29. 18 Amos. 8. 11. 12. &c. Math. 21. 23. &c. 1. Cor. 11. 30
• h 1.9

  Math. 10. 16. 26
• i 1.10

  Esay. 59. 1
• k 1.11

  Exo. 23. 1. 2 Math. 7. 1. 2 Iam 4. 11. 12
• l 1.12

  1. Cor. 5. 7. 1. Cor. 7. 20
• m 1.13

  Psal. 50. 15 Math 7. 7 1. Tim. 2. 1. 2