An epistle sent vnto tuuo daughters of VVarwick from H.N., the oldest father of the Familie of Love ; with a refutation of the errors that are therein, by H.A.

The preface, made by some of H. N. his disciples.

THis Epistle was written by the author vnto two maydens that were before purposed out of zele to have suffred death for the confession sake of the Christiā ceremonies, which as he saith in divers places of his works, are no more but outward meanes set forth by God & his ministers to direct people to the inward righteous life of Christ in the spirit;) supposing therin that they should rightly have obeyed & fulfilled the cōmandemēt of Christ, who willeth vs to for∣sake our own lives for his sake. But vpon better consideration therof, through the grace of God, and these distinct godly testimonies and reasons, (both touching that point and divers others) herein conteyned; their mindes as it hath bene repor∣ted by some of that followship wer altered herin to an other vnderstanding of the matter, and they did willingly indevour themselves afterwards, to follow his good counsel.

Answer.

THe drift of this Epistle / being (at the best) to disswade from the pacient and cōstant witnes∣sing of the truth of Christ / especially in the out∣ward ordinances of the gospel and open profession of the same, Under a colour of inward and spiritu∣al confession / and service of God in the holy Ghost it shal not be amisse to look a little into the sleights of Satan / wherby (as it seemeth) he hath deceived / and would stil deceive the simple; and to shew the weaknes and insufficiencie of the reasons alleged in this Letter: as also to manifest / how the outward obedience of the body / must be conjoyned with the inward of the mind and spirit; and the external or∣dinances of Christs testament professed and practi∣sed; if we would have the spirit and life which is of God. And howsoever H. N. accounteth the or∣dinances of the gospel but ceremonies; yet in that he confesseth them to be outward meanes set forth by

God, to direct people to the inward righteous life of Christ in the spirit, he manifesteth himself to be but a seducer / in perswading the two maydens not to suf∣fer death for the confession sake of them: seing the outward meanes of mans salvation and of the righ∣teous Christian life / is to be stood for vnto the death / as in handling the particulars shal by Gods grace appear. And if by the authors counsel / those daugh∣ters were drawn (as here is insinuated) from their outward confession & suffring affliction for the ordi∣nances of Christ / against the Romish Antichristian doctrines & ceremonies; their faith was but weak / they forsook the inward righteous life of Christ in the spirit / and their mindes were perverted to a ve∣ry evil vnderstanding. If also they assented to other points of H. Ns. heresies / and folowed his corrupt counsel: then were they led* 1.1 captive / (as the A∣postle sayth / ) being simple women / laden with synns and led with divers lusts. From which estate / God keep al his people / & direct their feet in the wayes of life & peace.

Notes

• * 1.1

  2 Tim. 3. 6. 7.