[The displaying of an horrible secte of grosse and wicked heretiques, naming themselues the family of loue with the liues of their authours and what doctrine they teach in corners. Newly set foorth by I.R. Whereunto is added certeine letters sent from the same family mainteyning their opinions, which letters are aunswered by the same J.R.]

The errours of H. N. taken out of his owne bookes translated in∣to English.

1 For, the being of God, or essence, gaue foorth his sounde and voyce, and* 1.1 spake vnto me H. N. through his spirite

of loue all these wordes, he sayde.

Speaking against the Churche, he saith:

2 For that cause if thou now account not thy selfe for an whore, but esteemest thee for the faythfull espoused wise of Christe, my iealous conceiuing cannot stande otherwise towardes thee, but that thou art a presumptuous whore, whiche dissemblest and playest the hypocrite with Christe, and couertly committest whoredome, and neuerthelesse, wilt bee iudged as a faythfull espoused wife of Christe. So Shalt thou presenly be con∣strained to drinke the bitter cursed wa∣ter of my iealousie.

3 All that God hath spoken through his holie Prophetes, and what is written of Christ, should also in vs, and with vs, become fulfilled, to the honor and glo∣rie of God, and to our ioy.

Out of a Dialogue betweene the fa∣ther and the sonne. Chap. 17. the son concludeth with these wordes.

SEeing nowe that I (my Father) haue found out in deede, that our Lord the moste highest hath reuealed his mercie seate, the possession of his most excellent Maiestie, and heauenly riches in thee, and with the same beeing of the perfect Godhead, made a godly dwelling with thee: so were it meete that all the gene∣rations of the ••arth submit them selues vnder the same mercie seate and God∣ly Maiestie, and assemble them there∣vnto.

Here maiest thou sée these two men boasting thē selues in their presumpti∣on and pride of minde, to haue the spirit of God: the one saying, that the same spirit which was in Christ Iesus when hee liued on earth, is nowe in Dauid George, (which is horible blasphemie••) and abaseth Moyses, the Prophets, and Christe him selfe, in whose doctrine the certaintie of our faith is firmely fixed, against which the gates of hell shal not preuaile: & promiseth to bring the house of Dauid and the children of Leuie into great prosperitie, and to set▪ them vp: not with painful suffring, as Christ our

Lord in him self hath perfourmed, & left to vs his children example to follow his steppes in suffering miserie, that we might reigne with him in glory: but he promiseth to bring his disciples into that glory through méeknesse and loue, which in deede is the pleasanter way to be followed, if we consider fleshe and bloud.

H. N. he following his father in like blasphemie, auoucheth, that he hath tal∣ked with God, not by inspiration or re∣uelation, but by giuing foorth his sound & voyce. Then placeth himselfe in Chri∣stes stead and office, in iudging the chil∣dren of God, saying: My iealous con∣ceiuing can not stande otherwise to∣wards thee, but that thou art a presump∣tuous whore: and shalt be constrained to drinke the bitter cursed water of my ielousie. If these be not Luciferian voy∣ces, I am much deceiued: then he saith, that what the Prophetes & Christ haue written, that must be fulfilled in him and with him: and that all the generati∣ons of the earth must submit them sel∣ues vnto the mercy seat, and godly ma∣iestie,

which is in him. Thus I suppose my coniecture standeth firme, where I saide, that Dauid George was the hat∣cher of this heresie, and layde the egge, but H. N. brought foorth the chickens. How wel they agrée in vaunting them selues, doth well appeare: and that the sonne is farre worse then the father. Surely I could well haue spared my penne in writing this and other their wicked opinions, & with their patrones haue buried it in silence, had it not the zeale of the Lordes house carried me so farre, that I could not stay, vntill I had published suche matter as came to my handes, whereby I sawe the glory of Christ Iesus to be so defaced: & séeing these wicked impes to place them sel∣ues so high in y^e mindes of many simple people here in England, it pitieth me to sée them so snared in this bewitched er∣rour. A man would thinke that these things are so vaine & absurd, that none y^• were in their right wits, would once bend their mindes to imbrace the same. In déed, if I did not know many of thē, and am truely certified by some of the

same fellowship, that there are in Eng∣and, at the least 1000. in diuers partes of this realme, which do hold this vain & monstruous opinion of H. N. I would not haue traueled any further. But euē for their sakes, who in déede are simply deceiued, and not maliciously holde any thing, doe I write: and if this my la∣bour may (by the Lords will) conuert any of that fellowship, and bring them into the plaine and manifest way, whi∣che Christ Iesus hath left in his word, I haue my expected desire. There is no one thing in my opinion that hath so much preuailed with this simple sorte, which are members and professours of y^• Familie of Loue, as a certeine shew & outwarde face of a holy conuersation, which some of their illuminate Elders do séeme to vse. Wherein they followe the steppes of the Pelagians and Pa∣pists directly, whose doctrine of works, howe by them we are in the fauour of God, and accepted, doth in diuers trea∣tises manifestly appeare, destroying the worke wrought by Christe our Lorde, ▪ by whose bloud we are cleansed, and* 1.2

by whose stripes we are healed: & with∣out this faith in Christ, all our works, be they neuer so godly, are méere im∣pietie. If he woorke in vs the will and the déede, what haue we to boast of workes? If we haue nothing which we haue not receiued, what fauor with* 1.3 God doth our works purchase? If euer∣lasting life be the frée gift of God, what haue our workes to do in that matter of our saluatiō? It standeth not vpon so ••ickle a point as the vncertaintie of our workes: but in suche errours they wander, which leaue the wholesome precepts of the holy Ghoste reuealed by the scripture, and imbrace the doctrins of men. It séemeth that the simple truth which by the Scriptures we be taught, and the promises of Christe our Lorde made vnto vs, doeth not content their curious heads, but vainly they wander in euery vncerteine way, estéeming H. N. and his sayings expressed in his book, to be of no lesse value and credite, then the sacred Scripture written for our comforte, not as the workes of men, but by the finger of GOD, euen the

holy Ghoste. And whereas H. N. doeth boast him self y^• he can not erre, he saith that with the same lying spirite that is in the Pope, affirming the selfe same thing. As for the Pope, it is manifest y∣nough without proofe. But bycause some may thinke that I auouch that of H. N. that is not to be proued, I will set downe his wordes as they are written in his booke intituled, The prophesie of the spirit of Loue, the 13. chapter, where you shall perceiue, y^• H. N. doth couple him self with Moses, with y^• Prophets, with Christ and his Apostles, very pre∣sumptuously affirming, that he him selfe can no more erre then they. His wordes be these.

H. N. Chap. 13. verse.

Moyses, the Prophetes, Christe, and his Apostles, and his Minister H. N. they iudge to erre, or misse the right, rather then acknowledge themselues in their imagination to be ignorant and lying.

In my opinion H. N. in these words doth somewhat ouermatch the Pope,

for the Pope doth acknowledge, that as he is a man he may erre, but as he is Christes vicar or deputie vpon earth, he can not erre: but H. N. without any di∣stinction doth affirme, that he can no more erre then Christe or his Apostles. And in déede his bookes are thought a∣mongest his disciples to be of equall au∣thoritie with the scripture, and they do affirme that they are written with the same spirit. But if their bare affirmati∣on may stand for good proofe, then indéed it is somwhat they say: but y^e holy ghost hath taught vs another lesson, saying, beléeue not euery spirite, but trie the spirite whether he be of God. And that we may rightly discern this H. N. other wise called Henrie Nicholas, which ta∣keth vpon him to be that great prophet, sent to rebuke the world of sinne, & hath written his bookes, intituling one, The prophesie of the spirite of Loue: wherin he prophesieth of many thinges to hap∣pen to the Church of GOD before this time, but God be thanked, his wordes are no warrants, & he is proued a false prophet: and since our Sauiour Christe

published vnto the world y^• glad tidings of his glorious gospel to our great com∣fort, the office of prophesying or foretel∣ling of thinges to come, hath ceased in Christes Church. Many haue risen and taken vpon them to prophesie and fore∣tell thinges to come▪ but they haue ben counted false prophets, euen as H. N. is. Christ our Lord did forewarne vs that in the latter times such false prophetes should rise, and false Christes, and such daungerous dayes, that if it were possi∣ble, the very Elect should be deceiued. Blessed be the Lorde our God, which by the light he hath giuen his children in y^e holy scripture, hath so instruct vs, that the very childrē & babes are able to con∣fute these false techers & false prophets.

And least the Papistes should ima∣gine that this H. N. should be a professor of the Gospell, I will declare manifest causes, to proue that he is a right chickē of the Church of Rome, and harboured many yeares by Granuella a Cardinal. Howe he extolleth the Pope to be that great Priest of the West, howe he ope∣neth the misteries of the Masse, in a book

intituled, A declaration of the masse: Howe he commendeth euery trifling toye in the Masse, by the booke may at large appeare. Howe he allowed confes∣sion worse then auricular, may appear by diuers his owne words, which, least any should carpe at me, I wil set down: Howe he agréeth with the Papistes, in extolling workes as efficient causes of our saluation, I haue before touche•• Al which do proue, that he is no professour, but an enimie to the Gospell of Christe our Lorde.

H. N. in the first exhortation. Chap∣ter. 13. Diuision. 12.

IT is expedient that they shoulde make manifest their whole hart, with all their counsels, mindes, willes, and thoughtes, together with all their doings, dealings, and exercises, naked and bare before the eldest in the Familie of Loue, and not to couer or hide any thing (be it what it is) before him, & what their inclination & nature draweth them vnto.

By this it doth appeare, that nothing must be kept vntolde or vnreuealed to the eldest Elder in euery their seuerall conuenticles: for else it can not be vn∣derstoode, that one man in one countrie shoulde heare all the rest particularly. And here they step one foote before the Papistes in my opinion: For where the Pope requireth but a confession of the act committed, H. N. requireth a de∣claration of the thought, and what the inclination of our nature draweth vs vnto. And yet in moe speciall pointes they agrée with the Papistes, namely, in the possibilitie of the Law, to be kept of euery one that will séeke to performe the same. And wheras I shewed before, that. H. N. and the Pope doe both boaste that they can not erre, I thinke it not amisse, to let H. N. tel his owne tale tou∣ching this matter, that his scholers may behold, that I slaunder him not, neither do make his doctrine worse then it is.

In the first exhortation, Chapter. 13. Diuision. 11. Fol. 31.

They ought to beware that they distrust not the eldest in the familie of Loue, nor suspect any maner of euil or vnwisdome by him, nor yet in any wise persuade them selues, that the exercises; docu∣ments, and instructions which are taught or set foorth before them, by the father of the Familie of Loue, or oldest Elder, are too sleight, too childish, or too vn∣wise for them to follow after, or to obey: but with perfect heartes, humbly and singly minded, as good willing children, to receiue the same instructions, procee∣ding out of the wisdome and counsel of the eldest, and to stand euen so submit∣ted, till they come vnto the manly old∣nesse in the Loue.

Here is shewed, that none must sus∣pect the oldest Elder touching any false Doctrine that he might vtter▪ nor to thinke any vnwisdome to be in him: in which affirmation, howe arrogantly doth he challenge that vnto him, which is only due to Christ our Lord, and to y^e holy scripture, written by the spirite of God. And although he bost that he hath

the spirite of God, and that he is God∣ded with God, & God in him Hominifi∣ed or made man, yet are not wée to be∣léeue suche lying spirites, whiche vtter such absurd and blasphemous doctrine, contrarie to the Scriptures of GOD. And bycause I am entered into that high point of Diuinitie, which amongst the Familie is counted a misterie, I thinke it not impertinent, to set before the eyes of all the professours of H. N. and his doctrine, what the meaning of those termes are, to be Godded with God: for as they be straunge, vnwoon∣ted, and vnaccustomed speaches, so the doctrine taught in the same, is more strange and absurd.

It were conuenient that we that professe Christe, should be content with such phrases as the holy Ghoste doth vtter in the sacred Scriptures, and not to séeke curiously strange termes, which are not in the holy historie, nor conse∣quently can not be gathered out of the same: of which number this is one, to be Godded with God, and vngodded with man, the meaning of all such tearmes

is this, as it is taught by H. N. and im∣braced of the Familie.

They holde as a principle in the schoole, that after regeneration we sinn not, fortifying this their assertion with this place of the Euangelist S. Iohn: He that is borne of God sinneth not, & hee that committeth sinne is a seruaunt of sinne. Againe, God heareth not sin∣ners. All which places are very truely saide and alledged, but to a wrong pur∣pose, for the places do not proue that the regenerate man sinneth not, but shew∣eth y^• sins are not imputed to a regene∣rate man, to condemnation and death. He that is borne of God or regenerate, sinneth not: That is, to his distruction euerlastingly. The Scriptures do teach vs to distinguish sinnes in this sort: to commit sinne, is one thing, but to abide in sinne, or to dwell in sinne, or sinne to haue dominiō in vs, (as S. Paul saith: Let not sinne reigne in your mortall bo∣dies: and in the epistle to the Romanes. Commit not wickednesse with greedi∣nesse,) is another thing. The last perteineth not to the elect of God: For

as the children of God do daily fall tho∣rough frailtie and humane imperfecti∣ons, so they are daily renued by the spi∣rite of God, which driueth them to re∣pentaunce. But with the wicked the case is otherwise: For they sitte downe in the seate of the scornefull, they com∣mitte wickednesse with gréedines, say∣ing, tush, God séeth vs not: such sinners God heareth not, and such be seruantes vnto sinne. Now in the Familie it is o∣therwise taught, and otherwise belée∣ued: For they affirme that after we be regenerated, which they terme, The vp∣right freedom, we actually sin not, nei∣ther in thought nor déed. And y^• we may heare the Authour H. N. vtter his own spéech, I will set downe what he wri∣teth touching this matter.

In the Dialogue, deuision 26. follio. 40.

The true freedom is this, that the man in his heart, minde, and spirite, be wholy released, purged, and purified from all wicked nature and sinne, whiche hath raigned ouer him, and that there dwel,

liue; nor rule, any other thing in him, namely in all his spirites, thoughts, mind and soule, but alone the true Godhead, with the louely beeing of the vpright loue, and wholy to be replenished with all the vertues of God, and that there ••••owe nothing else in him but spirituall and heauenly waters.

Hereby it may appeare what the Authour H. N. thinketh touching rege∣neration, whiche they call The vpright Freedome. And as I haue conferred with diuers of the same familie, to vn∣derstand these mysteries, which in the end with much a do, I haue found out to be, y^• after we be regenerat, we sinn not. And when I haue required somewhat out of y^• holie scripture to proue this, in the end I haue receiued this for answer. God doth promise to dwell with y^e man that is of a lowly mind & humble heart. Also, ye are the Temples of the holie Ghost. And againe, the father and I wil make our habitation in man. Nowe where Christ dwelleth, there also is the father and the holie Ghost: where or in what man soeuer God thus dwelleth,

it may be well verified, God dwelleth in him: if God dwell in him, then the contrarie can not remaine in the same bodie. God is pure, and will not dwell in a corrupt vessell. Two contraries can not be in one place. Christ and Be∣liall can not dwell in one temple. Light and darknes can not be together. That man y^• hath God thus dwelling in him, may be called Godded, or god dwelling in him: so y^• by this reason man is God ded with God, and God Hominified in man. This their Rabbynes or Illuminat Elders do teach, and whatsoeuer this Godded man doth speake, thinke, or do, it cannot be euill, neither may be so iud∣ged by any.

What vain doctrine this is, may wel appeare euen in it self, & yet I was long acquainted, & much trauelled in y^• mat∣ter, before I could get this great myste∣rie opened vnto me, which y^• yong ones in the Familie can not explicat, except he come vnto the state of an illuminate Elder. And as I haue before proceeded, so you shal sée y^e authour H. N. vtter his owne words, whereby no suspicion shall

arise, that I haue spoken that I can not proue.

H. N. in the dialogue, Chapter 16. diuision. 16.

It becommeth not that any should take in hand to teach, but onely the il∣luminat Elders in the Familie of Loue, whiche haue receiued the worde of life from the liuing GOD, and are euen so through the same Godded with God, or incorporated to God, with whome also God in one being and power of his spi∣rite is hominified, or become man. Ther∣fore it is assuredly al false and lyes, sedu∣cing and deceitfull, what the vngod∣ded or vnilluminat men out of the ima∣gination of their knowledge, and out of their learnednesse of the scriptures bring forth, institute, preach, or teache. They preache in deede the letter, but no•• the word of y^e liuing God. Let them esteem them selues as holy as they will, they are a false Christianitie, and diuelishe Syna∣gogue, or schole▪,

Now maist thou perceiue, how this H. N. estéemeth all preachers and tea∣chers that are not thus Godded, or thus illuminate. In déede I confesse, that without the spirite of GOD, which his children be partakers of, we can not sée, nor perceiue the mysteries conteined in his worde, muche lesse declare the same to others. But that we must be Godded with God, because the scriptures vse no such phrases, neither hath any writer before vs in Gods church vsed any such proud spéeches, I thinke, with the Au∣thor they are to be reiected in that sence that he meaneth. For béeing thus God∣ded or illuminate, he standeth vpon his tiptoes and saith.

H. N. out of the prophesie, Chap. 3.

Although ye dissemble with me, and how craftily so euer ye couer you before me, yet are neuerthelesse all the coun∣sels and falshoods of your hearts mani∣fest before mee, and so much the more naked and bare before the eyes of my heart and spitite.

If these words do not proue H. N. to be a wicked deceiuer, let the indifferent Reader iudge. He affirmeth that the se∣cretes of our hearts are knowen vnto him, which knowledge perteineth only vnto the Lord our God: For he is wit∣nessed by the holy scripture, to be y^e sear∣cher of the hearte and reignes of man.

Thus how H. N. teacheth his family, that he is Godded with God, I haue de∣scribed: the rather because it is one of y^• chéef mysteries & secrets of their schoole, which verie fewe do vnderstand, except the illuminate Elders, who also are Dei∣fied or Godded, till they doe growe vnto the manly oldenesse in the loue, as they vse to speake. These blasphemies, doe require a longer discourse then my simplicitie is able to atteine vnto, but I hope Almightie GOD will rayse vppe vnto his Churche some good man: who will take some paines learnedly to con∣fute this horrible doctrine. In the mean season, these briefes I haue set downe, mindinge to let some of the Family sée the vanitie of their Authourand his doctrine, howe contrarie to the Scrip∣tures

of God they be.

In the Booke of. H. N. intituled E∣uangēlium Regni, The Gospell of the kingdome, which is a title that none of Gods children durst euer giue vnto a∣ny of their Bookes: and in déede it is a∣nother Gospell, then that which is con∣teined in the Newe Testament of our Sauiour Christe. How▪ H. N. aduaim∣ceth the Pope and his Cardinals doeth man••••estly appeare in the 13. Chapter of the same Booke▪

The Apostle Paule did arme Gods children a forehand, to beware of suche as should bring vnto vs another gospel, yea, although he were an Angell: & it is also ••••••••ifled, that our aduersarie doeth transforme himselfe into an Angell of light to deceiue Gods childrē, if it were possible▪ Euen so H. N. in all his wri∣tinges, how doth he transforme himself to be deified with God, & God in him to be Hominified. Which in plain 〈◊〉〈◊〉 are, y^• he is made euen as God, & God in him is become man▪ which is horti••••e blasphemie. For we haue the spirite of

God by participation, and not Deified: For that belonged to Christ our Lorde, who, as S. Paule witnesseth, thought it no robberie to be equal with God. No man would suppose that in this great light, where Christ Iesus and his glo∣rious Gospell doth shine, that such do∣tinges and dreames of men possessed with a fantasticall spirite, could take a∣ny déepe roote in the heartes of men: but alas, we sée y^• there is no errour bee it neuer so absurd & senselesse, y^• hath not many fauourers: & this hath the more, for that the Authour H. N. teacheth, that an outwarde shewe of a holie life doth chéefely please God: when as with∣out faith, our life and works are impie∣tie and wickednesse: and you shal neuer in all the writings of H. N. (that I haue read) heare him aduance, or once speake of our faith in Christ Iesus: but he doth raunge from matter to matter, in his writings so obscurely and darkly, that he thinketh neuer to be espied, what his scope of doctrine is: which in déed is not so plainly set forth in his smal treatises, as they are in a booke intituled, Speculū

iustitiae, The glasse of righteousnesse: vn∣to which booke the authour doth still re∣ferre his reader to be fully certified: of which booke they make suche bragges, that all the world is not able to control the doctrine contained in the same: and still their Elders do beare their pupils in hande, that the booke shall be publi∣shed. From day to day great collections haue bene made and sent into Flanders there aboute, but hitherto all in vaine. Yet I haue talked with some of the Fa∣milie that hath read certain fragments of the same booke, and they say no man can resist the spirite which the authour doth shewe foorth in that booke. They thinke it is long lacking, but I suppose it will neuer be missing. Howe vainely they boast of such bookes, is well verifi∣ed in one of the Familie, who speaking vnto a man of good calling in London, which is readie to testifie the same, and both the parties are liuing, when the one did expostulate very earnestly, why the other once professing the Gospell of Christ Iesus, was nowe turned vnto y^e errour of H. N. The other answered.

It is a wise Gospell which I professed then, I knowe an other manner of Gos∣pell farre better then that: in such repu∣tation haue the Familie the bookes and doctrine of. H. N. But why H. N. intitu∣leth his followers, A familie of Loue, I think it to be a mysterie not to be expli∣cated Euery errour hath supposed them selues to be the true Church, but H. N. is contented that his be counted a Fa∣milie. Why he addeth this word Loue, I could neuer perfectly learne, but as some haue interpreted to me, this word Loue, in many places of the authour, doth signifie the Maiestie of God▪ as in these thrée phrases: The louely being of the Loue: or, The manly oldnesse in the Loue: Here Loue is takē in both places for God, according to this s••••ying, Deus ••st Charita••, God is Loue: but why they vse this 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the, so much, I cānot well vnderstand. It is true, that God is Loue, or Charitie, so is he Iustice, so is he Mercie, and all other like vertues: •• but they are not in him as qualities, one ex∣telling another, as they reigne in man: but he is Loue▪ without measure, euen

Loue it selfe, euen so Iustice it self, euen so Mercy it selfe: he is all Loue, he is all Mercie, he is all Iustice. But when we speake of any of these which procéede from the Maiestie of God, we vnder∣stande not by any one of these God him selfe. For as his ••one is excéeding great, so his mercy also: therefore by as good right may an other bring foorth a doc∣trine or Familie of Mercie, as H. N. a Familie of Loue: For mercie is our gret comfort, & mercy is the faires•• flower of our garland. We read in the holy scrip∣tures of diuers sortes of loue, of which thrée be principall. The first is, y^• loue of God towardes his children, set foorth in* 1.4 these wordes. So God loued the worlde that he gaue his only begotten son, that none that beleeue in him should perish, but haue life euerlasting: which loue how perfect it is, and howe excellent, it pas∣seth the capacitie of man to conceiue, much lesse to vtter or describe. It cau∣sed that beloued and elect vessell Saint Paule, to exclame and crie out, Oh the exceeding greatnesse and deapth of the loue of God, which loued vs first, 1. Ioh.

4. Chap. vers. 19: this loue is perfect in déede. The second loue that is expressed, is the loue of vs againe towardes God, appearing in these words: If ye loue me, keepe my commandementes. And a∣gaine, The loue of God is shead abroad in our heartes. Ro. 5. Chap. vers. 5. whi∣che loue in vs, howe vnperfect it is, eue∣ry one féeleth in himselfe, and is a wit∣nesse. The third is, the loue that one of vs should shew towards an other whi∣che properly is called Charitie, appea∣ring in these words. By this shal al men knowe that you are my disciples, if yee loue one an other. And againe, A newe commaundement I giue vnto you, that ye loue one an other. Ioh. 13. Chap. 14. vers. Nowe, if I might be so bolde as to demand this questiō of H. N. or any of their Illuminate Elders, of which of these thrée loues is their fellowship? If they say of the first, which is the loue of God towardes man, they deceiue thē selues: for of that felowship none is par∣taker but Christe Iesus our Lorde. If thei bee of the second, which is the loue of man towardes our God, it is so im∣perfect

and corrupt in vs, that I thinke they will not acknowledge them selues to be members of such imperfection. If they will be of the third, which is of the loue we owe one towardes an other, I thinke if they enter in, to sée how weak and féeble it is in vs, and in euery one of Gods childrē, they shal easily iudge how farre off they are frō that they shold be: as if ye looke into S. Pauls first Epistle 13. Chapter, verse 4. there shall you sée the properties of loue rightly described: howe loue boasteth not, enuieth not, sée∣keth not her owne, reioyceth not in ini∣quitie, suffereth all things, beléeueth all thinges, hopeth all thinges, indureth all things. But how these shall be found in any, yea euen in y^• best of gods children, (if we rightly iudge ourselues) I cānot discerne. Of this laste loue, if they will haue their felowship, then let thē behold how vnperfect their Familie is, & con∣trarie to that they vainly brag. Where H. N. hath written these words. We the Elders of the holy vnderstanding shall reigne vpon the earth in righteousnesse, & vnder the obedience of loue, iudge y^e

world with equitie. When these things shall come to passe, this dreamer which would be taken for a Prophet, doth not tell vs. Here y^u maiest sée this Prophete persuading his Familie, y^• the Elders shall reigne vpon the earth in iudge∣ment and equitie. Who would not fol∣lowe this authour ••hat so plentifully will reward his scholers, to make them vpon earth Kings and Iudges? I doubt his words be no warrants, nor his pro∣mise any payment: for it is 28. yeres a∣go since he made this solemne protesta∣tion, and yet none of the Familie do in∣ioy any part of the promise: but contra∣rie it doth appeare, y^• none of his Elders neither in England, Flaunders, or else where, dare once be so bold as to defend their dreaming prophet, but subtilly in corners insinuate vnto the simple sort, & féed them with many outward promi∣ses: but to argue or dispute their cause with any of Gods children, therein they kéeye silence, and prefend ignorance, af∣firming their elders to be able to defend their Authour and his doctrin, but they are but partakers of the holy vnderstan

ding. And when you happen to méete a∣ny of their Elders, you shall finde them as farre without sense or féeling of the spirit of God, as y^• yonger sort: although they can set a shew of greater grauitie▪ And bicause I haue often made mentiō of their Illuminate Elders, I thinke it not amisse to name one, and the same notoriously known. His name is Chri∣stopher Vittell, a ioyner by occupation, a man that all the dayes of Queene Ma∣rie was a teacher of those famous here∣tiques the Arrians, and at Paules Crosse did solemnely in the first yeare of our so∣uerein Lady Queene Elizabeth, recant the same errours, as by the register of y^• bishop of Londō doth manifestly apeare. And nowe, as th•• olde prouerbe is, he is gone, A malo in peius, from euil to worse▪ Such men as can not be content with the simple trueth taught in the holy scripture, but curiously séeke for singu∣laritie, do easily fall into such bypaths, as our enimie by his subtiltie can lead them vnto. And to speake truely, this is the onely man that hath brought our simple people out of the plame wayes

of the Lorde our God, and hath put so many toyes of this authour H. N. into their heades, that I feare me they will not easily be remoued. What trauell he hath taken, howe he hath trudged from countrie to countrie, and howe he will not once moue his speach, if any learned or godly persons, that hath any true knowledge of the worde be present, is very wel known: but among the simple he is péerelesse, and in déede, the oldest Elder of our English Familie; amongst whome he hath his maintenance. His wife is resident in London, with whom (as is supposed) he hath not bene these two-yeares. In corners doth this man créepe, and dare not shewe his head, nor maintaine that doctrine which he hath taught: but certaine of his pupils haue béene imprisoned, who in the end haue subscribed against th•• doctrine of H. N. which Vittel doth teach. Euerie doctrin whiche is true dare abide the light, but the doctrin of H. N is kept in corners, & dare not abide the light: a certeine Ar∣gument that it is a counterfet doctrine. For no one man dare once open his

mouth, or put penne to paper to defende their Author in England: but amongst the simple, whose capacitie is like vnto waxe, which will easily receiue euerie seale or print, among such will he sound his trumpe. He saith the last trumpe shall blowe, by which he vnderstandeth the last doctrine which shalbe published vpon earth▪ which is (as he saith) this doctrine of H. N. How he miserably do∣eth expound the holie scripture vnto the simple people in corners, my heart doth lament: how he driueth the true sense of the holie Ghost into allegories, it pi∣tieth me to heare: and other wise to in∣terpret the holie scripture, is to sticke in the letter, as he vntruly affirmeth. But woe be vnto those simple people which doe giue eare vnto such false teachers, they can not with the Lorde our God, pleade simplicitie, and ignorance by no meanes can excuse them. If the blinde leade the blinde, they both fall into the ditche. The greatest gréefe that I con∣ceiue against y^• Nouices of y^• Family, is, that some of them haue béene proses∣sours of Christ Iesus Gospel according

to the brightnesse thereof, which by his good will and pleasure he hath reuealed in this latter age most plentiously: and now by the doctrine of this Vittell are declined so farre, that the true sense of the Gospel they despise; and followe the baine and fantasticall humor of Vittels allegories, a man vtterly vnlearned, more fitte to be a scholler in Christes schoole, then an Illuminat Elder in the Familie, and so a teacher. He that ne∣uer learned Christe Iesus truely▪ howe cā he teach Christ Iesus to others? And in déede, if he taught Christe Iesus he were to be borne withall, but that is not the marke they shoote at: To set vp H. N. as a Prophet, to aduance his pre∣ceptes, to credite his spéeche, to beléeue that he is Godded with God and cannot erre, is their whole inde••our. But a∣mongst the rest in déede they insinuate a good life, which they pretende to fol∣lowe: which is as the visard and cloake to hide al the rest of their grosse and ab∣surde doctrine, and the hooke and baite whereby the simple are altogether de∣ceiued. And this is the subtiltie of Sa∣than,

who otherwise could not preuaile with such bewitched doctrine, except it were shadowed vnder the cloake of out∣ward holinesse. For there is no sound argument, a good life is all that is re∣quired for vs to do, & with this the Fa∣milie doe séeme to presse Gods children often in conference. For if y^• will serue to saluation, I sée not how the Iewe or Turke can be excluded, whose workes outwardly (if they be viewed) shall con∣demne vs.

Howe close vnto the letter of the lawe doeth the Iewe sticke? How wil∣lingly doe they abide as vagrant and banished men in euerie countrie? How pitifully doe they reléeue their brethren whiche want? so that none is found to want that, which another is not rea∣dy to supply: which are notes & markes of charitie, or loue, and truely in my o∣pinion we come not néere the Iewe in this point.

But I pray you, what doeth all this auaile without a true and a righte fayth in Christ Iesus the sonne of God? The Turke likewise is a great & dili∣gēt

obseruer of his Alcaron, a great fas∣ter or absteiner, a great giuer of almes, diligent in prayer, seuere in kéeping his worde and promise, verie charie in kéeping his Sabbathes, verie obedi∣ent to Princes and Magistrates: and to speak truth, in many outward vertues doth farre excell vs Christians, (to our shame it may be spoken,) but what doth all this auayle? For so much as they blaspheme Christ the sonne of God, and denie his Godhed, and resurrection, they haue no part nor fellowship with vs of the promise of God, touching Christ our Lord, neither are partakers of his mer∣cie, which through Christe we féele in our heartes, to our great consolation & comfort. Without faith it is vnpossible to please God.

Therefore, aright faith in Christe our Lord, is cheefely to be required and sought after, and then our workes will of necessitie follow. For it is the proper fruite of that excellent trée: a true faith can neuer be without his works, which sticke so close together, that they are in∣separable. A faithfull man can neuer be

without good-workes, no more then fire can be without heate: and yet a faithful man is not without sinne, as H. N. doth auouche of his regenerate man. We haue many examples to proue, that a faithfull man or a regenerat man, doth sinne often, and to vse the wordes of the Prophet Dauid; Septies in die cadit iustus, seuen times a day doth the righteous fal. This cānot be vnderstood, but of a faith∣full and regenerat man. Dauid was re∣generate when he fell into whoredome and murther Peter was regenerat whē he denied with cursing Christ our Lord. Paule was regenerate when he solemn∣ly pronounced those wordes, Christe Ie∣sus came into the world to saue sinners, of the which number I am the greatest. And I am persuaded that we are neuer so néere vnto God our Lorde, as when we féele sinne moste heauie. God cal∣leth not such as be emptie, or féele not the loade of sinne: but Come vnto mee all ye that are loaden with sinne, I wil re∣fresh you. I speake not of the repro∣bate, who in déede féele in this life a hell in their conscience, and do dispaire: but

GODS children do féele themselues wounded with sinne, euen to death, but by grace giuen from aboue, they doe apply that souereigne salue, that whol∣some medicine, Christe Iesus, whose passion hath purchased, whose bloud hath cleansed, whose death hath cured all our diseases and maladies. This comfort doth H. N. take away from his Family, and placeth in stéed thereof his owne preceptes, without comfort to a troubled minde. For his doctrine is, That wee must growe vp vnto the man∣ly oldnesse in the loue, which in playne tearmes, is to growe to perfection, and to be without sinne, which they affirme in this life to be brought to passe. If this be good doctrine, then the holie Scripture is contrarie. 1. Iohn first Chapter If we say we haue no sinne we deceiue our selues, and there is no truth in vs. Likewise Paule Rom. 8. verse 20. The creature is subiect to vanity, not of his owne will, but by reason of him that subdued it vnder sinne. To the Galathi Chapter. 5. verse 17. The flesh Iusteth against the spirite, and the spirite against

the fleshe continually. These are con∣traries the one to the other, so that ye cannot doe the same thinges that ye would. And Almightie God did pro∣nounce vpō man at the beginning, this saying, God sawe that the wickednes of mans heart was great, and all the imagi∣nations and thoughtes of his heart were euill continually. Gen. Chapter 6. verse 5. The whole scope of the holie Scrip∣ture doth proue, that God hath shut vp all vnder sinne. Now if H. N. or his Il luminate Elders will still auouch that they are without sinne, then may I as truly aledge y^• they are without Christ. Let the terrible example of Sharpe and Allin moue you to cōsider, how desperat a doctrine you imbrace, whose souden deaths, without any comfort in Christ, may remaine as an example to all pos∣teritie. For the Author of this errour is Satan, who in a desperate state leaueth his pupils. For it was pride that caused almightie GOD to execute his iudge∣ment vpon him, his state béeing angeli∣cal: so likewise he séeketh to bring man into the same destruction by the same

meanes, through pride and presumpti∣on, that we are pure & without sinne, and so exalting our selues, we might haue the swifter damnation. For Al∣mightie God hath cast our condition & state so lowe, that w^tout his mercie set foorth by Christe, we all perishe: as is witnessed by Paule, * God hath inclu∣ded* 1.5 vs vnder sinne. * Also both Iewes and Gentiles are vnder sinne, (as it is writtē,) There is none righteous, no not* 1.6 one, &c. We are neuer so néere vnto our God, as when we féele our sinne as a burthen or heauie loade lying vppon our conscience, nor neuer further off, then when we féele or testifie that we are without sinne: which persuasion Sathan doth féede our humours with∣all, contrarie to the holie Scripture.

Therfore, I conclude that this prin∣ciple, to liue in this life without sinne, is méerely the suggestion of Sathan, and not of the spirite of God. Christ Iesus came into the worlde to saue sin∣ners. And againe, I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repen∣taunce. If Henrie Nicholas, and his Il∣luminate

Elders be now without sinn,* 1.7 Christe came not for to saue them.* For there is none other name vnder heauen giuen to men by which we shal∣be saued, but Christ Iesus: Therefore manifestly it appeareth, that H. N. and his Illuminat Elders are clean excluded, and haue no néede of Christe: for his of∣fice and death doeth properly belong to sinners, then consequently not to them.

Therefore ye nouices of the Family, which sée not into what daunger Chris∣topher Vittell, & H. N. doeth miserably bring your troubled mindes, looke wel betimes, espye their subtiltie, leaue the doctrine which is without comfort, and hath no warrant in the holie scripture: forsake those péeuish and darke riddles of H. N. and cleaue vnto the holie scrip∣ture: leaue the phantasies of H. N. and his scholler Vittell, and by little and little ye shall espie their craft and subtil∣tie, how they set vp them selues and not Christ Iesus: how they teach false doc∣trine, which dare not abide the light, nor they are not able to defend: and yet persuade you in corners, that it is the

spirite of God, by whiche they speake. How gréeuous ye are vnto the Church of GOD, may appeare by the trauell which is taken for your sakes: what of∣fence ye giue, what stumbling blockes ye are vnto the simple whome ye ought not to offend, no not the least, let your conscience beare witnesse. *It is necessa∣rie* 1.8 that offences come, but woe bee vnto them by whome they come. Know this for certeine, without the Arke there is no saluation: except ye abide in the vine Christe, ye bring foorth no fruite: ye cannot serue two maisters, béeing so contrarie.

If ye cleaue to H. N. and his doctrine, ye haue no parte nor fellowshippe with Christe Iesus, for H. N. destroyeth the office of Christe our Lorde, and ta∣keth away the comfort of his Gospel, in stéede whereof he placeth his vpright fréedome, with a perfection in this life, suche as the holie Scripture alloweth not.

For our battell is continuall, and shall neuer haue end, vntill our flesh be dissolued: and we at rest in Christe. If

we must atteine to suche perfection in this life as H. N. sheweth, then our Sauiour Christe did in vaine teache vs to pray continually, Forgiue vs our trespasses, as we forgiue, &c. Also Leade vs not into temptation. Which petiti∣ons are without effect if his doctrine be true. Therefore as ye loue your own soules, beware of his doctrine, examine it better, acknowledge Christ Iesus and his Gospell, and leaue the drowsie dreames of a doting Dutchman, and the erronious spirite of Christopher Vittell arude and vnlearned Ioyner. And although they boast neuer so much of the spirite, yet vse the counsell of the holie Ghost. Beleeue not euerie spirite, but trie y^• spirit, whether he be of God. Think not within your selues that they cannot erre, it is a priuiledge not giuen to mortal man, but only to our immor∣tall God.

God is true, and all men are liers. Beléeue not that his Bookes are writ∣ten by the spirite of God: for God is not contrarie to himselfe: the doctrine of H. N. is manifest contrarie to God, & the

doctrine published by Christ in his gos∣pel. If ye continue in the Family of H. N.. ye denie Christ. We may not hold of Paule or Apollo, for they were not crucified for vs: we are counted Christs friendes, if we doe those things that he commaundth. What haue we to d••e with H. N. or his commaundementes▪ Deceiue not ••our selues with your pre∣tenced the we of a holie life, but confesse with the Prophet Dauid, Psalme. 130. If thou Lorde shouldest looke straightly vpon sinnes, Lorde, who should abide it▪ Euen the hol••est y^• euer were, (being ••arthly men) haue néede to call vppon God, in this manner, with the beloued Prophet Dauid. If you imagine that your workes do helpe or profite you to saluation, ye are with the Pelagians and Papistes, demers of the grace of God in Christe our Lord: in which doctrine of merite, there is no comfort nor consola∣tion. If ye continue still in the Family of H. N. there is neither hope nor: helpe for you. Christes sacraments you con∣te••ine, which are to vs the seales and cognisances of our redemption, and to∣kens

of his couenant and promise. Ye haue forsaken the fayth which Christe Iesus planted in you, and haue digged vp puddels of corupte waters vnto your selues. Consider I pray you, front whence ye are departed, and whether you are come: ye are gone from the comfortable promises in Christe Iesus, touching the forgiuenesse of our sinnes, our consolation, & redemptiō, & are dri∣uen too & fro with many vaine persuasi∣ons of H. N. that first you shall be made partakers of the holie vnderstanding, then inioye the vpright fréedome, to be frée from sinning, and lastly come to be an Illuminate Elder, to be Deified with God: with such fantasies are ye fedde, and suche doctrine are ye taught, but how these thinges agrée with the holie Scripture is partely shewed be∣fore. Miserably is your simplicitie de∣ceiued through these false teachers, and yet howe vnwilling ye are to sée this your nakednesse made manifest, by proofe I can testifie. Haue a regard at the last vnto your owne soules whiche Christe hath déerely bought, (if you per∣teine

vnto him) & let them not be snared in such doctrines of men: (yea men of the worst sort.) But if there be any loue of GOD in you, loue the Lorde Ie∣sus, and be of his Churche: which you can not be, imbracing H. N. and his doctrine. Consider his loue, his mercie, and his patience in suffering vs to fall into many temptations, that our re∣turne might be the more ioyfull to him. I pray you marke but this one thing in their teaching, how they driue the true sense of the holie Ghost into allegories: And when so euer any texte of the holie Scriptures is alledged by any of Gods children, they aunswere that we little vnderstande what is meant thereby: and then if they be pressed to expounde the place, by and by it is drawne into an allegorie. For they take not the creation of man at the first to be histo∣ricall, (according to the letter,) but méere allegoricall: alluding, that Adam signifieth, the Earthly man, the Garden, the Woman, the Serpent to be within man: and applying stil the allegory, they destroye the trueth of the historie.

H. N. in the first Epistle, de∣uision. 19.

For. H, N. biddeth his Familie, Come eate of the tree of life that standeth in y^• midst of the paradise of the Lord, Come, eate, and taste of the hidden bread of the Loue, and liue eternally.

And as they expound this place thus: euen so doe they all the whole course of the scripture, leauing nothing certeine to our fayth: for by as good righte may they make an allegorie of Chris∣tes death and Passion, and say that CHRIST signifieth annointed, and so alluding and following that sense, denie that the man Christe Iesus di∣ed, and so by application of the Alle∣gorie diminish our faith and hope. And in déede, when I was earnestly solici∣ted by some of the Family to imbrace that way, which the mercie of the Lord kept me from, the first steppe that I should haue entered into the depth of their diuinitie, was, to learne the signi∣fication of the Hebrue names of the

Scripture, and thereby to expound the same.

What a miserable case is this to sée the holie Scriptures thus drawen from the true sense, into Allegories, whiche may be taken many wayes, euen as the vaine imagination of man can de∣uise? And surely it is verie pernicious and hurtefull thus to expound the holie Scripture: and yet the simple people (not séeing the deceipte hereof) doe thinke that these bée notable men, and haue the spirite of GOD, and that they teache them suche thinges therby, as they neuer heard of before. I denie not, but sometimes the allegory may be well applied, and to good pur∣pose, but when we applie the allegorie to destroy the true sense of y^e holy ghost, it is by no meanes to be admitted. For if we take such true histories as the ho∣ly Ghost hath left to his Church, wher∣by he sheweth what his will is, and drawe the same into an allegorie, what do we leaue certain, that our faith may depend vpon? and where is our hope, if allegories may haue place? For as I

saide before, they expound this place of Saint Paule. 1. Cor. The last trumpe shall blowe, and the dead shall rise, &c. The last trump is the last doctrin whi∣che shal be blowne vpon the earth, whi∣che is this of H. N. And the dead shall rise, that is▪ such as were dead in sinne, shall be raised vp by the same trumpe of doctrine. What a horrible matter is this, to sée the holy Scripture thus dra∣wen like waxe vnto euery purpose? A man would thinke, that no man hauing his senses, would euer credit such fan∣tasies and vanities, but I know too ma∣ny, that haue a speciall liking of this teaching, & do unbrace it as the trueth of God. Many partes of this our countrey is pitifully snared by such vaine techers as Christopher Vittell is: yea, not a few ministers of the simple sort are her with intangled, (with sorrow I speak it,) and I wold to God that the chiefest place in this realme were frée of these men. If we should examine what is the cause of this errour: surely our sinnes is the chiefe, which doth prouoke the iustice of GOD, to afflict vs with such false tea∣chers,

and the negligence of our mini∣sters, which eyther can not, or will not impugne their errour in countrie tow∣nes where it is imbraced. The malice of Sathan is not behind, who séeing the ioyful succéeding of the Gospell of Christ the sonne of God, doth stirre his stumps in his members, to impugne the same. There is no Apothecarie in the worlde able to qualifie the bitternesse of his po∣tion or medicine, as our enimie is to qualifie the bitter and poysoned doctrin of H. N. & Vittell, with such swéete pre∣tences of a holy life and vpright conuer∣satiō, which in déed are but mere visars & cloaks to shadow horrible blasphemie. Such subtiltie hath Sathan, that nowe enuying Christ▪ Iesus & his gospel, doth stirre vp his members to disquiet the Church of God with this absurd & sens∣lesse errour. And surely we were fore∣warned of such seducers, that in the lat∣ter times would deceiue the simple: the holy Ghost doth set thē foorth what kind of men they should be, proud boasters, y^• they haue the spirite of God, as is wit∣nessed: 1. Tim. 4. vers. 1. In y^• latter days

some shal depart from the faith, and shal giue heede vnto the spirites of errour, & doctrines of diuels. And againe, the 2. Epist. 3. chap. vers. 5. Hauing a shewe of godlinesse, but haue denied the power thereof: turne away therefore from such. Also Peter 2. Epist. 2. Chap. vers. 1. But there were false Prophets also among y^• people, euen as there shall bee false tea∣chers among you, whiche priuily shall bring in damnable heresies, euē denying y^• Lord that hath bought them, & bring vpon them selues swift damnation, and many shal follow their damnable wayes, by whome the way of trueth shalbe euil spoken of.

The same Chapter, verse. 21. For it had bene better for them not to haue kno∣wen the way of righteousnesse, then af∣ter they haue knowen it, to turne from the holy commaundement giuen vnto them. Also the Epistle of Iude, verse. 4. For there are certeine men crept in, whi∣che were of olde ordeined to this con∣demnation, vngodly men they are, whi∣che turne the grace of GOD into wan∣tonnesse, which denie God the onely

Lord, and our Lord Iesus Christ. Thus hath the holy Ghost decyphered all false teachers, and giuen warning to his children to beware of them. It is neces∣sarie that heresies be (saith S. Paul) that those that are perfect may be manifes∣ted. And surely Gods children haue thereby great triall and exercise of their faith, and the Lorde our God can make such heretiques to serue his purpose, e∣uen to his owne glory: that his childrē being strengthened by him, may not be ouer taken in the sleightes and subtil∣ties of Satan, nor his impes, but in the great temptation and seas of errours, may abide stedfast in the Lorde Ie∣sus, and in his promises, maugre the malice of the diuell. If euer there were disturbers of the Church, whereby these scriptures and prophesies may be fulfil∣led, I thinke that nowe is the time: For what with the bloudie Papistes with their fire and fagot, continuall warre, with horrible murders on the one side, and the Anabaptistes, Free will men, Ar∣rians, Pelagians, and the Familie of Loue on the other side, Christes Church hath

little rest, and small fauour in the sight of man, but spurned at on euery side.

But blessed be the Lorde our God, who in the middest of all calamitie and mi∣serie which his children daily suffer, yet can not be driuen back by any torment, to denie the Lord Iesus, nor his known truth, manifested to all the world: and the Lord raiseth vp stil some of his chil∣dren to withstand Sathan and all his rable, which striue against grace. And surely these and like errours are great exercises of our saith, how constant we will abide in the day of triall. Therfore though the world rage neuer so much, yet our graund captaine biddeth vs to be of good chéere, saying, Ego vici mundū. I haue ouercome the worlde. In whose cōfortable promises we stay our selues, and assuredly beléeue, that although the ship of Christ be tossed vp & downe with boistrous winds, yet perish it cānot, nor the lest y^• pertaine to him. No dout, ma∣ny of Gods déere children fal into many snares of errors, but they by grace are called backe againe, if not willingly, yet forceably, so that they can not perish in

those wayes. For as our sauiour saith, that such times should come, that if it were possible, the elect should be decei∣ued. But it is not possible to be deceiued and perish, though our God doth many ways trie vs, and maketh vs examples and patterns one of vs to an other, that his louing kindnes might appéere more notable in our preseruatiō, & we be pro∣uoked thereby to shewe a thankful hart in obedience to his will, & also be occasi∣oned to craue at his hands continually, a perfect perseuerāce of our faith in him, euen to y^• end: Which we shal be sure to obtaine, so that no false doctrine of H. N. Vittel, nor any other, shall preuaile once to touch vs, bicause our hope resteth in the Lord Iesus. And I verily beléeue, y^• although some of Christes houshold be entered into those steps of H. N. yet I dout not but the Lord in mercy wil cal thē, & if they wil not come, he wil force∣ably compel them, if they be his. There∣fore, you that are entered into the Fa∣milie, through the swéete & sugred per∣suasions of Vittell or any others, I be∣séech you, euen for y^• Lord Christes sake,

consider from whome you are departed, euen from our Lorde Iesus, who hath bought you, whose armes are stretched abroade, ready to receiue you againe, with the reioycing of Angels ouer your conuersion. How acceptable you should be vnto Christ his Church, by proofe shal be perceiued, but especially how benefi∣ciall you shall be thereby to your owne souls, and what rest to your conscience, none can expresse, but such as taste the same, & are partakers of the same grace of God in Christ Iesus. For this is vn∣doubtedly true, that to wander astray, is a propertie belonging as well vn∣to Gods chidren as vnto others, and their often falling is by many exam∣ples of the Scriptures made manifest, but that they continue streying, and ne∣uer returne home, or that by falling, they willingly wallowe in the myre, is a certaine note and mark that they per∣taine not vnto the Lorde Iesus, nor are partakers of his death. Therefore if ye willingly perseuere and continue fol∣lowers of H. N. Vittell, or any such, you are strangers in Christes schoole, and it

will be sayde vnto you, Depart, I knowe you not. Auoyde therefore the daunger ye be in, acknowledge that your tea∣chers may erre, and are mortall men. For since the Apostles times, there haue bene none so priuiledged, but that he might erre. The olde writers did euer giue that title vnto the holy Scripture, and desired to be beléeued no further, thē they agréed with the same: but your tea∣chers will néedes haue their doctrine to be credited and beléeued, without exa∣mination or triall. Assuredly if you did discerne them aright by the holy histo∣rie, you should easily perceiue thē decei∣uers, and your selfe deceiued. For if it be a trueth they teach vnto you, why teach they in corners, which trueth lo∣ueth not. Euery truth is able to defend it selfe, especially the truth of God: and it is of that courage & boldnesse, y^• there is no power, (be it neuer so mightie) but it dare stand fast and abide the tri∣all, so inuincible a vertue is truth. Did Christe or his Apostles, being threate∣ned not to publish a truth, c••••ceale the same for feare of life? No verily: to the

losse of life and limme, they stoode in the quarell of God, against the tyrants of the world, and preuailed. But Christo∣pher Vittell your teacher, thinketh it sufficient to seduce you in corners, and suffer you to be imprisoned: but for him selfe he is safe ynough. A good sheepe∣heard (saith Christ) will giue his life for his sheepe, but your shepheards wil not hurte their fingers for their Familie, but lurke in corners, and delude and deceiue greatly your simplicitie. Alas, why are you so bewitched, or so berest of sense, so to imagine, that a mortall man, an obscure Authour, whome you neuer sawe nor knewe, hath onely the truth, and all the world else seduced and deceiued: for so he him selfe confesseth: and that any other truth then the scrip∣tures teach, is of necessitie to be belée∣ued: or that his Glasse of righteousnes, which you neuer sawe, hath in it the wisedome▪ of God fully made knowne: or his Euangelium regni, Gospell of th•• kingdome, is that testament sealed by Christes bloud. Surely beware, I ad∣uise you betimes, prouoke not the Lord

our God so vengeance with these ab∣si••rde blasphemies. For it is witnessed, He will hasten his comming, and will not be slacke. You once did abhorre the Pope as Antichrist, and nowe doe im∣brace an Authour; a right chicken of the Church of Rome, who hath opened the mysteries of the Masse, and euery tri∣fling toy therein, at large, in his booke intituled. A declaration of the Masse. Alas brethren, is your faith which once you had in the mercifull promises of Christe Iesus come to this, that an ob∣sc••re man, whose person you knowe not, and whose books you did neuer vn∣derstand aright, hath stopped that liue∣ly fountaine that did once flow in you? Assuredly, it is the malice of sathan that hath brought this to passe, y^• you being led out of the way, into the bypathes of mans deuices, might perish in the same. But my hope is, that as many of you as pertaine vnto our Lord and sauiour Christ Iesus, and are members of the holy communion of Saints, shall at the last be brought to sée howe déepe you are fallen, and how sore ye haue ben woun∣ded,

euē to death, by that deceiuer Chri∣stopher Vittell: a man borne (as it were of purpose) for that intent: whose erro∣nious spirit the Church of God hath ta∣sted many ways. And marke this thing well: that man that once is entred into heresies, & not wel reclaynied, is subiect to manifold temptatiōs of our enimie: which is well proued in your instructer Vittel, who teaching the monstruous o∣pinion of Arrius many yeares together, now is possessed with infinite moe er∣rours, and is the childe of destruction tenne folde worse then before. It is a wonder to sée, that men hauing once knowne Christ Iesus, do now notwith∣standing denie the effect of his office, which the doctrine of Henrie Nicholas doth in many pointes, and yet is belée∣ued and imbraced very gréedily of you, yea, aboue measure. It should appear that Christ was not surely fixed in your mindes, for if he had, no blast of H. N. Vittell, nor any, could haue separated you from the loue of Christ Iesus. Such wandering errours are they subiect vn∣to, that perfectly doe not imbrace our

Lord Christ, according to his promises manifested and declared in his worde: but féede themselues with fantasies and deuices of men, yea, such men as neuer lerned Christ Iesus truly. Such are ve∣rified in the scripture, Exiére à nobis, sed ••on erant de nobis: They went out frō vs but they were not of vs. Euery errour that hath bene in the worlde, hath had some patrones and defenders, learned and skilfull men in science and arte: but this errour of the Famil••e hath neither Authour nor disciple, which are indued with true knowledge or learning. For H. N. doth despise such as bring foorth a∣ny doctrine out of the learnednesse of the Scripture, he saith, it is all seducing and lyes that such doe preach or teach, yea, and it is further auouched by H. N. that none of vs in the Church of God, ••an teach the truth of Christ Iesus, but only he, and such Illuminate Elders as are brought vp in his Familie. But as I haue before procéeded, it is ••••uenient that their Authour speak himselfe, that the Familie may iudge that I deale in∣differently. His wordes be these.

In the prophesie. Chap. 8. verse. 6.

Strangers which walke not with the Familie of Loue, or deale falsly therwith, tast not of the louely beeing, for earthly are all their mindes and thoughtes. The Scripturely learned man hath no know∣ledge of Gods matters, hee can not vn∣derstand any tittle, much lesse expounde or interprete the same to others. All Scripture appeare to such, couered, se∣cret, in signes and parables: neither com∣prehende they what the same (according to the trueth) is. It is giuen onely to the Familie of Loue to vnderstande the se∣secretes thereof.

Hereby it is manifest, that H. N. doeth signifie vnto his Familie, that none can speak the truth but he & his Elders, nor none can vnderstande the scripture but they. Upon this persuasion it cōmeth to passe, y^• few or none in the Familie doth credite or beléeue any other that teach, except H. N. or his Elders. How perni∣tious this matter is, if you credite his speach, shal appeare. And if truth be tied

except he be sent. If H. N. can proue vn∣to vs that he is sent of God, (as he boa∣steth) then he is to be credited: but we haue shewed that his voyces are not the voyce of God, reuealed to vs by Christe Iesus, but méere contrarie: therefore by no meanes to be credited. For none that is sent by God, will teach any doctrine contrarie to that whiche is reuealed in the scripture. For we are not to beléeue him, although he be an Angel from hea∣uen. For H. N. teacheth not Christ, but himself, extolling him selfe, his doctrine, and his wisdome: which is a token and marke, that he is not led by the spirite of God, but is puffed vp with y^e arrogant pride of his minde, in boasting maner, whiche Gods children did neuer follow. For the holie spirite doeth promise to dwell in the man that hath a lowly and humble heart, and not in the proud and arrogant person that boasteth himselfe. The spirit of God is neuer boasting, but in humilitie, méekenesse, and patience, doth set foorth the glory of God & Christ. And because we may better take a ••••ll vewe of H. N. and his spirite, I will set

downe his owne words, wherby it may be the better discerned, of what spirit he is. His wordes are these.

In the preface to his crying voyce.

Although our cause for a time bee condemned and dispised, yet the iust and vpright vnderstanding ones, doe prayse and commende our godlie wisedome.

In the first exhortation. Chapter. 16.

My children, and you Familie of Loue, giue ••are to me your father, liue accor∣ding to my doctrine, that it may goe wel with you, take heede to my doctrine, and what I doe set foorth, and teach: that it may be a seale of life, & a witnes of truth in our heartes: For it is your life.

Eodem libro & capitulo.

If you humble your selues vnto the schoole of grace, wherevnto you are cal∣led by me H. N. in the house of life, and forsake your ignorant knowledge and

good thinking: then shall yee liue and inherite the peace.

In the Prophesie, Chapter 4.

O Ye Caynish ceremonie ministers, and ye persecuters & murtherers of the Abellishe vpright heartes: ye haue false∣ly iudged the vpright harts, as men wor∣thy to be rooted out of the earth.

If therefore thou ceasse not from thy wicked workes, and from thy iudging of God his matters, (whiche doubtlesse thou vnderstandest not, therefore iud∣gest falsely) if thou repent not, all the curses of the Lawe shall be executed a∣gainst thee.

In the last time, the glorious Lordli∣nesse of the Lorde God shall in vs be∣come manifested and declared, & in vs fulfilled.

Here mayst thou discerne H. N. and his boasting spirite: howe he commen∣deth his godly wisedome, then how he extolleth his doctrine, saying, that his doctrine is their life: then he promiseth, that his Family shall, if they giue eare

vnto him, and his doctrine, liue and in∣herite the peace. He threateneth the mi∣nisters of God (whome he calleth Cay∣nish persecuters and murtherers,) that they haue falsely iudged his Fami∣ly. He commandeth them to cease from iudging God his matters, saying, they vnderstand it not. He pronounceth the heauie curses of the lawe against them; if they repent no••. Last of all, he telleth, that the glorious Lordlinesse of GOD, shall in him be manifested, declared and fulfilled.

If H. N. do not shew him selfe naked & bare in this his pride, I report me to the indifferent view of the Family: (es∣pecially such as are not entred into that gulfe, that no truth can be taught by a∣ny other then by H. N. and his Elders) whether these spéeches procéede from the spirite of God, or from the spirite of pride and presumtion. Let them indiffe∣rently iudge and espie the deceipt where it lurketh: namely, to discredite all the children of God which teach the Gospel of Christe Iesus, and to plant his doc∣trine and teaching in stead thereof, and

in déede it is the marke he shooteth at, but I hope in vain, to al y^• be Gods chil∣dren. What is this but to take away our comfort in Christes death and pro∣mises, and to be deceiued with the sub∣tilties of a seduced, and erronious spi∣rite, and to discredite the Gospel, that we might depend vppon H. N. and his doctrine: O subtile Satan, if thou coul∣dest bring this to passe, which thou go∣est about in thy members, then haddest thou thy desire, to set vp thy selfe, and tread downe the bloud and death of the Lambe of God which hath taken away the sinnes of the worlde. But our God hath promised to kéepe vs his children euen as the apple of his eye. For as a Fa∣ther hath compassion on his children, so hath the Lord compassion on them that feare him. Psalme. 103. ver. 13. So that Almightie GOD doeth prouide for his childrēs safty, from such poisoned infec∣tion, and suffereth others, that willing∣ly will wander out of the plaine wayes of Christ, which the Scriptures of God doe point vnto them. Of all the errours that euer the diuell did sowe to disturbe

the Church of Christ, none is more sub∣tile then this, y^• no trueth can be taught by any other then by H. N. and his Il∣luminate Elders: it is false, seducing, & deceiuing, what any other do teache. A∣las, why should mortal man be thus lif∣ted vp, and take vpon him Christ his of∣fice & calling: for this prerogatiue onely hath Christ Iesus, and none other, to teache all truth, for it is one of his spe∣ciall titles, I am trueth. Whither doth H. N. thrust himselfe by this proud chal∣lenge, y^• al truth is only taught by him, and his, and cā not be taught by any o∣ther? sure into Christ his seat & office: but with Lucifer the Prince of pride, he shalbe thrown down headlong, & all such as in their puffed mindes doe exalte themselues aboue their state and condi∣tion. For of all vice and sinne whiche man doth commit, none is more odious in God his sight, then pride, especially the pride of the minde in the highest de∣grée, as this is, to place a vile man in Christ Iesus his office and calling.

Into suche errours doe they runne whiche content not them selues with

the manifest and plaine testimonies of God, to vs reuealed in his worde: but curiously séeke for nouelties at y^e hands of mortall men, yea vile men, and of the worst condition: and yet, so close they sticke vnto this heresie, by the persuasi∣on aforesaide, (that no trueth can be taught but by H. N.) that I feare me the disease is incurable▪ except the Lord in mercie open their eyes, that they may ••spie at the last, into what miserable and vile errours and heresies they are snared: which they shall neuer doe, so long as they holde that principle afore∣saide. Yet we of the Lordes housholde, will not let to do our dueties to admo∣nishe you, and shew you the greatnesse and daunger of your backslydinges, in charitable manner. And although this simple admonition will little preuaile to stirr vp your minds to acknowledge (with vs) the trueth of Christ Iesus his Gospell, yet knowe this vndoubtedly, that almighty God hath in his Church, men of zealous minds, that will not sée Christes glorie so defaced, and his Gos∣pel so despised, but will in learned man∣ner

write against your Family, and are able to declare your errours, whi∣che my vnlearned head is not able to bring to passe. Although thys will not moue your mindes, yet my conscience is quieted, in that I haue done my best for your conuersion, and discharged my duetie, which I owe vnto the Churche of Christ, (as a member thereof) to open and detecte your leaders and teachers which abuse your simplicitie without measure, and instruct you, that confe∣rence is not good, that you may professe the doctrin of Henrie Nicholas inward∣ly, and be subiect to the doctrine of the Gospell outwardly: whiche in plaine spéech is, to dissemble with GOD.

For you are obedient to such doctrine as is taught, you communicate with vs in Christes sacramentes, you heare our teachers expound the scriptures, and yet you credite and beléeue onely H. N. and his doctrine taught by Vittell. Is not this plaine hypocrisie? will God be thus mocked? If God be God, followe him: If Baal be he, follow him. In Gods trueth we must be of a single minde

without halting, hypocrites and dissem∣blers he vtterly abhorreth. If Christes Gospell be a trueth, as the diuels were driuen to confesse, then assuredly H. N. by the same doctrine is manifested to be a lyer, and hath not the spirite of God, but the spirite of pride in a boasting minde. Lift vp your heades, and sée in time vnto your health and saluation, searche the scripture more diligent∣ly, and leaue the riddles of H. N. and you shal perceiue more contrari••tie in their teaching then I haue expressed: you shal rest in the cōfortable promises of Christ our Lord, and as for H. N. and his pro∣mises, what haue we to doe with them? let them with their Authour perish in obliuion, and be deceiued no more ther∣with: then shall ye féele how swéete the Lorde is, and what comfort we haue in Christ Iesus, which none can expresse but such as taste thereof, & féele it wor∣king in them selues to immortalitie: which comfort is not found in the wri∣tinges of any mortall man. Knowe this for certaine Lex Domini immaculata con∣uertens animas, The Lawe of the Lorde

is a perfect Lawe, and conuerteth soules▪ The lawes, preceptes, and writings of men, are all vnperfecte. Why doe ye cleaue vnto H. N. and his Bookes, and leaue this perfect lawe of righteousnes, which leadeth to life euerlasting?

If this warning will not serue, I shal sorrowe vntil God open your eyes, that ye may sée your grée••ous reuolte, and into what grinnes and snares of the di∣uell you are wittingly ledde, but my prayer shall not be wanting for you, to desire the Lord in mercie, for his Chris∣tes sake, that he will at the last mollifie your stonie heartes, and renewe a right spirite within euerie one of you, that your conuersion may be to Gods glo∣rie, and the reioysing of his Churche.

If it please you to reade these simple instructions which I haue written for your sake, hurt thereby you can not haue: if any good happen, and that the Lord doe hereby open your eyes to be∣holde your errour, giue glorie to the Lord our GOD, whose mercie is o∣uer all his creatures, and imagine, (as trueth is) that I haue not so contu∣meliosly

vsed your Authour H. N. as he hath bitterly dealt with vs, in iudge∣ing the Church of Christ, and all others that are not of his Family. I will vse his owne spéeche.

In the first exhortation Chapter. 7.

1 All such as beleue not the Loue, nor* 1.9 are baptised in the name of the Father, it is not meete to account suche vnbelee∣uers, and vnbaptised ones, for Christi∣ans, at whose handes we should looke to finde any word of trueth.

Capitulo eodem.

2 The day of the Lorde, and righteous iudgement of God shall burne in wrath and furie, ouer all vngoldly which haue despised the Loue and her seruice, and shal cōsume them as a fire to euerlasting condemnation in the fire of hell, which is prepared for the diuell and his angels.

Article. 10.

3 We confesse that no man shall ob∣teine

grace nor forgiuenesse of sinnes at Gods handes without the same commo∣naltie of holy ones in the Loue.

In the sixt Chapter.

4 But seeing we can not perceiue or finde the true beleefe of Christe, among any people vpon earth, that walke with∣out the commonaltie of the loue, but the same is manifested vnto the holy ones of GOD in the commonaltie of the Loue, nor can bee witnessed by any o∣ther people or nation, but onely the commonaltie of the holy ones in the Loue.

In the prophesie, Chap. 18. verse. 38.

5 Ye shall through the requiring of the gratious word in the seruice of loue, become incorporated to the louely na∣ture of God.

• 1 Here I haue repeated certeine sen∣tences taken out of H. N. whereby first is shewed, that none can haue the truth which beléeue not in the loue, y^• is, whi∣che

• beléeue not as they do, nor are bap∣tised in the name of y^e father, which they take not to be y^• sacrament of baptisme, but a mysterie excéeding my capacity to vtter, of incorporating vs into God.
• 2 Thē such as despise the Loue, & her seruice, shalbe consumed with fire euer lasting, that is, their teaching and ser∣uice.
• 3 No man can obteine grace nor for∣giuenes, except they ioyne with their commonaltie.
• 4 No people vppon earth can truely beléeue in Christ, but their Family, and such as walke with them.
• 5 Last of all they shall become incor∣porated to the nature of God, through their seruice of Loue.

Here ye may sée the summe of that godly wisdome that is in your Author, & his déepe diuinitie. And surely in my minde it requireth no large discourse to confute the same: the spéeche of it selfe doeth sufficiently bewray the minde of their Authour: the effect whereof is, he and his Family haue onely the trueth, and all the world else are deceiued. But

I may boldly say, and more truely, that no people in the world that haue any re∣ligion, but they hearing H. N. and his doctrine, will iudge him to be a false Prophet, a vain boaster, and a deceiuer of suche as put any confidence in him: whose doctrine is so absurde, senslesse, & without comfort, that none but idiotes, or men without true religion, will im∣brace the same. And although many simple people doe imbrace this vaine way, by the subtiltie of Christopher Vittel and others, yet I haue no doubt, but the Lorde in mercie will beholde their simplicitie, and giue vnto them a right spirite, to discerne trueth from falshod.

If I were disposed to lay abroade e∣uerie odious matter, and euery Tra∣gedie that I haue intelligence of in the Family, I should but infert the eares of Gods children with much vile mat∣ter: which I had rather burie in silence, then by naming the persons, to make them abhorred of the multitude. I think it conuenient therefore, to couer their turpitude, rather then by manifesting

the same, to publishe such odious stuffe, as would euen defile my pen to write.

Syr William Moore, a woorthy Iustice in Surrey, had the examina∣tion of one or two of the Familye, who vttered much matter, which I am loth to write. I do gather it vpon this grounde, that forsomuch as their Il∣luminat Elders do not sinne, and what so euer they commit, it cannot be sinne, (therfore if they fall into anye acte, be it neuer so vngodly) it can not be coun∣ted sinne, as it procéedeth from them, because they are Deified. And what acte so euer they do, it can not be sinne, no more then the Prophete Osees, whi∣che was commaunded to take a Har∣lot to his wife, and to beget children in fornication, and he did so. Uppon such false and vaine persuasions, what vile doctrine doeth followe, the verie simple may perceiue. I doe absteine there∣fore from further declaring, or dyla∣ting of any such matter as this is, least I should euen infecte the ayre there∣with.

And if any of the Family doe sup∣pose

that I write maliciously, & with∣out proofe, let them signifie their minds vnto me, and I shall satisfie them pri∣uately of all such matter as I haue in∣telligence: with the processe, wholy and particularly. And if they denie that Henrie Nicholas doeth boaste him∣selfe to haue the Spirite of GOD, (as I haue affirmed) and not by parti∣cipation, but Godded with God, or in∣corporated into GOD, as he vseth to speake: for my discharge, I will let H. N. tell how and in what manner he hath it, that you the Family, and all o∣ther may perceiue what he is, rightly. His wordes be these.

The first Chapter of the prophesie, the 2. diuision.

The Lord God of heauen moued me, * 1.10 in his minde or spirit, his power com∣passed me with a rushing noyse, and the glorie of the same God, became greate in my spirite of his loue, in such wise, that the clearenesse of God wholy inuironed me, and shined round about me, where∣thorough

the sight of mine eyes be∣came clearer then the christall, and mine vnderstanding more brighter then the Sunne.

He doeth not let to vtter vnto the Familie, how mightely and gloriously the God of heauen is in him: so that his sight and vnderstanding became clea∣rer then the christall, or the sunne: whi∣che if it be true, then it is méete that all generations of the earth submit them∣selues therevnto, as he saith in his dia∣logue. And surely this his boasting do∣eth darken the glorie of Christe Iesus with his Family, excéedingly. And this is beléeued & credited among them, (the more pity) and the simple are delu∣ded and mocked with such vaine boas∣ting spirites, and it increaseth daily in the countrey, and créepeth as a canker euery where, through the smooth speach of their Elders. But how close they kéep them selues, and will not vtter their mindes to any other that is not of their companie, I can be both an eye witnes, and eare witnesse: which is a very sub∣til

persuasion of sathan. For that man that wil not vtter his griefe or sicknes, and where the paine is, howe or when cā he be healed? it is an vnpossible cure. Euen so, in the Family, they are so close and so warie in their speach, that they will not vtter their griefe to any that can ease them. Therfore so long as they continue in that minde, they are reme∣dilesse. I shall not néede to confute their doctrin by the testimonies of holy scrip∣ture (which in déede is easie to be done) I doe reserue the same to some zealous pastour in Christs schoole, which I dout not, but as occasion serueth, they wil be willing to perfourme. It is ynough for me to beginne the skirmishe, to display the Familie, to make readie the way, & to discrie their force, that others may come after and ouerthrowe their camp, and put them to silence for euermore. He that will rightly consider the origi∣nall of this heresie, with the Authours, what persons taught it first, and when it did increase and growe: shall sée, that euen when the Gospell began to shine againe, being couered with clouds, and

darkened with dreames of men, then began Sathan in Dauid George to en∣uie the prosperitie of the Gospell. Dauid died An. 1556. and then Henrie Nicholas supplyed his turne, and followed his steppes, not in Dauids name, but in his owne name, as a Prophet sent of God to rebuke the world, and to bring them (as he saith,) to the right wayes. But more truely may it be affirmed, that they peruert the simple, which were en∣tred into the right and plaine wayes of Christe our Lorde, and haue brought them from the pure waters, which are drawne out of the fountaine which the holy Ghoste by the scriptures doth offer vnto vs, and doe giue them dregges and puddle, which vngodly men haue digged out of the myre of their owne imagination, and do deliuer it as drink sent of God to quench their thirst: but they deceiue them most shamefully.

For to all our senses it doeth appeare to be ranke poyson, and doeth slay the sou∣les of euery one that doth vsually drink thereof. If these simple admonitions may doe the least of you good, giue glo∣rie

and prayse vnto the Lorde our God: if not, I haue discharged my dutie whi∣che I owe vnto Christe Iesus and his Churche, in letting you sée the begin∣ners of your bewitched follie. And I shall not let to make my humble pray∣ers vnto the Lorde our GOD, euen for his sonne Christe Iesus sake, that he will open your eyes, and mollifie your stonie heartes, that you may beholde the Lorde Iesus, which was crucified for you, who with his bloud hath clean∣sed & washed your sinnes, be they neuer so great, that in his goodnesse and mercy he wil take away this erronious spirit wherewith ye are possessed, and create in you a right spirite, to be obedient to his will, and not to the will of mortall men, which seduce you, and leade you headlong to destruction: and that he wil bestowe vpon you his grace, to sée right∣ly into his word, without the vaine sha∣dowes of allegories which deceiue you, and leaue to vs nothing certaine: and that you may ••leaue vnto the Gospel of Christ Iesus, and forsake the vain trust you haue in your Deifying, and to liue

without sinne: which I instantly desire our Lorde God to bring to passe, for his sonne Christ Iesus sake. Amen.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Proph. cap ••. diuis. 5.
• * 1.2

  Esai. 53.
• * 1.3

  Rom. 4.
• * 1.4

  Iohn. 3. 16.
• * 1.5

  Rom. 7. Rom. 3.
• * 1.6

  Psal. 14.
• * 1.7

  Actes. 4.
• * 1.8

  Mat. 18.
• * 1.9

  By baptis∣me he mea▪ neth not the sacra∣ment of Baptisme.
• * 1.10

  which is in him.