The faith, doctrine, and religion, professed, & protected in the realme of England, and dominions of the same expressed in 39 articles, concordablie agreed vpon by the reuerend bishops, and clergie of this kingdome, at two seuerall meetings, or conuocations of theirs, in the yeares of our Lord, 1562, and 1604: the said articles analised into propositions, and the propositions prooued to be agreeable both to the written word of God, and to the extant confessions of all the neighbour churches, Christianlie reformed: the aduersaries also of note, and name, which from the apostles daies, and primitiue Church hetherto, haue crossed, or contradicted the said articles in generall, or any particle, or proposition arising from anie of them in particular, heereby are discouered, laid open, and so confuted. Perused, and by the lawfull authoritie of the Church of England, allowed to be publique.

The Errors and adversaries vnto this truth.

Deceiued then, and out of the way of truth, are they which of Preaching by the mouth conceiue either too basely, or too highly: too basely, as doe the anabaptists, and Familie of Loue; they affirming there ought to be no preaching at all , and that Preachers are not sent of God, neither doe preach Gods word but the dead letter of the Scripture b, these, with the said Ana¦baptists, tearming them letter Doctors , preaching the letter, and imagination of their owne knowledge, but not the word of the liuing God .

Too highly, as doe the Puritanes of all sorts. For say they

Except God worke miraculously, and extraordinarily (which is not to be looked for of vs) the bare Reading (yea not) of the Scriptures, without Preaching, cannot deliuer so much as one poore soule from destruction e, Reading (of whatsoeuer in the Church) without preaching, is not feeding, but as ill as play∣ing vpon a stage, and worse too f.

Without Preaching of the word (viz. by the liuely voice of a minister, and, without the booke) the Sabboth cannot be hal∣lowed either of a minister, or people in the least measure, which the Lord requireth of vs g.

Next, erre doe they which set their wits, and learning either against all bookes in generall, except the sacred Bible, or a∣gainst the publike reading of any learned mens writings, be they neuer so diuine, and godly in the open, and sacred assem∣blies.

Of the former sort are the Anabaptists; who as Sleidan re∣cordeth did burne the bookes, writings, and monuments of learned men, reseruing and preseruing onely, the holy Scrip∣tures from the fire h.

Of the latter be the Brownists, Disciplinatians, and Sabba∣tarians,

The Brownists doe say, that No Apocrypha must be brought into the Christian assemblies i, so the disciplinarians, Ministers ought not to read openly in the congregation any writings, but onely the Canonicall scriptures k, they complaine that hu∣mane writings are brought into the church l, they crie out, Re∣mooue Homilies m, and they supplicate vnto K. Iames, that the Canonicall scriptures onely, may be read in the Church n.

And so, but much more bitterly, and erroneously the Sab∣batarians: we damne our selues (say they) if wee goe not from those ministers and Churches, where the Scriptures, and Homilies onely be read; and seeke not vnto the pro∣phets when (and so often) as wee haue them not at home o

Notes

• Wilkinson a∣gainst the Fa. of Loue. p. 75.
• b

  ••ul••ing. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Anabap.
• H.N. lament. C••mplaint.
• 〈1 paragraph〉〈1 paragraph〉
• e

  T.C. 1. rep. p. 173.
• f

  1. Admon. to the Parliam.
• g

  D.B. Sab. doc. 2. B. p. 277.
• h

  Sl••••dan. com. l. 10.
• i

  Gifford a∣gainst the B 1. p. 15.
• k

  Fruct. ser. on Rom. 12. p. 60.
• l

  Def. of the god. Min. p. 116.
• m

  1. Admon. to the Parliam.
• n

  The Petit. of the thousand.
• o

  D.B. Sab. do••. 2. booke ••.173.