A Christian letter, containing a graue and godly admonition to such as make separation from the church assemblies in England and elsewhere. VVritten in Latine, by that most Reuerend and learned man, Master Francis Iunius, diuinitie reader at Leyden in Holland, and translated into English, by R G..

❧ Grace mercie and peace from God the father and our Sauiour Iesus Christ.

I HAVE receiued of late (belooued brethren in Christ) a little booke by one of your com∣panie; which is intituled, A confession of faith of some English men banished in Belgia, and haue knowne your desire partly by the speach of the same messenger, partly by the preface of the writing. But as concerning my selfe, beloued brethren, whom peraduenture yee haue thought meete to be appealed vnto a part, I verily see not how much I can doe in this cause, or how I can fit your purpose. For I knowe that now long since euery man doth abound in his owne sense; and that those that are otherwise minded are so farre to be borne with, holding the heade and foundation, till the Lord reueale things further vnto them. I know it is my part not to play the busie body; but that I should serue the truth and charitie in my standing and measure which the Lord hath bestowed vpon me, in Christian modestie and simplicitie, as farre as my skil and abilitie wil stretch vnto. Certainely when I considered more diligently, I thought nothing more commodious or more safe both for you and for my selfe, publickly in all this matter; then that we should embrace a holy silence. Yf there be any thing wherein we be offended, let vs commit our cause to the Lord, the author of our faith, and righter of our cause. But because after a sort, you will not suffer mee to be silent, and to condole in secret for the woundes of the

Church, which is rent more then inough, by actions thrust forth in publick in this our age; I will declare faithfully, and with a good conscience before God what I thinke: beseeching him who is author of peace and truthe that he would leade both you and me alike into all trueth according to his promise, & also dispose each of our mindes and affections to interpret brotherly one anothers requestes, answeres, admonitions, and finally all our duties, al∣though (as it commeth to passe, and is incident to man) disagree∣ing from our sense and taste. I obserue therefore that there are three chapters in your little booke, wherein you desire our coun∣sell and iudgement. The first is that heade of doctrine which you professe in your little booke. The second is the fact whereof yee haue accused the English Churches. Lastly the third is, the con∣clusion which you inferre by comparing that your doctrine with that practise of England; namely that yee cannot with good con∣science entertaine a communion with those Churches, but that yee doe abhorre them with all your heartes. Therefore I will speak briefely of these 3. things, entreating you brotherly to take my an∣swere in good part. I maruell that the point of doctrine, or little booke of your confession, beloued brethren, is sent ouer to me: I maruell that it was sent ouer to all the studēts of holy Scriptures in all Christian Vniuersities; for if there be a certaine consent of doc∣trine as you pretend it, truely I do not see what need there was, that you should set forth a newe confession in this present of holy and auncient doctrine. But if there be a dissention peraduenture in the doctrine, or rather a difference, the same ought not to bee dis∣sembled, if so be that yee thought it necessarie, that your doctrine should be declared. Besides, in that you send to mee; yea that you send to the publicke viewe of the whole Church. I maruell, brethren, yea I greatly maruell, what your meaning should bee, both in respect of the ende and the fact. For if yee haue set it foorth to that end, that yee might purge your selues, I pray you brethren, wherefore doe yee desire, to purge your selues with so many soules; who neuer could knowe you as yet to bee accused; which can neuer take knowledge of the right or wrong of your accusation; and who are not called vnto it by any lawfull means;

and (that which is worse) wherfore would yee haue that done be∣fore so many enemies to God and the Church, who thirst after nothing so much as the bloode of the Church of God, and doe reioyce that we vndiscreetly do cause a publishing of these woūds that by these wounds they might spoyle the Church, that pretious bodie of Christ, of the bloode of veritie, and iuyce of charitie. Finally, why doe yee this before so many weake ones, who not yet knowing, that yee are borne (as I may so say) are offended, rather with a carcasselike stink of schismes in the Church, before they knowe certainely the bodie whereunto they may cleaue? A∣las brethren, is your purgation so much worth vnto you that ther∣fore the publicke good of the Church should bee brought into so greate danger. A Christian an humble, and godly minde ought to bee otherwise affected, and setting aside the respect of their owne priuate good, instantly so to determine, that the earth should ra∣ther swallowe them vp (as the Poet saith) and let mee rather bee accursed for my brethren, then that by me, and for my credit sake one of these little ones should be offended and kept from com∣ming to Christ, and abiding in Christ my Sauiour. Verily let what will of my estimation goe to wracke, who am a Christian, let me be trampled vnder all mens feete, so that by my fact, I take no∣thing from Christ, no not the least thing from his bodie. And that you my brethren, should determine and resolue, to bend all your coūsels to this end; I am as strongly perswaded, as he that is most. But what end haue yee in common? alas for griefe in this particu∣lar case (pardon if I speake more freely, for yee would haue me to speake) yee seeme to haue erred: for herein, if I see any thing, the contemplation of your particular cause hath deceiued you, which thing yee your selues without doubt will marke if ye would goe a little from that your particular sense.

I haue shewed that there is some errour in that end. Let vs come to the fact. In the fact yee haue framed a purgation of your selues. That thing is denyed to none, if there shall be a cause, if a mea∣sure, if a place, if a time. But wherefore with mee brethren, who doe neither heare these accusations of yours; neither if I should heare them would I receiue them rashly? Wherefore in publick?

where yee knowe that it falleth out for the most part, that they who purge themselues, before they be accused, eyther betray thē∣selues, eyther raise such suspicions against themselues as they can not afterward easily wash away. Yee knowe that the publicke voice is neither a iust iudge oftentimes, nor at any time almost a lawfull Iudge; so greatly doth malice preuaile and beare sway in the publicke. Therefore yee appeale to these Iudges, who can neither iudge, nor take knowledge: finally, they are not onely no Iudges, but not so much as witnesses: so the priuate cause is not furthered, and the publique is many waies hindered. Yee will say then, who shall bee? What iud∣ges, what witnesses shall wee appeale vnto? Your owne pre∣face shall answere yee for me. For when ye pronounce that ye haue found a place of rest by the mercy of God in these places (ye doe acknowledge I thinke your owne words) ye plainely signifie two things. One, that if ye haue found a place of rest, ye shall doe wisely, if ye doe not stirre, where ye may be in quiet. The other that where you haue a lodging, and a quiet seate that there yee must also be iudged, there you must receiue the iudgement of your doctrine and faith, if ye will haue the same lawfully knowne and approoued. Ye are in a Church furnished with the seruants of God, whose pietie, learning, and brotherly loue to the members of Christ good men doe know. It is an vnlawfull course verily, to omit those among whom yee are and to appeale to another Church, or to the whole publike state, or to me who am a weake member therein, either in part, or in common. This order is god∣ly, iust, lawfull, and tendeth to the peace, and edification, which you ought first, modestly to regard, and to which I being a weake brother, am bounden by brotherly duetie, to all my brethren, that goe astray, and not to be caried headlong, and to rush vp∣on the knowledge of these things by this meanes offred; besides all equitie and good order. Till ye shall doe that, I admonish, ex∣hort, pray, and beseech by the most sacred & holy name of Christ, that ye would not appeale to me, neither to any other, neither to the whole Church: for by this preposterous course (as we may so say) ye do not disburthen your selues, as ye thinke, of enuy and

blame (if there be any) but ye doe burthen your owne cause, to which I will bring no preiudice. Let them speake first, with whom yee soiourne, whom yee deny not to be your brethren. But if peraduenture they shall not satisfie you, or yee shall not satisfie them, then let a new course be taken by lawfull order. This no good man will denie, but till this be attempted, it will be vn∣profitable to you, and hurtfull to the Church, to take another course. But neither I, nor my Colleagues, nor other wise men, will euer be so impudent as to preuent or take this thing out of the hands of them, to whom the knowledge thereof doth of right appertaine. And so much of the doctrine. I come to the accusa∣tion which yee vse, against the Church of England, as yee write in this accusation beloued brethren, I doe louingly entreat you, that yee would not take it in ill part, if I doe admonish yee, of a few things which I thinke, I may of right doe, first, what need is there, that yee should accuse them? Yee haue giuen place, yee haue (as wee may so speake) passed ouer into another Court, wherefore haue yee giuen place? No body desireth to know, or doth trouble yee. If wrong be done you, in England (that I may grant it that is done, for it belongeth not to me, to affirme or deny who haue not knowne it) yet they doe not prosecute this iniury yee being departed from them. What compelleth you to be mooued, and to take vpon you, the burthen of accusation? Why are yee not quiet being without the daunger of any hurt? Why doe yee not rather passe ouer the iniury that is past? Why doe yee not rather beare it (if there be yet any hope in silence) then to mooue, that which is in rest? It is plainely a Christian part, if yee beare it, and a prudent part, if you abstaine from stir∣ring the euill that is well appeased, an impudent thing, if yee doe contrariwise. And to what end I pray you is it? To the end that you might purge your selues. But here is no man that doth re∣peate anew, or lay these accusations against you. Wherefore ser∣ueth this purgation? that yee may be euen with them against whom yee complaine. But this is not the part of a Christian. I doe not thinke that this is your meaning. Is it to reforme them? This indeed is an holy endeuour. But if yee could not doe this,

when yee were present, consider what yee may doe when yee are absent. But first of all consider with your selues, by what meanes yee take this way, namely to accuse to me, to other to a publike place in the theatre of the Church, in the circle of the world. Ah beloued brethren, was it euer heard of, that any priuate man (to say nothing of a great communitie) was euer amended by this course. Further consider I pray you before whom yee bring these things, I will say of my selfe, to whom alone yee will commit this your little booke; I know not whether in this your little booke yee appeale to me, as to an intercessor, or examiner, or a Iudge. For if as an intercessor, were it not better that your com∣plaints were kept secret, then layed open (which tendeth to reproch) and the Church of Christ, innumerable soules, weake, strangers, to be beaten with the types of your impressiō. It is most manifest, that they against whom yee deale, will be more pro∣uoked by these grieuous things. If as an examiner, by what right can I doe it? who haue no lawfull authority from God, from the Church, from the Magistrate, or from both the parties: neither if it should be committed, would I easily accept it; I am so priuie to my selfe, of my owne insufficiencie: for who am I? or what am I? that I should be able, throughly to see euery particular thing, concerning you, and them, which are required to a iust examina∣tion. And this the right course of examination doth require, otherwise (as Seneca wisely faith) he that iudgeth one party being not heard, albeit he iudgeth that which is right, yet he is vniust. Yee are not a little deceiued in this your iudgement beloued bre∣thren: Yee almost do me an iniury, when ye call me to be a busie body, or think that I wil take vpon me the part of an examiner, or (that which is more subiect to enuie and farre from duetie) of a Iudge. And brethren, that which I say of my selfe, thinke that is the answere of other brethren in Churches and Vniuersities. No wise man will easily goe downe the steps, or clime vp to the seate of iudgement. Concerning your faith and doctrine something may be said, if you expound it, and if the thing be done in order. For touching the accusation of your countreymen, and of matters passed to and fro; no wise man by my consent, wil take vpon him the burthen of iudging. And for Gods sake, consider the euent of

this fact. For I pray you whom would it profit if that were done which yee desire? Certainly neither would it profit you nor them, nor these with whom ye soiourne, nor the Church of God. Con∣trariwise whom would it not hurt? This thing would set you more on fire: it would more alienate them whom yee iniuriously tra∣duce to be enstranged from you. For this is not the way of tea∣ching, nor of informing, nor of seeking reconciliation. To rent the good men whose hospitality yee doe commodiously vse, or to di∣uide them from you, or amongst themselues (which duetie they haue not deserued of you by their hospitalitie) will make that im∣pudent man which should vsurpe this authoritie a scorne to ill tongues, while good men would pittie his vaine labour, and your vaine expectation. Lastly (that I may also adde this, marke bre∣thren, how sincerely and brotherly I deale with you) albeit you might and would lawfully both of your faith which yee declare and also to giue sentence of the fact of the accusation which yee bend against your Countreymen: Yet yee by this course and ma∣ner of dealing haue taken from me that which yee require tou∣ching your fact. Ye will maruaile perhaps at that which I say, and yet it is so. For you doe so require my iudgement as you doe also require the iudgement of all Students and Vniuersities in common; then you doe not desire that I should doe it alone: but if particularly, doe you thinke that any of vs will be so mad, that when the iudgement of so many good men and diligence is desi∣red, some one Palaemon should take vpon him the chiefest parts: and should by him selfe speake of that thing, which is required of so many as learned, yea better learned, and better furnished with pietie, iudgement, and experience, which requireth a serious consultation, an holy communication, and a ripe in offensiue iudg∣ment. But of the third thing what shall I say? touching the con∣clusion which you draw from thence, that is, from those premis∣ses, if I shall yet determine any thing on either side, it were vtter∣ly vniust. Wherefore? I verily brethren suspend my iudgement in this cause euen as God & nature, & reason, and al lawes command me to do. Ye know the causes by these things which ye haue now read, & shal learne besides by other things which God shal mini∣ster vnto you (I hope) by the spirit of trueth and wisdome. I ought

not to iudge with my selfe of matters vnknowne, at least not so euident, neither yet with such forward boldnesse to pronounce among you or others, the matter being not sufficiently manifest to my selfe. God knoweth and iudgeth them which stand or fall, as many as are his seruants. Otherwise I trust yee are not ignorant that there are three things which euen from the verie infancie of the Church, the holy fathers would haue to be distinguished by the word of God, among the people of God; namely, faith or doctrine, conuersation or manners, and the order of discipline. And all wise men haue taught that with one consent, and deliue∣red it to posteritie, that where the foundation of the truth of doc∣trine remaineth, which is the piller of saluation although with most corrupt manners and discipline, there the Church remaineth, & that no man ought rashly to separate himselfe frō that Church (whiles he may tarry in it without shipwracke of faith and con∣science) or take from it the name of a Church, especially seeing euery Church consisteth of Pastors and flockes, which if some Pastors or Prelates trouble, yet it is vnmeete that this name either should be taken away from the other Pastors, which Christ doth witnesse by the doctrine of truth, or from the flocke which Christ hath purchased with his owne bloode, and doth daily sanctifie with the washing of the newe birth by the worde. This ought to be sufficient for you if any thing offend you at home. Now the fa∣therly & mercifull prouidence of God hath prouided for you else∣where. Certainely whiles yee inueigh against those Churches, yee shal make that your cause neuer the better, neither more pro∣bable with good men: which thing if yee haue not yet considered and conceiued by my aduise and counsell, and by the admonition of those which wish you wel; experience it selfe at last (God grant it be not to late, and informe you in good) will prooue all these things vnto you. For by the trueth of doctrine, holinesse of life, by the worke of faith and patience, and by the dueties of charitie e∣uen towards them of whome yee professe that yee are wronged, yee shall rather approoue your selues and your cause, then by out∣cryes and publishing of writings, euen as our Sauiour is saide to bring iudgement to victorie not by filling the streetes with shou∣ting

and clamours, but by blowing gently into the smoking flax and tender handling the bruised reede: which thinges seeing they be so, I beseech you most louing brethren in Christ by that most holie name of Christ which yee professe, by those bowels of mercie, wherewith Christ hath embraced vs from on high, that yee would thinke of another course, that yee would take another way to edification to saluation to peace. If there be any consent shake not your faith, which is not to be winnowed againe by new reasons. This course is suspitious, but if it must neede be sifted let it suffice you that it be first approoued by those seruants of God a∣mong whome yee dwell: this is certainely a lawfull course: For∣giue the former iniuries if any haue beene by Christian charitie to them from whom yee haue receiued the same, & hide them from others by Christian wisdome. There is no feare, that by so doing yee shall suffer violence: God will enlarge your harts by the spi∣rite of charitie most commodiously. Looke to your selues that o∣uercomming al sharpnesse and al bitternesse of minde yee may be acceptable to Christ and profitable to the Church; and that the odour of your pietie may be spread in speach, in life, in order to all the godly most sweetely without the stench of enmitie and schisme. Iudge not that yee be not iudged: But abstaine from those heauie conclusions and determinations (as they call them) against other men, neither labour either to get Abetters or partakers in that your former iudgement (which would be saide in you to be a spice of faction in them of impudencie, or else to drawe them to an vnseasonable, vnciuill, inconuenient or dangerous deliuerie of opinions. Pitie your selues I beseech you (most louing brethren) and the whole flocke which is gathered among you; haue pittie of them whome thorough error & infirmitie yee cry out be hurt. Pitie your entertainers among whome it were a most iniurious thing that ye should sowe these tares; especially being admonish∣ed. And it would be a greate indignitie by clamours and writings to brede in them suspicions and sinister opinions, eyther of your selues or of those your aduersaries (as you count them) or els of both. Finally pitie the Church of Christ, which verily it is not comely, nor expedient neither in any case tolerable among so ma∣ny

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and greeuous wounds which are giuen vnto it to be further gal∣led with this particular wound. So let God almightie loue you and Iesus Christ that most mercifull Lord, and our Sauiour be merci∣full vnto you. And if I shall be able to doe any good in the pub∣licke cause and in your cause: assure your selues that I will spare no diligence, no labour, no paines; that you with vs and all togi∣ther may be filled with sanctimony (without which none shall see God) with the good things of the Lord in his house, and before his face. And the God of peace which hath raised from the dead our Lord Iesus that great sheepeheard of the sheepe, by the blood of the eternall couenant, make you perfect in euery good worke to doe his will, working in you, that which is acceptable in his sight by Iesus Christ, to whom be glorie for euer and euer, Amen. And I pray you brethren suffer this word of exhortation, which I haue briefely written vnto you. The grace of God be with you all, A∣men. From Leyden this Saturday the 9. of Ianuary. 1599.

Yours in the Lord Francis Iunius.

FINIS.