AMongst all those Creatures that yeeld an vnpleasant sound , none are so clamorous and obstreperous , as Frogs , and Locusts ; these by land , the other by water , saluting each passenger with an vnwelcome note : the iust picture and resemblance of popish Priests , and Iesuites , which certainly are the Frogs which S. Iohn saw to come forth of the mouth of the Beast , and the false prophet ; whose croaking and vnwelcome noise doth nor a little trouble each Christian passenger : Amongst other harsh notes of theirs , this question hath his place : for what musicke can there be in it ? Where was your Church before Luther ? To what end is this question mooued , except it bee to trouble men ? for , what if wee could not prooue , that our English Church was before Luther ? must it needs follow , that the doctrine we hold is vntrue ? or shall the doctrine of the Church of Rome be euer the truer , because of onely antiquity ? what if Arrius or Nestorius could haue deduced the Patrons of their opinions from Adam , should they for that haue beene orthodoxall ? No certainly : and why not ? Because the Church must be prooued and allowed by the doctrine , and not the doctrine authorized by the Church , which the Papists ( a people wise in their generation ) well knowing , haue ouerturned the course of nature , & will haue the Scripture and all doctrine to hang vpon the determination of the Church : and vpon this ground it is , that they proceede to such questions as these , hoping that if they haue once amazed any one with the name of the Church , and shall haue driuen him from title and interest to the Church before Luthers time , they shall easily make him call in question the whole frame of doctrine of the reformed Churches .

Vnto this question answers haue beene made , arguments alledged to prooue that the doctrine of the Protestant Religion hath had his being in the world long before the dayes of Luther : That argument of the worthy Doctor Featly cannot by any Iesuite be answered , who concludeth , that the doctrine of the reformed Churches must needs haue Professours in all ages , because it is eternall : for eternity must needes haue a perpetuall duration without interruption .

The argument of Induction ▪ is that which better pleaseth the Iesuite , but by no meanes will hee suffer our enumeration to begin with Christ and his Apostles ; for then what shifts , what cauils and tergiuisations they haue , may easily appeare by the proceedings of the late conference betwixt D. White , and D. Featly , against Fisher , and Sweet : Wherefore , to answer a foole , according to his folly , I haue indeuoured to draw the argument of Induction à posteriore , beginning with the ages next before Luther ; the which is not so hard a taske as commonly is imagined : But first , we must agree vpon the termes of this question , Where was your Church , & c ? where wee must first know what is meant by your , and what by Church .

For , if by your , they meane the Church of our Nation , that is , Where was your English reformed Church ? Then are we to answer out of our own Chronicles , and so shall we be able to name the fewer in all ages , and in some ages perhaps none ; not that there were none , but that the Euidences are lost : But I suppose they doe not by the termes , your Church , vnderstand a Nationall or Prouinciall Church , because then must they prooue , that the Church of the New Testament is tyed to a place : so that where it once hath beene planted , there it should continue , which is contrary to all experience : besides , had they meant so , they would haue rather named Tyndall , or some other Englishman , then Luther a German . By your Church , they meane then those men in what Country soeuer , which confessed and maintained the same doctrine .

Then , for the meaning of the word Church , wee demand whether they mean a visible constituted Church , which might haue beene knowne by the distinction and succession of Bishops , Elders , Deacons , &c. or whether they meane generally any company of men , holding and professing those truths and doctrines which we maintaine ?

For , if they will tye vs to the former , I say still , the taske is vnequall , because the Records are wanting , but especially , because they cannot prooue that the Church must alwayes bee in such manner visible : for in Elias time there were 7000. vnknowne to him , much more to Ahab . In the time of Christs passion some of the Papists say , that the Church rested onely in Marie ; and all doe vsually compare the Church to the Moone , which is alwayes lasting , but not alwaies in the Full.

But , if they meant the latter , namely , a company of men professing the same faith which wee doe ; then wee further propound to them two questions .

The first is , Whether the persecuting of any defacto , doe hinder the iustifying of them deiure , which they must needs denie , except they will beg the question : and then , though we finde such , and such , in former ages to haue beene condemned , yet if deiure , they ought not , and that we can iustifie their Tenents , we shall proceed more easily in challenging them for ours . But if they would haue vs to name men vncondemned , liuing in peace , free from persecution , they must then prooue , that persecution doth take away the priuiledge of the Church ; that those men shall not be of the Church , because persecuted : which if they goe about , they must wipe out the whole infancy of the Church for the first 300. yeeres ; but they shall neuer be able to prooue it : for the woman in Reuel. 12. was constrained to flie into the wildernesse for feare of the Dragon .

The second is , What those doctrines are , which we must prooue , those whom wee seeke for to haue held : for , if they meane the fundamentall poynts of Religion , contained in the Creed for matters of faith , in the Decalogue for matter of practice , and in the Lords Praier for matter of praier , they themselues shall be our spokesmen , for they and wee hold these in common ; but if they meane those points of doctrine wherein we dissent from the present Church of Rome ( which they must do if they vnderstand themselues in the question ) then we further desire to know whether they will not allow vs to challenge those for ours , who held the most , and mainest , for which they suffered as well as wee ; although ( perhaps ) in some other points they dissented from vs in our generall Tenents : for , if they will allow vs onely such , who both in doctrine and discipline did in all points agree , they are too narrow for any dispute ; besides , they must prooue that there hath beene alwaies such an vnity of words and doctrine , that in no point the professours haue or may dissent , and yet remaine members of the Church : a taske that will neuer fadge well , especially with them in their mutinous multitude and rabble of religious orders ; yea , let them then call to minde how weakely Harding hath defended his answere of Bishop Iewels challenge ; or , let them answere Perkins Problem , and prooue where their Church was before the Trent Councell ; for it will asmuch trouble them to name a company of men in all points professing the Trent faith , as vs , to finde a company of men professing in all points the doctrine of the reformed religion : But if they giue vs liberty to make challenge to them , who in the most and greatest points haue agreed with vs ( which is but reasonable ) then in the next place we desire to grow to a point , and agree vpon the maine points of difference betwixt vs and them : All which in generall do concerne either the offices of Christ , or the fruites of his office , the which by their doctrine are ouerthrowne .

For first , the kingly office of Christ is ouerthrowne by the supremacy of the Pope , which draweth with it the pride of the Clergy , and exaltation of them aboue the temporall power .

Secondly , the Propheticall office is ouerthrowne by their silencing the Scripture , and by giuing such liberty to the Church , yea , and to the Pope , to frame articles of faith .

Thirdly , the Priestly office is ouerthrowne in the worke of satisfaction , by Merits , Indulgences , Purgatory , &c. In the worke of Application , by their abuses thrust into the Sacraments , especially Transubstantiation , reall Presence , Exorcismes , &c. & by their false sacraments , which were neuer appointed by Christ , as meanes of application . In the worke of Intercession , by Angels , Saints , Images , whom they haue made their mediators of intercession .

Lastly , the fruites of Christs office , redounding to vs by the mediation of Christ , is our Iustification before God , which doctrine they haue laboured to ouerthrow .

Now to the point , this our taske wee are to shew forth the names of such men , who haue consented with vs in the opposition of the Supremacy , exemption of the Clergy from Ciuill iurisdiction , in the authority of the Scriptures , and in the communicating of them to the people , in condemning Merits , Indulgences , Purgatory , Transubstantiation , reall presence , intercession of Saints , and Angels , Image worship , Pilgrimage ; in the doctrine of our free iustification by faith , and such other points , which are controuerted betwixt vs , and the Church of Rome . And this wee will doe first in the instance of our owne ▪ Countrimen , and then proceed to others .

Know all men therefore by these presents , that about the yeere of Grace 1370. in the time of Edward the third , King of England , at what time all the world was in most desperate and vile estate , and that lamentable ignorance and darkenesse of Gods truth , had ouer-shaddowed the Church most ; Iohn Wickliffe , who almost 200. yeeres before Luther , by the especiall prouidence of God , was raised vp here in England , to detect more fully and amply , the poison of the Popes doctrine , and to purge Religion from those dregs and filthinesse , with which it was defiled ; a Professor of Diuinitie was he in Oxford , a man of note in his time , and of famous memory in the ages following : For after hee had begunne to publish some conclusions touching the Doctrine of the Sacrament , and other abuses of the Church , ( which boyle and sore could not be touched , without the great paine and griefe of the world ) hee was much infested with the Monkes and Friers , who like Hornets , did assaile the good man on euery side : After them , the Priests tooke the matter in hand , and Symon Sudbery , Archbishop , depriued him of his Benefice in Oxford ; yet by the friendly and fauourable assistance of Iohn of Gaunt , Duke of Lancaster , and Henry Percy , Earle Marshal , ( being also befriended of the King , who had heretofore made vse of him in an Ambassage ) he bore out the malice of the Friers , and of the Archbishop , all the dayes of Edward the third , and of Pope Vrban ; who being busied in suppressing his aduersary , Clement the seuenth , could not spare any time to deale with Wickliffe : and so it came to passe , by Gods prouidence , that the truth began to take some place and roote in mens hearts .

Afterward in the beginning of Richard the 2. and of Gregory the eleuenth , his aduersaries espied their time , and incensed the Pope against him , who sendeth foorth his Bull to the Vniuersity of Oxford , and an Epistle to the King , with diuers Letters to the Bishops , dated all 11. kal. of Iune , in the seuenth yeere of his Pontificality 1378. By which it appeareth , that Wicklife was a man of note , and that these things were not done in a corner , but that his preaching had taken effect : So that the Bishops had neede of the Popes owne helpe to suppresse him and his abettors ; the which although they attempted , yet could they not bring to passe : his commendation testified by the Vniuersitie is this : That hee behaued himselfe as a stout Champion of the Faith , neither was hee conuict of any heresie : and God forbid ( saith the Testimoniall ) that our Prelates should haue condemned a man of such honesty , of heresie .

His bookes were many , and spred abroade , not only throughout England , but also by occasion of Queene Anne , wife to Richard the second , sister to Wenceslaus King of Bohemia , carried into Bohemia , whence Iohn Husse learned the beginnings of his knowledge . Thus was this man a most worthy instrument in the Church of God , like a bright Starre shining farre and neere .

Now for his conclusions which are recorded for his ; they are many , & gathered by his aduersaries , and therefore if in all points they sound not so well as we could desire , yet certainely wee may beleeue that they were not so bad as some of them are deliuered .

Wee finde that in a Conuention at London 1382. May 17. they proceeded to the condemnation of his articles , some as hereticall , some as erroneous : The which also were afterward presented to the Councell of Constance , with diuers others to the number of 45. in all , and by the same Councell condemned ; the which for breuitie sake I haue collected vnto their seuerall heads .

1. Touching the supremacy , hee held that it is not necessary to saluation , to beleeue that the Church of Rome is supreme head of all Churches : That the Church of Rome is the Synagogue of Satan ; Neither is the Pope immediately the Vicar of Christ , nor his Apostles , and that the Excommunication of the Pope and his Prelates is not to bee feared , because it is the censure of Antichrist .

2. Concerning religious orders ( which are the tayle of Antichrist ) he taught , That those holy men , as Francis , Dominick , Benedict , &c ▪ which haue instituted priuate religions whatsoeuer they be , in so doing , haue grieuously offended ; And such who do found Monasteries , doe offend and sin ; so all such who enter into such religions , are thereby vnable to keepe the commandements of God , as also to attaine to the Kingdome of heauen , except they returne from the same : yea , that religious men being in their priuate religion , are not of the Christian Religion , but are members of the Diuell .

3. Concerning the Authoritie of the Church , his doctrine was , that whatsoeuer the Pope and his Cardinals can deduce cleerely out of the Scriptures , that only is to bee beleeued , or to bee done at their admonition ; and that whatsoeuer else they command , is to bee condemned as hereticall ; As for the decretals of the Pope , they are Apocrypha , and seduce men from the faith of Christ ; and the Clergy that studie them , are fooles .

4. As touching preaching and hearing the Word , which is the execution of Christs Propheticall Office , hee taught ; That it is lawfull for any man either Priest or Deacon , to preach the Word of God , without the authoritie of the Apostolike Sea , or any other of his Catholikes ; and that all such , who doe leaue preaching or hearing the Word , for feare of their excommunication , they are already excommunicated , and in the Day of iudgement , shal be counted traitors against God .

5. Hee opposed also the selling of Prayers , Pardons , Indulgences , and such Popish trash , by which the satisfaction of Christ is weakened ; affirming , that it was but a folly to beleeue the Popes Pardons . Item , that all such , as bee hired for temporall liuing to pray for other , doe offend and sinne in Simony .

6. In the doctrine of the Sacraments , which are the instruments of Christ , to apply to vs the work of his satisfaction , he laboureth much to reforme the abuses .

1. In Baptisme , hee found fault with their doctrine of necessity ; teaching , that they which doe affirme , that the infants of the faithfull departing without the Sacrament of Baptisme , are not saued , are presumptuous and fooles in so affirming .

2. In the Supper of the Lord , hee opposed the reall presence , and transubstantiation , teaching , that Christ is not really in the Sacrament of the Altar , in his proper and corporall person , but only figuratiuely ; That without all doubt it is a figuratiue speech to say , This is my body . Item , that the substance of materiall bread and wine , euen bread in his owne substance , doth remaine in the Sacrament of the Altar , and ceaseth not to be bread still . That the Accidents do not remain without the Subiect in the same Sacrament , after the consecration . So also hee taught ; That it is not found , or established by the Gospell , that Christ did ordaine Masse .

3. As for the other fiue , which we count bastard-sacraments , some he did doubt of , as , Extreame Vnction : for this is one article , if corporall vnction , or anneyling , were a Sacrament as it is faigned to be , Christ and his Apostles would not haue left the ordinance thereof vntouched . So also for Shrift : if a man be duely and truely contrite and penitent , all outward confession is superfluous and vnprofitable .

Other Sacraments he complained of , as being abused ; hallowing of Churches , ( saith hee ) confirmation of children , and the Sacrament of Orders , be reserued to the Pope and Bishops onely , for the respect of temporall lucre . So also concerning Matrimony , he held , that the causes of diuorcement , of consanguinity , or affinity , be not founded in the Scripture , but are onely the ordinances of men , and humane inuentions .

7. Lastly , concerning the power of the Keyes , and the Churches censures , his positions are ; That no Prelate ought to excommunicate any man , except he know him first to be excommunicate of God : and that he that doth excommunicate any other man , is thereby himselfe either an hereticke , or excommunicate . Item , that a Prelate excommunicating any man of the Clergy , which hath appealed to the King , or to the Councell , is thereby himselfe a traitour to the King and Realme .

This in effect is the summe of his doctrine , wherein howsoeuer there may be , some few small slips , or harsh phrases , yet no pernicious errours , much lesse , damnable heresie ; but for the substance , it is sound and good , and agreeable to the Canon of the World . Wherefore , howsoeuer the Synod of London , and the Councell of Constance , haue agreed to condemne these Articles and his Books , yea , & his bones also to the fire ( 41. yeeres after his death ) yet since de iure they ought not so to haue done , and that we are able to iustifie his doctrine , we are bold to challenge him as a fit instance to answer the question proposed ; and doe conclude , that our Church had a being , and the doctrine of the reformed Churches had professors , long before the dayes of Luther .

But goe to , let vs goe on , and see what other can be named ; one Swallow maketh no Summer , nor one professor a Church . True : and therefore except we can draw downe the profession of this doctrine successiuely from Wickcliffe , to the dayes of Luther , let vs lose all this labour : wherefore we are to know , that both together with Wickcliffe , and after him , arose a multitude in the Church of England , maintaining the same doctrine , and spreading it abroad among the people , labouring with might and maine to defend it . Such were Lau. Redman , Master of Arts , Dau. Sawtree , Diuine , Iohn Aschwarby , Vicar of S. Maries Church in Oxford , William Iones , an excellent young-man well learned , Th. Brightwell , Will . Haulam a Ciuilian , Ralph Grenhurst , Io. Scut , Ph. Norrice , who being excommunicate by Pope Eugenius the fourth , appealed to a generall Councell ; Peter Paine , Lord Cobham , with diuers others , whose names are mentioned in the Kings writ , sent to the Sheriffe of Northampton , giuen at the Mannor of Langly , March 8. in the 12. of Richard the second : so also , for confirmation of their multitudes , the words of the Statute made Anno 5. of Richard 2.

About this time W. Courtny Archbishop , being in his Visitation at Leicester , conuented diuers before him , as Dexter , Tailor , Wagstaffe , Scriuener , Smith , Henry , Parchmeanar , Goldsmith ; these , with other moe , were accused to the Archbishop , for holding the opinion of the sacrament of the Altar , auricular confession , and other sacraments , contrary to that which the Church of Rome did teach : The which persons , because being cited they came not in , were solemnely accursed as hereticks with bell , booke , and candle ; yea , and by the same Archbishop was the whole Towne of Leicester interdicted , so long as any of these excommunicate persons should remaine in it . There was also one Matilda an Anchoresse accused of the same opinions : all this happened in 1387. in the 10. yeere of Richard 2. About the same time Peter Pateshall an Austen Frier , hauing obtained leaue of the Pope to change his coate and religion , hearing the doctrine of Wickliffe , and others of the same sort , began to preach openly , and to detect the vices of his Couent , preaching in London , & by the Londoners graciously entertained and vpheld against the turbulent Friers , who sought to molest him . Thus by the preaching of Wickliffe , and others , the Gospell began to fructifie and spread abroad in London , and other places of the Realme , and more would haue done , had not the Prelates set themselues so forcibly with might and maine to gaine-stand the course thereof .

1389. William Swinderby a worthy defender of the faith , with Wickliffe , was accused to the Bishop of Lincolne , of certaine Articles , both vntruely collected and cruelly exhibited against him by the Friers , & by their vehemency was vrged to reuoke : afterward he remoouing into the Diocesse of Hereford , was there also molested and troubled vnder Iohn Tresnant Bishop of Hereford , vpon the same Articles ; the which Articles as they were giuen in by the Friers , and how answered by Swinderby in his protestation , hangeth vpon record , and out of the Registers in the same old English in which it was written , is by M. Fox transcribed into his History of the Church : By the reading of which protestation , wee may note a notable piece of knauery in his accusers , viz. not to deliuer his assertions faithfully , as he did deliuer them , but as they supposed to make him most odious in the defence of them ; and by that we may well guesse , that these points in Wickliffe , which seeme rough and harsh , met with such vnhandsome workmen . The processe against this Swinderby , his declaration vpon certaine conclusions touching the Sacrament of the Altar , Confession , Indulgences , and touching Antichrist , his appeale to the King , his letter to the Parliament , doe sufficiently confirme his worth and sufficiency in the cause .

1391. Walter Brute a man of sufficient learning , though no Priest , was conuented before the Bishop of Worcester , and accused of the same Articles with Swinderbies : admirable it is to reade his storie , especially in it , his learned declarations concerning Antichrist , the Popes vsurped power , the power of the Keyes , free iustification by faith onely , auricular confession , absolution , the matter of the Sacrament , Transubstantiation , Idolatry , Exorcising , priestly blessing , buying and selling of prayers , and other Romish dregs , the lawfull vse of an oath ; in which hee also prooueth that the City of Rome is Babylon . What could hee haue done more in our cause , had he liued since Luther ? Out of his declarations may be taken a sufficient Commentary and Exposition of those Articles , which as they are ascribed vnto Wickliffe , seeme something harsh . Furthermore , the Bull of Pope Boniface the 9. dated the 15. Kal. Oct. in the 6. yeere of his Popedome , directed to King Richard the 2. and to the Bishop of Hereford , doth confesse , that these Christians whom the common people called Lollards , did daily grow and increase , and preuaile against their Diocesans , for which cause the Pope stirreth vp the King against them , who therupon directed forth a commission to the Bishops , to proceed with greater authority against William Swinderby , Stephen Bell , Walter Brute , and others of the same opinions : By which meanes the growth of the Gospell was nipped , and a little kept in , but afterward it brake forth with more effectualnesse , as may appeare by the booke of conclusions exhibited to the Parliament holden at London , in the 18. of Richard the 2.

1395. Touching the abuses of the Church , Popish priest-hood , single life of Priests , the fained miracle of Transubstantiation , Exorcismes , and Priestly blessings , Masses for the dead , Pilgrimages , and oblations to Reliques and Images , Confession , Nunnes and Widdowes vowing single life , in all which , a reformation was desired in the said Bill , the copy whereof is to bee seene in Archiuis Regijs : so also the Kings dealing with certaine of his Lords , as namely , Richard Sturie , Lewis Clifford , Tho. Latimer , Io. Mountacute , &c. whom he did sharpely rebuke and threaten terribly , for that he heard them to be fauourers of that side . Adde to this the complaints of the Bishops against the Londoners , occasioned by another brawle ; but certainely the maine matter was , because the Londoners were fauourers of Wickliffes doctrine , as in the story of S. Albons is to be seene , vpon which occasion the King remoued the Courts and Termes to be kept at Yorke , to the great decay of the City , which happened An. 1393. All these things laid together , doe plainely and demonstratiuely tell vs , that there was more then one or two knowne to be infected , else what need such adoo with Letters , Epistles , Bulls , Mandates , Commissions to roote out the proceeding of a few . No doubt therefore but there were many worthy witnesses and confessors of the truth of the Gospell .

1400. After the deposing of Richard 2. when Henrie 4. had gotten the Crowne , the next yeere hee called a Parliament , in which one W. Sawtree , a good man , and faithfull Priest , inflamed with the zeale of true Religion , required he might be heard for the commodity of the whole Realme . But the matter being smelt out by the Bishops , they obtained that it might be referred to the Conuocation ; before whom being conuented & examined of diuers ▪ Articles of Religion , agreeable to Wickliffes doctrine , for that hee stood constantly in the defence of the truth , was by them condemned , degraded , and lastly burned . And this was the first Martyr that suffered for Religion , since the renuing of it by Wickliffe : for howsoeuer the Bishops had obtained the Statute de comburendo , in the daies of Rich. 2. yet in all his time none suffered death for that cause . But when Henry 4. came to the Crowne , hee willing to keepe in with the Clergy , which in those daies was a strong faction , put the Statute in execution , first vpon this Sawtree , and after him followed many moe , some whereof are recorded , but certainely the names of many are lost and forgotten . See the words of the Statute made in the second yeere of Henry the fourth , mentioning a good company of such Preachers , whom that age called hereticall .

1407. The storie of William Thorpe is famous , written by his owne hand , contayning his accusation and examination before Archbishop Arundell ; his answere , his commendation of Wickliffe , and defence of his doctrine , he taught against the Sacrament of the Altar , Masse , Images , Pilgrimages , pride of Priest , confession , &c. A constant Professour hee was of the Truth , and questionlesse continued to the end , howsoeuer his end is vnknowne : in all likely-hoode he dyed in prison . The like end befell to Iohn Ashton , another of Wickliffes followers , who for the same Doctrine of the Sacrament , was condemned by the Bishops , and because he would not recant , was committed to perpetuall prison , wherein the good man continued vntill his death . Somewhat before Thorps trouble , happened the trouble of Iohn Puruey , who , as Waldensis writeth , was the Library of the Lollards , and a glosse vpon Wickliffe . This Puruey , together with Harford , a Doct. of Diuinity , were grieuously tormented and punished in the Castle of Saltwood , at length recanted at Pauls Crosse , afterward , againe hee was imprisoned vnder Archbishop Chichely , in the yeere 1421. his Articles which he taught , were touching transubstantiation , confession , Power of the keyes , vowes of chastity , the charge of Priests ; he said that Innocent the third , and the 600. Bishops , and all the rest of the Clergy which in the Councell of Lateran determined the doctrine of transubstantiation and confession , were fooles and blockheads , seducers of the people , Heretickes , and blasphemers : he wrote diuers bookes , as touching the Sacrament of the Lords Supper , of penance , orders , the power of the Keyes , the preaching of the Gospell , of marriages , vowes , possessions , correction of the Clergy , of the lawes and decrees of the Church , of the state and condition of the Pope and Clergy .