Oh mercifull Father , what Christian subiect hauing either ciuill honestie , feare of God , or spark of grace , could so presumptuously take vppon him , to incourage the commens to cast off the yoke of obedience ,

Looke Martins conclusions

And their booke intituled . D. Some laid open in his colours .

Rom 2.23 . Marke 7.6 Math. 2.12 Is this the sinceritie of doctrine , purity of liuing , and precisenesse of consciences , which thou and thy mates pretend & boast vpon ? Is this your brotherly kindnesse , to loue your neighbor as your selfe , Esay . 3 and doe vnto all men as you would be done vnto ? Is this the honest nature , charitable disposition , and curteous behauiour , beséeming a ciuill religious Gentleman ? No , no Martine , If Martine bee a Gentleman , it is onely by profession , not by condition . thy odious railing scoffes , and vile carterly rethorike ( more fit for Skogan , Will Summer , or a vice in a play ) bewraieth in thée rather a vile , base , and churlish condition .

Againe , if thou and thy fellowes were not euen blockes in sense , and monsters in mallice , you might with griefe perceiue , and with shame inough confesse , that forasmuch as wée haue the Gospell of Christ sincerely preached , and his Sacramentes ( as seales annexed thereunto ) duely ministred , the substance whereby the true Church is knowen , with such a godly reformation and vniforme order , by law therein established ( not only touching faith , doctrine , and remission of sins , in euery point to the sacred word consonant and agréeable : but also touching externall pollicie , discipline , decencie , ceremonies , rites and fashions , in no point to the same repugnant or contrary ) as al the churches in Europe do honor , reuerence , & commend it , & by the iudgement of M. Cartwright himself , M. Cartwright his Epistle to Harison . do giue the right hand of society in the house of God , vnto the church of England . There is no iust cause of our parts therfore , why you should in sects and factions separate your selues from vs . As for your assertions , by the iudgement of the profoundest diuines in this land ( as D. Fulke for one ( whose words I am able to iustifie ) they are false & erronious , your reasons obscure and senselesse , and your challenge most arrogant & presumptuous , whose argumentes are either framed vpon grounds of your owne diuices , to draw things indifferent to faith & religion , or else vnder a shadow of things which God hath commanded , to proue those he neuer commanded , which hath bin alwaies the speciall groundes of sectes and scismes in the Church , & your chiefe points ( of the best learned ) haue bin sufficiently answered alredy , to satisfie any reasonable man deceiued through ignorance , & for him that is drowned in wilfull blindnesse , all that can be sayd will not suffice , for such as bée naturally inclined to contention , will neuer want cauelling wordes .

The mightier that men be ( saith Iesus Syrach ) the greater is theyr wrath , & the longer that strife endureth , the more it burneth . Eccle. 28. Christ himselfe confuted the Pharesies , yet could hee not put them to silence . To pester therfore more paper in answering euery selfe-willed foole in his foolishnes , were not only vnprofitable , Prou. 26. Prou. 17.10.9.23.9 . but méere ridiculous . One reproofe doth more good to a wise man saith ( Salomon ) then an hundred stripes to a foole . Whom Pasquin very aptly compareth to an Ape , which the more sagely he is looked vpon , Eccle. 22.6 the more he grinneth : so the more substantially a foole is reasoned withall , the lesse he vnderstandeth .

I , but Martine in his owne opinion , is a man of most déepe and profound iudgement , It were good he had lesse art & more grace . In old Martins protestation . able to sée further in matters of state and religion , then all the learned Bishops in the land , whose conceits must néeds be pure and perfect without errors . For why ? he is resolute to confirme and seale them with his bloud . Yet Martine , remember thou art but a man , and man is subiect to error , yea and as it is proper to God onely not to erre : so is it seldome giuen vnto man to hit the truth . He is wise that can perceiue his owne folly . If thou and I had béene iudge betwéene the Publican and the Pharesie , which of them were the honester man , Luke . 18 I doubt we should both haue erred . Againe Campion the Iesuite was as learned , and resolute to die as thou , and yet but an obstinate Papist . Copin and Helias the Brownists as resolute to die as thou , & yet but rebellious traitors ? Lewes , Cole and Ket at Norwich , as resolute to die as thou , and yet but ranke heretikes ?

But Martine and his mates , are men specially endued with diuine wisedome , The giftes of the spirit are rife , but the fruites are reare . godly zeale , and other spiritual gifts aboue the rest .

I , but we haue faire warning not to beléeue euery spirite , for many false Prophets are gone out into the world , in whome satan transformeth himselfe into an Angell of light , 1 Iohn . 4.1 2. Tim. 4.3.4 2 Cor. 2.13.14 Math. 7.16 Et ex fructibus eorum cognoscetis eos , Let vs therfore trie those spirites , whether they be such in déede as they would séeme , yea or no.

The spirit of wisedome ( saith Salomon ) is louing , mild , and modest , Wisedome . 1 Ephe. 5.9 Iames. 3 Psalm. 25.8 Eccle. 3 whose fruits ( saith the Apostle ) do consist in all goodnes , righteousnesse , and truth . The wisedome that is from aboue ( saith Saint Iames ) is peaceable , curteous , and easie to be intreated . Those that be méeke shall the Lord guide in iudgement , sayth Dauid , and such as be gentle , them shall he learne his waie . The children of wisedome ( saith Iesus Syrach ) are a congregation of the righteous , 1. Corinth . 13 & their exercise is obedience and loue .

Ephe. 4.31 Loue is humble , patient , & curteous , Loue is bountifull , liberal , and friendly , Loue couereth the multitude of sins , & iudgeth charitably of all men . Ezech. 13 Rom. 12 . 1● Rom. 2.1 Math. 7 Math. 23 1. Tim. 4.2 Contrariwise , these Martinists are so fierce , fell , & furious , so obstinat , wilfull and malitious , so churlish , disdainful and presumptuous , so captious ouer other mens manners , so readie to spie a moate in other mens eies , so busie in laying open other mens infirmities , and so painfull in binding heauie burthens to lay vpon other mens shoulders , as it yéeldeth iust occasion to suspect them , for men possessed rather with spirits of error . They are very diligent labourers , I confesse . But what doe they ? euen as the venimous waspes , Iudas 9. 2. Pet. 2 assemble together to make honie combes lyke good bées : so doe these ( vnder the title of a pure vnspotted Church ) associate themselues , with such spitefull railing slanders , to vex and persecute the true members of Christ , as the Angell durst not giue to the deuill himselfe .

They plow the forrowes of falsehood , sow the séeds of iniquity , & féed the multitude with lying fantasies . They lead them vp & down by the eares , That ranne ix . miles to sucke a bull . to heare their vaine conceits , as it were a foole to the stocks , till they proue as wise in the end as Waltams calfe .

Whose doctrine , by wringing , wresting , and abusing the meaning of the holy Ghost to a wrong sense , appeareth so dark , obscure and doubtfull , as the people do feele their mindes more profitablie edified , their consciences more soundly satisfied , and their faith more comfortably strengthened , by hearing the onely wordes of the text distinctly read without anie addition at al , then by many such long ,

Whereby ( though against theyr wils the people are broght by experience to know and feele , that publike reading ( in some measure ) is preaching . 2. Pet. 2 2. Tim. 3 Iudas .

Whose mouths , ( saith the Apostle ) must be stopt . Psal. 140 Iere. 9 Psal 35.20 Ezech 13 Esay . 5 Psal. 59 2. Cron. 36. Iere. 37 4. King 2.4 Luke . 15 Math. 23

Thus Martine , the conditions . manners & doctrine of thée & thy fellow workers ( rightly considered ) do plainly bewray you for no other , then those vaine ianglers . presumptuous talkers , and false dissembling hypocrites , of whom the spirite of truth hath so often & so earnestly forewarned vs , that should obstinatly stand in their own conceits , despise gouernment , & speak euill of those that be in authoritie , promising libertie to them that follow their damnable waies . Resembling much that péeuish brood , of whom the Prophet Dauid so grieuously complaineth , that go to & from the euening , grinning like dogs , bend theyr tongues like bowes , & shoot out bitter wordes like arrowes , imagine mischiefe in their hearts , against those that be quiet in the land , and stir vp strife al the day long . But wo be to such foolish prophets as are wise in their own conceits , follow theyr owne spirits , & speak where thy see nothing . For the sinnes of their mouth , and the words of their lips , they shall be taken in their own pride . For why ? theyr preaching is of cursing and lies .

The Israelites for deriding Gods prophets , were brought to confusion . The tribe of Iuda for contemning his seruant Ieremy , were cast into loathsome captiuitie . The obstinate Iewes for pesecuting Christ and his Apostles , were brought vnto miserable slauerie : and your selues for abusing the true messengers of God ( without spéedy repentance ) must néeds come ●o some fearefull end .

In the feare of God therefore , I do friendly admonish you : nay more , our soueraigne Lady and mistres , by her princely authoritie , doth straitly command you , our louing mother the church of England , in sorrow & griefe for your offence , doth curteously intreat you , and the Apostle himself in most christian & charitable manner , doth vehemently exhort you , that if you haue conceiued any feeling in the fatherly kindnes of God , our mercifull creator , any consolation in the precious death of Christ our louing redéemer : Phil. 2 Cleanse your hearts from mallice , and your tongues from slander . Ephe 4 Wisedome 1. or any fellowship in his holy spirit , our comfortable instructor : to cease your bitter contention , confesse your folly , detest your errors , repent your wickednes , & be reconciled to God & his church . Turne your scornfull mocking , into pensiue mourning : your spiteful railing into sorrowful wéeping : your presumptuous prating , into humble praying , & your busie medling in matters of state , into spéedie reformation of your owne misbehauior : call to God for grace betimes , least with his fearefull iudgements he strike you sodainly : Rom. 2.4 . despise no longer the riches of his goodnes , patience , & long suffering , which leadeth to repentance . Abuse no longer the fauorable and charitable dealing of those godly reuerent fathers , who ( notwithstanding your vile slanderous reproches ) haue curteously sought from time to time , not your deserued confusion , but desired conuersion . Submit your selues to the mercy of our gratious soueraign , craue pardon for that is past , & learn to know from hence forth , that the displeasure of the prince , is a messenger of death , Prou. 20 and therfore more dangerous then séemly for euery meane person , to call in question matters of gouernment , or meddle in princes affaires . The foxe for prying in the lyons den , had his skin pluckt ouer his eares : & surely if your wound be so vncurable , as neyther friendly caueat can warne you , gentle admonition allure you , nor the feare of God withdraw you , but the still you meane to persist in your diuellish enterprise , then must you know & féele , that her Maiesty beareth not the sword for naught . Rom. 13 Where lenitie cannot reclaime , seuerity must correct , duro nodo , durus cuneus .

Finally ( my brethren in generall ) forasmuch as we are all fellowe seruants of one houshold , & none of vs without his imperfections , & shal all appeare before the iudgemen● seat of Christ , the only searcher of mans hart , 1. Corinth. 4.5 Rom. 14.10 Psal. 7.10 Gal. 6.5 1 Cor. 3.8 Ephe. 4 Colos. 3.12.13 . 1. Cor. 10.12 . Rom. 14.4 Iames. 3.13 Augustine . 2. Timo. 2.24 Galath . 5.15 where euery one shal beare his owne burthen , & receiue reward according to his own labor . Let vs learn of the Apostle to deck our selues with humilitie & lowlines of mind , & be more louing , friendly & charitable one to another . Let him that stands take héed least he fall . As for his brother , whether he stand or fall , that pertaineth to his owne maister . Let him that is endued with knowledge & learning , shew it forth in méeknes & discretion . Let vs learn of S. Augustine to agrée together in feare , least we perish in error . It becommeth not the seruants of God to bee stubborne , waywarde , or contentious , but quiet & peaceable vnto all men . If you bite & deuour one another ( saith the Apostle ) take héed lest you be consumed one of another . The Lord of his fatherly kindnes , at his good will and pleasure , relent & mollifie our hard stonie hearts , lighten our ignorant minds , & preuent our obstinate wils , & indue vs with his heauenly grace , Rom. 14.19 Ephe. 5.15.16 Phil 2.2.3.16 . 1. Pet. 2.17 Heb. 13.17 circumspectly to followe those things that make for peace , & studie to be quiet , especially considering our daies are dangerous , that with one hart one mind , one wil , & one iudgement , we may ioyne together in due obedience , to glorifie our God , honor his Prince , & reuerence his Prelates .