LEst this my departing , suddaine and vnexpected of all others , but to my selfe , by a long and more than ten yeeres aduising resolued vpon , and by exquisite deliberation brought to ripenesse , should cause wondring among these of our Profession , and should produce some badde effectes , through my default , in these who are ignorant of the proceeding : I thought it necessarie by a timous praeoccupation , to expound the reasons of this my not-hastie , but well-aduised departing .

For surely I doe foresee , there shall not be lacking many traducers , who according to the custome will take occasion of this my departing , to reuile , and burden me with calumnies : Which thing I confesse before GOD , doeth not much trouble mee : For with the Apostle PAVL I count little to be judged of men : Let me bee a Foole for CHRISTS cause : let me bee vyle , buffetted , rayled vpon , persecuted , blasphemed , and counted the off-scouring of the worlde : yea , and accursed , so that I may satisfie the LORD IESVS CHRIST , and profite my brethren in the Ministerie of CHRIST , I should contemne all these thinges . For ont glorie is the testimonie of a good conscience , that in simplicitie of heart , and sinceritie of GOD , and not in fleshly wisedome : but by the grace of GOD I haue changed my place . It is my parte indeed as the Minister of GOD , to shewe my selfe in much patience , in tribulation , in necessities , in straites , in laboures , through glorie and shame , through infamie and good fame : for I seeke not my selfe , nor mine owne , but those things which are IESVS CHRISTS , That rather doeth grieue me , if I doe not obviate calumnies , it may easily come to passe , that in the mindes of the Godly a great fruite of aedification shall bee stayed , which they might take of my counsell , and that many ignorant of the reasons of my departing , in place of aedification shall vnwittingly offende at me , by vnjust calumnies which they will heare . To these I will open the reasons of my departing , and make them manifest to all men , that I may profite them .

That this my change of place is of GOD , and not of man , neither may I , neither ought I to call in question : I knowe wee should not easily trust euery Spirit , but should trye them , if they bee of GOD , as we are well admonished by IOHN the beloued Disciple of CHRIST . Therefore in these tryalls , beside the often accesse to the Father of Lightes , which I learued of CHRIST , in these ten yeeres before named : it is most certaine ( as GOD and my Conscience beareth me recorde ) that no mans perswasion of whatsoeuer sort came to my eares : in this purpose I had none to stirre me vp , none to perswade me : I had vse of no mans counsell , nor did communicat it to any creature : Neither yet let any suspect , that I did drawe my reasons on t of the Bookes ( of Protestants ) which are contrary to the doctrine of ROME : for GOD is my witnesse , I did vehemently abhorre those Bookes discharged by ROMANE Inquisition : which indeed if any Praelate addicted to the Court of ROME did detest , I did it out of measure , beeing possessed from my childhood with foolish feares : and since now I am not a childe , but neare vnto threescore yeeres of age , let any , who listeth , assay whereinto he can perswade me , without weightie reasons . I did euer sway the inclinations & thoughts of my heart after the rules which the Holie Spirit in Sacred Scripture did praescribe to the whole Church : & by whose direction the holie and reuerende Fathers euer much esteemed by the Catholicke Church , did instruct the Faithfull : which holie Fathers also , beside the inward motions of the Holie Spirit , were the onlie and chiefe authors of this my purpose . Why then should I suspect this worke to bee of an euill spirit ? From which suspicion that also maketh me free , that before GOD , who tryeth the heart and reynes , I know that in my deliberation I did neuer direct my minde to humane or worldlie respectes : not vnto Ecclesiasticall dignities , which might beseeme mine estate , for I was alreadie a Bishop , and that not of the basest sort , but the chiefest in my natiue Prouince , to wit , The Archbishop of Spalato , the Primate of two Kingdomes , Dalmatia and Croatia , of as great aestimation in our Churches & Prouinces ( I am not ashamed to confesse the trueth ) as anie other . And if the dignities of Rome had beene pleasant to me , I had euer an easie accesse to them . But the manners of the Court of Rome , which I euer disliked , made me euer to abhorre it : Yet not the lesse , in great and publicke affaires , the Sea of Rome did vse my labours to the Emperour and Archdukes , as is manifest by the Popes Brieues , and the Letters of the Emperour and Archdukes , which I yet keepe My well-deseruing also at the hand of the State of Venice , my natiue Soueraigne , did procure vnto me their great fauour : whereby I might both hope for , and expect the benefite of a better fortune , if the desire of greater Grandour had possessed me . I looked not to worldlie commodities , which I had in that aboundance as might more than suffice a moderate spirit , such as I euer had , which I doe ascribe to the grace of GOD . In this change of my place I doe gladlie embrace the losse of all my dignities and riches , because ( as I haue said ) I seeke not mine , but the thinges of IESVS CHRIST : Therefore neither the counsels of men , nor the vndaunted affection , nor worldlie necessitie , nor euent : neither anie miserable accident , which vseth to ranuerse men , and their estate , moued mee to depart : but whence it was , I will ingeniously declare , without faining or dissimulation .

For the most part , from my childhood , I was brought vp among the Iesuits , in holy study , according to the common doctrine of the Schoole-men , and the receiued opinions of the Church of Rome : for which opinions , proper to Rome imprinted and fixed in my mind , more by authoritie than by reason : with the miserable captiuing of my vnderstanding , I was , for a long space , most resolued to die : for I counted it execrable about these opinions to admit the smallest doubt or ambiguitie of mind or thought , let be of speaches : and being bound vp in this common reuerence of them , if at any time any thought had crept in against them , or my studies had suggested any doubt , I resolued to vse violence against mine owne reason ( as the custome is in matters of Faith ) and to turne my minde and thoughts another way , rather than I should admit the least doubt against these articles of Faith , which I tooke for certaine , and were set out to vs by our teachers , to bee moste certaine . I confesse I did feele continually some sparks of the inward Spirit , which neuerthelesse I resisted , yet I could neuer freely acquiesc , neither free my selfe of a great suspicion , which held me in perplexitie , after I had made some progresse in the studies of Diuinitie : Which suspicion was greatly augmented in mee by so exact , so rigorous , and intestine businesse of Rome : whereby I perceiued they did moste narrowly take heede , that no booke , written against our doctrine , should bee helde or read by any of vs : for I supposed , that these bookes were justly discharged the common sort , lest the people , who are destitute of judgement and discretion , shold be exposed by reading of them , to the danger of drinking in of Haeresie . But in that they were altogether discharged Students , and men of great learning , and well affected to the Catholicke Religion , I did euer judge ( as reason will teach euery man ) that matter was greatly to bee suspected : especially seeing the Court of Rome suffered vs not to haue any vse of these bookes : euen after wee had compleet our course in the studie of Diuinitie , and taken degrees therein : yea , and after our promotion to Bisshoprickes . This suspicion did yet more increase , where I sawe our Masters and Professors in their publicke handling of the controuersies , by word or writ , claime this authoritie to themselues , to bee trusted in all that they sayde : that those wordes and sentences which they did repeate , were the wordes and sentences of the aduersaries : and in the meane time , the hearers were discharged , vnder the fearefull paine of Excommunication , to reade the writinges of the Aduersaries : In ryding , suppressing , and destroying whereof , they make so great businesse , as justlie it is to bee suspected , some thing lurketh in them which our doctrine is not able to confute .

From the first yeeres wherein I rendered my selfe to be a Clergie man , I fostered an in-borne desire to see the vnion of all the Churches of Christ : & could neuer patiently thinke vpon the division of the Westerne & Easterne Churches , the South & North in matters of faith . I desired earnestly to know the causes of so many and so great Schismes : and to search , if possibly any way could be found out to bind vp again all the Churches of Christ in the true & ancient vnion . I was also tormented with heauy dolour which I conceiued at the dissentions of Professors of Christian Religion , and the coate of Christ so miserably rent asunder : which dolour and too great heauinesse did wonderfully afflict mee , and yet more and more vexeth me daylie .

Thereafter , now some twenty yeeres agoe , I was promoued to the gouernement of the Church , and made Bishop of Segnat which thing my Fathers , the Jesuits , tooke heauily , because they knew by experience , that I was not ydle , not improfitable for their societie ( but that their account I doe not much regard , for I contemne all humane aestimation , vnlesse it make some furtherance to diuine obedience ) they had found me ( I say ) profitable for them : for in the time of my tryall , when I was but young , they praeferred mee to a publicke profession of HVMANITIE in the Colleges of VERONA . And before I was a Priest , they placed mee in the Publicke Chaire , for the profession of the MATHEMATICKES at PADVA , with great concourse of hearers . They made mee Professor of RHETORICKE first , and then of the LOGICKE and PHILOSOPHIE , in the Publicke Schooles of BRESCIA , and often on the Festuall dayes would needes haue mee making Sermon in their Churches : They enjoyned mee the dispatch both of priuate and weightie Affaires : And in all the seruices of their societie , they found my diligence : Why then should they not haue taken heauily my promouing to a Bishoprick ? which was vnto me the first occasion to come downe to the earth , from the subtill and airie , or improfitable disputations of the Schoolmen , and to turne my contemplation in wholesome practise of the cure of soules , and of the Church . And because I did acknowledge the proper taske of a Bishop was to preach the Word , I set my selfe to reade Sermons , and such Bookes as are appointed for Lent : which did soone beget in mee a loathing and detestation : for I sawe in them , and that easilie , a filthie abuse of Scripture , while it is throwne to vaine , improfitable , impertinent , yea , and a pernicious sense : I saw Examples and Miracles propounded , either false and fained , or at least ridiculous , and not worthie of credite : I sawe the people miserablie deceiued , and the inuentions of auarice and ambition superstitiouslie forced vpon them , vnder colour of articles of Faith . These thinges I was astonished to consider : and therefore I resolued to leaue these troubled Streames , and to take my selfe to the Fountaines of the Fathers : in reading of whose works I beganne to delyte , for Sermons and holy Canons , and Church Gouernement .

From this course now and then some beames of new light did shine vnto me , as yet vnwilling and repining : for on the one part I did obserue the sayinges of the Fathers in verie manie thinges , contrarie to the common Doctrine which I had learned in the Schooles : and I did perceiue , that they were either passed by in silence by my Masters , or not faithfully alledged , or not sufficientlie , or which is worse , sinistrously expounded : On the other part , I did see , and that not without great wondring , that the Rule of Church Discipline , and Spirituall Gouernement , of our time , was exceeding farre different from the ancient practise whereby my forenamed suspicions were greatly augmented : and I perceiued , a farre off , that we did not faithfully handle the Doctrine and Affaires of CHRIST and his Church , but sluffed our THEOLOGIE rather with the quicke inuentions of humane speculations and Philosophie , than with the wholsome wordes of holy Scripture , exactly considered and expounded , whereof there is a grosse ignorance amongst vs .

From a Bishoprick I was aduanced to an Archbishoprick , wherby a new and more vrgent occasion grew vnto me , to renew my studies , and to labour in them more earnestly : for whereas the troubles of the Suffragane Bishops of my Prouince , but much more the excessiue power of the Court of Rome , encroching vpon my Metropolitane Iurisdiction , began to injure mee , I proponed to my selfe to search out , and throughly to knowe the Root and Fountaine of Church degrees , Iurisdictions , callings , offices , and dignities ; and chiefely of the Papall greatnesse . A little after the State of VENICE was by the Pope put vnder Interdiction : and scoffing Pamphlets , sent dayly from Rome , ceased not to oppresse , vexe , and slander all of vs , who were Bishops of the SEIGNORIE of VENICE , as Beastes , Dolts , Ignorantes , and men of euill Conscience . Whereof , for the better instructing our lawfull defences , and for the better knowledge of the quaestion debated betwixt the Venetians and the Pope , new occasions were giuen to mee of a new and more earnest studie . The holy ancient Canons , the Orthodox Councels , the Discipline of the Fathers , and the ancient customes of the Church were often and againe turned ouer by me . Whereto shall I say more ? I found aboundantly in these only all that I sought , and a great deale more than I sought . Then it was easie with opened eyes to obserue that the doctrine of these Reformed Churches , which in great numbers Rome maketh enemies to her selfe , and which are bitterly reproued and impugned by our THEOLOGS , did in little , or nothing at all , differ from the true and ancient doctrine of the pure Church . I did also perceiue that their doctrine , both at Rome and among vs , is abhorred and repelled , rather than lawfully impugned : not for that it is indeede Haereticall and false : but only because it is contrary to the corrupt sense and manners of the Court of Rome , and to her fleshly plottes and inuentions , which is nowe turned into a temporall estate . I saw also , & perceiued most clearly , that at Rome , without any lawfull ground , yea , by extreame violence , innumerable new articles of faith were daily coined , & forced vpon vs : & that in such things as not only appertaine nothing to diuine faith , but also containe in themselues manifest falsehood : Which articles that corrupt Court will neither suffer to be discussed by any , nor be brought in a due consultation of the Church : but pursueth euen to the death all those who dare whisper against them . They haue now for a long time smoothered the sacred Councels , and so haue put out the eyes of the Church of CHRIST , that nowe vnhappie shee , as another Sampson , made blinde , and depriued of her owne strength , captiued and made vyle , is able only to groane . It was sometimes an article of Faith , that the vniuersall Church , dispersed throughout the whole worlde , is that Catholicke Church of CHRIST , whereunto CHRIST himselfe doeth promise his perpetuall assistance , which PAVL calleth the Pillar and ground of Veritie . But now our Romanistes haue drawne this article of Faith in lesser bounds , That the Catholicke Church now is to be taken for none other than the Court of Rome : & it is propounded to be beleeued by a firme Faith , that in it only , yea , & in the Pope alone , the whole Spirit of CHRIST maketh residence : and whatsoeuer of old time hath bene said for the honour of the vniuersall Church of CHRIST , with great injury to the Church , is wholly applyed to the Court of Rome : & many things are reduced to the articles of Faith , wherof we neuer had any institution of CHRIST : wherby the soules of the Faithfull are miserably deceiued : and so the Blinde with their blind leaders rush headlongs in the gulfe of perdition . These things among many other , haue grieued me exceedingly , & doe yet stir vp in my spirit an incredible dolour .

But I wil cease now particularly to recount the innumerable nouelties of the Court of Rome , and these moste pernicious erroures whereby a Boucherie of soules is wrought : the vigour of Church Discipline is broken : the propagation and purging of Religion is hindered , and innumerable offences are brought in the Church : the ciuill peace of Christians is troubled , & bloody warres stirred vp amongst them , kingdoms are ouerthrown , & horrible schismes are made in the Churches , and most grieuous calameties do arise ( which all I haue exactly obserued ) I will cease now ( I say ) to recount them , because I haue fully treated of all these matters in my large worke , Of the Ecclesiasticke Republicke , which I haue in readinesse , and shall giue to bee Printed in Germanie , as first commodioufly occurreth to mee in this my journey : all that worke Of the Ecclesiasticke Republicke , I comprehende in ten Bookes : In the first whereof I search out the forme of this Republicke : and doe determine , that the Church vnder CHRIST appertaineth to a most perfect Monarchie : and that not the lesse the Ministers of CHRIST on earth , by CHRISTS own institution , are most farre from an earthly Monarchie , & do gouerne the Church with an Aristocratie or choise gouernment : not without some mixture of a democratie or popular gouernment : and consequently I shew that the Primacie of Peter is contrary to the Euangel & institution of Christ . In the second booke I consider the gouerners & Ministers of the Ecclesiasticke Republick , who they are , & what succession can be giuen to the holy Apostles : what is the institution of Bishops : wherein they differ from Presbyters : who are the inferiour Ministers , and what force holie Order haue in this Republicke . In the thirde I doe expound what is the Hierarchie to bee found among the Bishops and Gouernoures of this Republick : and I do teach , that there is no praeheminence nor subjection among Bishops , by diuine right , but that degrees of places among them are distinguished by the constitutions of the Church only . And consequently I doe treat of the Election , Confirmation , Consecration or Ordination of Bishops , and of the power of Metropolitanes , Primates , and Patriarches . In the fourth I examine the Priuiledges of the Church of ROME : and doe proue , that neither in her selfe , nor in her Bishop nor Clergie , shee hath anie praeheminence giuen her of CHRIST aboue other Churches : but if anie shee hath had , or nowe hath , shee hath taken it from the helpes and furtherances of men . In the fifth I doe vndertake to search out the proper power of the CHVRCH : and doe prooue , that it is meerelie Spirituall : and so I remooue , farre from the CHVRCH , all ( Earthlie ) IVRISDICTION : And then consequently I dispute of the force and operation of Sacramentes , and of Ecclesiasticall Censures . In the sixth I compare the power of the Laitie , and of the Church ; that the difference betwixt the Ecclesiasticke and Temporall Republicke may appeare ; and I doe shewe that Christian temporall Princes may doe many thinges in the Church : but the Church in temporall thinges , and especially towards Kings , may doe nothing at all . I treat also of the temporall Kingdome of CHRIST , of the power of the Laitie whence it is , and of how large extent : of the Immunities of the Church and Church-men : of Inuestitures , of the Monarchie of SICILL , and such like . In the seuenth I consider the inward direction of the Ecclesiasticke Republicke , which is by faith : and I inquire for the true rule of faith : and so I dispute of the Word of GOD , of the authoritie of the Church , and of the Pope ouer it : of Councels , of Haeresie , of Schisme , and such like . In the eight I consider the externall gouernement of the Church , by Lawes , Canons , and Iudicatories . Thereafter I discusse howe farre Canons doe oblish : of dispensations , of commandes , enjoyning fasting , prayer , and such like . In the ninth I come to the temporall goods of the Church , and I expound at length how sparing the sustentation of the Ministers should bee : whence it should bee taken : and howe Church goods should be guided . I treat also of Tithes , of Benefices , of dominion ouer Church-goods : of the vse and abuse of Church-rents : of Pensions , of Commendas , and Testaments of the Clergie . In the tenth and last I vndertake to expound the libertie of the Church , that wee may see what way this Republicke is free . And consequently I treat of Priuiledges , and persons priuiledged : of the abuse of priuiledges : of exemptions , and persons exempted : of the subjection of Moncks , and such like . This was the fruit of my painfull studies : for while vpon the occasions before named I did griedily reade holy Scripture , the Orthodox Fathers , the holy Canons , and Volumes of Councels , mine eyes being opened , and I inflamed with a zeale to explaine the trueth to others , and to my selfe , I could not but write those thinges I obserued : and this my much writing hath begotten this worke , the summe whereof I haue rehearsed . I saw therefore plainly , and did perceiue , that in our Churches wee had gone farre astray from the right path both in Doctrine and Discipline .

What then should I doe more in the mids of a wicked & froward nation ? If ( as reason craueth ) I would haue gouerned mine owne Church according to the ancient discipline of the Catholick Church , and propone true and Catholick doctrine , I should by that meanes hasten vpon mine head great stormes & horrible tempests from Rome : for euen already at Rome great hatred was hatched & fostered against mee , because they had vnder-smelled my labours in writing against their opinions : for which I was often admonished & rebuked by the Popes Nuncio , lying at Venice : it was therfore much better to take the wings of a doue , & to withdraw my selfe , & fly away to the wildernes , where I might wait vpon him who will deliuer me from the weaknes of spirit , & from the tempest : rather than remaining among the blind , willingly blinding my selfe , I should leade the blind to perdition . What are the Bishops vnder the Romane Popedome ? In temporall things indeed , where the benefices are fat , they shine in wordly dignitie , they are great , & conspicuous , & Princes : but Bishops they are not , but by aequiuocation : all their Bishoply administration is perished : for the gouernment of all Churches is drawn to Rome , and the Bishops themselues are scarsely Vicars and seruants to the Lord Pope : they are vile , contemptible , oppressed , & troden vnder foot miserably : subjected not to the Pope only , but to Cardinals & to so many Congregations as are institute at Rome against them : Legates from his Holines side , Apostolick Nunces , Inquisitors , Visitors , & in end to innumerable Orders of Regulars , and their brethren , who now by their Apostolicke priuiledges are uot onely aequalled to Bishops , but also ouermatcheth them , & stayeth their proceedinges in their gouernment , swallowing vp their power . The Church vnder the Bishop of Rome is no more a Church , but a certaine humane Commonwealth , all of it vnder the Popes temporall Monarchie : It is a Vineyard only to make Noe drunke : it is a Flock , which the Shepheards do sheare and clip euen to the blood : yea , to excoriate and flaye them . Why then should I not flee , lest I should see these euils any longer , & lest I should be a fellow-worker of such thinges , & a partaker with them . CHRIST hath set mee as a dogge among his flocke : I should not bee dumbe anie longer , as nowe all the other Bishops vnder the Romane pope are dumb dogs : who on the one part allured with large ●●pes , and on the other terrified with great feare , are altogether silent : and choose by base flattery to hasten to perdition with their Chiftane . And because ( according to the Prouerbe ) Flattery begetteth friends , and trueth begetteth hatred : seeing I neither could , nor ought to desert the trueth , I behoued of necessitie to flee noisome hatred , and poyson , and daggers , the ordinary effects of hatred among vs : for in these our times matters are come to this poinct , that at Rome , or elswhere by commission from Rome , the defence of Controuersies of Religion is not committed to Theologs or Councels , but to Torturers , Burrios , Cut-throates , and bloodie Murtherers .

And albeit all these things did euer and earnestly perswade me to flee yet I doe confesse I fonnd the handmaide Agar , with her childe Jsmael , for a long time troublesom to me : I mean I heard my flesh rebelling against my spirit , and reasoning after this manner : And whither , I pray thee , wilt thou goe ? Thou art come to great dignities , & wealth , vnder the Bishop of Rome , with hope also to attaine further . These things thou doest possesse : these are certain , but thou knowest not what shall befall thee in other places . Shall it bee euen so , that thou wilt leaue thy Countrey , & Consignes , & Alliance , & friends , neuer any more to see them againe ? Wherfore makest thou thy selfe wiser than innumerable other Bishops , who comporteth with all things , tolerateh & excuseth them ? why wilt not thou in like manner comport with , tolerate & excuse them ? Art thou only the wise man among such an innumerable multitude ? Are all the rest foolish ? Doest thou not know , that immediatly after thy departing , first at Rome , and then euery where , thou shalt bee burdened with great reproaches , and noted with the infamous name of an Haereticke ? These and more such like speaches my fleshly Agar did often whisper in mine eares , not without a great combate betwixt her & mine inwarde spirit , and my Conscience nowe already ouercome with the trueth : But that diuine Spirit , with a more vehement force , suffered me not any longer to make delayes , but with an effectuall voyce he called me to himselfe , as he did Abraham , saying Come out of thy Countrey , and from thy kinred , and from thy Fathers house , and come vnto the Land which I will shew vnto thee . And he forced mee to put in execution that notable saying of the wise men , FOLLOW GOD : euen as blessed Abraham indeed obeyed it , according to the consideration of holie Ambrose ( de Abraham . lib. 1. cap. 2. ) Which fact of the holy Patriarch after a wonderfull sort , augmented both my courage and strength , while I perceiued , that GOD did first rewarde his ready obedience , by keeping disgrace and infamie farre from him : for hee praeserued the chastity of his beautiful wife Sara , when it was in liazard by a licentious Tyrant . Ambrose also did much comfort mee in this case , while he saith , Because Abraham contemned all things for GODS calling , therfore he receiueth al things again abundantly multiplied : & first of all hee gaue him the safety of Saras chastity , which hee knew was deare to the husband . That same holy Father addeth moreouer , Whosoeuer followeth the LORD is euer in surety : & therefore ( saith he ) we should not bee called backe from the obedience of heauenlie commandements , neither for respect to our countrey , or parents , or children , or wife , because GOD giueth all these gifts to vs , & is able to preserue them all . These things giue mee full assurance , that for this my following of his calling , though it bee somewhat too late , GOD will giue me this remuneration , euen the praeseruation of my fame and aestimation : that of whatsoeuer account it be , it shall suffer no disgrace amongst Barbarians , but shall be kept found and vndefiled for the aedification of some , and auoyding of offences . Beeing therefore encouraged with this confidence , and moued with this holy calling and admonished by these dangers , I haue most chearefully vndertaken this my flight .

But yet the loue of CHRIST constraineth me , for I might be counted of a vile & base spirit , if laying aside all lawfull striuing , I should rot in sluggish idlenesse in some corner , and so flee for mine owne ease . The cause of CHRIST is in hand , which calleth me to it selfe , & I heare that voyce continually thundering in mine eares [ CRYE ] and admonishing mee to goe vp to some high mountaine , to the ende that my voyce , joyned with their voyce , who haue not bowed their knee to Baal , may bee better heard in preaching the Gospel to Sion . That voyce now I follow , and I goe into some mountain , where the Catholick Church hath lifted vp her head in a free profession , from whence , according to the oblishment of my calling , so farre as in me lieth , I may proclaime the trueth to the worlde : and may open and shew the wayes for taking away all diuisions , and binding vp again of peace in the Church . The Church shall shortly heare my cries , & I will speake to the heart of Hierusalem , and call vnto her : For I cannot in any case bee lacking to my calling , because I am a Bishop in the Church of CHRIST . & to euery Bishop his own particular Church is so committed , that hee must in the meane time vnderstand , where there is any necessity of his helpe , the vniuersall Church is recommended to him by IESVS CHRIST . To all of vs who are Bishops the Apostle Paul hath said , Take heed to your selues , & to the whole flocke ouer which the Spirit of God hath made you ouer-sieers , to rule the Church of God , which he hath purchased with his own blood . These words also are giuen out in the name of Eleutherius an ancient Bishop of Rome , writing vnto other Bishops , For this cause Christ hath committed vnto you the vniuersall Church , that ye labour for all men : and neglect not to helpe all , according to necessity . Cyprian also affirmeth ( epist. 13. lib. 3 ) that joyntly with Stephanus , Bishop of Rome , he did hold the leuell of gouerning the Church . And then he addeth , The body of the Priesthood is exceeding large , and is coupled together with the glew of mutuall concord , and the band of vnity : therfore if any of our fellowship shall prasume to forge an haeresie , or to rent & destroy the Church of Christ , let all the rest make conuenient helpe . And that same Cyprian in very deede often helped troubled Churches : euen such as were without the bounds of Africke : yea and the Church of Rome it selfe . So Polycarpus , Irenaeus , Osius of Corduba , Athanasius , Basilius , the two Eusebii , one of Samosata , & the other of Vercels , Lucifer of Calarie , Hilarie of Poitiers , Theophilus and Cyrillus of Alexandria , Aurelius of Carthage , and many other Bishops , did painfully labour , by vertue of their Episcopall office , to helpe the necssities of the vniuersal Church : and leauing , for a space , their own Churches , well appointed , recommending them to the ouersight of others , they went vnto other afflicted & troubled Churches . Therefore it is most proper to my calling , & not without the compasse of it , with all my might , as Cyprian exhorteth , to helpe the Court of Rome , which factionously maketh a Sect , and deuiding it selfe from the Church , renteth & destroyeth the Church of CHRIST : and yet mine helpe must not be by approching to it , because that is not sure : but by a bodily departing from it . I would indeed most gladly haue retained mine own Church of Spalate as Osius , Basilius , the two Eusebii , Hilarius , & others aboue named , retained their own Churches , & returned vnto them after they had ended the publicke businesse of the vniuersall Church . But because that my Church , with many others , groaneth vnder the tyrannie of the Pope , who hateth & abhorreth Reformation ; and by all his power and the forces of his adhaerent Princes , maketh impediment to it : And hauing power of life & death ouer these who suit & vrge reformation , suffereth none of them aliue . Therefore , I could not choose , but leaue my Church , that I my selfe , hauing cast off these bands , & set at liberty , might be the more ready to proclaime the trueth , and with greater safety might deplore the desolation of the holy Church , which she suffereth of the Court of Rome .

True it is , the majesty of an earthly king is dreadfull , because ( as Tertullian saith ) he is next vnto God , & lesser than God only : aboue whom ( as Optatus Milevitanus saith ) there is none saue God alone . Therefore when k. Dauid was to be reproued for his adultery & murther , neither the high Priest , nor any other of the Priesthood , nor any Leuit , or friend or familiar durst praesume to take that charge vpon him : but God vsed his own proper & peculiar messenger , & appointed the Prophet Nathan to rebuke him . But there is not now such necessity : neither need we expect , that God will raise vp extraordinary Prophets , & appoint peculiar messengers to deal with the Bishop of Rome , who is now troubling , scandalizing , spoyling , & oppressing the whole Church . The majesty of our Rom. Pope is not so great as to affray vs , that his temporall & hauty majesty is fained , vsurped , & is none at all , he is but our Brother & Collegue , & a Bishop with vs , & a Fellow-seruant in the work : and a brother who is holpen of a brother , is as a fenced city , as Salomon saith in the Prouerbs . Wherfore then doe we snort ? wherfore doe we sleep ? a Brother perisheth , & draweth the Churches away with him to perdition , & we his Brethren neglect the danger & doe not occur . Let all be silent , let all be quiet , & contemn as they will , yet I the least Whelpe among them all , with such barking as I can , shall waken those great mastius , who are asleep , & made drowsie by a wonderful policy of the Popedome : that according to their charge they may hold back the Wolues , & saue the flock of Iesus Christ . I shall not vse mine own voyce , but the voyce of God , in wakening the good Dogs : and I shall double vpon them the Cry of holy Fathers , & Councels , & holy Catholick Church . As for these ten Bookes , Of the Ecclesiastick Republick , which I am shortly to put to light , I shall specially endeuour , that the errours of the Church of Rome may be detected , the trueth and wholsomnes of the Catholick doctrine & discipline may be opened , & these many ( reformed ) Churches , which by our Romane Church are proudly casten off & diuorced , may be retained in a Catholik sense , and that the way of vnion of all the Churches , if not clearly demonstrat , may be at least pointed out : if by any means we can be broght to that estate , all of vs to thinke one thing , & to say one thing : that Schismes may be remedied , and all occasions taken away from Christian Princes , of plotting the ouerthrow one of another , & of troubling the common peace of Christian people , with vntimous & vngodly warres , & that vnder the praetence of Faith & Religion : but rather that all their forces may be so directed , as the Catholik Church of Christ , groaning vnder the tyrannie of those who are Infideles indeed , may be restored to her ancient libertie .