First he saith thus , I am non estis hospites . &c. Ye are not nowe straungers and forreners , but ye are Citizens togither with the saints , and of the housholde of God , being builded vpon the foundation of the Apostles & Prophets , Eph. 2. Iesus Christ being the Head stone in the corner . In whom whatsoeuer building is encreased , it groweth into an holy temple in the Lorde . These wordes doth S. Paule write , to signify that the church of Christ , which is builded of liuing stones & timber , taken out both from among the Iewes and the gentiles , must be builded vpon the firme & sure foundation Iesus Christ , & not vpon any other ( for he was that foundation that the Apostles & Prophets builded vpon ) and that the building which is set vpon that foundation , doth growe in to an holy Tempell in the Lorde . The builders must not suffer it to decay , but they must still labour diligently , that it may growe into an holy temple , and that till it be as large , & as beautiful , as it is possible for it to be in this vale of misery . So farre of woulde S. Paule haue all the builders of gods temple to be from the pulling downe , or defacing any parte therof .

Againe , the same S. Paule sayth in the same Epistle . Idem dedit alios quidem Apostolos . &c. Eph. 4. The same hath giuen vs , some to be Apostles , some to be Prophets , some to be Euangelists , some to be Shepheardes , and some to be teachers , to furnishe the Saintes vnto the work af administration , for the building vp of the body of Christ , till we doe all come into the vnitie of fayth , & the acknowledging of the sonne of God . That we may be a perfect man , and come into the measure of the ful age of Christ . That we be no more babes , to wauer and to be caryed about with euery winde of doctrine , through the craftinesse and wylinesse of men , wherby they set vpon vs to disceiue vs . &c. And afterwarde in the same chapter , he saith : I speake and testifie these things , euen on the Lordes behalfe , that ye should not walke as other nations doe , in the vanitie of their owne mindes .

By these wordes S. Paule doth plainely teache , ●●e dutie 〈◊〉 a faith●ll prea●●er . that al such as are appointed to minister in the Church of Christ , must be still occupied in building , and neuer in pulling down , neither in staying the reast from going forwarde with the building they haue begonne . And that such shoulde not be so babishe , that they may be caryed away with euery straunge Doctrine , or deceyued with euery subtile persuasion , nor walke in the vanitie of their owne mindes , but be stayde by the holy worde of God , and in all things acknowledge the sonne of God , by exercising their Ministeries according to his institution , so nere as possibly they may : vtterly renouncing & forsaking all those vnprofitable ceremonies & rytes , that men haue deuised without sure grounde in Gods holy word , in following the vanity of their owne mindes . We therefore , knowing that we haue receiued power , to edifie and not to destroy , & that a day will come wherin we shal be sure to receyue at his handes , whose builders we are , according to our doings , eyther in building or plucking downe , or in staying & hindring of that which should haue bene builded by others : dare not be so bolde as to admit the outwarde & ministring apparell of the popes church , til it may manifestly appeare vnto vs , that the same may helpe forwarde , and not pull downe , staye or hinder the building vp of the Lordes temple , which is his Church or congregation , purchased & bought with so deare a price , as the heart bloud of his most derely beloued , and only begotten Sonne Christ Iesus .

We woulde not therfore in these dayes refuse them , if we might but conceiue an hope , that the vse of them might helpe forwardes with the Lordes building : but forasmuch as we see playnely the contrary , we may in no case admit them .

Wee graunt , that of themselues , they be things indifferent , and may be vsed or not vsed , as occasion shall serue : but when the vse of them will destroy , or not edifie , then ceasse they to be so indifferent , that in such case we may vse them . For S. Paule hath taught vs , that in the vse of things indifferent , we must alwayes note , whether the same doe edifie or not . For he hath sayd , Omnia ad aedificationem fiant . 1. cor. 14 Let all things be done to edifie withall ▪ If the vsing of the outwarde & ministring garments of the popes church , cannot now edifie the church of Christ , then doe they ceasse to be indifferent that we may vse them . And howe the church of Christ is edified by the vsing of these thinges , is plaine to as many as will see .

●mple ●hristians . First , the simple Christians ( ouer whome we shoulde haue the chiefe care ) are by these things so grieued , when they see vs receiue them , that they sorrowe & mourne in theyr heartes . And suche amongst them as be not altogether so strong , but that they doe yet somewhat depende vpon our example and doctrine ( as the nature of man is so long as he is but a Nouice in Christ ) those are by vs beaten back to superstition , from which they were before making hast to flye . And vnlesse God doe by his spyrite stay them : they shall by oure example in reuolting to those thinges , which we haue taught to be superfluous and superstitious , take occasion to thinke that ther is no truth in any thing that we haue taught , and so cleaue to that false religion , wherof these indifferent thinges are reliques and remnaunts , and vtterly forsake the true Religion of Christ , that by oure labour and trauaile began to take roote in them ?

And when we haue thus sinned against the brethren , and wounded their weake consciences , and so sinned against Christ : what may wee looke for , but that heauie cursse , 1. Cor. 8. which our Sauiour hath pronounced against all suche as laye stumbling blocks in theyr brothers wayes . It were muche better for vs , that mylstones were fastened about our neckes , and we tast into the depth of the sea , Mat. 18. than that one of these litle ones shoulde be so offended by vs . We dare not therefore admit these things , and so incurre the daunger of this cursse . For it is an horrible thing to fall into the handes of the liuing God . Heb. 10

Secondlye , the blinde , stubborne , and obstinate papistes ( whome we ought by all meanes possible to drawe oute of the darcke dungeon of ignoraunce , Stubburn Papists . superstition and errour ) shal by our receiuyng of these things be encouraged , not only to continue in ignoraunce , superstition and errour , but also to encrease in the same , being more confirmed therin by oure retourning agayne to those things , that we haue both by doctrine and example disalowed & forsaken : than they coulde haue bene by the persuasions of many of their owne opinion . For they must needes thinke , that we , which haue so earnestly refused & spoken against these things , would neuer haue receiued them again , vnlesse it had bene made manifest vnto vs , that without them our Ministerie is sore defaced , and almost vtterly prophaned .

The Lord God therfore , when he brought his owne people into the lande of Canaan : he commaunded them , al monuments of Idolatrie must be destroied vtterlye to destroye all those thinges , that the heathen nations ( whom he had cast out before them ) had deuised for the furniture of their Idoll seruice , least they in vsing of anye of those thinges , shoulde gyue occasion to the Heathen to thinke , that the God of heauen & earth , had any pleasure in those thinges , Deut. 12 or neede of the vse of them in his true seruice . Why shoulde not wee then feare to giue the lyke occasion to the papistes , to thinke that the true seruice of Christ can not lacke theyr glittering geare , & that it is more acceptable to God , when it is furnished therwith ?

the bishops aduertissementes . But this doubt is aunswered thus , It shall be leefull for all ministers to teache & to protest , that they do not vse these things , as things without the which the ministration shoulde be prophaned or defaced : but only for decencie and comely order , vniformitie , and obedience to our Prince . Yea , and the same is playnely set forth in the aduertisements , that are published in print . This doubt therefore is out of doubt .

All men shal vnderstand that these things be not enforced , as thinges that can not be lacked , but as things decent and comely , & that in the church there maye be an vniformitie in outwarde apparell and ministerie , & consequently mutuall loue and vnitie .

This wisedome & pollicie , Mans polici . passeth the wisedome of God : And it is muche lyke the wisedome of them that will haue Images in Churches , not to worshyp them : but by them to exercise theyr strength in refrayning from the worshipping of them : for ( say such ) to haue Images , and not to worship them , is a token of more strength , than it is to refraine from the worshipping of them , when we haue them not . Euen so , to haue and to vse these things , and yet not to haue any supersticion or opinion of holinesse in them , is much more perfection , than to haue no superstition in them , when they be cleane set aside and left .

But the wisedome of God , Gods wisedome . who knoweth what we are , and how ready to abuse euen his good creatures which he hath made to serue our necessitie , & without the vse whereof we can not continue in lyfe : hath playnely forbidden his people the hauing of Images , and hath comaunded them to destroy them , & al the furniture of them , as things which he doth detest & abhorre . Deut. 7. And in things not commaunded , and forbidden , he hath sayde , that his people shall not follow their owne fantasie in adding any thinge to his commaundement , but by the mouth of his Prophets , he hath vtterly disalowed their additions , saying : Mat. ● Frustra me colunt docentes doctrinas , praecepta hominum . Esa●e . ●● In vaine doe they worship me , which teach doctrines that are but the commaundements of men .

The wisedome of God hath sayde , Take heede that ye offende not one of these little ones that beleue in me . Mat. 18. Wo vnto that man by whom offences come . It were better for that man , that a milstone were tyed about his necke , and he cast into the deepe of the sea , than that he shoulde offende one of the least that beleue in me .

A wise shippers , that knoweth wher● daungers doe lye in the sea , will not of purpose sayle so neare those daungers , as he maye possibly and escape : but contraryewise , he will hale aloufe , and be sure ( if the weather will suffer him ) not to fall vpon those daungers . Yea , & if he see , that the weather will not suffer him to holde his straight course , withour daunger to fal vpon the Rocks or Flattes , he will rather runne vpon an another point wher he is sure to finde sea rome ynough . And shall we that be lodes men the shippe of Christ ( to trye our cunning ) creepe so neare the flattes or rocks , the we put our whole charge in daunger of perishing by falling vpon them ? God forbydde .

That wise & politike gouernour of Gods shippe S. Paule , woulde not venter so farre . But seing daunger in the vse of indifferent thinges he sayth , Omnia mihi licent , sed non omnia conducunt . Omnia mihi licent , sed non omnia aedificant . 1. Cor. 10 It is leeful for me a to doe al things ( meaning of things indifferent ) but all things doe not profit . It is leefull for me to do all things , but al things do not edifie .

Againe , he sayth . Bonum est non manducare carnem , & non bibere vinum , neque quicquam in quo frater tuus impingit , aut offenditur , aut infirmatur . Ro. 14 It is good ( sayth S. Paule ) not to eate fleshe , nor to drink wine , nor to do any other thing , wherat thy brother doth stumble , or is offended , or made weake .

Yea , and the same S. Paule , exhorting the Corinthes to set them selues free from all the superstitions of the Heathen : saith thus vnto them : Eandem autem habentes remunerationem ( tanquam filiis dico ) dilatemini & vos . 2. cor. 6. Nolite iugum ducere cum infidelibus . You also hauing the same rewarde with me ( I speake as vnto mine owne children ) set youre selues at libertie , be not willing to drawe in one yoke with the infidelles . What confort can there be betwixte righteousnesse & vnrighteousenesse ? Or what fellowship hath light with darkenesse ? And what agreement is there betwene Christe and Beliall ? Or what parte can a faithfull man haue with an infidell ? And howe agreeth the temple of God with Images ? You are the temple of the lyuing God : as sayth God , I will dwel in them , & I will walk amongst them , & I will be their God , and they shall be may people . Wherfore , get ye out from amongst them , Esaie . 52 and separate your selues from them , sayth the Lorde . And see that ye touch no vncleane thyng : and I will receyue you . And I will be your father , Iere. 32. and you shall be my sonnes and daughters , sayth the Lorde almightie .

These places of scriptures doe moue as to flye from al suche thinges , as haue bene brought into the church of Christ , eyther contrary or besides the worde of God . And to embrace & vse those things onely , which are commaunded or haue good grounde in the holy worde of God . Not despising the auctoritie that God hath giuen to Princes , and other Potentates : but preferring the commaundement of him that is the giuer of auctoritie , before the comaundement of those that haue none auctoritie of themselues , but haue receyued theyr auctoritie at hys hande , and shall aunswere to hym for the vse therof .

And herein we follow the commaundement of God , and the example of all good men . The seruaunt of God Moses , hath sayde : Non addetis ad verbum quod ego vobis loquor , Deut. 4 nec auferetis ex eo . Custodite mandata Domini Dei vestri , quae ego praecipio vobis . Ye shall not adde any thing vnto the worde that I speake vnto you : neyther shall ye take any thing from it . Kepe the commaundements of the Lorde your God , which I doe commaunde you . And againe he sayth , Non declmabitis , neque ad dexteram , neque ad sinistram : Deut. 5. sed per viam quam praecepit Dominus Deus vester ambulabitis , vt vi uatis , & bene sit vobis , & protelentur dies vestri , in terra possessionis vestrae . You shall not bow neyther to the right hande , nor to the left : but by the waye that the Lorde your God hath commaunded you , shall ye walke , that ye may lyue and prosper , & that your dayes may be long in the land of your possession .

King Saule walked not in this waye : 1. Re. 15. but bowed to the right hande of his owne good intent . And therefore he prospered not , but was rooted out with al his offspring , and one set vp in his place , that had a pleasure to walk in that way .

3. Re. 12 King Roboham walked not in this waye : but bowed to the left hand of his owne malitious tyrannie : and therefore ten of the twelue kindreds of Israel were taken from him , and giuen to his neighbour .

4. Re. 20. King Ezechias walked in this way : and therefore in his trouble he founde fauour & helpe at the Lordes hande , and when he was sicke , he found health , and had .xv. yeares added to his life , & ended his life in the Lord .

As many as haue walked in this waye , haue done it , bicause they haue had and assured hope of a farre better lyfe , and more blessed estate after this lyfe . Heb. 11. And therefore , the trouble that they sustayned here , hath not bene greuous vnto them , for they had the rewarde alwayes before their eyes .

The true Prophets The true Prophets woulde neuer pleasure Princes , by addyng to the commaundements of God , nor yet by taking anithing therefor , by bowing to the right hande , or to the lefte : But they dyd alwayes walke straight forth in his cōmandemēs although they did oftentimes sustayne great displeasure at Princes handes for so doing . false prophetes . But the false Prophets did alwayes marke the inclinacion of Princes : & fashion them selues to the pleasure of Princes . For they were al brought vp in Gnatoes schoole , and had learned to say , Aiunt , aio : negant , nego . If they say it , then I say it too : If they doe denye it , then doe I denie it also .

Such were the false prophetes in the dayes of King Achab , who being in number foure hundreth , did with one consent prophecie that the King should prosper in the warres that he purposed to take in hande against Ramoth in Galaad . But the true Prophet Michea could not flatter , for he had not bene brought vp in flatterers schoole . 3. Re. 22. And therfore he saide , Vidi cunctum Israel dispersum in montibus , sicut oues non habentes pastorem . Et ait Dominus , non habent isti dominum , Reuertatur vnusquisque in domum suam in pace . I sawe all Israell scattered abrode in the mountaines , as sheepe without a shepheard . And the Lorde sayd , These men haue no master , let euery one retourne into his owne house in peace . This plaine man that coulde no skill of flattering , was striken and cast into prison , and threatened a worse tourne : but the false Prophets were highly esteemed , tyll theyr prophecie was proued false , & Micheas prophecie true .

It hath alwayes bene the maner of the true prophetes to be sure that they might truely saye : Eze. 13. Haec dicit dominus . Thus saith the Lord : but the false Prophetes could neuer truely say so . For they vsed allwayes to prophecie out of their owne fantasies .

Mat. 15 Our Sauyour Christ taught none other thing than the will of his heauenly Father : but the Scribes and Pharisies taught their owne traditions , aduauncing them aboue the commaundements of God . Mat. 16 Wherefore our Sauyour commaundeth his disciples to beware of their Leuen , that is , of theyr doctrine .

The Apostles were commaunded to go in to all the worlde , and to teache all nations , and to baptise them , Mat. 28 &c. And to teache them to obserue all those things that he hath commaunded them to obserue . Which commission they did truely and faithfully exec●● . For none of them preached his owne dreames , Mar. 16 but euerye one of them preached that which they had learned of Christ .

1. cor. 11 Saint Paule saith not , followe mee & doe whatsoeuer I shall deuise for you to doe , but he sayth : Phil. 3. follow me as I follow Christ , and looke on suche , as walke as ye haue vs for example . 2. cor. 4 And agayne he sayth : we preache not our selues , but Iesus Christ to be the Lorde , and our selues your ministers .

We therefore , in refusing to admit those things which neither haue commaundement nor grounde in the holy scriptures , follow the commaundement of God , and example of al good men , which were builders of the house of God before vs .

But what is all this to the purpose ? ( saye some ) The things that you refuse , are ●iche as God hath neither commaunded nor forbidden : and therfore , Princes haue auctoritie ouer them to commaunde them , eyther to be vsed , or not to be vsed . In refusing therefore , to vse them at the comaundement of the Prince , ye do not onely resist the ordinaunce of God your selues , but ye doe also fall into that inconvenience , which ye woulde so faine seeme to be moste afrayde of . That is , ye be made stumbling stockes to the simple Subiects , who seeing your disobedience , are encouraged to think , that it is none offence at all to disobey a Prince . And so seming to flye from the gulffe , ye are fallen vpon the most daungerous Rockes .

To this we muste aunswere thus : The things that we doe refuse , are such as God neyther hath commaunded nor forbidden , otherwise than in the vse and abuse of them . And therefore , Princes haue no auctoritie either to commaunde or forbidde them otherwise than so . For this is the power , that God hath gyuen to Princes , To see his commaundements executed , to punishe suche as breake them , and to defende those that keepe them . Thus doth S. Paule write to the Romanes , Wilt thou be without feare of him that is in auctoritie ? Doe wel then , & thou shalt not nede to feare him : Ro. 13. for god hath ordayned him for thy wealth . But yf thou doe euil , then feare : for he beareth not a sworde for nought . Nam Dei Minister est , vltor ad iram , ei qui quod malum est fecerit . For he is gods Minister , a reuenger to execute his wrath vpon that man that dothe the thing that is euill . We must therfor be subiecte , not onely for feare of punishement , but euen for very conscience . But this subiection is not to doe at the Princes commaundement , whatsoeuer the Prince shall for pleasure commaunde : but humbly to suffer at the Princes hande suche punishementes as the lawes ( whereof the Prince hath the execution ) doe appoynt vs to suffer for the transgression therof .

And if the Prince shall take in hande to commaunde vs to doe anye of those things which God hath not commaunded , ●e bondes ●d limits ●f true o●edience . in such sort that we maye not leaue them vndone , vnlesse we wil therby ruone into the penaltie of the law ( when we shal see that in doing therof , we can not edifie but destroye ) we muste then refuse to doe the thing commaunded by the Prince , and humbly submit our selues to suffer the penaltie , but in any case not consent to enfringe the Christian libertye , wich is to vse things indifferent , to edification and not to destruction .

And if the Prince shall forbidde any of those things to be done , which in their owne nature be indifferent , so that when we shall see that the leauing of them vndone , shall destroye or not edifie , then maye not we leaue them vndone , but doe them to the edification of the Church , and submitt our selues lowely to suffer at the handes of the Prince , the execution of that penalty that the law doth appoint for doing , that thing which the Prince shall in suche case forbidde to be done .

And this is not to giue example of disobedience ( as it is before obiected ) but by example to teache true obedience both to God & also to man . First we obey God , in that , both in doing and leauing vndone , we seeke the edification of his Church . And then we obey man , in that we doe humblye submit our selues to suffer at mans hande , whatsoeuer punishments mans lawes doe appoint for our doing or refusing to doe at mans commaundement .

Considering therfore , that at this tyme , by the admitting of the outwarde apparel and ministring garmentes of the popes church , not onely the Christian liberty shoulde be manifestly enfringed , but the whole Religion of Christ also , like to be brought to be esteemed , no other thinge , than the pleasure of Princes : we haue thought it our duetye ( being Ministers of gods worde , and Sacraments ) vtterly to refuse to shewe our confirmity in receyuing of those things that now are vrged and enforced , and yett willing to submit our selues to suffer whatsoeuer punishment the Lawes doe appoint in this case . And so to teache by our example , true obedience both to God and man , and yet to keepe the Christian liberty sounde , and the Christian religion to be such , that no Prince or potentate , may alter or chaunge the same .

We hope therefore , that our Prince and all good men , will like well with this our doing , vnderstanding by Christian libertie , that freedome that Christ hath brought vs vnto , by beating downe the particion that was betweene the Iewes and the gentiles , which was the law of ceremonies contained in the law written : Eph. 2. In which libertye , S. Paule willed the Galathians to stand . Gal. 5. Not for that the Christian libertye dothe consist onely in this point , but for that this is one of the three points , wherein that liberty doth stand .