I.

BOOK churches: and I confess the use is good. And they that speak against them, I think, they are worthy to be punished. Of the charge given to them, to se the children brought up; to exhort them to hear sermons, &c. and thereof to make progress in the church of God; which yet they did not keep; I said, it was very ill, and perhaps I added, one of the worst things in the book of service. Wherein I also blamed the French book; not only our

56

own.

More than this, on my part, was never thought. And therefore I am sure not spoken by me. Where it was further objected against me, that I said,

The statute for the provision for the poor was no competent way devised for it; or any such words. In which I might seem to blame either the act of parlament, or the makers of it. I utterly deny it, as a most impudent report: and such as it grieveth me once to remember it. I thank God I have better learned than in dishes and cups to blame so proudly the state of a kingdom. I allowed of the order already taken. I commended it. I said, it wanteth only the good will of men to execute it. Where it is further objected,

That I could provide for the poor two ways. The one was, I could commit them to the rich to be kept; to some two, to some three, &c. Another way was, to what purpose is this superfluity? Or, what do we with so much plate? These all I utterly deny, as the words which I never spake, and the thoughts which were never yet in my heart. And if I should have spoken the one or the other, I had spoken wickedly, and deserved punishment accordingly. And thus much I profess and protest, upon the warrant of a Christian man's words before the seat of justice; where I dare not lye. And to prove my saying true, I have brought the hand of those that were present. If contrary witnesses come against me, as I understand Mr. Toy, Mr. Willet, and Mr. D. Chaderton will do, I beseech your lordships, give me leave to except against their testimony: and you shall hear more plainly what I have to say. Only this now shall be

I.

sufficient: Mr. Toy confessed before Mr. Killegrew and BOOK Mr. D. Fulke, he heard me speak nothing of plate, nothing. of that book, nothing of committing the poor to the rich. Only he remembred, I said at dinner, To what purpose is this superfluity? And of the charge of godfathers, who did very ill, that they looked no better to it. Mr. Willet said to Mr. Fulke, he would he had not been there: for indeed my words, except they were strangely construed against me, might be well taken. Mr. Chaderton praised me much at the table, and said, he was sure the university would willingly give me again my grace, to commence this next year: and after dinner, privately to Mr. Hodgson, he used much fair speech of me. And since he accused me, he wrote his letters to me, that he had spoken nothing, but as occasion was offered; and he meant no ill in his words toward me: and it must needs be thought somewhat strange, that so special words, so full of offence, so boldly reported by Mr. Chaderton, should be remembred by none but by the two brothers.

Last of all, I beseech your honours, if occasion shall so serve; enquire of mine accusers, what chapter I read after dinner; and the words I used of the mutual duty of poor and rich; of private men and of them in authority. Which if they will remember, they cannot construe my first words so strangely, to devise any evil meaning of them.

Now because in report of my words there is great suspicion, lest I should secretly fancy a community of things, I testify it before God and his angels, that this I know, such a community is but a common confusion; tending to the spoil of God's people, and utter shame of all his saints. For seeing the heart of man is full of corruption, which encreaseth more by all unbridled liberty, what resting place should be for the godly, which must render again good for evil? except community could place out of our nature envy, malice, covetousness, strife, concupiscence, &c. How miserable were the church of Christ, that must needs be subject to so cruel a multitude! He that teacheth this doctrine, let him be cut off, whosoever he be.

VOL. II. PART II.

BOOK

I.

For our part, we have not so learned Christ. But we say with St. Paul, Let every man abide in that calling in which he is called; whether he be bond or free. That he may be taught by the grace of God, how to abound, and how to want; how to be rich, and how to be poor. And blessed be the Lord of Israel, that hath established for his people (not of transitory things) so great a warrant of faith. For in all poverty, sorrow, care, affliction, what comfort do I feel, when I can say with the prophet David, I hold my peace, O Lord, because thou hast done it! How happily do I see the troubles to come, when God shall wipe away all tears from our eyes! And again, in all abundance of riches, honour, favour, authority, what witnesses are they unto me of God's goodness! when I can say in the midst of them, Vanity of vanity; and all is vanity: when I faithfully dispense that is committed unto me: when I truly believe, that my treasure is not earthly: when I look through honour, and see in spirit, that to fear God and keep his commandments, this is all the happiness under the sun. It is a cursed community that taketh this blessing from us. And Satan turneth himself into an angel of light, when he maketh such entrance into the pathways of love.

57 God hath given to every man goods to dispense; to some more, to some less, even as he would: and unto all a property in the things they have. Which truth shall stand, when heaven and earth shall pass. For it hath the strength of the law of the Lord, Thou shalt not steal. And upon it Christ will build up the inheritance of his saints for ever, when he shall say unto them on his right hand, When I was hungry, you gave me meat, &c. As likewise with it he shall condemn his enemies, and make it known, he gave unto every one a property in his goods, when fear and terror shall teach them his judgments; and in his wrath he shall speak, Go ye cursed into everlasting fire, prepared for the Devil and for his angels. When I was hungry, yee gave me not meat, &c. Then this is it I do believe, and this I do teach, there is no such community in the church of God; nor ought to be; nor ever was since God first

I.

created man upon the earth. They have opened wide glass BOOK windows for anabaptists to enter into the commonwealth, that of late have written, that in the apostles times all things were common. Let them preach on so; and the end cannot be good. Wee know no such community, nor the church of God.

The apostles are our last schoolmasters, and their gospel we will hold to the end. It is written, They that believed had all things common: and they sold their possessions and goods, and gave it to every man, as they had need. Acts ii. 44. But they sold it themselves. And yet our Saviour Christ said, he was a true Israelite. So that selling or giving, it was still their own. And what can be more plain, than the saying of Peter to Ananias, speaking of his land, When thou hadst it, it was thine own: and when thou They gave hadst sold it, it was in thine own power, Acts v. 4. And therefore there was then no community, tho' some sold their Barnabas lands, as the time required: they did it by the motion of the Zaccheus Spirit of God. They did it not by commandment or law of sold but

the church.

But I need not say more of this. For all is but a colour. They do not think me an anabaptist, that do most accuse me. And I would they did remember, Non eget verbum Dei mendacio, ut loquamini pro eo dolos. It is as true now as it was in the days of Job. And it testifieth as well now a want of truth, where any thing is holden up by falshood and deceit.

And now to say more what I think expedient; and humbly to bring your honours in remembrance of the peace of the church. I would a great many preachers in London, which are unlearned, and rash of speech, were admonished by the bishop of their doings. For while they flatter to get livings, they make the pulpit to be contemned. I heard of late one in the wide church of Paul's, preach much for authority of bishops; and what a thing it were to have them honorable, and said thus; "I would five or six of the "council were Aarons. I would the lord keeper were a bi"shop. Not that I think justice ill ministred, but I would

it them

selves, and

sold all, and

half.

BOOK

I.

"have the clergy in honour. I would a bishop were master "of the rolls. I would all the six clerks of the chancery 66 were priests. This would make the order in estimation. "In time past a good justice of peace durst not offend a "parish or hedge priest. Now every broom-man in Kent"street will controwl bishops." These words they do not edify the conscience of man. He spake not as St. Peter commands, tanquam eloquia Dei.

It grieveth me to see one pretend the person of Christ; and to speak words of so great vanity. And yet this is but one man among many: whom if it pleased God, I would your honours did hear. But because I am not to accuse others, but to purge my self, I leave this, and will answer to one other accusation, which is yet against me, touching my lord of Canterbury.

I am charged, that I put off my cap, bade them hearken, and said, Now I will prophesie, Matthew Parker is the last archbishop that ever shall sit in that seat. Mr. Cartwright should say, Accipio omen. To this I answer, that I have confessed what I said; and here I send it witnessed by their hands that heard it. I put off no cap, nor spake of any prophesy. But Mr. Blage commending much a book which he was about, of the archbishops of Canterburies lives, I said merrily, as before a sick man, in whose chamber we were; that he should do wel to be somewhat long in this bishop's life for peradventure he should be the last that should sit in that place. I do not excuse these words, 58 but leave to your honours to consider the weight of them. And I beseech God give me that grace, that hereafter I may be careful, that I speak so as St. Paul saith, that in all my words I may bring grace to the hearers. Onely this I beseech your honours with favour to remember, that seeing my private speeches so long time have been so narrowly searched, if mine open preaching had been more faulty, it had been more easily known.

And thus I leave further to trouble your honours: offering my self ready in what place soever I may be thought profitable in the church of Christ, I beseech that living