God long to keep you to his honour and glory, and your BOOK endless comfort, Amen. 1573, Novemb. 27. I. Number XXIX. A letter of the lords of the privy council to the Dutch church: upon occasion of such as found fault with the customs of this church. AS our gracious queen, out of her pious principles, hath MSS. Eccles. Belgic. taken compassion on your being persecuted, and of the Lond. miseries you have suffered for the religion, (being com in her kingdoms,) and is willing to give you her protection ; so shee expects from you such services as become honest and godly subjects; and all such actions as become thankful acknowledgments. And is very glad that shee hath hitherto found the performance of that duty; and hopes, that it will alwaies continue. But since there is a seditious sort of people sprung up, not content with the peaceable state of the commonwealth, seeking for occasions to broach what is new and strange; and that especially in regard of the usual forms of religious worship, and the ceremonies of the publick prayers: that so they might seem to be somthing, and to understand more than they which first instituted the same, by publick advise and counsils. This hath caused in her majesty apprehensions, least such tumultuous spirits should occasion you to misuse your privileges; imagining, that the way they invent will bee more acceptable to you, than that which is in use with us; as seeming more conformable with your customs than ours; and will pretend to the common people that you despise our way. It is not unknowne to us, that in divers churches, ever since the Christian religion had a beginning, divers waies and ceremonies have been used, som standing, som falling on their knees, others flat downe, have addressed and prayed to God. And yet one and the self-same religion, if the prayers are don in truth to the true God, and no impiety and superstition mixt with it. BOOK I. In divers places and countries the same God, whose is the whole world, is believed and adored of divers nations, and in divers tongues and languages, and in divers manners, and with varietie of cloathing and ceremonies; yet is it the self same faith, the same religion, the same Christ, and God the Father of all. Wee do not despise your custom, nor compel you to ours, but wee account your ceremonies good, as fittest for you, and most agreeable to the republick from whence you come. And wee hope also, that you in anothers commonwealth, will not be so ungratefully curious, that you will condemn those customs which wee have bin moved to establish out of the principles of true pietie and religion, with common consent of the whole kingdom, by the command of pious princes; and which the great labor of wise and learned men have ordained, as most proper for our people; and were confirmed by the bloud and death of many martyrs: and have bin for a long time thus settled amongst us: that you should not despise them, but rather these tu59 multuous and disquiet people, who would bring confusion to what is so well setled; nor to approve or give aid to such actions, either by word or any part of your authoritie. And if any amongst them should presume to affirme, what you are cautioned against, yet would we not suspect such imprudence or inconstancy of your wisdom. Be it far from you, to do any thing whereby you might create any suspision of disturbing the peace of our common-welth, and the state of our religion, so wel setled, and so breed occasion of difference and discord. For by your wisdom you know very well, that the queen's majesty would rather drive you out of her kingdom, than to suffer, that by such guests, (who were received on a religious account,) by such wicked and unkindely means, her state should bee brought in danger. Therefore if there be any that seek to cause a discord between us, be they English, or of your own people, drive them from your flock, and suffer them not to make so ill a use of you. Or if there be any that, out of a wanton con I. ceitedness, leave and come from the use and custom of their BOOK native country, and will joyne themselves with you, such wee think ought not to bee received by you, that so they may not occasion discord and contention; which would be troublesom to us, and prejudicial to you; for wee foreseeing the things that might arise from such differences, have thought it necessary by this our letter to warn you against it. And we doubt not, by all possible means and diligence, you will take care, according to your wisdom and pietie, that neither to our glorious and pious queen, nor us, any cause of offence, nor any suspicion of ingratitude or disobedience shall be given: whereby it will come to pass, that you may live here in peace and security; and that we may shew you all the favour we can, to our mutual comfort. Farewel in Christ our common Savior. And what your opinion is of this concern, wee pray you to let us know it by your answer, with as much speed as conveniently you can. Answer of the Dutch congregation to the aforesaid letter. we answer herewith yours written unto us, Most humbly praying to receive and apprehend it, with well affected minds. We first thank the eternal God, and then our gracious queen, and your honours, for the great and manifold goodness, and benefits, by the grace of God, and the queen's benignity, and your lordships favours, and the whole kingdoms civilities shewn unto us, poor strangers and refugees; and also, that our inhabiting here, and services, are acceptable to your lordships; and that the queen's majesty nor your honors are not wearied in doing us good. And cles. Belgic. 1. BOOK amongst many others, it is none of the least favour, that whereas (we holding unity in doctrine with you) you favour us with our usual ceremonies in our own languages: the same being accounted by us most convenient for our people and country; and whereunto we are accustomed; and have enjoyed the same since the reign of the godly king Edward; and that we are not compelled to ceremonies here in use: we hope there will never prove occasion to her majesty nor your lordships, to repent of these favours shown unto us, and that it will appear you have not bin mistaken in your good opinions of us; and that you will please not to beleeve or regard malitious reports to prejudice us. 60 For your lordships will not be deceived in firmly beleev ing, that we do not countenance such tumultuous people, nor approve their words or deeds, much less assist them in any manner whatsoever. Wee despise not the ceremonies of other churches, in comparing them with ours; what a pious magistracy hath established, what they judge most fit for the people, and tending to true godliness, requires submission. Wee know also, that as it doth not become us, to be curious inspectors into other men's matters, nor to pass our judgment on them; so it becoms us much less to encourage any changes, or to encourage others thereunto; but wee commit the care thereof to them whom God has ordained for it, and who by experience best knows what is most fit for them who are committed to their care. Wee shall also for the future (God willing) take care that nothing shall be don by us, that might occasion any suspition of us, or just cause to her majesty of offence against us. And as you are pleased to command, so we shall expel from our flock, all such as we find to be of tumultuous tempers: neither shall we take amongst us any English, who from such principles seek to separate themselves from their own country customs. Wee have never accepted any such amongst us. In our congregation are not above four English, whereof two since their comming I. hither from their exile, have continued amongst us. The BOOK third is one that married a Dutch woman. The fourth came in their company, and continueth for the improoving in the language. And to compel our people to a perfect dutiful behaviour, and to avoid all disputings, we have read your commands to the congregation. Finally, Wee pray God never to withdraw his mercies from you, but to increase them more and more, in true godliness and obedience to him. Your most obedient and humble ministers, elders, and deacons, Number XXXI. Mr. William Heydon's Christian letter to the bishop of Norwich, for a reconciliation, after some falling out with him at his house, about admitting a layman into orders. Joh. Park R. J. ep. MY lord, immediately after my return home, which was Epist. D. not very joyous unto me, considering our bitter departure, burst. may it please your lordship to be advertised, that such was Int. MSS. my chance to joyn in that company, where you and your Elien. state, from the top to the bottom, was unripped. I weighing both your earnest zele, and mine own in and towards the gospel, and seeing that the enemy, clawing the elbow for joy, that one spark of discord should be kindled among us; I thought it meet and convenient, as I have always to the uttermost of my power tendred your estate, to procure a means that we may be together lovingly reconciled again. And albeit that flesh and bloud did so rise in us at that time, that we both perchance, I for a season forgat my self. to be dutiful to your lordship; and you perhaps adminstred some spark of choler on the other side; yet considering my duty towards you, and you weighing what credit your dealing ought to win towards the gospel, thought it convenient at this time to salve the sore on my part: lest at any time. |