The Examination.

THis is the Families Exordium; and containeth an heauie and pitious complaint vnto, and of the Kings Maiestie himselfe, for that in his booke, and In­struction vnto his most noble Sonne, hee tearmeth the Familie of Loue, a vile Sect amongst the Anabaptists; and also giueth them the title of Puritans.

This goeth to their verie hearts,The Exordium quare some. that they should be so ranked, and stiled, and that by his Maiestie, and that in a printed booke; and that divulged in a knowen tongue ouer his dominions; and the same di­rected vnto his royall, and deatest Sonne, euermore to continue. Hence their quarrell, and contention euen with their King, hidden yet vnder the faire wordes of an humble petition. A memorable Exor­dium or preface.

The Familie of Loue.

NOw gratious Soueraigne,A Propestatiō. because it is meete that your Highnesse should vnderstand by their supplica­tion, and declaration of the truth herein by themselues, of whom your Maiestie hath beene thus informed, prostrate at your Princely seete, as true, faithfull, loyall, and obe­dient subiects, to all your lawes, & ordinances, ciuil, and politique, spirituall and temporall, they with humble hearts do beseech your Princely Maiestie to vnderstand that the people of the Familie of Loue, or of God, doe vt­terly disclaime and detest all the said absurd, and selfe-conceited opinions, and disobedient, and erroneous Sects [Page 3]of the Anabaptistes, Browne, Penrie, Puritanes, and all other proude-minded Sectes and heresies whatsoe­uer, protesting vpon paine of our liues, that we are not of consent, nor agreeing with any such brain-sicke Preachers, nor their rebellious and disobediet Sectes whatsoeuer; but haue been, & euer wil be truely obediēt to your Highnesse, and your lawes, to the effusion of our blood, and expenses of our goods and lands in your Maiesties seruice, highly lauding Almightie God, who hath so gratiously, & peacea­blie appointed vnto vs such a vertuous, wise, religious, and noble King, and so carefull, and vnpartiall a Iusticer to go­uerne ouer vs, beseeching him daiely to blesse your High­nesse with his godly wisedome, and holy vnderstanding, to the furtherance of his truth, and godlinesse, and with all honor, happinesse, peace, & long life, & to iudge right­ly betwixt false hood, and truth.

The Examination.

IN this Section they protest that they are not (as the King saith they are) a vile Sect, but The Familie of Loue, Against their Protestation. or of God, or Gods Familie; neither that they doe hold, & maintain (as his Maiestie hath published) any, much lesse many proud, vncharitable, vnchristian, and most absurd opiniōs: yea they doe vtterly disclaime & detest al the said absurd, and self-conceited opinions; as also the disobediēt, and erroneous Sectes of the Anabaptistes, Browne, Pen­rie, Puritanes, & all other proud-minded Sects, & here­sies whatsoeuer, &c. And therfore that his Highnes both misconceiueth and misreporteth of them, good men.

In which their Protestation, hee that seeth not his most excellent and sacred Maiestie most odiously [Page 4]to be traduced, as a publike defamer of Gods people, is verie blinde; and againe, obseruing so much, is not grieued thereat, sheweth that hee neither carrieth sound affection vnto his Souereigue, nor tendereth the honour of his Prince.

Now forsomuch as both his Maiesties book is extant, and this their supplication (but more truly infamous Li­bell) in many mens hands, especially of the young ones in this Family of Loue (for few else can haue so much as a viewe thereof, vnlesse they be of the vulgar sorte, and withall inclineable to receiue their doctrine (of all others the vnfittest to read or heare such dangerous discourses): whereby both the Familistes are confirmed in their fami­liar instructions, and his Maiestie by such Libels igno­miniously dispersed is not a little wounded, it is verie be­hoouefull somewhat to examine the truth of this their protestation.

And because they say, how the premisses are publi­shed in the sayd booke of the Kings, it shall not be amisse heere to set downe his Maiesties verie words, and the oc­casion of them, expressed by his royall hand, to the end that it may appeare who is more abused, either the Fami­ly who are charged, as there is set down by his Highnesse; or his Maiestie, thus traduced, and that to his face, by the Family.

In the second booke therefore of his most Fatherly, Kingly and diuine directions vnto the royall Impe of rare hope, Prince Henry, his best beloued sonne, his Ma­iesty, hauing at large set down the diseases of the church, and from his owne experience, declared how the Puri­tanes, all his raigne, and some yeares afore, had troubled the quiet of the Scottish kingdome & Church; opposed [Page 5]themselues against the throne of Maiestie; laboured by the peoples fauour, and assistance, the erection of a go­uerment Democraticall, by the ruine of the royall State; and sought to bring in a parity, & equalitie of all degrees, aswell into the Common-weale, as Church: in the ende he giueth his aduise, and sayth:

Take heede therefore (my Sonne) to such Puritanes, Puritanes to beauoided. very Pestes in the Church and Common-weale: whome no desertes can oblige; neither oathes or promises binde; breathing nothing but sedition, and calumnies; aspiring without measure, railing without reason; & making their owne imaginations (without any warrant of the word) the square of their conscience. I protest before the great God, and since I am here, as vpon my Testament, it is no place for me to lye in, that ye shall neuer find with any Hie-land, or border theeues greater ingratitude, and moe vile lies and periuries, then with these Phanatick spirits. And suffer not the principals of them to brooke your land, if you like to sit at rest, except ye would keepe them for trying your patience, as Socrates did an euill wife. And for pre­seruatiue against their poison, entertaine, and aduance the godly, learned and modest men of the Ministrie, whom of (God be praysed) there lacketh not a sufficient nomber: and by their promotion to Bishoprickes, and benefices (an­nulling that vile acte of Annexation, if ye finde it not done to your hand) ye shal not only bannish their conceited paritie, whereof I haue spoken, and their other imaginary groundes, which can neither stand with the order of the Church, nor the peace of a Common-weale, and well ruled monarchie: but also shall ye reestablish the old institution of the three Estates in parliament, which can no otherwise be done: But in this I hope (if God spare me dayes) to make [Page 6]you a faire entrie; alwayes where I leaue, followe you my steps. And to end my aduise anent the Church estate, cherish no man more then a good Pastor, hate no man more then a proude Puritane, &c. These and the like wordes (describing the humours of Puritanes, and rash headie Preachers, which thinke it their honour, as his sayd Ma­iestie in his preface to the sayde booke doth say, to con­tend with Kings, and perturbe whole Kingdomes) were verie offensiuely taken of the Puritan faction in Scotland, against which they were vttered, & made them to suspect (or at least in reuenge of the censure, to call his Highnesse profession into question among themselues, and to make others doubtfull) whether his Maiestie so sincerely fa­uoured the religion in Scotland established as he did pre­tend.

And albeit the whole instruction, especially the first booke therof, and these words of his Maiesty aboue men­tioned in the second booke: Entertaine and aduance the godly, learned, and modest men of the Ministerie, whom­of (God be praysed) there lacketh not a sufficient number. And againe: Cherish no man more then a good Pastor, re­uealeth sufficiently the sound, and zealous affection that his Maiestie beareth vnto true Religion; and may, and do satisfie all indifferent men: yet, if possible it were, that no scruple might rest in the minde of any men, his Highnesse voluntarily, and in ample wordes, and fully, further ex­planed his very inwarde conceites of the faction mentio­ned.

First then (sayth his Maiestie) as to the name of Puri­tans, Who Puritans. I am not ignorant that the stile therof doth properly belong onely to that vile secte amongst the Anchaptisus called the Family of Loue, because they thinke themselus [Page 7]onely pure, and in a manner without sinne, the onely true Church, and onely worthy to bee participant of the Sacra­ments: and all the rest of the World to be but abhominati­on in the sight of God. Of this speciall Secte I principally meane where I speake of Puritanes; diuers of them, as Browne, Penry, and others, hauing at sundrie times come in Scotland, to sowe their popple amongst vs, (and from my heart I wish they had lefte no schollers behinde them, who by their fruits will in the owne time be manifested): and partly indeed, I giue this stile to such braine-sicke, and headie Preachers their disciples, and followers, as refusing to be called of that Secte, yet participate too much with their humours, in maintaining the aboue mentioned er­rors; not onely agreeing with the generall rule of Ana­baptists, in contempt of the ciuill Magistrate, and in lea­ning to their owne dreames, and reuelations: and parti­cularly with this Secte in accounting all men prophane that sweares not to all their fantasies, in making for euery particular question of the policie of the Church, as great commotion, as if the article of the Trinitie were called in controuersie; in making the Scripture to be ruled by their conscience, and not their conscience by the Scripture; and he that denies, the lest iot of their grounds, Sit tibi tanquā Ethnicus, & Publicanus, not worthy to enioy the benefit of breathing, much lesse to participate with them of the Sacraments: and before that any of their grounds be im­pugned, let King, people, law, and all be trode vnder foot. Such holy warres are to be preferred to an vngodly peace: no, in such cases, Christian Princes are not onely to be re­sisted vnto, but not to be prayed for: For Prayer must come of Fayth, and it is reueiled to their conscience, that God will heare no prayer for such a Prince.

Iudge then Christian Reader (sayth his Highnesse) if I wrong this sort of people, in giuing them the stile of that Secte, whose errors they imitate: and since they are con­tented to weare their liuerie, let them not be ashamed to borrow also their name. Whō his Ma­sty meaneth by Puritans in his Booke. It is only of this kind of men, that in this booke I write so sharpely, and whome I wish my Son to punish in case they refuse to obey the lawe, and will not cease to stir vp a rebellion, whom against I haue writtē the more bitterly in respect of diuers famous Libels, and iniu­rious speeches, spread by some of them, not onely dishono­rably inuectiue against all Christian Princes, but euen re­proachfull to our profession & Religiō in respect they are come out vnder colour therof, &c. So & more to his Ma­iestie which I would the Family had fully and at large set downe.

For then it would appeare that his Maiestie most iudi­ciously speaketh of Puritanes, The kindes of Puritanes. distinguishing them into two ranks, Sects, & sorts, principal & lesse principal: the principall, he sayth, (& properly called Puritans) are a vile Sect of the Anabaptists, called the Family of Loue, with whom in certain main points, both Browne, Peury and others do conioyne: the lesse principall, are certaine brain-sicke & heady Preachers the disciples & followers of Browne, Penry, and others, in their fantasticall con­ceipts and rebellious complottings.

I dare say & affirm, his Maiesty taketh not the Family of Loue, to be simply Anabaptists; nor the Brownists & such like, to be simply Familists; nor the brain-sicke Preachers and their dependants, to be simply Brownists, but insome respects, wherin they do all concur. It is onely of this la­ter kind of men viz. the disciples of Brown, Penry & such like that in his booke his Maiesty writeth so sharpely, and [Page 9]whome he wisheth his Son to punish in case they refuse to obey the law, & will not cease to stir vp rebellion. And yet his Maiesty taketh the Family of Loue to be Puritanes and the chiefest Puritanes, and properly, though not the only Puritans, and a vile Sect among the Annabaptists, al­beit happily they do vtterly disclaime and detest both the rebellious actions of the braine-sicke Preachers in Scot­land, and the giddie opinions of our home Puritanes.

The Families fault is therefore not a little in confoun­ding that which his Highnesse with great iudgemēt hath distinguished; and in taking his wordes absolutely to be vttered, which are spokē but in a particular respect. That the Familists be Puritanes in the latter sense, his Maiestie sayth not; and yet that the Familistes be a vile Secte of the Anabaptistes, and of all other the most odious Puritanes, his Highnesse doth affirme, and his verdict they shall ne­uer be able to disproue, though they do protest, vow, & sweare neuer so much to be contrarie.

The Family of Loue.

AND because your Maiestie should haue a perfecte viewe,A Prochmary or an assured perswasion of the truth of the same our protestation: if therfore there be any indifferent man of this kingdom, that can iustly touch vs with any such disobedient, and wicked handling of our selues, as seemeth by your Maiesties book it hath beenH. N. hath so informed his Highnesse: see the answere. informed vnto your Highnesse (vnlesse they be such our mortall enemies, the disobedient Puritanes, and those of their headie humors before named, who are much more zealous, religious, & precise in the tything of Mint, Annis, and Commin, and in the preferring of such like Pharisaicall and selfe cho­sen [Page 6]outwarde traditions, and groundes or hypocriticall righteousnesse, then in the performing of iudgement, mercy, and fayth, and such like true and inward righte­ousnesse, which God doth most chiefely require, and regard (Math. 15.15. &c.); and whose malices haue for twen­tie fiue yeares past, and vpwardes, and euer since, with very many vntrue suggestions, and most fowle errors, & odious crimes (the which wee could shewe, if neede were) sought our vtter ouerthrowe and destruction, but that wee haue behaued our selues, in all orderlinesse, and peace­ablenesse of life, where we dwell and with whom we haue had to deale.

The Examination.

AFter their protestation,Against their Proclamation. now followeth aproclama­tion, as it were, for anie indifferent man to come in, & say his worst against them, to proue them such indeed, as the King sayth they are.

And yet it is to bee marked that of indifferent men, they except against diuers; as first against all strangers whatsoeuer, and next against all disobedient Puritanes, their mortall one wies, and such like, whose malice they haue had experience of, these twenty fiue yeares and vp­wardes. A strange thing that men indifferent, whether Strangers or of this Common weale should bee repel­led, as partiall witnesses; as strange againe is it that their mortall enemies the Puritanes, and their fauou­rers, should be acknowledged of them to be men indif­ferent.

That they doe except against Puritanes, I could not blame them, being as they say, their mortal and auncient [Page 11]enemies (as are many mo besides) had they not cōfessed them, at least some of them, to bee men of good consci­ence, and indifferent: but that they should except a­gainst any indifferent Strangers, without shewing proba­ble cause of the same, doth argue in my conceipt, that Strangers, especially, Hollanders, Frize-landers, and others in Base-Almaigne would vtter strange things of this Familie of Loue, and charge them iustly with grosse wickednesse, and impious misdemeanors, if they should be heard.

But his Maiestie, besides Strangers, and pharisaicall Puritans, hath others no doubt in his Kingdome, which vnfainedly doe perform: both iudgement, mercie, and faith, not placing religion in outward obseruations, who (enquired after and called foorth) can aduertise his Ma­iestie, and the State, both how duetifully towardes their Prince, orderly towarde their neighbours, and reli­giously in the Church of God, they haue, and do behaue themselues.

In the meane space, till this be knowen (which I can­not thinke is vtterly vnknowen to his Highnesse) I wil set downe the iudgement of one (euerie way a Stranger to vs) against whom notwithstanding none exceptions, I am sure will be taken by the Familie of Loue, or any of them. For they doe beleeuē (if they beleeue his writinges) hee noe more can erre in whatsoeuer hee saith, than could the Prophets of God, or Apostles of Christ H.N. Pro­phet of the Spir. c. 13. §. 8. and that before whom, and before the eyes of whose heart and spirit, not only all their actions, but also their verie secret counsailes, and cogitations are naked and bare Ibid. c. 3. §. 3.. This man is H.N. himselfe, that great Prophet, or God rather among the Familistes.

Alas (saith H. N.) like as the world together with her wise and Scripture-learned are darkened, and blinded in Heart (and deafe in Vnderstanding) which comprehend not the good being of the Loue, nor yet consider on anie of all that which God, through the Spirit of his Loue, requi­reth: but haue alway a lust to themselues, and cleaue vn­to the couetousnesse, the voluptuousnesse of the flesh; and the false wisedome, which seduced them: euen so I haue found many of you (yea almost all, H.N. his iudg­ment of the Familistes his followers. which make boast of Loue, and talke much thereof; to stand in such like case: and also aduisedly marked, that yee, vnder the pretense or color of the House, or seruice of Loue, haue takē to your selues the voluptuousnesse of the flesh (2. Pet. 2. b. Iude. 1. b.) according to the manner of the World, to bee your Freedome, and your own Thoughts of the Good-thinking, according to the Imagination of the Knowledge (like vnto many vnilluminated Scripture learned, and Good-thin­king wise) to be your wisedome: and haue no regard to the godly life of the gratious word, nor to the Counsell of the Testimonies of the holy spirit of Loue, & her Seruice. And yet notwithstanding, whē one asketh you, whether ye haue adioyned you to the Loue, or are minded to continue with a good will, by the same; yea aunswere, and say expresly; O yea, we wil cleaue vnto the Loue, and not forsake the same in any case. All this saith, H. N. Proph. of the Spir. c. 2. §. 7. and that not of a few, but of many yea almost all, of the Familie of Loue, who haue takē vnto thēselues the voluptuousnesse of the flesh, to be their Freedome, or Felicitie: and he citeth both, 2. Pet. 2. b. and Iude. 1. b; as if they were the persons reserued vnto the day of iudgement to bee punished, because they walke after the flesh in the lust of vneleanenesse, despise rulers, and speake euill of them that are in authori­tie, [Page 13]hauing noe regard of godly life.

Againe of his, and this Familie saith the same H. N. Proph. of the Spir. §. 9.: verely after such a manner yee are towards the gra­tious word of the Lord, and his seruice of Loue, euen like vnto an whore, which after her hearts Good-thinking to a cloaking of her whoredome, chooseth an husband, & cou­pleth her selfe in marriage vnto him, for that she mought boast her as a married wife; & vnder such a couering and boasting that she hath a husband, committeth whoredome: Seeing that ye in like manner without Christ, and against Christ, although yee make great boast of him, committe whoredome, and deale nor walke not according to the do­ctrine or requiring of Christ.

If others thinke hardly and speake badly of these Fa­milistes, which are strangers vnto them, and none of their societie; and his Maiestie tearmeth them a vile Sect; let them maruell noe more, seeing H. N. the oldest Father of that Familie, and priuie to all their actions and dea­linges taketh them, I meane many, euen Almost all of them, to bee but an whorish company, making the vo­luptuousnesse of the flesh their freedome, or summum bo­num: neither let them blame others hence forward as in­iurious to their good manners. For H. N. hath taught vs what they are.

The Familie of Loue.

OR, if wee doe varie, or swarue from the now esta­blished Religion in this Land, either in Seruices, Ceremonies, Sermons, or Sacraments;

The Examination.

Here would I know what they meane by varying or swaruing from the now established religion in this Land.

If by varying they vnderstand any outward & pub­lique dissenting from the religiō established,The Familistes, Temporizers. or from the Seruices, Ceremonies, Sacraments and exercises of the same, by absenting from the Church, or not frequenting and repairing vnto the sacred and approued assemblies, then surely can they not he said to varie from our religiō, and exercises at all. For they neither altogether with the Brownistes, nor in any Ceremoniall considerations, with the halfe Brownists, the Puritanes, refuse to communi­cate with vs in the Seruices, Ceremonies, and other ex­ercises of our Religion; and so they doe, or wil doe, liued they at Rome, as H. N. hath taught and willed themPatterne of the pres. Temps.: The Seruices or Ceremonies shall not saue any one (saith H. N.) without the good nature of Iesus Christ and of his seruice of Loue, nor yet condemne any one, in that good nature of IESVS CHRIST, nor in the ser­uice of Loue 3. Refrein. §. 6..

Hence it is that they neither accuse nor blame any folke for their religion, whether the Ministers of the Po­pish Church, or in any other (Protestant, and reformed Church) which minister or vse the Ceremonial SeruicesIbid. §. 2.: prouided that they hold them still, and suffer the Fa­milists to be quiet, and encrease: neither striue they at all (wheresoeuer they reside) nor varie with any one about ReligionPatern [...] of the pres. Temps.. But this doth not extenuate their fault, but aggrauate their offence, for that they are pliable and con­formable [Page 15]to all religions, Seruices and times, for their owne ease, and aduantage, and to shunne persecution and trouble, which they will not suffer, come of religion what will.

But if by varying from the now established religion in this Land, &c. they meane howe in their iudgement they condemne, and doe not approue the religion, Ser­uices, Ceremonies, and Sacraments ratified by the hie, and lawfull authoritie of this Church, as wherein,The Familists most capitall enemies vnto sound & Chri­stian religion. with­out the Seruice of their Loue, or ministrie of H. N. his do­ctrine, God is not delighted, and whereby Christians please not the diuine Maiesty one whit, but rather irritate and offend him; then surely they doe more varie from the religion, Seruices, Ceremonies, and Sacraments of the Church of England, than doth any Brownist, or Puritane, or other aduersarie of the Church of Eng­land whatsoeuer. For howsoeuer they showe them­selues obedient, and externally conformable by re­pairing vnto our Churches, frequenting of Sermons, vsing the Sacramentes, and the like: yet in their hearts and minde, both present and absent, either as childish, they deride; or as impious, they condemne them all.

Witnesse H. N: who speaking of vs, and whosoeuer else bee not of his Familie, (whom they imagine to so­iorne in the land of ignorance) They build (saith hee in scoffing and odious manner) They build diuerse common houses, which they name Gods houses. And they occu­pie there manie-manner of foolishnesse, or taken on Seruices, which they name Religions, or Gods serui­ces, to waue or hold forth some thing before the ignorant people, to a stay of the consent arising out of their spot­ted [Page 16]consciences, whereby their might set their foolish con­sciences at peace H.N. Spirit­land, c. 5. §. 1..

Which our meetinges and Seruices, elsewhere hee calleth false Exercises or vsages H.N. 1. ex­hort. c. 16. §. 2., which heare a good­ly shewe, wherewith many ignorant people, that knowe not any difference betweene the true, and the false light, become seduced and deceiued.

And in another place: Therefore cannot the Man (whilest that he is not yet wholly Godded, in one spirit of the godly Being with God) occupie, or vse any manner of Freedome, that is falser, wickeder, absurder, seducinger, arroganter, nor horribler against God & his vpright Ser­uice, nor yet daungerfuller, nor distructionabler to the children of men, than this: Namely, that any man should become so arrogant, and free, or vnbound of Hart, that he, out of an appeased Conscience or contented Hart, shold dare to teach, or set forth any thing, through the imagi­nation of the knowledge (whether he then haue taken on the same, Out of the learnednesse of the Scriptures, or out of his good thinking wisedome) as a Word or Com­maundement of the Lord: or yet to iustitute any Serui­ces, Out of the letre of the Scripture, accordinge to his good thinkinge, and so to plucke or make sub­iect the hearts of men, to destruction, thereunder. So H. N. Ibid. §. 14..

And further: No man (saith H. N. Ibid. 16. can rightly, ac­cording to the truth of the holy Scriptures, nor according to the spirituall vnderstanding of the godly wisedome, deale-in or vse the true Gods seruices, nor the seruices of the holy word (it becommeth not like wise that any man (saith H. N.) should take-in hand to busie himselfe there­about) but onlie the illuminated Elders in the godlie wise­dome, [Page 17]which walke in the House of Loue &c. & are cuē so Godded with God, or incorporated to God, in all Loue. With whom also God in one Being, and power of his holy spirit, is hominified, or become Man.

And then (obserue the execrable spirit of these men) Therfore it is assuredly, all false and lies, seducing and de­ceitfull, what the vngodded or vnilluminated Men, out of the imagination or riches of their knowledge, and out of their learnednesse of the Scriptures, bring-forth, in­stitute, preach and teach. They preach indeede the Letter, and the Imagination of their knowledge: but not the word of the liuing God. All this hath H. N: their prophetIbid. §. 17.18.; which well may shew that the bodies of his Familistes may be in our Churches, and at Seruice, Sermons, and Sacramēts, but their harts doe loath whatsoeuer they doe either see, or heare, though it be neuer so firmely groun­ded & apparantly deriued frō Gods written word, if the same either proceede not, neither be vttered by the deifi­ed Elders of the Familie, or some one of them; yea they take not God any where to be truely serued, but in their priuate meetings, and among themselues.

Hence: Our God of Loue is the true liuing God (say they) & besides him there is no God more, and his Gods seruice, which we minister vnder the obedience of his Loue, is the true safe-making Gods seruice, and besides the same there is not any Gods seruice more, neither in Heauen nor Earth Fid el. de­clar. c. 4. §. 11.

This, without producing further testimonies either forraigne or frō our selues, may suffice to proue that they varie frō the now established religion in this land, both in the Seruices, Ceremonies, Doctrine, & Sacramēts of the same; al which in their iudgements they disallow, except, [Page 18]which is not credible, they condemne the iudgement of H. N. and other their Illuminate Elders, touching the same, who haue published these their concepts to the open world.

The Familie of Loue.

OR haue publikely spokē, or inueighed either by word, or wrighting against our late Soueraigne Princes gouernment, in cases spirituall or temporal, the let vs bee reiected for sectaries, and neuer receiue the benefite of suiects.

The Examination.

IT cannot bee denied, but the Puritanes, I meane the English faction (whatsoeuer the Scottish haue done, whereof onely his Maiestie speaketh) haue publikely spoken and inueighed, aswell by word as writing, against our late Princes authoritie in cases spirituall. Penrie said plainely that her gouernment was traiterous to the Maie­stie of our Sauiour ChristPenry Sup­plic. and therest, not so far gon as he, tooke her not, as neither doe they our now King, to be any officer at all of the Church.

I finde not the Familie euer publikely depraued her Highnesse gouernment, either spiritual or temporall, and verie bad men they, and most vngrateful if they should; diuerse of the chiefest among them receauing yearely both countenance, and maintenance from her Princely coffers, being her housholde seruants. But this clea­reth them noe whit from being Sectaries euen in this re­spect mentioned. For in their publike writinges they speake basely, and inueigh odiously against all Princes, [Page 19]gouernment, Magistracy, and eminencie whatsoeuer, spirituall and temporall,The Familistes condemn all Ma­gistracy and E­minencie. and therefore against our late Princes gouernement in cases not onely spirituall with the Puritanes, but temporall to, with the Anabap­tistes.

Among the excellencies of this people, this louely people the Family of Loue (for so doe they stile them­selues), the least is not, that among them there is no ma­sterfull dominion; there raigneth no man ouer otherH. N. Spirit: land. c. 34. §. 8.; they haue no heads nor Kings, which are borne of the flesh and bloude of sinne Ibid. c. 38. §. 1..

It is well pleasing (sayth N. H.) that the one man of God, Lordeth not ouer the other, neither that the one be the others bond-seruant Ibid. c. 37. §. 9..

And as they please God in that they exercise no supe­rioritie, but are equall in degree among themselues; all Kings, and a kingdome of KingsIbid. c. 38. §. 4: so they terme a King, the scum of ignorance Ibid. c. 2 [...]. §. 14; and deeme it an abhomina­ble thing in the eyes of God for men to Lord ouer each other, and tearme such persons Bond-seruants and Cap­tiue-slaues Ibid. c. 38. §. 5. Last of all they haue Prophecies, that all Maiesties, Dominions, Powers, and gouernments what­soeuer, shallIbid. c. 49. §. 1, and make prayers, that they may1. Exhort. c. 17. §. 6., submit themselues vnto the seruice of Loue (euen as the Puritanes would haue Kings to submit their Scepters, to throw downe their crownes before the Church, yea and to licke vp the dust of the feet of the church T. C. 1. Reply p. 144., and yielde obedience vnto the presbiterieEccles. discip. p. 165.; and also that them­selues, as Kings, and onely Kings shall euerlastingly liue and raigneH N. Prou. ca. 1. §. 18. Fidel. declar. c. 4. §. 5. Praph. of the Spir. c. 19. §. 1 [...] yea and doe raigne vpon the earthProph. of the Spir. c. 19. §. c..

It is therfore apparantly, and from their own books & writings sufficiently, without other needlesse demonstra­tions, [Page 20]proued, that the Family is a Secte most vile, both varying in Seruices, Ceremonies, Doctrine, and Sacra­ments, from the Religion now established in this land; and openly inueigh against all gouernment of Kings, and Ma­gistrates, spirituall, and temporall; sighers and seekers for a paritie and commixtion of all states: and therefore whatsoeuer they doe, not worthie to receiue the benefit, and freedome due to loyall and good Subiects.

The Family of Loue.

ONly,The [...]ar [...]ation. right gratious Soueraigne, we haue read certain bookes, brought forth by a Germane, Author, vnder the characters of H. N.

The Examination.

HItherto their Proclimarie. Now ensueth a narration. It is much to bee lamented that a promiscuous rea­ding of all writings, hand ouer head, is permitted vnto all men; the lamentable effectes whereof we haue, and see, in this Family of Loue.

And yet I would they had but onely read, and not stu­died, followed, and applauded these bookes, as the very message and oracles of God from Heauen; neither de­lighted in the darke exercises, and Conuenticles of the sayd Family.

The time was when the letters H. N. were thought to signifie no cedrtaine man, but either the heauenly nature, or Homo Nouus, a newe, or renewed man: or which A.O. doth in the Reuelation Let of the Fam.: but now he is acknowledged here to be a Germane Auctor; and was, though they say [Page 21]not so much (as, by letters vnto my selfe from Embden, I can shew) by trade a Mercer of Amsterdam in Holland: which course of life it had been a blessed thing for Gods Church he had still followed, and neuer giuen his minde to the writing of bookes.

The Family of Loue.

WHo affirmeth their that he is prepared, chosen,Of H. N. and sent of god to minister, & set forth the most holy seruice of the loue of God, and Christ, or of the holy Ghost, vnto the children of men, vpon the vniuersal earth.

The Examination.

VVHat they say of H. N. he affirmeth euery whit of himself, if his owne testimonie, without proose or warrant, be of any validitie.

In his Prouerbs: The God of heauen,H. N. a most impious and blasphemous magnifier of himselfe. as the Father himselfe, is come downe: and bringeth, in the seruice of Loue, himselfe, with his Christ and holy Ghost, and with­all that which with him is Gods, vnto his obedient Man, H.N. And Goding the same with him, he hath Manned him with the sameH.N. Prouerbs. c. 8. §. 3.

In his Prophecie of the Spirit, he termeth himselfe: Gods elected MinisterProph. c. 13. §. 8..

In the foresayd booke of his Prouerbs, he hath these words: The Lord, out of his mercifull loue, raised-up the gracious word, according to his promises, and elected H.N. thereto, for to minister the same &c.H. N, Pro­uerbs. c. 1. §. 6..

And in this Prouerbs againe: Through which gracious word, and N.N. God reuealed (sayth he) the appearing [Page 22]of the comming of Christ, and the newe day of his righ­teous iudgement, as also the flowing foorth of his holy Spirit of loue to the awaking and raising vp of all his holy-ones, out of sleepe, to their glorious Lordliness with Iesus Christ, and to an euerlasting fast-standing Kingdome of the godly Maiestie vpon earth, according to his promises.Ibid. §. 17..

And afterward: Thus hath God declared with H.N. the eight thorough-breaking of his true light vpō the earth wherein the Lord, the God of heauen, restered the for­mer Kingdome with his garnishing, together with all that which God hath spoken from the beginning of the World, through the mouth of his holy Prophets &c.Ibid. §. 18..

In his exhortation, God hath illuminated him (he saith) with his light, for to illuminate, or giue light to them that dwell yet in darknesse vpon the earth1. Exhor. c. 19 §. 8..

And finally in his first Epistle: All people are called, and friendly bidden, through H. N. to the repentance for their sinne, &c. Not alone with his calling, but also with all the Scriptures heauenly Testimonies, and spirituall voyces of the Eternall Truth which are gone forth from the holy spirit of loue, and brought to light through H. N. 1. Epist. or Cri. v [...]ce. c. 1. § 1..

And why all this? but to the ende that (as himselfe aduiseth) the young ones in the Family should not distrust, nor suspect any manner of euill, or vnwisedome by him; nor yet in any wise perswade themselues, that the Exer­cises, Documents, and instructions, which are taught or set forth before them, by him the Father of the Family of Loue, or oldest elder, are too childish, or too vnwise, for the to follow after1. Exhort. c. 13. §. 11..

But the childe of God must alwaies haue in remem­brance, [Page 23]that many false Prophets are gone into the world: and therfore is not to belieue whatsoeuer is affirmed, but trie the spirits whether they are of God. Because men re­ceiue not the loue of the truth, that they may be saued, God will send them strong delusion that they shall belieue lies, that they may be dāned, which belieued not the truth, but had pleasure in vnrighteousnesse2. Thes. 2. V. 10.11.:

The more H. N. boasteth of himself that he is illumi­nated from aboue, the lesse is he to be credited, the more to be suspected.

Let him proue his preparation, his election, vocati­on, and generall Apostleship from Gods word (which he shall neuer doe); or let him be accursed: yet a because he arrogateth to himselfe the diuine nature, and most here­tically and blasphemously auoucheth, that whatsoeuer the Prophets haue foretold are fulfilled in him and the like; and all this to the end that his idle reuelations, cloaked vn­der his Loue-seruice, may the more slily enter into the mindes of wel willing and good meaning people: hold him, and all that hold with, and applaud him, and his fa­naticall speculations, euermore accursed.

The Family of Loue.

O Out of which Seruice, or writings we be taught all dutiful obedienceVntrue. towards God, and Magistrates;The seruice of Loue. and to liue a godly, and honest life; and to loue God aboue all things, and our neighbours as our selues, agreeing therein with all the holy Scriptures as wee vnderstand them.

The Examination.

ALL this tendeth to the raising vp of credit to H. N. & his writings: which sheweth of what spirit these men are.

In their Courtly deuise (inscribed vnto the last Earle of Lecester) they let not to say, that were all the books of H. N. rightly considered of with indifferencie, so should they be found Assistants in all to the Religion established in the Church of England, and no hinderers.

Here I take which they grant, that the holy Scriptures teach all these things: next that the religion established in the Church of England, is sound, and euery way good and true.

But that the Seruice of Loue & the writings of H. N. tru­ly & indeed so teach as they would beare his Maiestie in hand, I cannot thinke for diuers reasons.

1. They hold: That neither before, nor without their most holy Seruice of Loue, &c. the true light hath not been set forth, ministred, nor taught: & that there shal likewise no other light nor cleerenes, that can be true, appeare nor yet come hereafter, but the light of loue H. N. 1. [...]r. doct. c. 16. §. 10: which is the new doctrine deuised by H. N. & that we so condemne.

2. They teach, that, it is assuredly al false, & lies, sedu­cing & deceitful, that the vngodly or vnilluminated Men, out of the imaginatiō, or riches of their own knowledge, & out of their learnednesse of the Scriptures, bring forth, institute, and teach Ibid. §. 17.. Then is not H. N. his doctrine & Seruice of Loue, groūded vpon the written word of God, but vpon I know not what visions, & Anabaptisticall re­uelations: and therefore to be held most execrable.

Thirdly, they say There is nothing more needfull to the man at the first, where-to enter into life; then that he hum­ble himself vnder the obedience of loue (meaning the in­structions of H. N.) & so become taught in the Seruice of Loue, for to vnlearne againe al what he hath taken on and learned to himselfe Spir. land. c. 56 §. 7.: which counsayle of vnlearning is rife, and euery where, & as it were the first thing deliue­red to the Nouices in the Loues seruiceH. N. exhort. c. 13. §. 9. Cri. voice c. 1. §. 7.: which mani­festeth their religion to be newe and singular; when the doctrine in our Churches taught and embraced must all be vnlearned, and abhominable and corrupt, for the enter­taining of theirs, which they vaunt to be celestiall.

Fourthly, because they may not talke of their secrets ei­ther yet vtter their mysteries, opēly, or nakedly in the hea­ring of their young children & disciplesH. N. Pro­uerbs. c. 22. §. 15.; that is (as H. N. sayth) til they haue attained the age of 30 yeares, and are come to their manly age, and haue beardes Ibid. c. 21. §. 1.. They might and would talke of their secrets, might their exer­cises, and mysteries abide the hearing of godly & modest persons, as Gods holy word, and our doctrine, deriued from the sacred Scriptures, will.

Last of al, because the Seruice of Loue, and books of H. N. so and none otherwise make to the aduancement of godlinesse and furtherance of virtue, then they vnder­stand the Scriptures. And indeed the make od interpre­tations of Gods word, turning light into darkenesse; truth into falsehood; histories into allegories; and sound religi­on into fancies of men.

But as others vnderstand them, they tend to the sup­planting of true religion, and ouerthrowe of Gods house, which is the Church of God, for the erecting of a newe Family, whereof they take their name.

The Family of Loue.

AGainst which auctor, and his books, wee neuer yet heard, nor knew any law established in this realm by our late gracious Souereigne, but that we mought read thē without offence: whose writings wee suppose vnder your Highnesse correction, your Maiestie hath yet neuer seen, or perused heard of by any indifferent, nor true information.

The Examination.

IT Is well knowne there be lawes, canons, and iniuncti­ons against erroneous and infectious books: and that Proclamations houe come out expresly against H. N. and his scandalous inuentions.

When there be lawes against Sect-masters and Heri­tickes, bee there no lawes, shall we thinke, against H. N. and his bookes?

Scarse had I proceeded thus farre in this examinati­on, but vpon searche I founde a paper, which many yeares hath lyen by mee in my priuate studie, contei­ning a forme of abiuration offered by the Lords of the late Queene ELIZABETHS most honorable priuie Counsayle, vnto certaine persons suspected to fauour the vile Heresies of H. N. which forme vvas this.

Whosoeuer teacheth that the dead which are fallen a­sleepe in the Lord, An abiuration tendred vnto the Familistes, the tenth of October. An. 1580 by ten of the Lords of Q. Elizabeths priuy Counsel. rise vp in this day of his iudgement, and appeare vnto vs in godly glorie, which shal henceforth liue in vs euerlastingly with Christ, and raigne vpon the earth, is a detestable Hereticke.

But H. N. teacheth so: Euang. c. 37. Sect. 9.

Therefore H. N. is a detestable Heretike.

Whosoeuer teacheth that to be born of the Virgin Marie out of the seede of Dauid after the flesh, is to be expounded of the pure doctrine out of the seede of Loue, is a detestable Hereticke.

But H. N. teacheth so: Document: sent: c. 3. Sect. 5.

Therefore H. N. is a detestable Hereticke.

Whosoeuer teacheth that Iesus Christ is come againe vn­to vs according to his promise, to the ende that they all which loue God, and his righteousnesse, and Christ, and his perfect Being, might presently enter into the true Rest, which God hath prepared from the beginning for his his elect, and inherit the euerlasting life, is a detestable Hereticke.

But H. N teacheth so: Euang. c. 1. Sect. 1.

Therefore H. N. is a detestable Hereticke.

Nauing examined these reasons with the bookes of H. N. wee doe finde that in truth hee holdeth these heresies, and we thinke in our hearts, and of our owne knowledge affirme that H. N. is in these heresies a detestable Here­ticke: Promising faithfully before God and your Honors neuer hereafter to haue any dealing with his bookes, and doctrine nor to go-about to bring any to the loue, liking, or reading of them. And that we now speake is the true mea­ning of our hearts, as wee looke for mercie at his hands which searcheth the heart.

Would her Maiesties Councell minister this Abiu­ration vnto these Familistes, euen of her owen Familie, had they noe law, nor authoritie so to doe? Or would the saide Courtiers (as before their Honors they did) abiure these Heresies, if both the said heresies had not been con­tained [Page 28]in the bookes of H. N. and themselues by Lawe compellable either to abiure, or abide the punishment due for obstinate Heretickes? And was there Lawe then, viz. Anno. 1580. (for in that yeare, and so long agoe was this donne) and is there noe Lawe now? Haue they not heard, nor knowen of these things by lawfull authori­tie performed, which were both heard andmade knowen both in Court and Coūtrie; the parties some of them, and the cheifest yet liuing and in Court, which so abiured; & their Children in right auncient place about his Maiesty, before whome they abiured?

But haue they not heard, nor knowen (as they pretend) of any Lawe established in this Realme against H. N. and his bookes, by our late gratious Soueraigne? Then pray wee vnto God, that they may both heare, and knowe some lawe to bee established against them by our nowe raigning, and gratious Soueraigne the King.

The rest of this section, that his Highnesse (as they feare not to say) neuer yet hath seene, or perused the wri­tings of H. N. nor somuch as heard of them by any indif­ferent, or true information, are words derogatorie in an high degree to his Maiesties honour; because both his Highnesse hath affirmed vpon his knowledge the Fami­listes to be a vile sect of Anabaptistes (yeelding inuincible reasons of his certaine knowledge, which are aboue spe­cified), and they say his Maiestie neuer yet sawe nor perused, nor so much as heard of H. N. his writinges, by any indifferent and true information; in the which the points wherewith hee chargeth them, are most true­ly contained.

The Familie of Loue.

FOr the saide H. N. in all his doctrine and writings (being as we are crediblie enformed, as much matter in volum, if they were all compiled together, as the whole Bible containeth) dothVntrue. neither take part with, nor write against any particular partie, or companie whatsoeuer, as naming them by their names, nor yet prayse or dispraise any of themy by nameVntrue: Hee magnifieth the Church of Rome..

The Examination.

THis vain boasting of the bulke of H. N. his writings is verie vsuall among the Familistes. About thirtie yeares agoe, mine eares heard his disciples much bragge of the multitude of H. N. his bookes: as if his greate paines in writing were argument stronge enough to in­duce men to the liking of his opinions.

Which if it beeso, then haue the Papistes a stronge reason that the trueth is with them on their side: the monkes and Friars of whose Religion hauing be­stowed infinite paines in writinge, and composing of bookes.

Then haue wee (whose doctrine and religion, deri­ued and drawen from Gods word, as Scripture learning the Familistes (labour to supplant) the truth; and not the Familistes, to whom for multitude of writinges, they are not comparable: some one of vs (as Caluin) hauing writ­ten so much as noe one man eitherin these, or our Fathers daies hath done the likeBeza. in vit. Cal.; Musculus, and Luther, and Erasmus, and euerie of these, hath written more then any [Page 30]man can read in many score of yearesBodin. in method. hist. c. 5.: which Eras­mus composed so many Epistles and Letters, as gathe­red together would neere loade two Cartes or Wa­gonsEras. catal. Luc [...]b.. And therefore equall many Bibles in bulke and bignesse.

And could not the heretickes in all ages say as much for their founders, as the Familistes here doe of H.N. viz. that their bookes were many, and themselues, as studious and painefull in writing of discourses, for the propaga­ting of their inuentions, as euer the true and faithful ser­uants of God were, or bee, for the implanting of the truth?

Manes, that Arch-hereticke and great grand Fa­ther to H. N. his errors, was the Father of sundrie and di­uers bookesEpiphan..

Photius, that pestilent Apostata, wrote very manie ds­courses both in the Greeke & Latine tongueVnicent. Lir. aduers. haeres., for the propagation of his damnable doctrine.

Basilides, that hell-hound compiled more then 24. vo­lumesEale myst. of iniquitie..

Appollinaris, filled the whole world with his blasphe­mous pamphlettesBasil. magn..

And Tatianus (not inferior to any of the rest, not to a­ny else, except perhaps to H. N. for impietie) his bookes were infinite and innumerableEuseb. eccles. hist. l. 4. c. 29..

Which writings notwithstanding were not so applau­ded by some, as they were abhorred of others: nor so fa­mous in times past among a few, as they are odious now among all men; neither were so read, and vsed earst, as they are at this time both out of sight, and out of request, yea and out of mind, and gon, as if they neuer had beene either deuised, or vsed in former dayes. And so we doubt [Page 30]not shall happen to the writings of H. N. though toge­ther they world seeme neuer so great a volume, & in se­uerall be verie many.

Againe, they here commend not their H. N. only for his paines, and bringing forth such a volume of theologi­call speculations: but also for the manner of his writings. For he neither tooke part with (say they) nor writ against any particular partie, or companie whatsoeuer, as naming them by their names: nor yet praised or dispraised any of them by name: as if to take part, or write against any par­ticular partie, or ocmpanie of Heretikes, Schismatikes, or other vngodly persons, and especially in confuting, to name them, were an hainous fault.

Little thinke these Familiars by thus, and this cōmen­ding their H. N. whom they touch as faultie, that haue both taken part in a world of dissentions, set themselues against Sectaries; and in their writings, as to all posteri­ties eternally horrible, named the authors, and spreaders abroad of hellish errors, by their proper names. Our Sa­uiour Christ opposed himselfe professedly against the Pharisies and Sadduces; so did the Apostle Peter against the highe Priestes and Rulers of Ierusalem; so Paule a­gainst Alexander, Demas, Hymeneus, Philetus and such like; so the Euangelist Iohn against the Nicolaitans; and so the true against the false Apostles, Ministers and wic­ked persons from time to time in all ages, whose both er­rors they haue oppugned, and registred their names for an euerlasting remembrance.

And though this H. H. neither tooke part with, nor writ against any particular partie or company whatsoeuer (which ye is vntrue, as afterward shal be she­wen) as naming them by their names (a thing which [Page 32]lawfully, and after the example euen of the best, hee might haue done): yet (which hee cannot iustifie, nor aunswere before God) hee opposeth himselfe general­ly against all men, which bee not of his fectH.N. 1. Ex­hor. c. 16, §. 2. &c.: whence it is that all men, especially the true Church and seruantes of God, are against him, and his Fa­milie.

Againe, these Familists (still ouer familiar with his Ma­iestie) would beare his Highnesse in hand, that the said H.N. in his writings doth neither praise nor dispraise any partie or companie by name: which is most vntrue. For hee commendeth the Church of Rome, with all the or­ders and officers thereof; tearming it: The Communion of all Christians; the Pope, the chiefe annointed; the most holy Father; the Cardinalls, most holy, and famous, and next the most auncientest, and holy Father, the Pope in most holy Religion, and vnderstanding Euang. cap. 31. §. 1.2. &c.: and pro­phecieth of an entire, and perfect restauration of the pa­pall Hierarchie Ibid. §. 23..

And on the other side, he cōdemneth as many as out of the knowledge which they tooke out of the Scriptures (as all the protestant and reformed Churches through-out the world haue done) brought in certaine seruices, and ceremonies in any other wise, or order than the Church of Rome Appointed Ibid. c. 32. § 4.

He raileth on Gods Preachers; and calleth them vn­illuminated, vnregenerated, vnrenewed, vngodded, vn­sent, and I wot not what besidesIbid. c. 4. §. 4, to bringe their persons, ministerie, and profession into vtter hatred and contemptIbid. c. 28. §. 4. Document. sent. c. 2. §. 2..

And though in his writinges, he had neither so prai­sed, as he hath done, the Pope and his partakers on the [Page 33]one side; nor dispraised, and to the pit of hell condem­ned all Ministers and Preachers (whom in scorne euerie where hee tearmeth Scripture-learned):1. Exhort. c. 15. §. 17.19.): yet that maketh him not a commendable writer and regardable. For he is aprayser, and magnifier of himselfe euerie where in his writings which is the greatest fault that can be in a man, whether hee write, or speake; and bee his praises either true, or false; but elspecially if they be proudly arrogated, and not deseruedly.

Would you heare a vaunting Bragadine? Listen then vnto H. N.

The Lord, the God of Heauen moued Me in his Minde or Spirit (saith H. N.) his power incompassed Mee, with a Rushing noyse:and the glorie of the same God of Hea­uen became great in my spirite of his Loue, in such wise, that the great clearenesse of God wholly innironed Mee, and shoane round about Mee, where-through the sight of mine Eies became clearer than Chrystall, and mine vn­derstanding brighter than the Sunne H. N. Pro­phet: of the Spir. c. 1. §. 2.; the Lorde his Being and Essence spake vnto Mee: for the Being of God gaue-forth his sound and voice; and spake vnto Mee, H. N. through his spirit of Loue, all these wordes, and saide &c. Ibid. §. 5.. Here the Essence and Being of God spake vnto him.

Againe, I lament(saith H. N.) and bewaile verie much your vnfaithfulnesse, and all your fainednesse, wherewith yee thinke to couer you, before Mee, yet are ne­uerthelesse all the Counsailes and falshoodes of your Harts manifested before Me, & so much the more naked & bare before the Eies of my Hart, and Spirit Ibid. c. 3. §. 1.2.3.. Here hee brag­geth that the Counsailes, & secrets of mans hart (knowen onely vnto God) are not hidden from him.

Many (saith H. N.) could much rather iudge Moses, the Prophets of God, together with the Apostles of Christ, and God his elected Minister H. N. to erre or misse the right, than that they would by any meanes confesse and ac­knowledge, that they in the Imagination of their know­ledge, concerninge the godly matters, are ignorant, and lying Ibid. c. 13. §. 8..

Hee vaunteth here that hee could no more erre, than could the Prophets and Apostles; yea he preferreth him­selfe, if his wordes be well obserued, before the Apostles and Prophets.

In his Prouerbes: The God of Heauen (saith, H.N.)Chap. 8. §. 3 as the Father himselfe, is come downe, and He brin­geth, in the Seruice of his Loue, Himselfe, with his Christ, and Holy Ghost, and with all that which with Him is Gods, vnto his obedient Man: H. N. And Godding the same with Him, He hath manned him with the same: and his will is, that nowe in the last time, through the ser­uice of Loue, all people or generations of Men, which are good-Willing to his Righteousnesse, should assemble them vnto Him, and his godded Man; and euen so like­wise with them, all that is manly; To the ende that they all should become of one Being with him, and his Godded man: and so bee all named Gods and Children of the most-highest. Here is hee deified, and made a God. Is this fellowe, and his writings to bee commended, and that vnto a most religious King: or not rather to bee ab­horred, and all that praise him, both of Prince and people?

The Family of Loue.

BVt dothThe contēts H. N. his wri­tings. onely shewe in particular in his sayd wrigh­tings (as sayth he, the vnpartiall Seruice of Loue re­quireth) what is good or euill for euery one, and wherein the man hath right or wrong in any point, whether it be in the state of his soule towards God,Most false. Vide responsum. or in the state of his bo­dy towardes the Magistrates of the world, and towardes one another.

The Examination.

AS earst for the manner: so heere haue we H. N. ex­tolled for the doctrine, and matter by him deliue­red.

But as afore, Against the doctrine of H. N. speaking to the purpose which heere they do, they say the seruice & writings of H. N. taught them all dutiful obedience towards God, & Magistrates &c. a­greeing therin with the holy Scriptures as they vnderstād thē, that is in that sense, and meaning, & none otherwise, which they giue of the Scriptures: so in this place they say of H. N. that hee doth onely shew in generall in his wri­tings, what is good or euill for euery one, and wherein the man hath right or wrong in any point &c. but it is not as the holy Scripture (in the natiue sense thereof, without the Families partiall interpretations and glosses) but as the vnpartiall (than which nothing is more partiall) ser­uice of Loue, requireth.

Wee cannot therefore well vnderstand, what is the godlinesse and iustice, which H. N. in his writings dooth promote, vnlesse we first know, what this their Seruice of [Page 36]Loue, heere mentioned, is.

The vnpartial Seruice of Loue in this place mentioned is the religion, principles, and spirituall exercises of H. N. or his illuminate Elders, in the Family of Loue. For the right conceiuing whereof we are to obserue how ac­cording to H. N. his doctrine, there be eight thorough-breakings (which is H. N. his word) or Reuelations of Goods true light vnto mankindes; H.N. Prouerbs Ch. §. 3.12. the first was to Adam, & held till Noe; the second from Noe till Abraham, the third from Abraham till Moses; the fourth from Moses till Samuel, Dauid, and Salomon; the first form them till Zorobabel; the sixt from Zorobabel till CHRIST; the se­uenth from CHRIST till H. N. in whose dayes the Lord, out of his mercifull loue, raised vp the gracious word, ac­cording to his promises, and elected H. N. thereto (if you will beliue him) for to minister the same vnder the obe­dience of his loue, to the erecting or restoring of his true sanctuarie, and of the true offering, and God seruice in the same.

Through which gracious word & H. N. God reuealed (sayth H. N.) the appearing of the comming of his Christ, and the newe day of his righteous iudgement,☞ as also the Flowing forth of his holy Spirit of loue, to the awaking & Rising vp of all his Holy-ones, out of the sleep to the glori­ous Lordlinesse with Iesus Christ, & to an euerlasting fast­standing kingdome of the godly Maiestie, vpon the ea [...], according to his promises.

Euen thus hath God declared (sayth H. N.) with H. N. the eight thorough-breaking of his true light, vpon the earth, wheein the Lord, the God of Heauen, restored the former kingdome with his garnishing, together with all that which God hath spoken frō the beginning of the world [Page 37]through the mouth of his holy Prophets,☜ and of the Euange­listes of his Christ: and the same eight thorough-breaking of the true light of God vpon the earth, is the newe day; to therenewing of the life, which God hath tofore appointed to reueile the same in the last time, for to iudge in the same the vniuersall Earth with righteousnesse, to the condem­nation of all the enimies of God and Christ, together with all the enemies of the godly life, and blasphemers of his ho­ly Spirit, and seruice of Loue; and to the erecting of his vp­right Sanctuarie, the seat of his Maiestie, and the vpright gouernment of his holy ones, vnder the obedience of his loue, vpon the earth, and also for to declare euen so vpon the earth, in the same true light of the newe or eight day, the mysteries of God and Christ, euen from the beginning of the world, till vnto the end. All these bee the verie words of H. N. touching his mysteries Ibid. §. 16.17.18.: the reuelati­on whereof by him vnto the elders, and by them vnto the yong ones in the Family, is by him called The seruice or ministration of the Loue.

Of which light and seruice, wonderfull things are be­leeued by the Family: I will onely cite a place, shewing their conceipt of the seruice here mentioned.

I foretell you assuredly (sayth Fidelitas) that the abho­minations of the wicked world (haue therefore a circum­spect consideration hereon, O ye children of men) shall break in among you, and ye shall likewise be vehemently assaul­ted therewith. Neuerthelesse if you holde you firmely to the requiring of the gracious word, and his Seruice of Loue: ye shall then be deliuered from the wicked assaul­tings which come against you, out of the Abhominations of the wicked world, and out of the falsehood of our Re­sisters, and inherit the Crowne of the eternall life, and [Page 38]the true anointing of the ioifull oyle of the holy Spirit of the Loue of Iesu Christ: and euen so find by experience that our God of Loue is the true God; and that we his obedient Cōmunaltie of the Loue, are his acceptable people, and that they also which bide estranged from the same God, as also remaine without vs and our Cōmunaltie, and without the requiring of the gracious word and his Serurce of Loue, or withdraw themselues therefrom, haue no liuing God, nor yet true God seruice: but are without God, and without God seruice in this world. For our God of Loue [...] the true liuing God, and besides him there is no God more, and his God seruice of Loue, which we minister, vnder the obedi­ence of his Loue; is the true safe-making God seruice, and besides the same there is not any God seruice more, neither in heauen nor yet in earth, Hitherto FidelitasDistinct. de­clar §. 1 c. 11..

From which place of H. N. and Fidelitas, note, Chri­stian Reader, that their words vnto his Marestie viz. that the writings of H. N. or seruice of Loue, further true re­ligion and godlinesse, are most false, and vttered either by some ignorants which know not what the Seruice of Loue meaneth; or of policie to bleare his Highnesse eyes, that hee should not perceaue the daunger of this pretended Loue Seruice.

Obserue, next, their opinion of this their Seruice of Loue, as that it is the true safe-making Gods seruice, be­sides which there is not any God seruice more, neither in heauen, nor yet in earth; and that whoso haue not this seruice, or withdraw themselues therefrom, haue no liuing God: and hence coniecture what their thoughts be, not onely of the Seruice of the Church of England, and all o­ther Christian Churches, but of the doctrine also in them professed, with all professors of Christianitie, igno­rant, [Page 39]and Aduersaries to H. N. and his newe Seruice.

Besides, it is not to be neglected, that the doctrine in the Seruice of Loue deliuered, by H. N. in these places is called, The newe day: The day of the gene­rall Resurrection: The day of iudgement, of the second comming of Christ; of the restoring of all things: of the fulfilling of all that which God hath spoken from the be­ginning of the world through the mouth of his holy Pro­phets, and the Euangelists of his Christ. All which plain­ly demonstrate H. N. his doctrine touching the generall resurrection; the day of iudgement: the second comming of Christ: euerlasting life; and finally the accomplishing of GODS promises, made vnto the Patriarches, Pro­phets, and Church from euerlasting (encluded in the writings of H.N. and so in the Seruice of Loue) to be most hereticall and damnable.

This considered, impudent, and shamelesse are these Familistes, that woulde beare the most religious Prince in hand, that the writings of H. N. and Seruice of Loue, make for the aduancement of godlinesse, and ho­nestie: when rightly examined, it ouerthroweth the very groundes and principles of true Religion, without which there can bee no sounde practise of honestie and iustice among men.

The Family of Loue.

TO the end that all people (when they heare, or read his writinges, and doe thereby perceaue their sinnes,The end of his writings. and estranging from GOD, and Christ, mought ende­uour them to bring forth the due fruictes of Repentance, [Page 40]which is reformation, and newenesse of life, according as all the holy Scriptures doe likewise require the same of e­uerie one; and that they mought in that sort, become saued through Iesus CHRIST, the onely Sauiour of all the world.

The Examination.

HEere reade wee the ende indeede of H. N. his wrightings, Against the end of H. N. his wrightings. viz. to inuite all men vnto repentance, and newenesse of life: and yet deserueth hee no praise at all (as the Familistes woulde make his High­nesse belieue hee dooth) for this exhortation of his. For what meaneth hee by Repentance, but that all men, not yet of his Family, should forsake or abiure the Religion, which they haue beene brought vp in, and vnlearne a­gaine whatsoeuer they haue taken on, and learned to themselues, out of the Scriptures, in the Christian assemblies, where GODS word is read, preached, and hearde? VVhat by newenesse of life? But that wee become young ones in the Family, or house of Loue? VVhat by saluation? but the state of a Fami­list; which is all pure; or of an Elder in the louely be­ing?

All people (sayth H. N.) are called, and friendly bid­den, through H. N. to the repentance for their sinnes, and to the house of the loue of Iesus Christ; the Rest of all the Saints or children of God;H.N. Cri voice c. 1. §. 1.

Let euery one leaue now his owne word, doctrine, and taken on knowledge, and also the word, the doctrine, and knowledge of al vnsent Preachers, and good-thinking wise, [Page 41]where-through yee are seduced &c. and come now all to this same Sanctuarie of GODIbid. c. 2. §. 5. meaning the house of Loue, called before, the Rest of all the Saints or children of God.

Come also now all, which, through your ignorant know­ledge, or misunderstanding, haue withdrawen your selues (sayth H. N.) from this same stoole of grace, and louely house of the Loue of Iesu Christ; and, from our Com­munalty, taken occasion of offence at our littlenesse or sim­plenes, & at the godly Testimonies of our sayings; and euen so made vp your selues, as Resisters, against vs, and our good doctrine, and exercises, or orders, separated your selues from vs, and growen to be bitter minded or displea­sed toward vs, together with all yee that haue mistrusted vs, also not belieued the holy word of the eternall truth, which, we through Gods grace, administer vnder the obe­dience of the Loue, but doubted therof &c. and repent you of your sinnes, to your sanctification, and to the health of your soulesIbid. §. 7..

On the other side (saith H. N.), All those which loue rather the darknes, that the Light; cleaue more vnto the world, and the worldly thinges, than vnto the gracious Worde in the Seruice of Loue; heare, be­lieue, and followe rather their good thinking, than the Testimonies of the holy Spirit of Loue, which are set forth and offered vnto them, by the Elders in the ho­ly Communaltie of Loue, out of the heauenly truth; and euen so waxe offended thereat, or hold them backe there­from, and resist the Seruice of Loue, Those shall all, if they turne them not to the Seruice of the Loue, nor re­pent them of their sinnes, become broken in pieces, and iustly beare their blame, or be punished, with the euer­lasting [Page 42]destruction, and bide captiued, for euer and euer, with the death and mortalitieH. N. Exhort. c. 14. §. 10..

Vnto this Repentance doth H. N. exhort.

This is the opinion, which H. N. had, and his dis­ciples and schollers haue of themselues, and their fauo­rers; they are all forsooth in the state of saluation, and cannot perish: but they who neither bee Familistes, nor wel-willers to their doctrine, exercises and orders, are all vnder the curse of God, like eternally to bee damned, vnlesse they alter their mindes, and re­nounce their faith and religion (thoughe grounded vppon the foundation of the Prophets and Apostles), because with H. N. the Diuell is their FatherSpirit. Land pres. §. 9., and they are the children of wrath, a cursed people coheires of the euerlasting fireIbid. §. 10., and shall bee cast into the bottom-lesse pit, into the fire of HellH. N. Pro­uerbs. c. 5. §. 15.: Then which conclusions nothing is more Hereticall, and accur­sed: and this was it, among other thinges, why his Maiestie tearmed these Familistes, Puritanes, and a most vile Secte, viz. euen because they deeme all the world besides themselues, to bee but abhomination in the sight of God.

Their H. N. speaketh much of Iesus Christ in his bookes: but in no one place that I coulde yet meete withall, dooth hee acknowledge Christ to bee eyther true GOD, or very man, at least not GOD and man in one person; but commonly with him hee is an allegoricall CHRIST, meant either by the Sabba­oth day, which the Lord commaunded to be alwayes had in remembrance H. N. Enang. cap. 13. §. 2. 2 Document-sent. c. 3. §. 4.; or by the Seruice or doc­trine of H. N. which also is CHRIST after the flesh Exhort. c. 14. §. 1., as hee vnderstandeth the Scriptures; or by the [Page 43]vertuous qualities, and Being in godly men Enang. c. 13. §. 16. 1. Exhort. c. 1 §. 24.25. ca. 20. §. 5.; or by the oldest Elder in the Familie, which sometimes was H. N. and is now one man, now another. Euang. c. 31. §. 12.14.16.

An obedient, and godly life, is Christ Iesus, saith the ExilePatterne of pres. Temps..

And so are men saued, by the doctrine of this Familie, either by their owne workes or vertues; or by their Ol­dest Elders; or by the doctrine of H: N: or Seruice of Loue, or by the holie Rest; but neuer by our Christ, ac­knowledged in the Church of England.

Thus haue yee the ende of H. N. his writinges; suitable certes vnto his method and doctrine, for which he is so renowned (but to their small comfort, and credit) among the Familistes.

The Familie of Loue.

NOtwithstanding, deare Soueraigne, yet hath the said Author, and his doctrine a lone time, and stillis,The Families complaint. most shamefully, and falsely slandered, by our foresaide aduersaries both in this Land, and in diuers others, as to be replenished with all manner of damnable errors, and filthie libertie of the flesh.

The Examination.

AFter a long, and lothsome narration, they come now to a new complaint, and that still on the be­halfe of their H. N. and his disciples.

It is not yet an hundred yeares, since the said author was borne; nor 60. yeares since his doctrine came first to light, and was broched; nor 50. yeares yet, since it ar­riued [Page 44]in this realme (a blessed thing had it beene for ma­ny a Christian soule, had either H. N. neuer breathed, or his doctrine neuer beene hatched).

But how many yeares soeuer haue passed since his o­pinions and mysteries came to light (if hitherto they bee all knowen); through the goodnesse of God yet, there is not one, of al the Churches Protestant, and reformed, that fauoureth, but all bid open and vtter defiance to H. N. his bookes, and errors.

H. N. himselfe in his life time much complai­ned, that all degrees in all Lands abhorred his wri­tingsH.N. 1. re­frein. §. 4..

In this Land both H.N. and his lothsome (which he calleth Louely) Familie of Loue, haue beene displaied once, confuted often, resisted alwayes: but shameful­ly, and falsely slandered, either by forraine, or home­writers, it was neuer that hetherto I could heare; and so must I thinke, till I see the extant writings against them, conuicted of vntruthes, and disproued as slan­derous.

That H.N. his bookes are replenished with dam­nable errors, it will be iustified; and hath alreadie in this examination, and else where beene manifested.

The Familie of Loue.

AND wee his wel-willers, and fauourers, in the vp­right drift of his doctrine (as aforesaid) haue also been by them complained on, and accused vnto our late gracious Soueraigne, & the Magistrates of this Land, both long time past, and nowe lately againe, as to bee a peo­ple so infected, and stained with all manner of detesta­ble [Page 45]wickednesse, and errors, that are not worthie to liue vpon the earth (but yet would neuer present any of his bookes vnto his Maiestie to peruse, nor yet set them forth in any indifferent, or true manner to the viewe of the world; least their malitious and slanderous reportes and accusations against the same, and vs, should there­by haue beene reuealed, and disproued to their great shame.

The Examniation.

NOw complaine they of iniuries offered to them­selues.

The verie drift of H.N. is to thwart, or discredit ra­ther whatsoeuer is taught in the Church of England, and else-where, from the letter of the holy Scriptures; and to bring in another Gospell, viz. after H. N.

Such as are the wil-willers and fauourers of H.N. in the said his drift (as the Familists here confesse themselues to be) not only deserue to bee complained vppon, and accused vnto authoritie, but to bee accursed of God and man (if they persist in their wicked course) as a peo­ple infected with most detestable wickednesse, and errors; and the verie plague, and bane of sound religion. And those men which haue acquainted authoritie with their errors, and impieties, haue done good seruice therin, and their bounden duties, both vnto God, his Church, and the State.

Whether any of H. H. his bookes haue beene pre­sented vnto our late most gratious Soueraigne (of aie blessed memorie) I cannot say; but I surely coniecture, that shee could not be ignorant of the contents of his [Page 46]writinges: when the Lords of her Counsaile (as afore hath beene declared) censured some of her house-hold seruants for abbetting H. N. and his detestable here­sies.

They which againe doe say that their aduersaries would neuer present any of H. N. his bookes vnto her Maiestie to peruse, say more then they can affirme, yea which is palpably vntrue. For, who abhorreth H. N. & his bookes or H.N. rather for his hereticall blasphemies, but euer were desirous that his said errors, contained in his books, might in his said bookes be read of her Maiestie; that by her authoritie the better they, and al such as fauour those bookes, containing such errors, might condignely be censured?

When these Familistes dare tell his Maiestie, that their aduersaries would neuer present H. N. his bookes, nor any of them vnto her Highnesse, it appeareth (they herein saying true) that she had alwayes about her some Familistes, or fauourers of that Sect, who alwaies related, or bare tidinges what was donne, or intended against them.

It is wished, that his nowe Maiesties Court were purged from such well willers and fauourers of H. N. in the maine drift of his hellish, & hereticall doctrine, where-with her Maiesties was but too-much reple­nished.

How H. N. his bookes by their aduersaries, haue beene set-forth, the worlde may iudge. 26. yeares haue they beene extant: a sufficient time for the Familie both to iustifie their H. N. and to discouer the malice & slan­derous reports of their accusers, if there were iust cause. Hitherto haue the Familistes beene silent, and yet are [Page 47]both confident in their wicked courses; & not ashamed to expresse so much before his most-Christian, and roy­all Maiestie.

The Familie of Loue.

THrough which their most-odious & false complaints against vs, the Magistrates did then,A new and odi­ous narration. and also haue now lately cast diuers of vs into prison, to our great hin­derance, and discredite: but yet haue neuer proued against vs, by sufficient and true testimonie, any one of their many foule accusations (as the records in such cases and the ma­gistrates that haue dealt therein can testific) but are so vtterly voide of due, and lawfull proofe thereof, that they haue framed diuers subtle Articles for vs (being plaine, and vnlearned men) to aunswere vpon our oath, whereby to vrge, and gather some things from our selues, so to approue their false, and vnchristian accusati­ons to be true, or else will force vs to renounce, recant, and condemne that which wee doe not wilfullie maintaine, nor iustifie (much like as it was practiced in the Pri­mitiue Church, against the Christians): yea they are not ashamed to laie their owne, and all other mens disobe­dient, and wicked actes (of what profession soeuer they be) vpon our backes, to the ende cunningly to pur­chase fauour, and credite to themselues, and to make vs seeme monstrous & detestable before the Magistrates, and the common people euerie where; for that wee, and the doctrine of H. N. mought (without any indifferent triall, and lawfull, or orderly proceeding, as hereto­fore hath beene vsed in the Christian Church in such cases, for confutinge and condemning of heresies) [Page 48]be vtterly rooted out of the Land: with diuers other most cruell practices, proceeding out of thei bitter and enuious hartes toward vs, tending to the same vnchri­stian, and mercilesse purpose, the which wee will here o­mit to speake of, because wee haue alreadie beene ouer­tedious vnto your Highnesse; most humblie crauing your most gratious pardon, and patience therein, in respect that wee speake to cleare our selues of such matter as may touch our liues and liberties (which are two of the chie­fest iewels that GOD hath giuen to mankinde in this world) and also for that we haue fewe friendes, or anie other meanes then this to acquaint your Highnesse with the truth, and state of our cause (whereof we thinke your Maiestie is altogether ignorant) but haue verie many eni­mies whom we doe greatly suspect will not be slacke to pro­secute their false, and malitious purpose against vs vnto your Highnesse, euen like as they haue accustomed to doe in times past vnto our late Soueraigne Queene: through which preuailing in thier slanderous defacing of us, & our cause, diuers of vs (for want of friendes to make it right­ly knowen vnto her Maiestie) haue sundrie times been con­strained to endure their iniurious dealinges toward vs, to our great vexation, and hinderance.

The Examination.

HEre haue wee an intricate, and long perplexed pe­riod deuoide of charitie, discretion, and truth; but full of gaule, odious comparisons, and vniust complai­nings; and that not only of priuate persons, their accusers whosoeuer, but euen of publike Magistrates, & their pro­ceedings, first and last, against this Familie, and all for [Page 49]their fauouring and wel-wishing to H. N. and his do­ctrine: which because it is fitter for the said Magistrates, her odiously traduced, to censure, and aunswere (whose doings against the Familists I am ignorāt of, and yet am perswaded haue alwaies beene both mild towards them and iust) I omitte, and commend the further considera­tion of this their hainous complaint vnto the supreme authoritie, and his Assistants, and delegats.

The Familie of Loue.

WHerefore, most gratious Soueraigne this is nowe,Their 1. Peti­tion. our humble suite vnto your Highnesse, that when your Kingly affaires of importance, which your Maie­stie hath nowe in hand shall bee well ouer-past, and finished (for the prosperous performance wherof, we will, as dutie bindeth vs, daiely pray vnto Almightie God) that then your Highnesse will be pleased (because we haue al­waies taken the same authors worke aforesaid to proceed out of the great grace, and loue of God, and Christes, ex­tended towards all Kings, Princes, Rulers, and people vp­on the vniuersall earth (as hee himselfe in many of his workes doth witnesse no lesse) to their saluation, vnitie, peace, and concord in the same godly Loue) to grant vs that fauour, at your Maiesties fitte, and conuenient time, to peruse the bookes your self, with an vnpartial eie, conferring thē with the holy Scriptures, wherein it see­meth by the bookes that are set-foorth vnder your High­nesse name that you haue had great trauaile, and are therefore the better able to iudge betwixt trueth and falsehoode: and wee will whensoeuer it shall please your Highnesse to appoint the time, and to [Page 50]command, and licence vs thereto) doe our best indeuour to procure so many of the bookes as we can out of Germa­nie (where they bee printed) to bee deliuered vnto your Maiestie, or such godly learned, and indifferent men, as it shall please your Maiestie to appoint.

And wee will also (vnder your Highnesse lawfull licence, and commaundement in that behalfe) doe our like indeuour to procure some of the learned men of that Countrie (if there bee any yet remaininge aliue, that were well acquainted with the author and his workes in his life time, and which likewise haue exerci­sed his workes euer since) to come ouer, and attend vpon your Maiestie, at your appointed time conuenient, who can much more sufficiently instruct, and resolue your Highnesse in anie vnusuall wordes, phraze, or mat­ter that may happilie seeme darke, and doubtfull vn­to your Maiestie, than any of vs in this your land are a­ble to do.

The Examination.

NOwe are wee come, at the length, vnto their Petition. The grounde whereof is a deepe, and heauenly conceipt which they haue of their H. N. and the worke by him vndertaken, for the saluation of man­kind.

Many are H.N. his prophecies of his good successe and future preuailing through out the world.

This same kingdome of peace, and of Loue (saith the said H. N. speaking of this Familie) shall, through the administration of the gratious word of the Lord, spread abroad and bid all people, to their preseruation, therunto; [Page 51]to the intent that all Kingdomes of the world should as­semble them to this one Kingdome of peace and of Loue, and that &c. to the ioy and saluation of all the children of men H. N. 1. ex­hort. c. 12. §. 40..

Againe: This same God seruice, this loue and louely being, and the sound or fame of the same shall breake in a­mong all nations of people, and let it selfe to be heard ouer all lands Ibid. c. 14. § 9.

Of all Prouinces, the first that receiued the Christian faith by publike allowance, was Britany Sabel. Aenei­ad. 7. lib. 5.. The first king christened, that we read of was Lucius K. of Britanie. And among Kings christened, if not the first, yet with the first, hee that expelled the Pope, and his courtes, was Henry the viij; and that rooted out all his detestable enormities out of his dominions, was Edward the vi. Kings of Eng­land. Oh what a cordiall ioy, and comfort would it be vnto this Family, that of all Prouinces, which shall fa­uour their Loue Seruice, Britanie would be the first, and to the glorie of his noble auncestors, that it might be ad­ded, how our most illustrious King IAMES was the first that supplanted the Scripture learning (brought in by King Lucius, and reestablished by great Henry and Ed­ward last mentioned) for the implanting of the Seruice of Loue, and H. N. his illusions, I should say illumina­tions! which that all Kings one day will implant, they haue no doubt; & that our King IAMES may of al be the first, is their heartie desire, & end of their instant perition.

Hence they humbly beseech his Maiestie to peruse the bookes of their H. N, himselfe, with an vnpartiall eye, as the principall meanes to make him a Familist, and a Mai­ster of that household of Loue, especially within his owne Realmes, and Dominions: which he vouchsafing to do, [Page 52]they promise by their best endeuour to procure his Ma­iesty so many of H. N. his bookes, as they can; and of such their illuminats, as they can heare of, euer inward with H. N. & his doctrine, & well exercised in his works, and per­fect in his tongue, words & phrases, and all out of Germa­ny. Which is a bold offer of theirs; and the more audaci­ous and gracelesse, because they confesse here his Ma. to be Scripture-learned, & we know him among Christian Princes, the chiefest Patrone of all men studious, and con­uersant in the Scriptures of God (which kind of men, of all others, these Familistes (cannot brook): which Scrip­tures, and Scripture-learned men, are most opposite, & euer haue beene, to H. N. his doctrine; and his doctrine, Seruice of Loue or secrets contrarie, nothing more, vnto the sayd Scriptures, and such learned men. For sayth H. N. (as hath afore beene alleadged, and is neuer by mee mentioned, but in detestation of the speech:) It is assu­redly all false and lyes, seducing, and deceitfull, that the vngodded, or vnilluminated Men, out of the imagination or riches of their owne knowledge, and of their learned­nesse of the Scriptures, bring foorth, institute, preach, and teach.

Besides, what a mockery is it, to beare his Highnesse in hand, that H. N. his workes and wrightings, rightly, and with an vnpartiall eye considered, are nothing dis­sonant from the Scriptures of God? knowing (vnlesse they credit him not herein) their oldest Elder, and chiefest Illuminate, H. N. vtterly, as false, and lyes, seducing and deceitfull, to condemne whatsoeuer is grounded vpon the same Scriptures of God.

The Family of Loue.

ANd so vpon such your Highnesse godly, aduised con­sultation, and censure thereupon (finding the same workes hereticall, or sedicious, and not agreeable to Gods holy word, and testimonies of all the Scriptures) to leaue them to take them, as your Maiesties lawes shall ther­in appoint vs; hauing no intent, nor meaning to contend, or resist there-against, howsoever it be, but dutifully to o­bey thereunto, according to the counsell of the Scriptures, and also of the sayd Authors workes.

The Examination.

VPon his Maiesties censuring of H. N. his doctrine, and vvrightinges, they promise obedience vnto his lawes, and proceedinges: which is conscionably they doe performe, then shall they shewe themselues to bee honest and good men. But the doctrine of dissimu­lation and temporizing is so often dispersed, and rise in H. N. his wrightinges; and the sayde workes of H. N. in all this their supplication, so magnified; and e­uen in this their verie petition, so expresly acknowled­ged to proceede euen out of the great grace, and loue of God, and Christ, extended towardes all Kings, Princes, Rulers, and people vpon the vniuersall earth to their sal­uation, &c. as it is to be feared, that what obedience so­euer they pretēd outwardly to his Maiesties lawes, iniunc­tions, & constitutions, their heart yet dissenteth from his, and all Religions else in the world differing from theirs; to which notwithstanding for quietnesse sake, they will [Page 54]not sticke perhaps outwardly to conforme themselues, wheresoeuer they reside, in Great Britanie, and Ireland to the Kings profession; in Spaine, at Rome, or elsewhere to the Romane superstition and idolatryPattern of the pres. Tēps. in externall matters alwayes following the stronger part, reseruing their hearts vnto their H. N. and his Seruice of Loue: as many Papistes doe vnto the Pope, according to the in­iunction in like cases, where they are too weake, Da mihi cor Fili, & sufficit. For our Familistes are Free men, and can walke in all freedome among all peopleH. N. Spir. Land. c. 41. § 6..

VVhat the religion is which his Maiestie dooth pro­fesse, and will resolutely, as Gods holy and onely truth, protect, is well knowne to his Highnesse Subiectes, yea to the whole WorldProclam. at Wilt. 27. Oc­tob. At Westm. 22. Feb. 5. March. At the parliam. 19. March. 163.. A Religion grounded vpon the Scriptures; aduersant to all humane inuentions, and spirituall, or diabolicall reuelations, and visions whatso­euer. Now put-case his Maiestie will not vouchsafe (as good hope is he will not) from his most serious & weigh­tie affaires of his kingdome, to steale opportunitie to sur­uaie the wrightings of H. N. yea, will neither reade them himselfe, nor yet, like Constantine the greatTripart. hist. lib. 2. c. 15., suffer his well meaning Subiectes, of weake capacities, to reade, yea nor to deteine such wrightings by them, as are oppo­site, contrary, or differing from the religion by himselfe professed, by Lawe established, and which truly embra­ced will bring men to saluation: will not our Family giue ouer their Loue Seruice, to serue God, as the King and his lawfull subiectes do, according to Gods word?

Their wordes before, that they neuer heard, nor knew any lawe established in this Realme against H. N. and his bookes: and their secret, and parlour meetings, and ad­ministration [Page 55]of their H. N. his Seruices, euen from the be­ginning almost of that blessed Queenes raigne (ELIZA­BETH of fresh, and honorable remembrance) doth plain­ly intimate, how it is neither the Kings owne writings, Proclamations, Actes, Statutes, Ecclesiasticall Ca­nons, and Constitutions, nor whatsoeuer else hee de­creeth for the ratification of one, and the same Reli­gion (and condemnation of all others, contrarie, or crossing the same) in his Realmes, and Dominions, that they regarde, or will yielde vnto, vntill his Highnesse, with good discretion hath read, and vpon sound aduise, disallowed and censured, as hereticall, seditious, or disso­nant from Gods holy word, the workes, and writings of their H. N.

For vpon such his Highnesse godly, aduised, & graue consultation and Censures, they promise to yielde, and leaue the workes, bookes, and wrightings of their doctor, H.N. but not afore.

The Family of Loue.

ANd our further humble sute vnto your Highnesse is,Their second Petition. that of your gracious fauour and clemencie, you will grant, and giue order vnto your Maiesties Officers in that behalf, that all of vs, your faithfull louing Subiects, which are now in prison in any part of this your Realme for the same cause, may be released vpon such bayle, or bonde, as we are able to giue; and that neither we, nor any of that company (behauing our selues orderly (and obediently vn­der your Highnesse Lawes) may be any further persecuted, or troubled therein, vntill such time as your Maiestie, and such godly, learned, and indifferent men of your clergie, [Page 56]as your Highnesse shall appoint thereto) shall haue aduised­ly consuited, and determined of the matter, whereby that we may not be vtterly wasted by the great charge of impri­sonment & persecution, and by the hard dealing of our ad­uersaries. For we are a people but fewe in number, and yet most of vs very poore in worldly wealth.

The Examination.

HIs Maiestie by good aduise, and counsell, hath rati­fied the Religion of his immediat Predecessor, cō ­prised in 39. Articles, agreed vpon by the whole Clergie of this Realme in a lawful assembly or Conuocation, hol­den Anno. 1562. Hee hath also published his directi­onsEccles. consti­tut. & can. an. 1604. how all, and euery his Subiects of England, pub­likely shall carry themselues, according to their religi­on in all places: If these Familistes therefore will professe the same religion with him, and his truly good Subiectes; if they also will frequent orderly the sacred Assemblies and Sacraments; if they will demeane themselues as it becommeth sober Christians, and laye aside all H. N. his erroneous and detestable writinges; if they will approoue the Seruice of the Church of England; and finally forsake their conuenticling, chaire preach­inges, and Seruices, administred among them by their illuminated, and codeified Elders, they neede feare no persecution, or trouble: otherwise why should they not feare the sword, when they will not be ordered by the word of God?

They say they are in number but fewe. But here­in they abuse his Maiesties royall eares and eyes.

It is well knowen howe twentie fiue yeares agoe the number of them was great, and they dispersed in diuers partes; as Surrey; Sussex; Middlesex, Bark-shire; Ham­shire; Essex; Ile of Eley; Cambridge-shire; Suffolke, Norfolk; in the North parts; and finally in most shires of this Realme. In those daies they did abound, & were gro­wen to such a number, as the displayer of the Secte deli­uered howe his heart did rue to speake that which one of the same societie did auouch to him for truth Display pref., Not a fewe Ministers of the simple sort were with H. N. his fancies entangled: nor the chiefest place of the Realme free from these men Ibid. E. 4. a.. Since, that they are diminished, I heare not; but them to bee hugely encreased, through rufull conniuence, I haue arguments to thinke: but that their encrease may be hindered, I hope authoritie will take order.

They say they are also poore, or the most of them: but if the booke of their names, called of them The booke of Life, could be seene, it would then appeare, I doubt not, that both the number of them is great, and most of them very rich.

It is further obserued, that those poore ones which suf­fer imprisonment any where for H. N. and his Seruice, are well maintained while they are in durance: which ar­gueth that good contributions among them are made for the supportation of their Secte, which cannot be perfor­med without good store of wealth.

The Family of Loue.

OSacred Prince, we humbly pray,Their Con­clusion. that the Almigh­tie will mooue your Princely heart with true iudge­ment [Page 58]to discerne betwixt the right & wrong of our cause, according to that most certaine, and Christian rule set downe by our Sauiour Christ vnto his disciples (Math. 7.12) Yee shall know the tree by his fruites; and in our obe­dience, peaceable, and honest liues, and conuersation to protect vs, and in our disobedience, and misdemeanor to punish vs as resisters of Gods ordinance, or the kingly au­thority, & most high office of iustice committed vnto your Maiestie to that purpose towards your subiects. Rom. 13.

The Examination.

THey woulde insinuate into his Maiesties heart how they are The good trees.

In their Courtly deuice, they say, that the onely diffe­rence betwixt them, and the learned Preachers (whom they take of all others to be their most capitall enemies) is, That what the said Preachers do say, The Familists de­sire to doe: as if they onely and none besides, had a desire to doe the will of God.

But what speake I of desiring to do Gods will? They do it indeed, and really perform it. For they cannot bring-foorth any thing else, but all good, and Loue Docum. sent. c. 2. §. 1.; no­thing is able to plucke them from the Word, nor to make them consent to any euill, or vanitie Ibid. c. 13. §. 5..

That which they know not in the death, is now appea­red vnto them in euerlasting Life. The death is nowe a­mong them swallowed vp in the death; the euerlasting Life is come vnto them in the Renewing of their Life. The Hell is iudged or condemned to the pit of Hell: The Heauen is shewed vnto them in the heauenly Being or forme Spir. Land. c. 44. §. 10.12..

They are come to the Rest of all the Holy ones and chil­dren of God; and euen so they eate of the wood of life which standeth in the middest of the pleasant garden, and liue eternally Ibid. c. 55. §. 9..

They are subiect to no Gods, nor lawes, or Ceremonies, but onely to the Lord their God, and to his most-holy Ser­uice of Loue. They are not likewise subiect in bondage vnto the Creatures, neither yet to any created thing, but only to the Creator &c. All their Life, Minde, and delight on­ly is in God, and God himselfe likewise, with his mind, Life, or Spirit, is in them: and they are euen so of one Con­formitie or substance with each other (namely God, and his people of peace Ibid. c. 40. §. 1.2.18..

There is no wickednesse, nor malicious Imaginations a­mong them, neither yet vision of euill Ibid. c. 33. §. 9.. Holie, & good, are pure are all their workes and thoughts Ibid. c. 34. §. 11..

They are Gods habitation 1. Exhort. c. 12. §. 38. c. 20. §. 7., the seale of Gods Maie­stie Proph. of the Spir. c. 7. §. 15.; God his Saints Ibid. c. 19. §. 14.; his acceptable people Fidel. decl. c. 4. §. 11.; the children of the kingdome Spir. land. pres. §. 7.; the holy Cittie of peace, the new Ierusalem descended from Heauen Ibid. §. 17.; the rest of all the Saints or children of GOD Cri. voice. cap. 1. §. 1.3.; the bodie of Christ Ibid. c. 3. §. 2.; one with GOD, and GOD one with them Spir land c. 36. §. 1.; they are risen from the death, with the Resurrection of the Righteous, in the euerlasting Life, and liue eternally Ibid. c. 37. §. 2..

Infinite such words, and places from themselues, and their H. N. might be alledged, or shewe the heauenly condition of these, aboue all other men: iustifying his Maiesties words altogether, that they are a vile Sect, thinking themselues onely pure, and in a manner (yea al­together many of them) without sinne, the onely true Church, and only worthy to be participant of the Sacra­ments; [Page 60]and all the rest of the world, to be but abhomina­tion in the sight of God: and so rightly, properly, and principally the most odious Puritans vnder the coape of Heauen.

The Almightie, and all-prouident God, which hath in­spired his Maiestie with the blessed gift of discerning spi­rits, enhable his Maiestie with spirit and vertue from a­boue, that hee may remoue these stumbling blockes, and causes of diuision if they will not repent, and both in heart and hand ioyne with his Church and people. For, hee beareth not the sword in vaine. Rom. 13.

The Familie of Loue.

AND gratious Soueraigne, wee humbly beseech your Highnesse, with Princely regard in equitie & fauour to pouder and grant the humble sute contained in this most lowely supplication of your loyall, true harted, faithful, & afflicted subiects; & to remember that your Maiestie, in your book of Princely, graue, & fatherly aduise to the happie Prince, your Royal Sonne, doth conclude, that Principis est parcere subiectis, & debellare superbos; and then to doubt, God will blesse your Highnesse, and all your noble off-spring with peace, long life, and all honors and happinesse, long to continue, and raigne ouer vs. For the which we will euer pray with incessant prayers to the Al­mightie.

The Examination.

HITHERTO in their Supplication, the Fami­listes haue quarrelled with his Maiestie for calling [Page 61]them Puritanes; they haue callenged his Highnesse of vntrueth, as vttering that in a publike writing against them, which neither himselfe is able to iustifie, nor any indifferent man, dare auouch; they confesse further they haue by them, and haue reade certaine bookes which the royall and supreame authoritie of this Realme hath prohibited them either to reade, or haue; they haue commended to the Starres that monster a­mong men H.N. both for his heauenly vocation, calling, Office, bookes, and writinges, which not onely all the learned and godly Prelates and Preachers, but the whole Church of England, yea all Churches Christian (as most impious and Antichristian) vtterly condemne; they haue intimated that neither his Maiestie, nor his people, vnlesse they submitte themselues vnto the Seruice of Loue, deuised by H. N. shall be saued; they haue en­ticed his Highnesse to read and peruse bookes both poy­sonfull and dangerous, they haue condemned all other men in this Realme, not siding with them, as cursed, and vnfruitefull trees; and all this willingly & studiously, pro­fessedly, and apparantly they haue done, the least of these crimes deseruing royall indignation in an hie degree. Now what doth our Familie? Craue they pardon meek­ly, at his Maiesties hands for these their offences, audaci­ously committed? Noe such thing; yea they pro­ceede in their disloyall course, boldely crauinge, though with humble wordes, yet with proud hearts, what they haue sued for, may readily bee graunted them.

Yea as earst, so here they both set out themselues, as submisse, and duetifull subiectes, condemning all o­thers, especially their aduersaries as proude, and wishing [Page 62]punishment vnto them, and aduancement with fauour vnto themselues; yea they let not to say how his Maiesty may feare great plagues to light vpon him, if hee punish them; but shall bee sure both hee and his po­steritie, of longe life, much prosperitie, and eternall happinesse, if he shewe fauour to the Familie of Loue, and their cause.

A gracelesse, and audacious companie.

The Familie of Loue.

MOst-gratious Soueraigne,Their Post­script. here followeth the briefe rehersall, and Confession of the Christian Beliefe and religion of the company that are named the Familie of Loue. Which (for the causes therein specified) was by them set out in print about that time whē they were first persecuted & imprisoned in this Realme for the same pro­fession, by their aforesaid aduersaries, and by meanes of their false accusations and complaints vnto the Magi­strates against them: the which we haue thought necessa­rie to present here with vnto your Maiestie, for that you may therby the better vnderstand of our innocent intent and profession whatsoeuer you shall heare reported to the contrarie by our enimies, or by any that be ignorant ther­of: humblie beseeching your Highnesse to vouchsafe to read the same, and with your vnpartiall and godly wise­dome to consider, and iudge of vs and our cause in equitie, and fauour accordinglie, till your Maiestie shall haue fur­ther true intelligence thereof.

The Examination.

THe confession here mentioned, and tendered, (as they saie) I neuer sawe: yet haue I heard well there­of. It was published in the yeare of our Lord. 1575.

That so long ago, or since, the Familie of Loue, were persecuted, and imprisoned for the same Confession, or professing the same, is both an egregious vn­truth, a slander of the State, and a false informa­tion.

It is obserued concerning H. N. that, for the pro­pagating of his Loue Seruice, hee hath bookes of sundry natures, and sorts; some for Nouices, & wel-willing ones, and some for the elder sort, grown into the manly vnder­standing of the Familie mysteries.

Of the former be N. N. his Instructions of the vpright Faith, and christian Baptisme; his Crying voice; his First exhortation, and such like, which may bee confessed a­mong the adulterous, and sinnefull generation, and the false hearts of the Scripture learned H. N. 1. Ex­hort. c. 6. §. 5.7.8.9..

The latter sort containe the Loue secretes or priuie mysteries communicable only with such as are come vn­to the manly age, and haue Beards H. N. Prou. c. 21. § 1., and sit vpon the seates of the Elders, or wise, and daiely heare the secret mysteries of all matters Ibid. §. 2..

Yee shall not talke of your Secrets (either yet vtter your mysteries) openly, or nakedly (saith H. N. vnto these Familists) in the hearing of your young children, and disciples; but spare them not (saith hee) in the Eares, or hearing of the Elders, which can vnderstand the same, and are able to beare, or away with the sound thereof. For [Page 64]it is giuen to the Elders to vnderstand the priuie my­steries of the wise, and to expounde their para­bles Ibid. c. 22. §. 15..

So these Companions, this Familie of Loue, they haue among them good bookes after the Scripture learning, common with vs, and agreeable to the religi­on professed by his Maiestie, and ratified by the lawes of this Realme; and they haue also the workes, and bookes of H. N. Elidad, Fidelitas, and other Familie Elders, vn­dermining the found and Christian doctrine comprised in the Confession mentioned. This Confession of theirs, or ours rather, they waus about (which worde H. N. vseth, in scorne of our Confessions and religion)Spirit. land. cap. 5. §. 5., as Children doe their Banners, when they are at play; but H. N. and their Familie Elders books are they which they only studie, read at their meetings, delight in, and practice.

Besides which both Confession of ours, and bookes of H. N. and such Illuminates: they haue their Con­uenticles, verball traditions, vnwritten or vnprinted verities, and priuate exercices, through which they growe vp in the Loue, according to the Requiring of her Seruice Elidads exhort. § 5., where all things needfull to be knowen, or declared, are alwaies, according to the capacitie of their vnderstanding, brought and declared vnto thē Ibid. §. 17.; viz. vnto the young or newborne Children, according to their yongnesse; vnto the weake, according to their weakenesse; vnto the stronge vp-growing Men, according to their ha­bilitie or strength; and vnto the Elders, according to their Dayednes, or olde age Ibid. §. 18. where neither some heart All, nor all heare some secrets or priuie mysteries of their Sect.

It is not for the confession here spoken of: it is for H. N. and other Familie books which they detaine by them, and studie, and for their vnlawfull Loue exercises and meetinges, that they are troubled: let them leaue, burne, or deface these bookes of H. N. and cleaue vnto this Confession, and then without farther molestation, im­prisonment, or persecution, they may enioy the be­nefites, and liberties of his Maiesties good subiects: which that they may doe, is mine hartie desire and prayer vnto Almightie GOD.