100 LIVES OF THE PURITANS. danger of the statute of 35 Eliz. " To retain the queen's subjects in their due obedience." In this paper, he pro- fessedly acquits himself on the following grounds : 1. He had only inquired of the prelates and ministers, whether her majesty, with the consent of parliament, might not abolish the present prelacy and ministry of the church, and transfer their revenues and possessions to her own civil uses, as her father, Henry VIII., did with abbots, monks, and others, and their livings. 2. His writings are only in defence of such doctrines of Christ as are against the canonical function of the pope, and were professed by the holy martyrs of Christ, accounted lollardy and heresy : as, for instance, John Wickliffe held, that archbishops, bishops, archdeacons, officials, deans, &c. were disciples of antichrist. 3. If the statute of 35 Eliz. be against such writings and books as reprove the ecclesiastical ministry and government of archbishops, bishops, archdeacons, deans, &c. then the writing and the printing of the confessionsof the reformed churches of Helvetia, Tigur, Geneva, &c. wherein they write, that archprelates, metropolitans, archpriests, deans, subdeans, and others of the same kind, pass not a rush. And the confessions of the reformed French and Belgick churches say, that the church ought to be governed by pastors, elders, and deacons, as Christ bath appointed. 4. In his writings, he hath proved his assertions by the word of God, whichher majesty protesteth and defendeth ; and they are written in defence of the liberty and privilege of the church of Christ, which the great charter of England granteth and preserveth inviolable. 5. If all who forsake the communion of the established church, be in danger of this statute ; then anyone forsaking the church, and joining the French, Dutch, or Italian churches, allowed by her majesty in London, Norwich, or Sandwich, would also incur the penalty of this statute. 6. He never maliciously persuaded any to abstain from the church, much less to deny, withstand, or impugn her majesty's authority. 7. He never did, obstinately, and without lawful cause, but upon conscience, grounded upon the word of God, and approved by the confessions of the reformed churches, and the faithful servants and martyrs of Christ, refuse to hear, and have communion with the ministry of the church as now established.
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