[the Archbishops Notes for a Homily Against Rebellion Sentences of the Scripture against Sedition
1. Cor. n. Cum sit inter vos zelus et contentio, nonne carnales estis, et sicut aot. ambulatis?
1. Cor. vi Quare non magis injuriam, accipitis? Quare mon magis fraudem Jac. ii. Θὲ zelum amarum habetis, et contentiones sint in cordibus vestris, est ista sapientia desursum descendens a Patre luminum, sed terrena, animalis, diabolica. Ubi enim zelus et contentio, ibi inconstantia et omne opus malum, &c. [Quo desursum est sapientia, primum quidem pudica est, deinde pacifica, modesta, suadibilis, Fructus autem justitie in pace seminatur facientibus pacem. ]
Jac. iv. Unde bella et lites inter vos? Nonne ex concupiscentiis vestris, qua tant in membris vestris?
How God hath plagued sedition in time past
Numb. xvi^ Dathan and Abiram, for their sedition against Moses and Aaron, miserably perish by God’s just judgment, the earth opening and swallowing them quick. 2 Reg. [Samuel] xv. and xviii. Absalom, moving sedition against David, miserably perish likewise. 2 Reg. [Samuel] xx. Seba for his sedition against David lost his head. 3 Reg. [1 Kings] i. and ii. Adonias also for his sedition against Solomon slain. Acts viii. Judas and Theudas for their sedition were justly slain. Acts xxi. An Egyptian likewise, which moved the people of Israel to sedition, received that he deserved. Tumults in England. Jack Cade. Jack Straw. In Germany for their sedition were slain almost in one month about two hundred thousand. The sword by God’s word pertaineth not to subjects, but only to magistrates. Though the magistrates be evil, and very tyrants against the commonwealth, enemies to Christ’s religion; yet the subjects must obey in all worldly things, Christians do under the Turk, and ought so to do, so long as he commandeth them against God. How ungodly then it is? for our subjects to take the sword, where there reigneth most christian prince, most desirous to reform all griefs!
[! “The archbishop procured sermons to be prayer followeth.A fter this follow some made against the rebellion;” one was made by Peter draughts, written by archbishop Cranmer’s Martyr, and another written by M. Bucer against hand, for the composing, as 1 suppose, of an the sedition; and “an office of fasting was com- or homilies to be used for the office aforesaid.” posed for this rebellion, which, being allayed in the Strype’s Mem. of Cranmer, Vol. I. pp. 266, west, grew more formidable in Norfolk and York- [? Opus pravum, C. C. C. C. MS.] shire. For I find a prayer composed by the arch- [? This passage is not in Strype.] bishop, with these words preceding: The exhorta- [4 In vobis, C. C. €. C. MS.] tion to penance, or the supplication may end with [^ Num. 18. Strype.] this or some other like prayer And then the [^ Ungodly is it then, C. C. C. C. MS.]
Vid. end of Sermon concerning time of Rebellion, 202
Subjects ought to make humble suit to their prince for reformation of all injuries, and not to come with force.
The sword of the subjects at this present cometh not of God, nor for the commonweal of the realm; but of the devil, and destroyeth the commonweal.
First, For that it is against the word of God.
Secondly, For that they raise so many lies; whereof the devil is ever the author. Quia mendax est et pater ejus.
Thirdly, For that they spoil and rob men, and command every man to come to them, and to send to them what they please.
Fourthly, For that they let the harvest, which is the chief sustentation of our life, and God of his goodness hath sent it abundantly; and they by their folly do cause it to be lost and abandoned.
Fifthly, For that they be led by rage and fury, without reason; have no respect? neither of the king’s authority^; nor of the papists in the west country; nor of our affairs in France, nor Scotland; which by their sedition is so much hindered, that there could not be imagined so great a damage to the realm. Sixthly, That they give commandments in the king’s name, and in pain of death, having none authority so to do. Ever against God the devil hath raised sedition. As appeareth by the sedition of Dathan and Abiram; and all the murmurations of the children of Israel against Moses and Aaron. Also, of the conspiracy? against Zorobabel in the re-edifying of the temple. Also, against Christ and his apostles, in sundry parts of the world. Also, in Germany lately, and now among us. For the devil can abide no right reformation in religion.
Civil war is the greatest scourge that can be, and most certain argument of God’s indignation against us for our ingratitude; that we either will not receive his true word, or that they which receive the same dishonour God in their living, when they pretend to honour him with their mouths. Which ingratitude and contumely God can in no wise bear at our hands.
The remedies to avert God’s indignation from us is to receive his word, and to live according thereunto, returning unto God with prayer and penance. Or else surely more grievous affliction shall follow, if more grievous may be than civil war among ourselves.
The chief authors of all these tumults be idle and naughty people, which nothing have, nor nothing or little will labour to have; that will riot in expending, but not labour in getting.
And these tumults first were excitated by the papists and others which came from the western camp, to the intent, that by sowing division among ourselves we should not be able to impeach them ”
[7 Having no respect, Ibid. ] Wymondham, in Norfolk, and Norwich, headed by [? King’s minority, Ibid.] Ket, the tanner. Vid. Burnet’s Hist. of Reformat. [? Of the conspiracies, Ibid.] Vol. II. pp. 242, 3. Ed. Oxon. 1829.] [9 The allusion is probably to the rebellion at]
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