THE KINGDOM APPERTAINETH TO OUR GOD.

Wonder it is that amongst so many pregnant wits as the Isle of Great Britain hath produced, so many godly and zealous preachers as England did sometime nourish, and amongst so many learned and men of grave judgment as this day by Jezebel are exiled, none is found so stout of courage, so faithful to God, nor loving to their native country, that they dare admonish the inhabitants of that Isle how abominable before God is the Empire or Rule of a wicked woman, yea of a traitoress and bastard; and what a people or nation left destitute of a lawful head may do by the authority of God’s word in electing and appointing common rulers and magistrates. That isle (alas), for the contempt and horrible abuse of God’s mercies offered, and for the shameful revolting to Satan from Christ Jesus and from his Gospel once professed, doth justly merit to be left in the hands of their own counsel, and so to come to confusion and bondage of strangers. But yet I fear that this universal negligence of such as sometimes were esteemed watchmen shall rather aggravate our former ingratitude than excuse this, our universal and ungodly silence in so weighty a matter.

We see our country set forth for a prey to foreign nations; we hear the blood of our brethren, the members of Christ Jesus, most cruelly to be shed; and the monstrous empire of a cruel woman (the secret counsel of God excepted) we know to be the only occasion of all these miseries: and yet with silence we pass the time as though the matter did nothing appertain to us. But the contrary examples of the ancient prophets move me to doubt of this our deeds.

For Israel did universally decline from God by embracing idolatry under Jeroboam,^[1] in which they did continue even unto the destruction of their commonwealth. And Judah, with Jerusalem, did follow the vile superstition and open iniquity of Samaria;^[2] but yet ceased not the prophets of God to admonish the one and the other, yea, even after God had poured forth his plagues upon them.^[3] For Jeremiah did write to the captives of Babylon and correct their errors, plainly instructing them who did remain in the midst of that idolatrous nation. Ezekiel, from the midst of his brethren, prisoners in Chaldea, did write his vision to those that were in Jerusalem; and sharply rebuking their vices, assured them that they should not escape the vengeance of God, by reason of their abominations committed.^[4]

The same prophets, for comfort of the afflicted and chosen saints of God who did lie hid amongst the reprobate of that age (as commonly doth the corn amongst the chaff), did prophesy and before speak the changes of kingdoms, the punishments of tyrants, and the vengeance which God would execute upon the oppressors of his people.^[5][6][7] The same did Daniel and the rest of the prophets, every one in their season; by whose examples and by the plain precept, which is given to Ezekiel, commanding him that he shall say to the wicked, “Thou shalt die the death,”^[8] we, in this our miserable age, are bound to admonish the world and the tyrants thereof of their sudden destruction; to assure them, and to cry unto them, whether they wish to hear or not^[9] that the blood of the saints, which by them is shed, continually crieth and craveth vengeance in the presence of the Lord of hosts.^[10]

And further it is our duty to open the truth revealed unto us unto the ignorant and blind world, unless to our own condemnation we wish to wrap up and hide the talent committed to our charge. I am assured that God hath revealed to some in this our age that it is more than a monster in nature that a woman shall reign and have empire above man. And yet with us all there is such silence as if God therewith were nothing offended.

Answers to the Objections

The natural man, enemy to God, shall find, I know, many causes why no such doctrine ought to be published in these our dangerous days.

• First, that it may seem to tend to sedition:
• Secondarily, it shall be dangerous, not only to the writer or publisher, but also to all such as shall read the writings or favor this truth spoken: and
• Last, it shall not amend the chief offenders: partly because it shall never come to their ears, and partly because they will not be admonished in such cases.

I answer, if any of these be a sufficient reason that a truth known shall be concealed, then were the ancient prophets of God very fools, who did not better provide for their own quietness than to hazard their lives for rebuking of vices and for the opening of such crimes as were not known to the world. And Christ Jesus did injury to his Apostles, commanding them to preach repentance and remission of sins in his name to every realm and nation. And Paul did not understand his own liberty when he cried, woe be to me if I preach not the Evangel:^[11] if fear, I say, of persecution, of slander, or of any inconvenience before named, might have excused and discharged the servants of God from plainly rebuking the sins of the world;^[12][13][14] just cause had every one of them to have ceased from their office. For suddenly their doctrine was accused by terms of sedition, of new learning, and of treason: persecution and vehement trouble did shortly come upon the professors with the preachers: kings, princes and worldly rulers did conspire against God and against his anointed Christ Jesus.^[15][16] But what? Did any of these move the prophets and Apostles to faint in their vocation? No. But by the resistance which the devil made to them by his subordinates were they the more inflamed to publish the truth revealed unto them, and to witness with their blood that grievous condemnation and God’s heavy vengeance should follow the proud contempt of graces offered. The fidelity, bold courage, and constancy of those that are passed before us ought to provoke us to follow their footsteps, unless we look for another kingdom than Christ hath promised to such as persevere in profession of his name to the end.

If any think that the empire of women is not of such importance that for the suppressing of the same any man is bound to hazard his life, I answer that to suppress it is in the hand of God alone. But to utter the impiety and abomination of the same, I say it is the duty of every true messenger of God to whom the truth is revealed in that behalf. For the especial duty of God’s messengers is to preach repentance, to admonish the offenders of their offenses, and to say to the wicked, thou shalt die the death, except thou repent. This, I trust, will no man deny to be the proper office of all God’s messengers, to preach (as I have said) repentance and remission of sins. But neither can be done except the conscience of the offenders be accused and convicted of transgression. For how shall any man repent, not knowing wherein he hath offended? And where no repentance is found, there can be no entry to grace. And therefore I say that of necessity it is that this monstrous empire of women (which amongst all enormities that this day do abound upon the face of the whole earth is most detestable and damnable) be openly revealed and plainly declared to the world, to the end that some may repent and be saved. And thus far to the first sort.

To such as think that it will be long before such doctrine come to the ears of the chief offenders, I answer that the verity of God is of that nature that at one time or another it will purchase to itself audience. It is an odor and smell that cannot be suppressed; yea, it is a trumpet that will sound in despite of the adversary. It will compel the very enemies, to their own confusion, to testify and bear witness of it. For I find that the prophecy and preaching of Elisha was declared in the hall of the king of Syria by the servants and flatterers of the same wicked king, making mention that Elisha declared to the king of Israel whatsoever the said king of Syria spoke in his most secret chamber.^[17] And the wondrous works of Jesus Christ were notified to Herod,^[18] not in any great praise or commendation of his doctrine, but rather to signify that Christ called that tyrant a fox:^[19] and that he did no more regard his authority than did John the Baptist, whom Herod before had beheaded for the liberty of his tongue. But whether the bearers of the rumors and tidings were favorers of Christ or flatterers of the tyrant, certain it is that the fame, as well of Christ’s doctrine as of his works, came to the ears of Herod: even so may the sound of our weak trumpet, by the support of some wind (blow it from the south or blow it from the north, it is no matter) come to the ears of the chief offenders. But whether it do or not, yet dare we not cease to blow as God will give strength.^[20] For we are debtors to more than princes, to wit, to the multitude of our brethren, of whom no doubt a great number have heretofore offended by error and ignorance, giving their suffrages, consent and help to establish women in their kingdoms and empires, not understanding how abominable, odious and detestable is all such usurped authority in the presence of God. And therefore must the truth be plainly spoken, that the simple and rude multitude may be admonished.

And as concerning the danger which may hereof ensue, I am not altogether so brutish and insensible but that I have laid my account what the finishing of the work may cost me for my own part. First, I am not ignorant how difficult and dangerous it is to speak against a common error, especially when the ambitious minds of men and women are called to the obedience of God’s simple commandment. For to the most part of men, lawful and godly appeareth whatsoever antiquity hath received. And secondarily, I look to have my adversaries not only of the ignorant multitude, but also of the wise, politic, and quiet spirits of this world, so that as well shall such as ought to maintain the truth and verity of God become enemies to me in this case as shall the princes and ambitious persons who to maintain their unjust tyranny do always study to suppress the same. And thus I am most certainly persuaded that my labor shall not escape reprehension of many. But because I remember that accounts of the talents received must be made to him who neither respecteth the multitude, neither yet approveth the wisdom, policy, peace, nor antiquity concluding or determining anything against his eternal will revealed to us in his most blessed word; I am compelled to cover my eyes, and shut up my ears, that I neither see the multitude that shall withstand me in this matter, neither that I shall hear the taunts, nor consider the dangers which I may incur for uttering the same. I shall be called foolish, curious, despiteful, and a sower of sedition: and one day perchance (although now I be nameless) I may be attainted of treason.

But seeing that impossible it is but that either I shall offend God, daily calling to my conscience that I ought to manifest the verity known, or else that I shall displease the world for doing the same, I have determined to obey God, notwithstanding that the world shall rage thereat. I know that the world offended (by God’s permission) may kill the body, but God’s majesty offended hath power to punish body and soul forever. His majesty is offended when his precepts are scorned and his threatenings esteemed to be of none effect. And amongst his manifold precepts given to his prophets, and amongst his threatenings, none is more vehement, than is that which is pronounced to Ezekiel in these words:

Son of man, I have appointed thee a watchman to the house of Israel,
that thou shouldest hear from my mouth the word,
and that thou mayest admonish them plainly,
when I shall say to the wicked man:
O wicked, thou shalt assuredly die.
Then if thou shalt not speak,
that thou mayest plainly admonish him,
that he may leave his wicked way,
the wicked man shall die in his iniquity,
but his blood will I require of thy hand.
But and if thou shalt plainly admonish the wicked man,
and yet he shall not turn from his way,
such a one shall die in his iniquity,
but thou hast delivered thy soul. –Ezekiel 33:17-19

This precept, I say, with the threatening annexed, together with the rest that is spoken in the same chapter–not to Ezekiel only, but to everyone whom God placeth watchman over his people and flock (and watchman are they whose eyes he doth open, and whose conscience he pricks to admonish the ungodly)–compels me to utter my conscience in this matter, notwithstanding that the whole world should be offended with me for so doing. If any wonder why I do conceal my name, let him be assured that the fear of corporeal punishment is neither the only, nor the chief cause. My purpose is thrice to blow the trumpet in the same matter, if God so permit: twice I intend to do it without name, but at the last blast, to take the blame upon myself, that all others may be purged.