conclude these my Motiues about their idle rules of faith the Christian Reader who is carefull of his owne saluation and giueth obedient eare to that propheticall light of Gods sacred Scriptures expounded by the ancient Church which Scriptures Saint Peter n 2. Pet. 1. preferreth aboue that vision which he and his brethren had of Christ in mount Thabor he cannot but easily obserue what consequences are likely to follow out of three such corrupt Rules of faith as are in request amongst the Pontificians to wit infallibility solely and onely in the Popes definitiue iudgement authority of Apophricall Scriptures and the vaine authority of their traditions pretended to be Apostolicall where as they are nothing lesse The aduersary will for the validitie of these rules stand vpon the authority of their present Romane Church which hath receiued them of which their defence conformably to all antiquitie and ancient Fathers who taught otherwise we must also conformably to their proceedings search out of Gods word whether the Church of which they bragge so much be the true Church Succession in Sees onely will not suffice as by their owne confession is manifest in the Churches of Antioch Alexandria Constantinople c. but there is required also successioÌ„ in doctrine according to Gods word by which triall must be made of all Churches and of all doctrines and all after-traditions to which if they be not agreeable without perill of damnation they must not be receiued and this is the most expresse doctrine and faith of Saint Austen in o August lib. 1. de doctrina Christiana cap. 37. lib. de unitate Ecclesi cap. 2. but cap. 16. so clearly that I do suppose no Pontifician Priest dare scarce read that Chapter to his family sundrie places yea of Bellarmine p Bellarm. lib. 2. de verbo doi cap. 2. Basil serm de fide himselfe though as it may be thought he not very willingly confesseth this truth Other means saith he may deceiue but nothing is more certaine then the Scripture and therefore by confession of all both ancient and moderne writers the triall by Gods word is most firme and assured The fourth Motiue THe fourth Motiue and that very effectuall The fourth Motiue with me is that transcendent power both in all temporals and spirituals which later Popes contrary to Christs institution and practise of holy Primitiue Popes challenge and which the Romane Canonists and Cardinals ouer-liberal of that wherwith they haue nothing to doe doe flatteringly thrust vpon their Romane Monarches In spirituals he challengeth and they grant vnto him to be the onely supreme and immediate Pastor ouer Christs flocke so that looke how ample and immediate Christs iurisdiction for saluation of soules was so is his he glorieth in that title and they giue it him which q Greg lib. 4. epist 38. S. Gregory so much detested as the very badge of Antichrist he will in the gouernment of Christs flocke haue no Peere nor Colleage He is content to be honoured with that title yea and aboue that ambitious title the which Constantius the Arian required for he was content with numen nostrum our power or diuinitie but the Pope can willingly acept of supremum in terris numen the supreme and highest diuinitie or power vpon earth O ye heauens be astonished and euerlasting gates be desolated the pretended only Vicar of Christ the successor in some sort of that poore fisher who r Act 3. gloried in that he had neither gold nor siluer must heare and that from renowned * Proesat ad Grego 13. in principia doctri Stapletons mouth the Spanish kings professor in Louane the English Pontificians chiefe champion thus thy supreme diuinity vpon earth iust God how more iustly may we lament with those words of Saint Gregory against Iohn of Constantinople for his extraordinary fasting surnamed Ieiunator the faster f Grego lib. 4. â—p 38. O alasse all things that haue beene forespoken are come to passe the King of pride is at hand and that which is a wickednesse to be spoken a whole Army of priests is prepared for him because those serue the proud necke of elation and pride who haue beene set to giue example of meekenesse and humility Thus that Father in those times when the mysterie of iniquity began to worke most apparantly in the Patriarke of Constantinople but appeared more clearly in one of his next Successors to wit Boniface 3 who emulating the Constantinopolitan Patriarks for their pride obteined of Phocas that hatefull and traiterous vsurper rather then Emperour to decree by constitution that the title of Vniuersall Bishop should for euer after belong and be giuen only to the Bishops of Rome this is a matter vndoubted of by auncient t Sabel Aenead â— lib. 6. Platin. in Bonifac. 3. Otho lib. 5. Paulus de gostis Longobard Marianus anno Dom. 608. Duerenus de sacris Ecclesioe ministris lib. 1. cap 10 Abbas in Phoca poene emnis aly Sigebert Regino Luitpran Anasta Baron annal ad annum 606. Historians and yet perchance this Boniface did not assume by that title so much vnto him as these latter Popes doe to wit to be immediate pastors of all the whole Church comprehending all Partriarkes Bishops c or that there is no power nor iurisdiction in any Prelate or Pastor of the Church whatsoeuer which is not dependantly from them and of them so that they can and may peremptorily call to their court all causes greater or smaller and according to course of law or otherwise finally and * Iudicare c. to iudge and decree whether it be necessary to depose a Prince belongeth to the Pope of whose iudgement whether it be right or not no man may iudge Bellar. contra Barck ca. 12. vnappellably ende and determine them and if any either Emperour Prince Prelate or Vniuersity would offer to appeale from any of their sentences though most exorbitant and tirannicall they should thereby deserue to bee cursed with Bell Booke and Candle I cannot thinke that in Bonifaces time the Romane Bishops were growne to that height of Antichristian pride that was left for later times when the Diuell was to be let loose after the thousand yeeres of his binding Notwithstanding he challenged by Phocas his constitution to be only called vniuersall Bishop of the Church against which title Saint Gregory so vehemently and Christianly exclaimeth in u Greg lib 4. ep 32. 34. 38. 39. diuers Epistles testifying and demonstrating most plainly that that Antichristian title robbeth all Bishops of their honour and maketh that the Assumer thereof should bee reputed Antichrist This being so in this Auncient Father how durst D. Stapleton x Staple principi doctr lib. 6. cap. 7. that renowned Professour of diuinity endeuour to make Saint Gregory speake against himselfe in this very epistle and out of him labour to proue the present Romane supremacy and Monarchy which that Father so much
Psal 1. meditating in Gods holy Scriptures and aboue all by conseruing his soule c Jacob. 1. 2. Pet. 3. Luk. 8 Matth. 3 impolluted from alliniquity of sinne and the contagion of al worldly desires and solicitudes by exercising d 2. Ad Corint 9 chearefully plentifullie all charitable offices to all such as are in affliction and necessity by keeping his bodie e 1. Ad Thess 4 a cleare vessell from all impurity and impudicity and his tongue from all scurrill f Ad Ephes 5 Ad Rom. 13 and vnseemely speeches seriously to endeauour to make g 2. Pet. 2 sure his vocation and to h 1. Pet. 2. stop the mouthes of such who in respect that some of the reformed Churches especially of the Clergy liue not conformably to their doctrine do blaspheme the sacred Truth of Christs immaculate Gospell I haue seene much into the liues of the Aduerse part the which although I find to bee more impure auaricious proud vncharitable then euer I could haue imagined yet that is not the cause why I left them but the impurities abominations and superstitious impertinencies of their doctrines worships laws and customes which my soule hateth assuring it selfe that if I should still continue in communion with them I could haue no part with Christ my Sauiour to whom for hauing most mercifully i 2. Ad Corint 5. reconciled mee to his Father in himselfe bee onely and alonely with his Father and the holie Ghost Honour and Glorie for euer Amen Yours in Christ Iesus R. S. The Contents of this booke of MOTIVES THe Preface shewing the first occasions inducements and maner of the Authors conuersion The diuision of the Motiues 1. Into Motiues out of the Pontificious Erroneous Doctrines 2. Out of their dangerous and wicked Lawes 3. Out of certaine obseruations touching the dangerous Spirits of sundrie Chiefe English Romanists Page 1. Motiues of Doctrine FIrst Motiue touching Doctrine is out of the Pontifician vnsound rule of Faith to wit the Popes sole Iudgement defining ex Cathedra out of the Chaire as Pastor of the Church Pag. 2. Second Motiue is out of another rule of their faith to wit Apocriphall Scriptures Pag. 27. Third Motiue is out of their most Idle rule of Faith traditions as they doe pretend them Pag. 31. Fourth Motiue is out of the vsurped transcendent power of Popes in Temporals and Spirituals Pag. 41. Fifth Motiue is out of the most Superstitious Romane Doctrine for the Adoration and worshipping of Images Pag. 69. Sixth Motiue is out of diuers obseruations touching sundry superstitious fooleries contradictions and impertinences of the Romane Masse Pag. 86. Seuenth Motiue is out of their most vaine and intollerable Doctrines and abuses touching Indulgences Pag. 119. Eight Motiue is out of their irreligious Doctrine against the vse of the publike Liturgies and Church seruices in knowen tongues pag. 128. Ninth Motiue briefly toucheth their most vnchristian Doctrine of Aequiuocation pag. 137. Tenth Motiue briefly taxeth their tyrannicall denying of Indifferent Reading of holy Scriptures in the vulgar tongues pag. 140. Concerning their wicked Customes and Lawes the Author toucheth onelie a few FIrst the wicked custome and Law by which their Popes strictly forbid that there be any publike commemoration in their Masses for the conuersion of any Infidels Heretikes or excommunicated persons c. or for the temporall prosperity and safety of Soueraignes being by them reputed Heretikes pag. 144. Second hypocriticall law and custome touching their fastings and daies of fasting pag. 148. Third most impure permissiue law for their houses of prostitution euen in Rome it selfe not without great gaine to the Popes Coffers pag. 151. Fourth most vnchristian law that in case of no extremity the venerable Sacrament may bee celebrated without their Massing vestiments altarstones c. and such like humane deuises and institutions pag. 152. Fifth most iniurious law by the which the Laity contrary to the Institution of Christ and practise of all antiquity is debarred of the cup in the most holy and dreadfull Sacrament pag. 153. Sixth vnchristian law is the necessary annexing of the vow of Chastity to all their greater holy orders by occasion of which law the vile impurities of the Romane Cougregation are growne innumerable and inexpressible pag. 154. Touching certaine obseruations out of the Pontifician Spirits FIrst the Author discouereth by diuers notable particulars the disloiall and vnnaturall Spirits of the Ignatian Cheefetaines of the English in the maner of their preaching and their propagation of the Romane Gospell in England pag. 1. alpha 2. Secondly he sheweth in diuers particulars how they doe most shamefully calumniate the Church of England for her Doctrines and her publike Liturgie pag. 13. alpha 2. Thirdly hee sheweth how generally all Pontificians denie consent of Ancient Fathers being produced against diuers points of their nouell Doctrines pag. 20. Fourthly he sheweth how the younger Ignatians doe imitate the vnnaturall and disloiall Spirits of the old pag. 24. In the Conclusion he sheweth more largely both out of Scriptures and Fathers that the Church of Rome notwithstanding her visibility and Conspicuity may Iustly and in respect of her corruptions necessarily ought to be forsaken pag. 32. THE NOVELL AND HERETICALL Rule of the Romane FAITH Diuision of the Motiues THE Sauiour of mankind who hath vouchsafed to illustrate the eyes of him who sate in darkenesse and in the shadowe of death to know his truth will also I hope vouchsafe so to confort him that hee may rather conuert some then confound any of those who call themselues true Iewes and Catholikes which they are not but are indeede only the Synagogues and Congregations of the Bishops of Rome who in a Dictatus Greg. 7. apud Baron anno 1175. As Bell. admitteth Papa properly signifieth a Father that begetteth children and therfore all begotten of him and to him are denominated of him Papists Gregorie the V 11. did first of all by decree assume vnto themselues excluding all other Priests and Bishops from that name Papa the name of Fathers of the whole Church to wit to be only called Papae from which name all their children by denomination are called Papists rather then from Christ Christians which Papae Fathers also somewhat before that time at that time and now also doe peremptorily challenge to bee the only Vniuersall Catholike and immediate Pastours and Fathers of all who do b Ad Rom. 10. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a greek preposition signifieth properly as much as the Latine preposition pro for so taken Math. 17. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and Math. 20. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and in composition it signifieth properly for insteed as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 In some words of composition it signifieth also opposition as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Yea and in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it is also in such a signification to be indifferētly vsed according to the naturall signification of the word inuocate the name of
the holy Scriptures it is most cleere that married Priestes and Bishops were permitted to vse their wines and also to performe all Church-offices so cleare this truth is in Saint Paul a 1. Ad Timoth. 3. to Timothie that he taketh order how the wife and children of such persons are to be ordered And who is so ignorant a Dâ—uine as not to know b Valentia de celibatu cap. 2. Thâ—◠〈◊〉 2. 2. q. 88. Durand lib. 4. dist 34. 37. alij Scholastic communiter ibidem Solus de iure iustitia lib. â— Petrus â Soto in institut sacerdot lâ—ct 5. Alphonsus â Castâ—o aduersus heres verbo sacerdot Azor. institut lib. 13. cap. 12. that with Valentia the Ignatian Diuine all the chiefest Pontifician Diuines do acknowledge that the Law and Vow of chastitie is onely annexed to Priesthood and holy Orders by mans law to wit by the lawes of some Roman Popes by their Sinodicall constitutions at most and that Christ and his Apostles appointed nothing therin I haue often maruelled how Popâ—s who haue bene so liberall to dispense in all Church lawes in all maner of Vowes and Oathes yea and with Laicks most often in the vowes of Chastity either c Thomas is Aquin. 2. 2. q. 88. art 10. ad 3. Azor. lib. 6. cap. 1. Tom 1. Theolog. omnes communiter for some great good to the parties who had vowed or sworne or to remoue some euill from them or else for some spiritual good or temperall profit to others or to remoue some occasion of spirituall or temporall euill and hurt or else in respect of impotency or vnablenes to keep the Vows yea who haue dispensed daily dispense with promises and oathes of fidelity made to princes other thirde Persons will not for the soules healths of some of their polluted Bishops and Priests to remoue so generall Vniuersal a scandall from their Church dispense with all such of their Cleargy who by their owne confessions and experience of the whole world are so farre from beeing continent that they doe like impure horses hinnire neigh after the Wiues and Daughters of their Diocesians and Parishioneâ—s I doe heere constantly and Christianly affirme that it were more tollerable and more agreeing to the vse of the most pure Sacraments that all Priests and Bishops in the World being dispensed withall or otherwise freed should marry and vse marriage then that one onely incestuous sinne or Sodomiticall impurity by occasion of the Law of Chastity d This my discourse falleth if there bee sin in mariage as the ancient Encratites and Tatians held otherwise it is inuincible for doubtles dispensation must bee graunted when otherwise sin throgh impotency caÌ„not be auoided See Abbas in c. câ— olim de clericis coniugat Sotus lib. 7. de iustit q. 6. art 2 Good old Azor lib. 12 cap. 13. granteth that for temporall peace the vow of chastitie may be dispensed withall as though the remouing of sinne were not a greater cause for dispensation in any cause whatsoeuer should bee committed For as in the first secluding the Law of Chastity ordeined only by Authority of some Roman Bishops not expresly instituted by God there should be no sinne so in the other there is sinne inexcusablie which in malice because insinite surpasseth all the good of Chastity because finite that may be in all other Priests Had it not beene better that the impure Venetian Abbot whose excesses in soliciting of matrones that worthy state would haue corrected if the Pope would haue giuen them leaue should haue beene dispensed withall to haue married rather then to haue beene by his most impure conuersation part of that scandall by which the whole Christian world had like to haue fallen into a most dreadefull commotion Had it not beene farre better for the Legat Cardinall of Cremona his soule and more for Romes honor that he shold haue bin dispensed withal and haue brought a wife with him rather then hee should the same night after that day in which he most bitterly had inueâ—ghed against the Marriage of Priests be found in bed with a common strompet as e Math. Paris in Henri 1. ad ann 1125. Huntingd. Westmonast Flores ad cundem annum Mathew of Paris with others condently deliuer had it not beene farre better for the Honour of the Apostolike See that Iohn the 12. should haue dispensed with himselfe and haue had one lawfull wife rather then to haue kept three infamous strompets Stephana Anna Raynera as Luitprandus f Luitprand Tic. lib. 6. cap. 6. et c. 7. Onuphrius in Annotat. in platinam in Iohan. affirmeth and accusing him also to haue committed many other most impure villanies What should I mention any thing of Pope Sergius Iohn the 8. Iohn the 20. the 22. Alexander the 6 and diuers other most impure Popes c. But what care these Pharisees how impure and filthy that of the dish is within so that they may be thought at lest to vow chastity and to haue wils to be chast and pure I thought not to name any particulars concerning this point in any liuing but seeing the Ignatians are so holy that they wil casâ— off al such faults vpon others as though they desired not so much as any conuersation with women and yet who bee they that now giue first entertainment to the gallant women at Saint Omers who those that dayly conuerse with them bee they not Ignatians I will deliuer heere one certaine thing which happened pardon me curteous Reader if I abuse thy patience with relating of it in their famous Dowist Vniuersitie and one of their Ignatian Schooles and by an Ignatian also who was * Witnesses M. I. S. M. T. S. and M. W. C. obserued by Persons of worthy credit often to pollute himselfe most shamefully in the open schooles yea so apparantly that it was thought the Reader could not but obserue it the like is testified and prooued of another in the same Schooles but he was no Ignatian and the like I saw of another in the Diuinity Schoole of Rome but he was no Ignatian but vnder their Gouernment onely But what doe I insist to inueigh against their wicked Lawe promiscuously binding all that take Orders whether they haue the gift of continency or otherwise not to marry they will doubtlesse obiect to me that I long after Marriage they may Calumniate me at their pleasure how I haue conuersed it is well knowne euen amongst many Modest Chast very worthy and worshipfull Gentlewomen and I heere protest before God that I neuer found a more reall sincere detestation against all carnal thoughts and molestations or any desires of that kind then at this present I doe yet I esteeme it farre more meet and agreeing to Christs institution and the Holy Apostles doctrine for any whatsoeuer he bee rather to Marry then to burn yea so much as to haue any least vnlawfull oâ—