many others which I haue before in the ninth Chapter shewed not to be ancient and consequently hereticall because they are new and aftercome into the Church 7 Againe The corrupt and rotten fruits of Romish doctrine when I considered further the second way to iudge of false prophets by the Church of Rome as Stapleton teacheth by the proper fruits of their doctrine I found also by this way the fruits of Romane teachers to be most corrupt and rotten issuing forth of their doctrine for what proceedeth from their dogmaticall teaching the lawfulnesse of the Stewes tolleration but too vnrefrained a licence and liberty of sinning to all that are loosely affected What greater incentiue to sin can there be for lasciuious persons then assurance of place and persons where conueniencie and consent may assuredly bee expected Or what greater occasion to yong persons prodigally to spend their temporall substance and ruine their soules then grant of such open passage to si◠What can more encourage poore minds to be dishonest then permission to get themselues liuings by dishonestie As also what can more demonstrate the Popes couetousnes and insatiable auarice then the permission of such offenders paying yearely tribute vnto him for the free exercise of all filthie abominations Againe what proceedeth from the prohibition of Priests marriage but infinite and almost innumerable sinnes against nature as bestialitie Sodomie vnnaturall euacuations Incest adulterie fornication sacriledges and a thousand other abominations which abound in the present Church of Rome whilest that lawfull wedlocke and honorable bed which Saint Paul calleth vndefiled may not be permitted nor commended without imputation of incontinencie sacrilege and filthy pollution which is truely the doctrine of Diuells as Saint Paul termeth it I omit to speake how many virgins haue beene defloured how many matrons dishonoured how many monastcries peruerted how many good husbands wronged how many widdowes abused how many wilfull abortments how many slaughters of children and other foule abominations committed by vnmarried Priests therefore though chastitie and single life are both highly commendable and profitable to him that hath the gift to liue so yet the restraint thereof hath more disgraced the Church of God then almost any one point whatsoeuer making euen sacred things to appeare to the world deformed and full of such blemishes as wil neuer be taken away I haue obserued further also that the doctrine of pardons for the release of temporall paines due to finnes either in this life or in Purgatory annexed vnto graines meddals crosses rings and the like paltry things which is a doctrine most currant in the Church of Rome doth serue for the root offpring of much couetousnes and auarice of much losse of time vnprofitably of simony in selling Masses which are counted sacred things for money of neglecting to pray for the liuing while so many dirges masses funerals trentals and Aniuersaries are said for the dead without fruit or profit nay how farre did Pope Gregorie Lipeloo in vita Greg. Mag. stiled the Great proceed in the vanitie of this doctrine whilest he praied not for deceased Christians only but for a damned Pagan who as it is fabulously writtē in his life and hath passed currant these many hundred years deliuered the soule of Traian the Emperour out of hell fire by his praiers which hath hitherto beene obtruded vnto the Christian world for an especial fauor shewed by God vnto that Pope which shall neuer be shewed vnto any other Be not these goodly illusions of the world most abominable abuses of religion growne vp in the Church of Rome enameled with zealous and charitable pretences whilest such tales must set forth this Popes worth and be beleeued and the holy Scriptures teaching no remission after this life must not be of any credit at all I haue noted many euil branches to rise out also frō another root of their doctrine which cōfisteth in teaching men to pray to Saints how much Gods glory thereby is takē from him is apparent to any man of experience trauel who hath seen obserued how much the outward solemnities of Saints daies do excell the solemnities of Sundaies which are the feasts of the Son of God that hath obserued many more Churches dedicated to thē then to God himself that hath noted the ordinary common praier of lay-men to be called our Ladies office whilest they haue none at all made in honor of the holy Trinity or of the Father or the Son only a short one they haue in honor of the holy ghost another of the crosse yet not free from superstition idolatry whilst they pray Officium sanctae crucis ad Mat. By the signe of the cresse to be deliuered from their enemies whilest they attribute the victory Christ got vpon the crosse to the crosse it self saying O victory of the crosse and admirable signe cause vs to hold our triumph in the heauenly court Againe Antipho By a tree we were made bond-mē by the holy crosse we are set free The fruit of the tree seduced vs the Sonne of God redeemed vs. And againe O blessed crosse c. sweet wood sweet nailes c. Antipho ad noc Againe O venerable crosse which hast brought saluation to wretches by what praise shall I extoll thee for that thou hast prepared vnto vs thy heauenly life Againe speaking to Christ By thy holy crosse thou hast redeemed the world c. Al which in my iudgement seemed very derogatory to Gods glory as tēding to a diuine worship of the creature for the Son of God And thus in their excessiue deuotions to Saints and creatures they haue little feeling or vnderstanding of the true loue and deuotion they should feele and shew to their Creator 8 When moreouer I consider how the Church of Rome freeth the Clergie from true obedience to temporall Princes Other instāces of the corrupt fruits of Romish doctrine by their immunity it pretēdeth they enioy euen by Gods law and great priuiledges freeing frō ciuil courts gouernment I find here an open gap made to al busie heads tumultuous spirits to say thinke do what they list against the sacred authority of Kings and Princes confirmed by God himselfe But withal when I adde the doctrine now so much taught in the Church of Rome by her false prophets viz. that the Pope hath power and ecclesiasticall authoritie from God for the good of the Church to depose Emperours Kings and Princes from their regal dignities kingdomes in the execution whereof the Pope himselfe as the head of Christianity wil be the chiefe iudge commander in his owne cause I find al the wals defences of security for Kings shaken to the ground and doores let open to the wicked intentions designmēts of factious spirits to plot against Kings and to subuert kingdomes with liberty of conscience free from all scruple or remorse Hence and from no other spring ariseth so much contempt in the
I find that men of farther reach obseruing the successe of the intended powder-treason following soone after haue obserued that that letter which master Blackwell should haue spread amongst Catholikes was but a cloake of the secret designement of the powder-day to take away all apprehension of danger in the state whereof it is probably thought that both the Pope and father Aquauiua were either expressely or circumstantially made acquainted with that businesse nay moreouer my selfe strongly vrging against one the vnlawfulnes of the powder-designement he wished me to be silent for it was more then probable that the Pope knew well thereof and in speaking against it I should but cause the Iesuites to disaffect me and doe my selfe no good Hereupon I grew silent and thought the more then of such horrible hypocrisie for that some reported that both the Pope and Cardinals had spoken publikely against it which me thought could not hang well together without some intollerable hypocrisie especially considering that Greenway by the Pope was not only suffered to liue in Rome but also exalted euen before the Popes face to the dignitie of being one of his Penitentiaries appointed publikly to heare cōfessions in S. Peters Church in Rome and Gerard likewise suffered to liue quietly in Flanders without checke or controule by any man who made such deep protestations to one master Buckland Priest vpon his saluation that he had no wayes notice of the powder-designement that as I heard the said master Buckland say either he must needs beleeue him to affirme a truth or else that he was as great an hypocrite and dissembler as euer liued in the world So like are the followers of the Romane Church to the first kind of the Pharisies hypocrisie in pretending outward holinesse whilest in their hearts they harbour most detestable vnrighteousnesse Therefore well did Saint Bernard describe Hypocrites saying that they were Mordaces vt canes dolosi vt vulpes superbi vt leones they are biting like dogges they are guilefull like foxes they are proud like lions for such will suffer no mans reputation to be vntoucht but will teare it with their spitefull teeth they are craftie as foxes which teare in peeces the sheepe of the best wooll and as proud as lions for that they contemne all disgrace all without regard to any mans person or dignitie 5 Secondly The second kind of Romish hypocrisie I haue also obserued the second kind of the Pharisies hypocrisie to be very abundant in the Church of Rome which consisteth in a preposterous and defectiue outward holines breeding scrupulosity in trifles and largenes of conscience in matters of more moment As for example I find that for violating their custome obseruation vpon fasting-dayes many will bee exceedingly scandalized but giue no shew of scandale-taking at the most wicked example of the powder-treason or the traytors thereof but rather by their silence seeme willing to approue it to lament only the misfortune of their desired successe Others there are that will controule and checke any rash iudgement euen in trifles in others who themselues without scruple or knowledge or iudgment wil not stick to lay the imputation of the powder-treason vpon Protestants themselues who should by Machiuillian complotments be the first contriuers of it to draw Papists vnto it thereby to make them the more odious to the world Againe the Church of Rome forbiddeth Priests to be married which is lawfull by the law of God and whereas mariages betwixt kindred in the degrees of affinity are prohibited by the law of God they suffer and permit dispencing with mens consciences therein as for example that one brother may marry his brothers wife which was allowed in this kingdom by the Pope that the neece may marry her vncle which hath bin granted but to mean persons euen of late yeeres in Hamp-shire by authoritie granted from the Pope What cā be more preposterous thē to make a law which God neuer made in liew therof to disanull an institution which God hath made Besides the Popes thēselues suffer some of the Clergie to professe external pouertie as the poore Capuchins whilest themselues and others liue in all pompe iollity and pleasure vsing all coulors of holines to enrich thēselues and to draw treasures out of al coūtries to fill the Exchequer of S. Peter withall Who sees not most plainly that many deluded soules whilest for the grant of indulgences yearely to this Church and that Church they pay round summes of money into the Romane offices they grow negligent in seeking pardon from God and so neuer obtain truly pardon for their sins what shall I say of their preposterous zeale in keeping holidaies I often noted that the daies appointed in memory of Saints are much more solemnely kept then Sonday which is the feast of their Lord and Master in stead of one prayer to the Father or to the holy Ghost or the blessed Trinity the childrē of that Church do say many either to the virgin Mary or to S. Francis S. Benet Beatus Ignatius or some other Saint to whom they are most peculiarly addicted By all which examples I obserue the Church of Rome much also to exceed in this preposterous hypocrisie and externall holinesse without any order or rule 6 Thirdly The third kind of Romane hypocrisie I haue further entred into a deepe consideration of the third kind of Pharisaicall hypocrisie which consisteth more in words than in deedes more in shaddow than in truth Which I find without measure to abound likewise in the church of Rome For the Pope himself in words caries the stile of Seruus seruorum Dei the seruant of the seruants of God which is but meerely verball for in effect his actions are all noted with pride carrying the shew of Lord or Emperour rather than of a Seruant Auent Annal. lib. 7. who as one writeth Dominus dominantium perde ac si Deus foret esse contendit he striueth to be the lord of rulers in as if he were God and who seeth not this to be true that considereth his challenge of soueraignetie euen in temporalls ouer all Emperors and Kings of the world that beholdeth him carried vpon mens shoulpers that know how hee maketh all Princes but his vassals to be depriued of their kingdomes and all dignities whensoeuer he thinketh it expedient propter finem spiritualem for a spirituall end that is for the good of the Church that hath seene him attended vpon by the whole Colledge of Cardinalles whose intollerable prie was such that a King of Fraunce finding him inexorable in the cause of Fredericke Math. Paris in Henr. 3. His Maiesties speech in the Parliament Recessit iratus indignans quod humilitatem quam sperauerat in seruo seruorum minimè reperisset hee went away angrie and scorning not to finde the humilitie he hoped for in the seruant of seruants wel therfore may his Maiestie term him for such his pride as he doth That
they giue testimonie of mee What good will all your sufferings doe you what your dangers what your imprisonments what your temporall wants or abundance what your louing frinds or well affected kindred towards you what I say will all this auaile you if your dectrine bee vnsound euen in point of Faith and what a miserable calamitie is it which you bring your followers vnto who for cleaning to your erroneous doctrines must hazard their temporall estates and fortunes must begger their Families vndoe their Posterities and which is worst must damne their soules for professing the vsurped authoritie and transcendencie of an ambitious Pope and other nouelties through your encouragements Looke well therefore to the cause of your sufferings and doctrines for Christ saith Blessed are they that suffer for iustice sake Math. 5. ver 10. for theirs is the Kingdome of heauen therefore if you suffer for iniustice as for superstition for idolatrie for heresies for disalleageance to God and your Princes as you doe I may truely say that not a Kingdome but the bottomelesse pit of hell will come to your share and lot since you want the garment of truth in doctrine with handes and feete bound you will in the end if you turne not from your wicked waies bee cast into exteriour darkenesse where you shall bee vexed with most hideous howling and gnashing of teeth my desire I haue of your conuersions makes mee to say vnto you Iere. 6. vers 16. State super vias videte Stand yee on the waies and see And to ingeminate the same Counsell State super vias videte Stand yee on the waies and see For the way of the wicked is darkesome Prou. 4. vers 16. Prou. 14. ver 12. they know not where they fall and the Scripture telleth there is a way which seemeth right vnto a man but the issues thereof leade vnto death Out of which it hath pleased the goodnesse of God so to draw mee that I may say his holy Spirit hath brought mee into the right Land Psal 142. ver 11 and to such a right way of truth to walke in wherein I finde more comfort than euer I did in my whole life before in the Pâ—pacie by the Seruice and Sacraments of the Church of England so that for my perseuerance therein from my heart I pray to God with King Dauid O God hold vp my steppes in thy paths Psal 17. v. 5. that my footsteps slip not 4. Now it is most behoofefull also that I speake vnto you all Recusants falsely styling your selues Catholikes An aduise to all Romish Catholikes that as I heartily loue your persons and wish well vnto your soules I may giue you good testimonie thereof by admonishing you not to be blindly led by others to the ouerthrow of your states in this world and eternall damnation of your soules in the next desiring you in the tender bowels of Christ Iesus that since God hath made me a spectacle vnto you of his singular mercie not to be so foolishly besotted and ignorantly seduced as not to make your aduantage by my obseruations which doubtlesse God hath helped me in as well for your example and benefit as for the manifestation of his owne goodnesse Be not I beseech you ouer-credulous in easily beleeuing euery thing that vnaduisedly your Teachers shall suggest vnto you but examine their Doctrines according to the rule Doctor Stapleton prescribeth vnto you spoken of in my eleuenth chapter num 3.4.5 that is by considering the fruits of your Teachers and whether the doctrine they teach you be conformable to the doctrine of former times generally receiued and taught in the Primitiue Church beleeue not all they say of the Preachers of the Church of England whom they often most notoriously traduce with most false calumniations as namely I heard an auncient Priest in the Vniuersitie of Louaine some few yeares since report of the death of Bishop Iuell Bishop Iuell calumniated affirming that he trauelling here in England was taken with a suddaine sicknesse and so compelled to light in a house where Doctor Harding had vsed sometimes to lodge in and growing worse and worse hee was forced to betake himselfe to a bed where his paines encreasing by the iust iudgement of God because Master Doctor Harding had often layen there before he grew into desperate fits crying out Doctor Harding Doctor Harding and wishing he had neuer set penne to paper against him and so died as a man in despaire in Doctor Hardings bed This was told as a remarkable matter against him for the reproofe of his doctrine and magnifying of Master Harding which I am informed by credible men to be most vntrue and false Therefore I say vnto you againe deere Christians be not ouer-credulous but beware of false Prophets who haue their consciences so seared that they regard not how falsely they speake so they may any way traduce the credit and reputation of their aduersaries amongst you charging both Caluin and Luther and other true Conuertites of Iesus with such things as are not to be named most iniuriously but no maruell when otherwise they cannot defend their cause Againe let me obtaine so much of you as to bee frequent in reading the Word of God which although it haue many difficult things in it yet for so much as belongs to faith and manners necessarie for euery man to know it is easie and facile If you will haue an infallible rule by which you may know the Shepheards which like good sheepe you ought to follow remember that Christ said In hoc cognoscent quod discipuli mei sitis si charitatem habueritis ad inuicem In this men shall knowe that you are my Disciples if you haue charitie one towards the other Now whether you finde this mutuall charitie amongst your or our Clergie either in doctrine or manners I leaue to your owne iudgements to consider And as for my selfe such as haue beene acquainted with me if they will say truly I am sure that my conuersation amongst them hath alwaies since my Priesthood beene such as cannot bee toucht with any kind of disorder my zeale in the blindnesse of that faith as forward as others to the small portion of Talent which God hath bestowed vpon me making me as readie by day and by night to draw men to the Romish faith as any mans either by preaching or other labours with as great sinceritie as possibly might be No man can charge me of mercenarie couetousnesse for making a Monopole of any of you for mine owne profit or the wrong of others hauing alwaies beene as readie to giue as to take carrying in minde that of Saint Hierome saying Epist ad Nouatianum Ignominia est omnium sacerdotum proprijs studere diuitiis It is a reproach of all Priests to studie to enrich themselues Therefore I haue neuer repined that others should gaine the profit of my paines or gather the fruit of my labours Had I