parliament there are seauen things mentioned to weaken and empouirish the state of the land The Pope was not content with his subsidie of Peter pence but exacteth most greeuous contributions more and more of the cleargie and that without the kings consent and assent the Patrons cannot giue the benefices but they are wrested out of their hands and giuen to Romains who know not our language and by transporting of money greatly empouerish our land by prouisions in pensions by triall of causes they are drawen out of the kingdome by apostolical authoritie against the statutes and lawes of the Realme by manifolde comming of that infamous messenger Non obstante by whom the reuerence of an oth the auncient customes the vertue of Scriptures the authoritie of graunts and the statutes lawes and priuiledges are weakened and made void c. c Pag. 932. Also they caused the prelates to find them souldiers some ten some fiue some fifteen well furnished with horse armor and that one whole yeere d Pag. 484. 485 They haue had such extreame exactions of paiments that they haue been faine to sell or to lay to pawne their chalices and other holy vessels to feed the popes desires e Pag. 303. Also he exacted the fift part of all the goods of the reuenues of the cleargie of Englande f Pag. 1145. The Bishop of Lincolne being astonished at the coueteousnes of the Romains caused the reuenues of strangers to be counted and found that they had 70000. markes when the meere reuenues of the king was not esteemed to the third part And that which of all is most past shame and coulour of honestie a Pag. 1017. the pope sent for his factors certaine friers dominickes and minorites who preaching among the people and proclaiming pardons did signe with the crosse all sorts of people men women children old yong sick whole and by and by after for a peece of money did absolue thē of the vow of their peregrination Thus you see that the church of Rome had many waies to draw out the wealth of all the world into their coffers and keepe the kings and people in low estate great slauerie For which cause as other nations had their sanctions which they called Pragmaticke so a Polnd Verg. hist Angl. lib. 14. Edw. 3. Falshood in Poperie by dispensations England garded themselues with the law of prouision commonly called de Praemuniri Touching falshood this Romish religion is thereof naturally such a nurse that no common wealth can promise themselues safetie where that heresie raigneth or where it can come neere to haue any medling for if they maintaine all traitors against magistrates and by dispensations make men shamelesse in forswearing and breaking promise what thinke you is the domage of all Christian kingdomes or what is the priuiledge of the popish kingdomes Let b Looke the booke called Execution of iustice printed 1583. E. Meteranus hist Belg. lib. 3. pag. 83. Pope Pius Quintus bull sent against our Queenes most excellent Maiestie to stirre vp all her subiectes against her and the manifold practises out of Italie Spaine from time to time against both Ireland and England testifie yea the c Mercuri Gallob lib. 4. 8000. foot 4000. horsmē supplies which he sent of soldiers to helpe the Duke du Meine and the traitors of France against their liege Lord and king as also d Id. lib. 2. with mutabilitie of France printed at London 1597. cap. 25. the murderous and bloudie knife of Iames Clement of the order of the Dominicke friers being blessed for good speed by Pagorola the Popes legate wherewith the late French * Henricus Valesius King being a Papiste was traiterously killed by the conspiracie and instigation of many and great popish traitors may be instead of a thousand witnesses a Hist Belg. E. Meteran lib. 3. pag. 81. Duke Alba 1569. by a publike edict forbiddeth trafficke in the low countries vnto English men that no man vnder paine of confiscation bring in or out merchandise and that it might be the more sharply executed he appointed searchers and informers who should haue the one halfe of that which was confiscated Now all these were English fugitiues papistes and amongst them the chiefest one William Parkins had Doctor Storie for his deputie marke heere what witnesse this is that papistes are naturally traitors most sharpe against there natiue countrie of England by the very nature of their religion And beside this b Mercurius Gallobelg lib. 4. pag. 344. their seminaries are erected at Rome and at Rhemes and at Vallesoletum in Spain out of which the traiterous priests and Iesuites are sent by dosens in diuers and disgised attire to seduce the Queenes Maiesties subiects from their obedience and to disturbe the peace of this Realme Yet see a little further how this naturall popish falshood in dispensations hath hurt the verie obedient children c Albert Krant Metropol lib. 2 cap. 23. Lewes the third being Emperor warred against one Aldalgisus which was of the remnant of the Lombards and by ambush being taken was bound by oath neuer to beare armes against him any more From this oath Iohn the 8. absolued Lewes who being caught againe in like manner for the same cause lost his eies and in his absence in Italie the Hungarians wasted Bauaria Sueuia Saxonia and caried a verie great multitude of people captiue especially out of Saxonia An other time the a Aeneas Syluius hist de Europ cap. 5. Hungarians being Christians hauing a goodly victory against the Turkes graunted to a truce of tenne yeares vpon the Turkes suite and vpon the knowledge of their owne strength finding it better to get strength in peace then to waste all by continuall warre and this truce was confirmed by oath on both sides But the Pope Eugenius taking it grieuously neuer left both by intreatie and threatning till he had caused the truce to bee broken by his dispensation and apostolicall authority But what came of this periurie The war was renewed and God rewarded this papall Romish falshood with a most lamentable effusion of Christian bloud by a shamefull foile and ouerthrow by the same Turke Pride in poperie by the supremacie Now let vs go a little higher and consider of their pride and Seraphicall tyranny What if herein wee looke but vpon our own countrie of England Into what slauerie and bondage thinke you hath the stately primacie of Rome brought this realme vnto First let the reader bee put in mind that Henrie b Math. Paris hist Angl. Hen. 2. pa. 127. the second raigning in England about Anno 1154. being desirous to annexe the realme of Ireland vnto the imperiall crowne of England sent solemne embassage to Rome to Pope Adrian that by his licence fauour hee might enter that Iland in hostile maner that he might subdue it and bring those beastly people to the faith and obedience
of truth Vnto which the Pope by a speciall bull gaue him licence prouided that of euery house be paid vnto Peter the yerely pension of a pennie and the foundation of this graunt in the said bull is builded vpon this that the Pope therein most arrogantly without any authoritie from God challengeth saying Sane omnes insulas c. Surely all Ilands vpon whom the sunne of righteousnesse shineth haue receiued the doctrine of the Christian faith without doubt doth appertain to the right of S. Peter of the holy church of Rome Behold a wōderfull arrogancie a maruellous awe of a king to a proud prelate And not onely was he thus in awe of the pope a thing abhorrent from a free kingdome but also c Pag. 134. so forward Thomas Archb. of Canterbury being one of his own subiects did verie greatly curbe him For beside many other crosse dealing whereas An. 1164. the Archbish Bishops Abbots priors the cleargie Earles Barons and all the nobilitie did sweare and firmely promise in the word of truth to keepe and obserue to the king his heires in good sooth without any ill meaning for euer sixteene points of customes or liberties recognised and acknowledged to be to him and namely of the auncestors of the king for the auoiding of dissentions and discord often arising betweene the cleargie and the Iustices of the Lord the king and the peeres of the Realme which were as touching aduowsons and presentations of Churches of Clearkes accused or conuicted of the going of Archbishops Bishops c. out of the land without the kinges licence of excommunication and of lay men accused to be done by lawful and honest accusers and witnesses that such as helde of the king should not bee excommunicated or interdicted without the kinges knowledge that appeales should not go further then the Archbishop without the kinges consent that Archbish Bishops and all persons holding lands of the king in Capite should haue their possession as a baron and doe seruice therein as other Barons accustomablie did and such like This Thomas after his solemne oath repenting himselfe without the kings licence or knowledge trauelleth and maketh suite to the Pope of Rome not onely to be discharged of his oath but to ouerthrow the whole libertie of the realme and that against both the king nobles prelates and the whole state of the land and of them he excommunicateth many causeth verie great disturbance to the king and all the realme Thereof are many appeales diuers meetings of cleargie states sometime of Cardinals sometime of the French king to compound or determine the cause At length by the meanes of the French king the matter being taken vp Thomas sent peaceablie home was no sooner warme in his seate but by bulles from the Pope hee fell to excommunicate and curse the other Bishoppes and others who had offended him Whereupon there was kindled such indignation and wrath in the heart of certaine resolute persons that because hee remained obstinate in his former crossing of the king as they tooke it laid violent hands vpon him as vpon the kings enemie and slew him The king hearing thereof being much greeued did humble himselfe in sackcloth and ashes protesting by solemne oath his ignorance and innocencie of the fact sending Embassadors to Rome of his defence submission to the order of the Church which had such strange entertainment that neither the first nor second messengers could come into the popes sight and had much adoe to keep the land from interdicting but at the length by swearing that the king would stand to the iudgement of the Pope his Cardinals that great curse was auoided Howbeit the king although by oath he sware earnestly that he was not priuy nor acquainted with the fact yet because in his anger he had spoken some wordes vnaduisedly and had brought vp such wicked soldiers as would be reuenged vpon the kinges traitor the Archbishop and so slew him therefore the king for remission of his sins was enioyned by the Pope to giue so much money as would maintaine 200. soldiers a yeare and suffer appeales and let go all his customes and liberties of his ancestors before spoken of and recognised by oath of all his subiects And after this a thing not be seeming any Christian much lesse a king returning into England and comming neere to the cittie of Canterburie he alighted from his horse and putting off all kingly maiestie barefoote like a pilgrim penitent and supplyant with sighes groanes and teares he commeth to the tombe of this Thomas casting himselfe downe in all his bodie spreading his hands to heauen remained in praiers and after other popish ceremonies because of his vnaduised words he tooke vpon him this penance hee asked absolution of the Bishops then and there present laying open his naked skin to the discipline of rods he receiued of euerie religious man whereof there was a great multitude three or fiue ierkes Let any wise man knowing the word of God consider whether this were not a shamefull slauerie both of body soule king and kingdome a Math. Paris hist Ang. pag. 254. The king appealeth from his subiect King Richard the first going about to fortefie the out borders of his countrie in Normandie was maruellously confounded and ouerstreightned by the Archb. of Roan his subiect Who therefore interdicted all the countrie so that mens bodies being dead lay vnburied in the streetes of the cities and villages very greatly annoying the liuing with their stinch yet had the king no way to relieue himselfe but by appeale to the court of Rome loe here the king appealeth from his subiect by whom it was ordered that by exchange of so much for so much as belonged to the Archb. chapter of Roan the interdiction was staied and the Archbishop appeased toward the king And who hath not heard of the vnspeakeable thraldome that king Iohn was wrapped in because hee allowed not the choise of an Archbishop made by the pope without his consent but vsed his royall authoritie against them which agreed to such choise wherein his Maiestie was excluded First his land was accursed so that no Churches opened to their manner of seruice Secondly he was excommunicated and lastly deposed of his kingdome and his kingdome giuen to the French King to winne from him by force of armes And by this he was driuen to commit himselfe to the Popes pleasure and to resigne his crowne and kingdome into the Popes hands receiued it againe in fee and vnder homage paying a thousand markes yearely swearing himselfe the Popes vassall for euer What a lamentable case was it in England when b Mathew Paris histor Ang. pag. 703. king Henrie the third being humblie moued by his subiectes to stand vpon his priuiledge that his people should not bee made a pray to the Romish exactions did answere directly and say Neither will I neither dare I gainsay the Pope in
gospell pag. 7. 6. Heere is opened that faith and loue are substantiall and perpetuall but by Gods disposition ceremonies and manner of gouernment are changeable pag. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 7. Although ceremonies and maner of gouernment are not of the vnchangeable substance of religion yet are they to bee reuerently vsed and not violated during the time of Gods assignment and prescription pag. 14. 15. 16. CAP. 2. 1. How God hath gouerned his Church in one religion before and after the fall pag. 17. 18. 2. And since the promise giuen to Adam of Christ in three sorts the fathers before the law the Iewes vnder the law and the Gentils vnder the gospell pag. 19. 20. 21. 3. In all these three times was there a difference in the outward face of gouernment but not in substance of religion pag. 22. 4. And this by Gods iudgements and manifestation of his spirit hath beene alwaies maintained and preserued pag. 23. 24. 25. 5. And it will be a witnesse of our religion now professed in England against all Atheists papistes and other wicked men pag. 26. CAP. 3. Here is more largely shewed the vnitie of faith in all ages and that the religion openly professed at this present in England is the same ancient and onely catholicke faith of Abraham Moses and the Prophets and which Christ his Apostles preached taught Where first is declared that Abraham receiued it of God both for the Iewes and also for all other nations pag. 27. 28. 29. 30. 2. The particulars are compared in 15. seuerall Articles of the most waightie pointes of doctrine pag. 31. c. vnto pag. 132. CAP. 4. Wherein is declared 1. That antiquity vniuersalitie and visible succession is no perfect marke of the church much lesse of the popish sinagogue which is but of yesterday pag. 133. c. 2. The measure order of the visible succession of the Church from Christes time forward is shewed by the scriptures pa. 137. c. 3. The papists do proue themselues to be no Church when they ground themselues on this false principle The Church cannot erre pag. 40. 141. 4. How the true religion hath shewed it selfe by many witnesses from the Apostles times euen vnto our daies pag. 143. c. The second part of the newnesse of poperie CAP. 1. HOw the Romish superstition disagreeth with the true ancient catholike religion faith of Gods elect Where is declared 1. How many waies in this sort disagreement is to be found pag. 149. 2. And that in all the former fifteene Articles they disagree very greatly pag. 152. 153. c. CAP. 2. Of the disagreement that popish superstition now taught in Rome hath with the religion S. Paul taught the Romans with the doctrine S. Peter taught the Iewes pag. 181. 182. c. CAP. 3. Of the agreement of popish doctrine with all kind of heresie where it is compared how the popish heresie resembleth the ancient heresies of the primatiue ages of Christes Church pag. 193. 194. c. CAP. 4. Of the originall of poperie wherein is declared 1. That by the precedent Chapters it may appeare to be of a late birth pag. 205. 206. 2. That neither the difference of calculation in stories nor forging of writings nor mangling of good authors do hinder the knowledge of their birth pag. 207. 208. 3. Their owne tongues and traditions proue poperie new pag. 209. 210. c. 4 Many particulars are rehearsed out of popish authors and the former counsels pag. 214. 215. c. 5. Fiue fundamentall pointes more largely examined by antiquitie pag. 235. 236. c. 6. The latter ouergrowing and lopping and daily new sprowting of poperie pag. 275. 276. c. 7. That poperie is not yet a perfect bodie of his full shape proportion and members pag. 283. CAP. 5. Heere is shewed that all men ought to flie poperie 1. Because of the exceeding danger it bringeth to themselues to their seed countrie pag. 289. 2. It is of all heresies and apostasies the most pernitious pag. 293. 3. It is not tollerable or to be winked at in any Christian common wealthes pag. 312. 4. We of England haue great cause to praise God that we haue nothing to do with pag. 315. CHAP. 1. Wherein is shewed first that we come to know the true religion by the true knowledge of God 2. That there is one God and that he is the onely law-giuer 3. Therefore there is but one Catholike and vnchangeable religion whereof God is author and maintainer 4. For this cause Christ and his Apostles teach the same religion which is in the olde Testament and the gentils are adopted to be Children vnto Abraham 5. Here is taken away the obiection which might arise by the difference which seemeth to be in the three times before the law vnder the law and after the law that is vnder the Gospell that although there was a difference in ceremonies and maner of gouernment yet the religion al one in faith and loue 6. Here is opened how faith and loue are substancial and perpetual and ceremonies and maner of gouernment changeable 7. And that although ceremonies and maner of gouernment are not of the vnchangeable substance of religion yet are they to be reuerently vsed and not violated during the time of Gods assignment and prescription as necessary dueties in the worship seruice and obedience which wee owe vnto God TO know the true ancient catholike annd vnchangeable religion that is the vndeceiuable way of saluation and perfect rule of vpright liuing we must get the knowledge of the true liuing God For in the * Eph. 4.17 Tit. 3.3 2. Pet. 1.3 ignorance of God is the estate of the wicked the cause of damnation and whosoeuer knoweth God aright he hath by the diuine gift of Christ all things pertaining to life and godlines Therefore our blessed Sauiour speaking to his father the almightie and glorious God constantly affirmeth a Ioh. 17. ver 3 This is eternal life to know thee to be the onely verie God and whom thou hast sent Iesus Christ. So the Prophets foretell that the happie estate of the word should be then when b Esai 11.9 The earth is full of the knowledge of the Lord c Hier 31.31.32 the people know God from the least to the greatest Such was the glad tidings of the Gospel which maketh bewtiful the feet of him which declareth and hublisheth peace saying vnto Syon that is to the church Thy a Esai 52.6 God reigneth and the same vnto all nations is proclaimed by the name of the great b 1. Tim. 3.16 misterie of godlines God manifested in the flesh And the effect of the gospell preached agreeth thereunto for those nations c Gal. 4.8 1. Thes 1.9 who being led by the impotent and beggerly rudiments of the world knew not God and did seruice vnto them which by nature were no Gods by the hearing of the gospel preached did
And in that day shal their waters of life go out from Hierusalem halfe of them toward the east sea and halfe of them toward the vttermost sea and shal be both in sommer winter And the Lord shal be king ouer all the earth in that day shall there bee one Lord and his name shal be one What is this fountaine but Christ which is of the house of Dauid and what is the opening of this fountaine and flowing of waters but the preaching of the gospell as the prophets also say k Esai 2.3 The law shall go forth of Sion and the word of the Lord out of Hierusalem What is this east and vttermost sea this one Lord and king of all the earth But that the Church should be made vniuersall and one in Christ being of one faith throughout the world And they note out the visible markes of the church first the preaching of Gods pure word where prophesying of the church of the gentils it is said l Micah 4.2 Many nations shall come and say come and let vs go vp to the mountaine of the Lord and to the house of the God of Iacob and hee will teach vs his waies and we will walke in his pathes c. And concerning the sacraments Christ a Malac. 3.3 shall sit downe to trie and fine the siluer hee shall euen fine the sonnes of Leui and purifie them as golde and siluer that they may bring offeringes vnto the Lord in righteousnesse c. Whereby is taught that where God gathereth his Church by Christ there he placeth his word and there he teacheth them to worship him aright which as it was by offeringes in the law so it is by sacraments in the gospell therefore by these thinges they are to bee discerned For when these thinges fayled and the people b Esai 5 24. Hier. 16.10.11 Hos 8. 1. 2. cast of Gods word and his ordinaunces in sacrifices and sacraments God cast them out of his sight and out of his grace as a people without the true markes of Gods church In the gospel this vniuersality and vnity in the nature of the church is taught where Christ saith c Ioh. 10.16 other sheepe I haue also which are not of this fold them also must I bring and they shall heare my voice and there shal be one shepheard and one fold Where when he saith other sheepe not of this fold he signifieth that in election and promise the gentiles should bee of the Church this noteth the vniuersalitie and when he saith hee will bring them and they shall heare his voice he vnderstandeth their calling and ingrafting into the same church in the same vnitie of faith And lastly it should be but one as one folde vnder shepheard which he expoundeth where he sendeth d Math. 28.19 his Apostles to teach all nations The end whereof as the Apostle e Eph. 3.6 teacheth is that the gentils shold be inheritors also and of the same bodie partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospell For which cause it is said g Gal. 3.28 There is neither Iewe nor Grecian bond nor free ther is neither male nor female for ye are all one in Christ Iesus that is to say there is no exception of countrie estate or sex but if they beleeue in Christ Iesus they are all of the same true and catholike church as citizens of the same citie children of the same house stones of the same building built vpon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets Iesus Christ being the chiefe corner stone The outward markes are set vpon this church thus when the Apostles preached a Act. 2.41.42 Then they that gladly receiued his worde were baptized and the same day were added to the church about three thousand soules and they continued in the Apostles doctrin and fellowship and breaking of bread and prayers Where you may see that the doctrine of the Apostles which is the woord of God and the sacraments are markes of seperation to discerne the church of Christ frō others Hereof it is that S. Paul cōmendeth the church of Colosse to haue the right badge of gods people where he said that in his spirit he saw b Colos 2.5 there good order stedfast faith in Christ for amongst other things the due administratiō of the sacraments was a good note of their good order as in the contrary the c 1. Cor. 11.17 20.34 Corinthians are reproued that the right preaching profession of Christ sheweth their stedfast faith the Romanes and the Thessalonians are greatly extolled by this marke that d Rom. 1.8 1. Thess 1.8 their faith was published throughout the whole world spread abroad in all quarters And that you may perceiue the vertue of these markes and first for the preaching of the pure word of God harkē what the holy Apostle affirmeth when the ministers e 1. Cor. 14.24.25 prophesie that is preach If there come in one that beleeueth not or vnlearned that is who neuer knewe the difference of the church of God from others he is rebuked of all men he is iudged of all that is all the preaching ministerie by the pure word of God do shew him his wretched and euill estate and so are the secrets of his hart made manifest and so hee will fall downe with his face and worshippe God and say plainely that God is in you of a truth What is all this but that he discerneth by the preaching that they are a people among whom God dwelleth that is to say the visible church of God The like he teacheth vs of the sacraments where he saith f 1. Cor. 10.21 You cannot drinke the cup of the Lord and the cup of the diuels c. which words manifestly teach that the sacraments are such a marke proper to the church that they which be in the church and partakers therof must seperate themselues from all pollutions of idolatrie and abominations of the heathen and wicked men and to be knowen to bee of the visible church of God by the right vse and celebration of Christes holie misteries as it is also written a 1. Cor. 11.26 As often as you eat this bread and drinke this cup ye shew the Lords death till he come When then the true English Christian shall see that both in profession and practise the church of England hath the verie nature of of the true church of GOD and also by the true markes it is visibly knowen and discerned to be a right member of the vniuersall bodie of Christ he shall haue great cause to glorifie almightie GOD that hath vouchsafed him that mercie and honor to be of that fellowship which is with God the father and with his sonne Iesus Christ agreeing with Abraham Moses the Prophets and with Christ and his Apostles The eleuenth article of the exercises in religion in generall how to be vsed in the church 11. Wee ought
fallen into an Apostasie And the reason he giueth confirmeth it directly that it should vndoubtedly fall out and so come to passe for hee afterward affirmeth that it commeth of the righteous iudgement of God vpon the reprobate saying God shall sende them stronge delusion that they should beleeue lies that all they might bee damned Vers 12.12 which beleeued not the truth but had pleasure in vnrighteousnesse which thing if it be wel seen into vprightly waied it will cōuince the church of Rome to be of the false religion and antechristian church and their brauerie of profession their antiquitie vniuersalitie and visible succession to be the sitting of the man of sinne in the temple of God that is the plague and running soare of the Church the damnation of many soules and that now within these few yeares the gospel teaching the true Christian religion hath reuealed their Apostasie and that so openly clearly as euerie man may see it if he doe not wilfully blind his owne eyes 3 Now if they say that the Church cannot erre and thereupon build their antiquitie vniuersalitie succession c. Namely that they must needes bee the true Church being so actiuely and vniuersally visible in their continued succession because it belongeth to the Church vnder the gospell as they say to bee as the Moone that neuer is ecclipsed nor couered vnder a cloud but alwaies appeareth glorious and beautifull vnto the world then doe they euidently declare and proue themselues to bee the false sinagogue of Sathan and their religion to bee his delusions and lies Because the worde of God doth so manifestly say there shall bee an Apostasie and falling away in religion and that the enemie of Christ should raigne in the place of Gods temple And least happily wee should bee deceiued in thus iudging euen in this one point of their religion that they hold that the church cannot erre they cōuince themselues to be Antechrist many wayes especially in that they make the authoritie of the Church aboue the scriptures that they might be iudges of it and not of them What do they herein more truely then professe to all the worlde that there sitteth amongst them the aduersarie that exalteth himselfe against all that is called God for what is there in the whole world by which God is knowen or can bee knowen truely and rightly to bee God and by which God is exalted and all his honour truth and word magnified and his will wisedome and goodnesse glorified and worshipped but onely the inspired writinges of the blessed booke of God If they hauing no truth on their side to maintayne themselues to bee the Church of God they will foist in with a brasen face contrarie to euident scripture this vntruth that the church cannot erre and thereupon vsurpe authoritie ouer this booke of God and after it to haue no authoritie but such as they allow and to haue no other meaning or sence but such as they giue and so God and his holy law must looke for no other name credite and dignitie but as it pleaseth them being men to giue And so againe God and his word should not bee builders and describers of the Church but the Church builders and describers of God and his word doth it not then necessarily follow that they are verie Antechrist and the seate of Apostasie Moreouer if Christ say this Apostasie should bee so great that if it were possible a Math. 24.24 the verie elect should bee deceyued Are not they verie Antechrist to make the Church alwaies visible and not able to erre And let the godly Christian reader consider what vse there is of these rules precepts b Math. 7. 1. Ioh. 4.1.2 2. Ioh. vers 9. Beware of false prophets beleeue not euerie spirit c. hereby shall you know the spirit of God that Iesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God whosoeuer transgresseth and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ hath not God c. Againe there is prophesied of a woman whose name is Reuelat. 17. 18. A misterie great Babilon the mother of whordoms abominations of the earth which is a great citie which raigneth ouer the kings of the earth and all nations drinke of the wine of the wrath of her fornication And God saith to vs Go out of her my people c. If the true vse of these scriptures teach vs two things first that we must trie and iudge the false prophets the spirits and whosoeuer may cal themselues the Church by the doctrine of Christ expressed in the scriptures and that vnder the time of the gospell a citie by false doctrine should poyson all nations and we ought to go out of that citie how can any man iudge the Citie of Rome which calleth her selfe the mother of all Churches and vsurpeth ouer all nations seeing that it hath forsaken the truth and yet claimeth vniuersalitie perpetual succession visible refuseth to be tried by the holy oracles of God these rules and Canons of holy scriptures how I say can any man iudge otherwise but that it is the verie seat of Antechrist And in this that it would bee maintained by saying it cannot erre it erreth most apparantly And therefore that onely is the true Church and house of God whether visible or inuisible a Heb. 3.6 Math. 18.20 which holdeth fast the true faith where two or three are gathered together in Christes name and not that which pretendeth visible succession and saith it cannot erre 4 Howbeit in all this time it was not as the church of Rome would beare vs in hand that our religion which is that auncient religion of Abraham had such an ecclipse that it cannot bee traced in these 1600. yeares after Christ for as before the comming of Christ it lay hidde in comparison of the vniuersalitie of the whole world in the house and posteritie of Abraham and sometime more then other appearing and shining forth when God made his glorious truth to cast the beames of light far and wide at such times as he made his saintes glorious by deliuerance as out of Egipt and Babilon And in subduing the Cananites in prospering Dauid Solomon Iehoshaphat Ezekiah and Ioshiah So in this time of Christianitie among the Gentils there hath beene as it were an ebbing and flowing and as I may say a morning and an euening For the gospell beginning with small degrees and like a grayne of mustard seede was persecuted by the vniuersall world at the first And yet preuailed mightely through all those bitter and intollerable persecutions of the first three hundred yeares in so much as in the first Christian Emperours dayes namely Constantine the great when hee summoned the first generall Councell of Nice for the cause of Arrius there came 318. Bishops and these were from all partes of the worlde West as farre as Spaine and North in a manner at the verie North Pole So that all the worlde stoode amased
their decrees framed and ordained Beside this all these latter counsels haue not beene made with vniuersall consent but the church hath been deuided into two parts East and West vntill the time of this counsell of Basill and then it was sewed together with rotten threed and presently rent in peeces againe as it were in a moment and there was one counsel at Basill and an other set against it a Florence Now I say seeing these counsels of Constance Basil Trident in which the most part and chiefest of Popery hath been in the most generall maner determined published for the acts and determination of the church were but a verie smale part of the vniuersall church Namely of the Westerne parts I know not howe they can assure vs that in them we haue the churches determination except they could proue these counsels ecumenical and vniuersall of all Christian churches as was the first general counsell of Nice vnder Constantine the great Againe the counsels for sixe hundred yeeres after Christ did not decree as they haue done since and the faith of the church was not the determination of the Church but the sentence of holie scriptures and many points of faith haue been since determined not by but without holie Scriptures what should wee esteeme the auncient primatiue Churches to haue erred in faith or that they knew not or held not the true faith because that in verie many articles they lacked the ecclesiastical determination Lastly seeing that euerie day they bring foorth new deuises and sanctions and the latter many times contrarie to the former who can tell when he is in the truth or out of the truth or when the Church hath made her true and right determination Hee that readeth ouer Gracian and the Tomes of the counsels with the histories of the liues of the Popes or doo but well marke and consider that little which I haue penned out of them in this Chapter shall easilie perceiue that they are euer learning but neuer come to the knowledge of the truth they dote about questions which are endles and strife of woords there is no certaintie in their religion little trueth and vncessant innouation Therefore I may conclude that as this monster is of a later generation and a new continuall conception so no mortall man can tell when hee will come to his full birth and bee a perfect bodie or when he will haue his certaine determination right shape and proportion and finall growth and compleate stature I will leaue him therefore to the high Iudge and Lord of all flesh vntill that great and fearefull day a Reuel 19.20 When the beast shall bee taken and with him the false prophet and they both cast aliue into the lake of fire which burneth with brimstone Come Lord Iesus come quickly CHAP. V. Heere is shewed that all men ought to flie poperie First because of the exceeding daunger it bringeth to them selues to their seede and countrie Secondlie It is of all heresies and Apostasies the most pernitious Thirdlie It is not tollerable or to bee wincked at in any Christian common wealth Fourthly We of England haue great cause to praise God that we haue nothing to do with it NO sooner had my penne concluded the former Chapter but that me thought I hearde the great comaunder of all the worlde calling vnto all Christians concerning the Romish religion and saying a Esai 52.11 Departe depart go out from thence and touch no vncleane thing For seeing that poperie is so directly and manifold differing from the true ancient and catholike religion so agreeing with all filthie heresies and lately sprung vp out of the vncleane brood of humane inuention and diabolicall suggestion bearing downe all puritie of faith and true holy worship of God that hereby the Romish Church is certainly found to approue it selfe to bee that great Babilon which is become the habitations of deuils and the hold of foule spirits and a cage of euerie vncleane and hatefull bird I can no otherwise vnderstand the duetie of all Christians but that they bee obedient to that heauenly voice which els where calleth vs out of that prophane sinagogue of Rome saying b Reuelat. 18.4 Go out of her my people that ye bee not partakers in her sinnes that ye receiue not of her plagues It behoueth therefore euerie soule to consider wisely of this thing because of the daunger that may happen to himselfe to his seed and to his countrie For as it was no pleasant thing to Noe to liue among those proud and cruell people of the first worlde whose destruction hee knew to be most certainly approching and as Lot dwelling at the gate of Sodom vexed his righteous soule in hearing and seeing their vnlawfull deeds his verie life was hazarded in the destruction of the wicked if God had not beene singularly mercifull vnto him So all men that feare God cannot but know that such wicked and filthie heresie as poperie is must needes bee as a canker that fretteth euen vnto destruction of the soule For it not onely draweth vs vnto many noysome and hereticall prauities but also to most abhominable idolatrie and the verie ouerthrow of the couenaunt of grace and true faith by which we stand in the fauour of God and haue the hope of eternall life by Iesus Christ They which speake most fauourablie for papists seeme willing to haue them in some sort of the visible Christian Church doe endeuour the same by making their apostasie to bee no greater then the apostasie of the ten tribes of Israel after their falling away from the house of Dauid vnder the hand of Hieroboam At which time they left the temple at Hierusalem and the pure worship word of God and made them calues in Dan and Bethel and worshipped God as it pleased the kinges of Israel But if men would consider the a 1. King 2. 2. Cron. 18. 19. storie of that good king Iehoshaphat when hee ioyned affinitie with Ahab they might easily see this thing how neere hee was to leese his life for such fellowship what losse hee had of shippes and how God rebuked him saying Wouldest thou helpe the wicked and loue them that hate the Lord therefore for this thing the wrath of the Lord is vppon thee Loe heere the Israelites are counted wicked the haters of God and such as for whose fellowship Gods wrath commeth vppon his children Therefore seeing the papistes are much more worse it must needs bee verie daungerous to haue any fellowshippe with them And if the soule bee farre more precious then the bodie then is the hazarde the greater And doubtlesse no man is able to expresse the greatnesse of the mischiefe which that wicked broode may bring vpon a man for so much as they transgresse the worde of God and follow not the doctrine of Christ and haue chosen their owne waies and their soule delighteth in their owne abhominations For it is written b 2.