under Heaven so consonant and congruous to corrupted nature to flesh and bloud as the Religion of the Church of Rome And thus we have dispatched the fourth way or Method of Romes advancement CHAP VII Of Popish Signes and Wonders and lying Miracles 5. WEe come now to discourse of their feigned Miracles by which they have endeavoured and with great successR to propagate their Doctrines That this should be one of Antichrists Methods to deceive the Nations and enlarge his Kingdome is clear from the Apostles words 2 Thes 2 8 9. And then shall that wicked be revealed whom the Lord shall consume with the Spirit of his month and shall destroy with the brightnesse of his coming Even him whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signes and lying wonders Where we may observe 1. The time of Antichristâ— coming for the Papists confesse that the Apostle here speaketh of Antichrist this was before explicated 2. The manner of his coming which is after the working of Satan with all power and signes and lying wonders oâ— as it is in the Original Wonders of falshood not only in respect of their end because they tend to confirm errour but in respect of their forme too wanting that which is an essential part of Miracles properly so called And that the Pope of Rome the Antichrist and his Factors have used this wile and Stâ—atagem to propagate their Doctrines is most notorious As they confidently urge these feigned Miracles to prove the Roman Church to be a true Church so to confirm and establish their new coyn'd Doctrines viz Veneration of Images and sacred Reliques Invocation of Saints Transubstantiation the Sacrifice of the Masse Purgatory Papal Indulgences Prayers for the dead c. The second Nicent Councel which decreed that Images should be worshipped bringeth pretty Stories to confirm this Constitution Take one briefly thus A certain Long â—um Concil p 389. Christian leaving an Image of Christ behind him in the house from which he reâ—â—â—ved and a Jeâ— succeeding him having invited other Jews to dinner one of them espied the Images which the other Jew affirm'd he had not 〈◊〉 before they ran with great fury and violence upon it and pierced it in the side out of which issued such a stream of blood that they filled a great Water pot with it Then they resolved that they might see whether it had any vertue to sprinkle sick persons therewith this was done and they presently recovered And in the life of Damascene we read that his hand being cut off by the Saracens for his profession of the Christian faith he praying before the Image of the Virgin Mary and shewing his hand cut off fell asleep and awaking found his hand restored Antony of Padua proved Transubstantiation to one that deny'd it by the miraculous testimony of his hungry Beast before which having set Corn and a consecrated Hoast in the name and power of * Chamier Panstr Tom 2. 678. thy Creator saith Antony whom I now hold in my hands I command thee that thou come presently in an humble manner and give this hoast due reverence He had no sooner spoken the words but this devout Beast left the Corn came to Antony bowed the head and bended the knee And lest one Miracle be not sufficient to confirm you in the belief of such a fundamenâ—al Article take one more in short thus A Womans Bees not thriving by the advice of a Neigâ—bour she steals a consecrated Wafer and placeth it in one of her Hives hoping it would drive away the disease and blesse their undertakings The devout Bees in honour of such a Guest fall to work and wâ—th their honey-Combs make a pretty little Church with windows a doâ—r a Belfrey yea and an Altar too upon which they laid the Hoast and pay'd great reverence to it A notable Argument for Transubstantiation If they meet with any that scruple their Doctrine concerning Invocation of Saints they wâ—ll rubb up their memories and tell them some miraculous Stories to prove Martinus Polonus lib 4. p. 241. it both lawful and profitable Leo 1. Bishop of Rome being under a strong temptation and putting forth his hand to kisse a Woman cut it off afterwards Hereupon being unable to celebrate Masse which the people then expected for it was about Easter he became an humble Suppliant to the Virgin Mary Hereupon she presently appeared bâ—ought his hand and restored it and so all was well again And if this miracle be not sufficient to gain your assent to this Doctrine they have others more miraculous They tell us and we must not question the truth of it that a little Bird being seized on by a greater cry'd but out Ave Maria and presently the great ravenous Bird fell down dead And that a Parrat sporting her selfe out of a Cage and being almost seizd on by an Hawk did but call upon St. Thomas a Becket and the Hawk dyed immediately If any question the power and vertue of the Sign of the Crosse they have innumerable Miracles some of which they will produce for his satisfaction Fryar Theobald as they tell us by vertue of the sign of the Crosse walked upon the water over Tyber Fryar Andreas de Anania who having some little Birds roasted at his own desire to stay his Appetite yet upon better consideration it went against his stomack todevour them and being thus resolv'd he makes but the Sign of the Crosse and presently they revived and flew â—way And St. Antony by the Sign of the Crosse turned an ugly Todd into a fat roasted Capon piping hot If any doubt of the wonderful power * Spond Epit Anno. 1172. p. 1054. of the Popes Excommunication Spondanus will tell them that Dogs though never so hungry would not take bread from those four Knights that murther'd Thoâ—as a Becket so long as they were under the Popes Anathema And that the Reliques of Saints are to †â—old Lâ—g cited by Chaâ— tom 2. p. 679. be honoured they prove by many Miracles A certain Abbat desiring of the Abbesse of Colâ—n the body of one of the eleven thousand Virgins promised to put it in a golden Box But not performing his promise when they were at their Mattins many being present beholding and admiring the Body of that Virgin came out of the Wooden Box judging it too mean a lodging place descended from the Altar passed through the Quire and return'd to her Companions at Colen If you doubt of the immaculate conception of the Virgin Mary they will tell you that Thomas Aquinas who took much pains to clear up that point was commended by her in these words Beâ—e de 〈◊〉 scripsisti Thoma I will not mention any more of their New-coyn'd Doctrines in confirmation of which many Miracles are produced Thus doe they endeavour to establish their Novel Doctrines by lying Wonderâ— and Miracles and great numbers of ignorant and superstitious persons have been deluded by this Method Johannes
Valentinus a Dominican by his Impostures in this kind obtained Saith Cath Orthod Tom 1. p. 374. Rivet a great name in Bononia and so deluded the Magistrates and people that they look't upon him as come down from Heaven they thought themselves happy if they could but touch the hemme of his Garment His Confederates by agreement swore that he had raised 18. persons from the dead that he could cure all diseases and cast out Devils c. And by these Arts before the cheat was discovered he had got in one year twenty thousand pounds And Tyrrel the Priest in his Confession which he drew up in writing â—aid that within the compasse of halfe a year in Queen Elizabeths Raign when all attempts against her sacred Person were defeated by their cheating Exorcisms they prevailed upon 500 some say 5000 persons to embrace the the Roman Religion That these Miracles which they so much boast of are not true is most evident because the Doctrines which they would confirm by them are false but God never puts forth his divine power in working Miracles to establish erroneous Doctrines he never sets his Seal to a false Deed. That Story of the Lives of their Saints which they call Legenda aurea the golden Legend is made up of lying prodigies and prodigious Lyes So much is confessed by their own Doctors Ludovicus Vives speaking of it saith How unworthy both God and men is the Story of the Saints I see no reason why it should be called the Golden Legend being written by one that De corrupt Artâ—â— lib. 2. had an Iron face and leaden heart And Chamier confirms it by the testimony of Canus I do not excuse the Author of that Book intituled Speculum Exemplorum nor of this History which is called the golden Legend In that thou maiest read monsters of Miracles more frequent than true miracles and this was written by one that had neither prudence nor honesty Panstrat Cathol Tom 2. p. 677. And Espencaeus saith that no Stable is so full of dung as their Legends are full of Fables In 1. Tim digress lib 1. p 224. Consider as an Antidote against this tempation that things may be done which may seem to be real miracles in the judgement of the wisest man on earth by men of corrupt hearts 7 Math 22 23. and of corrupt heads 24 Math 24 and therefoâ—e we must not judge by the Miracles what Doctrine is true but by the Doctrine what Miracles are true 13 Deut 1 3. CHAP VIII Of Popish Lyes and Slanders 6. I Now proceed to the last way or method of Romes advancement or which the Pope and his Agents use to propagate their Religion viz impudent lyes and slanders against their Adversaries or who refuse to submit to the Conduct and government of the Roman Church This Method Rome Pagan used for the extirpation of Christianity and this Method Rome Christian hath used for the propagation of Popery That Rome Heathen took this course to suppresse the the growth yea the being of Christianity is very clear from Ecclesiastical Hystory When Nero that monster of men had set Rome on fire which burned nine dayes to transfer the Odium of that impious act upon the Christians he gave out that they had done it out of malice and revenge And after wards the Heathen raised many malicious slanders against them and laid to their charge most horrid crimes as that they lived in incest that in their night meetings putting out the Candles they mixed together in a filthy manner that they killed their Children and fed upon mans flesh that they kept the Feasts of Thyestes and committed the incest of Oedipus that they were guilty of Sacrâ—ledge and Sedition and Rebellion and worshipped the head of an Asse In Athens there was a Conjurer which made an Image of Jupiter that uttered these words Jupiter commands the Christians to be banished out of this City because they are enemies to him Harlots also were suborned to swear that formerly they had been Christians and so were privie to the wickednesse and impiety which they committed amongst themselves at their Sabbath-meetings Vid Tertul Apol c. 7. 9. c. These and many more such like calumnies we meet wâ—th in Eusebius and other Ecclesiâ—stical Hystorians by which the hearts of the Common people were set against Christianity and the Emperours and other inferiour Governours incensed against the Professors of it The truth of this appeares by an Epistle which the Christians in France writ to the Brethren in Asia and Phrygia recorded by Eusebius They feigned against us speaking of the Heathen and reported that we used feastings Eccles Hyst lib 5. cap. 1 of Thyestes and the inâ—est of Oedipus with many other Crimes which may neither with piety be thought upon nor with modesty be uttered nor without impiety believed And these things being bruited abroad every body was moved and incensed against us Then was that saying of our Saviours fulfilled viz The time will come when as every one that slayeth you shall thinke that therein he doth God good Service Then suffered the holy Martyrs such torments as no tongue can expresse Great was the rage both of people and Presidents against us c. To this I could adde many more proofs out of Eusebius but that is needlesse And that the Pope of Rome and his Factors have observed the same Method to propagate their Doctrines is most notorious How have they loaden with Calumnies and false accusations the Enemies of their Church especially those of the reformed Religion They charge us Protestants with infidelity cruelty impiety and what not 1. With infidelity that we dis-believe the Existence of God the Divinity and Humanity of Christ the immortality of the soul the resurrection of the dead and all the Articles of the Christian Religion 2. With cruelty How have they aggravated Sands p. 98. our proceedings here in England against their rebellious Priests and Complices in Queen Elizabeths time to the height of Nero's and Dioclesians Perfecutions and the Sufferers of their side in merits of cause in extremity of torments in patience constancy to the renowned Martyrs of that hercical age Of this Subject they have published a great Volume compiled with great industry many passages being illustrated with pictures and approved by Authority in short there 's nothing wanting but truth and honesty 3. With impiety that all manner of Crimes are committed and countenanced amongst us Bellarmine saith that there are many wicked men among the Roman Catholicks but not one good man among the Lutheran Hereticks Their Fryars raised and published many foul slanders against the Waldenses as that they were Sorcerers Buggerers c. that when they assembled together in the night-time their Pastors commanded the lightâ— to be put out saying Qui potest capere capiat whereupon they committed abominable Incests the Son with his Mother the Brother with his Sister the Father with his daughter c.
only with the Observations Annotations or Scholies that are made upon them by late Authors Ans The insufficiency of this plea will appear by demonstrating these three particulars 1. That they have commanded several sentences in the Text of the Fathers to be expung'd and blotted out 2. That they defend the justice and equity of that Command 3. That their practice hath corresponded with it 1. That they have commanded several words and sentences in the Text of the Fathers and other Primitive Writers to be expung'd and blotted out This is clear from their Expurgatory Indices printed at Madrid Rome and other places I will give you a few Instances and so passe on to the next particular In the Spanish Index these words are commanded to be thrust out of the Text of St. Cyrills Commentaries upon Isaiah cap 47. * Deleaâ—tur â—â— Tâ—rtu illa verba â—â— veró 〈…〉 Thou hast proceeded so farre in impiety that now there is left unto thee no place for salvation for equal punishment will alwayes follow grievous offences And upon 51 chap these words †Deleaâ—tur ex Tertu illa verbâ— Sed vbi non haâ—erent p 62. But when they cast away all fear of God and would not receive Jesus Christ by faith as it is written Hillary in his Enarration upon 118 Ps must have these words dashed out * Span Index p 1â—0 Non ex meritis salus salvation is not of merit with many other passages in his Works I might instance in several other Fathers which have many expressions against Idolatry Satisfactions Peters Supremacy c. commanded to be blotted out in their Expurgatory Indices but these are sufficient to evidence the truth of this first particular viz That they have commanded several words and sentences in the Text of the Fathers to be expung'd and blotted out Obj It s true say they some words and sentences are commanded to be expung'd out of the Text of the Fathers but they are only such as crept in either by the Printers negligence or the fraud of Hereticks that is of Protestants Concil Trid In Indice Lib prohib de Correct Ans 1. The corruptions we charge them with cannot be attributed to the oversight of the Printer or Corrector for they are of a larger size whole sentenceâ— are Commanded to be blotted out 2. Nor could they be foisted in by the fraud of Hereticks for in those dayes none of the Fathers had been printed by Protestants Again peruse the places which we produce as razed and corrupted and it will appear whether â—ide Papal or Protestant were more likely to have an hand in it The nature of most of the corruptions will discover the guilty person 2. That they defend the justice and equity of that Command Though their Gretser deny this purgation of the Fathers lib. 2. de jure more prohib lib mal cap 9. p 313 where he chargeth Junius against whom he writes with a lye and lib 2. cap 7. pag 298 calls upon our Dr. James to name but one Father purged and corrupted by them Yet he asserts the Popes Authority to do it and and calls the exercise of it a worke of mercy lib. 2. cap 9. p 321. And that he may not seem to contradict himselfe in this and the precedent Chapters he makes use of this subtile distinction the Fathers may be considered either qua Fathers or qua Fathers in law The Fathers of the Church as they are Fathers feed their Children with sound and wholesome doctrine and are not to be purged But as they are Fathers in law that is deliver any other doctrine than their Father the Pope or Mother the Church doth or shall maintain then they may nay they must be corrected lib. 2. cap 10. p 328. 3. That their practice hath corresponded with that command So much is acknowledged by Sixtus Senensis in his Epistle to Pope Pius 5. in which amongst his many and famous Acts he recounts this for one of the greatest That he caused the Writings of all Catholick Authors but especially those of the Antient Fathers to be purged Manutius employ'd by the Pope to print several of the Fathers at Rome saith * In praefat ad Piuâ— â— in lib Cardinaliâ— Poli de Concilio that care was taken to have them so corrected that there should be no spot which might infect the minds of the simple with the shew or lâ—keness of false doctrine To make this yet more clear I will subjoyn a few Instances St. Cyprian de bone patientiae tells us post gustatam Eucharistiam c. After the eating of the Eucharist the hands are not or ought not to be defiled with blood But in their Cyprian printed at Colen they have changed the words and read it post gâ—statâ—m Eucharistiam and so urge this place foâ— the circumgestation of the Sacrament Thus much is confessed by †Annot in lib de bone patient p 270. Pamelius That notorious corruption of St. Cyprian de Unitate Ecelesiae hath been often mentioned by our Divines The Ancient Cyprian saith The rest of the Apâ—stles were equal to Peter both in honour and power The Paris Cyprian hath added these words The Primacy is given to Peter he hath appointed one Chair Peters Chair He who forsaketh Peters Chair in which the Church was founded doth he trust himselfe to be in the Church * Prefat in Iâ—â— â—â—pâ—rg Belg Franciscus Juâ—ius as an eye witnesse tells us that being at Lyons and intimately acquainted with Ludovicus Saurius Corrector of the Presse and going to visit him he found him revising St. Ambrose's Works which Frelonius was then printing After some discourse Saurius shew'd him some printed leaves cancellated and â—aâ—ed saying this is the first impression which we printed according to the best Câ—pies but two Franciscans by command have blotted out those passages and put these in their place praeter omnem nostrorum librorum fidem to the great losse and trouble of Frelonius And not only particular Fathers but also general Councels have been corrected and corrupted by them The Councel of Laodicâ—a Can 35. saith It is not lawful for Christians to forsake the Church of God and nominate or invocate Angelos Angels they have made it Angulos Angles that is they must not forsake the Church and pray in Corners The Councel of Agatha Can 3â— saith Let no Clergy man presume to sue any man in a temporal Court without the leave of his Bishop But they read Let no man presume to sue a Clerk before a temporal Judge without the Bishopâ— leave I might also instance in the Councel of Chalcedon and many others but these few may serve in stead of multitudes which might be brought of their corrupting the witnesses and raâ—ing the Records of Antiquity by which their Errors and Novelties might be condemned Many hundred nay thousand places in the Fathers and Ancient Writers are purged of which no mention is made in their Expurgatory
Lessius lib. 2. cap. 41. dub ◠num 80. p. 537. And if a Tayler who is commission'd by a Gentleman to buy stuffe or silk to make his Cloaths go commonly to one Mercer or Merchant who for this reason sell him a good pennyworth or returns somthing back he may retain to himself the benefit of his good market or what is so return'd Escobar tract 3. Exam 6. cap 5. p. 406. To these Instances many more might be added which do countenance and justify most thefts and robberies committed in this licentious age By this Induction of particulars for its needlesse to mention more you may see how farre they dispense with Divine Commands They that would see more upon this Subject let them peruse the Jesuits Morals of which I have made very little use no not so much as an hand to direct me to the places and passages which I have produced Sect. II. Obj THese are the Opinions of some particular Casuists which perhaps have been consured by his Holynesse as Erroneous and Heretical Ans 1. I doe not hear that any of these Doctors except Baunies Summarie of sins which I have made no use of are censured at Rome nor find any passages in them which their Inquisitors command to be blotted out in any of their Expurgatory Indices And therefore since they are so severe in prohibiting Books which they judge erroneous and expunging all offensive passages we may rationally conclude that these Casuists have written nothing contrary to the sentiments of their infallible Lord and Master If they deliver any thing which is not consonant to their Canons and Constitutions why are they not put into their Index of prohibited Books 2. The Doctors I have mention'd are no pitiful obscure Fellows but persons of great note and eminency and their Books printed cum Privilegio and highly prized by all Catholicks 3. That where I have Cited but one or two Casuists ten or twenty might be produced which I have passed over for brevity sake 4. The Doctrine of probability which is unanimously received by their great Doctors at least the Jesuits which are the most prevailing partie in the Church of Rome and the Popes principal Factors will remove all doubts and scruples Here they lay down with much confidence and defend with great zeal these following propositions 1. That we may safely follow a probable Opinion In this there is a perfect agreement amongst them and Layman †Lib 1◠p 5. gives this reason for it because in Morals we cannot easily obtain a certain knowledge of the truth of things 2. That is a probable Opinion which having no certainty is supported by great Authority or some reason of Moment p 5. So Layman defines a probable Opinion And in the explication of this definition he tells us that by great Authority we are to understand the judgement at least of one learned and honest man that hath not embraced an Opinion rashly and inconsiderately but after he hath well weigh'd and examin'd the reasons which are brought for the contrary Opinion Escobar saith that one grave Theol Mor p. 25. Doctor is able to make an Opinion probable because a man eminently learned will not espouse an Opinion without sufficient reason Emanuel Sa speaks more freely affirming Aphor p. p. 41. that the judgement of one grave Doctor or the example of good men is enough to make an Opinion probable And to the same purpose speak Sylvest Navar. Vasquez and Sanchez cited by Layman Filliucius declares himselfe to be of the same judgement Tom 2. tr 21. cap. 4. p. 9. 3 That of two probable Opinions its lawful to follow that which is more favourable though lesse safe and probable This Theol Mor Lib 1. p. 5. proposition is defended by Layman who brings Navar. Medina Arrag Lopez Suarez Azorius c. concurring with him And if the testimony of these learned Doctors be not sufficient he gives you this convincing reason In moral actions it is not necessary to follow that which is best and safest but sufficient that we follow what is good and safe And Escobar propounding this Question If two probable Opinions occur is a p. 27. man obliged to follow that which is more probable He answers no because he cannot be reprehended as rash and imprudent who adhaeres to reason or authority of moment and it would be an intollerable burthen if every unlearned man should be obliged to Instit Mor lib 2. p. 202 find out the more probable Opinions But Azorius ascends one step higher and saith that a man may lawfully follow the probable Opinion of other men though it be against his own proper Opinion Thus a man may commit any sin to which interest or corrupt nature shall incline him against his own Conscience if he can but find out one grave Doctor that allowes it and that 's no difficult taske 4. That a Confessor is oblig'd to absolve his Penitent who followes a probable Opinion though contrary to his own Lib 2. p. 205. judgement Azorius handling this Question Whether a Priest who hears Confessions may reasonably submit to the Opinion of his Penitent when 't is contrary to his own After he hath propounded the distinctions and limitations of several Doctors affirms that in every case without exception or distinction every Confessor as well ordinary as delegate may and ought to submit to the judgement of his Penitent As for example suppose the Confessor is fully convinced that his Penitent is obliged to make restitution of goods unjustly detain'd and hereupon scruples to absolve him yet if the Penitent will not submit unto his judgement he may doe it And observe his reason because he who hears the confessions of Penitents is oblig'd to provide for their salvation Layman affirms the same thing and Lib 1. p. 6. tells us that Sot Victor Navar. Medina Sanchez and Vasquez are of this perswasion And he gives this weighty reason for it The Confessor confession being made cannot deny absolution to his Penitent that is rightly dispos'd but in following a probable Opinion the Penitent doth not sin and so as to this is rightly disposed And Escobar propounding the same Question returns the same answer and gives the same reason Nay he addes that the Confessor who denies absolution upon this account is guilty of mortal sin when the sins confessed are mortal because he forceth his Penitent to discover those sins to another Confessor which is a grievous burthen Theol Mor p. 28. To these I could adde the testimony of Filliucius * Tom p 113. Cardinal Tolet and many others Now what wickednesse may be committed †Lib 3. 51◠under the protection of this Doctrine is obvious to an ordinary understanding How doth it favour loose and licentious persons and indulge them in their immoralities for what Crime can be committed but some one or other of their Doctors doth allow and justifie it Canst thou not keep
They tell the people both in Pulpit and private Conferences saith Sands that the Lutherans and Calvinists are blasphemers of God and p. 118. c. all his Saints that they abolish the Sacraments that they raze or rob Churches and convert them into Stables that there is no kind of villany which is not currant among them that in England they have neither Churches nor form of Religion nor serve God any way that the English since their apostacy from the Roman Church are become so barbarous that their Souldiers are very Cannibals and eat young Children But upon Geneva they are most severe affirming that it is a professed Sanctuary of all impiety giving entertainment to all the Rogues Traytors and Rebels of other Countries This was so confidently reported in Italy saith the fore-cited Author that some Fryars having robbed their Converts of their Church-plate and Repositonies they brought them in triumph to Geneva but contrary to their expectation they were forthwith advanced to the Gibbet for their labour which usage caused them to complain of their false information And in Spain also was this report so firmly believed that a Spanish Gallant who carried a mint about him repaired thither to have staÌ„ps made him for the coyning of Pistolets Being apprehended his defence was that he understood their City was free gave receipt to all offenders It was answeâ—ed that they received all offeÌ„ders but punished their offences A distinction which the grave Donne had not heard of before the learning of it then cost him no lesse than his life And that these calumnies might with more ease be credited by the Vulgar they confidently report the great Promoters of the Reformation as we Hereticks call it viz Luther Calvin Beza c. to be men of loose principles and licentious practices Bellarmine affirmeth of Luther that he justifies the Arrians and saith they did very well in expelling the word Homousion being a word that his soul hated Praefat disp de Christo Again That faith except it be without even the least good works doth not justify and is not faith Bellar de Justific lib 1. cap. 12. Luther averreth that the ten Commandments belong not to us for God did not lead us but the Jewes out of Egypt And how can a man prepare himselfe to good seeing it is not in his power to make his wayes evil For God worketh the wicked work of the wicked Marquesse of Worcester And concerning his death Thyraeus the Jesuite tells us this Storie That the same day that Luther dyed there was at Gheola a Town in Brabant many persons possessed of devils that waited on their St. Dimna for deliverance and were all that day delivered but the next day they were all possessed again whereupon the Exorcist asked the devils where they had been the day before and they answered that they were commanded by their Prince to be at the funeral of their fellow Labourer Luther And for proof of this Luthers own Servant that was with him at his death looking out at the window did more then once to his great terror see a company of ugly spâ—rits leaping and dancing without c. De Daemonaicis cap. 8. pag 16. And Calvin they charge with these blasphemous passages That God is the Author of all the evil that 's done in the world That in the death of Christ occurs a spectacle full of desperation Marq That Christ despaired upon the Crosse and was damned Bellar de Christi Anima lib 4. c. 8. And de Notis Eccles lib 4. cap 17. he saith that Calvin was eaten up of worms even as Antiochus Herod and Maximinus And then adds that he dyed cursing and blaspheming Of Beza they write that a little before Sands p. 101. his death he had in full Senate at Geneva recanted his Religion exhorting them if they had any care to save their souls to seek reconciliation with the Roman Church and to send for some Jesuites to instruct them Zuinglius affirms saith the Marquesse that these sayings and such like if thou wilt enter into life keep the Commandments c. are superfluous and Hyperbolical That when we commit adultery or murther it is the work of God being the mover the author or inciter c. God moveth the Thief to kill he is forced to sin c. Some of these and many more of the like nature which I have not time to mention you may find in the Marquesse of Worcesters papers to King Charles 1. all which are fully detected by our learned Mr. Cartwright in the second part of his Cerâ—amâ—n Religiosum And thus we have dispatched the first thing propounded shew'd you by what Arts and Policâ—es the Whore of Babylon hath advanced her self and deluded the Nations And who ever considers the nature of them how contrariant they are to all Lawes both Divine and humane and what dreadful menaces are annexed to them in sacred Writ cannot doubt of the truth of this Proposition which was the second thing propounded viz That the wayes and methods which Rome Papal hath used to advance her selfe and propagate her Doctrines will bring inevitable ruin and destruction upon her CHAP. IX Some practicall Inferences from the foregoing Discourse ARe these the Wayes and Methods which the Pope and his Factors have used to propagate their doctrines 1. Here then we may see how it comes to passe that the Church of Rome hath such a numerous company of Proselytes There was never Government framed by the wit of man more powerful to attain itâ— designed ends than that of Rome never any either more wisely contrived â—â— more diligently observed insomuch that but for the natural weaknesse of falshood and dishonesty their external meanes were sufficient to prevail upon the whole world to submit unto it Whatsoever either wealth can sway with the lovers or voluntary poverty wâ—th the despisers of the world what honour with the ambitious or obedience with the humble what great employments with active spirits or perpetual quiet with restive bodies what satisfaction the pleasant nature can take in sports and pastimes or the austere mind in discipline and rigour what love either Chastity can raise in the pure or voluptuousnesse in the dissolute what change of vowe with the rash or of Estate with the inconstant what pardons with the guilty or supplyes with the indigent what Miracles with the Credulous and Visions with the Phantastical what glorious shewes with the Vulgar and multitude of Ceremonies with the superstitious in short whatsoever is congruent and complacential to the various tempers and dispositions of men is to be found in the Church of Rome To conclude never was there a Politie or Government in the world so strangely compacted of infinite contrarieties all tending to entertain and gratifie the several humours of men and by Consequence more powerful to attain the ends of its institution 2. Let us then thankfully acknowledge the infinite goodnesse and mercy of God in our signal deliverances