are altered religion mournes because her best seruants want their wages For they neuer gaue so fast as now they take away Sublatis studiorum praemijs ipsa studiae pereunt saith Cornelius Tacitus and substraction is become a great part of patrons study The conclusiō like to follow such polling premisses is the decay of learning piety religiō the bringing in of al Atheisme error Barbarisme For they which would study diuinitie aboue all when they see that the Church hath scarce the fauour of an ordinarie ward yea when they behold the contempt the beggerlines vexatiō and miserable want of the ministery are glad to fall to phisicke or law or some other trade Gen. 48 7 What shall I say of you You are worse thē Pharao for he had a care of his priests howsoeuer the world went with the rest You are not so kind to ministers of the gospel as Iesabel that painted harlot 1. King 18.19 These shall rise in iudgement against you Iud. 17. was to the prophets of the groues for she fed foure hundred at her table you are not half so religious as Micha was superstitious for he maintained his priests You shew that you haue lesse loue to religion then they papists haue to superstition The kite is your cognisance who being greedy and rauenous yet mounteth aloft as though he would touch the gliding clouds but yet when he flieth a matchlesse pitch he hath his eies fixed below on the earth spying and prying for a carrion carcasse euen so you soare aloft in your contemplation and in a certain counterfeit sanctimony seeme to be raised and carried aboue the clouds yet so long as you can find in your harts to play the part-stake patrons to spoile the Church to seeke to enrich your selues by such robberies they are no better it is an infallible signe that you are worldlings and earthly minded seeking your owne gaine and priuate profit For Gods loue let this be reformed that we may know you by another cognisance The last and best sort of patrons are such as account them worthie of double honour which rule well The best sort of patrones 1. Tim. 5.17 that hold the labourer worthie of his hire that no man goeth to warfare on his owne charges 1. Cor 1 from the 5 verse to the 15 that husbandmen should eate of the fruit of such vineyardes as they themselues planted that sheppeheards should eat of the milke of their owne flockes that sowers of spirituall things which are the greater are well worthy to reape carnal things which are the lesser that they which serue at the altar are worthie to liue by the altar These for their cognisance may fitly giue some rare bird I had almost said the blacke Swan but it shall be the Eagle for she mounteth on hie and falleth not on the ground but to seeke her necessarie food and being satisfied straightway soareth aloft euē so the minds of these are occupied in heauen all superfluous cares being cast apart they indeed wish the prosperity of Ierusalem the happy florishing state of the Church O Lord almightie encrease the number of these and in thy mercy conuert or in iustice confound such Church-robbers as sauor nothing but their own gain as daily indeuour to take away the reward of knowledge are the death of thousand thousands of souls stir vp O Lord thy faithful seruant our dread soueraigne that with Nehemiah she may thrust out all such Eliashibs as abuse the Church in this manner Nehem. 13.14 and euerie Tobiah linked in affinity with them that thy seruants may haue their own portions and that thou maist not be mocked so we thy workmanship and sheep of thy pasture for so great a mercy shal praise thee fer euer Amen CHAPTER 12. The dutie of Christian Magistrates as well Soueraigne as others in hunting and taking the two-legged Foxes THere be two sorts of men which say that the charge of Religion belongeth not to the office of the magistrate First they which vnder pretence of their annointed cleargie and priuiledged priesthood cannot abide to haue their abuses reformed Secondly they which eyther are infected with some heresie or else are willing to dally with heretikes The first sort doe onely require of the magistrate to maintaine and defend their degrees The second sort holdeth that the magistrate ought onely to meddle with the maintenance of publike peace and not to regard what others beleeue or not beleeue But the true Church teacheth that the charge of publike religion doth not in part Charge of religion belongeth to the Magistrate but principally and most of all belong vnto the magistrate which thing the holy scripture approueth Moses the first generall magistrate of the Israelites God gaue the order of religion to Moses not to Aaron who did not represent the person of a priest which was put vnto Aaron but of the superiour power like vnto the authoritie of a king did giue the order of al religion vnto the people appointed vnto Aaron the order of the priests what they should do what they should not do Wherby it appeareth that the care of the order of religiō doth rather belong vnto the superior magistrat then vnto the degree of priesthood I know they will say that Moses did dispose all these things at Gods commaundement It is true but I will be answered againe why God gaue not the commaundement for order of religion vnto Aaron whom he had consecrated to be a priest rather then vnto Moses So then this rather sheweth that the charge of the institution and gouernance belonges vnto the magistrate but the institution charge and ministration belongs vnto the priests Againe after the death of Moses the charge of religion belonged not to Eleasar the Priest but to Iehosua the magistrate who was of the tribe of Ephraim Iosua 5 and not of Leui by whose commaundement the children of Israell were the second time circumcised the Ark of God carried by the priests the altars builded the people sanctified and the rest of the lawes fulfilled which Moses prescribed Againe Iehosua charged them to feare the Lord Iosua 8 and to serue him with an vpright and faithfull heart Iehosua charged them to rid out of the way all straunge gods Iehosua renewed the couenant betweene God and his people and compiled the words of the couenant into the booke of Gods law True it is that the office of magistracie and priesthood both were ioyned together in the person of Samuel 1. Sam. 1. but yet he being at that time the chiefe man in Israell iudged and determined as a magistrate taught and sacrificed as a priest Dauid a patterne for good magistrats The ordering of religion by Dauid and vnto whom Christian rulers ought to haue an eie for godlinesse 2. Sam. 6 had the authority of disposing setting forth true religion 1. Chro. 16 1. Cho. 22.23.24.25 he
of these dayes and times wish the death of her Maiestie and alteration of state and gouernment there needes no further proofe then their conspiracies Beleeue them without further proofe their treasons and secret attempts their platformes and practises for forraine inuasion whereby it is euident that these are the dayes of their griefe and sorow and that they regarde the saftie neither of prince nor countrie so they may returne to the flesh pots of Egypt and eate their fill with peaceable freedome The eight reason THey that regarde not into what subiection slauerie shame and dishonour her highenes Papists regard no state so that poperie may preuaile her kingdome and subiects be brought vnto so that â—heir blinde worship and pageant of papistrie may bee erected can bee no good subiects But perfect papists neither regard Maiestie of the prince nor dignitie of the nobles nor grauitie of age nor difference of sexe nor excellencie of learning so that poperie may be set vp in stead of the Gospell Therefore such can be no good subiects The desperate dealings and damnable practises of papists heretofore prooue plainly Wofull experience that allegiance to their prince cannot keepe them from treason the dutie of loue to their naturall countrie cannot withdraw them from fauouring rebellion at home nor lincking with straungers abroade that the dutie of obedience of children to parents or of parents affection to children cannot keepe them from vnnaturall crueltie that the dutie of mutuall loue and societie betwixt the husband and wife cannot remoue them from monstrous immanitie that the dutie of kinde and naturall pittie cannot stay a papists hands from murdering feeble sexe tender babes or reuerent age lastlie that the duty of familiaritie in youth of frendship in grauer yeares of continuall societie during all the life passed cannot stay a papists hands from sacrificing his dearest frendes Nay which is more not onely are they contented to yeeld their bracelets and earerings to the framing of the golden calfe as did Israell nor to offer their frends in sacrifice as did that vnnaturall King of Moab in offering his sonnes to asswage the ire of his angrie Gods but to make their owne liues a pray to their enemies as did the Athenians when they accorded by casting of lots to giue themselues to bee deuoured of that gastly monster Minotaurus Wherefore since it is so cleare a case that the consciences of these catholikes are altogether Romish that they hold the Popes excoÌ„munication against our dread soueraigne the Queenes Maiestie to be lawfull that they yeeld their obedience no longer then durante beneplacito of the Pope that they receiue and recommend such libels as deface our Church abuse her highnes person and all her louing subiects that they receiue pardons to exempt themselues from dutifull obedience that they receiue and entertaine the enemies of this realme Iesuits seminarie priests that they looke for a golden day and long for an alteration that they care not to conspire at home with traitours and to plot abroad with straungers whereby to conuey the crowne to a forrayner sithens I say this is so then two conclusions do follow first that euery perfect papist is a secret traitour to his prince and countrie And secondarily that it is a safer way to trusse then to trust a two-legged Fox Our gracious God that hath hitherto protected vs blesse her Maiestie and her honorable priuie counsel that through their wisdomes zeale and courage Gods glorie may be promoted the vndermining of these Foxes which destroy our vines soundly sifted and secret traitours sharply punished Then shal EnglaÌ„d lesse feare her ruine which God forbid by strangers force when vengeance deserued shal strongly sease on household foes nay els may EnglaÌ„d more suspect the weakning of her present state by nourishing a viper in her owne bowels then Spanish power or any els who gnash their teeth at her peace and welfare CHAPTER 10. Twelue reasons prouing by diuinitie and true Christian pollicie that Foxes must be taken THe thing that our Catholickes chiefly doe aime at is that her highnes and her counsell may be deceiued by erronius pretence of pollicie and colour of clemencie that they may lurke vnder the shadow and be nourished as a Serpent in the bosome It is therefore heedfully to be respected that the Church of the diuell be not maintained with indulgence multiplied with foolish mercie but that it be kept vnder with sharpnes of discipline and correction that it grow not to such rankenesse as to choake the true Church Foolish mercy may marre all and clemencie may be great crueltie when it ouerfloweth to the hazard of Gods Children Where seueritie saith one goeth into loosnes their edifying goeth into destruction custom goeth into corruptioÌ„ law into conteÌ„pt mercy is laughed and godlinesse goeth into hypocrisie execution of lawes against Gods enemies and the enemies of this Church and Commonwealth is the marke that is leuelled at and why should it not be hit since diuinitie and godly pollicie wil haue it so Wherfore although this point hath been no doubt handled religiously and zealously of the learned both in preaching and in writing yet since it fitteth this place so well I purpose to speake of it briefely and distinctly and proue that both diuinitie and Christian pollicie require that sharpe execution be vsed in punishing the enemies of the Church The first reason prouing by diuinitie that lawes ought sharpely to be executed vpon papistes and all idolatrous heretikes God commaundeth Foxes to be 〈◊〉 THat which the Lord commandeth must be don without mammering staggering doubting or delay But he commaundeth Foxes to be taken and execution of lawes to be done against them Therefore Christian Princes and Magistrates doe but their duties in rooting out such noysome vermine as destroy the vines If there arise among you c. Deut. 13.1.2 Cantic 2.16 Deut. 7.1.2 Galat. 5.12 Take vs the Foxes the little Foxes which destroy the vines when the Lord shall haue brought into the land whither thou goest to possesse it c. I woulde saith the Apostle they were cut off which trouble you The second Reason THat which the godly magistrates haue done in defacing the Lords enemies and defilers of his worship Presidents for Christian rulers that ought stil to be performed of Christian rulers in the like cause But they haue remoued destroied the enemies of his truth and peruerters of his seruice as their examples may be remembred Therfore Christian magistrates in the same cause ought to shew the same zeale When the golden Calfe was erected to Idolatrie Moses Moses willed them to arme their hands and to sheath their swords in the intrals of their nearest kinsmen to make hauocke of their liues and he calleth it a sanctifying of their hands to the Lord. And how What manner of holines was that Truly euen to kill the Idolaters and to put the corrupters of religion to death And whom commaunded
he to doe it Euen the Leuites euen those which ought to haue been the mirrours of all pitie and compassion euen the priestes which God had dedicated to himselfe must be the executors of his rigor And vpō whom Euen vpon their owne kinsmen Thus the mildest man that euer was behaued himselfe against Gods enemies for he was zealous in the cause of the highest This was much but Asa Asa did as much as he For he put away the Sodomites and banished the Idolaters out of the land he remoued Maacha his mother and tooke the crowne from her head because she offered sacrifice to Priapus and gaue commandement that whosoeuer would not worship the Lord God of Israel should be slaine from the greatest to the smallest This was much but Iehu did as much as Asa For he killed all the Prophets of Baal and suffered not one of them to liue he defaced the Temple of their Gods and made a draught house of it for euer What wonderfull things did those good Kings Ezekias and Iosias in their daies The one spared not an Idolater in the land the other being but a young prince was so zealous in the behalfe of his God that he put the idolatrous priestes to death burnt their bones and sacrificed them vpon their owne Altars as the bookes of the Chronicles and Kings of Iuda do declare These are good presidents for Christian princes to follow neither was there more need at any time to draw the sword against prophaners of the Lords seruice For there is sprung vp a mightie generation of wicked and disloyall men to disturbe vs of disobedient and vntoward children to prouoke vs of deceitfull and halting hypocrites to disquiet vs of Romish Baalims stragling extrauagants to withdraw vs from the worship of our God The third Reason Papistes conuicted of high treason HIgh treasons are in their true natures offences against the highest Maiesty for treason is called crimen laesae maiestatis that is tending either to the destruction of their persons or defacement of their dignities But the papistes although they denie not the person yet debase they the authoritie of the sonne of God Therefore papistes are guiltie of highest treason How many and how horrible treasons they commit against Iesus Christ it will be too long to rehearse yet because euerie one to whose vew these my labours shal be offered may see how iustly they are conuicted I will but glance at some of the chiefest First of all therefore vnderstand you I speake to the vulgar sort which doe not so thoroughly cōceiue of these matters that the Apostolicall Church of Rome hath degraded our Lord Iesus of all his degrees Christ degraded of all his dignities by the Catholiks his dignitie royall his state propheticall and his priesthood In respect of his dignitie royall wee say that vnto him alone it appertaineth to commaund and forbid Iohn 13.13 1. Cor. 5.4 Apoc. 3.7 to iudge and absolue hauing the keyes to open to shut so that it is not lawfull for any no not for the Angels themselues to make a law to bind the conscience nor to establish in any point cōcerning the substance of it the gouernment of the Church The reason is euident because we are forbidden to ad or diminish any thing from the commaundementes of the lawgiuer as also to make new ordinances Deu. 4.2.12.32 Esay 29.13 Coloss 2.8 1. Cor. 7.23 and all the commandements of man in the matter of this spirituall kingdome are once for all declared to be nullities Now these traitours incroch vpon his prerogatiues Papistes traitours against Christ his roiall dignitie Christ more be holden to Pilate then to the Papistes Math. 26. by ordering the estate of the house of this king contrarie to his owne expresse will in eclipsing some of his lawes in establishing others altogether new So that Christ may seeme to be much and more beholden to Pilate then to these kind of teachers for he writ him king of the Iewes though he knew not what he did for which cause the Pharisees were angrie with him but these write him king of the Church yet they crown him with thornes and giue him a reed in steed of a scepter As for his propheticall soueraigne authoritie by the spirit of whom all the auncient Prophets spak who afterwards plenarily in his owne person declared the will of his father hath since his ascending into heauen vntill he returne not to teach but to iudge continued to declare the same vnto the world by his faithfull Apostles how is it possible more in this point to betray him whom we are bound to heare in paine of extermination Papists traitors to Christ his Propheticall state and how then first by falsifying that which he preached both by adding to and clipping from and secondly by forbidding his word to be read vnto all nations kindreds in a knowne language fearing say they least men should become heretikes that is least light ingender darkenes and truth lying and what is this but neither to enter themselues Math. 5. The priesthood of Christ according to the scriptures nor yet to let others and to hide the light vnder a bushell The third office which is his priesthood consisteth in two principal points In our redemption in his intercession our redemption hath two parts expiation and sanctification In expiation behold foure speciall points first that the word betokeneth a full and entire paiment of all that is due vnto God Secondly that which is due is death according to the sentence giuen by God himselfe Gen. 2.17 Rom. 5.12.6 23 vnderstanding by death not onely the separation of the soule from the bodie which is called the first death Genesis 3.19 whence followeth putrefaction of the bodie in the graue but the second death also which is the frightfull yre and malediction of God reuenging with all perpetuitie sinne in the bodie and soule of the sinner which horrible state is eternall in the diuell and the damned Thirdly this expiation betokeneth not the payment for one sinner but for all sinners I meane the elect which haue been are or shall be to the ende of the world not of one sinne but of all sinnes except that against the holy ghost which is vnpardonable Fourthly this paiment was to be offered by him who in respect of himselfe should be no way bound to this malediction but a pledge suretie for others Now of sinnes or debts to be paied there be two kindes Hebr 7.22 some originall some actuall originall sinne must be considered in two diuers respectes first touching the corruption of the whole man which is as it were the essence of this sinne Secondly touching that which followeth it namely that which makes vs children of wrath worthie of the curse of God from our conception This is it we teach and build out of the word of God In this behold how many waies the papistes play the traitors