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A13155 An abridgement or suruey of poperie conteining a compendious declaration of the grounds, doctrines, beginnings, proceedings, impieties, falsities, contradictions, absurdities, fooleries, and other manifold abuses of that religion, which the Pope and his complices doe now mainteine, and vvherewith they haue corrupted and deformed the true Christian faith, opposed vnto Matthew Kellisons Suruey of the new religion, as he calleth it, and all his malicious inuectiues and lies, by Matthevv Sutcliffe. Sutcliffe, Matthew, 1550?-1629. 1606 (1606) STC 23448; ESTC S117929 224,206 342

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decretales and Romish traditions CHAP. III. Of the wicked doctrine of Papistes concerning the law of God and the performance thereof LOng it were to relate all the wicked and false doctrines of Popery in euery point of Christian faith beside that the same is performed largely by diuers learned men in diuers ample volumes we will therefore heere speake onely of some principall points of religion and shew how they haue beene by our aduersaties most notoriously abused and corrupted and so proceed to intreat of the beginnings proceedings impieties falsities contradictions and other abuses and defects that are generally found in Popery First then wee finde that they haue not only taught impiously of Gods law but also reiected the same for their owne traditions generallie they hold that the Popes lawes bind in conscience and that it is sinne to transgresse them but if this were so then were not the knowledge of sinne by the law as the Apostle teacheth vs neither were the law of God perfect nor a certaine rule of Christian life nor were God the onely lawgiuer that could saue and destroy Bellarmine lib. 1. de stat peccat c. 3. saith that there are certaine sinnes or transgressions of the law so light and little that they deserue not eternall death but this doth frustrate the sanction or vigour of the law that pronounceth them accursed which continue not in all things which are written in the booke of the law to do them as we read Galat. 3. The Scotists and most Papists now hold that the Virgin Mary was neither conceiued in sinne nor euer committed sinne but the Apostle Rom. 5 saith that by one man sinne entred into the world and death by sinne went ouer all and Galat. 3. he sheweth how the scripture hath concluded all vnder sinne All of them hold that in the regenerate concupiscence is no sinne yet can they not deny but that concupiscence is forbidden by the law of God and thereupon the Iebusites in their censure of Colein denie all to bee sinne that is repugnant to the law of God Let Christians therefore imagine whether they will follow the Apostle that sheweth sin to bee knowen by the law and that concupiscence is sinne or the Iebusites denying the same The Iebusites of Collein fol. 194. affirm that what the law commandeth concerning the loue of God with our whole hart mind soule pertaineth not to vs in this life as if God had giuen a law to soules in the life to come and not to men in this life this error our Sauiour confuteth Matth. 22. where he assoileth the Scribes question concerning the greatest commandement in the law The same fellowes fol. 48. affirme that a regenerate man is able to performe the law of God perfectly but if this be so then they are deepe plunged in the heresie of the Pelagians who were condemned for holding that Christians are able to liue without all sinne The Papists teach that we are to bee iustified and saued by the workes of the law but the Apostle 2. Cor. 3. teacheth contrarie that the law is the minister of death The law of God forbiddeth vs the hauing of other gods beside him in which commandement wee are also forbidden to giue the honour of God to creatures but Papists beside God in heauen haue a God on earth as appeareth euidently by the chap. satis dist 96. and diuers glosses of canonists and glosing flatteries of Papistes they worship the sacrament also as God and Bellarmine lib. de monachis c. 14. doth call Saints Gods by participation the honour of God they giue to Saints and Angels yea to the images of Christ of the Crosse and of the Trinity in the honour of Angels and Saints they say masses and offices they erect churches altars and images and burne incense vnto them they call vpon them sweare by them make vowes and confesse their sinnes vnto them The second law of the first table prohibiteth the making of grauen images to the intent to bow vnto them and to worship them but Papistes do both make them and praie and crouch before them they do also offer gifts and burne incense vnto them as the heathen did to their idols nay which the heathen did neuer they giue the same honour to a picture of Christ or of the Crosse or of the Trinity which they giue to God himselfe praying to the Crosse they say ô Crosse of Christ protect me ô Crosse of Christ defend mee from all euill The third law forbid deth periury the vaine vse of swearing and all abuses of Gods holy name and word but little is the same regarded by the Pope and his complices for they do not onely breake their oathes but also lightly dispense with periured persons Gregory the seuenth as in his life appeareth forswore the papacy and yet regarded not his oath the like we find related of Pope Formosus commonly they loose and assoile subiects from the bond of their oath to Princes absoluit Gregorius 7. omnes a iuramento quos fidei tenuit obligatio saith he that wrote the life of Henry the fourth Paschal the second hauing solemnly sworne to the Emperour presently brake his oath as we may see in Otho Frisingensis and diuers other historiographers Gregory the twelsth as Theodoric à Niem testifieth tract vnion 6. c. 29. was publickely accounted a periured person periurus publicus Charles the French King as Theodoric à Niem tract vnion 6. c. 14. testifieth chargerh Gregory the twelfth and Peter de luna with periury violauerunt sidem fregerunt votum promissum non tenuerunt and againe ô magnum scelestum facinus saith hee speaking of their periuries Innocent the seuenth hauing vowed and sworne to vnite the papacy would not doe it notwithstanding his oath as wee read tract vnion 6. c. 39. quam vouit iurauit facere noluit vnionem in the conuenticle of Constance it was decreed by this wicked synagogue that oathes and promises were not to be holden being made to heretickes the periury of Ladislaus which Eugenius the fourth induced him vnto cost the losse of many mens liues Gulcciardine histor lib. 8. doth testifie that the Pope decreed that it should be lawfull to recall all couenants and promises made by the Popes predecessors that impious fellow Pius the 5. in his Bul against Queene Elizabeth of pious memory did excommunicate such as would not take armes against her and yet her subiects were sworne to obey her all Papists commonly are great swearers and forswearers in the Roman Catechisme in 2. mandat they complaine that their people were giuen to swearing and cursing Quis non videat say they omnia iureiurando assirmari omnia imprecationibus execrationibus referta esse they sweare by saints bread salt and other creatures infringing Gods commandement Deut. 6. that requireth men to sweare by his name Finally the Popes and their complices most shamefully wrest and turne scriptures making them serue to their humours and pleasures The fourth
of her image there to be idolatrous 14. They celebrate the feast of our Ladies conception and of the assumption of her body into heauen as appeareth by their missals and breuiaries but Catholickes drslike both as grounded vpon apocryphall fables and lying legends S. Bernard epist 174. speaking against the feast of her conception saith she needed no false honours 15. Catholickes neuer beleeued that Christ had a body inuisible impalpable and not comprehended in a place S. Augustine de essentia diuinitatis saith that Christ according to his humane nature is visible corporal and local but our aduersaries teach that his true body is in the sacrament where it is neither seene felt nor circumscribed in a place 16. They speake reuerentlie of Christs body and hold it blasphemy to say that the same may be cast into the fire or eaten of dogs or hogs or other brute beasts but the Papists doe not so much as goe about to cleare themselues of this blasphemy 17 They teach that Christ had a body like to ours in all things sin except the Papists beleeue that his body is really in the sacrament and conteined in the compasse of a consecrated host and that the same is inuisible and able to penetrat other solide bodies without the dissolution of their substance but such abodie no man euer yet had nor by nature can haue 18 They beleeue that euery body is continued to it self or as Logicians call it continua quanutas but Papists beleeue that Christs body is in heauen and earth and euery altar and yet not in the middle places whereby it followeth that Christs head in heauen is not continued to his feet being in a consecrated host in earth 19. Vigilius lib. 4. cont Eutych saith that Christs body being now in heauen is not on earth and that is the faith of Catholickes but the false and pretended catholickes beleeue that his body is both in heauen and earth and diuers distant places at one time 20. Catholickes beleeue that Christ only is our redeemer for so the Apostle teacheth vs Rom. 3.1 Cor. 1. and diuers other places but Bellarmine in his first booke of indulgences teacheth vs that saints and others may be called redeemers all his consorts also teach that the Pope by his indulgences redeemeth soules out of purgatorie 21. Catholickes acknowledge that Christ is our iustice for so the Apostle 1. Cor. 1. expresly saith they beleeue also that we are iustified by faith in him as we read Rom. 5. but Kellison in his suruey and his consorts teach that he is onely the meritorious cause of our iustification and that we are formally iustified and saued by our owne workes 22. Catholickes doubt not to make their election sure and being iustified by faith haue peace with God and are perswaded that nothing shall separate them from the loue of God for all this is Apostolike doctrine but Papists teach their followers to doubt of their election and of the grace of God towards them and depriue them both of peace of conscience and of all assurance of Gods grace 23. Catholickes beleeue that Christ was wounded for our transgressions and that he hath borne our infirmities and that by his stripes we are healed for so the Prophet Isay cap. 53. teacheth vs. but the pretended popish catholickes do lash themselues and hope by their owne stripes to heale their sinnes and to satisfie for them and without this satisfaction they beleeue that no man can obteine remission of sinnes 24. Catholickes euer spared their owne bodies but certaine heretickes and idolaters did vsually afflict their bodies and lash themselues before their idols in lashing of themselues therefore the Papists imitate the Priests of Baal and not true Catholickes 25. Catholickes beleeue that their sinnes are purged by the bloud of Christ as we read Hebr. 1. but Papists beleeue that their sinnes are purged in purgatory and by their owne satsifactions 26. The Greekes to this day neuer beleeued Purgatory neither doe any of the ancient fathers beleeue that after our sinnes are remitted Christians are to satisfie for temporall paines either in this life or in purgatory the doctrine therefore of purgatorie will neuer be proued Catholicke 27. The Apostles and ancient fathers neuer knew nor heard of the doctrine and treasure of the Popes indulgences this doctrine of Papists therefore is to bee abolished as not Catholicke 28. True Catholickes neuer beleeued that Christians were iustified by mariage the master of the sentences saith it is onely a remedy against sinne but Papists hold they are iustified by marriage aswell as by other Sacraments 29. The doctrine of the conuenticle of Florence concerning the forme of priesthood popish confirmation extreme vnction and their number of seuen sacraments cannot bee proued to be Catholicke 3. Bellarmine lib. 2. de effectu sacrament c. 3. and other his consorts affirme that Christians are instified by the sacraments ex opere operato or by their owne act and worke wrought whereby it followeth that they are iustified by greasing crossing and such like acts but this doctrine is not catholicke the Greekes to this day acknowledge no such doctrine nor is any such thing to bee found in ancient writers 31. The Greekes to this day renounce the Popes supremacy the ancient fathers neuer heard of a triple crowned Pope with a crossed slipper and a guard of Suitzers the doctrine therefore of the Popes generall vicarship taught by Bellarmine in his bookes de pontisice Rom. and by others is not Catholicke 32. Papists teach that some sinnes are done away by holy water and without repentance and that such sinnes deserue not death but the Apostle Galat. 3. sheweth him to be accursed that abideth not in all the words of the law to doe them and Rom. 6. saith that the wages of sinne is death this is also the faith of all Catholickes but of the efficacy of holie water to doe awaie sinnes true Catholickes say nothing 33. Papists offer the sacrifice of the masse pro redemptione animarum suarum for the redemption of their soules but Catholikes doe not hope for redemption but by the sacrifice of Christ once offered vpon the crosse 34. They make Christians eaters of mans flesh and drinkers of mans blood really and literally as their words in the chapter ego Berengarius dist 2. de consecrat do import but our Sauiour saith that the spirit quickeneth and Saint Augustine tract 25. in loan sheweth that Christs flesh is not to be receiued with our mouth or teeth vt quid paras dentem saith he why doest thou prepare thy teeth 35. They make their Priests creators of their creator as Innocentius in his bookes de myster missae stella Clericorum and Boner in his speech to the Priests in Queene Maries time in expresse words doe declare but Christians and Catholikes abhorre to heare Priests called creators or God to be made a creature 36. They make the Priest to intercede for Christs bodie and blood saying supra quae propitio
yet they say Christians sinne mortally if they heare not Masse euery Sunday and holiday Of grace they speake as men deuoid of grace and knowledge for by grace by which we are saued and made acceptable to God they vnderstand nothing else but either charity or a habit not distinct from Charity so that albeit they exclude not grace from the worke of our saluation yet making grace a habit or vertue they ouerthrow grace and ascribe the merit of our saluation not to Gods mercie through Christ nor to the merit of his Passion but properly to our owne workes and merites diuers of them saie that men are predestinated for their merites foreseene and all hold that men were reprobated for their sinnes foreseene before they say further that the vnregenerat hath freewill as well as the regenerat and that not onely in matters of this life but also to doe workes of piety and other supernaturall effectes The doctrine of faith they haue also much corrupted for they make Charity the forme of faith as if faith were without forme or life of it selfe and as if the iust man did not liue by faith to this purpose they say that not onlie wicked and reprobat men but also the diuels of hell maie haue true and iustifying faith they hold further that by faith we are not onely to hold whatsoeuer is conteined in holy scriptures but also whatsoeuer is deliuered by tradition or determined by the Pope and lastly that no man is to beleeue that he shall assuredly be saued but rather to hold that he that is truly iustified may be damned Concerning the law of God they teach both contrary to reason and law for first they cut out the 2. commandement in their offices of our Lady and their primers because it cannot well stand with the Popish worship of images secondly they teach that concupiscence without our consent is not sinne albeit the law say non concupisces thirdly they say that it is sinne as well to transgresse the Popes decrees as Gods lawes fourthly they beleeue that the Pope is able either to dissolue the law as for example where he absolueth subiectes from their obedience to princes and children from their duty to parents or at the least to dispense with the transgressors of the law as for example with periured persons adulterers Sodomites murtherers assassinors theeues sacrilegious persons and such like fiftly they beleeue that a man is able perfectly to fulfill the law of which it followeth that man is able to liue without all sinne which as Augustine sheweth lib. 4. de bono perseuerat c. 2. 5 and Hierome aduers Pelag. is flat Pelagianisme In their doctrine of praiers they offend much yet is the practise of Papists farre worse than their doctrine in this point our Sauiour teacheth vs to goe to his father in his name they go to God by the intercession of Saints nay oftentimes they run to Saints Angels and the blessed Virgin without once thinking of God especially if they thinke no more than they vtter in their praiers they pray in a tongue which they vnderstand not which is rather prating than praying they pray for remission of sinnes for the dead not knowing whether they bee damned or no. they pray before stockes and stones nay they put their trust in them for if this were not so why should they hope for better successe at the image of our Lady of Loreto or Monserat than at any other image or forme of our Lady They beleeue that almes satisfie for sinnes and that those are best bestowed that are giuen to Monkes and Friers and such idle vagabonds and plagues of states whereas the first ouerthroweth Christs merits and satisfaction the second is an occasion of all the mischiefes brewed by these mothes of religion and blemishes of state They teach that it is mortall sinne not to fast on Saints vigiles embre daies and other times appointed by the Pope and that fasting standeth in eating fish and abstaining from our suppers and such obseruances and finally that such fasts doe not only satisfie for sinnes but also merit heauen Conscience they know not for they make no conscience to cut Christian mens throats for not yeelding to all their abhominations and thinke it conscience to obey the Popes decrees though very vnlawfull Neither can they well auoid sinne that know not what sinne is The virgin Mary by most of them is acquited from originall sinne and they define sinne to bee not onely the transgression of the law of God but also euery transgression of the law of the Pope nay euery breach of the law of man which vtterly taketh away the difference betwixt the lawes of God and man Of the state of soules departed they seeme to know little truly although some say they know too much for they do not say as we doe that there are two waies after this life the one of the faithfull to eternall life the other of the wicked to eternall death but they say that some go into purgatorie and others into limbus puerorum and out of purgatory they say soules are deliuered partly by masses and partly by indulgences All these points of erroneous false doctrine and all others which either contrarie or beside the word of God the Pope and his complices haue inuented and brought into the church of Rome we call Popery and this is the subiect of this discourse and the doctrine against which we dispute let no man therefore thinke because the Papists maintaine many points of Christian religion that either we reprehend that truth which they and we defend or that they can defend the errors of Popery because they hold some trueth but either let them iustifie their errors or else they shall bee forced to confesse that the proper doctrine of Popery is wicked and erroneous CHAP. II. Of the grounds and foundations of Popish religion AS Popery is diuers from Christian religion so hath the same other foundations than Christian religion The doctors of Trent in the fourth session of that synode hauing pronounced them anathema that shall not receiue all the bookes of the Bible as they are found in the old Latin vulgar translation and read in the church of Rome for holy and canonicall or that shall wittinglie contemne the traditions of that church doe signifie that this is the foundation of the confession of faith which they meant to publish so it appeareth they ground their faith beside canonicall scriptures vpon apocryphall writings of Tobiah Iudith Wisedome Ecclesiasticus and the Machabees and diuers fragments of books not found in the Hebrew text of the Bible and vpon traditions not written but deliuered from hand to hand from the Apostles as they say and so come to their hands but where they speake of scriptures it is to be obserued that they doe not simply allow them but as they are contained in the old vulgar translation and as they are expounded by the Church of Rome those which vnder any
reprochfull humours but neuer did Catholickes so teach the Apostle 2. Tim. 3. saith they are able to make vs wise to saluation and that they are giuen of God to make the man of God perfect S. Augustine lib. 2. de doct Christ c. 9. saith that all things necessarily belonging to faith or manners are conteined in plaine places of scriptures the ancient fathers do euery where speake honorably of scriptures and Ireney saith it is the propertie of heretikes when they are conuinced by scriptures to accuse them Secondly these are speciall points of Popery viz. that the Pope is the foundation head and spouse of the church that his decretales concerning matters of faith are infallible that vnwritten traditions are the word of God not written and equall to scriptures that the old Latine vulgar translation of the bible is authenticall for the most of this is deliuered and determined in the conuenticle of Trent sess 4. the rest is holden by the canonists and the Popes proctors these doctrines are contrarie to the wordes of the Apostle 1. Cor. 3. who sheweth vs that no other foundation can be laid but Christ Iesus and Ephes 2 where it is said that the faithfull are built vpon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets Iesus Christ being the chiefe corner stone Irenaeus lib. 3. aduers haeres c. 1. sheweth that the scriptures are the pillar and foundation of our faith Chrysostome hom 6. in Matth. saith the church is Hierusalem whose foundations are laid vpon the mountains of the scriptures that the Pope should be the foundation of the church and not be subiect to error in determining matters of faith is contrary both to scriptures and fathers as I haue already shewed in my bookes de pontifice Rom. the diuersitie and contrarietie of diuers editions of the old Latine vulgar translation of the bible we haue proued heretofore that it differeth from the originall it is apparent and Arias Montanus Erasmus Caietan and diuers others acknowledge it the fathers in matters of doubt send vs to the originals the falshood of Romish traditions the repugnance betwixt them and scriptures I haue proued in my booke de scripturis against Bellarmine Thirdly the Papists allow no interpretations of scriptures against that sense Cont. Trident. sess 4. which the church of Rome holdeth contra eum sensum quam tenuit tenet sancta mater ecclesia and by the church they vnderstand the Pope principally but that was neuer the opinion of Catholikes nay the Pope and his followers allow diuers interpretations contrarie to the iudgement of all auncient fathers and catholikes they beleeue that these words of Christ feede my sheepe do properly belong to the Pope and that thereby he hath power to depose Princes these words Hiercm 1. I haue appomted thee ouer nations and kingdomes they transferre to the Pope Boniface the 8. in the chap. vnam sanctam extr demaior obed doth thereof conclude that the Pope hath power to iudge all earthly princes Innocent the 3. in the Chap. solitae de maior obed because it is said Genes 1. that God made a greater and lesser light in the firmament collecteth that the Pope is aboue the emperour Christ said do this in remēbrance of me they interpret it as if Christ had said offer vp my body and blood to my father and do it in remembrance of Angels and Saints Christ said search the scriptures and drinke yee all of this which they expound as if he had forbidden laie-men either to search scriptures or to receiue the cup. They haue also infinite other such like peruerse interpretations of scriptures contrarie to the exposition of Catholike fathers and yet stiffle maintaine them 4. Catholikes neuer allowed the legends of S. George S. Christopher S. Catherine S. Vrsula S. Cyprian the magician and such legends as the Papists reade in their churches publikely and beleeue them as traditions of their Elders and grounds of faith the legend of S. George of Cyricus Iulitta of Abgarus and of the inuention of the crosse is condemned by Gelasius c. sancta Romana dist 15. 5. Tho. Aquin. opusc cont errores Graec. saith it is a matter of faith to beleeue the determinatiō of tho Pope in matters belonging to saith or maners a matter neuer beleeued by Catholikes 6. Bellarmine and others say that the Popes lawes doe bind vs in conscience but this neuer entred into the thought of Catholikes S. Iames. c. 4. saith we haue only one lawgiuer and iudge that can saue and destroy 7. They beleeue that images are to he made and worshipped and consequently fil euery corner of their churches with images they also thinke it lawfull to picture God the father like an old man and the holy ghost in the figure of a doue but the law of God expressely forbiddeth the worship of grauen images and all such similitudes and Lactantius lib. 2. instil c. 19. saith there is no religion where such images are S. Augustine de fid symbolo saith that it is impious to place the image of God in the church tale simulachrum deo nefas est Christiano in templo collocare 8. The Iebusites of Collem in their censure teach that we are iustified by the law and that our life and saluation doth consist therein but the Apostle teacheth vs that the law is the minister of death and Irenaeus testifieth lib. 3. aduers haeres c. 20. that the law being spirituall doth only manifest sinne and not kill it and so doe Catholikes beleeue 9. The conuenticle of Trent sess 5. teacheth that concupiscence is not sinne in the regenerat but the Apostle Rom. 7. sheweth the concupiscence is sinne and all true Catholikes must needes confesse it seeing it is forbidden by the law 10 Bellarmine and his consorts beleeue that all Christians are able to performe the law perfectly but Catholickes beleeue that this sauoureth of Pelagianisme for if they be able to performe the law of God perfectly then may they liue without all sinne which Augustine and Hierome in their disputes against the Pelagians declare to be heresie 11 Papists beleeue that the Pope is able to dispence with oathes and to absolue subiects from their obedience and fealty to their Princes but Catholickes assure themselues that it is impious to take Gods name in vaine and to violate lawfull oathes vpon the Popes or any other mans warrant 12 Papists teach that the Virgin Mary was exempt from originall sinne as we may perceiue by Bellarmine lib. 4. de amiss grat c. 15. and by the decrerale of Sixtus 4. and this is the most common opinion but Catholickes thinke contrary for the Apostle Rom. 5. saith that through the offence of one all men are subiect to condemnation 13. They beleeue that the blessed virgins house was caried out of Galiley into Dalmatia and from thence into Italy by the ministery of Angels and that the same is now at Loreto but Catholikes laugh at such fables and esteeme the worship
not to be held with heretikes they endeuored lately to persuade the emperor Charles the fift likewise to breake with Luther Paul the 3. in his bull against King Henry the 8. did pronounce them accursed that would not breake oathes and couenauts made with him or with his subiects Eugenius the 4. was the cause that Ladislaus King of Poland did breake with the Turke the like practises haue diuers Popes vsed to cause subiects to rebell against Princes Innocentius the 3. moued the English contrary to their oaths to rebell against King Iohn and the like course did Paul the third take against King Henry the eight and Pius the sist against Queene Elizabeth of blessed memory the late traytors were diuers of them tied by speciall oathes to King lames but with gun-ponder they meant to blow away oaths and honestie Finally it may truly be said of the Pope and his complices that they take themselues no further bound by their oathes then their profit requireth so one said also in expresse termes of them multis annis iam peractis nulla sides est in pactis for many yeares they haue regarded no compactes and by this stratagem they haue preuailed against the Emperors and other Princes and setting the Christian world vpon a flame haue warmed themselues by the fire We read also that diuers leagues and treaties of peace by the wicked perswasions of Popes and their adherents and agents haue beene violated The Spaniarde and English in time past enterteined peace one with another but Pius the fifth by his agents set the one nation against the other by the practises of Popes and their agents we find that the freuch King Charles the 9. broke the articles of peace both with his subiects and other Princes and caused many thousand innocents to be murdred and massacred throughout his kingdome anno 1572. Philip the 2. King of Spaine had not broken the priuiledges of the low countries nor the articles of the pacification at Gant anno 1576. but that he was moned thereunto by the continuall perswasions of the Pope nay Paul the third doubted not to curse all those that would not breake with king Henry the 8. vpon his excommunication Furthermore by the lawes of nations warres are either publickely proclaimed or after refusall of restitution of goods wrongfully taken by some heraulds or others denounced but the Pope contrary to all lawes caused the Spaniardes anno 1588. to come against England before any warre was denounced the same course also did Paul the 3. hold in his warres against the Germans neither doe the papists end euour any thing more then to take Christians on sleepe and so to steale vpon them and to cut their throates and this appeared lately most clearely in the cruell conspiraracy of the ponder men and vndermining papists Great respect is alwaies had to ambassadors and agents sent to treat of war or peace And this is * C. in●gentium dist 1. confirmed by the lawes of al nations but Popes haue oftentimes euill entreated the Emperors ambassadors Gregorius 7. nuntios Henrici Imperatoris carceri mandauit as we reade in Orthuinus Gratius in certaine epistles set downe together with the Emperors life another Pope killed Frederic the 2. his ambasladors that brought newes of his good successe in Palestine the Marques of Montigni and earle of Bergues in the beginning of the troubles of the Low countrey being sent into Spaine to mediate some good conditions with the king were imprisoned and done to death and now they are esteemed simple that wil trust the Popes vassals or treat with them without hostages Finally by the lawes of nations kings haue soueraigne power ouer their subiects and neither can subiects abandon their Princes nor oppugne them nor may kings oppresse their subiects or suffer them to be massacred by the adherents of antichrist or others but by the doctrine of papistes all Kings are subiect to the Pope as they teach in the chap. vnam sanctam extr de maiorit obed and diuers other places the same also is prooued for that diuers Popes take vpon them to take away Princes crownes the Popes do dispense with the oathes of Princes made to their subiects and with the oathes of subiects made to their Princes of which many calamities doe proceede Papa cum Achaiae principem saith Pachymeres lib. hist 1. c. vlt. iureiurando quod Paleologo dederat soluisset contmentium bellorum causam praebuit the Pope absoluing the Prince of Achaia from his oath giuen to Paleologus was cause of diuers troubles one following vpon the necke of another and the like inconueniences haue followed vpon the like presumption of Popes in taking vpon them to controll kings and to stirre their subiects against them but what need we to seeke for examples in ancient histories when the calamities hapning in France by occasion of the league against the King and in England and Ireland by the Popes insolent excommunications and dispensations in this case are so fresh in memorie is it not then maruell that so many nations should embrace the doctrine of Popery that is so repugnant to the lawes of nations and rights both of Princes and subiects founded on the lawes of nations CHAP. XXXV That Popery dissolueth the bondes of kinred and alliance and ciuilitie THere is no bond straiter then that which is betwixt parents and their children and naturally men are enclined to loue their kinsmen and allies but this false religion which is professed by Papists and founded vpon the Pope dissolueth all bandes of alliance and kindred and setteth the children against the parents and the parents against the children Paschale the 2. and his adherents as Helmoldus testifieth armed the sonne against the father Paschalis Pontifices Germani saith he silium Henricum contra patrem armarunt vicerunt likewise Gregory the 9. made Henry the sonne head of a strong league against Frederic the 2. his father as is testified by Auentinus in annal Boiorum Henricum Caesarem saith he missis legatis aduersus patrem conspirationis valentissimae principem facit the same man speaking of Innocentius the 3. assirmeth that he set coosen against coosen brother against brother and sonne against the father Spectante atque concitante Romano sacerdote saith he Philippus Otho cognatas acies inter so committunt frater aduersus fratrem silius aduersus parentem consligere cogitur Marius Belga lib. de schism c. 4. sheweth how certaine Popish prelates set the sonnes of Ludouicus Pius against the father that Gregory the 4. consented vnto it contrariwise Pius the 5. as we reade in his life written by Hierome Catena testifieth how Philip the 2. of Spayne consented to the death of his sonne Charles suspected not to fauor popish religion non pepereit filio suo proprio saith he abusing the words of holy Scripture sed dedit eum pro nobis he spared not his owne sonne but gaue him for vs. In the histories written concerning the persecutions of the
primitiue church holy scriptures were read in the church and taken only for the word of God but now in the Romish church lying legends and fables are read in the church and lying and vncertaine traditions are made equall to scriptures In time past it was accompted folly to reade scriptures in tongues vnknowen and the Apostle sheweth that it is vnprofitable to pray in a strange language but now the Romanists both reade scriptures and pray in languages not vnderstood of the multitude and yet defend it as well done In ancient time no man euer beleeued either that the scriptures were made to vs authenticall by the Popes determination or that the Popes determinatiō in matters of faith was certeine now all is turned vpside downe scriptures are made vncerteine and obscure and the Popes determination is made most liquide and certeine The ancient bishops of the church preached diligently liued vprightly dealt with their people mercifully now the Popish bishops preach not nor leade their liues according to their profession but contrariwise liue scandalously and are the only bouchers to murder all that shall either reprehend the abuses of the church or their corruptions in manners and the powdermen and vndermining Papists follow their steppes Ancient Christians suffered most cruell torments and death because they would not worship images now the Romanists put all to death that will not worship images The ancient Romans according to S. Paules doctrine beleeued not to be instified by the workes of Gods lawe the late Romanistes hope to bee iustified by the workes of the Popes Lawes They looked for no peace by their owne satisfaction but by the redemption wrought by Christ Iesus these moderne fellowes beleeue that they can satisfie for their owne sinnes and trust in the redemption procured them by the Popes indulgences The Romans vnto whom S. Paul wrote were obedient to Kings these loose the bonds betweene kings and their subiects and stirre vp traytors to blow vp their princes They diligently obserued Christs institution in administring the sacraments and neither spit in the faces of Christians baptized nor stole away the cup from the communicants the moderne Romish priests spit on those whom they baptize and refuse to administer the cup to others then themselues Finally they are digressed from the ancient Romans in all those particulars both concerning faith and maners wherein I haue shewed that they differ from ancient Catholikes and haue deuised meere nouelties CHAP. LI. That the Romish Church that now is was inuisible in old time MVch doe our aduersaries boast of the visibility of the Romish church supposing because the scriptures speake much of the glory of the kingdome of Iesus Christ that al that honor belongeth to the church of Rome of late times but while they mistake things spirituall for things corporall and externall and suppose things vntrue all this their boast and glory will turne to their great preiudice and shame for first the beauty of the church consisteth rather in inward vertues then in outward shewes and apparell Secondly be it that the church is alwaies seene and apparent to the true members of the church yet the moderne Romish church and the glory thereof was neuer seene either of the Apostles or ancient fathers of the Church or of ancient Christians For what I pray you is the church of Rome but a multitude of people professing the moderne saith of the Romish synagogue communicating with the same in sacraments and subiecting themselues to the Popes holinesse this is confirmed by the testimony of Bellarmine in his booke de ecclesia and of Canisius in his catechisme c. de fide symbolo and I hope will not be denied by any Papist but such a church shall neuer bee shewed in ancient time and that we shall proue by inuincible reasons for first we finde not during the time of the Apostles any such head of the church as the Pope nor any such sholders as the Cardinals nor any such rotten members as the chantery priests singing Masses for soules departed as Monkes liuing in heards like swine as friers begging for fashion sake and yet abounding in all things necessary 2. The Pope with his triple crowne two swordes crossed pantofle and his guard of Suizars and purple Cardinals following him began onely of late time to be visible if such a sight had appeared in the time of the ancient fathers they would haue woondred at it as a thing most monstrous and vnbeseeming him that pretendeth to be the successor of Peter 3. While S. Peter liued no man euer saw a church persecuting of Christes disciples and deliuering them ouer to haue their throates cut by the secular power nor did either the bishops of Rome or the ancient fathers for more then a thousand yeeres after Christ imprison torment or kill such Christians as were not of their faction and opinion 4. The ancient church of Christ did neither excommunicate kings nor assoile their subiects from their obedience commanding them vpon paine of excommunication to rise vp in armes against them and to depose them the Romish church therefore which doth all these things was not then visible neither can any Masse-priest shew vs where in old time miners and powder-men sought to blow vp the principall men of the state 5. So long as the primitiue church continued in the doctrine and steppes of the Apostles and ancient fathers the same was ruled by the holy Scriptures and canons of councels and then the decretales of Gregory the 9. Boniface the 8. Clement the 5. Iohn the 22. and other later Popes were not in the world who can then say that the Roman church ordred by these decretales was then visible 6. The moderno Romish church beside the two Sacraments instituted by Christ beleeue other 5. Sacraments and hope as well to be saued by greasing when they lie a dying as by Baptisme and the Lordes Supper but such a church was altogether inuisible both in the Apostles time and long after 7. Now Papistes beleeue that Christians receiuing the Sacrament swallow downe Christes body into their stomacke nay they teach that dogs hogs and brute beasts eating consecrated hostes doe also deuoure Christs bodie but such a company of Canibals and blasphemers against Christian religion were neuer taken for Christes church for more then a thousand yeares after Christ 8. The Roman church commandeth Christians to keepe the feast daies of monkes and friers and other saints to heare Masse vpon ember daies in Lent and fridaies to absteine from flesh to goe to auricular confession at the least once a yeare and not to celebrate marriage vpon certaine daies but if all the monkes and friers in the world were set to seeke such a church and if the Masse-priests of the Romish church were ioyned with them yet could they not finde such a church for a thousand yeeres after Christ 9. In the Romish missals the priest praieth that God would be pleased to accept of the body and blood