How the papistes play the traitors against the priesthood of Christ For first demaund of them how the fruites of this originall rancour are washed away they wil tel you by the sufferings of Iesus Christ Wish themselues further to declare their meaning then the diuell sheweth his hornes that before appeared like an Angell and there ariseth by and by a smokie distinction out of the bottomlesse pit Popish distinction of sinnes mortall and veniall of sinnes some mortall some veniall whereby the glorie o◠Christ his passion is darkened For veniall sinnes say they deserue but temporall punishment whereof a man by some displeasance of them is washed with an holy water sprinckle or a Bishops blessing or with saying à mea culpa or by some petite penance c. Thus these Catholicke physitions in steed of vsing one purgatiue remedie without which euerie sinne becommeth deadly cast mens soules into a lethargie depriued of all true sense and motion as the emperiall Practickes vse the medicine which they call Narcoticall that is to say Popish distinction of sinnes going before Baptisme and after such as benumme and dead the diseased vntill they become past feeling They haue a second distinction of sinnes going before baptisme and of sinnes committed after as also between the guilt and the paine satisfactorie Popish distinction betwixt guilt plaine satisfactorie and all to this end to derogate from Christes worke of our redemption and to make that which proceedeth from vs of some worthinesse and merit How sinnes going before Baptisme are pardoned according to the schoole of Rome and how after which they call a worke of condignitie As for sinnes going before Baptisme they grant that they are pardoned throughly in regard of the guilt and the paine and that by some meanes of the vertue of the sacred water with the action it selfe of Baptisme But as for the sinnes committed after baptisme the guilt and trespasse is pardoned the paine satisfactorie remaines to be paid partly in this life partly after death but in a coyne which hath the Popes image and superscription In this life by pater nosters Note well aues pilgrimages fastings foundations and other paines imposed in eare confession after death he must pay the remainder in purgatorie Yea but he that is there they say can merit no longer what shall become of the poore soule then Why he must be fetcht out of the fire by praiers and good works of the liuing And what good works are those Masses Requiems Dirges holy water and such great deuotions But how many shall fetch them out They cannot tell that yet they haue taxed seuerall mortall sinnes at a certaine number of daies and yeares But what if he be come out alreadie Tush that is not the losse of a requiem or masse It shall be set vpon the tale of another score to be allowed other But who hath the bestowing of them For sooth the merchant royall of pardōs the Pope holy father Cold comfort for poore papistes But what shall become of the poore that is able to giue nothing to haue these great deuotions after his death Mary he were best to merit well in his life for no peny no Pater noster vnlesse it please the Merchant to bestow an almes of his ouerplusse Then if all this be sound wherto serueth the satisfaction of Christ O sir wot you not why to make all these afore named pretie trinkets auaileable and to send you for a season into purgatorie where as you should haue gone into hell for euer O treason Besides the spirit of lying hath so controuled and countermaunded the obligation once made for all by Iesus Christ that he hath borne men in hand that the same must euery day be really and actually reiterated And whereas the supper of the Lord was ordained True vse of the Lords Supper first that we should be made partakers of that mysticall vnion of Iesus Christ together with all his merits vnto eternall life and secondly to celebrate with solemne thankesgiuing his onely and holy sacrifice once for all made they insteed of this haue thrust in their Masse wherein they say their priestes make a full satisfacton both for the quick and dead Popish priests do more by their Masse then Christ by his merits if you list to beleeue them which Masse of theirs is of greater efficacy then the first oblatiō which the sacrificer himselfe offered vpon the crosse seeing in his as they say the paine satisfactorie is reserued still to be paied but theirs maketh an entire satisfaction O intollerable treason Alas O Lord how long wilt thou beare it The second point of our redemption is sanctification The protestāts doctrine concerning sanctification It is also called regeneratiō or new birth because by it we become new mē as touching the qualities of the soule For as man made not himselfe at the first but the power of God the creator no more is man able to make himselfe a new creature but this is by the power of him who is made vnto vs sanctification 1. Cor. 1.30 For the bringing of this to passe we teach that the corruption of nature in the first Adam is abolished in the flesh of the high priest the second Adam in whom wee being vnited by faith fulfill the law by meerely free imputation 1. Cor. 1.30 Secondly the Lord Iesus Christ drawing vs vnto him by his holy spirit formeth in vs both to will and to doe Ephe. 1.18 Psal 51.12 2. Cor. 5.17 Act. 26.18 Ephes 5.8 enlightening the eies of our vnderstanding framing a cleane heart within vs making vs from the head to the foot new creatures bringing vs out of darkenes into light and from death vnto life Altogether the Catholicke Sophistes contradict this truth Ephes 2 1.5 The sophists absurdities touching new birth teaching that our nature is not wholly slaued vnto sinne but onely feebled by the fall of the first man And so they make our nature but like a lame man and the grace of God as a paire of crutches to establish their owne merits Againe they say that originall sin is really abolished by the water of outward baptisme with the words and the Chrisme c. as much say they of actuall sinnes going before baptisme Note well and loth them in those that are of ripe discretion before they be baptised prouided alway that they be not in mortall sinne Thus first they see not our originall malady Secondly they sophisticate the remedie both in making a miserable mingle-mangle of mans pure naturals Gods supernaturall grace Thirdly in giuing power to a sound of words sprinkling of water And lastly in substituting their own toies in the place of the Lord Iesus Fie on thē presumptuous traitors Protestants doctrine touching Christ his intercession There is yet his intercession which is so called because the vertue and power of his sacrifice is alwaies before God Secondly
of God were vnauaileable Indeed mans reason perceiued that some meanes was needful to make attonement but what it was reason was too shallow to finde out The Platonists haue busied themselues about many clensings but to small purpose others say it must bee done by abstinence good behauiour Iupiters mysteries c. Hierocles said that religion is the studie of wisdome which consisteth in perfecting and cleansing our selues that men may be at one with God which perfection also standeth in confession of sinnes as he saith but alas whereas in religion we looke for life vpon confession followeth death Then to finde a planke to saue vs from shipwrack religion sheweth three persons in vnitie of one essence coeternal and coequall in all respects the Father as the ground and wellspring the Sonne as the euerlasting word and wisdome of the Father and the holy Ghost as the bond of loue whereby the Father and the Sonne are linked together The one of these must make attonement for God himselfe must be faine to step in betwixt his Iustice and his mercie and as he created vs at the first so to create vs new againe and as he created vs in fauour so now to acquite vs from wrath and as he vttered his power and wisdome in making vs so now to vtter his wisdome and goodnes in repairing vs. But yet beholde a mysterie this infinite godhead is not to discharge our disobedience These speeches are vnderstoode by a communicating of properties as the like Acts 20.28 otherwise then with obedience nor our vndesert otherwise then with desert nor our pride otherwise then with lowlines neither is he to purchase grace but by punishment nor a crowne but by suffering neither life but by death Therfore would hee abase himselfe that hee might obey serue that he might deserue stoope downe beneath himselfe that hee might become lowly become weake that he might suffer become mortall that he might die Therefore was it behoouefull that our mediatour should be God and man man to be borne vnder the law God to performe the law man to serue God to set free man to humble himselfe to the vttermost God to exalt himselfe aboue all things man to suffer God to ouercome man to die and God to triumph ouer death And sythence it pleased him of his infinit goodnes to be humbled for vs himselfe no way bound needs must his obedience become a discharge for the disobedience his desert a discharge of the vndesert his sufferings a satisfaction for the stubburnnes of them that beleeue in him Now then if religion should but send vs to the true God what were that more then the sending of an offender to the Iudge or a laying of stubble to the fire considering that God is infinitly good and man infinitly euill Secondly and if in religion we should but reade the will of the creator what haue we yet found since mankinde is corrupt from his roote and rotten at the core but our owne enditements arraignements and condemnations Therefore this third note of religion by making satisfaction for sins by the death of Christ is the verie substance and in shape of it without the which it should be altogether vnprofitable Now all this serueth first to shew you the tyrannie of Sathan ouer mankinde and the horrible darkenes whereinto it is plunged being destitute of the aide of Gods word and his holy spirit Secondly how greatly we are bound to receiue our gracious calling and to promote Gods holy religion by which we are brought to that soueraigne good for the which wee were made and created and without the which hauing all things else yet are most miserable for proofe whereof hast thou the authoritie and soueraigntie of a Prince Let Princes say whether one rebellion of their subiects doe not more vexe them No welfare to be found in this world than all their honorable triumphs can reioyce them Art thou exalted to honour let honourable persons say whether they bee not spitefull or spited doing mischiefe or receiuing mischiefe ouermating or ouermated Honour is but vertues shadow a winde that makes many swell but cannot satisfie Art thou rich and wealthie Let Merchants say what wealth is worth since sea can drowne it fire consume it pyrates and robbers bereaue vs of it To loue riches is to doe as children doe which take their greatest delite in pins and checkstones or as fooles which should deeme the goodnes of an horse to consist in his strappings Art thou beautifull Let the daughters of vanitie say whether the sunne doth not tanne it or a starre doth not blemish it or sickenes doth not waste it or olde age doth not weare it Beautie is but a vaine thing and gladdeth more the beholders then the hauers Art thou strong and healthie Let al the world say whether mans bodie be not subiect to a thousand diseases fraught with frailties within wrapped in miseries without vncertaine of life sure of death Now what are all these and the rest but resemblances of the apples that grow about Sodome pleasant to the eye and prouoking to the appetite but vanishing into smoke being touched with the teeth Therefore it is onely true religion that leadeth Prince and people noble and vnnoble rich and poore to true felicitie and reuniteth them vnto God Happie be that day and blessed from aboue in the which God gaue vs this token of his fauour let that moneth be respected of God and let it be the head of the yeare let all such as loue their saluations blesse that day wherein they were redeemed from the darkenes of Sodom and of Aegypt and the day starre of righteousnesse appeared vpon them yea let it be made the beginning of the supputation of yeares as we reade that the Iewes reckened their yeares from the yeares of Iubilee and from the finding of the law in Iosiahs time for then commeth the true yeare of Iubilee the yeare of freedome and deliuerance from bondage when the Gospell which is the glad tidings of saluation commeth vnto vs. Furthermore Temporall blessings haue accompanied religion that nothing might bee wanting to make vs with ioye to receiue Gods holy religion beholde since the Church hath begun to flourish and to spread her boughes throughout the whole land the common wealth hath neuer been endowed with more ornaments of â—eace neuer lesse vexed with incombeâ—ances of warre neuer like adorned with â—ountifull blessings Why when our â—eighbour nations haue been infested â—ith martiall horror clattering of arâ—our thundering of shot when infants haue been drawne out of their mothers wombes By looking a broad better behold your blessings at home and dragged from their nurses breasts when their wiues and daughters haue been rauished their countries wasted their cities sacked their houses fired their temples defaced with many more such spectacles of dread and horrour yet England hath remained still victorious without contention and thou famous London her Queene citie confident without trouble so that
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
haue laboured to poyson the synceritie of our faith Worthie Whitakers Whitakers of neuer dying fame small cause hath Rome to vaunt her Bellarmine or Louan to admire her Stapleton ours had he not been enchanted by thee both wounded Profound Fulke Fulke whose truth and great trauaile the Church of God hath tried many a Foxe hast thou had in chase not able to abide thy hot pursuite Who euer gaue the dare and thou diddest not receiue the challenge Humfrey Humfrey of much reading in thy time wast thou a chiefe hunter of the Romish Foxe How oft from chaire of truth hast thou confuted their lying falsehoods Reynolds Reynolds as thou hast Rainard the olde Foxe and his cubs in chase so God according to his good will giue thee long life still to hunt and pursue them that by the fire of Gods word the chaffe of their lies may be cōsumed I might take occasion in this place to vrge soundnes and synceritie in setting this toyle of the word For it is not decrees of Popes nor determinations of Councels not Cicero his eloquence nor Aristotle his philosophy Gods word purely preached transformeth Foxes into sheepe that can cōuert a sinner or transforme a Foxe into a sheepe but it is the law of God truly taught and opened that reduceth men from their errours and deformities and bringeth them into the perfit path of health and saluation I say the preaching of the word accompanied with the assistance of the spirit For it is not in man neither in whole nor in part to draw men vnto God to open their eies to bore their eares to illumine their minds or open their hearts No no to fit the ground to receiue the seed to make it bud and blossome and bring forth fruit is the worke of the onely sonne of righteousnesse who giueth repentance and remission of sinnes vnto his Israel If the wicked and vngodly will needs be so wilfull Good lawes a needfull toile whereby to take Foxes as to refuse the ministerie of the word then the Magistrates must pitch the toiles of Gods lawes which are the verie life and soule of the Commonwealth as Tully saith in his Oration for Cluentius Neither is any commonwealth more able to vse her owne parts without the helpe of good lawes then the bodie of a man can exercise the due operations without vnderstanding And therefore is it said of Aristotle that the sunne is not more needfull to the world then good and wholesome lawes are to the preseruation of the Commonwealth For as the sunne by his heate and influence doth nourish plantes trees and hearbes comfort also and giue strength vnto them to exercise their seuerall properties so good lawes nourish and maintaine the flourishing state of kingdomes as on the other side without these there can be nothing else but disorder and vtter confusion But yet it may not be forgotten Execution the life of the law that as good lawes are the liues of Commonwealths so execution is the life of the lawe for lawes are better vnmade then vnkept and our lawes seeme like to Spiders webbes where-through the buzzing Bees Hornets or horse-flies doe breake but the poore feeble flies hang fast If this were not so you should haue fewer Gentlemen theeues fewer Gentlemen adulterers fewer Gentlemen idolaters And who knoweth not that although a Citie were defended with walles of Brasse yet if there want men and munition in time they will be beaten downe euen so though lawes were neuer so wisely made yet if they want such as shall vrge their obedience and defend them they will soone prooue nothing worth Therefore the saying of Solon is worthie remembraunce who being asked when the Commonwealth did most flourish aunswered when the people obey the Magistrate and the Magistrate obeyeth the lawe Againe for the right proceeding in iudgement against hereticall persons Two things to be reproued in an heretike you must consider that there be two things worthie to bee reprooued in an hereticke-seducer for a difference is to be made betwixt the seducer the grand Captaine or Ringleader and the poore seelie wretch seduced Now in the seducer there is first his heresie and secondly the scatteringe of his heresie whereby he goeth about to infect and poyson others These seed-men of superstition and hereticall scatterers must be better looked vnto that the multitude may be saued from seduction Seducing heretikes or else great danger will growe not onely to Christ his Church by poisoning and peruerting the puritie of religion but to the state of the land by daily addition of strength to the Romish faction It is too well knowne how fast our Papists doe encrease in many parts of this land and how daily one draweth another into the pit of perdition surely the fault is either in the minister or magistrate or else in both But this is a sure thing that as Poperie getteth ground so the Gospell looseth ground and where superstitiō swimmeth there religion sincketh Lastly whether they wish the life or the death of her Maiesties person by whose most gracious gouernment true religion is continued who are so hotly deuoted to superstition let the former reasons against all perfect papists determine Seduced people As for the seduced and poore deceiued wretches all meanes are to be practised for their conuersions but when as once it is proued that they are not onely ignorant but obstinately and wilfully ignorant and that the more they be forborne the lesse they are reformed like vnto the vine that prospereth with no pruning or the hearb that withereth with watering what can remaine else but that where milde and temperate medicines can take no effect there be vsed violent meanes as sharpe corosiues and why not cauterie incision least that greater inconuenience grow either by example which giueth encouragement or by corruption which comes by their companie Therefore the wholesome counsell of the Poet is to be hearkened vnto where he saith Cuncta prius tentanda sed immedicabile vulnus When incision is to be vsed Ense recidendum ne pars sincera trahaetur To salue the sore first trie each way If curelesse thou it see Then cauterize least sounder parts Therewith attainted be For experience plainely teacheth that the Cancer consumes the Rose the Caterpiller eates the fruite the sore eye infects the sound that pitch defileth that leauen sowreth that scabde sheepe infecte the flocke I will end this point affirming thus much that since all may in freedome doe well without feare it were lamentable that any should haue libertie to doe wickedly with fauour I will speake a little of the miserable end of traitors and so conclude The miserable end of traytors in reading either the booke of God or other histories we shall hardly find that traytors haue closed vp their eyes with honour Sellam conspired against Zacharias the King of Israel and slew him but within one moneth after he himselfe was slaine of Manahem 4. King 15 Peka conspired against Pekaiam but after was slaine of Oseas But what should I light a candle at noone day We our selues are eye-witnesses that very seldome traitors go down to the graue in peace Ambitious Richard the vsurper because he was notorious Richard the Vsurper shall here be remembred who to make the way to his hautie desire of Soueraigntie spared neither age affinitie nor degree vntill he had got the regall diademe and then thought he himselfe so surely grounded that he might bid defiance to heauen and earth but see his end he was slaine in the field and being disarmed and stripped was throwne ouerthwart an horse backe with his face downeward and daubed with dirt brought from Bosworth to Leicester and there in stead of a princely funerall had for his Herauld infamie shame for his shrouding sheete and neuer dying obloquie for his sepulcher Sir Iames Tyrrel mounted aloft Sir Iames Tyrrell Myles Forrest Iesabel sentenceth Traitours for murthering the young King was himselfe beheaded by Henry the seuenth Miles Forrest a cursed catife did rot away peece meale Iesabel although an abominable wretch yet truelie thought that a traiterous life could seldome end with an happie death Had Zimri peace that slew his master Which speech although it were grounded vpon a false coniecture because that burthen by Gods appointment was laide vpon the house of Achab and Iehu particularlie deputed to that charge whereas Zimri had no commission to goe so far yet implieth it this much that shee thought treason an odious crime and that vengeance must needes follow it at the heeles and haue we not had most manifest experience of it in this land within these few yeares How many Iesuites in profession Iscariots in practise haue visited Tyburne How many Foxe-priests haue taken their farewell at the gallowes And although Rome hath lately beautified them with the title of Martyrs whom either male-contentednes or malice caused to be treacherous to their Prince yet is it a thing euident that rebellion not religion treason not truth hath brought them to the halter The almighty God that gouerneth heauen earth stil dissipate their deuices and confound their counsels that all such as seeke by treason to supplant Englands state by sedition to sell her honour or by rebellion to scatter her peace may still receiue such iust reward for their demerits as heretofore they haue done Amen FINIS