kindlers of your choler motioners of your cōmotions I was afraide to anger you ouermuch at the beginning of my discourse I haue examined your actions as if they wholy aymed at heretiks It is time to wink no more nor to conceale my meaning the salues haue mortified the inflamation of the wound your hot cōtentious humors begin to coole and qualifie ye begin to know your malady that furie reigned in your zele among your determinations being not leueled by the word and cōmandements of God that the same zele of yours was without warrant in danger of reproose curse punishment the knowledge of your owne cuill lessening thereof should haue purchased in you an hope of recouery and extreme longing to attaine thereto by any paines what so euer Th' acknowledgement of your errors ought to haue brought withall your trust and desire of repentance and your will redie to yeeld to seuere aduertisements requisite for that end Ouerrule therefore your passionate mindes and listen to me Let vs search your wounds throughly let vs encounter your disease with medicines of true contrarietie and fight with it to the vttrance let vs proceed to the soundations of your errors and see whether they be well grounded Examine we frankly whether the Reformed be heretikes and schismatiks either one or other without pausing on formalitie or proceedings to be had against them for of such matters inough is spoken asore and therein the iudgementes of trueth are not most often found Ye mainteine that they are heretikes and schismatikes for so much as they allow not the doctrine of the Catholik Apostolik and Romane Church and will not become of the body and yeeld to the discipline of that Church They say they are of the Catholik or vniuerfall Church doe beleue in the doctrine of Iesus Christ of his Apostles and of the whole Primitiue Church and doe yeeld to the gouernment and order of the same They repute the Roman Church at this day most abhominable We will limit your controuersie and say frankly that ye suppose thē heretikes and schismatikes because they auow not the Pope and his doctrine nor will bow vnder his authoritie nor enter into his Church For it shall appeare by the conclusion of this treatise more cleerely that herein consisteth the controuersie Forbeare me a little while to discourse with you as if I were a Reformed and to declare in breefe the reasons why the Reformed will none of the Pope nor his doctrine And be not offended if now and then I vse their tearmes and manner of speech for since the question in this behalfe leadeth vs to speake for them we must speake like them The Prophesies say they were not written for nothing the holy Ghost is trueth it selfe there shall not one onely word of all that he hath endited remaine vnperformed heauen earth shall faile Mat. 24. Marke 13. Luke 21. but the words of the Lord shall not faile Now so it is that himselfe hath forewarned vs how there should happen a great oppression in the Church a seducing almost generall and an abhomination most great The same is likewise foretold by the Prophets Dan. 7. 4 Esd 11. Apo. 13.17 chiesly by Daniel Esdras and S. Iohn in his Reuelation that immediatly after the first comming of the Lord a certaine power should arise that should bruise and spoyle the Lorde Saints thinking to change the times and the law and which should reigne with great tyrannie This is that great beast which speaketh high things and blasphemies against the Lord which should maintaine battell against the faithfull and vanquish them and should seduce or misleade by words fables false miracles and fauors of this world and should with armes subdue many Nations This is that strūpet so proud in attire in precious ornaments of gold stone in painted shew in word in power full of abhomination with whō the kings dwellers vpon earth haue committed whoredome and haue made themselues drunke with the wine of her leacherous dissolutenes in her cup of abhomination Of her haue th'Apostles aduertised vs 2. Pet. 2. 2. Thes 2. 1. Iohn 2.4 Iude. chiesly S. Peter S. Paul S. Iohn and S. Iude who haue spoken so manifestly of Antichrist that they conceale nought saue the name they haue described the Apostasie or reuolt the sonne of perdition his originall the cause of his perdition his pride his power the departing his manifestation or reuealing his fal Let vs then beleeue that there hath bene and now is an Antichrist which oppresseth this long time the trueth the Church and the faithfull which hath cut of Christ and taken all from him as Daniel faith It is written by Daniel and Esdras Dan. 9.7 4. Esd 11.10 how Antichrist should spring out of the fourth Monarchie and should as it were contemne and set vp the same againe no man doubteth that the fourth Monarchie is that of Italie or Rome the dreame of Nabuchodonosor expounded by Daniel makes it vndoubted Daniel 2. The Pope was aduaunced at Rome first by Phocas the murtherer of his Prince the Emperors succeeding some of their owne will others by his cunning fetches the rest through plaine force left him Italie and the citie of Rome where he stablished his court these Emperours made themselues their Empire subiect to the Pope together withall the Kings I ords and people of Christendome he calleth himselfe neither Emperour nor King but claymeth a soueraingtie ouer Emperours and kings and this is proued by infinit histories apparant by the Bull sent from Pope Boniface to Philip the Faire as also by Pope Clements proud answere to th'Embassadours of Lewis of Bauaria the Emperour Behold the greatnes of Rome the sourth Monarchie thus renewed and replanted behold also the Prophesie Apoc. 17. that Antichrist should be set aboue kings accomplished It is written by S. Iohn and S. Peter 1. Iohn 2. 2. Pet. 2. that out of the Church Antichrist should arise that he should be a successor of th'Apostles speaking of Antichrist and his retinue they say they are gone forth from vs but they were not of vs for if they had bene of ours they would haue taried with vs. Verily if they after they haue escaped from the filthinesse of the world thorough the acknowledging of our Lord Sauior Iesus Christ are yet tangled againe therein and are ouercome their later end is worse with them than the beginning For better had it bene for them not to haue acknowledged the way of righteousnes then after they haue acknowleged it to turne from the holy commaundement giuen to them But it is come to them according to the true prouerb The dogge is returned to his owne vomit the sow that was washed to the wallowing in the myre The Pope is borne and descended of the Church and of the Apostles of the Church of Rome built by the Apostles he hath exalted himselfe in th' order and
said afore must excell our hatred to heretiks 3. Reg. 12. 2. Chr. 11. Euen so the Prophet Semeia forbad Roboam to make warre on the ten Tribes of Israel that had reuolted with schisme and heresie from his gouernement and from the doctrine and temple of the Lord bycause this war as may well be presumed would haue set the whole people of Israel in a most vehement flame confusion We read to this purpose in th'Ecclesiasticall history a narration most worthy the marking of Iustine th'Emperour syrnamed th' Elder This Emperour hating heretiks and specially Arians who at his comming to the Crowne were in great number and credit made an Edict whereby he forbad th'execise of th'Arian Religion as soone as th'Arians were certified of this Edict they went about to procure the like against the true Christians in places where they had greater power got of Theodorik king of Italie though a vassal and subiect of th' Empire the like prohibitions throughout Italy for th'exercise of none beside th'Arian Religion whereupon Pope Iohn the first of that name who then was at Rome seing himselfe with all the faithfull not permitted th' vse of their Religion by th' aduise of all the good Bishops Magistrates of Italy assisted with the Bishop of Rauenna and certeine Senatours and Consuls of Rome passed ouer to Constantinople with speed to th'Emperour to cause him to cease his interdiction of th'Arian Religion for that otherwise no meanes in Italy was left to exercise the true Religion he shewed with teares and grones that better it were to let the heretikes line then to put the true Church in ieoperdy and to smoother it with new persecutions To be short he preuailed so that th'Emperour restored th'Arians and left them in peace Thus ye see the Pope himselfe practise the doctrine I propound Haue ye not now a dayes as great reason and as great neede to cease the pursuites and persecutions that are made against the Reformed to restore them the libertie of their Religion and inioyment of their goodes to th' end they may render to the Catholikes abiding in the countreis possessed by them both their goods and th'exercise of their Religion and agayne that they may assure all the townes and Catholike countries of Fraunce where-into hap and force of armes may bring the Reformed and specially to assure so many Catholikes dwelling in small townes boroughs and villages lockt in among their forts whom they haue not hitherto disquieted for it is not to be doubted but that in such measure as they shall feele their owne discommodities and dispaire of reconcilement their egrenes to reuēge wil encrease albeit we must needs cōmend hitherto their moderation therein Besides it appeareth that Constantine the great whose actions are ordinarily for the most part set forth as a rule to direct all Princes in their affaires attributed so much to this doctrine as he might not possibly more For to stop and preuent the tumultes commotions which the first smaller multitudes of Arians might haue made in th'estat Church he did not onely suffer thē in rest in th'enioyment of their goods in the libertie of their consciences exercise of their Religion but also the better to conteine them to content and take from them all occasion of running to armes he shewed rigor sometimes to the faithfull at their instance We read that to conteine and satisfie th'Arians he banished that good man Athanasius most spitefully vniustly pursued by them for they were ready by armes to seeke his death amid the embrasements weapōs and defence of the faithfull Constantine himselfe by his letters that he writ to the people of the Catholike Church of Alexandria testifieth that for the consideration aforesayd he had condemned Athanasius See here how good Emperours and good Magistrates haue cuer preferred the quiet of the Church the peace of the people before the rooting out of heresies assuring thēselues that order peace the word of God can do more in such matters then war with its confusions outrages And it is to be noted that when we enforced our selues to warre on infidels and heretikes with materiall armes God for the most part withdrew his blessings from our workes and enterprises nothing haue we done but wast and confound the Church Christians haue oft attempted to chase the miscreant Pagans out of the holy land nothing haue they atchieued but the sharpning of th' East Churches persecution wherein they did so much that they are in a maner lost The Turke hath gottē and encroched so far on Christendome since we began to warre with him that it passeth credit considering we haue so oft and with so great affection and power sought against them If God fauoured not our armies when by vow vnfained deuotion thinking to attaine Paradise thinking to aduance his kingdome we employed our liues and goods to fight with the Turkes his enemies and th' enemies of our faith whom then we neede not feare seing the distance of their countrey from ours and if it be permitted vs to conclude of the will blessing of God after the good or bad successe of the warre as sometimes it falleth out it may be said that if he blessed not such armies with great reason wil he curse th' armies which we employ against them that demanded not as they say but libertie to call vpō God by one onely Iesus Christ according to the contents of the holy Scripture and vnder the cōduct of the holy Ghost which we employ against our neighbours against our brethren and countreymen who haue ought or may haue goodes estates and dignities that would be very commodious for vs and this last poinct makes our deuotion shrewdly suspected Againe what haue we done in our ciuill warres that so many yeares haue set all the dominiōs of Europe on fire that haue whetted and armed all Christians th' one against th' other We haue puld vp so much as in vs lay that smal deale of good corne which growes within the Lordes field we haue made wast both within and without we haue caused insinite soules to swarue that otherwise were in a way good inough we haue made so many hypocrites so many dissemblers in the faith and Atheistes that I tremble and grudge to thinke of it we haue so ruined both the state and the Church that the deuill and the stranger sinde breaches on all sides to come trample and destroy vs vtterly We are not excusable God hath foretolde vs that thinking to weede his field or Church we should pluck vp the good corne we should spoyle or roote out the faithfull Th' experience of these eight and twentie or thirtie yeares past hath made euident to vs how much the narrow search and pursuite made against the Reformed endangereth the Church and whole estate of this Realme Let vs therefore leaue them in peace that we also may be in peace and let vs laud the Lord peaceablie and without
striue too gloriouslie against it and make shipwracke wee must hate the heretike but yet our loue to the Church must excell our hatred towards him Scipio and after him the Emperour Antonine the meeke said they had leifer saue one Citizen than slay a thousande enemies what should my king my princes you beare lesse affection to your countrie and to the Church then they bare to their Countrey alone That which I tell you is confirmed by the doctrine of Iesus Christ Mat. 13. who forbids the rooting vp of the tares and darnel growing among the good corne lest the good corne chaunce to be spoyled or pluckt vp withall This parable of our Sauiour rightlie conceiued answereth whatsoeuer ye can obiect If yee say the libertie of Gods word and his glorie seeme to be lessened on that part the heretiks make and hold in an Estate likewise ye may be tolde how the grouth of the good corne is hindered in that part of the fielde which the darnell possesseth and consequently the owners credit and profit yet neuerthelesse doth Iesus Christ say it must not be pluckt vp It sufficeth then to consider that otherwise it may not be and that the glorie of God will be more obscured in the totall hauok confusion of the Church than in a small anoyance which the neerenes of heretikes may bring to it also that Gods glorie and the power of his word will more brightlie shine amid our discommodities infirmities and dishabilities then in our ease and the force of our flesh of which he vseth verie little or none towardes the building and conseruation of his Church The politiks adde that the soueraigne lawe the most equal rule of all from which Magistrates and Counsellers of estate ought neuer to swerue is to preferre the publike safegard before all other commodities considerations that may be propounded for the greater assurance of one of the members of the state For as they say all commeth to nought when the Common-weale goes to wrack We read that by recital of this only law the Consul Seruilius staied the course of the most pernitious sedition that euer came within the walles of Rome They adde also this necessarie doctrine of our Sauiour Christ that euery Realme diuided in it selfe shal be desolate Behold for what cause in the yeere 1561 it was concluded at S. German by the greatest wits and wisest heads of this Realme that it was expedient not only to quench the fires and make the pursuites commenced in the name of iustice against the reformed to cease but also that peace might and ought to be made with them Behold also wherefore al the soueraigne Courts of this Realme after they had ripely deliberated on this difficult point were resolued to approue the edict of Ianuarie True it is that the Parliament of Paris made more difficultie then the other howbeit they also were resolued after they had heard the holy politik and learned declarations of the Chanceller Hospital whose lack I cannot sufficiently lament waying what neede I haue at this day of such personages For the selfe same reasons haue the Emperors of Germanie concluded and sworne peace with the Protestants their Subiects and to this present haue kept their faith to them We reade also in the Ecclesiastical histories that the Emperours Valerian Maximian Constantine and many others to compound the diuisions betweene the Christians and Ethnikes their Subiectes in whose power consisted the maintenance or decay not onely of the state but of religion also did permit to the one the other the exercise of their religion If this were a matter so strange as ye say to enter into couenants with the reformed to geue them your faith the Emperor Charles the fifth had not so often geuen and vsed it as he did in his safeconducts to Luther to Melancthon to Bucer and to many others it is hard to reckon how many times he receiued into his Courts the Protestant Princes and their Doctors to common and conferre with thē he might haue caused them to be murthered if he had listed he wanted not aduise thereto for there were Lords inow about him that laboured earnestly to draw him to that treacherie Nay what say you to this of greater efficacie Euen the Councell of Trent decreed concerning passe-ports and safeconducts for the Protestants of whom some appeared and made their orations and returned safely I finde on euery side plenty of examples that vrge and condemne you most apparantly The Catholik Switzers were not scrupulous to enter into league with the Reformed Switzers which was more with them of Geneua Your selues are confederate with all the Cantons of the Switzers and ye solicite them dayly to enterteine this association Ye are alied by couenantes sworne with all the Princes of Germanie aswell Protestantes as others our kings Francis the first and Henry the second haue particularly sought th' alliance of the Protestantes haue sent to that end their Ambassadours into Germany to the generall Diets of the Protestantes Monsieur de Lange amōg others came for that purpose by commandemēt of the said king Francis to th' assembly at Smalcalde our kings with their armies haue entred Germany against th'Emperour for the defence and protection of the Protestants Ye are likewise alied with the English and with the Netherlanders whose protection moreouer against the Spaniard your selues haue vndertaken Examples should lead vs thus farreforth if we would apply our myndes to reuiew them we should not finde any estate on earth where agreements haue not bene made with them of different Religion consequently with or among heretickes and infidels for two diuers Religions can not both be true The Pope hath often couenanted with the Turke with Iewes being both vndoubted Infidels The Venetian treateth and ordinarily sweareth peace with the Turke The Spainard dayly bargaineth with infidels as well in Affrik as in India and in the New found world All antiquirie and the Primitiue Church do afford vs also great store of like presidents as those I haue mentioned of th' Emperours Valerius Maximian and Constantius Constantin the great graunted to th'archheretik Arius his faith by othe and kept it Assurances are geuen indifferently to all heretiks for their apparance at Councels thither do they come and from thence they returne with securitie of such importance is the faith graunted them by safeconduct We read that eight or ten Emperours after the great Constantine onely to keepe the Church and people in peace did permit th'Arians to haue Bishops and Temples so that euery towne almost had two Bishops th' one an Arian th' other a Catholike now had they an Arian Pope and anon a Catholik Pope But what neede we repaire to writings of men which being compiled by your Churchmen themselues you may not disaduow seing the holy Scriptures affoord vs store of like examples auctorised by the commandements of God fauoured by his blessings made inuiolable by his curses The ten
shall hardly finde in the Gospel one commaundement to condemne the heretike to death but ye shall finde there as it were qualifications restraints vpon that commādement of the Law It is written in S. Matthew if he hearkeneth not to thee Mat. 18. tell it the Church and if he hearkeneth not to the Church let him be to thee as an Ethnik and Publican it is not written deliuer him into the hands of the Iustice or of th'Executioner it is lesse written massacre him S. Paul saith in the times of heresies watch trauaile doo the worke of an Euangelist he saith not make leagues and conspiracies commaund and mustre armies dispatch al with th' edge of the sword The number of peruerse heretikes was great in the Apostles time their writings are full of complaints against them But what Did they therefore runne to these extremities of raysing powers to roote them out No they punished a fewe to restraine the rest not by the sword which was forbidden them but by the wonderfull power of the word These extraordinarie actes are lessons for our ordinarie Magistrates whensoeuer they meet with multitudes infected with heresie first to vse lenitie leasure and labour to winne them all if it may be than to punish the Arch-heretikes by death to the terror of the residue and euermore to beware that he make no generall executions For so shal he imitate th'Apostles administration of iustice in cases of religiō nay he shal imitate his Lord God who if he sometimes send sodain vēgeāce on a few for their wickednes misbeleef yet doth he long time patiently abide the conuersion of innumerable others Again how know we the time of Gods calling the election belongeth not peculiarly now a dayes to any certain natiō the gate lies open to all he brings into his vineyard some in the morning others at noone and some at night If the people of God had in old time destroyed all the Gentils they had withall destroyed so many Churches which since haue bene gathered of Gentils How know we whether he that is at this day an heretike or schismatike shall be so an yeare hence How know we whether God will call his children neuewes or his neuewes children He that had consumed with fire the townes of Europe infected with Arianisme for certaine hundred yeeres how much had he hindered the kingdome of our Sauiour the fulfilling of the number of the faithfull seing that out of those Townes the Lord hath taken daily doth take some to finish his accompt If ye tell me that all lewd persons guilty and conuict of other crimes may stand on those pretences to auoyd or make blunt the Magistrates sword I will answere you that betweene heresie and other common crimes th'ods is very great For the heretike put to death without pause seemeth to die in a harde case and few there are of them that make shew of repentance while breath is in their bodie and no maruaile For their hearts are so hardened that they had rather leaue their life then their opinion And can ye persuade them to repent who will acknowledge no offence As for other malefactors their crimes are open to their conscience their faults proceeded not of error in saith but of frailty in flesh That they acknowledge them is one good step to repentance that they are sory for them is another as good that they haue faith they professe in wordes that they die true Christians charitie willeth vs to presume and leaue the rest to God Behold therefore the cause why the greatest penalty allotted heretikes except a very few in the primitiue Church was banishment till the time of pope Pelagius that fate in the Pontificall sea about the yeare of grace 557 who was the first that ordeined they should from thenceforth be punished with death and till that time though most heresies had already made their inrodes and inuasions yet among them were few heretikes condemned to death And to say the truth this maner of dealing of the primitiue Church well weighed shall appeare founded on manifold reasons and auctorities which I let passe at this present Now this discourse importeth at least that ye should not proceede so hastily in such pursuites as ye are wont and yet will not I conclude that heretiks must be left vnpunished But contrariwise do affirme that the Magistrate ought with his sword to smite the heretike duely conuinced Howbeit my former caueat must alwaies be remembred that the Magistrate is not to attempt any such exemplary punishment when it may bring the Church Estate to confusion hauok and ruine in which occurrent our Sauiours doctrine is to be practized that is to leaue the darnell in the field till the day of haruest and not seeke to roote it out for feare of plucking vp or spoiling the good corne that growes among And that conformably to the histories cited as well of th' Emperours Maximian Galerius Constantius Constantine the great Iouinian Valentinian Valens and others as of Charles the fifth Maximilian and Rodolph now reigning conformably also to the proceedings of the most part of our neighbors agreeably moreouer to the maturest and most deliberate Arrestes of all our soueraigne courts geuen in the beginning of these ciuill warres all which histories I need not repeat It were good that the Church and Magistrate agree to iudge and represse heretikes it is true but it behoues the word of God to be receiued into their company and be president among them as being chiefe of the three Crownes that are in the world and to iudge according to the same for somuch as to it onely belongeth to decide all differences of religion for sith it is the seruice of God and his glory which in true religion is sought we must be directed by his cōmaundement and not by mans where they be contrary Most seemely it is that Iustice should mainteyne the Church that Moses and Aaron should be brethren but yet Iustice must not vniustly fauour the Church Exod. 32. Moses must not blush to rebuke his brother Aaron sharply if he forsaketh Gods commaundements to assist th'importunities of mens fansies it must not be that through their mutuall support euill counterpeized the one of them should ouerthrow the other and the whole common-wealth with all it is expedient that Moses and Aaron viz. Iustice and the Church should linke themselues against heretikes in such wise that the Church incurre no daunger For in case of euident perill men must attend the extraordinary hand of God Num. 16. as they did in behalfe of the great multitude which fauoured the strife about the Priesthood For had they vndiscretly put hand to weapon they should haue greatly troubled and hazarded the whole body of the Church they had buried many of the faithfull vnder the heapes of th' other and therefore they addressed their prayers to the Lord and cōmitted the cause to him To be short our loue to the Church as is
against Licinius Emperour of the East and by consequence their Emperour and souerargne Magistrate so farre forth that Licinius was put to flight which is an history that locketh their lips who boast so much of this maxime that whole prouinces may not stand in defence of their religion against their Prince For Licinius was lawfull Emperour of th' East without all controuersie euen when Constantine made warre on him to cause him to surcease his persecutions against his Christian subiects and Constantine was not Emperour then but of Italie Afrike France Spaine Moreouer most certaine it is that Licinius was Emperour of th' East long before Constantine was declared Emperour of the West neuerthelesse he vndertooke this warre against Licinius at th'instance of th' East Churches and was blessed of God We read againe to this same purpose how the Christians of Persia oppressed with intollerable afflictions by their king had recourse to the Romains crauing succour of them and praying thē to pitie their extreme necessity the Bishop of Constantinople laboured so to Theodosius th'Emperour that he vndertook their protection Theodosius made warre on the king of Persia obtayned many miraculous victories and in fine compelled him to entreat his Christen subiects more gently The Reformed pretend to haue at this day as good reason to appeale to the king of Nauarre th'Almains and other their neighbors for protection and defence And although hitherto ye haue surmounted them in number of victories yet that iustifieth your quarell neuer the more Apoc. 13. For it is written of Antichrist that for a time he shall haue th'vpperhand ouer th'elect But rather mark the successe if ye haue got some victories they haue had victories also they are come neerer their end and purpose then you The right of the cause is not alwaies auowed by the victorie The Beniamites mainteining a most vnrighteous quarrell remained in two battailes maisters of the field Iud. 20. in the third they were quite defeicted Th'Israelits ouercame and were ouercomen Heb. 11. the Scripture teacheth they ouercame through the iustice of their quarell assisted with faith and assurance of Gods fauour againe they were ouercome more often through the desert of their sinnes making them vnworthy of Gods fauour then th'iniustice of their cause How know we whether th'enterchaunged course of our victories and mishap of the Reformed haue not come to passe rather by reason of their sinnes then by any vnrighteous quarell they mainteined in this warre CHAP. III. Whether it be lawfull with good conscience to liue with heretikes or nigh them PEraduenture ye will tell me that my counsaile is a snare of sinne bicause ye gather by my discourse that a man may conuerse with heretikes which is prohibited in many places of the Gospell My children if yee will yeeld as much to reason as ye doe to your passions yee will vpon this doubt stand contented with those arguments examples by me already proposed when I proued that we might lawfully graunt and keepe faith to heretikes there I haue sufficiently taught that in France it is impossible to sequester the Reformed from the Catholikes without destruction of France there also haue I recited the reasons for which we haue determined sometimes to liue in peace with them and wherefore likewise all our neighbours haue taken the selfe same resolution and continue still therein and do find it better for them to keepe it then we to haue left it Neuthereles to make it plaine that I am no lesse earnest to desire and seeke your conuersion and safetie then your selues are earnest to reteine and recall the causes of your confusion and wrack and also to make good that my substantiall reasons do in number and weight exceede those emptie shadowes that make a great muster in your passionat conceipts I am content for your sakes to handle againe more particularly this question to wit whether we may with good conscience conuerse with heretikes or nigh them I reknowledge that it is written Take heed least any men seduce you go not be not partakers with them take heed that none ouertake you auoyd an heretike after the first and second admonition who so disobeyeth the Church let him be to thee as an Heathen person Publican Mat. 24. Ephes 5. Col. 2. Tit. 3. Mat. 18. This is in summe the whole doctrine of the Gospell in this behalfe Now so it is that by these wordes we are commaunded onely to beware of seducers of their philosophie and humane reasons of their traditions and fables not to be astonished and ouercome at their false miracles not to consent nor partake with them in their doctrine and ceremonies and not to admit them into our more priuate familiar communications conference and alliances howbeit these places import no prohibition wherby Christians are forbidden to dwell or soiourne with infidels heretiks or schismatikes in the same realme in the same common-wealth in the same countrie in the same towne otherwise we must also affirme that the Church of God hath continually disobeyed this prohibition and that our Lord and his Apostles liued not consormably to their doctrine which were blasphemy to thinke much more to say Abel liued with Cain the reprobate Seth and Enos men of God dwelt confusedly among other children of Adam that liued in a maner all without reason law religion as there appetite lead them like bruit beastes made gyddy with the stroke of Gods curse Noe dwelt with continually preached to the old world whose execrable impieties opened the windowes of heauen and abhominable transgressions brought the seas to transgresse their boundes the riuers their bankes the fountaines their brinkes conspiring against nature to ouerwhelme their cursed carcasses with an vniuersall sloud Ahraham the father of the chosen of the Lord out of many as one grape of the cluster and a plant out of great people 4 Esd 9. did liue frequent conuerse and traffik with many misbeleeuing nations Isaac did eat make and sweare alliance with th' infidell Abimelek Iacob abode with the idolater Laban serued him maried his daughters he visited his brother Esau reiected by God he gratified him with offers and presents he called him his Lord. The Israelits dwelt and liued among th'Aegyptiens Canaanits Syrians Assirians Medes Persians they concluded leagues with the Greekes Romains they I say that were forbidden more expresly then we they erected Synagogues in all regions they were not able to withstand the manifold changes in their Religion euen within their principall Citie within the shadow of their temple they were defiled with idolatries heresies and schismes they saw themselues sundred into many sectes of Pharisies Saduces and Essens The Prophets haunted the Palaces of the kings of Iuda and Israell though they had cleane forsaken the Lordes way Samuel conuersed with Saul Ahias and other Prophetes frequented Ieroboam the sonne of Nabat and patron of Idolatrie reuolt and ingratitude against God and his soueraigne he that
manifestation and glory and for th'aduauncement of the spirituall kingdome We haue a captaine that cannot be put to the worse if he lets the enemie approach it is not to the hazard of being vanquished and we with him it is for to trie the valour of his soldiers to discerne the faithfull from others Let vs not doubt if we belong to him he wil neuer lose vs. Notwithstanding it is good for euery one to trie and sound him selfe and as he feeleth in his heart th' assurance and motion of Gods spirit so to go forwarde to the medley If the Apostles Bishops and Ministers of the Church had bene so delicate and tender as we would be both Afrik and Europ had not yet bene washed from the steine of Arianisme we had neuer heard the souÌ„d of the Gospel we should not haue bene so nigh as we are to th' accomplishment of our Sauiours Prophecie Mar. 13. that all nations must heare the noise of his voice there should be no Christen Church neither should any haue bene for all these things could not haue come to passe without communicating with Pagans and Insidels as hath bene saide Phisitions do visite the sicke so should they that are able succor persons spiritually diseased howbeit discreetly wisely according to the doctrine of S. Paul to haunt them for their soule-health for th' aduancement of Christ his kingdome measuring their haunt according to th'assuraÌ„ce knowledge ability that God hath geuen them lomtly there is no occasion to dispaire of the recouerse and conuersion of them of this time for God hath rescued and healed soules more desperatly sicke than they Finally let vs ponder how Popes in this doctrine haue bene contrarie to theÌ„selues which maketh vs doubt that sometimes they applie their doctrines to their passions and to their commoditie as soone as to the veritie Councels Popes Emperours Kings of Fraunce and the greater part of other Kings Lords of Europe haue permitted the Iewes to dwell in Cities of Christendome to erect them Sinagogues and exercise their religion there are of them moreouer at Rome where the Pope holdeth his See they haue bene receiued and comprised within Christen Common-wealths they haue bene admitted to the power and part-taking of generall and particular policies the Emperours by their lawes and ordinances approoued of the Pope haue called them to publike charges honors and dignities with Christians and ouer them Furthermore Popes haue not only receiued into Christendome the enemies of the Gospel but haue also licensed Christians to seeke them dwell and traffike with them and for that ende to trauerse all the compasse of the world to aduenture al the dangers of th' earth the sea the aire of men and of beastes So the Portugals with th' allowance of Pope Alexander the sixt traffikt with the Affricans the Sauadges and the IndiaÌ„s built dwelling towers forts among them Away then with your opinion it gainsayeth the letter and sence of the holy Scripture it gainestandeth the actions of our Lord of his Prophetes Apostles and of th' olde Church it is contrary to the power of the Church it is impossible to be performed in this world it is contrarie to it selfe and is condemned by their contrary actes that were th'auctors Admit that it were best most profitable for the Church if the nuÌ„ber were fulfilled if it delayed not hir glory that she were quite separated froÌ„ infidels and heretikes yet sith this fulnes of contentment and triumph is kept in store for another world we must acknowledge that where we are commaunded to separate our selues froÌ„ them it is chiefly meant of Ecclesiasticall separation to th' end they may haue the mark of enemies and not the separation ciuile politik Lo here againe how the Lord instructeth vs wherein to communicat with them and wherein to deuide our selues from them Loue saith he your enemies Mat. 5. that ye may be the children of your father which is in heauen for he maketh his sunne to arise vpon th' euill and the good sendeth rayne on the iust and vniust Then as the Lord denies them not thinges common to all men the ayre th' earth the light and the water but denyeth them his holy spirit which he reserueth for his chosen so let vs not reiect those their societies that concerne but this world and are necessary to all men as they are men though not as the elect of God specially considering that we can not commodiously and without putting the Church in perill of ruine driue them wholy out from vs. God hath left them to the world tarying for their conuersion let vs leaue them by the Church tarying for their repentance and Gods grace to bring them in Meane while let vs with spirituall weapons with watchings and labours hinder th'executioÌ„ of their attempts Let vs make a rampar round about the Church of holines of life ioyned with earnest prayers and godly exhortations CHAP. IIII. Whether the order established in successions and namely of the Crowne ought to be broken bycause of Religion I Know that there yet remaineth dissension in your soule and that yee are not resolute Lo here your doubt well say yee be it that we must liue nigh heretikes and infidels seing otherwise it may not be and that it seemeth necessarie for th' aduancement of the kingdome of Christ yet must we trauaile as Saint Paul appointeth and do the worke of Euangelists to let them from plucking downe the building of the Church yea to let them from building in the house of God if it were possible Perhaps it is tolerable to liue with them vnder one politike gouernement prouided that we haue at the least equall power with them but it is intolerable to be commaunded by them by cause that seemeth preiudiciall to th' aduancement of the soueraigne auctoritie of Gods word For the most part of men conforme themselues to the manâ—r and Religion of their Princes By common obseruation all peoples require in their Emperours Kings gouernours not to vary froÌ„ them in ReligioÌ„ Th'Ægyptians approued not their king till he had learned and assented to the Religion of their Priestes likewise the Persians Indians and euery nation welnigh Ye alledge surther that the bond of Religion betweene kings and their subiects being rent in sunder and taken away there is nothing but confusion there is no more will and consent it is nought els saue force and tyranny that Religion aboue all things doth perswade and conteine subiects in obedience as appeareth by most Empires Monarchies and common wealthes begun enlarged and mainteined rather by Religion then by iustice and armes that in consideration hereof kings submitted them selues to the heads and Princes of their Religion or els were intitled them selues Princes of Priests and Sacrificers So did the Spartan and Romain kings call themselues soueraigne sacrificers Mahumet his successors the Caliphes Sultans the Sophies of Persia the kings of Calicut and of AEthiopia called
personall succession of Bishops succeeding th'Apostles he hath reteyned the name of Christian and yet neuerthelesse is returned and also turneth those that are his to the vomit and filthines of the Gentils It is written by Daniel S. Matthew and S. Paul Dan. 9. Math. 24.2 Thess 2. that Antichrist shall sit in the holy place in the temple and Church of God the Pope holdeth his See in the hart of Christendome in the Church prepared by th'Apostles he is Lord and President ouer all Christendome which is the temple of God It is written in Daniell Dan. 9. that the Lord shortly after his comming shal be slaine and shall haue nothing 4. Es 5.6 in Esdras that the places which were sowen shall soudainely appeare as they were not sowen the way of truth shal be hidden and the region shal be barren of faith and vnrighteousnesse shal be multiplied on that countrey thou seest and on that which at other times thou hast heard of vnrighteousnes with fornication shall be multiplied in the land Luke 21. Iesus Christ saith that after his visible conuersation with men the time of Antichrist should draw neere that his end should not come so soone 2. Thess 2. It is written by S. Paul that euen in his time Sathan wrought the mistery of iniquitie the beginnings of Antichrist by S. Iohn 1. Iohn 2. that there are many Antichrists already which from thence forth should be to the last tymes Also from th'age of th'Apostles there was couertly brought into the Church the doctrine and glory of men and a litle while after their decease the Bishop of Rome began openly to pretend clayme and plead for the Primacie Presidencie and power ouer all other Bishops not long after he obteined vsurped and declared himselfe chief of the Church and for to manifest publish settle mainteine and augment his power he made many decrees preiudiciall and contrary to the Gospell to the doctrine and policie of the primitiue Church for to cause his power and doctrine to appeare and preuaile euery where he smothered and abolished on earth the power doctrine of the Lord he withdrew the keyes of knowledge like as he would not enter himselfe so he forbad them to enter that would Thus is vnderstanding sled away ignorance and vice come in place hauing regained the dominion ouer vs. Behold againe how it is no straunge thing that the Pope hath reigned so long sith Antichrist ought to begin shortly after the first comming of our Lord and endure long till a time and many times and halfe a time Dan. 7.2 Thess 2. as Daniel saith It is written that Antichrist the sonne of perdition shall list himselfe aboue all that which is called God or is worshipped so farre as to sit in the temple of God as God shewing himselfe that he is God The Pope doth name himselfe God in earth onely but in effect doth behaue himselfe as God ouer all he geueth altereth and repealeth lawes he geueth priuileges goods estats fauours he geueth good seasons and bad by his power by his blessings cursings he threateneth kings punisheth summoneth chaungeth and supplanteth them and that which belongeth to God the king of kings he wil be adored on earth so is he God in earth He saith he hath power ouer the deuill he can take soules out of hell out of the company and dominion of the deuill which can not apperteine but to Iesus Christ and so is he God in hell He assureth vs that he can send soules into Paradise whatsoeuer infidelitie is in them whatsoeuer sinne they committed in this world by his great Iubiles by certeine beadrols of prayers and ceremonies by money therefore nameth himselfe ghostly Father of soules It is God that is our father who by his grace exceeding bountie and mercy hath called chosen vs to be in his Paradise it is our Lord Iesus who by the great loue he beareth vs by his death and passion hath purchased for vs opened vs the gate guideth and bringeth vs thither through the faith we haue in him and which he geueth vs by his holy spirite Thus the Pope is God in Paradise is God ouer all He sitteth in the Temple of God as we haue said for that he ruleth ouer all Christendome being the Temple of God He aduaunceth himselfe aboue all that is called God aboue Iudges and Magistrats which are called Gods in Scripture they can not be Iudges without vndertaking his mark allowing well testifying of it and without swearing fealtie to him lawes and Iudgements depend on him Kings and Emperours are likewise called Gods in Scripture yet he exalteth himselfe aboue them the maner is to kisse the Kings hand th' Emperours knee and the Popes foote he crowneth and blesseth them he maks them promise and sweare fealtie that they will yeld him all reuerence obedience and seruice Lewes of Bauaria th'Emperour was excommunicated for hauing taken on him the gouernance of th' Empire before he had performed th'othe of subiection or as some history writers say for not hauing auowed the Pope for soueraigne Iudge of the variance touching th' Empire betweene him and Frederik of Austrich Frederik the second was excōmunicated for presuming to iourney into Asia without taking leaue of the Pope And to knit vp all in a word there are no Kings nor Emperours but by him for he deliuereth their Realmes in pray at his pleasure he depriueth and restoreth them their subiects at his lust He exalts him selfe aboue Angels he commaunds them peremptorily He exalts him selfe aboue th'Apostles and other Saincts in Paradise at his bidding they must runne trot and sollicite euen as he will as though their Saincting honour and saluation depended on him He racketh gloseth interpreteth chaungeth choppeth and defaceth the word of God as best fitteth his fansie he repealeth the law he disguiseth correcteth enlargeth and despenceth against the lawes and commaundements of God God must not be obeyed but as pleaseth the Pope He abolisheth the Gospell the merite of our Lords death and passion he ascribeth to the workes of men and to the obedience they beare him and his foolish inuentions and ceremonies Th' election of the faithfull belongeth to God no more the Pope hath vsurped and limited the same He Saincteth whom he please he hath arrogated to himselfe the office of sanctifier aboue the holy Ghost He maketh or thinks to make the like stirres and alterations in Heauen as he doeth here below he carieth at his girdle the seuen keyes and seuen seales of the seuen Churches saying it is his ofsice to shut and open the Churches Lo how he lifteth vp himselfe aboue all that is called God Thus the markes which as S. Paule teacheth should be in Antichrist 4. Esdr 8. are found in the Pope See here also the Prophesie of Esdras verisied that the miseries of the last times should happen by occasion of great pride It is written in Daniel Dan.
that all things be restored S. Paul saith Col. 3. seeke the things that are on high where Iesus Christ sitteth at the hand of God for himselfe had said to his Apostles Iohn 16. I go to my father and ye shall see me no more yet a litle while and ye shall see me for I go to my father and elswhere Math. 23. I say vnto you that from hence-forth ye shall not see me vntill ye say blessed is he that commeth in the name of the Lord Acts. 1. and in another place this Iesus which is taken vp from you into heauen shall so come as ye haue seen him go into heauen if the Lord is corporally present in the bread and wine of the supper if he is here below within the Priests pixe or betweene their hands why beleeue we that he is at the right hand of the father why do we looke for his comming from heauen to iudge the quicke and dead why say th'Apostles that heauen must conteine Iesus Christ vntill the time that all things be restored why say they that he is sitting at the right hand of God if he appeareth continually why should they affirme that the second time of his appearing shal be for iudgement why doth he say himselfe yet a litle while and you shall see me no more for I go to the father when is that time among the Papistes wherein they see him not why do the Angels say this Iesus which is taken vp from you to heauen shall come euen so as ye haue seen him go vp to heauen who hath seen him come downe from heauen to shut himselfe within the bread as he was seen go vp to heauen The Pope putteth his onely trust in this aunswere the Lord saith he can make his body be in the bread ergò he is there Behold a very proper meane to proue readily all kinds of heresies phantasies and mockeries and in deed if we were sure that his will is to haue his body here below in the bread in places innumerable aboue at his fathets right hand and so to haue his body to be spirituall we would not doubt of his power to performe it but we can find no-where this wil of his contrari-wise he teacheth vs that his body is in heauen that in the supper we must lift vp our soules on high to the right hand of God there to eate spiritually and by faith as hath benesaid he teacheth vs that his body is a true body 2. Iohn 4. euery spirit saith S. Iohn which confesseth not that Iesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God such a spirit is the spirit of Antichrist thus let vs ensue his will without enquiring of his power Furthermore if we might certeinely see the body or the'effects of the presence of the body and bloud of our Lord in the holy supper in the bread and wine thereof we would not argue at all either of his power or of his will but we see nothing saue bread like to bread both within and without in and throughout euery part in colour other qualities of nature nourishable and corruptible the host of the Masse nourisheth man nourisheth wormes as bread doth corrupteth and putrifieth as bread which we may not beleeue of our Sauiours glorified body Withall if the body of the Lord were in the bread so many miracles should daily and hourely ensue Luke 8. as would make it past doubt they that touched his garments onely felt his wonderfull vertue with farre more likelihood should they that touch his body feele it but we can see no such effects the Popes Bishops and Priests haue assayed to deriue from it oracles and miracles but still they found it nothing els saue bread they haue chafed thereat so farre-forth as to cast the host into the fire Finally I see no such necessitie for the celebration of the supper that the body should be here below really within the bread no more then in old time Christ was in the labe or at this day the bloud of Christ is in the water of baptisme The faithfull doe effectually receiue in baptisme the washing of the bloud of Christ by faith although nothing but water be administred in the name of the father of the sonne and of the holy Ghost euen so the faithfull may partake in the grace iustification death passion in the body bloud of the Lord by spirituall eating through faith as well yea more cōmodiously then by the reall eating of the body For in this behalfe it behoueth the Spirit by his miraculous operatiō not onely to transubstantiate the body and make it present at the same time in places infinit but also to turne this corporall food into spirit for the spirituall sustenance of the spirit of man which is the principall end of the supper of the death passion of the Lord. It is more agreable to the order established by God in the nature of all things and more consonant to his counsels reueled in his word to lift vp our soules by faith to nourish them with his body and bloud to fill them with his grace and merite of his death and passion to notifie such inward actions by the outward signes of bread and wine then to confound the properties of both natures to make him a body euerywhere present which to be onely pertaineth to his diuinitie to abase his glorious body and subiect it to a world of phantasies profanations and iniuries to haue it broken and torne chewed and swalowed and further to change that body into spirit for the nourishment of the spirit Behold here how the Pope with too-much boldnes and no necessitie aduentureth to commit idolatrie himselfe and to make them grose idolaters which follow him in his doctrine in that he adoreth the bread of the supper euen as the body of Iesus Christ More safe it is to adore it at the right hand of God seing the Scripture assureth vs most certainely that he is there Idolatrie is a sinne too horrible that any man should so freely giue ouer himselfe to the same In such ventrous cases when there is any suspition of idolatrie feare to sinne ought aboue all to ouer-rule our worldly wisdome Away then with this doctrine of the Pope so contrary to th'articles of the Christiā beliefe and all the holy Scripture away with this doctrine that destroyeth the veritie of our Lords body and is suspected ye conuinced of Idolatrie The Pope willeth vs to haue images of Angels Whether we ought to haue images for deuotion sake Saincts and of God himselfe within our Churches vpon our altars within our chappels and priuat closets for prayer He willeth vs to honour and serue these images with such deuotion ceremonies as in effect differeth not from adoration or diuine-honour We find no iote in the Scripture conformable to this doctrine but we find there commaundements ynow most flatly forbidding vs to receiue it Leuit.
yet went out of it for they neuer had entered into it But Antichrist was to be borne in the Church Marc. 13. Dan 9. Thess 4. Pet. 2. 1. Ioh. 2. was there to abide and reigne according to the prophesies of Iesus Christ of Daniel S. Paul S. Peter and S. Iohn The Pope was borne there went out from thence yet abideth reigneth there with great power pompe and tyranny The first weapons of Antichrist should be seducings and spirituall poysonings as the Apocalyps warneth vnder the name of the Whore and hir enticements which can not he applied to them that planted their false religion and performed all by fire sword and furie But the Pope hath layd the ground-worke and mayn-stay of his first and principall greatnes and power on will-worships on the show of counterfeit holinesse on false miracles seducing and bewitching peoples and nations with words and deeds well pleasing flesh and bloud as also with promisses and presents of goods and honors Other ring leaders of heresie as Arrius Maniche Pelagius and such like reigned not as Antichrist was to reigne in the temple of God with all excesse of power and glory they neuer exalted themselues aboue kings aboue all which is called God their seducings and oppressions were neuer so generall and continuall as the great Antichrist should bring to passe Take the paine your selfe for you ought it is as much as your saluatiō is worth to consider more heedfully the prophesies of Antichrist and compare the Gospell with that which they teach and practise in your Church ye will find that I tarry not on euery poinct but do ouerpasse farre moe matters then I touch your ghostly Fathers and Doctors like very Pharisees and hypocrites as they be for the most part do set vp against all these truths the defense of the Pharisees against Iesus Christ How can it be say your Doctors that so many holy fathers so many learned clerkes so many men so many peoples and countries haue consented to the doctrine of the Pope for so many hundred yeares if it were against God and against Holy-writ specially seing our Sauiour hath said behold I am with you vntill the end of the world This defense pleaseth flesh and bloud passing well the flesh fancieth them too well who teach that it is not ordinary for a man to wander out of the way to sinne and to go on in his wandring and sinne Vnder the warrant of this defence infinite soules doo stay waxe sluggish and are luld asleepe barking at such as would wake them out of this drousie disease But the wisedome of this world is foolishnesse with God 1. Cor. 3. 1. Cor. 2. and the naturall man perceyueth not the things of the spirit of God saith Sainct Paul flesh and bloud are blind and can not discerne these mysteries then let vs not consult herein with worldly wisedome or with flesh and bloud but with the spirite of God By this spirite in the holy historie wee are taught that Adam after his fall by sinne was somewhat relieued and reformed by the Lord that God by his Angels visibly did warne him and his children from time to tyme to walk and liue according to his commaundements with promise to restore and repaire the decay of mankind notwithstanding in lesse then two or three generations they forsooke the voyce and way of God and were corrupted after the imaginations and deuises of the flesh and this corruption lasted aboue sixteen hundred yeares Then the mercyfull Lord willing to shew his fauour towardes mankind repayred his Church renewed his commaundements to Noë and his children but againe within lesse then foure generatiōs the people went astray forgat God his commaundements A long time after that going astray the Lord called Abrahā restored his Church by him leauing the rest of all mankind in their corruption who remained therein till the comming of Christ for two thousand yeares and vpward The holy Ghost mereouer teacheth how after the Church was restored in Abraham confirmed in Moses and in all the children of Israëll there folowed many reuoltes in the Church of Israël euen as generall as the former aboue rehearsed for they seemed all to haue forsaken the right way insomuch as the faithfull appeared no-where these apostasies or backslidings endured some for two hundred yeares some more some lesse though the Lord in the meane while awaked them and called them againe by his Prophets Ye know further how the Greeks for the most part swarued ye count them for heretikes or infidels in maner al. Now so it is that th'Israëlites and Greekes may as well or better then you preuaile with these wordes of Christ I will be with you vntill the end of the world for as large and more expresse promises then that had bene made to th'Iraëlits and this promise pertained as well to the Greekes as to you because they were instructed in the Gospell before ye were and that more carefully and by mo Apostles then ye were and yet for all this both th'Israëlites Greeks are gone astray from the faith these many hundred yeares past which also hath befallen the Churches of Affrik who may chalenge to themselues th' assurance of those promises with as great reason as you may Besides that your owne Churches haue bene defiled and ouergrowé with heresies namely when the barbarous nations of the North and enemies of our faith left no face of a Church almost throughout Europe We must acknowledge therefore that such promises of God do neuer passe without this condition if ye abide in me in th' obedience of my word according to the doctrine of Moses Leuit. 26. Deut. 8. Isay 29. Els why should the Lord say in Isay to the children of Israel because this people come neare vnto me with their mouth and honour mee with their lips but haue remooued their heart farre from me their feare towardes me was taught by the precept of men therfore behold I will againe do a marueilous worke in this people euen a marueilous worke and a wonder for the wisedome of their wisemen shall perish and the vnderstanding of their prudent men shal be hid 30. and againe in the next chapter the Lord sheweth why they are plagued notwithstading his promises because saith he you haue cast of this word and trust in violence and wickednesse and stay thereupon therefore this iniquitie shal be vnto you as a breach that falleth or a swelling in an hye wall whose breaking commeth soundainly and in a moment 59. and in another place your iniquities haue separated betweene you your God and your sinnes haue hid his face from you Ose 4. that he will not heare and in Osea seing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God I will also forget thy children Iohn 8. Also Iesus Christ saith if ye continue in my word ye are verely my Disciples Now let vs gather of all these histories sayings that
in the holy place that all nations should band themselues against his elect that there should be warres noise of warres nation should rise against nation kingdome against kingdome the brother should deliuer his brother to death and the father the childe and children should rise against their parents and should cause them to die th'elect should be hated of all men great earth-quakes should be in many places dearth pestilence and great feare and that the seducing and tribulation should be so great that if it were possible the elect should be deceyued and except those dayes should be shortned there shall no flesh be saued such things saith he must needs be but th' end shall not be yet Dan. 7.9 Antichrist saith Daniel shall speake words against the most High and shall consume the Saincts of the most High and shall thinke that he may change times and lawes and they shal be giuen into his hand vntill a time times and the diuiding of time This is that which is written in Esdras 4. Esdras 5. that the way of truth shal be hid and the land shal be barren from faith and iniquitie shal be encreased more then thou hast seene now or hast heard in times past and all friends shall fight one against another then shall wit hide it selfe and vnderstanding depart into his secret chamber it shal be sought of many and yet not be found then shall vnrighteousnes and voluptuousnes haue the vpper hand vpon the earth one land also shall aske another and say is righteous iustice gone through thee and it shall say no at the same time shall men hope but not obtaine 4. Esd 16. they shall labour but their enterprises shall not prosper they shal be like mad men they shall spare none they shal spoile and wast such as yet feare the Lord for they then shall wast and spoile their goods and cast them out of their houses then shall the triall of my chosen appeare as the gold is tried by the fire Heare ô ye my beloued saith the Lord behold thy daies of trouble are at hand but I will deliuer you frō them be not ye afraid doubt not Apoc. 13.17.18 c. for God is your captaine This is the chiefe matter contained in th'Apocalips for there is described the great and long-continuing Reuolt of the later times how all the world shall wonder at the great Beast and worship him how this beast shall blaspheme against God how he shall allure and retaine on his side kings and peoples how he shall make warre on the Saincts and ouercome them how he shall haue power ouer all kindreds and peoples ouer all tongues and nations that this beast shall put to death them that will not worship him that he shall haue power to worke false miracles that he shall cause all both small and great rich and poore free and bond to beare his marke againe the kings and inhabitants of the earth shal kisse the great Whore that sitteth on the great Beast they shall commit fornication with her and shall be drunke with the wine of her fornication and the Marchants of the earth shal be enriched with the pompe and riot of her and of her citie of Babilon God shal put in the harts of kings to do the pleasure and will of this great Beast and to giue him their rule power vntill the word of the Lord be fulfilled The man of sinne or Antichrist saith S. Paul shall come with al power and signes and lying wonders 2. Thes 2. and in all deceiueablenes of vnrighteousnes among them that perish because they receiued not the loue of the truth that they might be saued and therefore God shall send them strong delusion that they should beleeue lies and further in that chapter he sheweth that there must be a departure from the faith before the comming of our Lord Iesus Christ and because the same departure was to happen shortly after hee warneth them that the mystery of iniquitie did then already worke He foretelleth also that in the last daies shal come perilous times 2. Tim. 3. wherin men of corrupt mindes and reprobates concerning the faith shall resist the truth but they shall preuaile no longer saith he for their madnesse shal be euident to all men and after that he saith the tyme will come 2. Tim. 4. when they will not suffer wholesome doctrine but hauing their eares itching shall after their owne lustes get them an heape of teachers and shall turne their eares from the truth and shal be giuen vnto fables It is written in S. Peter there shal be false teachers among you 2. Pet. 2. which priuely shall bring in damnable heresies euen denying the Lord 1. Iohn 2. that hath bought them and in S. Iohn as ye haue heard that Antichrist shall come euen now saith he are there many Antichrists Leaue then to demaunde how that may come to passe which ye see is come to passe and which is agreeable to mans naturall corruption to the ordinary conditiō of the Church and which must needes come to passe as the Prophecies must needes be true But iudge now if it be graunted you frō aboue whether we liue in the time of all these prophecies or no. See whether the branch of the fig-tree is tender and the leaues come forth Weigh whether ye breathe out any words but the words of men who seeke the ransome of your soules elswhere than in Christ who are not learned nor deuout but in your fansies and desires for your munkeries doctrines and deuotions are onely founded on the desire of man iudge whether ye that enioy this world at pleasure do persecute are of the crue of Antichrist or els the Reformed whom ye pill spoyle and sacke whom ye cast out of their houses whom ye chase out of the world who suffer at your hands endlesse vexation and who breathe out nothing but the word of God My children let vs do as Ezechias Iosias and other good kings of Israel did when they went about to set the Church in order they ouerskipped all mens traditions receiued and practized in the Church and searched out the word of God that lay before buried in darkenes and according to that word alone reformed the Church let vs looke back on the stone from whence we were cut of let vs bring our mother back to her former husband let vs returne together to the water of Siloe to wit Iesus Christ and his word Saint Iohn biddeth vs not to stand fast in the traditions and commaundements which we shall finde in the Church but in that which we haue heard from the beginning that which we haue heard from the beginning is the word of God Let vs hie fast and stand to it prescription of time or contrary custome cannot abate one iote of th'auctoritie trueth and power thereof it cannot deceiue vs we shall neuer want excuse before God if we rule our selues by