Selected quad for the lemma: doctrine_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
doctrine_n	church_n	teach_v	tradition_n	3,694	5	9.0240	5	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
B12171	The voluntarie conuersion and seuerall recantations, of foure great learned men, professed fryers in sundry monasteries of Fraunce, from the errours of idolatrie and poperie, to the true religion established in the Reformed Church. 1. Master Iohn Le Vager, a priest in the Romane Church, conuerted at Mauns, Ianuary 6. 2. Master Iohn Forent, a fryer Carmelite, in the Court of Morthemard, conuerted in the Reformed Church of Poictiers, Iune, 9. 3. Master Denis Boucher, a Franciscane fryer, in the couent of Noisy, neere Paris, conuerted in the Reformed Church of Paris, Iuly. 6. 4. Master Daniell Dusert, Franciscan fryer at Mello, conuerted in the Church of Mello, December, 22. All conuerted this last yeare, 1603. as their seuerall discourses following at large doe testifie, vnder their owne hands. Truely translated, out of the French printed copies.		1604 (1604)	STC 5650; ESTC S114587	31,204	52

be filled with statues Images Idols and pictures whereto incensings and honours must be done and before whome they must fall prostrate although they be vaine things the works of mens hands Finally the holy Spirit doth assure vs that the sacred Scriptures are diuinely inspired that they are apt to enstruct correct 2. Tim. 3. and conuince and that they can make a man wise before God to saluation The Pope and his partakers taking themselues to bee more wise then the holy Ghost doe not onely say that the sacred Scriptures are obscure but also that they be insufficient and like vnto a sword cutting with two edges That they haue a nose of wax which heretikes forme after their owne pleasure and wherewith they serue their owne turne to confirme their heresies These are such blasphemies as none but a diuell durst vtter considering that Iesus Christ himselfe in many places doth authorise the holy Scriptures referring all to their Iohn 5. Luke 4. subiectionhat ought men then to doe but followe his example in all things which concerne religion and the seruice of God VVhich if they of Popishe spirit would doe so many traditions and humane doctrins should not be seen directly against the word of God As is that of Purgatorie prayer for the dead Indulgences vowes and pilgrimages auricular confession and others so full of superstitions and Idolatries and neuer were heard so many blaspemies Namely as when the title of honour of the holy Father or of his holinesse which appertaineth to none but God onely is attributed and giuen to a mortall man a poore and miserable sinner The Sacraments of the Church which are but two instituted by our Lord Iesus Christ are they not broken and prophaned when we see them to bee augmented and added vnto with fiue other bastard Sacramēts All which hauing no institution commaundement or promise in the word of God we cannot neither ought wee to make any vse of them My masters these things with many others haue incited me to forsake the places where they are taught and commanded to leaue the large and spacious way which leadeth to perdition Mat. 7. to follow the hard and narrow path full of thornes and afflictions which conducteth men to our Lord Iesus Christ at the end whereof vnspeakable felicitie is found I set downe my rest then the grace of God assisting me to imbrace with you the profession of true Christianitie and therein purpose to liue and die VVhich I sweare protest and promise before God and all this holie assembly And to renounce as at this instant I haue renounced altogither al the false doctrines superstitions and Idolatries of Poperie namely that false counterfaite and blaspheamous sacrifice of the Masse quite contrarie to the merits death and passion of our Lord Iesus Christ Vpon whom only I wil lay the foundation of my faith and cast Anker there with vndoubted hope of life eternall and perpetuall blessednesse I pray God with all my heart to grant me grace heerin and entreate you all my Masters according to your charitie to bee helpefull heerein to mee with your holy praiers to him To whome with the Sonne and the holy Ghost bee all glorie and honour for euermore Amen This present declaration was with a loude voice pronounced in the presence of the whole reformed Church of Paris congregated at Ablon after the end of the Sermon On Sunday the sixt day of this present moneth of Iuly 1603. By me DENIS BOVCHER and thus signed D. Boucher FINIS A DECLARATION MADE BY MAster DANIELL DVSERT a natiue of Cinte-gauelle neere to Tholouse and heretofore a Religious Fryer according to the Order of Saint Frances Contayning his abiuration of the Doctrine of the Romish Church and his protestation to liue and dye in the Faith of the reformed Church Made publickly by himselfe in the Church of Mello the 22. day of December 1603. I Render thanks to God that after so long time of wauering in faith and plunging in the errours of the Romane Church being altogither led by the cūning Doctours of that profession and brought into such an estate as being wholly subiected vnder the power of the Prince of darknesse hee hath yet at length by the vertue and efficacie of his blessed spirit giuen me to knowe that the doctrine preached in the said Romane Church is as farre off from the true Euangelicall doctrine as earth is from heauen that such as follow that track are out of the way of their saluation For proofe whereof it is a matter most certaine That out of Christs Church there is no saluation at all Now that is the Church of Christ which heares his voice therefore since the voice of Christ that is to say his word is not heard among them of the Romish Church it must needs follow that they are neither of his Church nor yet of his flock And to shew apparantly that the voice of Christ is not heard in the saide Romane Church we will proceede in approuing the same by the manifest Antithesis and opposition which is betweene the Romish doctrine and that of Christ contained in the sacred Scriptures And first of all the Church of Rome teacheth that the holy Scriptures doe not containe all the doctrine of our saluation Which is quite contrarie to the Apostles instruction who plainely saith That hee had knowen the holy Scriptures of a childe which are able to make wise vnto saluation through the 2. Tim. 3 15. faith which is in Iesus Christ For the whole Scripture is giuen by diuine inspiration and is profitable to teach to conuince to correct and to instruct in righteousnesse That the man of God Chap. eod v 16. 17. may he absolute being made perfect vnto all good workes It appeareth then that they erre in teaching that beside the doctrine of holy Scripture the traditions of men are necessarie to saluation Directly contrary to our Lord Sauiours instruction where he saith In vaine they worship me teaching for doctrine Math. 15. 9. the traditions of men They teach also that the same Scriptures are so obscure and doubtfull as we cannot clearely gather the doctrine of saluation by them Contrarie to Saint Peters speaches saying Wee 2. Pet. 2. 19. haue also a most sure word of the Prophets to the which yee do wel that yee take heed as vnto a light that shineth in a darke place They say moreouer that it is not lawfull for Lay men as they vse to call such as are of other condition then Ecclesiasticall persons to reade or meditate in the holy Scriptures Against the commandement of Christ who exhorteth all men generally in this manner Search diligently the Scriptures for in them yee thinke to haue eternall life and Iohn 5. 39. they are they which testifie of mee And Saint Iohn doth not hee addresse his Epistle to all sortes of ages saying Little children I write vnto you because your sinnes are forgiuen yee for his

abhominations Apoca. 18. 4. and plagues Which I haue done according to my duety and the desire Concerning himselfe I haue of mine owne saluation which is no where offered but in the true Church and that is it which followeth her Spouse wheresoeuer he goes and heares his voice and listens to no strangers that is to say whatsoeuer is beside the doctrine contained in canonicall Scripture For we ought to hold him whosoeuer accursed that shall preach any other Gospell to vs according as Saint Paule aduiseth vs. And we say with TERTVLLIAN to them of the Romish Tertullian Church That they must shew their doctrin written in those canonicall bookes or else let them expect that malediction to fal vpon their heads due to such as eyther adde or diminish from that doctrine For as for other mens traditions whereon their Church is grounded and not vpon the Apostles foundation nor the holy mountaines of sacred Scriptures those traditions are falsly called Apostolicall as Nicephorus whom they haue among Nicephorus in lib. 12. C. 33. 34. 35. them doth plainely approue to them the contrarie in his book the 12. C. 33. 34 35. God open their eyes by the illumination of his holy spirit that they may see the brightnesse of his Gospell to betake themselues to the aforesaide mountaines whereon the true Church is builded and to reforme their doctrine which is to the contrary Giue vs also his grace to perseuer in his sacred vocation to his glorie and our owne saluation Amen Iohn Le Vager FINIS A CHRISTIAN DECLARATION OF IOHN FORENT HEERtofore a religious Fryer of the order of the Carmelites in the Couent of Morthemard and Curate of Castell Lusac Made publickly in the refor med Church of Poictiers on Sunday the 9. of Iune 1603. 2. Cor. 6. 18. Come forth from among the Infidels and separate your selues saith the Lood and touch no vncleane thing And I will receiue you And I will be a Father vnto you and yee shall be my Sonnes and daughters saith the Lord Almightie AS all the stones that are to build one house are not brought together in one instant and they likewise laide readie on a heape will hardly serue for the constructure therof til by good and skilfull workemen they be disposed and made meete each one to serue in his due ranke or place Euen so our Lord God doth not gather his elect of whome he buildeth and erecteth his Church all at one instant time or season but according as his prouidence and predestination hath concluded in his eternal counsell and purposed for accōplishment therof in at al times He cals one while some at other seasons others and day by day by his blessed spirit of rude and vnapt members he fashioneth and disposeth them to enter into the building of his sacred Temple whereof his dearely beloued sonne is not onely the foundation whereon it is builded but also the master and corner stone knitting together the two walles of the seuerall people Iewes and Gentiles into one sole building which is his true Church It is now twelue yeares and more since it pleased God to beginne to make mee listen to his inward calling which from one day to another he confirmed to mee by the sacred Scriptures whereby continually hee solicited mee to come out of Babylon and enter into his celestial Sion But vntil this instant there ensued many repugnancies on mine owne behalfe taking it not to be expedient for my saluation for an infinite number of humane considerations and vaine scruples opposed themselues against my desire presuming to counterchecke those iust reasons which the spirit of God suggested to mee and euen like dreadfull Gyants or furious monsters guarding the prison gate wherein I was enclosed gaue me many great apprehensions and still continued me in the terrible assaults euen when I best hoped to escape away from them But in the end it pleased the mercy of him who deigned to chuse me among the number of his liuing stones for entrance into the building of his sanctuarie by little and little to free mee from those feares by assuring my courage arming me with his grace and furnishing me with stones to beate downe the one and with weapons to cut off the heades of the others So that now by the meanes of his ayde and fauour I see mine enemies confoūded my prison doore opened and the way laide wide open for mee to enter into the house of my father Further assuring me that albeit I haue greatly prouoked his anger in so long time of abusing his graces for mine enlargement and therefore I shewed my selfe the more vnworthy to beare the title of his sonne yet that he is so pittifull as he will be mooued in compassion towards mee and allow for acceptable the repentance wherewith he hath touched my heart and so if not as a sonne yet to receiue me into his house as one of his seruants For now I will take no more delight in those spirituall brothelries the pure chastitie of his vndoubted Church hath inuited and drawne me to her communion I will now swallow no more of those bitter-sweete baites which haue so long time abused my taste as now appeareth by this contrarie heauenly sauour I desire in the company of the Children of God to feede on liuing bread in the house of the Lord. The Onions Leekes and Garlike of Aegypt haue seemed most odious and stinking to me since I tasted of the celestiall Manna which the heauens haue rained downe vpon vs. Too long haue I suckt the putrified and venemous blood issuing from the impure dugges of that cruell woman made drunke with the bloode of the Martyres Apoc. 17. 6. High time was it therefore to relish now hence forward the sweete milke distilling from the pure pappes of our dearest mother Too long time hath the deadly cup of abhominations deliuered daily abroad by that horrid strumpet beene ouerlauishly quaffed on now therefore it behooueth the more carefully to experiment the sweete liquour of life in the Cuppe presented to vs by the modest spouse of Iesus Christ Hauing then hitherto borne the heauie burden which the tyranny of Antichriste charged my shoulders withall I holde it reasonable since it hath pleased God so gratiously to deliuer me that all the rest of my life should be imployed thus to lay my neck vnder the sweete and pleasing yoake of the iust rule and gouernment belonging to my legitimate and Soueraigne king And my tongue also which heretofore hath beene loose vnbound to blasphemies as also the preaching of dreames and lyes shall henceforth doe his office in singing the maruels of my God to blesse his holie name in the congregation of his Saints to preach his worde for the edification of his Church if it stand with his good pleasure to render mee worthy and capable thereof and also to giue him thankes for that it hath pleased him after hee gaue me knowledge of his trueth to

neuerthelesse fruitlesse 1. Cor. 14. 13. The Church of Rome forbiddeth praying in the Church in any other language then in Latine wherein the greater part of the people and many of of the Priests themselues doe vnderstand nothing therefore their intelligence must of necessitie bee fruitlesse The doctrine Apostolical holdes That mariage is honorable amongst all and the bed vndefiled but whoremongers and adulterers God will iudge Heb. 13. 4. And that To auoide fornication let euery man haue his wife and let euery woman haue her own husband 1. Cor. 7. 2. That the Bishoppe should be the husband of one wife and the Deacon likewise 1. Tim 3. 2. 8. Hee pronounceth them also Apostates from the faith abusers lyers and hypocrites as shall forbid mariage 1. Tim. 4. 1. 2. 3. The Romane doctrine saith that mariage is pollution approuing and allowing the opinion of one of her Popes Siricius who qualifying the case in this maner prohibited and forbad mariage to Bishops Priestes and Deacons tolerating notorious whoredomes to the whole worlde and permitting publick Stewes or Burdelles that daily pay trybute therefore to the Pope By all these Antitheses we may easily iudge the difference that is betweene the doctrine of Christ and that of the Romane Church and by these meanes discerning it to bee a Church without God execrable and accursed thinke it meete that all such as woulde bee saued shoulde separate themselues from it Now after shee had thus transgressed against the commandements of God and instituted others quite contrarie to them in their places After she hath renounced the doctrine of the Sonne of God deliuered by his Apostles and caused in their steede the traditions and constitutions of men meerely opposite to them all to be wholly embraced and receiued There then remained no more but to make a breach of the Sacraments which our Lord Iesus did leaue to his Church to confirme and seale by them in the hearts of the faithfull the truth of his promises and vnder the signes of visible thinges to exhibite and giue them intirely all his best blessings Now if shee shewed her selfe so audacious and bolde in the two former points it will appeare that she hath declared her selfe no lesse presumptuous and headstrong in this third For ouer and aboue her annihilating the Sacraments especially that of the Lords Supper abolishing the signes without which it can be no Sacrament three things being required in all Sacraments to wit the word the signe and the thing signified She hath contaminated and prophaned the same by her additions or diminutions She hath added to the water in Baptisme Salte Spettle Oyle and Creame without any one worde of God to warrant the same She hath cut off from the Laitie as she tearmes them the Cup the moitie of the Sacrament of the Supper and which best representeth vnto vs the death and passion of our Lord which wee ought to remember and the washing of our soules from sinne which we ought to seeke after c. contrarie to his owne expresse worde that saith Drink yee all of this Now God hath most exactly enioyned vs that wee shall haue care of fulfilling what he hath commaunded vs and that we shall not be so bolde as to adde any thing or diminish any thing this was not a temporall commaundement giuen to the Iewes onely for his enduring is eternall and hee addressed the same to his Church euen to the end of the worlde If it were not lawfull to adde to or omit any of the ceremonies ordained by Moses concerning the eating of the Paschal Lamb which was one of the Sacraments to the Iewes why should it bee permitted now on the behalfe of our Sacraments And if any one that misprised the Lawe of Moses dyed the death without any mercie what farre worse torments then doth hee deserue that shall treade the sonne of God vnder his feete The Church of Rome tramples with her foule feete vpon him when shee addeth to and diminisheth from his worde when she despiseth his doctrine and deliuers another when she prophanes his Sacraments and when so enormously shee transgresseth the commaundements of God It followes then that shee is to expect most rigorous punishments and such as will not participate in her plagues must keepe themselues from partaking in her sinnes and least they bee infected to quit themselues of her in due time I adiure then all those in whose soules resides any sparke of pietie of zeale to the glorie of GOD and of affection to their owne saluation that they weighing these reasons and not beleeuing euery spirit but approuing the spirites whether they bee of GOD or no propose to themselues that many false Prophets are come into the world 1. Iohn 4. 1. And forasmuch as by the sacred Scripture which is as a candle set vpon a candlesticke to illuminate all those that enter into the Lords house and whereby all falsities Idolatries blasphemies heresies sacriledges abuses superstitions heerein alreadie specified and infinite other follies and grosse absurdities which the Church of Rome hath conceiued in her crazed braine voide of all wisdome yet after shee hath once infanted them they are nourished brought vp in so greate an estate as they haue almost obscured the true seruice of GOD and euen very neere hand suffocated the whole doctrine of saluation shee may bee easiliest discouered yet notwithstanding shee hath beene so subtile as to forbid the people the reading of them knowing verie well that if they bee read the pot of Roses would be discouered and all the world abandoning her would sende forth an open cry vpon her as after an enraged wolfe that hauing broken the pales of the Churches Parke sought to loose and destroy the poore flock of the Lord. Neuerthelesse shee could not so cunningly prouide for her owne affaires but GOD discouered her parts of shame and laide open her abhominations to the whole worlde for the light of his Gospell now shining euery where all the nookes and corners are wide open and the masque wherewith shee shadowed her deformed countenance hath beene rent off from her face and there is no one if hee bee not wilfully blinde but may see and perceiue her turpitude And yet for all this beeing thus publikely knowne quite contrarie to the imitation of all shamelesse strumpets perceiuing they can no longer bee couered yet shee hath cast downe all shame and contemning all whatsoeuer suffereth her selfe to bee carried into the depth of all iniquitie Shee is become like to her owne Images that haue eyes yet see nothing eares and heare nothing at all Shee hath stopt her eares like the Adder as not willing to heare the voice of her husband who called her to better vnderstanding by the admonitions of such as bemoned her mishappes desired her reconciliation She hath altogither shut her eyes because she would not see the light of trueth taking nothing else more opposite against her hart then the bright splendour thereof Beeing no way

it selfe before me which is of no lesse weight and substance and that is it which Saint Iohn saith Whosoeuer transgresseth and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ hath not God He that cōtinueth in the doctrine of Christ hee hath both the Father and the Sonne If there come any to you and bring not this doctrine receiue him not into your house neither bid him God speede 2. Iohn 9. 10. And Saint Paule saith Though wee or an Angell from Heauen doe preach vnto you otherwise then that which wee haue preached vnto you let him bee accursed c. Galat. 1. 8. 9. The Church of Rome hath not continued in the doctrine of Christ but hath announced receiued another Gospell contrarie to that which the Apostles preached Therefore shee hath not God shee ought not to be receiued nor acknowledged nor yet to be saluted but held as execrable and accursed Wherefore then if she haue not God she is not the Church of God euen no more then the bodie of a man when the soule is separated from it can then be called or said to be a man If also she be accursed she is not the Church of God because the Church of God is euermore blessed and therefore whosoeuer will bee saued ought necessarily to forsake her and ranke himselfe there where God abideth It shall be easie for mee to approue the assumption of this argument by the conference of the doctrine of Iesus Christ which the Apostles preached with that which the Pope and all his doctors and preachers Romanists doe holde and preach in the Church of Rome and I wil begin at the very foūdation of the Church The doctrine Apostolical teacheth Other foundation can no man lay then that which is laide which is Iesus Christ 1. Cor. 3. 11. Whereupon himselfe was desirous to build his Church saying Vpon this Rock which is Christ the stone which the Romane builders haue aswell refused as the Iewes did will I build my Church Math. 16. 18. The Church of Rome hath taken her selfe from vnder this foundation and will needes bee grounded on that of Saint Peter But I referre to their opinion who cannot bee so vnprouided of iudgement how well the Church should bee defended against the powers of hell if shee had not a more solide foundation then that of Saint Peter who at the voice of a silly young mayden was in such sort shaken as all that was builded on him was neere hand ouerturned If so weak a winde did totter that foundation what then could the terrible stormes do which Sathan and his Angels which are the powers of the ayre vented out of hell against the Church of God The Apostles taught That wee are saued and iustified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Iesus by Faith in his bloud Rom. 3. 24. 25. And not by workes least any man should boast himselfe Ephes 2. 8. 9. which are the three causes of our iustification and saluation the efficient whereof is the grace or mercie of God the materiall is Iesus Christ in his bloude and the instrumentall faith in him The Church of Rome doth dogmatise the quite contrarie that wee may acquire iustice and Paradise by our good works and be iustified before God by them The doctrine Apostolicall testifieth That by the bloude of Christ wee are redeemed 1. Pet. 1. 19. Apoc. 5. 9. purged Hebre. 1. 3. washed and cleansed from all our sinnes Iohn 1. 29. Apoc. 1. 6. The Church of Rome holdes that wee may redeeme our sinnes by almes fastings pilgrimages celebration of Masses and such like thinges That there is another purgatory beside the bloud of Christ whereby hee satisfied to GOD for the paines which were due vnto vs and wherein wee are purged cleansed and washed from all soyle of sinne to appeare pure and vnpolluted before the face of God The same doctrine of the Apostles proposeth vnto vs one sole Mediatour Aduocate and Intercessour betweene God men to gaine grace and remission of their sinnes to wit Iesus Christ 1. Tim. 2. 5. 1. Iohn 2. 1. the Church of Rome doth attribute this office to Saints The Apostles taught that before the comming of Iesus Christ there were many Priests or sacrificers made because by death they were impeached from enduring so succeeded one another But Iesus Christ because he endureth euer hath an euerlasting Priesthode Hebre. 7. 23. 24. and because he had no neede of any successour therefore there was no neede also to offer daily sacrifices for sinne For he did it once for all offering vp himselfe and by this oblation onely the efficacie wherof is daily recent before God he hath consecrated to perpetuitie those that shal be saued He. 9. 10. The Romane Church holds the Pope for soueraigne sacrificer as if Christ to whom this office onely appertaineth were dead and he of necessitie ought to be his successour She acknowledgeth also all the Priests of Popery not only to be sacrificers whose office shee faith is daily to offer sacrifice in the Masse for the sins of the liuing and of the dead but likewise O blasphemie aboue all blasphemies the most execrable she cals them creatours of the Creator Stella clericorum The Apostles deliuered testimonie That Christ was the Prince of Pastors and Prince of the Kings vpon earth 1. Pet. 5. 2. 4. Apoc. 1. 5. Attributing to him the soueraigne authoritie as well spiritually ouer the Church as temporally ouer the kingdomes vpon earth expressely allowed and giuen him the Father The heathen for thine inheritance and all the ends of the earth for possession Psal 2. 8. himselfe also declaring when he was to ascend vp into heauen that all power is giuen vnto me both in heauen and earth The Church so much as in her lyeth despoyleth him of this authoritie and giues it to the beast mounted vpon the earth which representeth the Pope acknowledging him to haue two hornes like vnto those of the Lambe Apoc. 13. 11. to wit soueraigne authoritie spiritual ouer the Church when she proclaimeth him vniuersall head of the Church soueraigne high Priest prince of Bishops receiuing the lawes ordinances proceeding from the Dragon preferring them before those of Iesus Christ who proceeded from the eternall Father Shee hath also graunted him soueraine authoritie temporall ouer the Kingdoms of the earth in regard she beleeueth that it is in his power to dispossesse kings of their thrones and to giue them to others that all kings doe hold their Realmes by faith and homage to the Sea of Rome and that the Emperour himselfe ought not to be held as a lawfull Emperour if hee be not first approued confirmed by the said Sea that he haue first acknowledged made ordinarie submissions to the beast adored him and falling downe before his feete kissed his Pantofle The Apostles taught That such as prayed in a strange tongue not vnderstanding the same although they prayed in spirit yet their intelligence was

other great kings Princes and Infidel Potentates against God his Church and sacred trueth wherein neuerthelesse hee hath in the end showne himselfe most magnificently victorious euen ouer all his enemies protecting and defending all those that put their trust in him Which also was the blessed aduertisment and assured consolation that sometimes our Lord Iesus Christ gaue to his Apostles when hee sent them forth to preach his word saying I send yee forth as sheepe and lambes among Wolues Yee Luk. 10. shall haue manie enemies that shall put yee to much paine and trauaile in the world But bee yee of good courage for I haue ouercome the world And further assurance of victorie hee gaue Luk. 21. them by meanes of a mouth filled with wisdome which none should be able to resist or speake against Vndoubtedly then it is a most extreame folly for men to thrust themselues forward or to enterprise any thing whatsoeuer against his wisdom because he is euermore too strong for them and he will maintaine his right against all power whatsoeuer In this respect my worthy iudicious Masters because now daies it seemes that the Church of Rome is mightily aduanced by the multitude of her supposts and false Pastors who in stead of the true heauenly foode present nothing else but venemous hearbes and false doctrines therewith to feede the soules of men Although I say it appears that this Synagogue of Sathan do daily beare vp saile God sparing and delaying his iudgements against her Yet notwithstanding at length hee will let loose the arrowes of his indignation and fierce anger against her blasphemies so that shee shall no way be able to endure the weight of his displeasure but shall altogither remaine confounded and ruined Whereas on the contrary part hee will defend preserue and encrease day by day his little flock as we may perceiue that many being guided and conducted by his holy spirit haue forsaken the accursed foulde of Popery to ranck themselues amongst the members of his true Church And heere my masters I present my selfe before you as one of them who although I was one of the least members of that great Popish bodie yet did I not desist from persecuting to my vttermost the true Church of our Sauiour and the verity of his Gospell which I impugned by diuerse heresies which I learned in the infectious Cloysters of sundry Monasteries publickly preaching and pronouncing them vnderstanding and corrupting most vilely the holy Scriptures arming and seruing mine owne turne with infinite other subornations only to contradict the trueth withall I did intirely oppose my selfe against that goodly and bright splendour shining most gloriously in the word of God And to speake truely I made a spare of nothing which I imagined might serue for mine owne conseruation in the estate of lying But yet at length when God made me to know that it was ouer-hard for me to kick against the prick and that I had wilfully shut vp mine eyes before only because I would not looke on the bright Sunne of iustice which vouchsafeth to illuminate all the world God then I say in mercie looking vpon mee did let mee plainely perceiue that I deserued no lesse chastisement then the veriest wretch in the whole worlde And to the end I may make a more particular declaration of his grace bestowed vpon mee receiuing Heb. 8. and likewise deliuering to you a sound subiect of him to render all praise and thankes with mee to him therefore as also on the other side that mine example of entring now amongst you may the more resoluedly confirmeyee in the trueth I wil speak and deliuer vnto yee in very fewe words the grounds of those causes which moued and incited mee to forsake Antichristes Gal. 3. part of Rome to followe the trueth of God and ioyne my selfe to the bodie of his Church First of all the word of God teacheth vs that Iesus Christ is our soueraigne Prophet King and Priest and that at one time onely he offered vp himselfe a sacrifice to God for vs who were vtterly lost the children of wrath sinne and death That by one oblation onely hee hath sanctified vs bought vs from the curse of the Lawe euen when hee made himselfe a curse for vs. Now the Church of Rome confesseth that albeit Iesus Christ did die for vs yet his death is not profitable to vs except wee doe some good workes to apply vnto our selues matter of merit thereby As if hee had not offered vp himselfe to his Father but rather is to be offered vp by the Sacrifices and Doctours of the Lawe And that his oblation is not meritorious only except the same be daily reiterated in the Masse which they say is propitiatorie to God both for the liuing and the dead That Christ hath not throughly deliuered vs from the curse of the Lawe but that to bee saued we ought in our selues to accomplish the Lawe Wherein they contradict manifestly the sacred Scriptures and namely that place taught by saint Paule in the second Chapter of his Epistle to Ephes 2. and other places the Ephesians The holy Scriptures also doe enstruct vs that Iesus Christ is the alone Mediatour betweene God and man as also the only 1. Tim. 2. 1. Iohn 2. Iohn 10. Phil. 2. Colos 1. Aduocate and intercessour That hee is the good Sheepheard that God hath subiected all things vnto him and made him the head of his Church The Pope opposing himselfe against all these commaunds that prayers must be made to he Saints and shee Saints as mediatours betweene God and men and in regard that they haue beene men they haue the more communication with our nature and are more enclined to compassion of our miseries then Iesus Christ And yet notwithstanding it is hee that saith Come vnto mee all yee that are heauie laden and I will ease you Beside Whatsoeuer you demaunde Math. 11. Iohn 14. of the Father in my name you shall obtaine it The Pope auoucheth that although Iesus Christ bee the heade of the Church yet saith hee that he himselfe is the ministeriall head thereof in earth and that all things are as wel subiected to him as vnto Christ That all whatsoeuer hee doth or saith ought to be helde and reputed as comming euen from God himselfe That in things which concerne Religion he cannot erre yet notwithstanding many Popes haue bin found to be heretikes witnesse Liberius Marcellinus and others Hee saith also that his commaundements ought to bee executed equally with them belonging to God In breefe hee would make the world beleeue that the Church of GOD is a monster with two heades before which equally all knees ought to bowe and bend God did likewise expresly forbid his people and so consequently to all men to make any grauen Image of any thing Exod. 20. whatsoeuer to vse any seruice thereto or fal downe before it The Pope on the contrarie part hee will haue Churches to

deliuer me out of the denne of Lyons lodge mee in the fold among his owne flocks Moreouer to craue pardon of him for my hainous transgressions committed in that since the time when hee gaue me a taste of his truth I stoode out like a Rebell to the light thereof resisting the blessed Spirit and deferring ouer-long the time of my conuersion But to the end that such as haue hitherto heere held mee for a member of the Church of Rome may not preiudicately conceiue that I haue thence dismembred or cut off my selfe lightly and without a great reason or subiect it is expedient that I deliuer the principall cause which heerunto hath moued me and that is nothing else but this sole reason That out of the Church of God there is no saluation For euen as during the time of the Deluge all those men that found themselues to bee out of Noahs Arke were drowned euen so all they that are out of the Church shall perish and no one person shall obtaine the eternall inheritance if first of all he haue not God for his Father and there is no man can haue him for his Father except he haue the Church for his Mother And forasmuch as the spirit of God hath giuen mee to knowe that the Church of Rome is not his Church but only this the true reformed Church desiring to bee saued I haue quitted the one to enter into the bosome of the other And although I can by many reasons approue and clearely shewe that the Church of Rome is not the Church of God yet for auoyding of prolixitie I will produce but three onely the verie least whereof is sufficient to perswade mee vndoubtedly and all such as are endued with the vnction which teacheth all thinges that that Church can not any way bee it The first is that euery congregation which abolisheth the commaundementes of God to establish other that are contrarie to them doth by this meanes breake the affinitie which it had with God and forsaking the same can no way bee the Church of God The Church of Rome hath abrogated or abolished the commaundements of God and hath established others quite contrarie to them by which meanes she hath broken the band of alliance with God and so forsaken God It ensueth then that it cannot be the Church of God Now for better iustifying the minor of this argument wee neede to regarde nothing else but what God hath required of a Church for approbation to bee his by the two first commandements of the Lawe For the first he will bee knowne of her to bee God onely and as such a one to bee serued honoured and adored forbidding to haue any other Gods before him or to giue them any part of his glorie Exod. 20. 3. The Church of Rome hath so farre failed in the keeping of this commaundement as shee hath altogether practised the contrarie receiuing an innumerable multitude of Gods vnder the name of Saints by the Pope Canonized which is as much to say as Deified and to them hath attributed and rendered the selfe same honour seruice and adoration which onely ought for GOD to bee reserued For shee inuokes and calles vpon them makes vowes to them buildes Temples to them erectes Altars ordaines feastes celebrates diuine honour and seruice to them all which thinges doe appertaine to none but God onely And shee is not contented to forge straunge Gods in this maner of the Saints soules whome they beleeue to bee in heauen although a great number of them helde by her for Saintes may bee buried in hell but shee delves into the bowels of the earth and opens Sepulchers where their supposed bodies are interred to make her newe Gods of their bones of their hayre of their habites and other such like trashe which shee hath caused to bee enchased into golde and siluer and so set vpon Altares or caried about on their shoulders in processions and make the people to kisse them vpon their knees Wherein assuredly shee hath exceeded the Iewes who albeit they were maruellously enclined to the forging of straunge Gods yet were they neuer so brutish as to canonize the holy Prophets neither to giue any honour to the bones of deade men for what sanctitie soeuer they might haue beene commended in their liues Perhaps they builded goodly Sepulchers to honour their memorie but they neuer did any religious seruice to them The bones of Eliseus might haue prophecied after his death if by their touch a deade bodie had beene raised yet all the honour done to them was to couer them with earth there to awaite the sound of the Trumpet when the soule which before had giuen life to them shoulde returne againe to reinuest them If she haue showen her selfe impious and ridiculous in these matters already recyted then well may she be iudged altogether senselesse in trāslating the diuinity into a morsel of bread adoring it for Iesus Christ creating to her selfe daily a million of new Gods If she haue thus transgressed against the first commandement it will appeare she hath carried no more respect to the second whereby God expressely forbiddeth the making of any grauen Image or the resemblance of any thing whatsoeuer either aboue in heauen heere belowe on the earth or in the waters vnderneath the earth nay more not to fall downe before them or vse any manner of seruice to them Exod. 20. 4. 5. But this charge hath she taken from the peoples remembrāce and most maliciously hath cut it quite away from the number of the commandements in the Houres which is a booke of praiers by her ministers prouided for the vulgar sort and yet to the end that there might still remaine the full number of ten they haue seuered the last and made two of it All her Temples hath she filled charged her Altars with the Images of men of Diuelles of horses of hogges of dogges and other resemblances and to them hath made incensings offerings set cādels burning before them and her adherents haue prostrated thēselues before them Nay so strāgely hath she herein proceeded that in the second Counsell of Nice she caused it there to be absolutely decreed that these Images should be adored excommunicated al such as did or beleeued the contrarie and that decree doth shee obserue to this present day Wherein apeareth a contrarietie most manifest betweene God who forbiddeth flatly the adoration of Images and the Church of Rome that commaunds men to adore them Now as she doth excommunicate euery one that doth not worshippe them so on the other side God curseth all such as doe so or fall downe before them Deut. 27. 15. Let euery man then in this point be well aduised which malediction ought most to be feared eyther that of God or the other of the Romane Church And though I should consider no other reason to perswade me that she is not the true Church of God yet this alone were more then sufficient But now another presents