as yet are subiect to this ambitious Antichrist and on their hands for working since neither Prince nor Priest must now adaies practise the seuerall duties of Magistracy or Ministery without an Oath of Fealtie first made vnto the Pope not Prince since he f Clement lib. 2. tiâ— 9. cap. 1. in princip is so coÌ„manded to secure his Kingdome from the Pope vnto him by the bond of an Oath the former whereof is diuersly set down but all to this purpose That the Emperour must bee subiect to the Bishop of Rome as it was taken Gratian â—ist 63. can 30. by Lewis the Sonne of Charles the Great vnto Paschalis the First by h Grat. dist 63 can 33. Otho the First to Iohn the twelfth by i Platina in Gregor 7. Henry the Fourth to Gregorie the Seuenth by k Lib. 1. Ceremon Rom. Eccle. sect 5. cap. 2. Fredericke the Third to Nicholas the Fifth by Charles the Fifth to Clement the Seuenth yea and by King Iohn m Math. Parisiens in Ioh. pag. 217. of England to Innocent the Fourth all this truly verifying the words of SALOMON l Coâ—nâ—l Agrippa in historia de Coronat Caroli 5 â—ononiae tom â— Oâ—er n Eccles 10.6 I haue seene seruants vpon Horses and Princes walking as seruants vpon the earth For this seruant of seruants is by this Oath promoted aboue his elder Brethren in Christendome Kings and Princes not Priest since his tonsure or shauing his Chrisme or anoynting giuen by the Pope and Popelings onely o Henriquez lib. 10. Moral theolog cap. 34. §. 2. in textu are ratified by an Oath of subiection vnto the Pope to bee taken in the Chapter-House before he enter the Possession of the Temporalities belonging to his Bishopricke or other like Benefice as p Idem ibidem in margine Gregory the Thirteenth of late set out the forme and whereof we find a Copie registred in the q I. Fox Martyrolog lib. 4 pa. 208. lib. 7. pag. 961. Acts and Monuments 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Prayse iust dealing but yet bee thou set wholly vpon gaining r Sophocles in Aiac said one in the Poet whom the Pope fitly followeth in requiring these Oathes of Magistrates and Ministers vnder the colourable pretence of maintaining true Vnitie and Vniformity in Church and Common Weale but in truth as the euent sheweth for a readie occasion and sound cause vpon which hee may gather money both of Princes who before they were admitted vnto their places by this Oath as by a posterne gate or a window did solemnely promise some one speciall Temporalitie of Earldome c. for a thankefull Beneuolence to holy Church as Caelestine Å¿ Roger Houeden in Ioh. the Third peremptorily vrged it to Henry the sixth Emperour and of Priests who if they were Archbishops were to t Vid. lib. 1. Ceremon Rom. Eccles sect 10. cap. vlt. pay a great masse of monie for their Pall if Bishops according to the rate of their Liuing Abbots Priors Deanes or any way Beneficed men u Fox Martyr lib. 4. pag. 322. were to send their first Fruits of all their Liuings vnto the Pope who was not ashamed by his Legate Otho x Math. Paris in Henr. 3. p. 316 to require out of England besides this bridle of bondage in the mouthes of the Clergie from euery Cathedrall Church two Prebends one from the Bishop and another from the Chapter from euery Abbey and Couent two Portions yea y Idem pag. 677 and many times reseruing Benefices for Strangers amongst many other grieuances and heauie burdens by the Pope in times before layd vpon this flourishing Kingdome of England which the Pope in respect of the Peter-Pence Annales Pensions Prouisions and other gainefull Iniunctions brought from hence to Rome might well terme truely z Idem pag. 683 his Garden of Delights his Bottomlesse Poole out of which since many things abound there many things from many may well be extorted euen thereby verifying of his Court at Rome both what the Fox in the Poet said of the Lions Denne a Horat. Ep. 1. lib. 1. quia me vestigia terrent Omniate aduersum spectantia nulla retrorsum I feare to goe thither being affrighted by the footings of all other Beasts looking towardes but not returning backe from this Denne of Men worse then Lions yea euen of Deuils whose Court is b Scaliger de â—tâ—litate exercitat 52. like the Sea at Paria and the Iles of Maidegascar euer flowing in but neuer ebbing out and that of old when Rome was in her Ruffe as one well rimed with reason from a strange yet true Deriuation of the word Roma thus c Ioh. Monachi apud Gowlart in Catalog test Veritat â—om â— lib. 14 pag. 494. 2. Of coozenâ—ge in his miracles Roma manus rodit quod rodere non valet odit Dante 's exaudit non dantibus ostia claudit Now to couer this Couetousnesse hee flyeth to the Coozening course of Quacksaluers in the fraudulent vse of lying Miracles the glory d Bellar. lib. 4. de Eccles Militant cap. 14. whereof is made a marke of their Church in which euen now adayes e Vid. Binderi Scâ—olasticam theolog cap. 10. they must haue a Miracle done to make a good doctrine warrantable no other wayes as may appeare in that f Bellar. in locis de Purgatorio Sanct. Eucharist Iesuicall custome of proouing their Conclusions by the vncertaine report of lying Wonders For what truth can be authentike by Miracles without Scripture Miracles may bee done g Mat. 7.20 24.24 2. Thess 2.7 by the Deuill and his Ministers being true in the act through Gods permission though false in the end which is to deceiue And yet wee doubt of the truth of their Miracles seeing Lyra reporteth h Lyra in cap. 14. Dan. great deceiuing of the people to be wrought in the Church by lying Miracles done by Priests and their Adherentâ— for temporall gaine and i Canus lib. 11. loc Com. cap. 6. Canus their owne Champion censureth Beda his English Historie Gregories Dialogues Vincentius his Speculum Antoninus his Historicall and the Leaden not the Golden Legend for vncertain Records of many idle reports concerning Miracles done by some Saints which not onely wise men but euen common people dare not beleeue k Horat. de Arte poetic Pictoribus atque Poetis Quidlibet audendi semper fuit aequa potestas Painters and Poets and Popish pardoners haue all the like priuiledge to lye for an aduantage But loe what a blocke is here layd in our way Ob. Antichrist saith the l Bellar. lib. de Pontif. ca. 15. Sanders demons 25. Eudaemon lib. 3. contra D. Abbat pag. 244. Cardinall must doe these three miracles first cause fire come downe from heauen secondly make the Image of the beast to speake thirdly faine himselfe to dye and to rise againe But the Pope doth
they no place at all in determining of the second point Who is this great Antichrist because they liued before the time wherein that great Antichrist who lurked in those Fathers dayes vnder a mysterie was to be detected disclosed and found to sit at Rome and by his deeds to fulfill all those Prophecies which the holy Ghost had deliuered concerning him in the Scriptures So that our holy Brethren who yet expect a more full expressement of Antichrist in some one particular vile Monster that should if it were possible surpasse the Pope in villany are not so much against vs as they seeme to bee in show seeing it is not any good liking they haue of the Pope whom they confesse to be Antichrist but onely the iust detestation of so wicked a Monster as is Antichrist that draweth them to imagine the further deferring of his most dangerous and accursed approach They are in hope Wee are in faith and both in loue They expect a farre off Wee behold euen at hand the end of all these miseries by the fore-past reuealing the present rage and raigning the future happy ruine of Antichrist and his Kingdome now settled in Rome Wee agree both in the maine not much differing in the Bye As wee yeeld to them in the iust execration of the odious nature of this abominable Antichrist so farre as they prooue what they speake from the Scriptures euen so in like manner are they bee they neuer so learned and wise with patience and loue to heare and to iudge vs their deare Brethren speaking with some knowledge in true zeale concerning the maner of the reuealing of Antichrist which they hold yet to be in futuro We finde to be fully finished in praeterito in praesenti both in times before and now If any x 1. Cor. 14.30 31. thing bee reuealed to another that sitteth by let the first hold his peace For yee may all prophesie one by one that all may learne and all may be comforted y Homer 2. Odyss 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 weake men combined may worke much good since z Ouid. quae non prosunt singula multa iuuant what one cannot many may Proofes of our Assertion from the ancient Fathers § XXVII And yet I speake not this in diffidence of our cause For wee want not the authoritie of ancient Fathers either prophesying beforehand or zealously publishing vpon his appearance that the Great Antichrist is alreadie come and the Pope of Rome is hee I will produce no Babes but onely such as without exception are either produced by a Canis Catechis cap. de nouiss quaest 3. Canisius and b Coccius tom 2. Catholicism lib. 10. art 30. 1. Prophesying before Coccius as if they were on their side or else registred for eye-witnesses by good Historians For those who beforehand prophesied of Antichrist and of his seat or kingdome agree vpon these two points The first that Antichrist shall sit at Article 1 Rome rearing vp his Kingdome vpon the ruines of the Romane Empire For to this Article speaketh First Tertullian when c Tertullian in Apâ—loget cap. 32. hee saith that Christians pray for the safetie of the Romane Empire because by the course thereof the great Persecutions which must come by Antichrist are put off and hindred Secondly Cyrill of Hierusalem when d Cyrill Hierosolymitan Catechesi 15. hee saith that Antichrist shall violently take vnto himselfe the power of the Romane Empire Thirdly Ambrose when e Ambros in 2. Thes 2. hee saith that Christ shall not come till the Romane Empire faile and Antichrist appeare who must kill the Saints giuing libertie to the Romanes yet vnder his owne name Fourthly f Chrysost hom 4. in 2 Thes 2. Chrysostome followed by g Theophylact. in 2. Thes 2. Theophylact h Oecumenius in 2. Thes 2. Oecumenius and i Radulphus Fluuiac lib. 18. in Leuit cap. 1. Rudolphus Fluuiacensis when both he and they after him ioyntly affirme that Antichrist by trecherie must destroy the Romane Empire The second that Rome is Babylon the proper seate of Antichrist which shall be destroyed before the end of the World For to this Article Article 2 speaketh First Tertullian who in full assurance of what he speaketh oftentimes k Tertullian lib. in Iudaeos cap. 9. lib. 3. in Marcion cap. 13. vseth these words Babylon in our Apostle Saint IOHN beareth the figure of the Citie of Rome therefore great and proud by her Kingdome and a destroyer of the Saints Secondly Hierome who liuing at that time when Rome was wholly Christian vnder Constantius Iulian and Valentinianus the First yet in foresight of future Apostasie therein there beginning vnder a Mysterie but afterward openly to be complemented very l Hierony tom 1. Ep. 17. ad Marcellum Ep. 151. ad Algosiam qu. 11. in Praefat. ad translat Dydimi de spirit Sanct. Omnia secund Editionem Parisiens 1609. often termeth that Citie Babylon and the purple Whoore spoken of in the Reuelation wherein sometimes hee was an inhabitant Now this cannot bee spoken of Babylon in Mesopotamia which then was desolate and where Hierome neuer liued Thirdly Lactantius who m Lactant. li. 7. Instit cap. 25. alluding to the Sybilline Oracle saith that when that head of the World shall fall and beginne to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is but a street or Impetus for it is deriued either of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sluo or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 traho who can doubt but that an end is at hand vpon all humane affaires and vpon all the World The words of the Sybill to which he alludeth are these as learned n Xistus Betuleius in Annot. in Lactantium Betuleius doth cite them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Rome shall bee a street and Delus vnknowne c. But let vs leaue these Prophesies and come to performances For Antichrist did no sooner appeare in his likenesse but God in his mercie to wards his Elect sent forth his faithfull Witnesses of euery sort Publishing his present approach by open Verdit to publish abroad vnto the World that the Mystery was reuealed and Antichrist was then come and seated in Rome It is odious to say it and idle if wee prooue it not Therefore that Papists especially in England may at length see and marke how their Pope was reputed off in former times euen before Iohn Wickliffe spake against him in Oxford the Pope shall haue faire play his Cause shall bee tryed by a Grand Inquest of twelue good men and true according to the o Sir Thom. Smith de rep Anglor l. 2. c. 18. onely most laudable custome of the Common-wealth of England whereof foure shall be Kings and Princes foure shall be Arch-bishops A Iurie Impanneled and Bishops and foure shall bee Abbots or Monkes Behold now the Prisoner standing at the Barre who because hee is become a Peere in the World shall
seuenth with such trouble to all Christendome that euen at that time q Apud Auentinum lib. 5. pag 470. The second all honest and good men for the most part said that HILDEBRAND was Antichrist and that the kingdome of Antichrist did then begin The second specialtie is their schismes which as they were many for r Onuphrius in Chronologiâ Pontificum ad Platinam Onuphrius in his Chronologie of Popes reckoneth thirtie so were they pursued by Antipopes with such hatred that good men euen thereupon adiudged the Pope to be the Antichrist as Å¿ Apud Auentinum lib. 6. pag. 508. Gerochus Bishop of Richemberge thought of those two firebrands of hell Octauianus called Victor and his potent competitor Alexander the third The third and last specialtie is their most vile filthie The third and abominable liues abounding in all Pride Couetousnesse Sacriledge Symonie Lecherie Trecherie and all manner of Blasphemie so odious in the open sight of all the world that their owne dearest Dearling and most faithfull Friends and Seruants could not but inueigh against Rome which they name Babylon and the Pope whom they call Antichrist as it is plainely to be seene in the t Apud Catalog test verit lib. 4. Satyres of Bernardus Cluniacensis u Dante 's pa. 9. 31. Dante 's his Sonnets Petrarches x Petrarch Epistolis 9.12.13 c. Epistles and in the learned Works y Sarisburiâ—nâ— 6. Polycratici cap. 22. of Ioannes Sarisburiensis to whom as to his very great Familiar Pope ADRIAN the Fourth z In Catalog test verit lib. 14. vsed often to say that many of the Romane Bishops did rather succeede ROMVLVS in killing then PETER in feeding For indeede wee need no further euidence for this point then the words of Bellarmine and Baronius themselues he a Bell. in Chronolo ad an 1026 confessing that about the yeere of Christ one thousand sixe and twentie the Popes did degenerate from the pietie of their Predecessors this exclaiming b Baronius Annal tom 10. ad an 912. artic 3. against the See of Rome possessed by Landus Iohn the Tenth and such others Quae tum facies Ecclesiae Romanae c. What was then the face of the Church of Rome how filthy when most potent and most filthy Whores ruled all in Rome At whose appointment Sees were changed Bishops translated and that which is horrible and not to be spoken yet lo he will borrow a point in Law to speake it their Louers false Popes were thrust vp into PETERS Chayre who were not to be written in the Catalogue of the Romane Bishops but onely for signing out of times Well It is a bad Bird that defileth his owne nest but in truth they could neyther hold it in any longer nor carry it out any further The conclusion of the generall Doctrine their consciences constrayning them against their wills to tell the truth So that now I hope all doubts being cleered which any way were made against our Demonstration wee may conclude fully that the Pope of Rome is that great Antichrist whose Kingdome is by little and little to be diminished by the preaching of Gods Word and at length to be wholly and fully demolished by the comming of Christ § XXVIII The vse of the Doctrine vnto our selues Whereupon now for vse of all before deliuered concerning the great Antichrist we my deare Brethren may iustly take vp both lamentation and exultation weeping and reioycing A sorrow for our Brethren in the flesh who are Papists in profession weeping for many of our deare Brethren according to the flesh but reioycing for our owne selues For concerning many Brethren now liuing in England we may with S. Paul c Rom. 9.2 conceiue great heauinesse and continuall sorrow in our hearts because that they see not in what a great captiuitie vnder this great Antichrist they poore soules lye enthralled For as the d Plutarch in Cryllo foolish companions of Vlysses besotted with the inchanted and poysonous cups of the lewd Haâ—lot Circe thought themselues to bee the best men when they were worse then beasts as Eurylochus in the e Hom. Odyss lib. 10. Poet foretold them plainely that * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 shee would make them all eyther Swine or Wolues or Lions euen so many silly foules like blinde Moles or Dormise lurking in the by-waies and secret corners of Cities and Countrey throughout almost all the Counties of England being made fully drunken with the Deuillish potions of the whorish Babylon thinke themselues onely to bee the best Catholikes and Orthodox Christians when God knoweth they are wholly become through their full draught of the inuenomed Challice worse then Dogs or Swine in prophane filthinesse worse then Woules or Lions in rauenous deuouring And this great conceit of themselues is fully settled in their darkned thoughts and their hardned hearts onely because they hold of the Pope the damned Author of this their bondage being in truth at this time as farre blinded touching Antichrist as the Iewes were in the time of Christ concerning the Messiah whom they then daily looked for as appeareth by their f Vid. Ioseph li. 17. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 cap. 11. lib. 18 c. 10. Rabbinos in sine Seder Olam apud Genebrardum manyfold repinings and rebellions against their present gouernment then vnder Herod and the Romanes although when Christ came into the world at g Gal. 4.4 the fulnesse of time they neither h Iohn 1.9 would know him nor yet acknowledge him onely because hee came in a manner cleane contrary to their carnall and worldly expectations as i Esay 53.2 the Prophet fore-told that he should grow vp before him as a tender Plant and as a roote out of a dry ground who should haue no forme nor comelinesse and when they should see him there should be no beautie that they should desire him For so it is with these doting Pontificians that although they k Viguerius Instit cap. 21. §. 3. Viegas in 13. Apocalyps Perer. in Dan. 11. alij fere omnes daily make speech of Antichrist with much detestation of his mostlewd abominable waies albeit that l Henriquez lib. 14. ca. 23. §. 3 they giue out that his time is at hand when hee must peruert all holy worship yet doe they not see him now domineering ouer them neither yet will beleeue that this Pope of Rome either is he or may be him onely because he now manifesteth himselfe in a contrary forme to their conceit of Antichrist howbeit if they would with a single and an vnpartiall eye behold and compare the daily designes and accustomarie actions of the Romane Papacie with the fore-told villanies of the great Antichrist I am perswaded they could not but acknowledge how farre they haue beene deceiued before and how they are now silly soules all deluded with the sheepes m Mat. 7.16
is best now at length to let them alone and leaue them in the hand of Gods great Councell For now to change our note or tune of lamentation into exultation of weeping for them into reioyceing for our selues we may all say with DAVID n Ps 124.6 7. Blessed be the Lord who hath not giuen vs euer for a prey vnto their teeth our soule is escaped as a Bird out of the snare of the Fowlers the snare is broken and we are escaped Surely many Prophets and righteous men liuing in times before vnder Popish darknesse and Antichristian slauerie haue much desired to see o Mat. 13.17 those things which we see and haue not seene them and to heare those things which wee heare and haue not heard them Wee heare with our eares the Word plentifully preached which is the onely best and free vse of the Spirituall Sword and wee see with our eyes to the comfort of our hearts an absolute libertie from all forrayne power repurchased by our Soueraigne Princes enforced for their more secure and safe raigning to draw out of the Scabbard of the Common Right set downe in our Lawes the Temporall Sword that as a most learned obseruer of true witnesses hath gathered out of the proceedings of our Princes p Gowl p. 2. Catalog test verit pag. 775. England is the fatall foe to the Papall See and Popish tyrannie For as Brittaine q Platina in Eleutherio was the first Kingdome which amongst the Gentiles publikely professed the faith of Christ in the dayes of good King Lucius about some hundred and fourescore yeeres after Christ vnder the very same forme of Discipline which by Gods especiall Grace it hath constantly retayned euer since the first planting and now in despite of the deluding Deuill and doting Disciplinarians it happily exerciseth by the orderly hands of Arch-Bishops in Prouinces Bishops in Diocesses and Priests Presbyterâ— not lay Elders such as some r Vid. Bilson c. 1. perpetuall Gouernment Saraâ—iam in Bezam according to their owne onely phantasies haue of late times to the great trouble of the Churches Order newly deuised but preaching Ministers of the blessed Word sent by the Bishops out of Cathedrall Churches into Parishes abroad euen so is Britaine the first of the Å¿ Reuel 17.16 tenne hornes which hated the Whore and made her desolate I say t Ribera in 14. Apocâ—um 52. the first of the ten Kingdomes which once holding with the Pope now breaketh his yoke resisteth his tyrannie and deliuereth it selfe from his burdensome bondage by exalting in it selfe the most free vse of a double Sword both Spirituall and Temporall restored to her Gouernours by the three Great Estates assembled in Parliaments wherein they ioyntly with the Royall assent of their Gracious Gouernours enacted such Statutes as were not introductory of any new law but declaratorie and restoratiue of the ancient iurisdiction both in Spirituall and in Temporall things to the Crowne of England as against all the filthy barking of foule-mouthed Dogs I meane Parsons and his prating Companions it is both learnedly and largely deliuered out of the depth of our English Antiquities by the liuely now liuing Oracle of the Common Lawes u Sir Ed. Cooke then L. Chiefe Iustice of England part 5. of Reports in Cawdries Case de iure Regis ecclesiastico For so farre as I can finde by diligent search of the Acts and Monuments touching the issues of Church affayres I see that God tooke the very same course for our deliuerance out of Popish tyrannie which he vsed x Exod. 4.16 for the bringing of Israel out of Aegypt by Moses and Aaron MOSES for the Sword and Aaron for the Word Aaron to bee Moses his mouth and Moses to bee Aarons God Because it was Gods pleasure for the pulling downe of the Popes Supremâ—cie and the rooting out of Popish tyrannie from out of this most ancient Christian Kingdome to put in vre a double knowledge the first of Gods Word publikely and powerfully preached by his Ministers for the y Rom. 1.16 saluation of them that beleeue the second of the ancient Lawes of this Land explayned both priuately by our learned Iudges in particular Cases reported by foure of the most ancient Benches appointed before-times to select and write downe the iudgements of the Sages as in the course of yeeres they might fall out and publikely in Statutes enacted vpon grieuances for reformation which being a worke of rare atchieuement especially in Religion so vilely corrupted that those who were infected could in no sort endure the sight much lesse the touch of the Launce was first to bee prepared and afterwards to bee perfected God vsing for his instruments in this important businesse two of the most puissant and peerelesse Princes that euer did sway the Scepter of these Kingdomes to wit Edward the Third and Henry the Eight both of most famous memorie For in his dayes began the preparation of this great worke first by z Fox Martyrolog pag. 390. the preaching of Iohn Wickliffe and his Schollers all Ministers of Christ secondly by that a Rastals Abridgm tit Prouis et Praemunir Statute enacted in the twenty fifth yeere of his most Victorious Raigne against Popish prouisions and admission of Strangers into Benefices and other Spirituall Promotions within this Kingdome And b Fox Martyrolog p. 963. c. in the foure and twentieth of this most Potent and famous King Henry was it brought to some perfection first by the preaching of these blessed Martyrs of Iesus Christ Bilney Tyndall Barnes Latimer and such like secondly by the Statute made touching the Kings Supremacie next vnder Christ within these Kingdomes both spirituall and temporall restored to the Crowne by all the Estates Lords Spirituall then swearing it the Lords Temporall then maintaining it and Commons so approouing it that from that time to this the Popes power in England hath beene in a consumption still lesse and lesse till it was c 1. Elizab. c. 1. abolished wholly by the blessed Queene Elizabeth since whose first inthronizing till this very day for the space of fiftie three yeeres and more we most happily haue enioyed that perfect libertie from the Popish yoke which Israel had from the bondage of the Philistines d 1. Reg. 4.25 in the dayes of Dauids and Solomons raigne when euery man from Dan to Beersheba sate without feare vnder his Vine and vnder his Oliue Tree For lo a double freedome the first inward of the conscience by the preaching of Gods Word the e Luke 11.52 true Key of all knowledge then lost now found then hidde now ready for euery mans hand to f Reuel 3.20 open vnto him that knocketh at his eare for the comfort of his heart the g Reuel 3.14 Amen Christ Iesus the second outward of the Purse then open to the Pope now shut from his Prouisions Pensions Annates Tenths Peter-pence and other meanes of subtill emunctions
by which he cleanely scoured the deepest bottome of the greatest bagge that any euer of h Zach. 11.17 his Idoll and idle Shepheards could fill by the i Ezech. 34 10 fleecing and flaying of the Flocke of Christ For by the happy restraint and absolute k Vid. Rastal sub tit Rom. prohibiting of seeking the Pall crauing Inuestiture making of Appeales to the Court at Rome and of such other like Popish vsurpations we the people of Great Brittaine now serue God onely and truely obey our Naturall Liege Lord and Soueraigne King as most loyall Subiects now Gods great Name be praysed therefore free wholly from a Triple feare The first of Forraine inuasion which l Wat. Quodlibet q 8. art 6. incensed by Iesuiticall Renegadoes and attempted by the doting deluded Spaniards hath by Gods onely helpe beene happily preuented to the wonder of the world they all in the meane time perishing m Psal 83.10 at Endor and becomming like the dung of the earth The second of Domesticke Rebellions whose Authours and Abettors are quickly espied by the watchfull eye of the most wise and religious Counsellors of Estate and seasonably caught by the faithfull and strong hand of Gods Great Captaines sighting n 2. Sa. 22.8 c for Israel against these Philistims the sonnes of HAREPHAH who digging o Pro. 26.27 a pit fall into it themselues and rowling a stone finde it returned vpon them only because in Gods iust iudgement for the safetie of his Seruants p Pro. 5.21 his owne iniquities shall take the wicked himselfe and hee shall bee holden with the cords of his sinnes The third of those great and common calamities which amongst the q Leuit. 26.1 Esay 9.12 Ezech. 5.17 Amos 5.1 2. c Prophets are threatned as true consequences and rewards of Idolatrie as Desolation Famine sudden Earthquakes and vniuersall Plagues which iustly before-times befell vnto the Idolaters within this Iland both Heathenish and Popish but since the Reformation neuer came either altogether or vpon the whole Land at once God in his mercie proportioning them seuerally vnto our abilitie that we may beare them now one then another as a light scourge for a time to our true amendment So that where our r Bell. lib. 4. de Eccles Milit. ca. 18. Anglo-Papistae ferè omnes Aduersaries haue it oftentimes in their mouthes Ob. that since they left off the vse of the Romish Religion which is meerly Superstition within this Kingdome all things haue growne dearer things are not so plentiful and the Land is much disquieted with the Garboyles of Warre I cannot but condemne their carnall conceit Sol. in this their madde measuring of the Heauen by the Earth of the Spirit by the flesh of Religion by prosperitie iust like ſ Ier. 44.7 those Idolaters who complained that since they left off to offer burnt incense vnto the Queene of Heauen and to powre out drinke-offerings vnto her they haue wanted all things and haue beene consumed by the Sword and by the Famine For albeit this libertie of the Gospell which wee now doe enioy doth counteruaile all these earthly good things in the true estimation of the Saints of God who should with Saint PAVL t Phil. 3.8 account all things of worth but losse and dung for the excellent knowledge sake of CHRIST because life eternall as our u Iohn 17.3 Sauiour saith is to know thee that is the Father to bee the very God and him whom thou hast sent Iesus Christ yet x 1. Tim. 6.6 godlinesse is great gaine if a man be content with that which he hath since y 1. Tim. 4.8 godlinesse is profitable vnto all things hauing promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come For z Mat. 6.33 seeke ye first the Kingdome of God and the righteousnesse thereof and all these things shall bee added vnto you added saith Saint a Apud Aquinatem in Catenâ super Eumgelia in locum AVGVSTINE conueniently without your hinderance and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 both for possession and for vse for possession for England neuer had more wealth in the ruffle of Poperie then it hath now possessed since the Reformation of Religion amongst vs for the space of these last three and fiftie yeeres wherein all manner of Commodities haue more abounded then euer before partly through the b Vid M. Rich. Hackluits Discoueries great vse of Nauigation into all other parts of the World abroad and partly by the exercise of Husbandry at home according to the nature of euery soyle no place now left vnmanured at all but imployed to his proper and greatest profit for Cattell or Corne that euen now the most desolate Regions of this Iland in times past lying waste in the Northerne parts or in the Marches of Wales may verifie what Dauid spake of Gods mercie c Psal 107.35.36 who turneth the Wildernesse into standing water and dry ground into water springs and there maketh the hungry to dwell that they may prepare a Citie for habitation and sow the fields and plant Vineyards which may yeeld fruits of increase for vse For these Kingdomes neuer had more people in them since their first habitation then now in these last fiftie yeeres when Cities are like Bee-hiues sending swarmes of men abroad into Suburbs inlarged or into the Country now so full of Townes Corporate and scattered Villages that Englands Common-wealth may well take vp the words of the Church in the Prophet d Esay 49.20 The place is too straite for me giue place to me that I may dwell and yet they are not any way pestred with throng since Peace hath brought Plentie both to the comfort of the people whose wants are supplyed by store of Coyne more currant now then euer before and to the honour of the Prince who may ioy in such an abundance of people as faithfully now serue him in euery place since as Salomon e Prou. 11.28 saith In the multitude of the people is the Kings honour but in the want of people is the destruction of the Prince Surely as it happened to the good Kings of Iudah Dauid Salomon Asa Iehoshaphat Vzziah Iothan Hezekiah and the godly Iosiah that the more zeale they had for the purging of Religion from Heathenish Idolatry the better they prospered in outward things according as f Iere. 22.6 Ieremie said to the Sonne of IOSIAH Did not thy Father eate and drinke and doe iudgement and iustice and then it was well with him So we may plainely behold and demonstrate the manifold blessings of God vpon g K. Henry 8. K. Edward the 6. and blessed Q. Elizabeth those Princes who reformed Religion within these Kingdomes whereas h Q. Marie shee who looked backe to Sodome againe re-enslauing her selfe and her Kingdome to the Pope liued alwayes in troubles abroad like ISMAEL i
Gowlart in Catal. test veritatis others yet shall yee not find the purest Age of the Church free from some one Heresie or other either going before that Great Antichrist according to that Catalogue made of them with a sound Confutation by f Iâ—en aduers haer lib. 5. Irenie g Tertull. in praescrip aduers haer cap. 46. Tertullian h Epiphan in Panâ—rio Anacephalaeos 1. Epiphanius i August lib. de haer ad Quod vult Deum to 6. Augustine k Philastr lib. 1. Philastrius l Theodorit lib. 4. haeret fabular Theodorite m Isidor lib. 8. Etym. cap. 5. Isidore n Nicetas lib 5. thesaur Orth. sid Nicetas o Harmenopul lib. 9. tom primi Iuris Graeâ—o Râ—mani Harmenopulus and p Danaeus in August Zegedâ—n in tabul c. other such or following after as his dregs or relikes retained in the Church of Christ by some Reformers of Idolatrous abuses too much deuoted to pretended Antiquities through the subtiltie of Satan who will haue the Prouerbe verified Vbi vber ibi tuber Fatnesse breedeth filthinesse as Tertullian r Tertull. lib. 4. contr Marcion cap. 5. The vse of this doctrine Reproofe of Brownists well obserued Faciunt fauos vespae faciunt Ecclesias Marcionitae Waspes make Hony-combes and Marcionites make Assemblies For as we say in England Where God hath his Church the Deuill will haue his Chappell § XXXI Wherefore in mine opinion our Schismaticall Brownists ground their stiffe Apostasie from our Church of England vpon a very shaken and weake foundation when Å¿ Barrow and Greenewood in their Examinations and Fran. Iohnson in his Answere to H. J. and T. C. they pretend Hereticall corruption growing in the Church although it bee not of the substance of the Church q Apulâ—ius lib. 4. Florid. to bee the onely cause of their departure from vs as if that a particular visible Militant Church could bee free from all corruption For first why is it said to bee Militant but onely because wee in it and it by vs t Ephes 6 1â— Wrestle not against flesh and bloud but against principalities against powers against the rulers of the darknesse of this World against spirituall wickednesse in high places Secondly where shall this spirituall Combat be fought wherein u Galat. 5.17 The flesh rebelleth against the spirit and the spirit against the flesh so that wee cannot doe the things that wee would Out of the Church it is not where all is flesh neither yet in Heauen where all is Spirit It must bee therefore in the Church as yet Militant here vpon earth wherein the x Prou. 24.16 iust man falleth into smart because of sinne for so the Hebrew word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 cadu doth note a relapse into a double mischiefe y Vid. Merâ—er Remum Wilcocks in locum first of sinne because of infirmitie and then of punishment inflicted by GODS iudgement for their recouerie seuen times a dâ—y and riseth againe For as a Garment newly washed will gather by vsing more filth againe which must bee wrung out by washing continually till the Garment be worne so iust men fully purged by the bloud z Heb. 12.21 of sprinkling that speaketh better things then that of ABEL euen a 1. Iohn 1.7 clensing vs from all sinne while they liue in this World by the weaknesse of the flesh are spotted with sin against which the bloud of Christ is alwayes effectuall and of comfortable force whiles they daily and duely dippe and bathe themselues soule and bodie therein by their liuely faith and vnfained Repentance as Hierome b Hieroâ—ym Epist c 6. ad Rusticum expounding the fore-alleaged words of Salomon saith Si cadat quomodo iustus si iustus quomodo cadit Sed iusti vocabulum non amittit qui per poenitentiam semper resurgit If he fall how is he iust If he be iust how doth hee fall But hee loseth not the name of a iust man who alwayes riseth againe by Repentance I know that as the Apostle c Ephes 5.25 27. saith Christ loueth his Church Ob. and gaue himselfe for it that hee might present it a glorious Church not hauing spot or wrinkle or any such thing but that it should bee holy and without blemish Sol. But this is spoken not of a particular visible Congregation set to warrefare hero on earth but of the vniuersall Church of Christ whose glory in this world is inward and inuisible as the o Psal 45.13 King is glorious within For if it bee outward and shining in the true perfection thereof then it cannot appeare in this scandalizing world wherein the p Reuel â—0 8 Deuill rageth by the raigning of Antichrist but in the world to come in which the Saints now militant shall rest from their q Esay 40.2 warfare then accomplished r Rom. 8.23 they enioying the glorious liberty of the sonnes of God being Å¿ 1. Iohn 3.2 then made like vnto him and seeing him as he is I cannot but grant Ob. that it is our dayly dutie t 1. Cor. 5.6.7 to purge out the old leauen that we may be made a new lumpe as we are vnleauened But are wee now therefore without any leauen Sol. Why must wee then purge it out Surely wee are said to be vnleauened two wayes first by the free imputation of Christs righteousnes vnto vs through faith as therefore it is said u Rom. 8.35 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods Chosen It is God that iustifieth Secondly by the true working of the holy Ghost in vs according to the seuerall measures and degrees of our sanctification by which Gods Image is dayly renued in vs more and more till wee obtaine our measure in glorification as the Apostle x 2. Cor. 3.18 expresseth it most plainely in these words We all with open face beholding as in a Glasse the glory of the Lord are changed into the same Image from glory to glory euen as by the Spirit of the Lord from the glory of Creation to the glory of Iustification and by this from the glorie of Faith to the glory of sight and in this from the glory of Grace by which wee are the sonnes of God to the glory of Glory by which we shall bee like him Thus Anselmus y Anselm in 2. Cor. 3.18 glosseth this place intimating what some z Aquin. 2. â— q. 184. art 20. Schoolemen and other a Danaeus p 5. Isagog lib. 2. c. 45 Steph. Zâ—gâ—dâ—n tab de Perfectione Vrsin Catechism part 3. q 114. good Diuines of late well note vnto vs that since there is a double perfection the one inchoatiua begun in this life called perfectio viae the other consummata finished in heauen partly after our naturall death in the soule alone but fully in the whole man at the
Christ Iesus So that such Heresies Schismes as arise in our Churches like a Math. 13.32 Tares in the field are defended by none but by such as b 2. Tim. 3.13 waxe worse and worse deceiuing and being deceiued as appeareth either by their secret colluding vnder colourable tearmes of a true meaning craftily deuised for escaping of due punishment so was it with c Arminius in declarat sententiae Apologia Arminius d Vorstius in Oratione Responsione ad articulos Angliae Vorstius and others or by their open and shamelesse reuolting to Papists as Schioppius Iustus Caluinus Walsingham and others or to Anabaptists as Smith or to Brownists as Iohnson or to the Anti-Trinitarians as Laelius Socinus or to the most abominable Sect of Familists as Dauid George Henry Nichols and some such Phantastikes in England and the Low Countries against all which Viperous Generation and Deuillish Brood of Hellish Heretikes Our Churches pronounce f 1. Cor. 16.20 a Maran-atha and our Soueraigne Princes according to their seuerall Estates of Gouernment vnder God in Christ Iesus are carefull to execute the sentence of death thereby g Deut. 13.5 to purge out all euill from Israel and to root out the Relikes of the Great Antichrist out of their Kingdomes For what should be done else to meete with these mischiefes § XXXIII Surely The vse of the latter doctrine what meanes God Himselfe vsed against the Head the same must bee taken in hand by good Men of God to cut off the Taile I meane that against such Heretikes and Schismatikes they must put in vse the double Sword Spirituall and Temporall that for the Ministerie this for the Magistracie To Ministers For that Ministers must fight with the Sword of the Spirit h Ephes 6.16 which is the Word of God against these enemies the Apostle doth warrantize by this his prescription directed to Titus who i Tit. 1.6.9 must ordaine in euery Citie of Creete where he left him such Elders or Bishops as hold fast the faithfull Word as they haue beene taught that they may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to conuince the Gayne-sayers For as when k Math. 2.14 Christ with Ioseph and Marie flying from HEROD went downe into Aegypt l Euseb lib. 6. de Demonstr Euangelicâ ca. 20. the Images there trembled and when the Gospell began to bee preached by the Apostles the Oracles there m Vid. Zâ—huerum Adag sacr Centur. 5. Adag 63. ceased according to that Prophecie of the burden of Aegypt n Esay 19.1 Behold the Lord rideth vpon a swist cloud and shall come into Aegypt and the Idols of Aegypt shall be moued at his presence and the heart of Aegypt shall melt in the middest of it c. So when Christ shall speake by the preaching of the Gospell for reformation of Religion then Antichrist shall feare and Heresies will flye away as o Iohn 3.23 they who doe euill hate the light to the great encouragement of all Gods seruants who because the Euangelicall and Apostolike faith ouerthroweth all Heresies therefore are alwayes to be most mindfull to keepe that rule saith p Leo primus Epist â—6 cap. 1. Leo to Anatolius For to the q Esay 8.20 Law and to the Testimonie if they speake not according vnto this word it is because there is no light in them since this Word is a r 2. Pet. 1.18 light that shineth in a darke place vntill the day dawne and the Day-starre arise in our hearts But it may be this Word howsoeuer it be Å¿ Rom. 1.16 the power of God vnto saluation in them that beleeue yet cannot through the iudgement of hardening winne the Heretike although it most euidently conuinceth the Heresie and therefore the Temporall Sword must bee drawne out by the Magistrate onely t Rom. 13.4 who beareth not the Sword for nought To the Magistrate For u Prou. 20.26 a wise King scattereth the wicked and bringeth the wheele ouer them because it is a Law that x Deut. 17.12 the man that will doe presumptuously and will not harken vnto the Priest that standeth to minister there before the Lord thy God or vnto the Iudge euen that man shall dye and thou shalt put away the euill from Israel For lo a double rule fit for all Gouernours to obserue for their quietnesse against all such disturbances the former from y Tertullian lib. contra Gnostices cap. 21. TERTVLLIAN Duritia vincenda est non suadenda Stubbornenesse must by force bee ouercome and not be perswaded by any fayre meanes The latter from z Bernard BERNARD Melius est vt pereat vnus quà m vnitas It is better that one perish then that the vnitie should bee dissolued Princes are here to deale as Chyrurgions doe with ripened vlcers launce the sinners to let out sinne if not from the Offendor who it may be is incorrigible yet from the ouer-lookers and standers by who by that meanes may feare as Cyprian a Cyprian Ser. de lapsis said Plectuntur quidam quò caeteri corrigantur Exempla sunt omnium tormenta paucorum that is Some are punished that others may bee restrained for all may take example although some onely smart To the people of God Therefore if Christian Princes by that true Authoritie which they receiue from God shall seuerely punish either pernitious Heretikes or obstinate Schismatikes according to their due deserts either with Death or Exile or Proscription or Imprisonment or depriuation from Benefice or by any other course which by Law is prescribed wee my deare Brethren must not grudge or murmure thereat as the a Numb 16.41 Israelites did vpon the iust destruction of rebellious Corah and his company lest as they were so we may bee plagued with some Iudgement for our rash discontentment which if it proceede of pitty is folly since they pitty not themselues but if from a settled affection of good liking towards those wicked Imps then it is a part-taking which is as obnoxious to punishment as the sinne was of the principall Offendors seeing as the rule of b 3. Henr. 7.10 Law runneth in high Treason such as Heresie is to God-ward there is no Accessorie When c Prou. â—9 16 the wicked are multiplied transgression increaseth but the righteous shall see their fall Surely wee true Subiects vnto His Soueraigne Maiestie within these His seuerall Kingdomes and Dominions Three dueties are most entirely bound and obliged to a threefold dutie First of Gratulation Secondly of Supplication And thirdly of Obedience 1. Of gratulation Of Gratulation or most heartie thanksgiuing vnto our great and best God that hath so thorowly inflamed the good heart of our most Gracious Soueraigne Lord King IAMES with so godly a zeale for the iust defence of the True Ancient Catholike and Apostolike faith that we may as truely report of His most Sacred