Selected quad for the lemma: england_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
england_n	church_n	doctrine_n	rome_n	9,664	5	7.6656	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A54110	The converted fryar, or, A defiance to the Church of Rome as it was acted in the pallace-yard at Westminster on Saturday the 8th of this instant March 1672 / by one of her late sons an eminent Capuchin, who being happily converted to the Protestant religion did then, and there publickly burn his beads, crucifixes, Agnus Dei's, rosary, mass-book, cowl, habit, and other papist knacks, in detestation of their ridiculous idolatries ; published for general information by W.P. Philoprotest.	One of her late sons.	1673 (1673)	Wing P126; ESTC R17907	3,172	9

THE Converted Fryar Or a DEFIANCE to the Church of Rome As it was acted in the Pallace-Yard at Westminster on Saturday the 8th of this instant March 1672. By one of her late Sons an Eminent CAPUCHIN Who being happily Converted to the PROTESTANT RELIGION Did then and there publickly Burn his Beads Crucifixes Agnus Dei's Rosary Mass-Book Cowl Habit and other Popish Knacks in Detestation of their ridiculous Idolatries Rev. 17.16 And they shall hate the Whore and make her Desolate and Naked and burn her with Fire Published for general Information by W.P. Philoprotest London Printed for H. B. Anno 1673. THE CONVERTED FRYAR Or a Defiance to the Church of Rome As it was acted by an Eminent CAPUCHIN Who being happily Converted to the Protestant Religion c. THough t is sufficiently notorious That never any Cause was more Deplum'd and rendred contemptibly weak deservedly Triumpht over than that of the Romish Faction has been by a Glorious throng of our worthy Divines whose matchless Labours both in the former and present Age have beyond all possibility of reasonably Reply bafled the subtlest of their Adversaries in all the material Tenets wherein they under pretence of Antiquity have Innovated from the pure Apostolique Doctrine and are become equally Repugnant to us and the Primitive times yet so gross a Cloud of Ignorance or obstinacy does generally possess the Heads and Hearts of that Party That they will still resolutely continue rather what they are than what they should be And sooner hazard themselves through an Ocean of Errour in their old Leaky Bark than bring it into the Dock to be Carreen'd and New Rigg'd according to the Original Pattern in the Mount As if with the foolish Islanders mentioned in History They thought it Impiety to sweep a Room after it has contracted the dust of three Generations Indeed though Admiration be the usual daughter of Folly yet a Wiseman may be allowed to wonder How a Religion that has so little to recommend it to serious Spirits or Spiritual minds whose Idolatries are the coursest spun whose practices have been no nauseous and scandalous and their Cruelties so unparallel'd that none can blanch them but such as have taken an equal Dose of Interest and Impudence How I say under all this disadvantages it should still keep footing in the World in this quick-sighted Age or find entertainment amongst Persons endued with any Competency of understanding Yet to deal freely It requires more time than depth to unfold this Mistery whereof because we would not be prodigall but hasten to the intended Narrative The Reader is only desired at his leisure to consider the ensuing Particulars The willfulness of that Ignorance that boasts it self Mother of Devotion The Glorious Tytles wherewith they Celebrate their Church and Bugbear names with which they Brand all others The Locking up the Scriptures in unknown Languages The Bait of Preferment The Pomp of their outward Ceremonies The cunning Accomodation of Principles to the Humours and vitious Inclinations of Men to evident in the points of Indulgences Absolutions Purgatory c. The Reverence kept up for their Priests The various subtleties of the Learned Jesuits and the very much affecting though misguided Sanctity and mortifying Austerities of some other Orders All these will be found main props to uphold this tottering Kingdome of Darkness Out of which it yet sometimes pleases Almighty God maugre all the Bird-lime of Satan wonderfully to draw some particular Persons as in that Remarkable Instance which gives Birth to all this perhaps too tedious yet we hope not altogether Impertinent Discourse A Capuchin Fryer whether Portugueze or Irish by Birth our Information cannot assure us and we would not impose on the Reader in so serious a Relation the least jot of Fancy Certain it is he was educated from his infancy in the Romish Faith beyond the Seas and being of a grave well dispos'd pious temper when he grew up to the more advanced years of Discretion he resolved to enter into Religion as they call it that is to turn Monk as the nearest and speediest Cut to Heaven but then surveying the several allureing Orders wherewith that Church well Emblem'd by a Serpents spotted Skin is variously speckled He could not think any of them strict enough for his Devotion but that of the most severe and self mortifying Capuchin In that rigid Society he Lists himself and with much Zeal and a great deal of applause continued amongst them several years and though the active Disloyal Loyallists or Fraternity of Jesus As they Impiously enough stile themselves do generally arrogate the glory of all Learning and strive to perswade the World that all the other orders are but meer Sotts and Ignoramousses fit only with their yeilding Asses-Backs to bear or undertake what ever desperate Load or designe the Politick Conclave shall think fit to Impose on them whom they hold fast shakled to the Holy See by a vow of blind obedience as well as voluntary Poverty yet we know that there want not amongst both the Dominicans and Franciscans Persons excellently accomplisht with all kind of Literature And such was our Capuchin well stiled in Language in Philosophy and in Divinity too As their stinted Students would permit in which respect he was thought not unfitly qualified to be sent into England to officiate and promote the Catholique Religion Being here somewhat remor'd from the continual Inspection of his rigid Superiors wary Eye he took the boldness to gratify his Curiosity a little in perusing the Holy Scriptures and meetting there St. Paul's Try all things assumed that desperate Liberty to read the writtings of several of our ablest Divines concerning Points in Controversie Like a noble Berean he compares our proof with the Rhomiss Arguments and both with the unerring Rule of Gods Word He no sooner had waded into this Examination but a strange Tempest arises in his Soul He finds by that sacred Balance a sad Mene Tekel inscribed on most of Romes Doctrines and perceives those gawdy ornaments wherewith she is wont to trick up her self to allure unwary spectators are only meritricious paintings or usurped Embelishment and begins to be ashamed of these darling Popperies which before he esteemed his Glory These seeds of his Conversion a further and deliberate Reading and some Converse with some of our Orthodox Divines in short time Ripened to a Ioyful Harvest when he openly Profest his Concurrence in all things with the Church of England and his desires to be admitted and received into her Embraces and Communion But further and more signally to Testify by some vert Art his total denyal of the Romish opinions and Renunciation of these Orders he had received from thence His Zeal prompts him to a very remarkable performance For behold on Satuaday last being the Eighth of this Instant March he freely of his own Accord repairs into the Pallace-Yard at Westminster about 4. or 5. a Clock in the afternoon and there having sent for some Fagots and procured Fire he took his Beads a Crucifix some Popish Mass-Book his Cowls and the whole Habit of his Order and there very reverendly Burnt them in the presence of a numerous Crowd whom he desired to take notice That he did that unexpected Action to witness to them and the world his sorrow for and detestation of those Errors and ridiculous Vanities of the Church of Rome wherein he had been hitherto brought up and with formerly he had a great value for But that he did now absolutely renounce that Church and would heartily subscribe in all things with the Doctrine and Discipline of the Establisht Church of England After which publique declaration of his mind in terms very sober and significant he departed seeming very well satisfied with his rare Burnt offering 'T is not to be doubted but the Romish Emissaries who have ever been known for the most dexterous Contrivers and exactest Masters of Calumny will have a Flood of slanders to vimit forth after this Poor Man sometimes perhaps that will suggest that he is a Cheat was never a Catholique never in Orders c. but when that is proved beyond the Impudence of a Jesuits denyal they will next insinuate that he was Frantick distemper'd in mind has been a long time distracted but we are well acquainted with those litle Arts of Rome remember the same aspersions on Luther and Calvin and know of whom it was said of old He saw a Devil and is mad As there are enow credible Gentlemen in Town that knowing this person beyond the Seas can Evidence his being a real Capuchin so his free rational discourses to all whose Curiosity leads them to visit him sufficiently dispels that pittiful objection of his distraction We shall therefore say no more but conclude with hearty wishes That the Conversion and Zeal of this quondam Fryer may invite others of those poor enslaved Orders to examine their Condition and inquire after Truth and 〈◊〉 last to find it and therein Rest to their Souls And also That it may confirm and establish all weak and doubting Heads amongst us in the verity of the Protestant Religion which they hence may observe carries with it so much Power and Lustre As the very Champions of its Adversaries Troops are not able to resist it FINIS