THe Triple crowned Vicar horn'd Lamb-like Pretends Christs soveraine pow'r ov'r Kings and States These hornes but borrow'd proue Rammes hornes to strikâ— Even Christ himselfe ruling in Potentates Strong spells that come in Iesus name and finde Blind credulous zeale to captivate the minde Who might this Monster bee his speech bewrayes T is like the Dragon's who to Christ durst say All worldly power is myne I rule I rayse Whom pleaseth mee and my behests obey Such the Popes voyce such is his practise too Kings he vnkings that will not kisse his shooe How comes it then that sith the Papall power Is from the Dragon all men doe not see The Pope is Antichrist to overâ—ower All that is called God By reason hee Makes showes by Lambes hornes seeming innocence His power is from divine Omnipotence His Triple-crowne three Kingdomes notes what three Pope reckons fower three are controversorie Heaven hee despaires for surety Earth must be His heaven the while vsurpt tho Purgatorie He holds by blind beleife but never any Question'd the fowrth due to him and his Meiny Loe vnderneath a Romish Prelate placed With teh Popes Bull Romes Catholicks absolving From th' Oath of their Allegiance but not imbraced By th'wiser truer English most resolving Clossely to cleaue vnto their soveraine head Least forraine tyranny might on them tread The noble Charles with sword and scepter armed Ready to'ffend his foes defend his friends Victorious proues and Papall charmes vncharmed While royall throne justice and truth defends How can that state but vndivided stand In spite of foes where loue and lawes command THE BAITING OF THE POPES BVLL Or An vnmasking of the Mystery of iniquity folded vp in a most pernitious Breeue or Bull sent from the Pope lately into England to cawse a Rent therein for his Reentry With an advertisement to the Kings seduced subiects By H. B. My Son feare the Lord the King meddle not with them that are giuen to chang Pro. 24. 21. Bernard ser 3. in dedicatione Ecclesiae â—avendum ne quis pusillanimitate deiectus fugias a munitione vbi trepidaus timore vbi non est â—imor vbi vero summum periculum insana temeritate securus Imprinted at LONDON by W. I. for MICHAELL SPARKE 1627. TO THE HIGH AND MIGHTY PRINCE CHARLES BY THE GRACE of God King of Great Britaine France and Ireland Defender of the Faith c. Dread Soveraigne I ACCOVNT it my greatest misery that being to present Your Maiestie with a busines of such consequence so neerelie concerning the safety of Your sacred Person and Crowne I am inforced to adventure so rich a fraight in so brittle a barke so ticklish to be overturned with the least disgust or blast of displeasure wherein yet I should bee happy if miscarying herein I might but perish alone Mine owne experience might be sufficient to teach me to feare For if the noble Queene Hester so gracious in the Kings eyes yet feared to hazard her person into the Presence vncalled how much more a poore Out-cast yet betweene feare of the yron law and hope of the golden scepter shee pressed in with this resolution And if I perish I perish chusing death rather then not to discharge the duty she owed to Gods people now destinated and doomed to destruction Only this is my comfort looke what advantage that excellent Queene had of my despicable person as a Petitioner no lesse haue I of her in regard of the royall Person petitioned Shee had to deale with a heathen King the Captiuer of Gods people and who had already consigned their Massacre and that by a Decree irrevocable according to the Law of the Medes and Persians though a it appeared without his speciall knowledge Haman hauing abused the Kings hand and seale to his owne wicked purposes as chap. 5. 7. besides which might be not the least discouragement she was to passe the Pikes of a most tyranni all and vnkingly law forbidding any vpon paine of death to enter into the Kings presence vncalled as Hester now had beene for 30. dayes Haman in the meane time hauing the onely Monopoly of the Kings care who like the vast lunary body eclipsed the beames of his favour especially from Gods owne people whose cause the while lay a bleeding and became the more desperate through the inaccessiblenesse of intercessors to moue Kingly compassion vpon their iust complaints such were the difficulties which the noble Hester was to incounter with yet poore I liue vnder a more benigne Climate vnder a Christian Prince a Protector of Gods people Defender of the faith one whose royall presence is not by any seuere law locked vp from the free accesse of the poorest sutors whose naturall disposition also like the Sunne vneclipsed is freely to impart light and heate to the inferiour Creatures yea whos 's owne deare Person and crowne is imbarked in the same adventure of Gods people and His to reioyce or suffer together all these giuing mee incouragement and as it were reaching forth the goldeÌ„ scepter while I humbly present to Your sacred Maiesty the dangerous condition wherin the royal scepter it selfe by all the prognosticating signes of a Papall Bull or Breeue lately come into England is like without speedy preueÌ„tiues to be involved Dauid now desolate and disconsolate about Ziglag was willing to harken to a poore starueling Amalekite lad giuing him intelligence where his enemies were I acknowledge my selfe vnworthy to doe Your Maiesty the least seruise and I could haue wished this Task rather to any other yet the indeleble character of my fidelity so often reimprinted in my heart by sacred Oath in Your Highnesse service besides the habituall affection of a loyall subiect deeply ingaged me rather then it should be vndone in this addressement And God forbid that by ouercautelous or rather cowardly silence I should contract the guilt of Misprison of no lesse then high treason against Your Maiesties Crowne and Scepter Yea otherwise I should be also vngratefull to God who of late hath mercifully if not miraculouslie preserued my life from a Iesuited Assassin The causes with the Circumstances I here omit to trouble Your Maiestie withall Onely I take occasion to mention it as not altogether vnworthy of Your Maiesties knowledge For what assured confidence may not Your Maiestie haue in the protection of that God whose eyes runne to and fro throughout the whole earth to shew himselfe strong in the behalfe of them whose heart is perfect toward him If his diuine vigilant eye watcheth ouer the life of the poorest yet faithfull Ministers to deliuer them euen in the midst of danger how much more ouer the more precious persons of Kings and Princes while as Gods Vicegerents they faithfully and diligently execute his will by iustice and iudgement It is for the Infidell Virginians for feare of the Devil to adore and please him with their gifts neglecting God because he is good but faithfull Christians doe by the true feare and worship
filij salutem et Apostolicam benedictionem Non semper terrena faelicitas est beneficium coeli Patrimonium pietatis pacem enim peccatorum videns ecclesia non rarò experta est potentiam mortalium esse stipendium sceleris Quare catenas Martyrum anteferimus exuuijs triumphantium Rex sempiternus principatus coelestes pollicetur non ijs qui superbo pede jure proterunt sed qui persecutionem patiuntur propter justitiam Veritatem hanc è thesauris diuinitatis deductam in terras contemplans Apostolus non modo animum non despondebat sed superabundabat gaudio in omni tribulatione fidelium Qui enim digni habentur pro nomine Iesu contumelias pati ij tefferam diuini amoris videntur possidere eo precio abundant quo suntvaenalia diademata aeternitatis Mallerus equidem humane imbecillitatis memores gloriam diuitias esse in Tabernaculis Iustorum At cum vestras contemplemur miserias dilecti filii tantum vestrae virtuti Christo propugnanti fidimus vt vobis audiamus gratulari segetem triumphorum Sperauit quidem Ecclesia fore vt potentissimi Regis animus qui è catholica conjuge procreare optavit haeredes patrijs regnis imperaturos delenitus suspirijs vxoriae ✚ pictatis peteretur regalis connubij dotem esse libertatem fidei nunc autem formidantur vota concilia inimicorum vestrorum cum religio orthodoxa regali diademate in optima regina coronatur istîc tamen non desunt qui filis nostris audeant carcerem supplicia minitari Credimus esse inter vos qui mortificationem Iesu Christi proprio corpore circumfeire cupiunt blanditias voluptatis ambitionis titulos posthabeant lanienae carnificum vinculorum contumelijs si qui tamen istîc sunt quos praesentis Ecclesiae prosperitatis desiderium teneat eos certiores fieri cupimus de co salute mirisice sollicitam esse Pontificiam charitatem Nullum a Nobis relinqnitur officium quod ingruentis tempestatis menacem caliginem possit in optatam consolationis aream conuertere tamen si dilatet Infernus os suum Martyrum sanguinem sâ—tiat impacata crudelitas armari debetis scuto inexpugnabili bonae voluntatis coelum in carcere coronam in equuleo immortalitatem in morte cogitate Inter Britannicos naufragantis religionis scopulos Crux Christi fuit Tabula quae vos perduxit in portum voluntatis vestrae Hanc opus est amplexari cujus virtute dulcescit amarities paenarum Cogitate dilecti filij in qua statione commoremini quorum oculis facti sitis spectaculum vos Angelicae Legiones circumvolitant qui phialis aureis desideria fidelium excipiunt ad sanctuarum ferunt Misericordiae Omnipotentis patefactis coeli foribus spectator idem remunerator Christus vobis sacros ciuium vestrorum triumphos ostendit quos Anglia proprio sanguine purpuratos intulit coelitum Concilijs Anxiae preces suspirantis Ecclesiae vobis a Deo petunt spiritum charitatis fortitudinis vestram salutem currant Consilia Senatus Apostolici vota Christianitatis in tanto coeli terrarumque theatro quem vobis constantiae vestrae rigorem quam animi triumphantis sublimitatem inesse decet Fuerunt in consimili discrimine consilia Maiorum vestrorum lumina spiritus sancti arma lucis sint vobis vestra oracula sapientia sint vestrae actiones exempla fortitudinis Quod si cosque vis progrediatur vt vos ad noxium illud illicitum Anglicanae fidelitatis Iuramentum adigat mementote oratione vestram ab vniverso Angelorum spectaritium confessu audiri adhaereat lingua vestra saucibus vestris priusquaÌ„ authoritatem B. Petri ea Iurisiurandi formula imminutam detis Non enim ibi id solum agitur vt sides Regi seruetur sed vt sacrum vniuersae Ecclesiae sceptrum eripiatur Vicarijs Dei Omnipotentis quod faelicis recordationis Paulus 5. Predecessor noster in tam graui deliberatione decreuit id omnino tanquam Decretum veritatis servare debeatis dilecti filij Tributum hoc Principi Apostolorum debitum nullae hominum minae aut blanditiae a vobis vnquam extoequeant qui secus suadent ij visionem mendacem divinationem fraudule tam prophetant vobis Citius enim viro Christiano debet potentium gladius vitam eripere quà m fidem Quod si Angelus etiamè coelo descendens vos aliter quam veritas Apostolica doceat Anathema sit Nos interea Patrem luminum orabimus ne excaecari patiatur cor Regis Anglicani qui certò discere debebit quanta in ijs quae polliceri potestis fides habenda sit Catholicis subditis qui ne se perjurio alligent malunt spiritum emittere quà m vocem Vt autem virtus vestra inueniatur pretiosior auro quod igne probatur docete regnum istud tantam non inesse vim hostium saeuitiae vt in cordibus vestris possit aeternum charitatis ignem extinguere Orate pro persequentibus vos humilitas patientia concordia jeiunium oratio arma sunt quae in saeua dimicatione debetis distringere vt palmae coelestium triumphorum floreant in manibus vectris Cum enim ipsius etiam Christi carnifices vetitus sit B. Petrus gladio vulnerare hortamur vos presens ecclesiae bonum prae oculis habentes vt cogitetis interea cogitationes pacis Regietiam dum mortalem vitam adimit aeternam vitam expetatis Ita belligerare fas est milites Christi sub vexillo Crucis confundetur os loquentium iniqua cum odisse nesciatis qui vos excruciant Caeterùm Dominus qui potest tristitiam vestram in gaudium vertere erit a dextris vestris ne commoueamini et illius Testamenti nunquam obliviscamini quo haereditatem regni coelestis imitatoribus suis legauit Complectamur vos Apostolicae charitatis brachijs dilecti filij quibus paternum patrocinium pollicemur benedictionem nostram peramanter impertimur Dat. Romae S. Petri sub Annulo Piscatoris die 30. Maij. 1626. Pontificatus nostri anno 3. ✚ Pope Vrban 8. To his Beloued Sonnes the Catholiques of England BELOVED Sonnes greeting and Apostolique benediction Terrene felicity is not alwayes the benefit of heauen and the patrimony of piety For the Church seeing the Peace of sinners hath often found by proofe that the power of Mortals is the stipend of impiety Wherefore we preferre the chaines of Martyrs before the spoyles of the triumphant and the King eternall promiseth heauenly Principalities not to them that trample the Lawes vnder their proud foote but to those that suffer persecution for righteousnesse sake This truth deriued out of the treasures of antiquity into the earth the Apostle considering did not onely not cast away his hope but was superabundantly ioyfull in all the tribulation of the faithfull for they which are accounted worthy to suffer reproches for the name of Iesu those seeme to possesse the Bill of Exchange of Gods loue
first before she him the Basiliske dyeth the man is preserued Thus such prodigious Comets may spend their malignant matter and bee frustrate of their force and influence where wise men make right vse of them Sapiens dominabitur astris for as the learned Zanchy obserueth well Comets cannot cause but may occasion onely State-ruines and changes as when they inflame the ayre the ayre mens bodies the bodies distempered worke vpon the minde and all this taking impression in the most delicate and tender bodies of Princes working vpon their spirits causeth oftentimes such combustions as hasten some fatall periods while in the meane time sage and moderate Princes can easily preuent such importent operations such and no other is the malignant influence of Papall Breeues which cannot possesse generous Princes with an imbellious feare of such bruta fulmina which cannot scare nor scratch any but Brutes The sword of good Lawes drawne forth well burnished and brandished to the cutting off but the maine pipes by which these poysoned waters of Marah of working dissention betweene the head and the members Prince and subiects are deriued from the Papall spring to his Cotholique sons will through Gods grace giue a speciall defeate to whatsoeuer Papall designe this Breeue clossely intendeth As followeth To his beloued Sonnes the Catholiques of England HAuing spoken of the father Papa now to his sons a father and sonne are of neerest relation and this relation a strong combiner of affections and ingager of mutuall offices Sonnes are either by naturall generation or by legall adoption or by common appellation or by spirituall generation such here in a spirituall meaning As for the Popes naturall sonnes those he calles his Nephewes Euphoniae gratiâ as it were a degree once remoued His spirituall sons we shall better discerne of their kinde not onely by their father but by their mother of whom they are begotten namely the Church of Rome which if it bee that great Whore described in the Reuelation as what more euident he that runnes may reade hence it appeareth how legitimate they be So that in a spirituall and mysticall sence he may as well call these also his Nephewes as his sons But in naming them sons it imposeth on them that filiall or rather baby blinde obedience which none but such a father as the Pope can or will exact of his children This father if they obey not aboue contrary to God they are none of the Popes true bred sons But to sweeten their rigid obedience he styleth them his beloued sonnes Yet rather louing then beloued for in naturall affection loue rather descends then ascend in this contrary therefore vnnaturall I dare sweare such babes more dote vpon their father in their blind affection then he vpon them all the world seeth what be the grounds and ends of the Popes loue to his sonnes But to passe by that he calles them the Catholiques of England all the rest then are Heretiques But Catholiques they are not simply but in the compound Romane-Catholiques a right Babylonish word And such are no true Catholiques as the learned Bishop hath proued in his Tortura for he is a true Catholique that holds the Catholique faith professed in all ages according to the Scriptures not hee that holds faith none otherwise but with limitation to the priuate sense and meaning of the Church of Rome such is a Romane-Catholique no true Catholike But to proceed Beloued Sonnes greeting and Apostolique benediction A Forme of salutation farre vnlike that of the Apostles farre from Apostolique The Apostles as Peter and Paul in all their Epistles write to Gods elect to his Saints by calling recommending vnto them grace and peace in Iesus Christ that is a right Apostolique salutation But in the Popes salutation nothing sounding to that of the Apostles but the bare word Apostolique which putteth the greater difference for Paul and Peter came in Christs name the Pope in his owne name they salute the Saints with the the Grace and Peace of Christ he with his owne Apostolique benediction An other note of Antichrist that commeth in his owne name As Christ said to the rebellious Iewes If another come in his owne name him will ye receiue Now he comes in his owne name that comes in his owne vsurped authority as here the Pope doth with his Apostolique benediction Yea although the Pope pretend and claime neuer so much to be Christ Vicar and so may seeme to come not in his owne but Christs name yet vsurping that power which Christ neuer vsed as contrary to the dispensation of his ministery The Popes power being to erect and support an earthly Monarchy whereof he may say as that proud King Is not this great Babylon which I haue built for the honour of the Kingdome by the might of my power and for the honour of my Maiestie he therefore commeth in his owne name So here His benediction is of himselfe who in this Breeue cals himselfe that Apostolique one such is his Apostolique benediction to wit Antichrists benediction Thus in stead of Christs grace he hath Apostolique greeting in stead of Christs peace Apostolique benediction and to whom not to the elect Saints in Christ Iesus but to the Popes sonnes not to the faithfull in Christ but to the Popes Catholiques in England such as his father-hood goes about to strip of all the cognizances of Christs faithfull ones who as they are truely faithfull towards God so they expresse the same towards man and as to Christ in the first place so in the next to the Lords annoynted their Leige Lord immediately vnder Christ It followeth Terrene felicity is not alwaies the benefit of heauen and the patrimony of piety for the Church seeing the peace of sinners hath often found by proofe that the power of mortals is the stipend of impiety Wherefore we preferre the chaines of Martyrs before the spoyles of the triumphant and the King eternall promiseth heauenly principalities not to them that trample the lawes vnder their prood foote but to those that suffer persecution for righteousnesse sake Answer NOt to insist vpon euery particular but noting by the way throughout the Popes egregious hypocrisie and prophanesse in peruerting and abusing the Scriptures and the sacred name of God wee will touch onely vpon the principals Onely by the way how doth the Pope come to put a difference betweene terrene felicity and the benefit of heauen seeing that all the benefit hee either hath or can hope for of heauen is his terrene felicity This is the Popes heauen vpon earth this is his Peters patrimonie which in his owne papall sense is farre from the patrimonie of piety Or what hath the Church of Rome to doe with peace what peace shee seeâ—h the peace of sinners A phrase borrowed from Ezechiel 13. 16. And it agrees well with the Pope For as those false Prophets saw visions of peace where there was none so the Pope Is he about to stirre vp
rebillion and speakes he of peace Or what peace can all popish doctrine put together giue vnto a poore sinner None at all For either they puffe a man vp with pride or possesse his heart and conscience with fearfull perplexities Peace it giueth none neither in life nor death But passe we by that too The Pope here making mention of Martyrs chaines cannot but put vs in minde of Father Garnet that damned crew Romes Martyrs and so may giue vs not without iust cause strongly to suspect there is some exploit towards which his Holinesse by subtile insinuation animates and armes his sonnes vnto whereby though they should at the worst miscary yet they should merit no lesse then the honour of Martyrs such as father Garnet for abetting the Powder Treason hath attained to in Romes Catologue of holy Martyrs Againe speaking of those that trample the lawes vnder their proude foote heere hee subtilly glanceth at Christian Magistrates to aggrauate their subiects hatred against them as proud violators of the Lawes But what Lawes Gods Lawes or mans Lawes God forbid But it sufficeth if they trample vpon the Popes lawes to expose them to the iust hatred of their people But if the Kingdome of heauen and the Principalities thereof bee promised not to the violaters of all lawes what part then hath the Pope therein who is the arch contemner of all lawes can breake them at his pleasure without checke can dispence euen against the Apostle In a word who is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that exlex or lawlesse one Let him make much of his earthly principality for part of those heauenly according to his owne speech according to his owne practice he hath none Which no doubt is the reason that he so labours tooth and naile to haue his heauen here vpon earth turning his Church militant into Triumphant as in that irrefragable decree of Pope Nicholis the 3. verifying to an haire that of the Reuel 18. verse 17. I fit a Queene c. onely militant against Christ and his word against Kings and Princes This is that which he addes But to those that suffer persecution for righteousnesse sake And who are they I pray you namely such as suffer for treason and rebillion against their Prince such as seduce the people of the land Noble and base to acknowledge and admit a forraine power aboue their owne Prince as wee shall see further anone To suffer for these nefarious impieties is with his Holinesse of Rome to suffer for righteousnesse sake ô blasphemous mouth ô whores forehead that dares so diabolically and shamefully prophane Christs sacred words Woe be to him that thus calleth euill good and good euill that putteth bitter for sweet and sweete for bitter that turneth the truth of God into a lye putting rebellion for righteousnesse that dare thus make a mocke of sacred Scriptures Call you this Christs Vicar Nay tell me is not this that scarlet coloured Beast full of the names of blasphemy Reuel 17. 3. for to fill vp the measure of this shamelesse blasphemy he goeth on This truth deriued out of the treasures of antiquity into the earth the Apostle considering did not only not cast away his hope but was super abundantly ioyfull in all the tribulations of the faithfull for they which are accompted worthy to suffer reproaches for the name of Iesu those seeme to possesse the bill of exchange of Gods loue and abound with that price wherewith they purchase the diadem of eternity Answer STill the Beast full of names of blasphemie all along He addeth the example of the blessed Apostle in reioycing in his sufferings This truth What truth that to suffer for Treason for rebellion is to suffer for righteousnesse sake surely your Holinesse must either egregiously equivocate meaning by for righteousnesse sake to suffer righteously or iustly for Treason and the like as the penitent Theife confessed on the Crosse or else you goe on most shamelessely to blaspheme But out of what Treasures of antiquitie I pray you it this truth of yours deriued into the earth or when when Terras Astraea reliquit in that age when truth forsooke the earth Rome and went into heauen then succeeded this truth of yours in stead thereof Or when that greate Starre called Wormewoode a true type of your Luciferian Apostacie fell from heauen which so imbittered the waters of the sanctuary that many thousands haue died thereof after which followed a great ecclipse of the heauenly bodies euen to a third part of their light which by degrees at last as in the next chapter for so in that booke is described the graduall growth of the Mysterie of Iniquitie through the smoake of hellish doctrine ascending out of the bottomelesse pit were wholly darkned through your Egiptian Church as we see this day the Sun shining onely in Goshen by the beames of the Gospell then then I say began this Romane Catholique truth to be deriued into the earth from no other treasues of Antiquitie can you deriue it We know what a treasure you haue of Antiquities but wee haue vpon better search espied your Gibeonitish iuggling pretending vnto vs you come from farre with your old shooes torne bottles and mouldie bread Or tell vs out of what Antiquities or Monuments euen among the heathen Grecians or Romans with whose old superstitions notwithstanding idolatries you fully symbolize onely you are more grosse and mad vpon your Idoles then euer were they yea fetch vs if you can some Antiquities out of the Turkish Alcaron that hold this Romane truth that a subiect playing the Rebell and Traytor against his Leige and lawfull King and suffering death for the same did as an holy Martyr suffer for righteousnesse sake No Heathen but abhorreth this cursed truth of Rome Or if ye will needs plead antiquitie for it take it then we yeelde you this truth came from the old serpent who was the first that moued mankinde to rebell against his King in disobeying Gods commandement Here is antiquitie for you But will you hereupon inferre that the punishment of the serpent is for righteousnesse sake yet this antiquity was but in fact the old serpent durst neuer avouch it for a truth but it lay antiquated and buried in the ashes of hell vntill the Pope and his societie of Iesuites of latter times raked it vp againe and with the force of Apostolique power armed with fiery arguments haue perswaded their first blind folded vulgar that this is a truth deriued from the treasures of antiquitie that to suffer as Romane Martyrs do for treason and rebellion is with the Apostles of Christ to suffer persecution for righteousnesse sake But what is their reward for all this suffering yes saith the Pope for they which are accounted worthy to suffer reproches for the name of Iesu Stay A man by this phrase Accounted worthie might take the Pope for a piece of a good Gospeller in the point of Iustification vnto eternall life for
Ecclesiasticall are subordinated to God almighties Lieutenants here on earth as all supreame Magistrates so that in this regard those that are Christs Vicegerents in common as all faithfull Ministers of the Gospell who are Christs Legats or Ambassadors 2. Cor. 5. 28. are for their persons and outward estate subiect to God almighties Lieutenants set ouer them So that if you will confine your selfe to the title of Christs Vicar first as no man is capable of that title as you challenge it so neither can you by vertue thereof shew you haue any such power deriued vpon you from Christ for Christ left or bequeathed no other kinde of power to his Church but such as himselfe as he was the Minister of the Gospell exercised in his Ministers here on earth Now Christ in that dispensation of his exercised no such power or iurisdiction ouer Kings and Princes yea he practised the contrary he submitted himselfe to pay tribute to Caesar yea to be iudged at Caesars barre from which the Pope hath exempted himselfe and Clergie by his papall decrees And was it because Christ wanted power to vindicate and defend himselfe from Caesars power No surely With the breath of his mouth his apprehenders fell backward to the ground Hee had twelue legions of Angels in readinesse to defend him Object But had not Christ as being God soueraigne power ouer Kings and Princes to dispose of their kingdomes and the like if it had pleased him Answ Christ the Mediatour the office whereof he came to execute is to be considered not simply as God but as hee was God-man In that regard the power of his dispensation was limited by his Father that sent and appointed him So that Christ said I came to doe not mine owne will but the will of him that sent me Not that Christs will was contrary to his fathers but subordinate onely as Mediatour to doe that which the father appointed him and no more Christ would not must not goe beyond his Commission receiued of the father Now the Father gaue him no such commission of a temporall iurisdiction no not so much as in small causes When those two brethren came to him intreating him to diuide their inheritance betweene them hee refused saying Who made me a Iudge or a diuider ouer you Hee had no commission in such things from the Father And if not in smaller matters as that was how much lesse ouer Emperours and Kings Obiect But although Christs power was limited during his abode on earth in the state of his humiliation yet after his resurrection hee receiued an absolute and vnlimited power as he saith All power is giuen mee in heauen and earth from this power doth the Pope as Christs Vicar challenge a Supremacie ouer Kings and States to depose dispose c. Answ When Saint Iohn in that vision saw the great where that Beast full of the names of blasphemie hee wondred with great admiration But when wee see this blasphemous Beast not in a vision but with open eyes how can we choose but greatly wonder for this very speech of Christ the Pope assumes as spoken of himselfe and that in as full yea more ample māner then Christ applied it to himselfe For although by this speech Christ declared himselfe to his Disciples and so to his Church to be the Sonne of God consecrated for euer Lord ouer all to the great comfort of his drooping Disciples now at his departure yet herein doth not Christ show any alteration in the dispensation of his Ministery deputed to his Disciples Hee doth not hereby inuest his Ministers with a larger power and commission then himselfe executed in his owne person while hee was with them for what followeth All power is giuen me in heauen and earth go ye therefore and teach all Nations baptizing them c. Hee saith not Goe yee therefore and exercise this power of mine ouer the Kings of the earth and if they will not obey your Ministerie depose them or absolue their people from their allegiance and dispose you of their Kingdomes to whom you will Much lesse said he any such thing to Peter alone Goe Thou therefore and haue thou all power in heauen and earth for thee and for thy successour in the See of Rome No such thing All the power that Christ delegates to his Disciples and that in common men is for their Ministeriall function to preach the Word and administer the Sacraments Herein Peter had but his share with the rest of his fellowes They were ioyned in equall Commission none aboue another much lesse aboue others in any Temporall Iurisdiction To this their function Christ to animate and arme them against all difficulties and discouragements either in regard of their owne infirmities and naturall disabilities or of the worlds malice and might in opposing them hee tels them All power is giuen me in heauen and earth Goe yee therefore c. Feare nothing for I who haue all power giuen me in heauen and earth am with you and will be with you to the end of the world And it is worth the noting that this last charge which Christ now leauing the world and so his Disciples as concerning his bodily presence gaue vnto them hee gaue it in common to them all without putting difference which plainly sheweth that Christ left no Supremacie to Peter ouer the rest of his fellowes as the Pope vsurpeth which otherwise no doubt hee would haue expressed if it had bene such an Article of faith whereupon depended the necessitie of saluation as Pontificians teach Yet for all this the Pope will needes as Christs Vicar challenge these words to himselfe and be an equall sharet with him in them All power is giuen mee in heauen and earth For they say Christ and the Pope haue but one Consistorie and saith Bellarmine Nomina omnia quae in scripture is tribuuntur Christo vnde constat cum esse supra Ecclesiam eadem omnia tribuuntur Pontifici All names which are giuen to Christ in the Scriptures whereby he is declared to bee ouer the Church all those same are attributed to the Pope Thus in the Councell of Latera they called Pope Leo 10. the Lyon of the Tribe of Iudah and many other names of Blasphemie which are spoken personally of Christ yea the Pope himselfe saith Boniface 8 That Christ Peter and his Successour are all one head of the same Church And Pope Nicolas 3. goes a little higher Christ saith he hath placed the mysterie of the Apostolike function principally in blessed Peter the chiefe of all the Apostles that from him as from a certaine head he might diffuse his gifts as it were into all the body for taking him into the fellowship of the indiuiduall vnitie the Lord would haue him named that which he himselfe was saying Tues Petrus super hanc Petram c. In a word the Popes triple crowne is to signifie his triple Dominion and iurisdiction in heauen earth and
purgatorie and those subterrestiall or infernall kingdomes according to that Phil. 2. v. 10. Psal 8. 7. v. 8. which places they familiarly apply to the Popes vnlimited power in these places vnderstanding by the Beasts men on earth by the Fishes soules in hell and purgatorie and by the Fowles the winged Angels ouer all which the Pope saith he hath dominion Thus all power is giuen him in heauen and earth Thus hee runnes away with Christs power but leaues the charge of Christ to his Disciples to preach the word and administer the Sacraments But in the meane time all this arrogant and blasphemous vsurpation of the Pope what doth it but most clearely conclude him to be that Great Antichrist described in the Scripture This is hee that exalis himselfe aboue all that is called God or that is worshipped This is hee that sits in or vpon the temple of God shewing himselfe that he is God to wit inuested in all the power of God and of Christ in heauen and earth as the Vicar of God almightie Herein hee is not Christs Vicar who would not meddle in matters of the world but indeede his Vicar that said to Christ All this power will I giue thee and the glory of them for that is deliuered vnto me and to whomsoeuer I will I giue it The Dragon spake this and of Antichrist it is said that he hath two hornes like a Lambe but speakes like the Dragon The Pope speakes iust like the Dragon here See this verified in the Pope to an haire to a very letter Pope Hadrian saith Vnde habet Imperator Imperium nisi à nobis c. From whence hath the Emperour his Empire but from vs that which the Emperour hath he hath it all of vs c. Loe it is in our power to giue it to whomsoeuer we will Therefore wee are appointed of God ouer Nations and Kingdomes that wee should destroy and plucke vp See how like the Sonnes voice is to the Syres Hee speakes iust like the Dragon onely in a more loftie stile wee for I. Also Pius 5. in his Bull against Queene Elizabeth of happy memorie vsed the like speech in Ier. 1. v. 10. So that the Pope and his clients conclude that all Emperours and Kings hold their Empires and Kingdomes but in fee of the Pope Thus Henry 1. King of England was glad with much paying and praying to obtaine of Pope Alexander the 3. that he and his successours should haue the title of the King of England This held till King Iohns time when the Pâ—pe againe resumed the kingdome of England into his own power but was content at length to let King Iohn haue it to farme So Pope Celestine 3. crowned Henry 6. Emperour and his Empresse with his holinesse feet and when he had done so strucke it off againe with his foot to signifie it was in the power of the fame foot to take away his crowne that had put it on Thus we see Antichrist exalting himselfe aboue all that is called God and that in the highest degree So that it may be admired that any man hauing but his eyes open to compare the Pope with his owne picture can doubt that he is that Antichrist vnlesse such men be giuen vp to a strong delusion because they receiued not the loue of the truth But it is lamentable to see learned men so blind-folded as not to see this Mysterie of iniquitie But more pernicious that not seeing it themselues they would perswade the world also that the Pope is not Antichrist Is it time now to make Apologies for the Pope not to be Antichrist when he so egregiously plaies the Antichrist euen vnder our noses when hee goes about to seduce and withdraw the hearts of subiects from the King from our gracious Soueraigne It was Tortus his speech noted by the learned Bishop in his Tortura to be Romes Doctrine that at the hissing of a slye which is in Babylon namely at Rome the subiects would reuolt from the obedience of their Prince and so by the window treason immediately entreth The Pope is the flye of Babylon who can make of the Prince no Prince of the subiect no subiect and the no subiect against the no Prince what may he not attempt But this is in case the Prince bee an Hereticke or Schismaticke And what is it for the Prince to be an Herticke forsooth if hee doe not yeeld himselfe the Popes Vassall which saith the Bishop is else to deny one of the prime Articles of the Christian faith It was the case of Philip le Bell. Thus the Bishop To proceede the Pope mentioneth a graue Decree of his Predecessor Paul 5. no doubt he meaneth that Bull sent hither into England inhibiting his sonnes the oath of allegiance The Pope calleth it a Decree of truth which must be diligently obserued For a taste I will insert one sentence of it cited by the learned Bishop Vobis ex verbis ipsis Iuramenti perspicuum esse debet quod huiusmodi iuramentum saluâ fide Catholica salute animarum vestrarum prestari non potest From the very words of the oath it ought to bee cleare vnto you that saith an oath cannot be vndertaken with the safetie of the Catholike faith and the saluation of your soules If so good reason their tongues should rather cleaue to their gums then they take it great reason that neither threats nor flatteries extort it from them rather part with life then faith yea this they must bee so vndoubtedly resolued of that If an Angell from heauen teach otherwise then this Apostolike truth let him be accursed Here at last breakes forth the thunderbolt it selfe which were enough to blast the very Angels of heauen if for subiects to denie due obedience to their lawfull Princes were an Apostolike truth But can a Christian eare heare such blasphemie without horror with any patience This an Apostolike doctrine an Apostolike truth Papall it is Diabolicall it is raked out of the pit of hell Apostolike it is not neither from Paul nor Peter from Paul 5. but not from Paul the Apostle Paul teacheth the contrary Rom. 13. Peter the contrary 1. Pet. 2. 13. how durst you you blessed Apostles preach such a doctrine as is contrary to the Apostolike truth of Rome either you must recant your doctrine or loe a smoaking Anathema is breathed out against you But lest those holy Apostles lest God himselfe lest Iesus Christ lest the holy Ghost lest the whole sacred word of God should come within the danger of the Popes curse and all for the mistaking of one word Apostolike for Apostaticke We are rather to thinke that as Manicheus writing himselfe Apostle hence hee would conclude his damnable doctrines to be Apostolike so the Pope calling himselfe that Apostolike one therefore all his lying Oracles must be taken for Apostolike truths And see here also how impiously the Pope goes on to peruert and prophane
this is the holy Ghosts vsuall phrase to say They that shall be accompted worthie of that life not They that shall be worthie thereof But this accompt here mentioned is not according to Gods account but the Popes accompt such as the Pope accompts worthie to suffer reproches for the name of Iesu to wit for his Iesutish doctrines teaching the lawfulnesse of rebellion against Princes For vnder this name of Iesu doth that society of the Iesuites the more easily play the Iudasses as hee did with Haile Master no man easily suspecting that there should bee the least affinity betweene that sweet sauing name of Iesus and the massacring Abaddon or Appollyon But the reward of such is They seeme to possesse onely The Pope dares not say They do possesse it c. for then he should seeme to grant the certainty of saluation if men in this life were in possession of it But he must not ouerthrow that Canon of Trent which dischargeth a sulphurious Anathema against the doctrine of the certaintie of remission of sinnes as an Arch-enemy vndermining the golden mines of his Purgatorie Well what seeme they to haue The bill of exchange of Gods loue and abound with that price wherewith they purchase the Diadem of eternitie Here the Pope fals downe right vpon his doctrine of selfe merits so derogatory from yea so destructory of that most precious and pearlelesse ransome payde for the purchase of those Diadems of glory Although the Church of Rome makes little difference betweene Christs paying of our debts himselfe and his inabling vs our selues to pay them sauing that they choose rather to haue the fingering of the money themselues then to trust to Christ for the payment of it As here the Pope they pretend Gods loue Christs merits but all is to enable them by graces infused their Bill of exchange to merit ex condigno the kingdome of heauen or thereby to purchase the Diadems of eternitie Well But ô yee Pontificians doe you not teach that those graces of yours infused may bee altogether and irreuocably lost if then by the way as you are trauailing to make your purchase and so to take possession of those heauenly diadems yee chance to meete with theeues that robbe you of your treasure and take your purse from you what will become of your purchase then were it not therefore safer for you to follow Christs counsell Lay not vp your treasures on earth where the moth and canker corrupt and where theeues breake through and steale but lay vp for your selues treasures in heauen where it is out of all danger what is this to lay vp for your selues treasures in heauen Is not Christ our treasure Is not he in heauen is not the laying vp of this treasure for our selues in heauen our laying hold on Christ by faith aske the ordinary Glosse In Goelo 1. Omnem spem in calestibus ponite lay vp all your hope in heauen fide gradientes charitatem amplectantes walking by faith imbracing charity or following the Apostles practise 2 Tim. 1. 12. I know whom I haue beleeued and I am perswaded that he is able to keepe that which I haue committed vnto him against that day Aske Lyra the meaning Depositum meum c. my pledge that is my reward which by faith I haue laid vp to be kept with him against the day of my dissolution when my soule shall be glorified against the day of iudgement when my body shall be made immortall So the ordinary glosse excellently quia potens est Dominus Depositum meum seruare spe c. the Apostle is secure in the hope and magnificence of his Sauiour because what he committeth vnto him is in safety and that which he committeth vnto him is his saluation This was the ancient Catholique doctrin of the Church to trust in Christ wholly for their saluation But now from this ancient faith the present Church of Rome is vtterly fallen trusting her selfe for saluation which being in hir owne custody she confesseth not without iust cause that she may come vtterly to loose it No doubt of that yea they haue altogether shut themselues out of the kingdome of heauen already by this their doctrine of Iustification by their grace infused For betweene faith and justification they make such a separation as they decree in their Trent Councill that though by euery mortall sinne the grace of iustification receiued is lost although faith be not lost calling it a Doctrine of Gods Law which excludeth not onely vnbeleeuers but the faithfull also such as they call their fideles fornicarios adulteros molles masculorum concubitores fures c. out of the kingdome of God This is that doctrine of Romes Apostacy from the faith shutting hir selfe out of Gods kingdome as hauing expressely renounced and abandoned that faith in Christ the onely purchase of our saluation as might more abundantly bee shewed But this may suffice for the present occasion so punctually offered by the Pope in this place and that in his owne expresse words which no doubt were throughly scanned in his Conclaue betweene himselfe and his Cardinalls before they should come to see the light as Paul the fift confessed of the contents of his Breeue sent hither Anno 1607. So that in nothing doth the Pope vary from himselfe but in all points shewes himselfe to be that great Apostate that Antichrist from toppe to toe But to conclude this clawse if Treason if rebellion if disloyaltie of subjects against their Prince whereat the Pope here aimeth be so meritorious as to purchase the Diadems of Eternitie then let no malefactor neuer so notorious feare hell or iudgement so hee can but intile his villanies as committed for the Catholique cause The old heathen Rome had hir Culleus for Parracides but Catholique Rome his Diadems would not this startle and astond the very Indian when he should be told that the Kingdome of heauen is full of such gracelesse vnnaturals as for betraying their lawfull Soueraigne their natiue sweete Countrey for blowing vp the beautie and glory of their Nation yea of the whole world at a blast doe now raigne in heauen wearing eternall Diadems would not he make a solemne vow neuer to come there Nay more would Iesus Christ trow you trust such Parricides and Traytors to come neere his person now in heauen lest with Iudas they should againe betray him and with the Iewes and Romanes kill and crucifie him afresh for how could he be perswaded that such would spare his person in heauen who accounted it the speciall point of their religion to Martyr and massacre him in his members heere on earth or that they would yeeld obedience and reuerence to his Royail Majestie in heauen that stucke not to deface and defile his image imprinted vpon his annointed Vicegerents here below Certainly that heauenly Ierusalem is compassed with higher and stronger wals then to be scaled by such Gyant-like assaylants Lucifer was cast out