committed by the most great sacrificers as Kings Priests and others hauing the chiefe gouernement of the people When Moyses was abiding in the mount Synay to receiue the commandements of God his brother Aaron the high Priest forged a calfe of gold of the golden earings giuen vnto him by the people of Israell he builded an aulter offered incense and celebrated sacrifice causing the common people to worship the molten Image Was not this an abusing of the Sacrifices ordeined of God and a corrupting of the true vsage of the same in causing the calfe to be worshipped in place of the slaine and offered sacrifice as it was appointed in the law His sonnes Corruption of the sacrifice by Nadab Abihu Leui. 10 Numb 11. also Nadab Abihu were not they coÌ„sumed with fire for abusing the vse of sacrifices in taking vnhallowed wood and corrupting the law The people of Israel vnthankfull for the goodnes done vnto them in being deliuered from the PharaoÌ„ical captiuity did they not murmure against the holy sacrament of heauenly Manna when they did disdaine and contemne this bread of life and demanded Iosua 7 flesh to eate Achan the sonne of Charmes did not he violate the lawe of the holy signes when he committed sacriledge and kept backe the spoyles of 〈◊〉 vowed consecrated to God for sacrifices If any more curiously desire to see the continuall abuses and corruptions of the people themselues let him reade the histories of the Iudges of Iudg. 2. 3. 6. 8. 9 Israel and in all times he shall find man neuer to be content with the true worshipping ordeined of God But in steed of outwarde signes ordeined of God to draw the people to feare and obedieÌ„ce they haue forged inuentions And in place of reuerencing the alters and arke couenant in the name of the only God being outward sacred signes The Israelites infected with the Idolatries of Iudges 10 their neighbours the Syrians Sidonians Moabites Ammonites and Philistines did erect alters vnto their strange Gods Baal and Astaroth Iâ—ptha Iudge The vdgentle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ie 〈◊〉 Iudg. â—â— and Captaine of the Isralites did not he corrupt the lawe of Sacrifices when he sacrificed his owne proper daughter Iudg 8. 9 Idolatry by the Ephod Iudg. 17. 18. excusing himselfe by a vow which hee made which was not appointed to him of God The holy signe ordayned of God for the high Priest to celebrate sacrifices in called Ephod the vppermost garment was not it abused by Gedeon captaine of the Israelites when as of the spoiles of the Madianits and of their earings he made an Ephoa of gold whereby the people fell into great idolatrie How long time was this holy outward signe Ephod abused an Image being erected by the mother of Michas in 〈◊〉 Priests sacrificers appointed expresly to sacrifice thereunto an Altar builded and the true vse of sacrifices corrupted So long as as the temple continued in Silo into what wicked manners did the Priestes and sacrificers fall which were ordeined of God for the ministrie of sacrifices and holy sacraments when they vsurped by long possession to haue this priuiledge of the people that when 1 Sam. 2. they did sacrifice the flesh of the offered sacrifice was seathing their boy or seruant hauing a three grained flesh-hooke of yron in his hand had liberty to catch out of the potte or caldron all that he could cary with his hooke Further the leuiticall tiranny was such that this seruant of the Priest had libertie to demand of the sacrifice giuer flesh to roste for the sacrificer otherwise to take it by force euen as he would Was not this a great abuse and detestable corruption practised by the Pristes and chiefe sacrificers vnder the preteÌ„ce of sacrifices What greater corruption can be declared then that of the sonnes of the chiefe Ophni Phinâ—es corruptâ—â—s of the sacrifices 1 Samuel 4. Priest Ely called Ophni Phinees Who vnder the preteÌ„ce of deuotion comitted shameful whoredome with the couered women behinde the holy Tabernacle institued of God for the which wickednes they were miserably slaine and the Arke of couenaÌ„t taken away by the Philistines Which they set in the Temple 1. Samuel The arke of the holy couenant of their God Dagon but God not suffering this holy signe thus to bee prophaned threw downe the Image Dagon sent grieuous punishments to the Philistines in such sort that they were coÌ„strained to restore the Arke of the couenant of God This holy signe was so precious that forasmuch as the Bethsamits which were not of the order of the Leuits had abused it 50000 of the common people and 70. of the chiefe rulers were rooted out and slaine by the vengeance of God This example might make all Against corruption of holy signes those to tremble which enterprise to abuse the holy signes and sacraments ordeyned of God Vzzah also for that he abused the same 2. Samuel 6. Vzzah sacred signe notwithstanding that hee did it of a good intention for to lift vp the Arke of witnes hanging to much on the one side was hee not punished with death Of others abuses committed by the Israelits there is many examples Osias Osias was punished with leprosie for abusing 〈◊〉 the sacrifices in taking vpon him the ministery of encensing appointed to the priests onely Saul he first elected Saul 1 Sam. 13. Ioseph lib. 7 cap â— of the Iewes antiquities King of the Israelites was slaine and his kingdome giuen vnto another as was declared before of Samuel for abusing the sacrifices and suffering his people to commit the like abuses His successours in the kingdomes of Iuda and Israel haue not they alwaies continued in abusing and corrupting the sacrifices and sacraments ordeined of God when they did offer sacrifices to the Gods Astaroth of the Sidonians to Chanios 1 Kigs 8. 11. of the Moabites and to Melcom or Moloch of the Ammonites in so much that they builded temples and oratories euen to offer incense and to doe sacrifices vnto them â—â—roboam king of the Israelites did not Hieroboam 1 Kings 12. only cause a golden calfe to be erected as the high Priest Aaron had abused before but also did ordaine two golden Kine in the two Temples of Bethlel and Dan and ordained strange Priests corrupting the law of God and causing them to doe sacrifice after the fashion of Kings 14. Aaron This Idolatrie and corruption of sacrifices did continue among the Israelites more than 400 yeares during the raigne of their kinges who had taught them to corrupt the true vse of the sacrifices in chapels and particuler oratories builded on the tops of hils and thicke forrests consecrated in violating the law of sacrifices ordained by God in the holy temple within the holy cittie For particuler examples of 1. Kings 15. the abuses committed against the true vse of sacrifices the historie of Maatha mother of king Aâ—a is
for the Priest To witt the fat the two kidneies the kall or the fatte of the flankes Another difference there is also betwixt the sacrifice Sacrifice for health for health and the sacrifice celebrated for sin for in the one was ordeyned to eate all the sacrifice in two daies in the other for sin it was enioyned to eate all in one day onely By reason Sacrifice for sinne whereof some sacrifices were called Holocaustes other for health and other for sinne The sacrifices for sinne were diuerse aswell for because of the persons as for the offerings For he that sinned Sacrifice for the sinne of ignorance by ignorance was clensed by offering an Ewe or a she Goat but the clensing of sinne done wittingly was clensed with a Ramme The sinne of the great Priest was clensed by offering of a calf Sacrifice for the sinne of the high Priest Prince Magistrate particuler person Leuit. 3. 4. 5. 6. Sacrifice for the man poluted of the prince by offering a goat a bul that of the magistrate with a Goat that of any particuler with the offering of a female The sacrifice for clensing of sin done against God was done with a ram The sacrifice for a man polluted was with an Ewe or a she goat for clensing of a woman after her childbirth was a For the woman deliuered Leuit. 12. Sacrifice for the Leprous Leui. 14. lambe of one yeare a young pigion a turtle For the clensing of Lepre were 2 birds aliue pure cleane Cedre wood and Isope 2 whole lambes one Ewe of a yeare with floure and oyle Another sacrifice also was made for the persoÌ„ poluted Sacrifice for the poluted menstruall by seed shed or meÌ„struous with 2. turtles 2. yong pigioÌ„s If the great sacrifices did faile then did they repare to doues pigions and turtles th one for the burnt offering the other for the food of the Priests And in all sacrifices there was pure floure without leuen salt incense Leuen hony forbidden in all sacrifices A sacrifice for the woman suspected of adultery Numb 5 and oile And it was not lawfull to offer any thing with leuen or hony vpoÌ„ the alter Alwaies in the sacrifice ordeined for the purging of women suspected of adulterie there was no incense nor oile as in other sacrifices but for her was offered water mixt with dust or ashes gathered vpon the pauement of the temple Againe there was another Sacrifice of the Nazereus Numb 6. Philo the Iew in the treatise aforesayd sacrifice celebrated for them which had made the great vowe called Naserius when the time of their deuotion was done it was ordeined vnto them to offer three sacrifices a Lambe an Ewe a Ramme One to witte the Lambe for the burnt offering the second being the Ewe for the saluation the third for health Moreouer the heares of him which made the sacrifice should be cast into the fire with the burnt offering to be burned I haue thought good to discourse the diuersitie of sacrifices briefly to the end to make knowen the great goodnesse of our God who by the lawe of Sacrifices published by Moyses would as with a bridle restraine the rude people of Israel which could not forget the idolatries of Egypt wherein they had beene nourished 430. yeares vnder the tyrranny of Pharaoh But what straight lawes what ceremonies sacrifices so euer were ordeined for them euer this people did fall to Idolatry abusing the law of God and corrupting the holy sacraments and sacrifices it shall be declared hereafter If any man be desirous to know more of the multitude diuersitie of sacrifices let him reade the books of Philo the Iewe and Iosephus of the Iudaicall antiquities following that which Moyses hath plainely written in his bookes of Leuiticus and Numbers Another signe sacrament instituted The Arke of witnes Ex 25. 27. 28. of God by the Arke of the couenant described in Exodus being a holy signe dedicated to receiue the holy and heauenly answers to the end to bring the people to the remembrance feare and obedience of God to honour accompany the Arke of the couenant Many other exterior signes were ordeyned of God as the ornaments and consecration of Priestes specially the ornament Ephod called the Ephod the which and the sacrifices the Israelites did abuse by their Idolatries Another holy signe there was of the Purging water consecrated Numb 19. purging and sprinkling water ordeined by God to Moyses and Aaron the high Priest This sprinkled water was consecrated with ashes gathered by a clean person of the sacrifice offered in Holocausâ—â— To witte of a Cowe all redde without any spot and which had neuer bin laboured The Wood ordeyned to make the fier for the burnt offering was Cedar Hisope Purple with Crimsin With this water were sprinkled polluted persons for the purging and cleansing of their corporall defilings At the entring of the Temple or Tabernacle Exod. 38. was a Lauer made of Brasse forged first with the images of the women of Israell in this Lauer was put the sprinkling water wherewith the sacrificers are sprinkled before the celebrating of their sacrifices to the end they might be purified and obtaine grace remission of their sinnes After the death of the great Priest Aaron the people of Israell vnthankfull to God for the goodnes sent them of him murmuring as annoyed with the heauenly Manna freely giueÌ„ vnto them for their noriture were punished by the biting of venemous serpeÌ„ts But the merciful God gaue vnto them an holy signe whereby they should be saued and restored to health to wit the brasen serpent Brasen serpent Iohn 3. 7. lifted vp in the aire a figure of Iesus Christ crucified These were in summe the most part of the signes sacrifices and sacraments ordeyned of God in the first Church of the Israelites figures of the true and perfect sacrifice performed by Iesus Christ the true Messias and euerlasting Priest sitting at the right hand of God the Father Now resteth the summe to bring forth Sacraments brokeÌ„ by Adam Gene. 3. how man by his owne proper fault did fall in obliuioÌ„ and disobedience of God his creator abusing Gods fauour and corrupting the holy signes sacrifices sacraments ordeyned to him What perswaded our first father and his companioÌ„ to bide themselues at the hearing of Gods voice but because they had abused the holy signe and broken the lawe of the fruits to them forbiddeÌ„ This holy signe which our first and vniuersall father had abused was the originall of other vices and corruptions hereafter described into the which all men are fallen sauouring of the corrupted lumpe of Adam Leauing the particuler corruptions of Corruption of the sacrifice by Aaron Exo. 32 Deut. 9. the signes sacrifices and sacraments before the law written by Moyses we will begin to bring forth briefly the most notable error
Theodose the Emperour by the senate and senatours of Rome when it was put forth vnto them to change their religion and to receiue the religion of Iesus Christ They shewed that they had possessed their Pompilian religion more then 1000. yeares that all changing of religions were the destructions of common wealthes Wherefore consisting in their olde Romane religion they remained without receiuing of the law of Iesus Christ By these histories it is easie to bee resolued that for the space of 400. yeares and more the bishops of Rome which called themselues Christians could neuer obtaine of the Senate and Romane 〈◊〉 to receiâ—e the holy Gospell much lesse could they conâ—erâ— the Romane Idoâ—ater causing them to forsake their inâ—eâ—eâ—aâ—e Idolatry For the Bishops of Rome were too much occupâ—ed in restoring the Iudaical and Paganâ— ceremonies for the distinctioÌ„ of meaâ—es ordinance noâ— to fâ—st Sunday and Thursday In the cannon reâ—â—aâ—ed â—â— Câ—emeâ—â— Bishop oâ— Rome 21. 22 62 95. toâ—eâ— an order for table cloathes â—eales vessels of gold and siluer sensors and tapesterie other ornamentâ— of the aâ—ters which consumed with age were ordeyned to be burned and the ashes to be put in the fount Other were meruailously occupied to restore the Iudaicall ceremonies of sweete breade and trauailed their spirits greatly to corrupt Alexander the first of that name Bishop of Rome in the yeare of Christ 110. the true vsage of the holy sacraments instituted of God by mingling of water with wine bruing of salt with the water to make it purged and coniured to driue away Diuels Other also Sixtus Bishop of Rome in the yeare of Christ 121. did trauell to institute Corporasses of fine linnen to lay vppe the consecrated hostes and to ordeine also albes and other vestiments of the Priests for their Siluester Bishop of Rome sacrifices of white collour without spot Some did torment their braines to inuent the feastes of dedication and consecration Higinus Bishop of Rome in the yeare of Christ 140. with coniuring with salt to driue away Diuels And some other to inuent oyles and creames to corrupt the holy sacrament of Baptisme Moreouer â—abian Bishop oâ— Rome in the yeare of Christ 240. during the raigne of these Tirants Emperours and great Bishops the Bishops of Rome desiring to make their names to continue for euer did dreame in their Pius Bishop of Rome in thâ— yeare of Christ 144. spirits to builde Temples not vnto the honour of God but in the name of their hee and shee Saints canonized by them at their pleasure Other did occupie themselues to ordaine that the consecrated breade and wine falling vpon the ground should be left to the sacrificer the rest remaining should be burned with fire and the ashes should be layed vp among the reliques Other did trauell Zephâ—rin Bishop of Rome in the yeare of Christ 200 to set an order among chalises whether they should be of glasse or of wood And by other were instituted solemne Caliâ—tus Bishop oâ— Rome in the yeare of Christ 220 ceremonies foure times a yeare to bring Christians to the bondage of distinction of daies Some were occupied meruailously to Eutich Bishop of Rome in the yeare of Christ 282 ordaine the offering and consecration of fables to celebrate funerals in purple garmentes after the maner of the vestiment called Trabea the which the Idolators did vse in triumphes celebrated in the honour of their Gods And the like purple garment is vsed The red robes of Cardinalles Siluester bishop of Rome in the yeare of Christ 314. of the Cardinals to this day Others were occupied to inuent a confirmation for yong children and that the Bishops only should consecrate the creame To honour also the Bishop of Hostiense by whose haÌ„ds the bishop of Rome must be consecrated with a cloke called PalliuÌ„ And to inuent an infinite nuÌ„ber of other vnnecessary ceremonies coÌ„trary to the libertie of the Gospell giuen vnto vs by Iesus Christ How was it then possible that the first Bishops of Rome shoulde drawe the Princes Senators Romanes vnto the law of the Gospel during 300. or 400. yeares after the incarnation of Iesus Christ seeing they did not labour but to corrupt the vse of the holy sacraments and to restore the Iudaicall ceremonies and Idolatries of the heathen the ancient Romanes But here might one obiect one Philip which some vaunt to haue beene conuerted to holy Baptisme the maners of whom were so wicked that they gaue occasion to the most credible authors to describe him vnworthy the name of a Christian One might bring in Constantine Chronicle of Iohn Baptist the great which caused the Councell of Nice to assemble but his resideÌ„ce was in Grecia being called the Emperour of the East And yet would he neuer receiue the signe of Baptisme to Histo tripart lib. 3. cap. 12. bee regenerate by the bloude of Iesus Christ vntill he was 65. yeares olde at what time he was baptised by a Bishop of Nicomede Arian named Eusebe the same Constantinâ— being at point of death Siluester then Bishop of Rome must not cracke that he conuerted this Emperour to the â—aith For this same Siluester would not assist the assemblie of the Councell holden at Nice in the yeare of Iesus Christ 32â— How so euer it be it is conuenient to haue recourse alwayes to the verity of Histories wherein is recited the answere of the Senate and Senators of Rome to the Emperour Thecdezâ— more then 60. yeares after the death of the same Constantine the great Which was that they woulde not receiue the lawe of Iesus Christ but obserue their auncient lawe Pompilian to auoide the ruine of their common wealth which might come by the changing of religion whereby may be well gathered that then the lawe of God was not receiued nor approued at Rome by the Senate and Senators It resteth that presently we come nearer to the time following After the decease of Theodoze the Romane Empire of the West began so to bowe that in short time it was quite put out by Wandeloys Alayns which were the chiefe Paul Emil. lib. 1. the yeare of Christ 412. 154 that sacked Rome burnt the most part of it and rauished the proper daughter of the Emperour Theodore whom they married to Ataulphe king of the Gothes A litle while after succeeded the HuÌ„nes Blond lib. 2. Decad. 1. Then Attilia King of the Gothes which vsurped Italy About this time the Romane Empire Procop lib. 3. of the warre of the Vandals in the yeare of Christ 486. of the West was spoiled of all Germany Asia Sarmatia and all the Prouinces tributaries vnto Danube Spaine also Aquitania Gascoygne Bourgoyne and all the Gaules did reuolt from the Romane tyranny Then succeeded the Ostrogothes with their King Valemir The yeare of Christ 550. 554 Theodemer Theodorike and other Heathen and Infidels The Visigothes also all vsurpers successiuely of
and new Testament called the Epistles and Gospels The Epistles Gospels cut in the Masse The which the Massalians haue cut and mingled with the Pompilian Idolatry therein haue prophaned the lawe of God euen as did the Apostate Sergius Doctor of the Mahomet the the which decked the Alcoran with many places of the holy Bible and patched a hotch potch of fables and heresies with the holy lawe of God The Massalians haue ordeined two persons to sing the Epistles and Gospels to the end to enrich their Mâ—sseâ—daunce to wit the subdeacon who marcheth before to play the person of the first lawe of the Iewes and the deacon which commeth after with more great dignitie to represent the lawe of the Gospell the which deacon carieth vpon his breast a cushon to figure the humblenesse of heart The subdeacon receiueth not the blessing of the Massing Sacrificer as the deacon doth for this cause say the Massalian Doctors that God sent his Prophets inuisiblie But the deacon playing the personage of the lawe of the gospell hee receiueth blessing as being sent among Wolues because Christ sent his Apostles as men visiblie It is ordeined that the deacon shall we are a stoale crosâ—wise hanging vpon his shoulders one end ouer the other to figure force and continence ioyned together in the Masse-monger The Deacon playing his pagen and singing some peece of the Gospell in a language vnderstanded neither of him nor of the assistaÌ„ts must turne himselfe toward the north standing vpright Because saith Titelman the north part is cold and malicious And therefore he must make a crosse to chase awaie the Diuels of the north Be not these sorceries and conflâ—ctes more horrible then al the coÌ„mentaries of the ancient Romane Bishops Idolators Doth not this approue the Alcoran Against the long possession and prescription of Idolators of Mahomet the long possession wherof Turkes presently haue had for these 900. yeares past hauing conquered Countries Realmes and Empires Against Turkes prospered in all their enterprises still obseruing the abhominable lawe set out Against the people of Israell offering to Moloch in the Alcoran Where the people of Israel excused before God when they did sacrifice in the valley of Tophet to Moloch with innocents bloud by alleaging the long possession accustomed 4 King 16. 23. Against the idolatry of the brasen serpent vsage for the space of 1200. yeares before this Idolatry was altogether destroyed by the good king Iosias Did the Israelites murmure against the vertuous King Ezechias when he destroyed the brasen serpent which was made by the expresse commandement of God 900. yeares before Where the same people excused of their Idolatries coÌ„mitted in Dan Bethel wherein are the Images of 2. heiffers of gold instituted by their King Ieroboam vnder pretence of long possession and that they had continued this Idolatry for the space of 300. or 400 yeares The Iewes nowe vacabonds Against the image set vp in Ieroboam 3 King 12. Against the infidelity of the Iewes shall they be excused before the maiesty of God by shewing the long possession of this ceremoniall lawe instituted of God himselfe three thousande yeares agoe Also you O Massalians can you alleage against God the continuance and long possession of celebrating your PoÌ„pilian Masses long time and that you your predecessors haue vsed solde and put to vsurie your Missall sacrifices Is this reason sufficient to grounde vpon long possession as your predecessors Senators of Rome did alleage vnto Theodose the Emperour their Pompilian religion to haue bene obserued more then a 1000. yeares This is not an excuse sufficient to bring in long possession and vsage of long time obserued for the confirmation of your Idolatries For if God of his mercie and wonderfull patience did suffer the Iewes in their vnfaithfulnesse the Turkes in their Alcoran lawe and the Christians in their Masse Idolatries It is not for vs to dispute of the incomprehensible secrets of God but with all humility to take againe the way of truth when it shall please him to giue it vs after long and deepe darknes whereunto the people in all ages haue fallen turned from the true worshipping and ordinance of God euen so as briefly before we haue declared of the Israelits the chosen people of God the which notwithstanding that they had Moyses and the Prophets which did admonish them by many miracles and threatnings how they should honor God and keepe the lawe neuerthelesse they neuer ceased by mens inuentions to commit Idolatries So that during the raigne of the Princes Iudges of Israell when the people were gouerned as in Aristocratia then after submitted vnder the yoake of Kings as in a Monarchie last of all brought vnder the gouernement of the Pristes hauing gotten both the temporaltie and spiritualtie the law of God hath beene corrupted the sacrifices and sacraments defaced and defiled and Idolatry continued more then 1600. yeares from the law written by Moyses vnto the incarnation of Iesus Christ What may one hope for then of the people of Rome instructed in all Idolatrie as a dry tree a Heathenish and bastard people But these Massalian heretikes cannot vaunt themselues of very long possession of their Masse sacrifices except of the 9. peeces before described restored and borrowed of Numa Pempilius for the other parts of the Masse were inuented at diuerse times by diuerse antichrists corruptors of the holy sacraments ordeyned of God And to vnderstand the times and yeares of the chiefe builders Agapet Pope of Rome raigned in the yeare of Christ 533. and brought in the procession after the order prescribed by Numa The Confiteor was restored by Damase raigning the yeare 577. The Kyrie eleyson the Letanies by Gregory raigning in the y. 593. The Graduell the Collects the Traict by Gelase raigning in the yeare 493. The Sequences by Gothere Abbot of Sandale The Gloria in excelsis by Symachus raigning in the yeare 508. The Incens and the Offertorie restored from the ancient doctrine Pompilian by Leo the third of that name in the yeare 800. The kissing of the Paxe by Innocent the first of that name in the yeare 408. Agnus Dei instituted by Sergius in the yeare 697. The Commemoration of the deade inuented by Pelagius in the yeare 558. The Cannon forged by Gelase Siricie Leo and Pelagi raigning in the yeare 800. The transubstantiation instituted by the bishops of Rome about the yeare of Christ 162. Wherefore of what impudencie are these Alcoranists Masse Doctours to be condemned the which falsly do affirme that the holy Apostles of Iesus Christ did celebrate their missall sacrifice Seeing that this sacrifice was not restored to his integrity after Numa Pompilius but after Christ 800. yeares In what approued histories is there mention made that such Idolatry was committed by the holy Apostles of God How is it possible to beleeue or thinke it when as this great whore of Babylon