which he was excommunicated and Keeper of the Popes Priuie Signet By which Title perhaps is intended some transcendent facultie committed by the Court of Rome to that Iesuite for which authoritie some speciall new Seale might be appointed and appropriated which in semblance to the English phrase might bee called The priuie Signet But to let passe these inwards of the Iesuites and view them onely in the outside of their habit and apparell in England I haue formerly giuen the character of them in their costly and ruffianly brauery and then I considered that kind of disguise as tending to the hiding them from the notice of Magistrates or to their more easie and vnsuspected insinuation into all companies to draw Proselites to the Roman bent but since I find that it moreouer armeth them with boundlesse libertie against Ciuill and Morall lawes 1. Hence is taken better opportunitie for professed solicitation of Chastitie which if they went in grauer habit would perhaps bee checked by modestie I know a vigorous Iesuite who being attired like a Gallant of none of the lowest ruffe is said to haue vsed the title of a Yorkeshire Gentleman of some hundreds yearely reuenew Hee often repaired to a house within a Parish of the Suburbes Saint Giles Parish in the Fields where lodged a female Guest to whom notwithstanding his Vow against all earthly Valentines hee became a Suitor and promised her Marriage and for the better assuring her that he would marry her pretended he had gotten a Licence to that purpose from the Ordinary which Licence hee shewed to diuers of that family the more to worke vpon the womans credulitie In fine he got that he came for and then this Gentleman vanished 2. As this incongruous habit imboldneth them against the seuenth Commandement so doth it much more against the sixt Non occîdes They that by their Priesthood should beare about them Arma tantùm spiritualia change them in arma militaria the weapons of a Souldier nay sometimes of an Assasine or Cut-threat The care of this concerneth them in authoritie but me it concerneth nearely in regard of danger vndergone and future protection which I implore Not aboue three moneths since when I passed along the open street in this Citie about the middle of the afternoone walking in Gods peace and the Kings after a slight salutation I was set vpon by one of that Iesuiticall brood well knowne to mee and then attired in coloured Clothes white Bootes with a head of long shag haire armed with a long narrow Sword visible innisible a Stilletto a weapon I trow condemned in forraine Nations but ordinary furniture for the Yeomen of the Popes Guard heere in England I meane the Iesuites as well Clerick as Laick With this weapon being made so poinant and deadly that it would pearce as is thought reasonable good armour hee assaulted me but by Gods helpe I evaded And for his commitment I had the ayd of the iustice of this honourable Citie by the authoritie of the right worthie the late Lord Maior Sir Martin Lumbley who is by me to be acknowledged not onely for my priuate protection vpon this danger but in regard of the publike for the good estimation and honour which hee hath got by the faithfull discharge of his Office and the good gouernment of this honourable Citie to haue well begun continued and ended the Circle of his now finished yeare And as the Poet speaketh of a Tree bearing golden fruit Vno avulso non deficit alter Aureus simili frondescit virga metallo Virg. Aeneid 6 One golden bough being pulled away there buds out another of the same mettall So for auspication of his Honourable Successour Alderman Gore I doubt not to say that hee will branch forth with the same fruit of care for Religion and Iustice Too long haue I tyred your Christian patience in tracking out the by-paths of wandering Romish waies which haue somewhat led me out of my direct way your further permission I will vse modestly in reaching at 2. Part. Behold I come quickely but scarce touching the vpper branch of my Text Behold I come quickly These words represent vnto vs such a glorious spectacle as is fit for vs to step out of our dores and throngingly to behold not as a transitory Pageant for a day but as possessing and imploying the most piercing eies of our soule as long as we can open them and hold forth our heads with expectation euen all the daies of our life Here haue we first the Precursor a Iohn Baptist going before giuing warning Ecce Behold one is comming who hath beene long foretold and expected Then himselfe that comes Christ the only begotten Sonne of the Father Venio I come though he seeme long absent yet will hee be euidently present He commeth Thirdly here is the manner or pase of his comming not leasurely as he rode into Ierusalem vpon a slow beast but riding vpon a swift running horse or rather vpon the wings of the winde Citò I come quickly 1. Ecce Behold This Ecce as a watch-word of premonition is perfixed to all the commings of Christ mentioned in Scripture As Ecce Virgo pariet Behold a Virgin shall conceiue and bring forth a Child Esa 7.14 Ecce Euangelizo vobis gaudium magnum c. Behold I bring you good tidings of great ioy which shall be to all people Luk. 2.10 Ecce venit tibi Rex tuus mitis asino insidens c. Behold thy King commeth vnto thee meeke and sitting vpon an Asse and a Colt the fole of an Asse Mat. 21.5 Ecce venit cum nubibus Behold he commeth with Clowds and euery eye shall see him c. Apoc. 1.7 Ecce sto ad ostium et pulto Behold I stand at the doore and knock Apoc. 3.20 Whence we learne that God hath set this Centinell to keepe vs watching and ready to rise when hee shall call on the suddaine to vs. Secondly that the Matter and Person requireth our Attention our Admiration our Acceptation of so great and glorious a Guest Iohn the Baptists Office we know was to prepare the way of the Lord Mat. 3.3 to make the paths straight fit for the entertainement of the Messias so was this Ecce to that Church of Philadelphia and to the Angell thereof So must it be to vs a call for due preparation to receiue and meete the Messias to adore and obey him And verily the way of the Lord is neuer sufficiently prepared in vs vnlesse wee entertaine and obey the Doctrine of the Precursor Mat. 3.2 Repent for the Kingdome of God is at hand Without compunction for our sinfull liues and bringing forth fruites worthy of repentance wee are still but deafe though this Trumpet Ecce sound neuer so loud in our eares 2. Venio I come The diuers commings of Christ are dispersedly set downe in the Scriptures forementioned I will reduce them to a briefe His first comming was
a fiery and bloody triall prize not this transitory life aboue the word of life Gods Gospell and aboue the Lord of life Gods only begotten Sonne and aboue eternall life Gods bountifull and free gift Reu. 2.10 Esto fidelis Be thou faithfull vnto the death and Christ shall giue thee the Crowne of life Thou that art a fruitefull Vine planted by Gods owne right hand and watered with the dew of Heauen take heed that thy branches be not torne away by the violent blast of persecution when God shall be pleased to suffer such tempests to trouble the lower region of the Ayre in this militant Church Hath God planted thee in a fruit full hill Esay 5. fenced thee and gathered out the stones from thy Vineyard by Reformation take heed that thou suffer not thy fence to be troden downe be watchfull that the enuious man doe not throw in againe those stones by deformation Be carefull also that thy boughes and limmes be not stollen away by night by those that creepe through the hedge into the vineyard Take heed that the little foxes do not vndermine thine inclosure and purloine away thy best fruit when they pretend to look another way and professe onely to request courteous harmlesse harbour for a while in thy ground but in the mean time work themselues in dig their earths and bring in their yong cubbes thither which will soone learne not onely to climbe vp to the top of the vine and crop the fairest branches but also scratch vp the root of it Of these I will say nothing let the Spirit speake Cant. 2.15 Cant. 2.15 Take vs the foxes the little foxes that spoyle the Vines for our Vines haue tender grapes That I dwel not too long vpon Vniuersals giue me leaue now to descend vnto particular application of this precept by discussing what kind of Church it most properly concernes and who are they that fruitfully vse or peruersely abuse this wholesome spirituall counsell Tene quod habes Hold that thou hast First for the hauing The Church of Rome arrogateth vnto it selfe the prime possession of this spirituall tenure that they only hold it in Capite from Christ himselfe in their own head the Pope that al other Christian Churches are but vnder-tenants as holding by deriuation of petty leases from this vniversall Land-lord that they haue an indefeasible perpetuity therof as intailed vnto the Pope sibi haeredibus in perpetuum to him his heires world without end that other Churches haue no other Charter of it then a Transcript from that Originall and no longer can hold it then whilest they are conformable and seruiceable in Tenancie of vassalage or villenage to the Lords of the Mannor of Rome A vaine fond incroching forgery of vsurpation as authenticall as the pretended donation of Constantine of the patrimony of Saint Peter and other priuiledges vnto Siluester the Pope To these we may wel say with the Apostle Came the word out from you 1. Cor. 14.36 or did you preach the same 1. Cor. 1. or were wee baptized into the name of S. Peter or S. Paul If Prioritie imply originall tenure in faith surely Ierusalem must bee the grandmother Church Isai 2.3 For de Sion exiuit lex Out of Sion shall goe forth the Law and the word of the Lord from Ierusalem The ancient Fathers reckoned not one but many Tertul. de Praescript aduers Haret Ecclesias matrices originales fidei motherly originall Churches wherein the faith was planted seuerally by diuers Apostles not by one And therfore whersoeuer any church can shew conformity vnto the Charter of the Scriptures it may rightfully plead this Habeo as well as any other the Church of the world As for the church of Rome we deny not but in the primitiue and better times it might wel say Habeo I haue this pledge of Truth Teneo I keepe it intire and sincere But the present Roman Church or rather the Papall faction in the Westerne Church hath long since left that Hold the present Church there hauing little else but locall prescription for propertie herein The ancient Christian Romans according to the instruction of the great Apostle expressed vnto them were not ashamed to hold Rom. 3.24 that we are iustified freely by grace The present in Rome or depending on Rome imbaseth this doctrine by mixture of workes preparatory satisfactory and superrogatory The old Christian Romans were so obedient vnto their Instructors as to imbrace his doctrine when he said Rom. 13.1 Let euery soule be subiect to the higher powers The now new Romanists subduce from this yoke their Clergie and Votaries nay they subiect the Scepter of Princes to the Popes becke S. Chrysost in Rom. 13. Chrysostome vpon the aforesaid words of the Apostle said Si Propheta si Euangelista Though thou be a Prophet or an Euangelist yet thou art a subiect to the higher powers And S. Bern. Bern. Qui conatur excipere tentat decipere He that would except any goeth about to deceiue But the moderne Order of Iesuits are more learned then these Fathers and more wise then the very Apostles of Iesus The ancient Christian Romans learned of S. Paul Rom. 10.14 How can they call on him on whom they haue not beleeued And therefore as they beleeued only vpon God in Christ so in prayer they called only on him But the present Romanists fill their churches altars of Inuocation oblation with ten Saints for one Christ The old Romans beleeued S. Paul when he wrote vnto them Stipendium peccati mors Rom. 6.23 the wages of sinne is death But the new Romanists distinguishing of sinnes mortall and veniall maintaine that there be some sins for which death is not due The old Romans beleeued that eternall life is the gift of God Rom. 6.23 but the new that it is due to the worth of good workes The ancient Christian Romans learned no doubt the same doctrine of this Apostle which he taught their brethren the Corinthians 1 Cor. 11.26 As oft as yee eat this bread and drinke this cup ye shew forth the Lords death vntill he come But the new Romanists robbe vs all of the Bread by a pretended Miracle of Transubstantiation and the Laitie of the Cup by a tricke of Concomitancie But I am not here to read a Lecture of the differences and degenerations of the present Roman Church which are soundly and plentifully demonstrated by the lights of the reformed Churches in their controuersall Bookes Only this I inferre that of all Christian Churches that I know extant this day in the World the Roman troope especially in the superlatiue Tenents of the Iesuites can least of all iustifie themselues and say either Habui quod teneo I had it from Christ that which I now hold or Teneo quod habui what I receiued from Christ and his Apostles I still maintaine intire and incorrupt such
vertues yea and Christian obedience yet haue forsaken this straight path they haue gone in the way of Cain and haue been seduced in the wages of Balaam for reward and peruerted in the gainesaying of Core The whole Epistle of Iude and the second Epistle of Peter are fit Comments to expresse the Character of these crooked degenerating Christians In considering this Proposition as it is intire in it selfe Tene quod habes Hold that thou hast wee view the large extension of it in respect of those to whom it is spoken to wit to all Persons and Times 1 It concerneth all persons either 1 Indiuiduall euery singular Christian 2 Collectiue or Christian Churches 2 This Precept is spoken to all Times both persons and Churches in all Times during the warfare of this world whether in time of new plantation of the Church or ancient continuance in the Summer of flourishing peace or the Winter of bitter persecution in the Spring of our jolitie when we should sacrifice our tender yeares vnto the Almightie or in the declining of our drooping age when we expect like ripe shcaues to be brought into Gods barne in the dayes of our youth when wee are to remember our Creator by holding our selues fast vnto him or in our decrepid old age when the keepers of the house tremble Eccles 12.3 and the strong men bow themselues and the grinders cease and those that looke out of the windowes bee darkened that is per totum vitae curriculum during our whole race and pilgrimage in the Mesech of this world As for the Persons whom it concernes Persons first Individually the Spirit standeth at the doore and knocketha t the heart of euery Christian ringing this watchword in his eare Tene quod habes Hold fast that which thou hast gotten None so great a proficient in Christes Schoole but needs this lesson to be inculcated to him none so raw a beginner to whom this instruction can bee vnseasonable Thou that art but a tender Babe in Christ feed on the sincere milke of the Gospell and to that end forsake not vina vbera veteris noui Testamenti Bern. the two Pappes of the Old and New Testament bee not beaten off from sucking spirituall nourishment from them Thou that art growen vp a strong man in Christ and hast sensus exercitatos to discerne betweene good and euill light and darknesse thou that canst instruct others in the way of truth and godlinesse 2 Tim. 1.14 Hold fast thy Depositum Lest when thou preachest to others thy selfe become a cast-away And well it is by Saint Paul called the Depositum of pledge a thing committed vnto vs in trust For as by the law of nature redde depositum doth bind euery such fiduciary not to vse the pledge as his owne proper goods but to bee accountable for it and restore it when it shall be called for otherwise is guiltie of injustice and violating of the dictamen rationis the principles of naturall reason So here for the treasure of Gods truth committed to our hands we must acknowledge our selues to bee but depositarij trusted as pledge-keepers and not as proprietarij Lords and masters of it For we are to giue account thereof in illo die in that great day of generall Audit when euery one of vs shall be called to a reckoning how he hath discharged his trust Wherefore for the better endeering this possession first remember how thou hast receiued it Secondly foresee the dangerous meanes which draw thee from it The first is Vnde habes from whence thou hast it The second Quomodo non tenes by what meanes thou dost lose it First whence hast it thou 1 By Baptisme whereby thou hast put on Christ Galat. 3.27 whereby thou art buried with Christ whereby planted together to the likenesse of his death Rom. 6.4 2 By the Preaching of the word When thou wert but a young twig thou wast ingrafted by Baptisme vnto Iesus Christ now after thou art growen to be a stronger branch thy root is watered by Gods Planters whose instructions distill vpon thee as the raine whose doctrine doth drop as the dewe or as the small raine vpon the tender hearbe and as the showers vpon the grasse Deut. 32. Paul planting Deut. 32.2 Apollo watering God giuing the increase who affordeth the Sunshine of his grace for the helping thy growth and fertilitie and vouchsafeth in patience to expect thy fruit these diuers yeares pruning thy boughes with the rodde of chastisement and affliction nay descending yet further to dig and dung the hungry soyle about thee but if after all this planting watering pruning fatning thou shalt remaine still barren and cumber the ground euen to the hindering of other plants from thriuing what canst thou expect but that the axe or hatchet of Gods iudgement should stub thee vp by the rootes and thou be cast into vnquenchable fire Secondly the manifold dangerous meanes of loosing our Hold by may be reduced vnto these three Rapto Furto Dolo. The first is violence of Robbery when as by strong hand inuasion is made vpon vs to quit and forsake true Religion for feare of death and persecution So in the Primitiue Church some by the violent torments of raging persecutions were through humane infirmitie driuen to let goe their Hold being not able to resist ad sanguinem Cyprian vnto blood Whereupon some did temporise conforming themselues to some outward actions of Idolatry others deliuered vp the Books of holy Scripture to the Pagan persecutors who thence were called Traditores These alas did humanū pati shew themselues to bee but men not being able to keepe vpright the ship from wracke in such violent and tempestuous stormes The second meanes of dispossessing vs of our heauenly treasure 2 Furto is Furto by Stealth that is when either the cares or pleasures of this life fulnesse plentie peace politike complying with others conforming our selues to our neighbours or companions doe seduce vs to imbrace this present world and to tread Gods truth vnder our feet when we permit by conniuence and sleepinesse the tares of corruptions to be sowen amongst the wheat Gods word and truth that is when 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the wicked one stealeth away the good seed out of our hearts Math. 13. and scattereth instead of it the banefull and poysonous seeds of corruption both in doctrine and manners For so by Gods iudgement it commonly commeth to passe that degeneration in the one begets a corruption in the other where no due care is of preseruing the truth of God in sincerity of Religion there God suffereth one sinne to become the punishment of another by consequent lewdnesse and impuritie of life which then there hath greatest dominion where the Gospell is bereft of free passage where corrupt superstition and dotages haue thrust out of the throne true Christianitie where the weed and rust and canker of late inuented and obtruded nouelties haue ouergrowne