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A12211 A friendly advertisement to the pretended Catholickes of Ireland declaring, for their satisfaction; that both the Kings supremacie, and the faith whereof his Majestie is the defender, are consonant to the doctrine delivered in the holy Scriptures, and writings of the ancient fathers. And consequently, that the lawes and statutes enacted in that behalfe, are dutifully to be observed by all his Majesties subjects within that kingdome. By Christopher Sibthorp, Knight, one of his Maiesties iustices of his court of chiefe place in Ireland. In the end whereof, is added an epistle written to the author, by the Reverend Father in God, Iames Vssher Bishop of Meath: wherein it is further manifested, that the religion anciently professed in Ireland is, for substance, the same with that, which at this day is by publick authoritie established therein. Sibthorp, Christopher, Sir, d. 1632.; Ussher, James, 1581-1656. 1622 (1622) STC 22522; ESTC S102408 494,750 610

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wrought in anie sort by mans hand should be worshipped Adoratione latriae with that worship that is properlie belonging to God himselfe May not those men that be thus enamored with Images and that hold these opinions be therein supposed to be as senselesse as the verie Images themselves For what is this else but to worship stockes and stones and the worke of mens hands with divine honour And can there be a greater or a more grosse Idolatrie committed Yea S. Augustine noteth it as the heresie of the Carpocratians that they vvorshipped the Images of Iesus and of Paul Whereas some therefore say that the honor which is given to the signe or Image doth ever redound and is given to the Prototypon to that whose signe or Image it is and consequentlie that the honour given to the image of God and of Christ is honour done to God himselfe and to Christ himselfe this appeareth not to be true Yea even amongst men if the respect that is yeelded to the picture or Image of a friend or of anie great man shall be accepted as honour due to the man himselfe whose picture and Image it is intended to be it must be with these conditions viz. first that it be a right and true picture and image of the man for if it be nothing like him but more like some other man or some other creature hee hath no reason to take it for his picture or image much lesse to thinke himselfe thereby honored Secondlie it must have an allowance or at least no disallowance in respect of him to whose honour he intendeth to make it if he meane that the other shall accept and take it as an honour done unto him for if he to whose honor it is intended disallow it or signifie his minde that he will not have his picture drawne or his image made to be so honoured it can be no honour acceptable to him in that case but it will rather move offence and be ill taken if it be done How much more then will God be offended with these things For beside that no man can make a true and perfect picture or Image of him that is both God and Man God hath further directlie disallowed and forbidden these Images and all Images and Similitudes whatsoever to be vvorshipped In Gregories time Images were not allowed to be worshipped yea Pope Gregory himselfe well liked of Serenus Bishop of Massilia in this point viz. for that he forbad Images to be vvorshipped As for that second Councell of Nice therefore which was after Pope Gregories time gathered under Irene the Empresse inasmuch as it was assembled to overthrow the former godlie Councels of Constantinople and Ephesus which decreed against Images and the worshipping of them it ought to carrie no credite or esteeme and the rather because that second Councell of Nice was also afterward againe further condemned in the West by another Councell held at Frankford Which thing Carolus Magnus himselfe in his booke made against Images doth also testifie The same is likewise testified by sundrie other Authors Yea Epiphanius in his daies would not allow so much as an Image of Christ or of anie Saint to be at all in Churches for comming to a Church at Anablatha and there seeing in a Vaile an Image painted as it vvere of Christ or of some Saint he affirmed it to be contrary to the Authority of the Scriptures to have anie such Image in a Christian Church and therefore caused it to be taken down And the Councell of Eliberis also decreed the like against the having of Images in Churches How much more then would these men have condemned the Worship of the verie Images themselves 6 A sixt point of Idolatrie in the Popish Church is that they worship the Crosse also and pray unto it saying O Crux ave Spes unica hoc passionis tempore auge pijs iustitiam reisque dona veniam Hayle O Crosse our onely hope in this time of the passion Increase righ●eousnesse to the god●y and give pardon to the guilty Yea Thomas Aquinas their Angelical Doctor as they call him saith the Crosse is to be worshipped with latria and giveth two reasons of this Adoration saying thus Crux Christi in qua Christus crucifixus est tum propter repraesentationem tum propter Membrorum Christi contactum latria adoranda est The Crosse of Christ vvhereon Christ vvas crucified both because of the representation and also for that it touched the members of Christ is to be vvorshiped with latria that is with that vvorship that is proper and due unto God But be these reasons sufficient in this case The Gospel was so cleerely preached to the Galathians as if there had beene a lively Image of Christ crucified set before their eies was therefore the verie Ministerie or Preaching of the Gospel whereby Christ crucified was thus depainted out to be adored or worshipped with that worship that is due and proper to God The breaking of the Bread in the Sacrament of the Lords Supper doth represent unto us the breaking crucifying of Christ his Body upon the Crosse● and the pouring out of the wine in the same Sacrament representeth also the shedding or effusion of his Bloud upon the same Crosse for us shall therefore the breaking of the Bread or the pouring out of the vvine be adored and worshipped with that worship that is due unto God And yet is the Preaching and Ministerie of the Gospel as likewise the administration of the Sacraments of Gods owne institution but no institution commandement or warrant from him can be shewed for making a wooden Crosse or anie kind of Crosse to be a representatiō of Christ crucified And yet if such an institution could be shewed for the Crosse it followeth not that therfore it is to be worshipped with that worship that is proper and due unto God no more then VVater in Baptisme or Bread and VVine in the other Sacrament of the Lords Supper are so to be worshipt although they be Gods institutions or no more then the Brazen Serpent which was also Gods institution in times past amongst the Iewes was therefore so to be worshipped What Is the vvooden Crosse or anie Crosse whatsoever become a God that it should thus be worshipped As for the other reason if because the Crosse touched Christ it be therefore to be worshipped why should not also the Nailes and the Crowne of Thornes and the Speare or Lance wherewith he was pierced be likewise so adored or worshipped or why should not Iudas Iscariot who likewise touched Christ betraying him with a Kisse and those wicked Iewes that apprehended and tooke him and that Woman also that vvashed Christs feet with her teares and wiped them with the haires of her head yea and the Pinnacle of the Temple whereon Christ was set and all those manie places of ground whereon Christ stood and all those sundrie persons which he touched and which
of Gods owne voyce and commandement from heaven enioyning them thereunto as is before declared Neither would they have departed or gone out from them that is from the Papists but that they namely the Papists had first departed and gone from the soundnesse truth and sinceritie of the most ancient primitive and Apostolike Churches Well therefore doth one use this similitude that as when a faire poole of water becommeth in time corrupted weedes doe grow mudde increaseth and Frogs be ingendred in it the owner thereof cutteth a channel and leaving the corruption drawes the water to another place and so useth it without danger and the Frogs remaining can take no iust exception for this departure and separation of the water from them nor can claime the water to be theirs so neither can the Papacie accuse us for our departure or going out of their defiled and deformed Church sith God the Lord and owner of his Church would have us so to doe and so long as we left nothing behinde us but the mudde frogges and weedes and that which was the cleere and pure water before their comming we still possesse hold and retaine You now see then I hope where our Church was in all times and ages even during all the time of the raigne of the Papacie and untill wee made an actuall separation from it And much more I trust you perceive it since our separation For the Protestants reformed Churches have ever sithence that time been verie visible and still be thanks be to God verie splendent even to the eyes of the most malignant world 2 If anie doe further aske as they are sometime wont to doe what is become of our forefathers and ancestors that lived and died in the time of Poperie As wee doe and must leave them unto God whose secret counsels and judgements it is not fit for us to search into or to determin of yet this we say That we hope well and make no doubt of the salvation of manie of them First because for a long time there were in the Papacie both true Christians and false Christians right worshippers of God and false worshippers intermingled together namely untill that time aforesaid of an actuall separation yea the holy Scriptures and Sacraments the publique Ensignes of Gods Church were there though much corrupted abused Which Ensignes being displayed in the Popish Church nothing but Christianitie there pretended though indeede there was also direct Antichristianisme intermingled it was an easie matter for manie simple soules that were not able to iudge and discerne of these things thereby to be deceived For as Chrysostome or whosoever was the Author of the imperfect worke saith Antichrist sitting in the holy places of the Church and possessing the Churches vvas to have all that in shew vvhich the Church of Christ hath in Truth viz. Churches Scriptures Bishops Clerkes Baptisme Eucharist c. So that manie no doubt in those dayes under colour of those Ensignes and shewes were as they be also at this day deceived and thinking all to be well followed the Pope and Papacie like those two hundreth who in simplicitie of heart followed Absolon from Hierusalem knowing nothing of his treason and rebellion intended Or like as if a close and hidden Traytor being once and of a long time formerly in good grace and esteeme with his King should under colour and pretence of the King his Maisters service summon all his true subiects to follow him pretending a Commission from him for that purpose which neverthelesse included no such matter in it as he pretended In this case even some good subiects not knowing of his treason and beleeving his Commission to be true and to import as much as he divulged it for and the pretender of it to be a right honest and loyall man and to be still in good grace esteeme with his King receiving no advertisement to the contrarie might possibly so farre be deceived as to follow him for a while untill the Treason were discovered and therein might so farre forth in some sort be held pardonable So concerning such as in those times followed the Bishop of Rome who was once a good Bishop pretending himselfe to be made Head Ruler and Monarch of the whole and universall Church upon earth and that by warrant and Commission from Christ when indeed whatsoever hee pretended hee had no such Commission from him In this case so long as they followed him but in ignorance and simplicitie thinking all things to be right and well and as they ought to be and receiving no advertisement to the contrarie God might and we hope he did receive manie of those to mercie But such as knew the Pope to be an usurper and a traytor to Christ the onely and true King and Head of the universall Church or being advertised thereof would neverthelesse make no regard of anie such advertisement or admonitions but would maugre all admonitions wilfully persist and adhere unto him and to his false and Antichristian doctrine and designes be not so excusable And this kind of difference S. Cyprian maketh when he saith thus If any of our predecessors or Ancestors either of ignorance or of a simplicity have not held and kept that which our Lord taught them by his authoritie and example him the mercy of our Lord might have pardoned and forgiven But vve saith hee for our parts may not hope for the like favour because vvee are now admonished and instructed by him But secondly wee answer That though this mysterie of Iniquity did cast into the doctrine and Religion of Christ a great deale of Poyson so that it hath infected with his venome the most daintie meates that God hath given for the spirituall nourishment of his people yet did God give grace to some to abstaine from it to some others to cast it up againe to others to dissever it from the sound meate to others to overcome it 〈◊〉 that manie escaped the danger of it For example how manie of the common people were in those times never acquainted with those pestiferous distinctions of Merits de Congruo and de Condigno or with that distinction of Doulia and latria and huper doulia c or understood them not or else beleeved them not For even at this day they understand not these distinctions Yea manie of the common people will at this day say that they serve God onely and not Images in anie sort howsoever their great Rabbies and Maisters in these distinctions doe otherwise teach As likewise manie of them at this day will say that they doe not beleeve to be saved by anie merits of their owne but by Gods mercie onely whatsoever Friers Monkes Priests or Iesuites teach or write to the contrarie Yea even amongst the learned themselves also as well as amongst the vulgar and common people there were some that held that fundamentall point of their salvation to be onely of Gods meere mercie and through faith
Paschall the second would have warre made upon the Emperor promising to give remission of sinnes and assurance of everlasting life to all that would doe it and on the other side to excommunicate all those that would shew obedience to him They say thus Because VVee keepe the Law of God they obiect against us that vvee transgresse their new Traditions But God saith unto them vvhy do you transgresse the commandements of God by your Traditions God commandeth to give unto Cesar the things vvhich are Cesars and to God that which is Gods which S. Peter and S. Paul doe l●kewise teach honour the King let every soule be subiect to the h●gher powers Hee that commands every soule to doe this whom doth hee exempt from this earthly power Because therefore wee honour the King and serve our Lords and Maisters in the simplicitie of our hearts are wee therefore excommunicated c vvho can reprehend a Bishop for keeping his faith and loyaltie to his Prince and yet they that teare in sunder the kingdome and Priesthood with new Schismes and new Traditions promise to absolve them from the sinne of periurie that breake their faith to their king Suppose say they our Emperor vvere an hereticke yet is he not to be repelled as such a one by us by taking armes against him yea they alledge that the Prophet Ieremy praied for Nebuchadnezzar and S. Paul for Nero and adde further VVhich of the Popes of Rome hath by his Decrees given authoritie that a Bishop should use the sword of vvarre against any offendors All from Gregory the first used the spirituall sword alone unto the last Gregory vvho was the first that armed himselfe and by his example others vvith the sword of warre against the Emperor c You say that if a man be excommunicate for vvhat cause soever if he dye in that estaete hee is damned But the Authoritie of the Church of Rome say they helpeth us in this point vvho teach that the Bishop of Rome hath power to absolve any that is uniustly excommunicated by others If then the Bishop of Rome may doe this vvho will say that God cannot absolve whomsoever the Pope hath uniustly excommunicated yea the Popes curse of Excommunication they make no reckoning of but contemne and despise it but above all say they vvee feare that which the spirit of God by the mouth of the Psalmist hath said viz. Cursed are all they that decline from his commandements That Curse of excommunication vvhich Pope Hildebrand Odoardus and this Third have by a new Tradition indiscreetely brought in vvee vvholly reiect and vvee hold and reverence those first holy Fathers unto this day vvho by the motion of Gods spirit not carried vvith their owne affections have otherwise ordeyned c. forasmuch therefore as vvee sticke to the Ancient rule and are not carried away vvith every winde of Doctrine we are called Excommunicates false Clerkes c. Howbeit let Pope Paschall lay aside his spirit of presumption and let him advisedly consider vvith his Counsaylors how from Silvester to Hildebrand the Popes have obtayned the chaire at Rome vvhat and how manie outrages have beene committed by the Ambition of that Sea c. As for those Legats à latere vvho run through the world to fill their purses vve say they wholly reiect them according to those Councels of Affricke held in the times of Zozimus Caelestinus and Boniface for that vve may know theraby their fruits there proceeeds from their legations no correction of manners or amendment of life but the slaughters of men and the spoyle of Gods Church c. That there should be such desolation of the Church such oppression of the poore and vvidowes such crueltie such rapine and vvhich is worse such effusion of bloud without respect of good and evill and all this and worse then all this Done by the Commandement of the Pope vvho would beleeve it if his owne mouth had not spoken it VVee remayne astonished at the novelty of these things and vvee enquire from vvhence this new Example should come That the Preacher of peace with his owne mouth and the hand of another man should make vvarre against the Church of God c. Where further they directly affirme Rome to be Babylon and say that the Apostle so calleth it as foreseeing by a Propheticall spirit The confusion of that dissention vvherewith the Church at this day is torne in pieces c. And a great deale more is spoken in that Epistle of theirs which though it be long and large is worthie the reading over And this no doubt moved the Bishop of Florence also in the yeare 1106 publiquely to preach that Antichrist was borne and then in Esse which Pope Paschall understanding of and being much grieved therewith tooke the paines to goe himselfe in person to Florence to stop the mouth of this Bishop And fearing as it seemes to stirre in the matter too much contented himselfe onely to admonish him to desist from this bold enterprise lest otherwise indeed the truth of that matter should more strongly breake out But yet further about the yeare 1150. The letters of the Emperor Fredericke Barbarossa to the Princes of Germany be sufficiently knowne wherein he sheweth unto them that the Pope had no other drift but to set his foot upon the Emperors head that so hee might the more easily overcome the members And upon this it was saith Radevicus That the Pope vvas not ashamed to maintaine that the Emperor vvas his man and held the Empire of him Yea the Popes are gone so farre saith Aventinus that they affect both domination and deitie so that they vvill be feared of all as God yea more then God pretending that they are not bound to give account of their Actions to any That amongst them be many Antichrists and that indeede there be none more pernicious to the Christian Religion then the Popes The same Emperor in his letters to King VVencislaus saith that the high Bishops of Babylon that is of Rome doe sit long over the Temple of God and seise upon the divinity that to please the desire of these false Christs th● Princes doe ruinate one another and all states be in a combustion That they be blinde vvhich see not that they be cruel vvolves which under sheepes cloathing spoyle the flocke of Christ. And that this was the Iudgement also even of sundry of the Germane Church as wel as of the Emperor appeareth by the oration of an Archbishop to the States of the Empire for saith he He that is the servant of servants as if he vvere God coveteth to be the Lord of Lords hee disclaymeth the counsell of his brethren or rather of his Lords He feareth lest hee should be forced to give account of that vvhich he doth and usurpeth every day over the lawes Hee uttereth great things as if he vvere God Hee coyneth new devises in his minde to appropriate the Empire to himselfe
signes or vvonders wee say that those which were done by Christ and his Apostles and in those ancient and primitive Churches be sufficient for the confirmation of that most ancient primitive Christian and Apostolicke faith and religion conteined in the booke of God which wee professe Yea now in these daies saith S. Chrysostome the vvorking of miracles is ceased and they be rather counterfeit miracles saith he vvhich be found amongst them that be false Christians Againe he saith There be some that aske vvhy men vvorke not miracles novv in these dayes If thou bee beleeving saith he as thou oughtest to be and if thou lovest Christ as he should be loved thou needest no miracles for signes be given to unbeleevers and not to beleevers Againe S. Cyrill saith that to vvorke miracles maketh not a man one iot the more holy seing it is common to evill men and to such as he obiects or reprobates For so the Lord himselfe witnesseth saying Manie shall say unto mee in that day Lord Lord have not vvee prophesied in thy name and in thy name cast out divels in thy name done manie great vvorks And yet will he neverthelesse professe unto them I never knevv you depart from me ye vvorkers of iniquitie And on the other side working of no miracles hindereth not a mans holinesse for Iohn wrought neither signe nor miracle and yet was this no derogation to his holinesse for amongst them that are borne of vvomen arose there not a greater then hee as Christ himselfe testifieth Yea that miracles signes or wonders may be done by false Prophets and false teachers is further manifest for even Christ himselfe saith that There shall arise false Christs and false Prophets and they shall shevv great signes and vvonders so that if is vvere possible they should deceive the very Elect. S. Paul also directlie testifieth that in the Antichristian Church there shall be the vvorking of Sathan vvith all power and signes and lying VVonders Which saith S. Augustine be called lying signes and VVonders for this cause that either mens senses be deceived thinking that to be done which revera is not done or else because if they be done in deed they draw men to beleeve that they could not be done but by the power of God whereas they know not the power of the Divell For S. Iohn in the Revelation mentioneth spirits of Divels vvorking Miracles to deceive those that be of the Antichristian Church By all this then you see that the Miracles wrought in Poperie be no argument or proofe that therfore it is the right or true Church or that the Teachers therein be the right and true Teachers for they may be false Prophets and false Teachers and the Popish Church may be as indeed it is the false and Antichristian Church all these their Miracles notwithstanding But hereof I shall have occasion to speake more fullie afterward when I come to speake of Antichrist and his Miracles In the meane time concerning this point thus much may suffice CAP. III. Of Iustification by Faith onely The right sense and meaning of that position and of the truth of it And that being rightly understood it excludeth not good workes nor importeth anie licentiousnesse at all in it but the cleane contrarie IT is a thing well knowne how busie and earnest Popish Teachers be not only by word of mouth but by their books writings also to perswade you all that ever they can against ours the most ancient most pure and only right Religion and amongst other their bad devises which they plot contrive for their owne advantage and behoofe this is not the least that they accuse our Religion to be a doctrine and religion of much licentiousnesse and that in sundrie points which therefore must be answered And manie there be also that be too hastie and over credulous to beleeve them as if all that they speake and write were to be held for undoubted truth and oracles without further enquirie or examination But howsoever they thus boldly presume they for all that be not able to take anie iust exception against our Religion or to shew or prove it in anie point whatsoever to be an allower of anie the least impietie or licentiousnesse if it be rightly understood It is true that sundrie that professe Protestancie live licentiously and wickedly and so doe manie also that professe Poperie likewise live wickedly licentiously If therefore they allow not this for an argument sufficient to convince their religion of wickednesse licentiousnesse which is taken from the wicked lives manners and conversations of men Why will they be so unequall as to make it of anie force against our religion Wise men can easily distinguish inter vitium rei personae betweene that which is the fault of the thing and the fault of mens persons For the religion may be good though some persons that professe it live not answerably thereunto yea the Protestant that is the Christian Religion which we professe is so good godly divine holy and pure as that it neither alloweth nor tolerateth the filthie Stewes nor anie other impuritie nor anie treasons or rebellions nor perjuries nor lying or deceitfull equivocations nor anie other wickednesse or impietie whatsoever but utterly condemneth them all So that for true pietie puritie integritie and all manner of good life and godly conversation the religion of Poperie commeth farre short of it and is in no sort to be compared with it If then anie professing our religion live wickedly or licentiously as too manie do it is the fault of the men that live so dissolutely and not of the religion which requireth and commandeth the cleane contrarie at their hands But for all that they persist and say that even the Protestants religion it selfe is licentious because it teacheth and holdeth that men are justified in Gods sight and before his Tribunall onely by faith in Iesus Christ which doctrine say they maketh men licentious and carelesse of doing good workes Howbeit both they and you must understand that when the Protestants doe say or have said at anie time that Faith onely iustifieth in Gods sight it is and ever was meant and intended howsoever some seeme purposely to mistake it not of anie dead faith which hath no life in it to bring forth anie good workes but of a true and lively faith which is accompanied with good works and is fruitfull and working by love as S. Paul and S. Iames and S. Peter and the rest of the holy Scriptures cleerly declare Whilst therefore they teach both in their Sermons writings with S. Iames and the rest of the Scriptures That the faith that is vvithout vvorks is dead and that such a faith cannot save or iustifie a man but that it must be a true and lively faith that is such a faith as produceth bringeth forth good workes I hope you sufficiently perceive that the doctrine of
aside The vvages of sinne saith S. Paul is death But the gift of God is eternall life through Iesus Christ our Lord. Note that hee calleth Eternall l●fe not the wages or merit of Men but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is The free gift of God bestowed gratis without anie purchase merit or desert of ours albeit Iesus Christ our Lord purchased it for us and paid a great price for it in our behalfe through vvhom and whose merits it is that we obtaine it Hearing saith S. Augustine that death is the vvages of sin vvhy goest thou about O Thou not Iustice of man but plaine pride under the name of Iustice vvhy goest thou about to lift up thy selfe and to demand Eternall life vvhich is contrarie to death as a vvages due Chrysostome also upon this place speaketh thus Hee saith not eternall life is the revvard of your good vvorkes but eternall life is the gift of God That he might shevv that they are delivered not by ●heir ovvne strength or vertues and that it is not a debt or vvages or a retribution of labours but that they have received all those things freely of the gift of God Theodoret likewise upon this place observeth that the Apostle saith not here revvard but gift or grace for eternall life is the gift of God for although a man could performe the highest and absolute Iustice yet eternall ioyes being vveighed vvith temporall labours there is no proportion And so saith S. Paul himselfe that The afflictions of this life non sunt Condignae are not vvorthy the glorie that shall be shevved unto us It is true that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 merces a revvard is promised to those that doe good workes but it is as before is shewed merces ex gratià non ex debito a revvard of grace or favour and not of debt or desert as even S. Paul himselfe distinguisheth So that God giveth the Crowne of righteousnesse not to the merit or worthines of our workes but to the Merit or Worthines of Christ and as due to us by his promise onely freely made unto us in Christ. The Crowne therefore of eternall life is of mercie and favour in respect of us but of Iustice and desert in respect of Christ who hath purchased it for us by his merits and worthines Wherefore S. Augustine saith well that fidelis dominus qui se nobis debitorem fecit non aliquid a nobis accipiendo sed omnia nobis promittendo The Lord is faithfull who hath made himselfe a debtor unto us not by receiving anie thing of us but by promising all things unto us Againe he saith Non dicimus Deo Domine redde quod accepisti sed redde quod promisisti VVee say not to God Render that O Lord vvhich thou hast received of us but render or give that vvhich thou hast promised Againe he saith That God crovvneth his ovvne gifts not our merits vvhen he crovvneth us What vvorthinesse soever then is in us it is by Gods acceptation and his accounting of us to bee such in through Christ not by reason or in respect of any of our owne personall merits or worthinesse For vvhat hast thou saith S. Paul that thou hast not received and if thou hast received it vvhy dost thou glorie as though thou hadst not received it The gifts and graces of God in a man should make him humble and thankefull and not make him proud as though he deserved them and a great deale more by reason of them If a man give another 100. l. which hee useth well doth hee thereby deserve or can hee therefore claime as of merit or dutie to have at that mans hand 100000. l. Men for good works and benefits done may deserve praise and thankes amongst men but what man by doing of his dutie deserveth praise or thankes at Gods hand or What Servant for doing his Masters service and commandement can thereupon claime to be his Masters heire VVhosoever glorieth should glorie in the Lord as S. Paul teacheth But if men doe merit then have they somewhat of their owne wherein to glorie But God alloweth no matter of glorie in men with him or in his sight neither have they indeed anie matter of glory in them because whatsoever graces or goodnes men have they have received it of God to whom they ought to bee thankefull and for which they stand bound to performe all manner of dutie unto him So that how much merit men take to themselves so much doe they detract from the merits of Christ and so much praise glorie and thankes doe they pull from God to whom all praise glorie honour and thankes rightly and properly belong and are to be rendred Yea the Kingdome of heaven is a reward infinitely above the value of all mens workes and therefore must needes bee given of grace and cannot be merited by men But against mens merits and their workes of satisfaction whereby they intend to satisfie Gods wrath and Iustice for sinnes which is onely satisfiable by the death and sufferings of that Immaculate Lambe Christ Iesus enough hath beene before spoken and therefore I here forbeare to speake anie further of them 4 But in this matter of vvorkes this is not to be passed over or omitted that they also hold workes of Supererogation as they call them whereby they say Men doe more then they are bound unto by Gods Commandements and so doe merit not onely their owne salvation but the salvation also of others or something toward it Can these be accounted good vvorkes or that be held for a good and right religion wherin such monstrous things be taught and maintained It is more then anie meere man is able to doe perfectly and exactly to keepe and performe the vvhole lavv and Commaundements of God for so S. Paul himselfe expreslie affirmeth it to be a thing impossible because of the vveakenesse that is in all sinnefull flesh and so have the ancient Fathers likewise before testified and taught Why then doe these men talke of doing all and more then all the Commaundements of God Indeed if anie thinke to come to heaven by Doeing as he in the Gospell did the Ansvvere which Christ gave in that case is right and fit for him that Hee must keepe the Commandements for Moses describing the righteousnesse vvhich is of the Lavv saith That the man vvhich Doth those things shall live by them But the righteousnesse vvhich is of faith speaketh as S. Paul sheweth on another fashion and consisteth in a firme beleeving in Christ For Christ who performed the law for us it being a thing impossible for us to doe is the End or accomplishment of the Lavv for righteousnesse to everie one that beleeveth as hee there againe affirmeth And yet must none therefore hereupon conclude God to bee Cruell Tyrannicall or uniust in giveing such a Law as is impossible for men to keepe for at the first
your selfe neither eate nor drinke Bee not such grosse impieties and palpable absurdities iustlie worthie for ever to be abhorred and detested FINIS SECVNDAE PARTIS THE THIRD PART of the BOOKE CHAP. I. That the Authoritie of the Church is not above the Authoritie of the Scriptures That Popish Rome is the Whore of Babylon and therein of some special spiritual Whoredomes or Idolatries of the Romish Church BVt yet when they further say that the Authoritie of the Church is above the authoritie of the holy Scriptures what is this but to exalt men their authoritie above the authoritie of God himselfe and to magnifie the creature above the creator and to advance the wife in authoritie above her husband and his will and commandement The Church is the spouse of Christ and therefore is to be in subiection to him as to her head and husband as the wife is to be in subiection to her head and husband for so S. Paul declareth If then the Church be as is evident in subiection to Christ it is cleere shee can claime no superioritie or authoritie over him or his will or word in the Scriptures conteined yea it is the note and marke of an harlot and dishonest woman to challenge and usurpe authoritie over her husband And therefore what doth this position else prove but that the Romish Church is and must needs be the proud insolent false and dishonest Church even the vvhore of Babylon as shee is called in the Revelation of S. Iohn For what may not that Church doe or dare to doe be it never so wicked or ungodly which holdeth her authoritie to be above the authoritie of the Scriptures Is not this a dore that openeth a way to all licentiousnesse and wickednesse and to devise decree and doe in matters concerning Religion whatsoever pleaseth her selfe The right and true Church is of another and a better disposition and is ever content and desirous to live in subiection and in obedience to Christ and to his word will and pleasure and accounteth that as indeed it is her greatest honour And so also Christ Iesus himselfe sheweth that this is her chaste and godly disposition for thus he saith My sheepe heare my voyce and I know them and they follow mee and I give unto them eternal life and they shall never perish neither shall any plucke them out of my hands Marke that hee saith that his sheepe heare His voyce and follow Him and therefore they follow not others nor their owne unbridled humors lusts or pleasures but desire and endevour evermore to obey him and to doe as he hath willed and commanded them Againe the Church of Christ is expressely charged to observe all those things which Christ Iesus her Lord head and husband h●th commanded and therefore is to keepe her selfe within those her limits and bounds and not licentiously to wander or to goe beyond them Wherefore S. Paul also saith thus that the Lord Iesus shall shew hims●lfe from heaven vvith his mightie Angels in flaming fire rendring vengeance unto them that know not God and vvhich obey not the Gospel of our Lord Iesus Christ vvhich shall be punished with everlasting perdition from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power vvhen hee shall come to be glorified in his Saints and to be made marvailous in all them that beleeve Doe you not here likewise see how great subiection and obedience unto the Gospel of Iesus Christ and to his word and will is required of all men Yea what great peril and punishment they are to undergoe which will not subiect themselves unto it namely that such shall be punished with everlasting perdition Take heed therefore and with as much good hast as ye can declare your subiection and obedience to the Gospel and word of God in the sacred Scriptures conteyned without anie further neglect of it or opposition to it As for the reason that some make that because the Church telleth us that This is the Scripture therefore the Authoritie of the Church is above the Scripture it is but a verie weake and an idle reason and no better then if it should be said that you had not knowne that this were the King but that such a man told you and shewed him to you Ergo this man is above the King Were not this a verie ridiculous and a most absurd inference The Church is by her Ministerie bound and according to her duetie ought to tell testifie and declare the word of God and what Scriptures be canonical and what not to teach the truth in those Scriptures conteyned but this office sheweth rather service and subiection in the Church then anie Soveraigntie or Superioritie in her above the Scriptures Schollers in a Schoole can tell a stranger who is the Master of the Schoole yet is not their authoritie therefore above the authoritie of their Maister Whilest then the Popish Church holdeth that her authoritie is above the authoritie of the Scriptures it is manifest she is not guided as shee vanteth by the holy Ghost but contrariwise with a spirit of pride and licentiousnesse and of opposition against God and his authoritie word and will in those his Scriptures declared And what then can such a spirit be but the spirit in verie deed of Antichrist and consequently what can such a Church be but the erring and Antichristian Church 2 For further proofe whereof give mee leave now to shew unto you that The Popish Citie of Rome from whence as from their mother Church all Papists receive their bane is that very vvoman even that VVhore of Babylon as I said before which is mentioned in the Revelation of S. Iohn with vvhom the Kings of the earth have committed fornication and vvith the wine of vvhose fornication the Inhabitants of the earth have beene made drunken Which Woman is there further said to be arayed in purple and scarlet and gilded vvith gold and pretious stones and to have also outwardly a Cup of gold in her hand full neverthelesse within of abominations and filthinesse of her fornications and all this to entise and allure Lovers and friends unto her Now if wee would know certainely and assuredly who this woman was which S. Iohn thus saw in vision the Angel telleth us precisely saying The vvoman vvhich thou sawest is the great Citie that raigneth over the Kings of the earth But the great Citie that then raigned over the Kings of the earth in the daies of S. Iohn and had the Empire was not Constantinople nor anie other citie but only the citie of Rome as all men know and therefore only the citie of Rome and not anie other citie is and must needs be there meant under the name of the woman there otherwise called the VVhore of Babylon But for more explication who this woman was it is there further said that there were seven hills or Mountaines vvhereon the vvoman sate Now it is
and yet having his sinnes forgiven him and therefore being bound to love Christ more then the rest because more was forgiven him Christ thrice requireth of him to manifest and declare that his greater love by so much the more diligenter feeding of his Sheeepe for this is the verie drift true scope and meaning of Christ in that place As S. Cyrill doth also declare in these wordes Because Peter saith he being enobled from Christ himselfe with the name of the Apostleship with others did thrice deny Christ in the time of his passion now by right is required of him three confessions of his love that three denials might be countervayled and recompensed vvith an equal number of confessings c. Christ asked of him vvhether he loved him more then the rest did for he that had experience of the greater clemency of the Lord towards him ought of right to be affected with greater love for although generally all the Disciples were stricken vvith great feare vvhen the Lord vvas betrayed yet the fault of Peter vvas greater then of the rest vvho so denyed Christ in so short a time Because therefore hee obteyned remission of sinnes by greater clemency of the Saviour greater love of right is required of him for he to vvhom more is forgiven ought more to love S. Augustine also upon this Text likewise inferreth saying Let the duty of love be to feed the Lords flocke And Chrysostome likewise saith Ter interrogat c. Christ asketh thrice and he alwayes commandeth the same thing that hee might shew how great care he hath of his sheepe and that the feeding of them is the greatest argument of love To the like effect speake other also of the ancient Fathers declaring that the speech of Christ to Peter touching the feeding of his sheepe belongeth not onely to Peter but to all Bishops Pastors and Ministers of the word also Wherefore S. Basil saith thus Christ said unto Peter Lovest thou mee Feede my sheepe And in like sort unto all Pastors and Doctors hee gave the same power a Token vvhereof is this that they doe All equally binde and loose aswell as Peter In like sort speaketh againe S. Augustine saying The vvords of Christ Lovest thou mee and Feed my sheepe vvhen they are spoken unto Peter they are spoken unto all And so witnesseth S. Ambrose also saying Our Lord said unto Peter Feede my sheepe vvhich sheepe and flocke not only Peter then received but he receiveth the same together vvith us and all vvee have received the same together with him So that Peter neither in respect of feeding the flocke of Christ nor in anie other respect can be shewed to have or to have exercised anie imperious or Princely primacie or Monarchical superioritie over the rest of the Apostles but was in respect of rule power and authoritie equal with the rest the rest with him And this also further appeareth by the verie Commission it selfe if you look upon it which was given to them when they were sent out into all the world for therein is no more principalitie power or authority given or appointed to the one then to the other But now here lastly observe withall that they be the Keyes of the Kingdome of heaven and not of Earthly kingdomes which Christ hath committed to his Ministers So that neither Excommunication nor anie other power of the Keyes be it never so lawfully or iustly administred or executed is of force to depose anie man from an earthly kingdome though it be of force being rightly used to seclude a man from the kingdom of God if he repent not And therfore here I must crave leave to tell you that most wickedly intolerably hath the Pope of Rome abused excommunication and the power of the Keyes whilst he hath used them for the pulling down of Kings and Princes from their Thrones and thereupon hath moved subiects to revolt from their Soveraignes to rebell against them Is not this sweet doctrine and an holy religion that upon no warrant at all yea contrarie to the rule commandement of God shall presume to perswade subiects to rebell against their lawfull Soveraignes because forsooth the Pope hath excommunicated them For consider well the matter First it appeareth that the Pope is no Minister at all of Christ but the verie Grand Antichrist as this Booke cleerely manifesteth and hath therefore no authoritie from Christ to excommunicate anie Christians at all much lesse to excommunicate Christian Kings and Princes But secondly if he had that authority that Princes were excommunicated by him yet is excommunication of no force be it never so rightly done or used to dissolve the duetie and allegeance of anie subiects or to depose from earthly kingdomes inasmuch as excommunication and the whole power of the Keyes as is here apparant stretcheth onlie to the Kingdome of Heaven and not to earthly Kingdomes I know they alledge that we are to account an excommunicate person as a Publican or Heathen What of this Admit if you will that hee were thereby become actually and in all respects a very Heathen yet I pray tell mee be not Heathen Kings Kings aswell as those that be Christian Yea were they not manifestly Heathen Kings and Princes whom neverthelesse S. Paul and S. Peter also commanded obedience and subiection to be yeelded unto Were not all those Heathen Emperors likewise to whom the first Christians that lived under their persecutions were neverthelesse obedient You see then that if it were so that excommunication did as it doth not make a christian King to become a verie heathen King in all points and respects yet still neverthelesse hee remaineth a King and consequently is still to be honoured and obeyed as a King of all his subiects They alledge secondly that the familiars and wonted companions of a man excommunicated are to withdraw their companie from him to the end hee may be ashamed of his sinne and so be brought to repentance but doth this inferre that therefore subiects may or ought to withdraw their obedience and allegeance from their King No such matter For subiects cannot be termed or held for familiars or companions to those Kings and Princes under whom they be but the Kings and Princes of other Nations and such as be forreiners if anie If the Father be excommunicated though others withdraw their companie from him to the end hee may be ashamed of his sinne committed yet may not his sonne that oweth special dutie to him as to his father therefore withdraw his duetie and obedience For though excommunication make him as an Heathen and a Publican yet it maketh him not no father but hee still remaineth a father as he was before and therefore of all his children is to be reverenced honoured and obeyed as a father So likewise if the Husband be excommunicate and that others therefore are to withdraw themselves from him yet neverthelesse hee still
and consequently this Apostacie and prohibition of Meates and Marriage in hycrisie that is under colour and pretence of sanctitie pietie and religion when revera there appeareth to be no sanctitie pietie or good religion in them being to fall out and to be accomplished neither in the primitive first or elder times nor yet in the last times but in the latter times as it were betweene them both doth for that reason also more aptly and fitly agree to these latter Hereticks the Papists then to those old and ancient Heretickes before mentioned And therefore it still appeareth by this Text and Prophecie of S. Paul to Timothy that the Church of Rome is the undoubtedly Apostaticall and Antichristian Church and consequently that the Pope the head thereof is the undoubted grand Antichrist CHAP. V. Answering certaine Objections of the Adversaries concerning Antichrist OBIECTION I. THE Bodies of the two witnesses that were slaine did lie in the streets of the great Citie which spiritually is called Sodome and Egypt where also our Lord was crucified Rev. 11.8 Ansvver By the great Citie there is meant not Hierusalem as you suppose but Rome otherwise called Babylon which throughout the whole Booke of the Revelation is called the great Citie as namely Rev. 14.8 Rev. 16.19 Rev. 18.10.16.18 19.21 and Rev. 17.18 c. except onely once that this Title is given to Hierusalem but then also not to the earthly but to the new and heavenly Ierusalem which will advantage your cause nothing at all Rev. 21.10 Neither indeed was our Lord crucified within the Citie of Hierusalem but without Heb. 13.12 Now Rome is said to bee the City where our Lord was crucified both because by Authoritie of that City it was that Christ himselfe was put to death for hee suffered under Pontius Pilate the Romane Emperors Deputie and also because there and from thence it is that hee still suffereth and is persecuted in his Members For the persecution done to anie of his members is by him accounted as done to himselfe Act. 9.4 And therfore also be those two Martyres or witnesses of Christs Truth said to be slaine and to have their bodies lye in the streets of the great City that is within the compasse and precincts of Romes authoritie and dominion Againe that great Citie Rome is there called Sodome for her pride and monstrous vncleannes and Egypt for her Idolatrie and crueltie towards Gods people and Babylon for her so long and miserable deteyning them in spiritual captivitie S. Hierome also herein is directly against you who Ep. 17. ad Marcellam earnestly contradicteth your opinion contending and maintaining that it cannot bee meant of Hierusalem in Iewry It therefore still remaineth firme that not Hierusalem but Rome is the Seat of Antichrist Obiect 2. I am come saith Christ to the Iewes in my fathers nume and yee receive mee not If an other come in his ovvne name him yee vvill receive Ioh. 5.43 Ans. This Text also maketh nothing for you For you expound it as if Christ had spoken definitely of one singular man to bee Antichrist whom the Iewes should receive whereas Christ speaketh indefinitely of any False-teacher whosoever that should come in his owne name that is not sent of God And sure it is that the Iewes have received more then one of such as have come in their owne name as namely Theudas Iudas Galilaeus Barcocabas c. In the text it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 indefinitely and not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 definitely as it is used in Ioh. 18.16 and Ioh. 20.2 3 4 And therfore also doth Nonnus in his paraphrase upon this place expound those words thus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 But if anie other come whosoever hee bee c. Yea the very words of Christ bee directly Hypothetical or conditional If another come and not Categorical or affirmative of Antichrist or of anie other in particular as ye conceive and mistake And further whereas Christ speaketh of those Iewes that were then and there present to heare those his words you understand him to speake of such Iewes as should bee by your opinion a little before the end of the world at which time it is and not before that you suppose Antichrist shall come Howbeit the purpose of Christ in that place is not to foretell what manner of people the Iewes should bee so long after namely toward the end of the world but how in respect of their present disposition they were then at that time affected namely that him that came in his fathers name that is that was sent from God they refused and yet if anie should come in his owne name that is not sent of God him they were readie to receive But lastly why should you thinke that the Iewes before the end of the world shall receive Antichrist for their Messias when as S. Paul contrariwise hath foretold and assured us that the Iewes before the end of the world shall bee converted to Christ and his religion Yea it is before verie evident that Antichrist shall not bee a Iewe nor an observer of the Iewish religion but a pretended Christian and such a one as shall sit in the Temple of God and bee the head of the Apostacie apostated and revolted Christians of which sort and number the Infidels and unbeleeving Iewes cannot be For how can they bee said to bee Apostataes or to make anie apostacy or departure from Christ who never formerly embraced him nor received the profession of him Obiect 3 Christ is one certaine and singular man therefore Antichrist must bee so also Ans. It followeth not yea howsoever there is but one true Christ yet are there many Antichrists as S. Iohn expreslie affirmeth 1. Iob. 2.18 and many false Christs and false Prophets as Christ himselfe declareth which shal Shew great signes and wonders insomuch that if it were possible they should deceive the very elect Mat. 24.24 And yet also since the time that the Pope got the headship and Soveraignetie of Rome is Antichrist one as the Pope of Rome is one that is not in number and nature as one certaine and singular man but one at once by law and institution though successively so manie as since that time have enioyed the same Popedome Obiect 4. Hee is Antichrist which denieth the Father and the Sonne 1. Ioh. 2.22 Ans. The Pope and Popish Church also denie the Father and the Sonne in such sort as belongeth to Antichrist and Antichristian people to doe that is to say not openlie and professedly but in a covert and disguised manner For VVhosoever denyeth the Sonne the same hath not the Father saith the same S. Iohn 1. Io● 2.23 The like testifieth Christ Iesus himselfe in Iob. 5.23 So that to denie the Sonne is to denie the Father also inasmuch as the one cannot be denied without denial of the other And that the Pope and Papacie do denie the Sonne namely Christ Iesus viz. in respect of his Person and in
letters doe testifie unto this day For all Ilands of ancient right are said to belong to the Church of Rom● by the donation of Constantine who founded and endowed the same But will you see what a goodly title here is in the meane time First the Donation of Constantine hath beene long since discovered to be a notorious forgerie and is rejected by all men of judgement as a senselesse fiction Secondly in the whole context of this forged Donation I finde mention made of Ilands in one place onely where no more power is given to the Church of Rome over them then in generall over the whole Continent by East and by West by North and by South and in particular over Iudaea Graecia Asia Thracia and Aphrica which use not to passe in the account of S. Peters temporall patrimonie Thirdly it doth not appeare that Constantine himselfe had anie interest in the kingdome of Ireland how then could he conferre it upon another Some words there be in an oration of Eumenius the Rhetorician by which peradventure it may be collected that his father Constantius bare some stroke here but that the Iland was ever possessed by the Romanes or accounted a parcell of the Empire cannot be proved by any sufficient testimonie of antiquitie Fourthly the late writers that are of another minde as Pomponius Laetus Cuspinian others do yet affirme withall that in the division of the Empire after Constantines death Ireland was assigned unto Constantinus the eldest sonne which will hardly stand with this donation of the Ilands supposed to be formerly made unto the Bishop of Rome and his successors Pope Adrian therefore and Iohn of Salisbury his so●licitor had need seeke some better warrant for the title of Ireland then the Donation of Constantine Iohn Harding in his Chronicle saith that the Kings of England have right To Ireland also by king Henry le fitz Of Maude doughter of first King Henry That conquered it for their great heresie which in another place he expresseth more at large in this maner The King Henry then conquered all Ireland By Papall dome there of his royaltee The profytes and revenues of the land The domination and the soverayntee For errour which agayn the spiritualtee They held full long and would not been correct Of heresyes with which they were infect Philip Osullevan on the other side doth not only denie that Ireland was infected with any heresie but would also have us beleeve that the Pope never intended to conferre the Lordship of Ireland upon the Kings of England For where it is said in Pope Adrians Bull Let the people of that land receive thee and reverence thee as a Lord the meaning therof is saith this Glozer Let them reverence thee as a Prince worthy of great honour not as Lord of Ireland but as a Deputie appointed for the collecting of the Ecclesiasticall tribute It is true indeed that King Henry the second to the end hee might the more easily obtaine the Popes good will for his entring upon Ireland did voluntarily offer unto him the payment of a yearely pension of one penny out of every house in the countrey which for ought that I can learne was the first Ecclesiasticall tribute that ever came unto the Popes coffers out of Ireland But that King Henry got nothing else by the bargaine but the bare office of collecting the Popes Smoke-silver for so wee called it here when wee payed it is so dull a conceit that I do somewhat wonder how Osullevan himselfe could be such a blockhead as not to discerne the senselesnesse of it What the King sought for and obtained is sufficiently declared by them that writt the historie of his raigne In the yeare of our Lord MCLV. the first Bull was sent unto him by Pope Adrian the summe wherof is thus laid downe in a second Bull directed unto him by Alexander the third the immediat successor of the other Following the stepps of reverend Pope Adrian and attending the fruite of your desire we ratifie and confirme his grant concerning the dominion of the KINGDOME of Ireland conferred upon you reserving unto S. Peter and the holy Church of Rome as in England so in Ireland the yearly pension of one penny out of every house In this sort did Pope Adrian as much as lay in him give Ireland unto King Henry haereditario jure possidendam to be possessed by right of inheritance and withall sent unto him a ring of gold set with a faire Emerauld for his investiture in the right thereof as Iohannes Sarisburiensis who was the principall agent betwixt them both in this businesse doth expressely testifie After this in the yeare MCLXXI the King himselfe came hither in person where the Archbishops and Bishops of Ireland received him for their KING and Lord. The King saith Iohn Brampton received letters from every Archbishop and Bishop with their seales hanging upon them in the maner of an Indenture confirming the KINGDOME of Ireland unto him and his heyres and bearing witnesse that they in Ireland had ordayned him and his heyres to be their KINGS and Lords for ever At Waterford saith Roger Hoveden all the Archbishops Bishops Abbots of Ireland came unto the King of England and received him for KING and Lord of Ireland swearing fealtie to him and to his heyres and power to raigne over them for ever and hereof they gave him their Instruments The Kings also and Princes of Ireland by the example of the clergie did in like maner receive Henry King of England for Lord and KING of Ireland and became his men or did him homage and swore fealtie to him and his heyres against all men These things were presently after confirmed in the Nationall Synod held at Casshell the Actes whereof in Giraldus Cambrensis are thus concluded For it is fit and most meet that as Ireland by Gods appointment hath gotten a Lord and a KING from England so also they should from thence receive a better forme of living King Henry also at the same time sent a transcript of the Instruments of all the Archbishops and Bishops of Ireland unto Pope Alexander who by his Apostolicall authoritie for so was it in those dayes of darkenesse esteemed to be did confirme the KINGDOME of Ireland unto him and his heyres according to the forme of the Instruments of the Archbishops and Bishops of Ireland and made them KINGS thereof for ever The King also obtained further from Pope Alexander that it might be lawfull for him to make which of his sonnes he pleased KING of Ireland and to crowne him accordingly and to subdue the Kings and great ones of that land vvhich would not subject themselves unto him Whereupon in a graund Councell held at Oxford in the yeare of our Lord MCLXXVII before the Bishops and Peeres of the kingdome he constituted his sonne Iohn KING of Ireland according to