part spotted with doctrine of Free-will of Merits of Inuocation of Saints and such like And page 473. he saith Surely you are not able to reckon in any age since the Apostles times any company of Bishops that taught and held so sound doctrine in all points as the Bishops of England doe at this day Whereupon Luther in his booke De seruo arbitrio tom 2. Wittenb 1551. affirmeth the Fathers to haue been blinde and most ignorant in the Scriptures to haue erred al the time of their liues from his doctrine and that vnlesse they were amended before their deathes they were neither Saints nor pertaining to the Church of Protestants And in his Colloquijs mensalibus he saith In the Writings of Hierome there is not a word of true faith in Christ and sound religion Tertullian is very superstitious I hold Origen long since accursed Of Chrysostome I make no account Basil is of no worth he is wholly a Monke Cyprian is a weake Diuine The Apologie of Philip Melancthon doth farre excell all the Doctors of the Church and exceede euen Augustine himselfe POMERAN a Protestant vpon Ionam saith Our Fathers whether holy or not holy I esteeme nothing they haue been blinded with the Spirit of Montanus by humane traditions and doctrine of diuels c. They doe not teach purely of Iustification Beza in his Preface vpon the New Testament Dedicated to the Prince of Condy printed 1587. affirmeth That euen in the best times the ambition ignorance and lewdnesse of Bishops was such that the very blinde may easily perceiue how Satan was President in their assemblies or Councels because they taught opposite doctrine to the doctrine of the Protestants of this age Whereupon Perkins in his Exposition of the Creede page 400. in behalfe of himselfe and all Protestants saith Wee say that before the dayes of Luther for the space of many hundred yeares an vniuersall Apostasie from Protestantisme as hee meaneth ouer-spread the whole face of the earth and that our Church of Protestants was not visible to the world And many more Protestants confesse that the Faith or doctrine which Protestants now teach and professe hath been no where visibly knowne published or preached since the Apostles times vntil Luther as is set down more at large in the Protestants Apologie for the Roman Church And it is of it selfe so manifest that no Protestant hath hitherto bin able to assigne in the time betweene the death of the Apostles and rising of Luther one onely Protestant Minister Doctor Writer or Teacher that held professed or taught the doctrine which Protestants doe now hold and teach Whereby it is manifest that in all that time which is about the space of one thousand foure hundred yeares there were no knowne Protestants but all knowne Christians who liued within the compasse of these yeares were either Roman Catholikes or reputed Heretikes by both parties Whereupon we rightly inferre that all knowne Christian men who liued in all ages since the time of the Apostles vntill the rising of Luther knowne Heretikes and so reputed by both partie onely excepted doe testifie that our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ was Author of the Catholike Romaine Faith euery Christian beleeuing that our Lord Iesus Christ was the Author of this Religion and Planter thereof vpon earth Now that there were knowne Roman Catholikes liuing and being during these fourteene hundred yeares Protestants themselues confesse Fulke in his Treatise against Stapleton page 25. affirmeth Some Protestants haue written that the Pope hath blinded the world these many hundred yeares some say a thousand some one thousand two hundred some nine hundred And the same Protestant in his retentiue Motiues pag. 248. speaking of Leo and Gregory Bishops of Rome the first of them liuing about the yeare of our Lord 440. and the second of them about 590. saith The mystery of iniquitie so he calleth the Pope and our Catholike Faith wrought in the Sea of Rome neare fiue or six hundred yeares before them MIDLETON in his Papisto-mastix page 193. affirmeth saying Wee are sure that the mysterie of iniquitie so he pleaseth to call the Pope and our Catholike Faith did worke in Pauls time and fell not a sleepe as soone as Paul was dead c. and therefore no maruell though perusing Councels Fathers and Stories from the Apostles forward wee finde the print of the Popes feete SEBASTIAN FRANCVS in his Epistle De abrogandis Statutis ecclesiasticis affirmeth That for certaine through the worke of Antichrist so he calleth the Pope and our Catholike Faith the externall Church of Protestants together with the Faith and Sacraments vanished away presently after the Apostles departure So potent were the Pope and Roman Catholikes euen in the Apostles times that presently after the Apostles departure they were able to make the externall Church of Protestants together with the Faith and Sacraments of Protestants vanished away as this Protestant affirmeth Brokard in his Treatise vpon the Reuelations pag. 110. affirmeth That the Church of Protestants was troden downe and oppressed by the Papacie euen from Syluesters time vnto these times Which he there and page 123. accounteth to haue been for the space of 1260. yeares Napper in his Treatise vpon the Reuelations pag. 68. saith Betweene the yeare of Christ 300. and 316. the Antichristian and Papisticall raigne began raigning vniuersally and without any debatable contradiction 1260. yeares and pag. 145. he saith euen 1260. yeares the Pope and his Cleargie hath possessed the outward visible Church of Christians Yet the Pope and his Cleargie could not come to raigne vniuersally and without any debatable contradiction vpon a sudden as wee see by experience in Protestant Ministers who haue beene now about an hundred yeares and yet doe not reigne or possesse their Religion in any one Countrey without some opposition whereby it is manifest that the Pope and his Cleargie were many hundred yeares before they could obtaine to reigne vniuersally without any debatable contradiction Downham in his Treatise of Antichrist lib. 2. cap. 2. pag. 25. affirmeth That the generall defection of the visible Church foretold in the second of the Thessalonians which hee esteemeth to haue beene wrought by the Pope and Roman Catholikes began to worke in the Apostles times Caelus secundus Curio in his booke De amplitudine Regni Dei lib. 1. pag. 43. saith Are we ignorant in how great darkenesse blindnesse and ignorance so he calleth our Catholike Faith the world hath continued almost from the Apostles age to these very times in which aboue all expectation our Lord began to manifest himselfe And Perkins vpon the Creed page 307. affirmeth That during the space of nine hundred yeares the Popish heresie so he pleaseth to call the Catholike Roman Faith hath spread it selfe ouer the whole earth whereby appeareth that it was fiue or sixe hundred yeares before since it could not spread it selfe of a sudden ouer the whole earth And by these confessions of Protestants themselues and by many
to moue your Highnesse to dispence with the said Statutes are as many and as weightie as in any case can be giuen whereof I will repeate onely some few out of which others may be collected First for that the said Statutes are contrary to the honor of God his oathes words and Law as we haue abundantly prooued throughout this booke and as your Maiesty well affirmeth in your Speech in the Star-chamber printed 1616. There is another Law of all Lawes free and Supreame which is Gods Law And by this all common and municipall Lawes must be gouerned And except they haue dependance vpon this Law they are vniust and vnlawful Secondly they defame Christ Iesus and all Christian men who euer were before the time of King Henry the eight knowne and reputed Heretikes by both parties onely excepted For that they all eyther committed or helped or assisted or gaue counsell to commit these actions which are by the said Statutes made Treason Fellony or Criminall as we haue proued in the first second and third Chapters Thirdly they are contrary to the solemne oathes of the Kings of England taken at their Coronation according to the ancient Lawes and Customes of this Land as in the Saxon Law left by King Engward the Lex Sancti Edwardi 7. Confessor it is said That the King because he is Gods Vicegerent vpon earth is ordained to gouerne his earthly kingdome and people of God and aboue all things that hereuerence the holy Church which is our Catholike Romane Church as I haue abundantly proued defend her from the iniurious pull the euil doers from her and vtterly disperse them Againe The King ought to feare God aboue al things and keepe his Commandements through-out the Land he ought to preserue the Lands Honors Rights Dignities and Liberties of the Crowne and the Rights of the Realme such as is especially the Catholike Roman Faith planted in this Land by the Apostles lost dispersed and wasted to recall with all his power to their ancient and due estate He ought to set vp good Lawes and approued Customes and euill Lawes destroy and put from his kingdome c. All which to do the King in proper person ought to giue an oath vpon the holy Gospell and vpon the blessed Reliques in the presence of the whole kingdome the Priest-hood and the Laytie So likewise Bracton an Bracton l. 3. c. 9. ancient Lawyer saith The King at his Coronation vnder an oath in the name of Iesus Christ ought to promise these three to his Subiects First That he will command and to his power doe his endeauour that true peace be alwayes obserued to the Church of God and to all Christian people Secondly That he should forbid rapine such as is the Purseuants taking away of Catholikes goods without forme or order of Law and all iniquities to all sorts of people Thirdly That in all maner of iudgements he command equity and mercy to be vsed as he would that our benigne and merciful God should shew mercy vnto him According to which Law the Kings of England at their Coronations haue alwaies bin solemnely sworne to defend the Church of God and her liberties to set vp good Lawes and destroy euill and doe justice c. So William the Conqueror at his Coronation tooke an Stow in his life oath on the Altar of S. Peter where he promised before the Clergie and all the people to defend the holy Church of God the Pastors thereof and all the people subiect vnto him he should iustly gouerne he would ordaine good Laws and obserue true iustice and to the vttermost of his power to withstand all rapines and false iudgements MALMESBVRY maketh mention of the oath of King Stephen to this effect In the Records of the Tower in the first yeare of Edward the second and first yeare of Edward the third are set downe their seuerall oathes to this effect And your Maiesty maketh mention of your oath in your Speech in the Star-chamber 1616. saying I protest in Gods presence my care hath euer been to keepe my conscience cleare in all points of my oath taken at my Coronation Againe in the same booke and leafe I haue resolued to renue my promise and oath made at my Coronation Herein your Maiesty may bee like Asa the good King of Iuda who at the words of Azarias the Prophet 2. Parel 15. Tooke away the Idols out of the Land of Iuda and Beniamin and gathered together all Iuda and Beniamin and when they were come into Ierusalem he went in after the maner to establish the couenant that they should seeke our Lord the God of their Fathers in all their heart and in all their soule And if any man quoth he shal not seeke our Lord the God of Israel let him die from the least to the greatest from man vnto woman And they sware to our Lord witb a loud voice in iubilation and in noyse of Trumpet and sound of Shalmes all that were in Iuda with execration for in all their heart did they sweare the King and all the people to seeke our Lord the God of Israel his Law Religion and Commandements Fourthly if we will beleeue the Scriptures they will be the destruction of your Kingdome and Posteritie and therefore oblige all those who sincerely loue your Maiesty and your Posterity to desire their abrogation or dispensation Samuel said to the Children of Israel which now we Christians are I will teach you 1. King 12. 23. the good and right way Feare our Lord and serue him in truth and from your whole heart But if you shal perseuere in malice both you and your King shal perish together Againe Samuel said to SAVL Thou hast not kept the 1. King 13. 31. Commandements of our Lord thy God which he commanded thee which if thou haddest done euen now had our Lord prepared thy kingdome ouer Israel for euer but thy kingdome shall no further arise So MOYSES saith Deut. 29. 19. When he shall heare the words of this oath of the Couenant betweene God and man he blessed himselfe in his heart saying I shal haue place and walke in the priuity of my heart c. then shall Gods fury most specially fume and his zeale against that man and all the curses sit vpon him that be written in Deutronomie and our Lord will abolish his name vnder heauen Which we see by experience to haue beene verified of late yeares vpon two of the greatest Monarkes that were in Christendome Henry the eight King of England Henry the second King of France Henry the eight was the first beginner of these Statutes Henry the second went in person with thirtie thousand men to ayde the Protestants of Germany as witnesseth Serres in his life Henry the eight had fiue or sixe wiues and fiue or sixe children and Henry the second had fiue sonnes yet we see that both their names are abolished from vnder heauen their Kingdomes or Reignes ended
AN HVMBLE APPEALE TO THE KINGS MOST EXCELLENT MAIESTIE Wherein is proued that our Lord and Sauiour IESVS CHRIST was Authour of the Catholike Roman Faith which Protestants call PAPISTRIE Written by IOHN HVNT a Roman Catholike in defence of his Religion against the Calumniations and persecutions of Protestant MINISTERS IOHN 5. 39. Search the Scriptures for you thinke by them to haue life euerlasting and the same are they which giue testimonie of mee THE PREFACE Most dread Soueraigne SO heauy for many yeares hath been the hand of Protestant Ministers vpon vs Catholikes your auncient and faithfull subiects that heauen is ful with our cries the world with our afflictions the earth is drunk with our bloud the aire a receptacle for our quarters prisons are filled with our bodies and Pursuiuants infamous men at their pleasures inriched with the spoile of our goods in such sort as with the Apostles liuing in like persecution we may truly say Wee 1. Cor. 4. 9. are made a spectacle to the world and to Angels and to men that the extremity of our afflictions enforceth vs to Appeale vnto your Maiesty prostrate at your feet in most humble manner to beseech your Highnesse to heare the truth of our cause and take notice of the sincerity of our affections to God your Person and State God Almighty out of his infinit goodnesse hauing created vs according to his owne Image and after our fall Gen. 1. 27. redeemed vs from eternall paines in token of homage exacteth of vs the practising and professing of that Faith and Religion which was planted vpon earth by his only Son our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ and that with such rigor as whosoeuer at his death shal be found faultie herein shall not onely lose the inheritance of the kingdome of heauen and the happie vision of his diuine Maiesty but also condemned into fire euerlasting which was prepared for Matth. 25. 41. the Diuell and his angels there to endure the wrath and vengeance of God for euer and euer And lest any one should doubt which was this Faith or Religion he swore he would multiply it in men as the Gen. 22. Isay 88. Isay 54. Isay 62. Starres of heauen that remaining in all ages and times visibly seene and professed none could or should haue occasion of doubting which was this Faith or Religion vnto the which he was so straitly bound vnlesse he would wilfully be obstinate and blinde And yet notwithstanding your Protestant Ministers contrary to the oath of God and without respect of the penalty of eternall damnation imposed vpon misbeleeuers would perswade vs that their Religion which about threescore yeares agoe was inuented in England by Queene ELIZABETH only to keepe your Maiesties Mother and her issue from their lawfull right to the Crowne of England is the Religion which was planted by our Sauiour and afflict vpon your ancient subiects who haue maintained your Progenitors in the state of Kings and absolute Monarkes many hundred yeares confiscation of goods and lands imprisonment losse of liberty and life and the benefit of all Ciuil and Humane lawes and conuersation for that we wil not beleeue them to the losse of our owne soules and in continuance of time the destruction of your Monarchie according to the Prophecies saying I will blesse them that blesse thee and curse them Gen. 12. 3. that curse thee In thee shall all the Kindreds of the earth be blessed The Nation and the Kingdome that Isay 60. 12. shall not serue thee shall perish Which we haue seene so manifestly fulfilled in al ages times amongst Christians that hitherto neuer any Nation People or Countrey of Christian men did separate it selfe by Schisme from the Catholike Church the spiritual seed of Abraham dilated ouer the world but it was within few yeares conquered by barbarus people Whereupon we your ancient subiects feareful lest we should be forsaken of God and fal into these euils and timorous in any thing to offend your Maiestie our dearest Soueraigne prostrate at your feete doe humbly offer vnto your Highnesse the grounds and foundations of our Faith and Religion by which we proue that it is the same Faith and Religion which was planted vpon earth by our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ in which al the Kindreds of the earth were to be blessed hoping therby to remoue away from your Majesties minde these sinister false informations which such as neither wish well either to your Person or State more then may serue to the accomplishing of their designes daily publish in your presence viz. That we are wilfull disloyall Subjects who vnder pretext of Religion pretend Rebellion Ignorant blinde people that haue nothing to say for the Religion we professe Enemies to your Maiesty and State c. That your Majesty being better informed we also may taste of the sweetnesse of your Gouernment who are at al times and in al things as readie to obey and serue you our dread Soueraigne as our Auncestors haue serued and obeyed your Progeniters Kings and absolute Monarkes of this Iland or as the Catholike subiects of the Emperour or of the King of Spaine or France or Polonie do serue their Soueraignes And in testimony hereof we offer to binde our selues alwayes to remaine loyal faithful Subiects vnto your Majesty your Heires and lawful Successours by amoath whereby we may not in effect and deed sweare that God Almighty is forsworne in violating his oath and promises which he made to the Patriarks and Prophets euery where spoken of in the Scriptures to be fulfilled in that Faith Seede and Religion which was to be planted vpon earth by his only Son our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ Your Majesty wel knoweth that it is not yet much about threescore yeares since these your Kingdomes of England Scotland and Ireland were Catholike and the most of vs together with our Auncestors neuer were of any other Religion See this proued in the second Chapter then this we now professe since our Conuersion to Christianity from Paganisme And if we should now forsake it for feare of the losse of temporall goods imprisonment and hanging and not out of information in beleefe we should be but Atheists and be worthy to be hanged vp indeed for dissembling with men and violating all obligation to God Moreouer the meanes which God Almighty appointed his Officers to vse in the conuersion of Kingdomes and people was Humility Patience Charity c. saying Behold Matth. 10. 16. I send you as sheepe in the middest of Wolues he did not say I send you as Wolues amongst sheepe to kill imprison spoyle and deuoure those vnto whom they were sent Againe he said They to whom I send you will deliuer Matth. 10. 17. you vp in Councels and in their Synagogues they wil scourge you And to Presidents and to Kings shall you be led for my sake He doth not say you whom I send shall deliuer the people whom you
more set downe in the Protestants Apologie it is manifest that the Catholike Roman Faith did begin euen in the Apostles times and hath raigned vniuersally ouer the visible Church of Christians 1260. yeares if wee will beleeue the confession of our Aduersaries themselues So dread Soueraigne if the testimonies of all known Christian men who liued in all ages and times from the Apostles times vntill the rising of Luther may find grace and credit with your Maiestie they all knowne Heretikes and so reputed by both parties onely excepted doe witnesse that our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ was the Author of the Catholike Romane Faith for that they all beleeued and esteemed our Lord to be Author of that Religion they themselues professed And this were sufficient to shew vnto your most excellent Maiestie that the Sonne of God was Author of the Catholike Roman Faith but because Protestant Ministers do so often bragge that the Scriptures or written Word of God doth make for them I will further examine the Scriptures to see what they say of the Religion which was to be planted by our Sauiour and wil begin with the old Testamēt according to the directions of our Lord saying Search the Scriptures the olde Testament for as then no part of the New Iohn 5. 39. was written for you thinke by them to haue life euerlasting and the same are they that giue testimony of me and after descend downe vnto the New and so prooue by the generall consent of the whole Scriptures that our Sauiour was Author of the Catholike Roman Faith CHAP. IV. Wherein is proued by the testimony of Moyses and the Patriarkes that our Sauiour was Author of the Catholike Roman Faith TO discerne the true Prophet from the false and to discerne the word of God from the words of arrogant men God Almightie gaue vs this rule saying If in secret cogitation thou answere How Deut. 18. 21. shall I vnderstand the word that our Lord spake not This signe thou shalt haue that which the same Prophet foretelleth in the name of the Lord and commeth not to passe that our Lord hath not spoken But by the arrogancie of his minde the Prophet hath forged it And the Prophet that being depraued with arrogancie Deut. 18. 20. will speake in my name the things that I did not command him to say shall be slaine Whereupon our Sauiour saith All things must needs bee fulfilled which are written in the Luke 24. 44. Law of Moyses and the Prophets and Psalmes of mee otherwise Moyses and the Prophets should haue been false Prophets and our Sauiour none of the Messias but a seducer and deceiuer and the God of the Scriptures a false God So supposing that our Sauiour was the Messias promised to be sent for the redemption of mankinde and that the Prophets of both Testaments were true Prophets and not guiltie of death but prophecied things which must be infallibly fulfilled We will seeke out what they say of the Seed Faith Religion or Gospell which was to be planted by our Sauiour vpon earth And to let passe other promises and prophecies written by Moyses we will begin with that great promise and oath made by God to ABRAHAM the Father of all that beleeue Whereupon is grounded and Rom. 4. 11. founded the succession of the Church in all ages the oath of God being the highest act that can bee made in heauen or in earth in confirmation of a truth it cannot bee contradicted without great impietie or denied to be fulfilled without making the God of Abraham our Lord to bee forsworne and a false God which is the highest kinde of vntruth opposite to the greatest truth that can be giuen Abraham going to sacrifice his only begotten son Isaac according as God had commanded him so greatly pleased his diuine Maiestie in that act of obedience that he confirmed his former promise made vnto him that he should be heire of the world by an oath saying By my owne selfe haue I sworne saith the Lord Gen. 12. 3. and 15. 5. Rom. 4. 13. Gen. 22. 16. because thou hast done this thing and hast not spared thy onely begotten sonne for my sake I will blesse thee and I will multiply thy seede as the starres of heauen and as the sand that is by the sea-shore thy seede shall possesse the gates of his enemies and in thy seede shall be blessed all the Nations of the earth because thou hast obeyed my voyce He saith not saith Saint Paul and to seeds as in many Galath 3. 16. but as in one and to thy seede which is Christ That in Christ Iesus the Sonne of Dauid the Sonne of Abraham not the Nation of the Iewes or Brittans onely but all the Nations of the earth should be blessed and become children of Abraham and sonnes and seede of Christ Iesus borne againe as Saint Peter saith not of corruptible seed but incorruptible by the word of God 1. Pet. 1. 23. Whereupon Saint Paul saith to the Corinthians In 1. Cor. 4. 6. Christ Iesus by the Gospell I begate you And to the Ephesians he saith That the Gentiles are coheires and of the same body and partakers of his promise by the Gospel And so saith That Christ hath redeemed vs from the Galath 5. 14. curse of the Law that on the Gentiles the blessing of Abraham might be made in Christ Iesus that we may receiue the promise The Scriptures foreseeing that God instifieth Galath 3. 8. the Gentiles by Faith shewed vnto Abraham before that in thee shall all Nations be blessed Not for a day or a yeare but for euer according to the words of Saint Luke saying He hath receiued Israel his childe Luke 1. 55. being mindfull of his mercy As he spake to our Fathers to Abraham and his seed for euer So likewise God said to ABRAHAM SARA thy wife shall beare thee a son Gen. 17. 19. and thou shalt call his name Isaac and I will establish my couenant to him for a perpetuall couenant and to his seed after him Whereby wee see that this oath of God to Abraham is to bee fulfilled in and vpon Christians professing the Faith and Gospell planted by our Sauiour and that those Christians vpon whom this oath can or may be fulfilled are the seede of our Sauiour and the children of his Kingdome and heires of the Promises none else vnlesse we will make God Almightie forsworne which is too great impietie and a vanitie for any man to acknowledge him for a God whom he professeth in deeds to be a violater of oathes and promises So it resteth to examine whether this oath of God be verified vpon Roman Catholikes or vpon Protestants that we may clearely see which of them are true Christians and heires of the Promises and seed of our Sauiour And as for Protestants they themselues confesse that their Faith and Religion which they now professe hath been so farre off from being
Transiluania and Hungary and many English at Tripolis Algiers and Tunis And some learned Protestants as Sebastian Cestalio Bernard Ochine Dauid George Adam Neucers and others who being obstinate against Catholike Religion either turned Turkes or Iewes seeing the Prophecies not fulfilled in Protestantisme Secondly for that they are not able to produce any one Heathen or Pagan King or Queene that hitherto hath embraced Protestanisme Your Maiesty and other Christian Kings and Queenes your Predecessors in the Kingdome of Great Brittanie haue had no other Christendome then that they haue receiued from Catholike Romane Priests Thirdly It is not the custome of Protestants to adore their God with such respect or reuerence as the Prophet Isay heere speakes of euery Protestant is so well assured of his saluation that hee hath no need to humble himselfe befor his God to aske forgiuenesse of his sinnes or saluation of his soule Not a Protestant Boy or Girle that doth not vse more respect or reuerence to their masters when they speake vnto them and all Protestants in their degrees and estates to their temporall Lords and Princes then they doe when they pray or speake to their God When they speake to their earthly Lords or Kings either they Note stand or kneele handsomely with their hats in their hands but when they speake to their God commonly they either speake sitting with their cappes on as haile fellow well met with their God or else with their noses thrust into their hats for feare as it seemeth that the euill smelles which come from their God should infect their braines Their Temples and Synagogues are not so neate as their Bed-chambers Galleries or Chambers of Presence or audience and when they come into their Temples to treate with their God or heare his Word or Law vnlesse it be for respect of some man there euery one without respect to his God sitteth him downe and putteth on his cap In so much as the God of the Protestants is the most vnciuill euill-mannered God of all those who haue borne the name of Gods vpon earth yea worse then Pan the god of Clownes that can endure no ceremonies or good manners whereby it is manifest that this Prophecie is not verified vpon so vnciuill and vnmannerly a Religion as Protestantisme is but vpon our Catholike Romane Faith and Religion which all the knowne Christian Kings and Queenes that euer haue been before Luther professed reputed Heretikes by both parties onely excepted as we haue set downe in the third Chapter Againe God Almightie by the Prophet Isay saith to the Gentiles whom he calleth the barren women for that before the Incarnation of our Sauiour they were without fruit of eternall life Prayse O barren Isay 54. 1. woman which bearest not sing prayse and make ioyfull noyse which diddest not beare because many are the children of the desolate of the Gentiles which were before the comming of Christ desolate of spiritual helpe more then of her that hath a husband the Synagogue of the Iewes enlarge the place of thy tent and stretch out the skins of thy Tabernacles for thou shalt penetrate to the right hand and to the left and thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles Againe For a moment a little while haue Isay 64. 7. I forsaken thee and in great mercies will I gather thee in a moment of indignation haue I hid my face a little while from thee and in mercies euerlasting haue I had mercy on thee saith thy Redeemer our Lord. As in the dayes of Noe is this thing to me to whom I sware that I would no more bring the waters of Noe vpon the earth So haue I sworne not to be angry with thee and not to rebuke thee for the mountaines shal be mooued and the little hils shal tremble but my mercy shal not depart from thee and the couenant of my peace shal not be mooued saith our Lord thy Miserator Againe Euery vessel that is made against Isay 64. 17. thee shal not prosper and euery tongue resisting thee in iudgement thou shalt iudge This is the inheritance of the seruants of our Lord. This Prophecie of Esay cannot bee verified vpon Protestantisme for that since our Sauiours time there hath not been more Protestants then Iewes neyther haue the children of the Protestants bin more in number then the children of the Iewes who are a great people in number and haue continued visible in great numbers dispersed through many parts of the world as Protestants themselues confesse as the Centurie Writers in the fourteenth and fifteenth Chapter of euery Centurie where they make mention from time to time of their abode and at this day the Synagogue of the Iewes is more dilated and greater then any one Sect of Protestants in the world Secondly neither can this be verified of Protestantisme that after our Sauiours comming They should enlarge the place of their tents penetrate to the right hand and the left and that the seed of Protestants should inherite the Gentiles Neither could this oath of God bee made to Protestants I haue sworne not to be angry with Protestants and not to rebuke them for the mountaines shal be moued and the little hils shal tremble but my mercie shal not depart from Protestants and the couenant of my peace shal not be moued saith our Lord thy Miserator vnlesse they will make God Almighty forsworne since they themselues confesse that Protestantisme vanished away presently after the Apostles times and was so extinguished that for a thousand and foure hundred yeares they cannot name one Protestant man that taught the doctrine they now teach In such sort as this malediction of the Prophecie is fulfilled in them as vpon the enemies of our Sauiour where it is written Euery vessel that is made against thee shal not prosper And all the blessings of this Prophecie are verified vpon our Catholike Romane Faith which was planted by the Apostles and hath beene dilated ouer the world and embraced of all Christian people who liued betweene the death of the Apostles and rising of Luther reputed Heretikes to both parties only excepted as wee haue prooued in the first second and third Chapters And by this oath of God heere set downe it is as certaine that the Catholike Roman Church and Faith shall neuer bee suppressed as it is certaine that the world shall not be drowned with water any more the oath and promise of God Almightie being equally giuen for assurance of both saying As the day of Noe is this thing to me to whom I answere that I would no more bring in the waters of Noe vpon the earth so haue I sworne not to be angry with thee or rebuke thee for the mountaines shal be moued and the little hils shal tremble but my mercy shall not depart from thee and the couenant of my peace shal not be moued saith our Lord thy Miserator And your Maiestie may be pleased heere to obserue that those Kings and people who persecute
Wherein is proued by the testimony of the Prophet Ieromie that our Sauiour was the Author of the Catholike Romane Faith THE Prophet Ieremie speaking of the estate of the Church after our Sauiours comming saith Behold the dayes Ierem. 31. 37. shall come saith our Lord and I wil make a new couenant with the house of Israel c. And this shal be the couenant that I will make with the house of Israel after these dayes saith the Lord I will giue my Law in their bowels and in their heart I will write it I wil be their God and they shal be my people And a man shal no more teach his neighbour and a man his brother saying Know our Lord for all shal know me from the least of them euen to the greatest saith our Lord for I wil be merciful to their iniquitie and their sinne I wil remember no more Thus saith our Lord that giueth the Sunne for the light of the day the order of the Moone and of the Starres for the light of the night that troubleth the sea and the waues thereof doe sound the Lord of hostes is his name If these Lawes shal faile before me saith our Lord that there be no more Sunne for the light of the day and Moone and Stars for the light of the night and ebbing and flowing of the Sea then also the seed Israel shal faile that it be not a Nation before me for euer Wherupon our Sauiour saith This Gospel of the kingdome shal be preached in the whole Matth. 24. world for a testimony to al Nations and then shal come the consummation of the world and the Sun shal be darkened and the Moone shal not giue her light and the stars shal fall from heauen Vntill then if wee will beleeue the Word of God the seed of our Sauiour the Church of God shall in all ages and times so flourish vpon earth as that the Christians shall not neede secretly one to teach another But all shall know our Lord from the least of them to the greatest and be a visible Nation for euer So I appeale to your Maiesty well pleased to consider how ignorant hee should bee in the Scriptures that should make himselfe of the Congregation of Protestants in hope to enter into this Testament with God when they haue been so inuisible for one thousand and foure hundred yeares together that they are not able to assigne one man who for all that time professed the Faith they now hold much lesse one Nation So if Protestants would prooue by the Scriptures that their Religion which hath been so many hundred yeares vnknowne were the Faith planted by our Sauiour they should first proue that for one thousand and foure hundred yeares there hath been no Sunne for the light of the day or Moone for the light of the night to make good the Word of God otherwise they proue nothing but that they are ignorant in the Scriptures and in effect and deede blaspheme God and his holy Word by affirming him in effect and deed to be a violater of his promises written in the Scriptures That this promise of God heere spoken of is to be performed in and vpon Christians Saint Paul witnesseth in the eight to the Hebrewes where he repeateth the foresaid words of Ieromie as to be fulfilled in and vpon Christians That our Catholike Romane Faith hath successiuely continued according to this Prophecie wee haue shewed in the first second and third Chapters CHAP. VIII Wherein is proued by the testimony of Ezechiel That our Sauiour was the Author of the Romane Catholike Faith THE Prophet Ezechiel speaking of the estate of the Church after the comming of our Sauiour saith I will saue Ezech. 34. my flocke and it shal be no more into spoile c. And I will raise vp ouer them one Pastor who shall feed them my seruant Dauid he shal feed them and he shall be their Pastor And I the Lord wil be their God and my seruant Dauid the Prince in the middest of them I the Lord haue spoken and I will make a couenant of peace with them and will make the cruel beasts to cease out of the Land And they that dwell in the desart the Hermits and religious men who now and in the Primatiue Church liued in the desart as witnesseth Saint Austine Epist 121. shall sleep secure in the forrost And I will put them round about my hill his Church a blessing And I will bring downe the shower in his time there shall bee raynes of blessing abundance of spirituall graces and consolations of the holy Ghost according to the words of our Sauiour saying He that beleeueth in me out of his belly shal Iohn 7. 38. flow riuers of liuing water And the tree of the field our Sauiour the Vine or Oliue tree shal giue his fruit and Iohn 15. Rom. 11. the earth humane nature of which it is said thou art earth shal giue his spring and they shal be in their Land Gen. 3. without feare and they shal know that I am the Lord when I shal haue broken the chaines of their yoke and shal haue deliuered them out of the hand of those that rule ouer them And they shal be no more for a spoile to the Gentiles neither shal the beasts of the earth deuoure them but they shal dwel confidently without any terror and I wil raise vp to them a bud of name and they shal be no more diminished for famine in the Land neither shal they beare any more the reproach of the Gentiles This Prophecie to be spoken of our Sauiour vnder the name of Dauid first Protestants in their Bibles confesse it secondly it is manifest for that Dauid the Prophet was dead many yeares before the time of Ezechiel Yet this Prophecie cannot bee verified vpon Protestants that Protestants shall liue in their Land without feare deliuered out of the hand of those who rule ouer them and bee no more for a spoile to the Gentiles nor be any more diminished nor beare any more the reproch of the Gentiles since they haue bin so spoiled and oppressed for one thousand and foure hundred yeares together that during all that time they are not able to assigne one knowne man who professed the Religion they now professe This Prophecie to be verified vpon Romane Catholikes wee haue shewed in the first second and third Chapters CHAP. IX Wherein is proued by the testimony of the Prophets Daniel Ioel Micheas Abacuc and Zacharias That our Sauiour was the Author of the Catholike Romane Faith AND in like manner all the rest of the Prophets as often as they haue occasiō to speake of the estate of the Church after the comming of our Sauiour say that it shal be vniuersally dilated ouer the world for euer as Daniel saying In the dayes of Dan. 2. 44. those Kingdomes the God of heauen wil raise vp a Kingdome that shal not be destroyed for euer and this Kingdom
shal not be deliuered to another people and it shal breake in peeces shal consume al those Kingdoms it self shal stand for euer Which Prophecie we finde verified by experience vpon the Catholike Roman Church which as Protestants themselues confesse was so potent presently after the Apostles times that it destroyed and consumed the Church of Protestants and for these one thousand and two hundred yeares hath raigned vniuersally without any debatable contradiction as is set downe in the third Chapter Againe we see by experience that all other Kingdomes and Monarchies of Christians haue been interrupted and changed as the Empire first from the West vnto the East and after into Germany Spaine was first possessed by the Romans after by the Goathes and lastly for many yeares by the Moores France was long time tributarie to the Romans and about the yeare of our Lord 451. the Franck Germanes who dwelled beyond the Rhyne began to conquer them and in processe of time obtained their Kingdome and changed their name from Gaules to French and about the yeare 461. elected Mirouee for King after France was possessed by the English and Henry the sixt was crowned King of France about the yeare 1422. from which time the Kings of England haue alwayes challenged to be Kings of France England was vnder the Romanes vntill the time of Honorius and shortly after it was conquered by the Saxons and then by the Danes and last by Norman French In so much as that it is manifest to experience that the Catholike Romane Church is the Kingdome raysed vp by God which shall not bee destroyed for euer Whereupon the Prophet Ioel saith Yee children of Ioel 2. 23. Syon the Church of God reioyce and be ioyfull in the Lord your God because he hath giuen you a Doctor of iustice and hee will make the earely and the late showre to descend to you as in the beginning And the floores shal be filled with wheate and the presses shall ouerflow with wine and oyle And I wil render you the yeares which the Locust the Bruke and the blast and the Eruke hath eaten my great strength which I haue sent vpon you And eating you shal eate and shal be filled and you shal praise the name of the Lord your God that hath done maruailes with you and my people shal not be confounded for euer And you shal know that I am in the middest of Israel and I the Lord your God and there is none besides and my people shal not be confounded for euer So the Prophet Micheas saith And thou Bethelem Mich. 4. 2. Ephrata art a little one in the thousands of Iuda out of thee shall come forth vnto me he that shal be the Dominator in Israel and his comming forth from the beginning from the dayes of eternity c. and the remnant of his brethren shal be conuerted to the children of Israel And he shal stand and feed in the strength of our Lord in the height of the name of our Lord his God and they shal be conuerted because now shal he be magnified euen to the ends of the earth c. And the remnant of Iacob shal be in the Gentiles in the middest of many peoples as a Lyon amongst the beasts of the forrest and as a Lyons whelpe amongst the flocke of cattell who when he hath passed and trodden downe and taken there is none to deliuer Thy hand shall be exalted ouer thine enemies and thine enemies shall perish So the Prophet Abacuc saith God wil come from Abac. 4. 3. the South and the holy one from the shady mountaine his glory shal couer the heauens and the earth is full of his praise That is saith S. AVGVSTINE the Gospell shall begin from Ierusalem and Mount Oliuet and so be dilated ouer the world For Ierusalem saith Saint AVGVSTINE is placed Southward as is read in the Aug. â—p 166. booke of Iesus Naue from whence the name of Christ hath been spread and there is a shadie mountaine Mount Oliuet from whence he ascended into heauen that his vertue might couer the heauens and the Church might be filled with his praise throughout the whole earth So the Prophet Zacharias saith Behold thy King will come to thee the lust and Sauiour himselfe poore and riding vpon an Asse and vpon a Colt the Fole of an Asse c. He shal speake peace to the Gentiles and his power from sea euen to sea and from the riuers of Iordan Matth. 5. 13. where he was baptised euen vnto the end of the earth not for a day or a month or a yeare But as he spake to Luke 1. 55. our Fathers to Abraham and his seed for euer These Prophecies to be verified on our Catholike Roman Faith we haue shewed at large in the first second and third Chapter and are so far from being verified vpon Protestantisme that for a thousand and foure hundred yeares together Protestants are not able to name one man who held and taught the doctrine they now hold and teach So dread Soueraigne if the testimonies of Moyses and the Prophets may find grace and credit with your Maiesty they affirme that our Sauiour was Author of the Catholike Romane Faith as we haue abundantly shewed Yet the testimonies of Moyses and the Prophets were of such force with our Sauiour as he bringeth in Abraham saying If they heare not Moyses and Luke 16. 31. the Prophets neither wil they be perswaded though one rise from the dead Againe hee saith to the incredulous Iewes Had you beleeued Moyses you would peraduenture Iohn 5. 46. haue beleeued me for he wrote of me And if you beleeue not his writings which are confirmed by so many oathes and promises and found true by experience how wil you beleeue my words And so I conclude the Prophecies of the old Testament with the words of Saint Augustine saying The Aug. in Psal 30. Prophets haue spoken more obscurely of Christ then of the Church I thinke because they did see in spirit that men would rebell against the Church and would not haue so great strife concerning Christ but would raise vp great contentions concerning the Church therefore that about which men were to make great strife was more plainly foretold and more manifestly prophecied that it might serue for their condemnation who did see it and fled out CHAP. X. Wherein is proued by the testimony of Angels that our Sauiour was the Author of the Catholike Romane Faith HAVING most dread Soueraigne according to the counsel of our Sauiour Iohn 5. 39. sought the old Testament to see what it saith of the Faith Seed and Children of the Messias and hauing found that by it our Lord was the Author of the Catholike Romane Faith Seed or Religion we will now descend downe vnto the New to see what it saith in generall of the Faith Seed Word or Gospel which our Sauiour planted vpon earth that wee may also see whether
which for fourteene hundred yeares together was not knowne vnto the men of the earth That all these words of Saint Paul are verified vpon Romane Catholikes Protestants themselues giue ample testimony as is set down heretofore By these and many more Prophecies of the estate of the Church to come set downe by the Apostles and Euangelists it is manifest that our Sauiour was the Author of the Catholike Romane Faith So dread Soueraigne if the Generall consent of both Testaments the testimonie of God of Angels of Patriarkes of Prophets of Apostles of Euangelists and of all knowne Christen men that euer were before Luther may find grace and credite with your Maiesty to be beleeued they all reputed Heretikes by both parties onely excepted affirme that the Sonne of God was Author of that Catholike Romane Faith which is now persecuted within your Dominions CHAP. XIII Answeres to Obiections OBIECT 1. ALL Protestants doe not affirme that their Congregation hath been inuisible for these fourteene hundred years which were betweene the death of the Apostles and the rising of Luther but some say that they were visibly conuersant in the world administrating the Sacraments and preaching the pure Word Ans These Protestants did not liue in any of those ages to affirme that which they did see Reuelations Miracles Traditions they deny Writings Records Antiquities Councels Histories or any ancient testimony of such a visible company so administrating of Sacraments they haue none yet there is no other meanes of knowing things past but by a vaine imagination of an idle braine proper to lunatike men in Bedlam and Bridewell who talke of strange phantasies and chimeraes we looke for a people that should be made Princes ouer all the earth To whom Kings were Psal 44. nursing fathers and Queenes nurses That did ouerflow Isay 66. the glory of the Gentiles That did possesse the gates of their Gen. 22. enemies in whose seed all the Nations of the earth should be blessed And they tell vs of a people that supposed they were yet they were the most base vile contemptible and wretched people that euer liued vpon the earth such lyars and dissemblers as that it could not be knowne what Religion they professed So impious that it is neuer heard of that euer they vsed any Sacraments Sermons or Prayers So barbarous that it is not found vpon any Record that euer they were married but if they were it seemeth that they accompanied together like horses and dogges so ignorant that there is not found one man amongst them that euer writ any thing so vile that they neuer did any thing worthy of memory So lawlesse that there is not found any Order Statute or Decree they had such Rogues and Vacabonds that none vntill this day can finde out where any of them dwelt Such enemies of Christ and Christianity that not any testimonie can be found of their being Baptized or Christened So if they were it seemeth that they were rather the seed of the Diuell then of Abraham or Christ Iesus or of any Christian man Obiect 2. Waldo who liued in the yeare of our Lord God 1220. and Wickliffe who liued in the yeare of our Lord 1370. and Iohn Husse who liued in the yeare 1400. were Protestants and held and taught the same doctrine Protestants doe now Answ First Waldo did so extoll merit for good works that he did forsake all things to become poore and follow Christ and euangelicall perfection as witnesseth Doctor Humfrey a Protestant in his Iesuitisme part 2. fol. 270. Secondly hee denied the Sabbath in regard whereof the Waldenses were called Insabbatists that is to say people who had no Sabbath as affirmeth Fox Acts and Monuments fol. 41. Thirdly hee taught that Lay-men and women might consecrate the Sacrament and preach Fourthly that there should be no diuision of Parishes Fiftly that men ought not to sweare in any case Sixtly That neither Priest nor Ciuill Magistrate being guiltie of mortall sinne did enjoy their dignities or were to be obeyed and many the like as witnesseth ILLIRICVS in catel testium veritatis Wickliffe taught that if a Bishop or Priest were in deadly sinne his ordaining of Priests Consecrating and Baptisme was not Valide and that Ecclesiasticall Ministers should not haue any Temporall possessions Fox Acts fol. 96. Moreouer hee condemned lawfull oathes as affirmeth Osiander in his Epito hist. Eccles fol. 459. Yet maintained he the worshipping of Images intercession to our blessed Lady the Masse and seuen Sacraments as is manifest in his bookes And for Iohn Husse except the doctrine of the Communion in both kinds which he would haue giuen to Lay-men and the doctrine of Wickliffe in defending that if a Prince Priest or Bishop committed mortall sinne they did lose their dignities and were not to be obeyed for the most part he retained the Articles of our Catholike Faith as the Seuen Sacraments the Popes Primacie the Masse in so much as Luther in Colloquijs Germanicis ca. de Antechristo saith of him The Papists burned Iohn Husse when as yet he depapted not a fingers breadth from the Papacie for he taught the same which Papists doe Obiect 3. The Church of the Protestants was in that of the Papists so if Protestants were not neither should Papists be Ans That is to confesse that the Papists Church is the true Church and that Protestants are Schismatikes or Heretikes according to the Scriptures saying They went out from vs but they were not of vs for if they had Iohn 2. 19. been of vs they would surely haue remained with vs. Againe Out of your selues shall arise men speaking peruerse Act. 10. 30. things Obiect 4. The Church is compared to the Moone so it may encrease and diminish and yet bee a true Church Ans The Church is compared to the Moone not for that it waneth increaseth euery month as the Moon in our Horison doth but for because what it loseth in one Countrey it gaineth in another as what light the Moone wanteth on the one side it hath on the other and so as the Moone changeth his light sometimes on the one side and sometime on the other according to the aspect â—e hath to the Sunne and yet except it bee by an Eclypse for a little while alwayes hath his full light So the Church of God vnlesse it be for a little Eclypse of persecution is alwayes dilated ouer the world though more manifest in one Countrey then in another as wee see by experience that the losse which the Church hath in England and some corners of the earth is more then restored in Asia America So it was promised by the Prophet saying Thy Sunne shall go downe no more and thy Moone shall not be diminished Isay 60. 20. because our Lord shall be vnto thee for an euerlasting light As our Sauiour said I am with you all dayes euen Matth. 28. 20. to the consummation of the world And this was the promise of
honor Behold how they are counted among the children of God and their lot is amongst the Saints We therefore haue erred from the way of truth and the light of Iustice hath not shined to vs. Such things said they in Hell which sinned And I set it downe for thy example that yet whilest there is time thou mayest become one of the Seede of Abraham and be partaker of his blessings which with all my heart I wish vnto thee and all Protestants and Puritans Thus hauing abundantly shewed vnto your most excellent Maiesty that our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ was Author of the Catholike Roman Faith It resteth to set downe who was Author of the Faith and Religion now publikely professed in England by Protestant Ministers CHAP. XIV That Queene ELIZABETH was Author of the Faith and Religion publikely now professed in England and vpon what occasion THE Kingdome of England together with the Crowne after the death of Queene Mary belonging by all Law and right vnto your Maiesties Mother as lineally descended from Henry the seuenth Henry the eights lawfull Line being ended in Queene Mary to the great prejudice of your Maiesties Mother Lady Elizabeth tooke vpon her the Crown and knowing that not only of all Catholikes shee was esteemed Illigitimate and for such published by the Church of God planted by our Sauior for that shee was borne of Anne Boloigne during the life time of the first wife of King Henry the eight her supposed Father but also by a Decree in publike Parliament holden in the eight and twentith yeare of the Reigne of Henry the eight her supposed Father Shee was to vse the words of the Statute iudged Illigitimate excluded and barred to claime challenge or demand any Inheritance as lawfull Heire to Henry the eight as remaineth yet to bee seene amongst the Statutes of Henry the eight printed by Thomas Berthlet the Kings Printer and set forth with Priuiledge And fearing lest for the said cause of Illigitimation her Subjects should forsake her and stand to the right Heire your Mother or that Christian Kings would not permit so euill a president in prejudice of the lawfull Lineall discent of Kings casting off all feare of God shee resolued at what price soeuer to reigne and to that end beganne to practise Ieroboams policie of whom it is written that hauing obtained a part of Roboams Kingdome Thought in his heart now will the 3. Reg. 12. Kingdome returne to the House of Dauid If this people shall go vp to make Sacrifice in the house of our Lord into Ierusalem the heart of this people will be turned to their Lord Roboam the King of Iuda and they will kill me and returne to him and finding out a deuice he made two golden Calfes and said to them Go vp no more into Ierusalem Behold thy Gods Israel which brought thee out of the Land of Aegypt And he put one in Bethel and another 2. Parap 11. in Dan. And he made Priests of the obiects of the people which were not of the Tribe of Leui and cast off the Priests and Leuites that were in all Israel and their posteritie that they should not execute the Priest-hood of our Lord. And by these meanes Ieroboam esteemed though falsely to establish the Kingdome of Israel in him and his Posteritie So Ladie Elizabeth being thus ascended to the Crowne of England contrary to the Law of God Nature and Nations fearing lest her Subjects should forsake Her and adhere vnto Your Mother the lawful Heire if they continued in the Catholike Faith with Your Mother and other people and Kingdomes shee put in practise this Ieroboams wicked policie and Cassered al the Catholike Priests and Bishops in this Land and their Posteritie that they should not execute the Priest-hood of our Lord and vnder a veile of a Supreame Gouernour shee tooke vpon her all spirituall Power and Authoritie and would not admit any to be Archbishop Bishop or Minister who would not abjure and renounce all authoritie deriued from Iesus Christ the Sonne of God and his Apostles and receiue all their Power Spirituall Authoritie and Iurisdiction from her a woman So that none could in her time be made an Archbishop Bishop Minister or Deacon or receiue any Degree in Schooles or beare any Office vnder her but he must first take the oath of Abrenunciation of all power and authoritie which was not deriued from Her as followeth I. A. B. Doe vtterly testifie and declare in my conscience Stat. An. 1. Eliz. cap. 1. that the Queenes Highnesse is the onely Supreame Gouernour of this Realme and of all other Her Highnesse Dominions and Countries as well in all Spirituall or Ecclesiasticall things or causes as Temporall and that no forraine Prince Person Prelate State or Potentate such as were our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ and the Apostles who were borne in Iuda or thereabouts hath or ought to haue any Iurisdiction Power Superiorite Preheminence or Authoritie Ecclesiasticall or Spirituall within this Realme and therefore I doe vtterly renounce and forsake all forraine Iurisdiction Powers Superiorities and Authorities And if any did refuse to take the said oath of Abrenunciation of all forraine Authoritie such as was the Authoritie deriued from our Sauiour and the Apostles and deny her Supreame Spirituall Authoritie in all things they should neither beare Office nor be admitted to any Degree in Schooles or bee made Archbishops Bishops Ministers Deacons as is set downe at large in the first Chapter of the said Statute made in the first yeare of her reigne And that there should be in her time no person or persons or man whosoeuer that might challenge any authoritie from Christ Iesus or the Apostles but that all Spirituall Power and Ecclesiasticall Iurisdiction might be wholly in her and receiued from her Shee made a Law in her said first Parliament That no forraine Prince Person Prelate Stat. An. 1. El. cap. 1. State or Potentate Spirituall or Temporall shal after the last day of this Session of Parliament Vse enioy or exercise any manner of Power Iurisdiction Superiority Authority Preheminence or Priuiledge Spirituall or Ecclesiasticall within this Realme or within any of her Maiesties dominions or Countries that now be or hereafter shal be but from henceforth the same shal be clearely abolished out of this Realme and all other your Highnesse Dominions for euer any Statute Ordinance Custome Constitutions or any other matter or cause whatsoeuer to the contrarie in any wise notwithstanding By which Law shee hath not onely abolished out of this Realme all the Authority which the Sonne of God left vpon earth but also as much as lyeth in her power shee hath debarred him from comming to Iudgement within her Dominions or sending any one hither to preach or teach that all authoritie might bee in her selfe and come from her to her Subjects as from their God or golden Calfe vpon earth And lest there might be some doubt how far her womanly
and not a man of them left to pisse against the wall according to the words of God And amongst the many temporall maledictions which God promiseth to send vpon that Nation which shall forsake his Word and Law to follow humane inuentions and policies for Religion this is one That the stranger that liueth with thee in the Land a fornicator Deut. 28. 43. after mans inuentions as thy selfe shall ascend ouer thee and shal be higher and thou shalt descend downward and be inferiour He shal be as the head and thou shalt be as the tayle Whereupon the children of Israel after they had embraced Ieroboams policies for Religion were deliuered into the hand of the spoilers vntill God threw them away from his face euen now from that time 3. King 17. when Israel was rent from the house of Dauid and made Ieroboam the son of Nabat their King for Ieroboam seperated Israel from our Lord and made them to sin a great sin c. And Israel was transported out of their Land vnto 4. King 15. 19. the Assirians and made slaues and tayles vnto those Idolaters with whom not long before they had made couenants of association and defence So the whole people of the Iewes renouncing our Sauiour the Messias are as we see by experience euen vntill this day the tayle of all people and vnder all and aboue none Many people and Nations forsaking the Catholike Roman Faith to embrace Arianisme became tayle to the barbarous Goathes Africa infected with the Heresie of Donatus was conquered by the Vandals The East Church which whiles it was Christian Catholike held the Empire of the world now for her Schisme is become slaue and tayle to the Turke and many Kingdomes in Asia and Africa which heretofore haue flourished vnder the Catholike Roman Faith by forsaking it either became base vile and contemptible or quite extinct to the verifying of the words of God saying Whosoeuer shall glorifie me I will glorifie him and they 1. King 2. 30. that contemne me shelbe base And who is able to expresse the present maledictions which are fallen vpon Germanie by forsaking in this our age the Catholike Roman Faith Since before it flourished both in dominion and prosperitie aboue all the Nations of the West which now is punished with all the plagues of God as Famine Pestilence Sects Ciuill warre and in danger to be swallowed vp by the Turke And if before the rising of Luther there euer were any Christians that made profession of the Religion now publikely professed in England as some of your Protestant Ministers would seeme to affirme wee see by experience that they were the tayle drosse and refuse of all people so lodened with the curses and maledictions of God as that there resteth no more memory of them then if they neuer had been to the verifying of the Prophecies saying The enemies of our Lord forthwith Psal 36. 20. as they shal be honored and exalted vanishing shall vanish as smoake Againe I haue seene the impious lightly Psal 36. 35. exalted and aduanced as the Cedars of Libanus And I passed by and behold he was not and I sought him and Psal 36. 38. his place was not found Againe the vniust shall perish together the remaynes of the impious shall perish God Almightie hauing created all creatures and giuen to euery creature whatsoeuer good it hath and to certaine Kingdomes and people particular diuine fauours and graces aboue other people as the Faith planted vpon earth by his onely Sonne by the practise whereof they may liue vpon earth like Citizens of Saints and domesticals of God and euen in this life taste of the comforts and consolations of diuine pleasures when this people in stead of gratitude shall become so base and vile as to forsake this Faith to follow the crafty inuentions and politick deuices of men Then saith MOYSES Our Lord will not forgiue him Deut. 30. 19. but then his fury will most specially fume and his zeale against that man and all the curses sit vpon him written in Deutronomie And the generation following shall say and the children that shal be borne from henceforth and the stranger that shal come from a farre And al the Nations seeing the plagues of that Land shal say Why hath the Lord done this to this Land And they shal answere Because they forsooke the couenant of the Lord which hee made with their Fathers therefore the fury of the Lord was wrath against this Land to bring vpon it all the curses written in Deutronomie That the iust may see and Deut. 28. feare and say Behold the man that hath not put God for Psal 51. 8. his helper Behold they that make them farre from thee Psal 72. shal perish thou hast destroyed all that Fornicate from thee Fiftly they are Lawes and Statutes made against all Law and the grounds of Law for that Protestants would not be content that the Catholike Kings of France or Polonie who haue many Protestant subjects should make Protestantisme treason or felonie yet as our Sauiour saith Whatsoeuer you wil that men do to you Matth. 7. 12. doe you also to them for this is the Law and the Prophets And to conclude the precident of making or approuing such Lawes followed will serue to make any thing Fellony or Treason or to change the Monarchie into a Common-wealth or to set vp any Intender or Vsurper whereof your Highnesse ought to haue especiall care both for the good of your Person Posteritie and Kingdomes ouer which God of his goodnesse grant that your Maiestie and your Posteritie may most happily Reigne in the estate of Monarkes and absolute Kings vnto the worlds end FINIS The faults escaped I leaue to the courteous Reader to correct