himself so by prom se to any place that he will always continue with them whether they abide in his Doctrine yea or nay And though Christ said The Gates of Hell should not prevail against the Church had this onely a Limitation to one place if it must needs be understood of a place outward because of these words afore-mentioned then why is it not extended as well to Antioch and the seven Churches of Asia and the rest afore-mentioned hath not the Gates of Hell and powers of darkness prevailed against them places and the Turks taken possession thereof And as for your Church at Rome which thou saith cannot err and hath always been visible and universal What saist thou to Marcilianus Christ's Vicar as you judge Whether did he not lose his keys when he sacrificed to Ido's in the tenth year of Dioclesian But it may be then thy Church must not reside in Christ's Vicar but in a general Council But hereafter we wil consider whether they have been alwayes one and could not erre Secondly That whereby the Roman Church gives us a Mark and Sign to be the true Church to wit Universality and Visibility makes her clearly to be a Harlot for John saw the true Church flye into the Wilderness for time times and half of time now if yours hath been visible and universal all this time times and a half then you are not the true Church for Universality comprehends all Nations Kindreds Tongues and People and if this be the Seat of your Church then absolutely your Church is Mysterie Babylon and not the Lambs Wife for she sate upon Nations Kindreds Tongues Peoples and Languages which were Waters And here is your Catholick Visible Church measur'd with God's Measuring-Rod First To be the Harlot because she was never in the Wildernesse Secondly because her seat hath been so Universal and Catholick as Natious Kindreds Tongues Peoples and Languages hath been the seat of your Church which are the Waters which John saw and so truly may be called the Great City And as for Infidels being obliged to join to you this hath been because you have forc'd and compell'd by your power and outward force where you had dominion and to escape your tortures rather than by sound Doctrine or a holy Example Or Secondly Because your Religion hath stood in so many formalities and ceremonies which hath been very pleasing and so near unto the Heathens nature And thou says that one cannot be bound to seek that which is invisible I say through faith God hath been seen who is invisible and Christ said Seek and ye shall find and the Kingdom of God is spiritual and invisible and the natural and visible eye never discerned it for the Church is in God and God is a Spirit and Christ is the quickning Spirit who is the Head of the Church which is his Body and the spiritual and invisible eye is that which discerns the Head and the Body and you that looke gazing after things that are visible have never discern'd the Members of the true Church of God as such neither have known them but have condemned them as Hereticks in all ages as your generation hath done who have been in Cains way Secondly If Unity Holiness Universal and Apostolick be the marks and figns of a true Church then yours is not the true Church no more then they you count Sectaries and Hereticks which thou saist are no more one than Cats and Dogs The comparison is odious and like a suarling catching spirit who would tear every one that cometh nigh thee And what if there be Protestants Puritans Anabaptists Independents and Quakers these titles are but nominal and there is not one amongst all these but they acknowledge one God and Jesus Christ to be the Head of the Body which is his Church and one Spirit by which the Saints are sanctified and they acknowledge Christs Doctrine in words and his Worship that it is in spirit and in truth and walketh nearer to the practice of the Apostles and the Church in their days than you do And if in some things they do vary why may not variety be allowed by thee where it is onely nominal and circumstantial as well as thou canst allow variety of Ave Maries Creeds and Pater Nosters which thou saist delighteth But why hast thou not judged at home Thou must not think to lead us like Animals by the Head as your Church doth poor ignorant people to receive every thing for Apostolick Doctrine because the Church of Rome calls it so and cryes Unity Might not the Sectaries as thou callst them return this upon your selves that you are not at unity and not one What meaneth the diversity of Orders in your Church which may be called sects that is Jerom's Order Austin's Order Gregory's Order Carmalites Crouched Fryars Franois Anthony's Bennet's Dominick's Trinity Basil Brigandine's Orders All these kind of Orders and many more with every one their distinct Service Formalities and Ceremonies what a heap of Sectaries are here and yet Rome cryes Unity Besides what contradiction in your Councils may hereafter be made manifest and in your Vicars one throwing down and condemning that which others have set up for Apostolick doctrine So if Unity be a mark of the true Church then you are without this mark and sign more than they which you call Sectaries Thirdly If Holiness be a sign of the true Church you are without this sign also more than the Sectaries as you are pleased to call them What cruel Murthers Massacres Tortures Bloodsheds hath been acted by your Church and that by Commission from his Holiness so call'd Christ's Vicar against them that have dissented from you upon good and warrantable ground onely upon the account of Religion because they could not acknowledge the Pope to be the Head and Christ's Vicar and receive all Decrees though never so repugnant unto the Doctrine of Christ yet because for Conscience-sake many have denied such things nothing but fire and sword have been threatned and the force thereof hath been known in many Nations as for instance in Germany and the Low-Countreys France Pyedmount Holland England and Ireland of late years many thousands massacred not in War but in holes hundreds of Houses burnt men women and children children taken from their Mothers Breasts knockt against the Walls toss'd upon Pikes and Spears wounded with Swords thrown into Lakes and Rivers stript naked starv'd in cold seasons through such like inhumane and savage cruelty Commissions given from your Nuntio's and Agents to rob to steal even Servants from their Masters even upon this account only to weaken enfeeble the Sectaries and Hereticks as you stile them to advance your Holinesse's Chair and to progagate your holy or rather unholy Church and Religion which things remain fresh in the memory of many Nations to this day besides doth not your Church tolerate Stews and Adulterous Houses in the Cities where you have Dominion Besides Pride abounds amongst
was no talk of Visible Heads or much of Universal Bishop for then Rome had no more priority then the rest for the Churches at Constantinople at Jerusalem at Caesaria at Cyprus and Alexandria for the first three hundred years they had as much power in their several Churches as Rome had and often the Elders or Bishops of the aforesaid Churches did reprove sharply the Bishop of Rome But at last about five hundred years or upward Phocas to aspire to the Empire of Rome he murthered his own Master Mauritius and his Children to attain unto the Empire So at that time Boniface the third was Bishop of Rome and Phocas somewhat fearing and willing to have Boniface his favour condescendeth to all his Petitions and grants him to be Universal Head-Bishop over all Christian Churches and there was the first rise of Rome's visible Head for this frivolous reason of being Peter's Successor could never have raised him to that height but then the Emperors Power and Authority became to be the more forcible plea for before that time the Bishops of Rome were chosen by the Emperors consent but after he had got power Emperors could not be chosen but by the Popes consent and then came the Bishop of Rome to be a visible Head and be called Universal Bishop Christ's Vicar a Lord Spiritual over all the Churches and in process of time Lord temporal over all the Empire And thus your Church of Rome became magnificent and great and to sit as a Queen upon the Waters Nations Kindreds and Tongues as you acknowledge your Church of Rome hath spread over and here is a Héad and a Body which are joyn'd together in union Christ is the Head of the true Body which is his Church and his Wife and Antichrist he is the visible Head of his visible Church and Wife Mysterie Babylon The next piece of Merchandize which the Author brings forth to view is Purgatory and prayer to be made for the dead and also prayer unto the Saints and the Authors proof is 1 Cor. 3. 15. where the Apostle speaks Every mans work shall be tryed and that work which will not abide the fire must be burnt and this the Author calls the fire of another World and prayers for the dead he proves out of the 12. of Maccabees and prayer to the Saints He sayes it 's lawful to pray in this world unto good people and Paul while he lived did pray for others and also did beg their prayers And the Angel in the first of Zachary prayed for Israel and there can be no harm in praying to them that can pray for us Ans. Them that dwell in the shadow of death are like to speak out of thick darkness and they that have made a Covenant with death are loath to have it broken and they that have a mind to continue in sin while they live have a mind to put the evil day afar off and Judgement afar off and evil-doers will never have it time to give account for their evil deeds and so puts it off till they are dead and to another world and let the Devil have preheminence in their hearts while they live and reckon their sins venial and light faults this is contrary to the Doctrine of the true Church of Christ and contrary to the Apostles Doctrine who said The wages of sin is death and there is no sinne goes unpunished nor unjudged and Sion is redeemed through judgement and by the Spirit of burning and Purgatory is a fiction a falshood and a lye there is no cleansing from sin in another World Solomon saith As the Tree falleth whether to the North or to the South so shall the tree lye and the Word of God who hath received it in their hearts which is as a fire that purifies and the Blood of Christ is that which cleanseth from all sin there 's not any cleansing from any sin but by it there is no cleansing in another world but Purgatory hath been invented and prayer for the dead that thereby the Pope might be enriched and sell the invented Prayers and Ave Maries and so cheat people of their money and there 's no sacrifice to be offer'd for the dead who dye in their sins nor no remission after this life And as sor praying to the Saints the Scripture makes no mention of though Paul did pray for others and beg the prayers of others yet he prayed not for them when they were dead neither did beg the prayer of the dead but prayed for them who were believers in the true Church and desired the prayers of them that were living Members and were alive and lived in the world and were redeemed out of it and the Angel prayed not for the people of Israel when they were dead and that which thou calls Jeremy's prayer in the Maccabees was never spoken by the Spirit of the Lord nor the offering was not made in the will of God and the Prophet saith Though Abraham know us not and Israel be ignorant of us yet thou O Lord art our Father And the Lord said unto David Seek my face and call upon me in the day of trouble and I will hear and answer Not upon Mary Peter and Paul Dominick and Anthony Again it 's contrary to the practice of the Saints in the primitive times and contrary to the Doctrine of Christ who said unto his Disciples Whatsoever you ask in my Name the Father shall give it you He doth not speak of any other Name neither is any Prayer or Supplication accepted of the Father but in the Name of Christ alone So these Doctrines are false and Doctrines of Devils never commanded nor practised by any of the Saints in the primitive times but onely have been invented and practised by the Apostates who have erred from the faith and Practice which was once deliver'd unto the Saints which the Church of Rome hath made shipwrack of in many things which I have made appear and I shall proceed to more particulars to manifest it lest any should be beguiled with such deceitful Babylonish Merchandize which the Nations are too much corrupted with already The next false Doctrine which the Author lays down is That Christ is really and personally in the Mass and in the Eucharist And his proof is Luke 22. 19. 1 Cor. 11. 25 26. For saith he God who is Almighty is able to change Bread into his Body and Wine into his blood in the Mass as he did change the Water into Wine and make the World of nothing Hence also by the way you may learn that we are no Idolaters adoring the Eucharist because it 's no more Bread but whole Christ our God and Redeemer who placeth himself there by Miracle after the Priest hath uttered the sacred words of Consecration yet the external accident of Bread and Wine remain as our eyes represent to us but faith tells us the true Body of Christ is hidden under it and the substance and
they be ruled that may not read them without a Licence or a Toleration from the Superior If it be lawful to read with Toleration it 's lawful to read without Toleration for the toleration of men neither addeth to nor diminisheth from any spiritual exercise and Timothy read the Scriptures of a youth and who gave him his Toleration And Apollos was a mighty man and a knowing man in the Scriptures from whence had he his License 3. Because thou judgest according to the judgement of this present evil world that they are onely fit to read the Scripture and give interpretations upon it who are naturally learned and have the wisdom of this world I say Nay the world by wisdom knew not God neither know him now and them that had natural learning rejected the Foundation them that had the Hebrew Language set Christ at nought they that had the Greek tongue withstood Paul and called him a babler them that had the Latine Tongue the Tongue of the Whore your Mother persecuted the Christians in the first three hundred years after Christ as your own Histories do relate So according to all these who had onely the knowledg in the natural Languages they did not understand the things of God and it was the wise builders which builded by art skill in the Earthly Wisdom that rejected the true Foundation and Corner-stone but on the contrary we say according to the Apostolick Doctrine that the Scriptures may be read and ought to be read for they are profitable for instruction and correction and information to make the man of God perfect and thorowly furnisht to every good work through faith in Christ Jesus And I would have the Author know that we do not look upon Cardinals Fryers Monks and Bishops to be the alone men of God so that they alone have the sole power to tolerate the reading of Scriptures for he is a man of God who is born of the spirit which sanctifieth and leadeth into the clear pathes of Equity and Righteousness who walks not after the flesh neither fulfils the lusts thereof and such there are and have been which have been unlearned in natural Tongues but this is the way to keep your Church in reputation to believe as you believe and every man to put out his own eyes and live by another's sight and hang his faith upon another's shoulders this is not like Apostolick Doctrine for the Apostle said Let every one be perswaded in his own mind not by other mens minds and he that believeth hath the witness in himself and hath it not to seek among the litteral Rabbies who darken Counsel through words and it is not for want of natural learning that one understandeth the Scriptures this way and another that way but because they want the understanding of that Spirit which gave forth the Scriptures which Spirit universally is given to all men and women a measure of it to lead into truth and through which the deep things of God are revealed And it 's not your Traditions Inventions natural Learning Schools Colledges Fryeries and Covents in which the Spirit of God is onely limited but every one that seeks finds whether learned or unlearned for of a truth God is no respector of persons And so the mind of Christ is manifest unto them that believe and the one Spirit into which the Saints were baptized is that which opens the Scriptures truly as they are and discerneth the times and the seasons and fulfilleth it in the hearts of them that believe and manifests the state unto which they were spoken And if the Scriptures be so hard to be understood by reason of the hard sayings or because of the Translations what have you been doing these fourteen hundred years with all your learning with all your Councils Popes Bishops and Clergy that you have not translated them aright or so plain that they may be understood by all that reads But then your Doctrine Worship and Practice would be soon manifest not to be Apostolical nor consonant and agreeing to the practice of the true Church of Christ. And now I come to the effectual Arguments and pregnant wayes which the Author tells of which will work upon the Sectaries to make them return to the Catholick Church which he saith they have groundlesly forsaken and now I shall come to try his arguments and search the force of them which he layeth down as the most efficacious way to convince all Sectaries as he is pleased to stile them to come to the Church of Rome but the hope of this man will be like a Spider's Web for unto all whose Eyes God hath illuminated in any measure will come to see the weakness of this Philosophy and vain deceit which he hath laid down as a chief instrument to convince all that the Roman Church is the true Church and that salvation is onely concluded in her 1. The first argument he takes from Matth. 18. 17. Christ sends us to the Church saith he if any neglect to hear her they must be counted as Heathens and Publicans From hence this is the Argument That that Church is to be heard in which there is most assurance to be had that one is in the way to salvation but in the Roman Church there is most assurance therefore the Roman Church is to be heard Ans. The Minor is false and also the Conclusion That Church which hath the foundation of its assurance without it is not the true Church of Christ neither is to be heard but the Roman Church hath onely their assurance of salvation without them therefore are not to be heard it is manifest their assurance stands onely in outward things as Antiquity and Visibility which are not the alone Marks of the true Church Cain was ancient enough and there were them that were in Cain's way before Rome was so highly elevated and that for Universality and Visibility there is no assurance in that for all the World hath wondered after the Beast and the Whore hath sitten upon Nations Kindreds and People and so the first argument is denied and proved to be false I shall lay down another 1. That Church which hath always been so visible and Universal since the Apostles dayes as hath had its seat over Nations Kindreds and Tongues is not the true Church of Christ but the Harlot but the Church of Rome hath been universal over Nations Kindreds Tongues and People therefore the Church of Rome is the Harlot and not the true Church of Christ. But I shall not traduce thee in thy vain deceit but return thy arguments upon thy self which thon chargest upon others 1. As first That Church is not to be heard whose Authors and Doctors are Cozeners and Impostors 2. But all are Cozeners and Impostors but the Church of Rome Again That the Church of Rome hath the Marks of the true Church and no other as Antiquity Miracles holiness of life Universality Again That the Church of Rome takes the
Marriages new Moons and Sabbaths and voluntary humility and worshipping of Angels and praying unto them and praying for the dead and if you brought the Christian Faith so called into the rest of the Nations first and the aforesaid Doctrines mentioned and preached them up for Apostolick Institutions then you brought in a Doctrine and a Gospel that is accursed which you have received of your fore-fathers who wondered after the Beast and received his mark and have been drunken with the Whore's Cup to wit the Universe which you lay claim to and none but you called Christians So that it is manifest your Visible Universal Church is the Harlot and hath brought in another Gospel and other Doctrines than the Apostles and so are anathomized for the Apostles preached the Power of God to be the Gospel and you have preached traditions inventions old Wives Fables and outward ceremonies for the Gospel and so have deceived the Nations and now when they begin to dislike your Traffick you are angry but the day hath made manifest that discovers all your deceit And now I have answered the substance of the Book and also the eight Propositions proposed by the Author and thee I am not yet at the wits end as thou saith the Ministers in Germany the Low Countreys have been neither at Wisdoms end but am in it and ready if you will lay down your carnal weapons to begin with thee and to vindicate the Truth as it is in Jesus against the Doctrines of the Church of Rome whensoever I shall hear of thee or any that pertain to your Church make such another bold attempt as to condemn all since the Apostles days for Sectaries Hereticks and Scismaticks who have dissented from you and shal indeavour in the strength of Christ to vindicate and contend though not with Cain's weapons for the Faith and Doctrine which was once delivered to the Saints before the Apostacy and now is manifest again in us and is with us when the Apostacy is coming to an end and the everlasting Gospel is to be preached again to them that dwell on the Earth and to Nations Kindreds Tongues and people that they may come to the true Foundation again and to the Rock of Ages again that they may be established in righteousness for ever the joyful sound whereof is going into the Borders of Babylon which will make the Inhabitants thereof to abhor their City in which they have inhabited and they shall return to Zion with Songs of Deliverance and everlasting joy upon their Heads because the hour of God's judgement is come and coming upon the Harlot and the Year of Redemption is proclaiming to the Captive and the dead shall be raised to life and shall hear the Word of Life and their graves shall be opened and they shall have victory over it and they that hear the voice of the Son of God in themselves shall live and shall deny the voice of many waters and the voice of your Church Mysterie Babylon whose seat hath been upon them And as for Doctor Baily which the Author asserts for his proof and layes down his Reasons wherefore the Church of Rome hath been and is still the true Church by way of demonstration He saith That the Church of Rome was an excellent flourishing Mother-Church this Church could not cease to be such but she must fall either by Apostacy Herefie or Schism Now Apostacy saith he is a renouncing of the Faith of Christ and no man will say that the Church of Rome had ever such a fall 2. He saith Heresie is an adhering to some private and singular Opinion or Error in Faith contrary to the approved Doctrine of the Church Ans. Whatsoever the Author is pleased to boast of the Church of Rome we do not find flourishing for Faith wholsome Doctrine and sound conversation more than other Churches that were planted before her as is evident both by Seripture and the best Ecclesiastical Histories which the Church of Rome her self will allow of and so I can say the Church of Rome hath had a fall and prove it too by Apostacy Heresie and Schism As First she is fallen from her first Love and from the Doctrine of Christ who taught to love Enemies and to do good to them that hate them and to pray for them that persecuted them Now the Church of Rome hath not loved their Enemies neither such as they reckoned as so but have persecuted them to death and to banishment who did not receive their Doctrine And this renouncing of that Faith which was once delivered to the Saints by Christ himself who taught to love Enemies and if they beat them upon the one check turn the other but the Church of Rome is out of this Faith and Doctrine and hath renounced this Faith of Christ and hath denied the power of God and placed it in a Man to wit the Pope that infallibility is in him And this is in the Apostacy 2. If Heresie be an adhering to some private Opinion or Error in Faith then the Church of Rome is in the Heresie for the Faith that was held among the true Churches was that which did overcome the world and give victory over sin and Faith in Christ was that which onely gave an interest into the Kingdom of God but Cardinal Bellarmine a chief Pillar of your Church hath asserted this for the Doctrine of the Church of Rome That a man hath a two fold right to the Kingdom of God first by the merits of Christ Secondly by the merits of man's good works or works of supererogation And this is an adhering to a singular Opinion and is an Error in the Faith that was generally held in the true Churches of Christ as witness He worketh in us to will and to do viz. Christ. So that there is nothing appropriated unto the creature as a creature 3. This is an Error in the Faith of the Church of Rome who teacheth and are taught That there is a place called Purgatory in which men are cleansed from some light faults or venial sins and this is contrary to the faith of the true Christian Churches and is no less than Heresie for the true Church or Churches of Christ taught That the blood of Christ alone cleanseth from all sin and that he is to wit Christ the propitiation for sin and the everlasting Sacrifice and Offering but you have other Offerings as the Sacrifice of the Masse which you call an unbloody Sacrifice which is contrary to the faith of the Christian Church in Christ's and the Apostles days and therefore is Heresie Again praying for the dead and praying to Angels and worshipping of Images is absolute Heresie and contrary to the Faith and Doctrine of the true Church of Christ. 4. And as for Schism the Church of Rome hath separated from many other churches in their practice and also have excommunicated them as Schismaticks and Hereticks witness the Eastern churches the church of Caesaria and
you more than the Nations beside And so your Church hath neither this Mark nor Sign of Holinesse Fourthly As for your Church being Catholick and Universal you want this sign also If it be One Universal comprehends all Nations like as all the World in comparison were your Church What is Germany France England Scotland and Ireland nothing What is all the Turks Dominions of your Faith And thou saist In Asia Affrica and America all is coming to an end There is that risen and arising in America which must spread over the Nations the breath of the Lord bloweth which will daily dry up the Waters which is the Seat of your Church which you so much boast of And what have you converted all the Indians nay have you not hardened their hearts against the Name of Christ because of your cruelty and unholy conversation among them So that the Name of Christ and Christian is become as odious unto them as Mahomet is unto you And so you are without this Sign as that you are the true Church Lastly That your Church is Apostolick if this be the Mark of the true Church then you are without this also for you neither Apostolick in Doctrine nor Practice your weapons are carnal theirs spiritual their Head was Christ the Light of the World your Head is visible and carnal which darkens the World they turned people from darkness to light and to the Word of Faith in their hearts and to know Christ in them to justifie them But one of your Rabbies told us lately you had no such Doctrine in the Church of Rome as Christ in you The Apostles turn'd them to the Annointing and to the Spirit to be taught by it and to be led by it into all truth and to worship in it and you turn them to Images Pictures Crucifixes Beads and Altars and so keep people in outward things which feed the sensual and corrupt part Lastly they said bodily exercise profiteth little and most of your Worship stands in observing of days meats drinks washings sprinklings Altars Tapers lighting and bearing Candles bowing creeping to the Cross turning wheeling this way and that way in all time and parts of your Worship so that there is no time left for the heart to be exercised towards God And so you are not Apostolical and so are without this true sign of being the true Church of God But I shall descend to particular things which is asserted and seems to be proved but very weakly But we can expect no Wine but such as is in the Bottle It is asserted by this Author That the Pope is the Head of the true Church in which salvation is onely to be expected And his proof he brings is this Christ hath so ordained it in saying to Peter Matth. 16. 18 19. Upon this Rock will I build my Church and Christ hath given power to him and his Successors to be a Head to rule and govern the Church and as there is an Emperor to be Head of the Empire and a King of the Kingdom so Peter and his Successors are the Head of the Church and have the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven to bind and to loose and to remit and retain sinnes The Apostolick Church hath this Doctrine That Christ was given to be the Head of the Body which is the Church which is spiritual though in the World yet not of the World and the Father hath committed all power in Heaven and Earth to the Son and hath ordained him to be a Leader a Teacher and a feeder of his Flock and to be his salvation to the ends of the Earth and his glory he will not give to another But it seems the Church of Rome hath soared so high in their conceits and imaginations that they judge all this Power to be given unto the Pope Peter's Successor as they say Now we do not read of Two Heads to the One Body which is the true Church Eph. 4. 4. 15. And so this is a contrary Doctrine then that of the primitive Church and Christ who is the Head of the Body he said Lo I am with you to the end of the world And so it is the meer arrogancy and pride of the Pope to be called the Head of the Church and an intrenching Christ's Power and Prerogative and that ever Peter was called the Head of the Church we do not read and that of the 16. of Matthew is but a poor proof to prove Peter to be the Head of the Church for Christ spoke unto his Disciples ver 15. and asked them Whom say ye that I am Peter as one amongst the rest said Thou art Christ the Son of the living God and Christ said Upon this Rock will I build my Church viz. Upon him which was revealed unto Peter by the Father the Son of God which was the Rock which the Fathers eat of and drank of Christ the Rock of ages and another Foundation can none lay said the Apostle then that which is laid already Christ the Rock and Corner-stone and not Peter for Christ is unchangeable and abideth for ever and so was not Peter though Peter and the rest of the Apostles received power from Christ yet in the 22. and 23. verses of the same Chapter he was gone out of the savour and discerning and Christ said unto him Get thee behind me Satan for thou savourest not the things of God and what though it could be proved that Peter was at Rome a Pastor an Elder or a Biship who fed the Flock and did feed the Flock and so might be reckon'd as an Elder and worthy of Honor in respect of his labour and diligence in the work of Christ is the Promise so entailed to Rome or to any place that the next that succeeds in that place must needs receive the same honor when he doth not the same work which is worthy of honor neither is in the same power but this I am sure of though the Church of Rome lay claim unto Peters Bishoprick as they say yet they have not done his work And secondly If Peter was at Rome and a Pastor yet he was not a Lord for Christ reproved that when they strove which should be the greatest and said unto them The Gentiles exercise Lordship one over another but it shall not be so among you and though Peter and the rest of the Apostles who were in the power of God had that which did open into the Kingdom of God and shut out that which did defile yet this we are sure of he sold no Pardons nor Indulgences for gain and filthy lucre as many have done whom you call Peter's Successors and Christ's Vicar and Universal Bishop and visible Head but it 's manifest how the Pope became visible Head and Universal Bishop not because of any work or labour in the Doctrine of Christ or the Work of the Gospel but by means of the Roman Emperor for while the Christians were under persecution and suffering there
THE Rock of Ages Exalted above Rome's imagined Rock On which her CHURCH Is builded She proved not to be the onely Church of Christ her corrupt Doctrines reproved not to be Apostolick but contrary to the true Church of Christ in the Apostles Dayes Also Divers Arguments answered which may convince the Papists that they are not the true Church Wherein a Book is also answered called A Catechism against all Sectaries Newly published by C. M. in the Year 1661. By Francis Howgil a Member of that Church which is coming out of the wilderness LONDON Printed for G. C. at the west end of Pauls 1662. A Table of the principal things contained in this Book COncerning the true Religion what it is and where it is demonstrated Pag. 7 8 9. The Church of Rome proved to be the false Church P. 10 to the 20 and pag. 59. The Pope proved not to be the Head of the true Church and Christ proved to be the Head of the Body which is his Church and the Rock upon which his Church is built P. 20. to 24 Purgatory proved to be an erroneous Doctrine which is held forth by the Papists and their Praying for the dead proved to be another false Doctrine not commanded nor practised by Christ or his Apostles p. 25 to the 28 The Papists Doctrine which saith Christ is really and personally in the Masse and in the Eucharist proved to be Blasphemy and great Idolatry 29 to 36. The Papists Masse and their Ceremonies proved not to be Apostolical P. 36. to the 38 The Papists honoring of Reliques and Images of Saints and praying by Beads proved to be but the inventions and traditions of men and contrary to the doctrine which the Apostolick Church held forth P. 39 to 47 The Doctrine of forbidding certain kind of Meats and forbidding the Scriptures to be read by all answered P. 47. to 56. Concerning Miracles P. 76. Answers to eight Propositions set forth by C. M. in his Catechise aforesaid From P. 78. to the end A Booke entituled The Glory of the true Church discovered as it was in its purity in the Primitive time Written by the same Author The Rock of Ages exalted above Rome's imagined Rock on which her Church is builded c. GReat hath been the Havock and Spoile that the Beast which John saw rise out of the waters made against them in destroying them who received not his Mark in their foreheads and the cry hath been long Who is able to make war with the Beast and great hath the suffering been these many ages of the Children of Light and still is of the Members of the true Church of Christ which is in God which hath proceeded from her who sate as a Queen upon the Waters which are Nations Kindreds Tongues and People which hath been the seat of Mysterie Babylon the Mother of Harlots who hath held out her golden Cup of Fornication ful of Abomination false Doctrine and Error which the Nations have drunk of and the Kings of the Earth have been made drunk with and all have been in instability and have reeled and staggered up and down in the dark in the night of ignorance and have wildered in the Mysts oâ— Error and lost the true Foundation and are gone from the Rock upon which the true Church is builded which is neither Peter nor his Successor but Christ the true Foundation which abideth sure and all that believ in him and have their minds staid upon him know settlement and establishment in that which the Gates of Hell prevails not against But blessed be the Lord he is come revealed and made manifest who is able to make war with the Beast and his followers and a discerning is given unto his servants that they can distinguish betwixt the Cup of Fornication and the Cup of Blessing and betwixt the Table of the Lord the Table of Devils betwixt the true Church the Lambs Wife Mysterie Babylon the Mother of Harlots betwixt the Heavenly Treasure which is communicable to the Saints in Light who are Members of the true Church and the Merchandize and the corrupt treasure of the Harlot which the Nations Kindreds and Tongues have been forced to buy by reason of the forcing and compelling power of the Beast and so the Nations have been begotten into a strange nature into the cruel nature killing one another about the forms of Worship and shadows and the substance hath been known but to a few neither the Lambs nature which is meek and innocent and the Leaves of the Tree of Life which heals the Nations hath been known but to a few which is the cause of all the Broiles Murthers and Massacres Imprisonments and cruel Torments which the Nations have afflicted one another with who have professed Christianity but have been out of the life and out of the nature of the true Church which Christ is the Head of which is Wife unto the Lamb and herein is the true Church manifest from the false The false Church hath propogated and encreased her number of Members by force and awe and Cain's Weapons and many have been forced into a belief and a feigned kind of Profession rather than by sound Doctrine or answering God's Witness in Peoples hearts and consciences But the true Church who is of the Husband's Nature her weapons have been is and wil be spiritual and yet is mighty through God to beat down strong holds of sin wickedness in people and hath by sound Doctrine and a good example answered God's Witness in people's Consciences without forcing to any thing but recommended themselves to every one's Conscience in the sight of God and would have every one perswaded in their own hearts by the Lord of the truth which they believed and not to take things by tradition and hear-say as the false Church and her Members have done and so have had no assurance of God's Spirit in their hearts for what they did and so doubts have arisen in the mind because whatsoever is not of faith is sin But God is opening the eyes of many and enclining the hearts of many to seek after the assurance of God's blessed Spirit in their hearts for what they do believe And now Reader I shall present thee with a great fardal and bundle of the Whore's Merchandize and of the counterfeit Ware which she hath long deceived the Nations with which hath long laid as mouldy and rusty in this Nation but now new trim'd up and presented again to this Nation as for precious treasure and it is not to be concealed in a narrow corner or put off under hand so that this Merchant of Babylon hath presented it to publick view with a great confidence that people that hath been tossed up and down and have found no rest for their souls at last may come to make a trial of this Merchandize and see what it wil do but lest any should be cheated and deceived with such counterfeit Traffique I could not chuse
having the knowledge thereof but declare against the deceit thereof and to give warning unto all to beware how they touch tast or handle it lest they be defiled and corrupted by it and their understandings darkned and their Consciences defiled And the Merchandize is this tituled A short Catechism against all Sectaries by way of Question and Answer wherein all the Doctrines and Practices of the Church of Rome are asserted for infallible and Apostolical wherein also it is holden out That the Church of Rome is the onely true Church out of which there 's no salvation and some Arguments to prove the same Also in this said Book all that are not of the Church of Rome arecondemned already as Hereticks Sectaries wholly to be without salvation Newly published and translated by C. M. and London printed for P. S. 1662. And though we have given publick Testimony both in word and writing in divers Nations in doctrine and practice yet such hath been the envy of many professors who have denied the Church of Rome that they have accused us for holding Popish tenents yet now on the other hand by this Popish Author we are condemned as Hereticks and Sectaries and to be without salvation And thus they who have been under the Beasts power in the Apostacy have tost us upon their horns from one to another and have pushed us this way and that way and every party and sect hath reckon'd us and join'd us with them whom they judged to be transgressors but it is a small thing to us to be judged by man's Judgment for our Judgment is with the Lord and he judgeth in righteousness and unto him we appeal who in his own day when righteousness comes to be revealed in peoples hearts they shall come to know us as we are and the truth which we believe and walk in as it is in Jesus But that such a heap and bundle of false Doctrine and Superstitious and Idolatrous practices may not go unreproved God hath put it into my heart to bear my testimony against it and all the confused heap of darkness which is laid down for Catholick Doctrine and to discover the deceit thereof lest any should be beguiled and led into the dark paths of Ignorance and Error and should become an Inhabitant of that City which hath shed the blood of the Prophets and Martyrs where now Christ is crucified First of all the Author saith There is but one true Religion wherein any can be saved Ans. 'T is true there is but one true Religion in the which salvation is witnessed which is confessed by all who profess Religion and every one wil needs lay claim to it and many have contended even by force and arms since the Apostacy entered in and hath kill'd and destroy'd one another about the name or sound without the thing it self and all Professors of Religion who are in that nature are not in the true Religion in which salvation is witnessed The true Religion standeth in the Power of God and to be exercised in those things which the Power of God directeth every one in who believe in it and to be obedient unto the commands of Christ and to keep his sayings and to follow his Example in righteousness and holiness and in that which overcometh the World and giveth victory over it and keepeth out of the pollutions of it And this is the pure Religion which purifies the heart conscience from dead works and teacheth to love Enemies Now the Church of Rome is manifest not to be in the one true Religion but have departed from this Faith and this Doctrine Let all Nations bear witness where your Religion hath been professed how you have kept this Faith and walkt in this Religion if any have dissented from you these many hundred years and that upon good grounds as Luther and Calvin which thou art so angry at and bring'st many Calumnies against and slanderous things and lyes of which thy Vessel is ful Now they with all others that dissent from you you have reckon'd and do as Sectaries and Hereticks And in case it were really so if you were in the true Religion and in the Faith of Christ you would not destroy so many mens lives as you have done within these thousand years I appeal to all Nations where your Authority hath been exercised how many have you kill'd tortur'd burnt to ashes and destroyed the Workmanship of God But it may be thou judgest such a distinction as this will cover a little as To hate their Heresie and to love their persons but how you have lov'd their persons I hope England hath not yet forgotten instance John Wickliffe whose bones you took up and burnt forty one years after his decease and how many hundreds more hathbeen burnt to ashes in England in later years as Hereticks and Sectaries whose blood yet speaks and cries for vengeance upon that City that Church and Religion which hath drunk the blood of the Prophets Martyrs So in what I have said the Church of Rome to all unbyassed spirits wil appear to be out of that one true Religion and that Faith and Doctrine which Christ deliver'd and so salvation is not to be looked for amongst killers and destroyers And so what I have said may convince the Author of this Book that they are not in the one true Religion in which salvation is witnessed And this Roman Church hath been always visible and universal since the Apostles dayes and Infidels have alwayes been obliged to join unto her yet one cannot be bound to seek that which is invisible And the marks and signs of this Roman Church are four comprized in these words I believe in the true Church which is One Holy Catholick and Apostolick Answ. That there was a Church at Rome in the Apostles dayes is not denied so was there at Antioch at Philippi at Thessalonica at Corinth and divers other places that I might instance which were as visible as Rome was and as much a City set on a Hill as Rome was and not inferior in Doctrine Gifts good Works to Rome at all but as to Precedency and Antiquity may claim priority before Rome And if he pleads that Peter was at Rome and as he saith was Christs Vicar and Bishop and if because of this Rome doth excel which the Scripture is silent in Jerusalem might claim priority before Rome in this for he we read of was more conversant at Jerusalem and a Minister of Circumcision and Paul ministred to Gentiles who preacht two whole years both to Jews and Romans which were Gentiles but it seems the very imagining Peter to bee Bishop of Rome hath made Pauls work void and hath turned his work out of doors but however he which hath usurped the Name of Christs Vicar hath turned both Peter and Paul their Life and Doctrine and Practice out of doors to set up Pride and Deceit But what blindnesse and ignorance is this to judge that God hath bound
Crafts-man upon a wall or a board or parchment or paper this is Idolatry for Christ promised to his Disciples and to the true Church That he would send his Spirit to lead them into all truth which is an invisible thing and to bring to remembrance what ever Christ had spoken and whatsoever was necessary as to Salvation whether the Saints life and holy practices which they lived in or whatsoever else as conduced to their peace and justification with God and what Images did God make use of to shew his Miracles by This is but an old fable formed by the Apostate Christians whose minds are turned after shadows and vain shews and is erred from the invisible life and worships the works of mens hands 2. Though Moses did put off his shoo 's according to the command of the Lord where God appeared in power and glory to him What is this to your purpose as to create and form places and Consecrate them as holy and then command reverence and honor unto them this is but to worship the work of your own hands and though David say in the 99 Psal. 5 vers Exalt the Lord God and worship at his footstool for he is holy What of all this doth God call Reliques or Images his Footstool And if the Author do judge that it was spoken of Zion and Jerusalem outward where Aaron and the rest of the priests worshipped yet doth not Christ say It 's not at Jerusalem c. But they that worship God worship him in spirit and truth What doth not the church of Rome profess Christianity and Apostolick Doctrine and wil now turn Jews or imitaters of them What is Rome Jerusalem or Zion And must Pictures invented and dead pieces of bones and wood be recommended unto the Nations as holy things This is contrary to the Apostolick church and with the life of God is judged and the life of the Saints whom you honour in words and make pictures of and worships the works of your own hands and crucifies the life where ever it appears that they lived in and teacheth a contrary doctrine 3. Confession may be made in words of the true God and talk may be of his wonderous works and yet people Idolaters the church of the Jews who acknowledge the true God and had seen and heard of his wonderous works they eat and drank and rose up to play and these were Idolaters such is the church of Rome who take peoples minds up with garments and Vestments with Altars and Candles with Crucifixes Agnus Dei with Images formed by Painters with a piece of Bread called a Holy Host and Eucharist an unbloody Sacrifice who neglects the life and him that is the Head of the Body and his Witnesse in their hearts and consciences and leads them to worship and honour visible and carnal things and to busie their mindes in the exercise of outward things which profiteth little or nothing at all and so are Idolaters worshipping the works of your own hands which Christ and the Apostolick church bore testimony against for that which the creatures mind goes out after besides or without that which may be known of God in the heart is made an Idol of and the true God is not minded and them that honor Gods Friends and Saints walks in their footsteps live their life and honor their sayings but your Church is contrary who would kill and have killed about these invented Fopperies which is contrary to the Apostles Doctrine God accepts not prayers by number nor tale nor for multitude of words which are without understanding and without the Spirit this Christ counted as evil and reprehended the Pharisees and said It was like the vain repetitions of the Heathen who thought to be heard for their much babling and the Salutation which the Angel gave to Mary is no prayer And that which is called the Apostles Creed is no prayer and them that are unconverted unto God may prattle and prate over the words in the unbelief and never have any acceptance of God And though the Prophet did pray seven times a day it was according to the motion of God's Spirit in his own heart which shewed him his state and necessity and what is this to imitators when they pray not with the same Spirit neither in the same words And what if Mary lived threescore and three years who gave commandment that Hail Mary should be said threescore and three times over The rest of the Saints are like to have but small shares of worship and honor if she go with all this in a day And what five wounds is that which the Church of Rome dreams of that five Pater 〈◊〉 must be said for the honor of With Deceit and Ignorance you wound him every day and your Pater nosters doth not honor him at all pattred oft over with your polluted lips who are given to speak lyes and your tongues to speak mischief which Christ accepteth not What are you all new creatures that say Our Father which art in Heaven Are you born again Are your Natures changed Sin you not Do you hallow his Name who do not love that which shews your evil deeds Would you see his Kingdom come which stands in righteousness Where will you appear Or how will you stand when he appears in his Power and Glory to take vengeance on all them that wis◠not that he should rule in their hearts who is the true Light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world Would you see his wil done on earth as it is in Heaven when you walk contrary to his Doctrine which the Apostolick Church walked in and sets up a numberless number of Traditions and Inventions of men instead thereof which the Lord accepteth not and you pray not with understanding 5. As for your Beads which are neither Jewish nor Christian but meer Heathenish as to reck on the number or tale of that which you call your prayers by and though Kings Popes Cardinals and Bishops do the same this is but a small proof as for Authority Kings have drunk of the Whores Cup and Popes and Cardinals have usurped power that Christ never gave as to exercise Lordship and be Law-givers unto others for the Lord is the Saints Law-giver and the Saints Life and Judge and he will not give his glory to another for Kings have ' drunk of the VVhores cup of Fornication and Popes have usurped Authority and Cardinals have exercised Lordship over mens consciences yea and over great Kingnomes and States too And if they pray by Beads as others do set forms by number tale they are as much Ideots as the rest are who know not the Spirit to pray by And so this is no authority to prove your practice Apostolical and holy as for variety of prayers and worships it delighteth the carnal mind indeed but they that worship God in spirit and truth they pray by the spirit and in it as David and Christ prayed
and gone in their own traditions and inventions and have forsaken the strait way and the narrow path that leadeth to life and all are exhorted to come unto him who is the light and life of men that their souls may live and that they may witness assurance of the love of God unto them by his Spirit 's manifestation And now let us see whether the Author will keep to his word whether the church of Rome will all turn unto our way which is Christ the way the truth and the life or they will follow their visible Head the Pope who is changeable and doth not abide for ever who leadeth onely to an observance of outward things but neglects the weightier things to walk in And now I shall come to some Propositions which the Author saith hath been propounded which are unanswerable and the Propositions are against all Sectaries and the Propositions are laid down by Francis Costorus as the Author saith of the Society of Jesus which hath been laid down fifty years ago and they are in number eight and with them eight Propositions the Author saith he hath put all the ablest Ministers of Germany and the Low Countreys unto their wits end now I hope some will be able to give an answer and yet keep both their Faith Wit and Reason 1. The first Proposition is this That never since the Apostles time till the Year 1517. wherein Luther began his Doctrine were any found in the world who did consent with either the Lutherans Calvinists or Anabaptists or other Sectaries opinions nor ever shall any of the Sectaries prove that any of the Apostles or Evangelists were of their Faith so by consequence the Sectaries are without Faith they are the men whom the Scriptures in several places affirms that should come In the latter times false Prophets c. Answ. As I said before any opinion which Luther Calvin or the Baptized people do hold I shal not stand to vindicate it because they have so holden yet in many things they are separated from you upon good ground their Doctrine and Worship was far more consonant and agreeable unto the Apostles dayes then yours are but I am one that owns my self a Protestant who denies the Church of Rome and I do say this Proposition is silly poor and feeble and I do not believe that any was so hard put to it as to be brought to their wits end by answering of it for what need he talk of since the Apostles time till such a year we shal come to the Apostles time and age and if any society of people now are found the same in Faith in Doctrine in Worship in Life Practice and Conversation then they are the true Church And let Francis Costorus with the rest of the Roman Merchants take that Faith to themselves and that Doctrine to themselves and those particular points of Worship and Tradition to themselves since all the world hath wondred after the Beast and hath worshipped his Image and this was since the Apostles dayes And if the Church of Rome plead the whole world as for a proof John saw that Antichrist's false Prophets Deceivers were entred in then fifteen hundred years ago and the world went after them and he saw the whole world wonder after the Beast and the Whore sit upon the Waters Nations Kindreds Tongues and People and this comprehends the World the Whores seat and we matter not for her consent neither to Doctrines and Principles nor opinions nor for the approbation of them that have drunk of her Cup. But if we can prove a people which are gathered by the Word of God and thorow the preaching of the Gospel into the same Faith Hope Doctrine Life and Practice which the Apostls walked in then this is the Church which is coming out of the Wilderness again where she has been preserved while the Mother of Harlots has sit as a Queen and has been so visible as over all the World and hath made the Nations drink her Cup of Fornication and therefore your Unity in this thing and in this time is clear that the Church of Rome is not the Church of Christ but there are some whom Rome is pleased to call Sectaries that own the same Practice the same Doctrine the same Faith which the Apostles walked in and therefore this great Proposition is false That all that have separated from the Church of Rome have no Faith or a new fancied Faith and now I come to his second Proposition 2. Propositon The Religion and Faith of the Romane Church hath not been any way changed in any Article that belongs to Religion by any Pope Councils or Catholick Bishops but it is the very same Faith hath remained intire and inviolate from the Apostles to this present day There were Churches planted before there was any at Rome and the Faith which they received was that which did overcome the world and gave them victory over sin and death and the Religion which the Churches of Christ professed as Corinth Galathia Thessalonica and the rest of the Churches which the Apostles planted is no more like the Faith and Religion of the Church of Rome now then Black is to White as for instance Prove us out of the Scripture what foundation you have for Purgatory for selling Indulgences and Pardons for sins and vvhat Scripture have you for Auricular confession for an Unbloody Sacrifice for Prayer to Saints for worshipping of Images in the New-Testament for observing of Lent consisting of so many days And what Scripture and example from the Churches that were in the Apostles dayes before Rome was called a Church concerning prayer for the dead for yours crosses your tapers and candles for annointing with oyle and cream in Baptism which was onely invented by Pope Clement which another Pope Pope Silvester confirmed 315. Plat. Volat. Sabil And what example from the true Church for baptizing of Infants and for God-fathers and God-mothers in Christ's day when he planted the Church And that Infants should be baptized and onely at Easter and Whitsuntide was not this ordained by Pope Leo in the year 676. Lib. Council Volat. Pol. Chron. And was not Transubstantiation which you call the Body and Blood of Christ after the consecration when the Priest hath whispered over the Bread and Wine a few Latine words As Hoc est Corpus meum hic est enim sanguis meus c. The Bread is turned into the natural Body of Christ's flesh blood and bone was not this ordained by Pope Innocent held at Latterane by twelve hundred Romish Priests Monks and Fryars in the year 1215. decret de summa Trinitate Cap. firmiter And whether are not these articles of the Church of Rome yea or nay If I should traduce the church of Rome in their Bishops and Councils these 12. hundred years and upward I might bring a cloud of witnesses that the church of Rome is not the same in articles of faith in Religion
other Sectaries to shew where Matthew's Writing is called holy Scripture more than Nichodemus his Gospel and seeing they cannot prove the one no more than the other they must needs believe something that is not written in the holy Scripture Ans. I shall let Luther and Calvin alone they were men that God did honor and I do honor and many more as in their day they are at rest in the Sepulchers of their fathers where your reviling cannot touch them they prevailed in their Doctrine and Faith so much against you as you have not recovered in a hundred and thirty years neither I believe ever will so long as the Church of Rome will have any cause to call her self Christ's onely visible Church upon Earth And I do not believe Matthew's Writing onely because it is reckoned by you and us for holy Scripture but because we feel by the Spirit of God that gave forth all words that it is a declaration of those things which were brought to pass in his day and likewise Mark John and Luke testifie unto the same matter but for Nichodemus his Gospel as you are pleased to call it the Spirit of God doth not testifie in us unto the same but that it is repugnant unto the mind of the Spirit and is a meer patcht up thing in the corruption of time wherein many things are contained that are in opposition and contrary to Matthew Mark Luke and John their Declaration And so thy feeble Argument is answered which thou concludâ—st hath not been alterable these fifteen hundred years and let not him that puts on his Armour boast but him that hath overcome and puts it off 7. Proposition is That it cannot bee shewen for this fifteen hundred years that there hath been any Catholick that held that the Pope of Rome was Antichrist or that did rail at the most holy Sacrifice of the Mass or Invocation of Saints and Angels and usual Praying for the Dead and such like works of Piety belonging to our Faith and Religion which the whole world hath laudably practised and reverenced for fifteen hundred years It is a wonder that this Author belonging to the the Church of Rome is not ashamed of his Arguments the silly Propositions that he hath propounded from another hand It seems neither this Author nor Francis Costherus whose Propositions the Author hath vaunted in and boasted of knows the Apostles Doctrine who said The whole world lay in wickedness and If any man loved the World the love of the Father dwells not in him and Christ said to his true Church Ye are not of the World therefore the World hates you and again I have chosen you out of the World and John in his day saw through the Spirit all the World wandering after the Beast and worshipping his Image and not the Image of God and saw all Nations Kindreds Tongues and People to be Waters and the Nations Kindreds Tongues and People to drink the Whores Cup and these the two Authors brings in for a great proof and for an unanswerable Proposition as that the whole World lies in wickedness in whom the love of God dwells not in and they that have drunk of the Whores Cup of Fornication and they that have wondred after the Beast to wit the whole World these are his dark cloud of Witnesses to prove that the Pope was never called Antichrist Will they that have received the Roman Faith and accounteth the Pope Christ's Vicar and the Visible Head call him Antichrist which hath exalted himself and the Church of Romes Faith over the whole world as the Author boasts That the whole world hath laudably practised and reverenced Invocation of Saints and Praying for the Dead for the Piety Faith and Religion of the Church of Rome for this 1500 years This proves the Church of Rome to lye in wickedness and to be contrary to the Doctrine and Practice of Christ and his Apostles And this doth not clear the Pope at all but rather makes him to be an Antichrist and your Church to be the ill-favored Harlot and not the true Church of Christ. Hast thou forgotten how John Bishop of Constantinople would needs be chief Bishop over all the rest of the Churches about the year two hundred fifty and upwards and how the other Bishops cried out against him for to be Antichrist But your Bishop he got to be called Chief-Bishop over all Christian Churches not by consent of the Elders nor Churches but by the means of Phocus a Heathen Emperor as before I have said and is not he much more an Antichrist And as for the Sacrifice in the Mass Invocation of Saints and Praying for the Dead which thou saist is a laudable practice I say none hath or doth reckon it worthy of praise but they that worship the Beast and his Image and have drunk of the Whores Cup and are erred from the Faith and Religion that the Apostles and true Church of Christ were in which all the world did that wondred after the Beast Lastly this I say He that teaches a Faith a Religion a Doctrine contrary to the Doctrine of Christ and the Apostles is an Antichrist But the Pope this 1500 years hath taught a contrary Doctrine therefore he is an Antichrist The first Proposition is evident from diverse testimonies of Scriptures who teaches onely to pray unto the Lord in the name of Christ and for them that are alive in the body and not for them that are dead The Second is proved by the Authors own testimony That the Pope and Church of Rome hath prayed unto the Saints and prayed for the Dead this 1500 years to his shame be it spoken therefore the consequence must necessary follow The Pope is an Antichrist 8. And last Proposition is this That the first Authors of the Christian Faith in Germany Italy Spain France England and Low Countries have acknowledged no other Faith nor brought any other to them then the Catholick Roman Faith which the whole Universe hath acknowledged which we have learned of our Forefathes therefore they that have brought in another are accursed That which the Whole Universe hath acknowledged in the Apostacy which lieth in wickedness seeing all hath wondered after the Beast and drunk of the Whore's cup since the Apostles dayes is but a lame and pitiful argument as to prove the Church of Rome the true Church and as for the Faith delivering such as it was to the Nations before-mentioned onely excepting Spain because it 's probable that the Apostle Paul spread the Faith there seeing that he said he had a purpose to come there into Spain which if he did thy boast may cease as for the planting of Religion there and we know he was no hypocrite but the same Faith and gospel which he had preached over the Regions he would preach there and his Gospel and Doctrine we find contrary to the Church of Rome he condemned diverse Doctrines which the Church of Rome holds as forbidding Meats