A GENERALL TREATISE AGAINST POPERIE AND IN DEFENCE OF THE RELIGION BY PVBLIKE AVTHORITIE PROFESSED IN ENGLAND AND OTHER CHVRCHES REFORMED VVherein they that either want leisure to read or that haue not iudgement to conceiue or that are not able to buie the learned treatises of other concerning particular points of religion may yet euidently see poperie not to be of God and our religi on to be acceptable in his sight Very necessarie for these times for the confirmation and strengthening of men in our religion that neither by Jesuits nor by any other they may be drawne to poperie or any other heresie or sect and likewise for the winning of Papists and Atheists to an vnfained liking and true profession of our religion BY THOMAS STOVGHTON minister of the word PRINTED BY IOHN LEGAT Printer to the Vniuersitie of Cambridge 1598. TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE AND MOST TRVLY RELIGIOVS AND vertuous Lord Robert Lord Rich Thomas Stoughton wisheth increase of all true pietie and honour in this life and eternall glory in the life to come RIght Honourable your fauour hauing beene such towards me as that both either vpon my coÌ„mendation before I was by face knowne vnto your Lordship and especially my selfe sithens that time haue thereby sared the better I could not but in all dutie thinke of some way whereby to shew my selfe in some measure thankfull for the same Hauing therfore taken a litle paines in gathering these generall arguments against the whole masse lumpe of poperie as in defence likewise of the generall doctrine publikely and by publike authoritie professed in England I thought your Honourable curtesie to be such that these my labours would be accepted as some testimonie of my gratefull minde Neither am I bold to offer them vnto your Honour in respect onely of that your singular fauour towards my selfe but also because the same your Honorable fauour hath beene extended and is extended towardes all whome your Honour hath seene forward in the profession of that religion the defence whereof is the chiefe subiect matter of this treatise Yea so haue you vouchsafed to countenance such persons from time to time not disdaining the meanest that this your Christian and godly minde is much more worthie this worke then the worke it selfe any waies worthy to be presented to so great a person For by this loue towardes the professours of the truth hath euidently appeared your affection towards the truth it selfe This affection also towardes the truth it selfe euen towardes the truth which in this treatise is commended and iustified hath in like manner beene most plainely testified vnto this whole countrey of Essex by your singular care for the placing of godly and sufficient ministers in all places where the patronage of benefices by the auncient lawes of this realmes hath beene your right And both these to wit your loue vnto the persons professing this religion and your like affection towards the religion it selfe haue pleÌ„tifully declared your true zeale of God himselfe and of Christ Iesus For Christ accouÌ„teth that done to himselfe that is done to them Math. 25. 40. that belong vnto him And as the enmitie against God his truth and the professours thereof endeauouring to suppresse the one and to represse the other doth testifie the like enmitie against God himselfe and Christ Iesus so the Maâ—h 25. 43. Act. 9. 4. contrarie loue towardes both doth declare the like loue towards God himselfe and Christ Iesus Further your honourable care before mentioned for the furthering of this religion shewed by prouiding such sufficient ministers for instruction of the people in the true knowledge thereof and obedience thereunto hath also witnessed and doth daily witnesse your vnfained loue vnto men For what greater worke can there be for the benefits of their soules yea both of their soules and of their bodies of this life and of the life to come For who knoweth not but that as the Gospell is the power of God vnto saluation Rom. 1. 16. Iam. 1. 21. 2. Tim. 3. 15. Psal 19. 7. Frov. 1. 4. and the word conteined in the holy Scriptures which also containe this religion here commended is able to make men wise vnto the same saluation so also that that wisdome which the gospel and word of God teacheth hath in Prov. 3. 16. her right hand length of daies and in her left hand riches and glorie As therefore to hinder the gospel and word of God doth plainly bewray the hatred of men which cannot be saued by any other meanes without it for which cause the Apostle speaking of the Iewes saith first that they 1. Thess 2. 15 16. were contrarie or aduersaries vnto all men then immediatly addeth as a reason or confirmation of the former that they had forbidden them to preach the word vnto the Gentiles vvhereby they might be saued so to promote the same word can not but witnes the contrarie Finally this your godly care hath in like sort the better witnessed doth witnes your faithful heart both towards her most excellent Maiestie and also towardes the whole realme For it cannot be but that the more the true knowledge and feare of God aboundeth by the more plentiful preaching of the word also will abound true obedience vnto her Highnes and vnfained loue betwixt subiect and subiect by both which the barres of the gates of the whole kingdome must necessarily be the stronger against all fortaine aduersaries Sith therefore Right honourable it hath pleased God of his aboundant goodnes and rich grace besides your great earthly honour thus more highly to honour and aduance you in heauenly things as I doe in this respect the more boldly dedicate this treatise of religion to your Honour so zealous of religion so in all humilitie I desire the same to accept therof and to vouchsafe your honourable protection therunto And because your former zeale perswadeth me the same of your Honour that the like perswaded the Apostle of the Philippians namely that he Philip. 1. 6. that hath begun this good worke will also finish the same therefore that vse of this treatise which in the ende I wish generally to all great persons alreadie called to the fellowship of this true religion I doe more specially commend vnto your Honour namely that you will yet be zealous thereof as hitherto you haue beene and are Yea let not your zeale onely continue but let it be such also as Salomon describeth the loue of the Church to be strong as death cruell or hard or Cantic 8. 6 7. inuincible as the graue whose coales are fierie coales and as a vehement flame or as the flame of God and the which much water cannot quench Yea because the Lord Iesus reprehendeth the slaking of the first loue of the Church of Ephesus Rev. 2. 4 5. threatning also to come against her and to remooue her candlesticke out of her place except shee repented and did her first works therefore also your
gods as their are saints in their Kalender doe they not also ascribe power to forgiue sinnes vnto the Pope and to euery shauen priest which yet God challengeth onely to himselfe and which also their forefathers acknowledged to be God his owne due Yea doe they not in their Decretals Distinctions Canons and such other bookes allowed by generall authoritie of their Church in most plaine words write that of him which is a so the onely prerogatiue-royall of God verely it can not be denied For proofe hereof to the reader I will set downe some of their owne words that no man may challenge me of a slander neither the pope himselfe bring any action against me for belying his holines These therefore are the words of the glosse vpon the distinction Jn canone Quanto de translatione episcopi titulo 7o. Papa dicitur hasere câ—â—leste arbitrium ideo etiam naturam resum immutat substantialia vnius rei applicando aâ—ij Et de nihilo potest aliquid facere sententiam quae nulla est aliquam facere quia in his quae vult câ—est proratione voluntas Nec est qui ei dicat curitafacis Ipse enim potest supra ius dispensare de iniustitia facere iustitiam corrigendo iura mutando Nam plenitudinem obtinet potestatis That is that I may interpret these wordes to let the most ignoraÌ„t see what blasphemies popery teacheth The Pope is said to haue aÌ„ heaueÌ„ly power therefore he changeth the nature of things by applying the substantiall properties of one thing to an other And he can make something of nothing and that sentence which was none or nothing worth to be somewhat or of force because in those thinges that he will to him will is for reason Neither is there anie man that may say why doest thou so For he can dispense aboue right and of that which is iniustice make iustice correcting and changing lawes because he hath full authoritie Who doth not see by these wordes that they make the Pope another God for to change the nature of thinges as God turned Lott his wife into a pillar of salt made Baalam his asse to speake and gaue Nebuchadnezzar the heart or qualities of a beast to make something of nothing to make iustice of iniustice as God is said to ferch light out of darknes to make his owne will sufficient reason to dispense aboue right to correct change lawes to haue ful authority to do al these things is it not proper vnto God An other also of their doctors saith Excepto peccato Papapotest quasi omnia facere quae Deus potest Sinne excepted the pope can doe in manner all things thai God can doe Iohannes also Capistranus a fit name for one so well worthie of an halter of the authoritie of the Pope and of the Church p. 93. B. writeth to the same effect Vbi quaeritur ad quid protenditur authorit as Papae respondeo breuiter quòd ad omne bonum nulluÌ„ malum est enim quasâ— Deus in terris maior homine minor Deo plenitudinem obtinens potestatis That is If it be asked how farre the pope his authoritie extendeth I aunswer briefly that it extendeth to all that is good to nothing that is euill for he is as God in the earth greater then man and lesse then God hauing full authoritie Marke good reader how they are not ashamed euen to attribute these words vnto him whereby the Apostle doth describe Antechrist 2. Thess 2. 4. saying that he should sitt as God c. So God will haue themselues to acknowlenge the Pope to be Antichrist though they intend no such thing but rather to make him God or at the least pew-fellow with God In their Decretalls also they write that the Pope is neither god nor man but the Viccar of God and mixt or compounded of God and man Oftentimes also they ascribe vnto him all power aswell in heauen and hell as in earth But for further view of the monstrous blasphemies of the Pope I refer the reader to the large description of him which is in the booke of Martyrs in the verie end of King Henrie the 7. his reigne in the verie ende also of the first volume where plentifully are laid downe both their wordes of him and also the places of their owne bookes quoted in which any man may finde them By these things it is euideÌ„t that although they think great scorne to be charged to teach that there are many Gods yet in truth by communicating that vnto other which is God his onely due they teach as much God himself hath said that he will not giue his glorie to any other but they scotch not they feare not to giue it to manie other 3 The like do they touching the Mediatour For they teach that there are manie Mediators yea so many as there are Saints and a great many more Yea they teach that the Virgine Marie is not onely a Mediatour but also a Mediatour aboue Christ himselfe For proofe I will note their owne words but yet onely in English for breuities sake Thus therefore they speake to the Virgine Marie as I do faithfully traÌ„slate their words in a certaine horarie c. Reioyce O celestiall matron triumphantly praise God thy Sauiour which hath made thee singular Thou wast content to be called the handmaid of Iesus Christ but as the diuine law teacheth thou art his Ladie For right and reason requireth that the mother should be aboue the Sonne Therefore aske humblie and commaund loftilie that he guide vs that are here in the euening or twilight of the world vnto the supreame kingdom And againe in the same place Thou alone art without example whome god hath chosen to be Mediat our betweene God and man the repairer of the world the end of destruction the washing away from sinnes the way of counsell the trust of reward the ladder of hèauen the gate of paradise In their common praiers also they call her the mother of gracâ— the mother of mercie and they pray her to defend them from their enemies and to receiue them in the houre of death Againe they call her the certaiâ—â— hope of them that are in miserie the mother of Orphanes the Sauiour of the oppressed the phisick of the sicke all to all What can be more contrarie to the doctrine and matter of religion for this is not onely to make her another Mediatour but also another God and indeed if she be another Mediatour shee must also of necessitie be another god because there caÌ„ be no Mediatour which is not also god Neither is this much to be marueled at for they also pray to god to be heard not onely for the blood of Christ but also for the blood of the Martyres Yea of Thomas Becket which was no Martyr but iustlie put to death for his insoleÌ„ctreason Yea they teach that euery maÌ„ must also be his owne Sauiour that is merit his
saluatioÌ„ by his own good works so that whereas the Scripture teacheth vs that a man is onelie iustified and saued by a true and liuelie faith in Christ Iesus Poperie teacheth that a man is iustified not by such a faith alone but also by workes partlie of himselfe and partly of other 4 So the Scripture teacheth that Christ Iesus is a perfect Sauiour which hath redeemed vs from all iniquitie and that with once offring vp of himselfe once I say for all and for euer but popery teacheth that he hath onely satisfied for sinnes before Baptisme and that he must dailie be offred vp by the hands of some greasie priest The Scripture teacheth that there is certainely no coÌ„demnation to them that are in Christ Iesus that they that loue the brethren are of the truth and shal before him assure their hearts that they shall neuer perish out of the handes of Christ Iesus c but poperie teacheth that it is presuÌ„ption for any maÌ„ to say that he is assured of these things The Scripture teacheth vs that Christ his humanitie is in heauen and shal be in heauen till his second coÌ„ming vnto iudgement but popery teacheth vs that it is euen now vpon the earth that in manie places at one and the same time The Scripture teacheth vs that Christ his bodie glorified doth so retaine the essentiall qualities of a true bodie that it may be discerned to haue both flesh bones by our outward senses Luk. 24. 39. But poperie teacheth that it is so altered and chaunged that neither by sight nor by taste nor by touching and feeling it can be discerned to haue any more flesh and bone then a peece of bread yea then a wafer cake as thinne as a paper The Scripture forbiddeth all grauen or painted Images of any thing whatsoeuer and wheresoeuer to be made and worshiped or anie waies religiously to be bowed vnto but popery commaundeth the making and worshipping of Images of things in heauen and in earth materiall and spirituall visible and inuisible knowne and vnknowne liuing and without life euen of the materiall and woodden crosse of Christ The Scripture forbiddeth all detraction from and all addition vnto it selfe binding this prohibition with a commination of a fearefull curse to anie that shall so doe but poperie hath not feared to cut of the whole second commaundement and many other thinges neither to adde whole bookes to the Cannon of the Scriptures The Scripture condemneth all praiers of the mouth in anie vnknowne tongue without vnderstanding and affection but poperie teacheth that in praier and all other things opus operatum the worke done howsoeuer it be done with affection or without affection is meritorious and that all praiers of all persons and in al places must be in the latine tongue albeit they that pray vnderstand neuer a word and may as well be taught to say O Deuill which art in hell as Our father which art in heauen yea and so they oftentimes pray for ought they knowe to the contrary For howsoeuer the Pope hath canonized Thomas Becket as it is said Edmund Campian other of that traiterous nest for Saints yet their treasons for which they were iustly cut off by the sword of the ciuill magistrate and their damnable heresies and horrible blasphemies whereof they shewed no repentance doe rather condemne them for diuells in hell then commend them for Saints in heauen The Scriptures commend the obseruation of the Lord his day aboue all other daies condemning also the obseruation of any other day in like sort perpetuallie but poperie commandeth more holidaies now then were euer commanded by God himselfe in the time of the law and that to be kept as strictly as the Lords daie it selfe The scripture teacheth that al things are cleane to the cleane but poperie maketh such difference of meates drinkes apparell c. and teacheth that at some times all flesh is polluted that it defileth whosoeuer eateth thereof more then swearing fornication and such like things as God himselfe hath expressely forbidden The Scripture commaundeth to gather vp the basest of God his creatures that nothing be lost but poperie commandeth vpon Shâ—oue-tuseday that whatsoeuer of the best flesh be left it should be cast vnto the dogges and â—o vtterly lost rather then saued for the good of any man The Scripture teacheth vs onely to call vpon God in the dare of our trouble and to praie onely to him when we may call Our Father which art in heauen but poperie teacheth vs to pray to the virgin Marie Saint Peter Saint Iohn Saint Swithin c. yea to the eyes nose mouth c. to the neckerchiffe girdle c. of the virgin Marie as is manifest by some of their olde printed praier bookes The Scripture teacheth by sentence and example of Priests Leuites Prophets Apostles c. that marriage is honourable in all men though as holy as Adam was before his fall but poperie teacheth vs that at sometimes of the yeare marriage is vnlawfull for all men and at all times for the ministers of the word in regard of their holy function The Scripture teacheth vs that euery soule ought to be subiect to the higher power and to honour the King c and that whosoeuer resisteth such power resisteth the ordinance of God but poperie teacheth vs that the cleargie is exempted from all ciuill power and may not be called before any such magistrates neither be punished by any ciuill laws To finish this argument drawne from the repugnancie of the matter of poperie to the Scriptures and that religion which they commend I must euen say as the Apostle saith Heb. 11. 23. What shall I say more the time would be toâ— short to tell of Gedeon Baruch c. so I say must I say what shal I say more long time would be too short and much paper too little to set down all the repugnancies and contrarieties of the matter of Poperie and of the matter of that religion which is commended vnto vs in the scriptures Can both therefore be of God and acceptable vnto God that is alvvaies the same and in whome there is no chaunge nor shadow of chaunge THE FOVRTH ARGVMENT touching the forme of true religion THat which hath beene said of the matter of poperie in respect of the matter of that religion which is commended in the scriptures may be said of the forme God is a Spirit and therefore to be vvorshipped in spirit and truth Ioh. 4. 24. But poperie prescribeth such a carnall and fleshly forme and manner of worship as if God were all flesh and no spirit God oftentimes commaundeth himselfe to be worshipped onely according to his owne word And truly if Princes may lawfully require obedience and seruice of their subiects according to their owne lawes with much more equitie may God the Prince of princes require seruice according to his owne statutes and ordinances Therefore he doth iustly refuse the traditions precepts and doctrines
next praier they call her the Queene of heauen the gate of paradise the Ladie of the world c. The head likewise of this praier is crowned with a promise of eleuen thousand yeares of pardon graunted by the munificence of the holy Father Sixtus Quartus Pope c. In an other praier they call her rerum omnium imperatricem the Empresse or commandreesse of all things Their other blasphemies in their other praiers vnto the Virgin are infinite and almost without number 3 To such as they account Saints in the same their printed portuus thus they praie as followeth To one S. Erkenwald Bishop as they thought of London they praie that he would make them with himselfe partaker of life without ende To S. Armigil they praie to be released from all griefe of sicknes To Sitha a holy virgin as they call her they praie for the glorie which shee had merited and to be released froÌ„ all euills in this life To S. Sebastian that they may merit to goe free and vnhurt of the plague To S. Christopher to be comforted in mind and released of all griefe To S. George that beeing washed from all their filthines they might with all ioy be with him in all glorie To William the Confessour to haue the spotts of their life taken away and the ioyes of the heauenly crowne giuen vnta them To Apollonia a virgin generally against all things hurtfull and particularly to be kept from the toothach To one King Henrie what king Henrie I think themselues know not that they might not die with sweate and griefe but liue and clappe their hands in heauen without ende and by him ouercome all their enemies In all these things doe we not see how they aske those things of their Saints which belong onely to God to worke and to bestow And what greater blasphemie can there be then this I might adde a thousand other like blasphemous petitions in their praiers were not the labour too great both to the reader and also for my selfe 4 For the praiers to the crosse or the similitude thereof though I might onely referre the reader to the Beehiue of the Romish Church in English booke the 4. chap. the third yet because it may be that euery one that readeth this my treatise shall not haue the booke at hand therefore I will heare expresse some of their praiers both in latine and english which that booke hath gathered out of the popish writings First of all therefore he setteth downe this praier to God himselfe touching the crosse Oramus te Domine sancte pater c. vt digneris benedicere hoc lignum crucis tuoe vt sit remedium salutare generi humano sit soliditas fidei bonorum operum profectus redemptio animarum sit solamen protectio ac tutela contra saeua iaculainimicorum that is We beseech thee O Lord heauenly father that thou wilt so blesse this woode of the crosse that it may be a heathfull helpe to mankinde a strengthning to faith a furtherance to good works and a redemption of soules that it may be our comfort our safegard our defendour against the noysome darts of the enemies Againe thus they commend the crosse and praie vnto it Ista suos fortiores Semper facit victores Morbos sanat languores Reprimit daemonia Dat captivis libertatem Vitae confert novitatem Ad antiquam dignitatem Crux reduxit omnia O crux lignum triumphale Mundi vera salus vale Inter ligna nullumtale Fronde flore germine Medicina Christiana Salva sanos aegros sana Quod non valet vis humana Fit in tuo nomine that is It maketh her soldiers excellent And crowneth them with victorie Restores the lame and impotent And healeth euery maladie The deuills of hell it conquereth Releaseth from imprisonment Newnes of life it offereth It hath all at commandement O crosse of wood incomparable To all the world most wholesome No woode is halfe so honourable In branch in budde or blossome O medicine which Christ did ordaine The sound saue euery houre The sicke and sore make whole againe By vertue of thy power And that which mans vnablenes Hath neuer comprehended Graunt by the name of holines It may be fully ended In these words although the English might haue beene translated somewhat more aptly to haue answered the Latin yet the difference beeing not great I thought not good to alter any thing because I would haue the reader to see both in the booke it selfe from whence I borrow these things Thus also they sing and prouoke all to praise the crosse in this manner Servi crucis crucem laudent Qui per crucem sibi gaudent Vitae dari munera Dicant omnes dicant singult Ave salus totius sacli Arbor salutifera that is as it is here translated The seruants of the holy crosse Her praise to heauen let them to see And they which in the crosse reioyce And of the gifts of life haue choice Let this of all both old and yong In solemne sort be said and sung O holy crosse which canst preuaile O tree of life all hayle all hayle And againe Ecce lignum crucis venite adoremus Behold here is the wood of the crosse come let vs worship And also O cruxspes vnica auge pijs justitâ—am donareis veniam O holy crosse our onely helpe encrease righteousnes to the godly and pardon the offences of the wicked What man that hath any pietie or sparke of true godlines wil not tremble to see and vnderstand such things so proper to God and his sonne Christ Iesus thus blasphemously ascribed to a tottring and rotten peece of woode Nay verely I am perswaded that if many that haue ignorantly with great deuotion said and sung these words had vnderstoode the meaning of them they would haue abhorred both them and all poperie for them long ere this time This shall be sufficient touching their blasphemies whereby they haue most deepely transgressed the thirde commandement Concerning the fourth commandement how can they sanctifie the sabbath according thereunto sith as we haue shewed before they haue not onely made many other holidaies equall vnto it but also aduanced and magnified many aboue it 5 This shall suffice touching their fruits of the first table Now because the second table is so ioyned with the first that the one cannot be neglected or contemned without neglect and contempt of the other because the obseruation of the duties of the second is also sometime called by the name of religion Iam. 1. 17. and because the Papists doe most of all boast of their good workes in obseruation of some things belonging to the second table I will therefore also take a suruey and giue the reader a sight of their obedience thereunto that thereby he may the better iudge of their religion Here in the first place let be considered the intollerable pride of him whome poperie and Papists account the Head of their church let I
it well beseemeth the wisdome of God sith it is altogether vnsauorie and vnpleasant vnto the naturall man sith from the breaking thereof through the Sodomiticall and Egyptiacall darknesse of poperie it hath most brightly shined in those gifts of God his spirit which were vniuersally and almost wholly eclipsed when poperie was spread ouer the face of the earth sith God hath auenged the hatred thereof vpon the heads of the Papists that especially hated it sith God hath mightily vpheld blessed and prospered such persons and places as haue most boldly and constantly professed and embraced it finally since God hath openly pleaded the cause thereof against such as haue oppugned it miraculously preseruing the professours thereof so oppugned by their aduersaries fearefully confounding the aduersaries I doe therefore againe conclude in behalfe of our religion that it is of God and acceptable vnto him The generall arguments vsed by the Papists for defence of poperie drawne from antiquitie vniuersalitie and vnitie are now stale yea battered in peeces by those that haue often substantially and plentifully confuted them Therefore I meane not to encrease this treatise and so to make further worke for the reader by setting downe any answer vnto them THE FIRST VSE CONCERning generally all of our religion both weake and strong THese things now written and whereby I haue prooued the falshood of poperie and likewise shewed the truth of our religion I wish profitable vnto all both to those that professe themselues of our religion and also to those that neither are nor professe themselues to be Of those that professe themselues to be of our religion some are faint weake and wauering others are strong and well grounded or at the least such as haue neuer doubted our religion to be of God The first sort I doe now wish to be as the second that is by these things that now I haue written so confirmed and established in the loue liking and constant profession of our religion so keeping as it were by force against all force whereby they shall be assaulted this profession of their hope Hebr. 10. 23. without wauering that hereafter they be neuer carried about with diuers and strange doctrines Hebr. 13. 9. yea both these sorts of professours of our religion I wish to be much stronger in this profession assuring themselues that so long as this religion abideth in them so long they themselues shall continue in the sonne and in the father Hebr. 2. 24. and so long as they walke according to this religion so long they walke with God as Enoch did Gen. 5. 22. But forasmuch as our religion is of God and acceptable vnto him therefore they that fall away from it doe also depart from the liuing God and fall away from the grace of the same God Hebr. 3. 12. and 12. 15. and then doth there remaine no more sacrifice for sinnes but a fearefull looking for of iudgement and violent fire which shall deuoure the aduersaries Heb. 10. 26 27. Let no man therefore that hath giuen his name to our religion deceiue himselfe neither suffer himselfe to be deceiued by any other either Papist or Atheist or of any other sect or heresie for surely it is a fearefull thing to fall into the hands of the liuing God Heb. 10. 31. it had beene better for such neuer to haue knowne the way of righteousnes then after they haue knowne it to turne from the holy commaÌ„dements giuen vnto them 2. Pet. 2. 21. for the ende of such men shall be worse then the beginning 2 Neither would I haue this to be vnderstood onely of the soundnes and constancie of iudgement in our religion but also of the continuall abounding in the workes of the Lord 1. Cor. 15. 58. and the prouoking of our selues more and more to all loue and good workes Heb. 10. 24. such as our religion commendeth the despising whereof is the despising of God his commandements and the doing whereof is obedience not vnto man but vnto God himselfe Further I wish this that I haue written against poperie and for our religion may so confirme and strengthen all professours of our religion therein that if any of them haue wife or other friends yet remaining Papists they would praie more often and earnestly and euery other way by themselues and by other perhaps better able then themselues labour more diligently the conuersion of them then euer they haue done How doe all louing husbands and friends labour the health of their wiues or other friends beeing but bodily sicke the daunger whereof is nothing but this present death O then howe much more ought such husbands and friends to labour the recouerie of their wiues or other friends out of poperie a most grieuous sicknes of the soule the daunger whereof is eternall condemnation both of bodie and soule The like may be said touching those that are sicke of any errours or heresies contrarie or not agreeing to our religion as likewise of Atheists and such as are of no religion THE SECOND VSE CONCERning all great persons of our religion AS I wish this good generally to all of our religion so more especially such as are in any speciall place of honour and authoritie in church or common weale by such special place are able to doe some speciall good for the aduancemeÌ„t of our religion and the helping and countenancing the professours thereof as also for the weakning and repressing of poperie atheisme and such like such I say as are in any such special place I wish yea as it were vpoÌ„ my knees most humbly beseech and yet also boldly exhort in the name of this God whose religion I haue iustified vnto them all such I say againe I doe beseech and exhort to be of all Christian courage and boldnes for speaking and doing whatsoeuer lieth in them whereby to promote this religion and comfort and countenance the professours thereof To omit the famous and most worthie examples of many most zealous kings of Iuda of Ester a Queene by marriage yet as touching authoritie but as it were a ladie of honour of Iehoida likewise and Iâ—hoshua high priests of Ezra a scribe or inferiour priest to omit I say these and many other the like examples of zeale let them onely consider how boldly Ioseph an honourable counseller of Arimathea went vnto Pilate but an heathen deputie of an heathen Emperour and begged the bodie of Christ beeing dead that he might honourably burie the same Mark 15. 43. If he were so bold for the honouring of Christ as to goe to an heathen man how much more boldly ought men to goe to Christian Princes in causes wherby Christ Iesus and his gospel may haue any honour If he feared nothing wherein all likelihoode much was to be feared what shal be said of them that feare where there is no feare If he made no bones to speake for Christ to one that had before condemned Christ why should any sticke at speaking likewise for Christ to such
repentance before the Lord Iudg. 20. 26. Now the sinne of the Israelites for which they receiuing such a double foyle appeareth by the text to haue beene first too much confidence of the victorie in regard partly of the goodnes of their cause partly of their great multitude and secondly that although they sought vnto god in that behalfe yet they sought not in such humble and earnest manner as they should haue done and also did at the last when they had not onely warrant from God to goe againe to battell but also a promise of victorie Now if these sinnes be so dangerous to a good and iust cause what may be feared of great sinnes Thus much shall suffice to haue spoken concerning them that are of our religion THE FOVRTH VSE CONCERning Atheists and all those that are of no religion TOuching them that are not of our religion they are especially either Atheists and such as are of no religion or Papists By Atheists I meane not onely such as in deede and openly professe theÌ„selues to be such not fearing plainly to denie God and all religion of which sort we hauee too many euen in our lande but also such as doe beare men in hand that they are of our religion but in truth are not For albeit they will goe to Church and performe other outward duties that our religion requireth yea will also sometime speake and doe something for our religion yet all is but in pollicie they practise onely the precepts of cursed Machiuel and therfore if any change should come which the God of heauen keepe from vs they are as readie for any religion as for this To this sort of Atheists I doe also referre many ciuill men that neuer knew or heard of Machiuel himselfe neither of his precepts which come also to Church c. and liue likewise vprightly as touching ciuill righteousnes and outward equitie amongst their neighbours which will also sometimes talke of religion both ours and poperie and yet in truth also are of no religion at all neither Protestants nor Papists Moreouer hitherto belongeth a great multitude of poore soules in this land that for want of instruction are so ignorant that they know not what religion is or any point of religion and which therefore make no difference betwixt our religion and poperie All these I wish seriously to consider of my former arguments and thereby to prouoke themselues to make more account of religion generally and secondly of our religion onely then euer they haue done As they haue heard our religion to be of God and acceptable vnto him so let them know that they cannot please God in any other waie but onely in our religion How miserable therefore wretched and fearefull is their estate and condition Let all such therefore lament this their miserie heartily thanking God that they vnderstood it before their ende and whilst it is called to daie let them not harden their hearts but heare the voice of God yet calling them to his true religion and knocking at the dore of their consciences to be entertained with his truth Let them seeke the Lord whilst he may be found and call vpon him whilst he is neare Esa 55. 6. least neglecting his grace offered vnto them the Lord remooue his kingdome and depart himselfe as it were out of their hearing and so withdraw his mercies from them and poure out his iudgements vpon them that they stretch out their hands and the Lord hide his eyes they make many praiers and the Lord heare not Esa 1. 15. they seeke and there be none to be found to helpe them Ioh. 7. 34. yea least notwithstanding their seeking they die for all that in their sinnes Ioh. 8. 21. Let such as now laugh at and make as it were a Maie-game of all religion and the professours thereof weepe mourne in time for their such laughing least the Lord also doe laugh them to scorne in their miserie Psal 73. 13. and doe mocke theÌ„ when their feare commeth Prov. 1. 26. bringing such heauines vpon them that they cannot laugh though they would yea and in the ende casting them into the place of vtter darknes feare horrour where is nothing but weeping and gâ—ashing of teeth Math. 8. 12. that is in hel fire that neuer shall be quenched where their worme dieth not and their fire neuer goeth out Mark 9. 43 44. Those also that hitherto haue beene secure and careles regarding no religion let them likewise in time better regard such meanes as whereby they may be drawne to our religion THE FIFTH VSE CONCERning weake and ignorant Papists TO Papists also I saie the same especially to such as are Papists in a kind of conscience that is to such as are not of that religion of any obstinate and wilfull minde but because in ignorance they are perswaded their religion to be the right waie and ours to be a wrong or by-waie I doubt not but that there are many such in the land Yea I hope that many Papists are such This I doe hope of such Papists as bring not forth those fruits that poperie approoueth of whereof I haue spoken in my sixt argument before which are also mercifull and readie to doe good not to them onely of their owne religion but also to other These I hope to be rather ignorant then wilfull Papists therefore I haue also some good hope of their conuersion in time especially if it might please God to mooue their hearts to haue regard of the perfect law of god which conuerteth the soule Psal 19. 7. And truly in the Christian loue that I beare vnto these and in the pittie and compassion I haue of their soules as I see them full of pittie and compassion towards the bodies of other and likewise to haue many other excellent commendable things in them I haue the rather set penne to paper for the writing of this treatise to trie if it might please my good God to blesse my labour vnto their good euen to the winning of them to our religion For I protest vnto them and God knoweth I speake the truth of my heart and lie not neither dissemble that I so desire their saluation that I would be gladder thereof then of all worldly wealth and good whatsoeuer In the meane time me thinketh that howsoeuer they be commended for many excellent things indeede not very common yet all their commendation is very defectiue and lame for want of commendation touching true religion Yea certenly when a man hath saide all that he can in commending such persons and then saith that these were excellent men or worthie women were it not for one thing that is for their religion this one thing wanting is more then all they haue For this one thing concerneth God all the other for which Papists are commonly coÌ„mended concerne but men And our Sauiour saith that the great and first or chiefest commandement is to loue the Lord our God c. Math. 22. 38. yea
this is so great that the other without this concerning men not being grounded vpon this are not onely litle but in truth touching themselues nothing at all For Christ calleth this not onely the greater but also the first commandement Now where there is no first there can be no second Notwithstanding I hoping this want of true religion in them to be as I saide especially of ignorance doe therefore the better hope of their more easie conuersion and doe the more heartily wish the same that there may be no such defect in their commendation as there is but that it may be more full and perfect Such therefore hauing vouchsafed to reade my former arguments I doe also most heartily desire according to right to iudge of them Some I haue heard to haue renounced poperie vpon the sight of the great ouerthrow of the great Spanish Navie in our narrow seas anno 1588. by the mightie power of God in our behalfe as Rahab hearing of the great and mightie works of God for the Israelites renounced her owne people and was incorporated into the bodie of Israel Ios 2. 11. If that one argument before more largely handled in this treatise did so greatly preuaile to the conuersion of some howe much more ought all the arguments before applied to this purpose preuaile with other in like sort Let none therefore so lightly regard all such things as whereby our religion is so commended and poperie so euidently euicted 2 Let none oppose the religion of their fathers and forefathers c. to all other contrarie arguments Indeede Dauid exhorteth Salomon to know the God of his father and to serue him with a perfect heart and with a willing minde c. 1. Chron. 28. 9. and this is an excellent instruction for all fathers to giue vnto their children and likewise for all children to learne of their fathers when as the fathers haue knowne serued the same God that Dauid had knowne and serued and that according to his word as Dauid had done but if so be the fathers know not neither serue that God or not in that manner that God requireth then it is a foolish and wicked instruction to be vrged to the children by the fathers or to be obeied by the children namely to know and serue the God of their fathers 3 For when fathers haue rebelled against God not walked in his statutes and ordinances then the Lord oftentimes complaineth of the children that haue walked in such steppes of their fathers and therefore also threatneth the greater and heauier iudgement against them In the 78. psal v. 57. the Prophet complaineth of the wickednes of the Israelites and amplifieth the same by like example of their fathers They turned backe saith the Prophet and dealt falsly like their fathers they turned backe like a deceitfull bowe So Christ also speaketh vnto the Iewes as to a people past hope therefore biddeth them to fulfill also the measure of their fathers Math. 23. 32. So likewise Steuen amplifieth the sinne of the Iewes by the like example of their fathers Ye stiffnecked and vncircumcised hearts and eares ye haue alwaies resisted the holy Ghost as your fathers did so doe ye c. Act. 7. 51. Therefore also the Lord many times admonisheth the Israelites and Iewes not to walke in the waies neither to doe the works of their fathers Harden not your hearts saith one Prophet as in the daie of contention or tentation in the wildernes where your fathers tempted me c. psal 59. 8. By an other Prophet God speaketh thus I saide vnto their children in the wildernes walke ye not in the ordinances of your fathers neither obserue their manners neither defile your selues with their idolls Ezech. 20. 18. So the messengers that Hezekiah sent forth to inuite the Israelites to the Passeouer at Ierusalem bidde them not to be like their fathers c. neither stiffnecked like their fathers c. 2. Chron. 30. 7 8. In like sort speaketh Zachariah Be ye not like your fathers c. Zachar. 1. 4. Many other the like places are in the scriptures whereby we see this argument not to be good This was the religion of our fathers therefore it shall be ours 4 Yea certenly this is the very argument of many obstinate Iewes for the defence of their idolatrie The word that thou hast spoken vnto vs in the name of the Lord we will not heare it of thee but we will doe whatsoeuer thing goeth out of our owne mouth to burne incense vnto the Queene of heauen and to poure out drinke offerings vnto her as we haue done both we our forefathers Ier. 44. 16 17. Thus answered the wicked Iewes and thus answered many Papists saying they will not heare the word of God but will praie to the virgin Marie whō they call indeed the Queene of heauen as hath bin shewed before and to other such heauenly things for no other reason but because they and their fathers haue done so But such Papists as loue their owne saluation I exhort in the Lord not to be so wedded to the religion of their fathers Will any of you say thus My father was a ttaytour to his Prince and was therefore executed therefore I also will be a traytour to my Prince that I may beheaded drawne hanged and quartered as my father was Some it may be will not sticke to say so but all that are wise will take heede of such words and thoughts Therefore why also will you say My father was a Papist and idolatour and of that religion that God hath condemned and so consequently a traytour vnto God therefore also will I be so will any of you say especially such as God hath aduanced to great honour or worship and wealth in the land My father or grandfather was a sadler or butcher or grasier or husbandman or of some other the like meane trade therefore also I will be so I thinke none so foolish why then will ye say the like and ten times worse in religion will any of you saie My father or my mother or both had this or that bodily disease and died thereof for want of remedie therefore also I feeling the like in my selfe will not be cured of it though I may I thinke none so madde Why then will ye say the like touching such a grieuous spirituall sicknesse of your soules as poperie is why will ye die in your sinnes and not be saued O ye Papists and many other that are not yet of our religion 5 Neither doe I say these things as condemning yours and my forefathers I condemne not them but I condemne their religion As for themselues I leaue them vnto the Lord as not knowing whither they secretly repented or no of their poperie before their end If they did not repent it is farre more better to condemne them then to condemne the worde of God of any vntruth and God himselfe of any vnrighteousnesse Be ye not therefore like the
adder that stoppeth his eares refusing to heare the voice of the charmer charme he neuer so wisely Be ye not vnlike vnto the first world that seeing how miraculously and contrarie to nature the lyons beares woolfes tygers elephants vnicomes hares conies and such like cruell and wilde beasts the swallows also kytes rauens ostriches eagles and many other the like wilde and rauening birdes came willingly and gently without any outwarde force compelling them to Noah to goe into the arke with him and with his familie Gen. chap. 7 vers 7. would not yet beleeue and therefore were drowned in the waters Be ye not like the Egyptians and many also of the Israelites that seeing the great works of God against Egypt and for the land of Zoan would not yet beleeue and therefore perished the one in the redde sea the other in the wildernes Be ye not like the Iewes that did see the great and mightie workes done by our Sauiour and his Apostles for commending his gospell and yet would not beleeue and are therefore scattered vpon the face of the earth out of their owne countrey vnto this day and that which is worse are giueÌ„ ouer also to hardnes of heart wil not yet beleeue that the Christ and Messias is come 6 Verily God hath commended our religion as we haue before shewed to your eares to your eies to your vnderstaÌ„ding to your inward to your outward to your whole man Take heed take heede therefore that ye harden your hearts no longer Ye haue heard many arguments drawne from the word of God ye haue seene and doe daily see his workes against your owne religion and for ours O therefore stop not your eares shut not your eyes Yea ye your selues O ye that will be called Catholiques haue fared and doe fare the better for our religion in England Ye your selues are partakers of the benefites whereby the Lord hath graced it and doth grace it ye liue in much peace for our religions sake ye enioy your honours and dignities by our religion yea ye keepe and encrease your liuings the better for our religion For though some of you perhaps will say that ye pay two hundred and fourtie pound a yeare for your religion yet if ye were throughly examined and would truly answer ye could not denie but that vnder pretense of this payment ye saue twise so much an other waie For this is certen that none doe purchase more lands build goodlier houses and hoard vp more money then some of them that paie the foresaid summe yearely Thinke not that it should be better with you if the Spanyard might here preuaile ye are wise enough to see how vaine such thoughts are by his dealing in other places where he hath wonne the goale Doe ye also hope of some better estate if poperie were againe here reuiued without the Spanyard perhaps ye should be deceiued partly by the old greedines of the Pope the rather beeing now like an hungerstarued curre that for his long want of the crummes bones yea and good gobbets of meat that were wont to fall from the tables of England to his share would now be insatiable partly and especially by some other iudgements of God that would follow poperie Sith therefore ye enioy such benefits by vs and our religion as Laban fared the better for Iacob Gen. 30 30. and Potiphar for Ioseph Gen. 39. 5. be not so vnrighteous as any longer to condemne that which God doth iustifie Be not so vnthankfull as any longer to refuse his great mercie in calling you by such commendations of our religion to the embracing thereof Now I say vnto you as Paul saith vnto Timothie 2. Tim. 2. 7. Consider what I say and the Lord giue you vnderstanding in all things Yea such vnderstanding as that I and all other that desire your saluation may reioyce that the angels in heauen may reioyce and especially that your selues may reioyce with ioy vnspeakable and glorious THE SIXT VSE CONCERNING obstinate and wilfull Papists TOuching those that be obstinate whither they be Papists or Atheists professed or not professed but rather according to Machiuel his counsell too much now esteemed and followed making a shew for the present time towards our religion to such I saie as will not be reclaimed and called backe from their poperie or profanenes I giue this counsell that although they will not ioyne handes with vs in the true embracing and profession of our religion yet they take heede alwaies that they neither speak nor doe any thing against our religion or the professours thereof This counsell I giue them in regard of themselues because certenly the Lord will not forget the least opposition vnto his name or iniurie vnto his seruaâ—â—s Though many times he let theÌ„ runne their race a while so as they thinke all is forgotten yet as I haue said before of recompensing any kindnesse in word or deede shewed to his people at the last though it seeme to belong certenly the Lord euen in this life will meete with them or theirs for their sinne against his name and wrong against any of his seruants In the 8. of Amos v. 7. the Prophet telleth them that had deuoured and swallowed the poore by their extreame dealing with them in selling their corne at an vnreasonable price vnto them as too too many doe in this time of dearth amongst vs that the Lord had sworne by the excellencie of Jaacob that is euen by himselfe that he would neuer forget that crueltie Obserue good reader orrather let such obserue as of whome I speake that he saith not that the Lord had said onely he would not forget but that the Lord had sworne it by himselfe teaching therby that except they did speedily repent the Lord would most certenly punish that their great sinne because euery word of God is certen much more that word the which he confirmeth by an oath If the Lord did threaten and sweare the punishment of hard dealing with the common sort of the people that for the most part are as poore in heauenly things as in earthly that is whose wickednes is as great as their pouertie can any man hope of immunitie and to goe free that speaketh or doth any thing directly or indirectly against that religion which he seeth to be acceptable vnto God or against those persons that professe the same both which are as deare vnto God as the apple of his eye 2 Neither let this be vnderstood onely of religion and the professours thereof generally but also more particularly of euery branch of religion of euery good cause and of euery one dealing in such causes The example of God his iudgements vpon diuers malicious Papists before mentioned doe testifie the same So also doe many examples in the scriptures Though the sinnes generally of Ahab and Iezebel his wife were many yet the Lord threatned ruine vnto them both and to all their posteritie chiefly for their sinne against righteous Naboth 1. King 21.