commandement concerneth the sanctifying of the Sabbath but the Papists profane it by worshiping Idols and frequenting the idolatrous masse Iulius the second vpon the solemne day of Easter fought a bloudy battell with the French at Rauenna and the Duke of Guise vpon the sabbath massacred the Saints of God at Vassi and so little do they respect the Lords honour that they make more account of our ladies festiuals and of the daies of Francis Dominicke and Thomas Becket then of the Lords day The fifth commandement requireth obedience of children to parents and of subiects to princes yet Gregory the seuenth Paschall the second Alexander the third and diuers Popes by their decretales haue armed the sonne against the father and the subiect against his prince neither was the late league of the French rebels against Henry the third and Henry the fourth set forward and confirmed by other more then by the Pope the Popes of Rome stirred vp rebellion against Henry the eight in England and against Queene Elizabeth both in England and Ireland Allen and Parsons in their wicked libell against Queene Elizabeth directed to the nobilitie and people of England and Ireland endeuor by all meanes to perswade her subiects to rebellion and to laie violent hands vpon her Cardinall Como in his letters to Parry that came into England with a full resolution to murder the Queene doth promise in the Popes name not only indulgence and pardon for his sinnes but also reward on earth and merit in heauen The sixth commandement forbiddeth murder But Papists thinke they doe God good seruice when they murder true Christians from this fountaine haue proceeded all their cruell executions in England France Italy Germany Spaine and other countries Natalis Come in his history testifieth that in the massacre of France An. D. 1572. they murdred aboue sixty thousand of all sorts of persons their garments are died in the blood of innocentes nay they cruelly poison and murther those of their owne religion if they be opposite vnto them in faction Gregory the seuenth caused not only bloody warres to be stirred vp against the Emperor but tormented and murdred such as he pleased at Rome Alexander the sixth for euery word put men to death Iulius the second promised reward to him that could kill a Frenchman as Budaeus de Asse testifieth but as Lactantius saith massacring and piety cannot stand together longè diuersa sunt carni ficina pietas nec potest aut veritas cum vi aut iustitia cum crudelitate coniungi The seuenth commandement as it forbiddeth adultery fornication Iust and all vncleanenesse so it requireth purity of life and chaste and vndefiled behauior but among Papists adultery and fornication is reckened among lesser sinnes as appeareth by the Chapter si clerici de iudicijs the Pope permitteth whores in Rome and exacteth tribute of them as is notoriously knowen to the world the same is also testified by the glosse of the constitution prouinciall beginning with the word licet de concubin cleric remouendis by Agrippa de vanit scient c. de lenocinio by Sansonino lib. dei gouerni c. corte de Roma and diuers others of late in the castle of Wisbich among the Iebusites and Masse-priests one defended that whores were in Rome cum approbatione and with as good authority as any citizen or as the Pope of Romc the Popes and their complices disallow honest wedlocke of priests and yet allow or at the least winke at such as keepe concubines and whores Theodoric à Niem tract v. nemoris vnionis c. 33. sheweth that in Gascoigne Spaine Portugall and other countries it was lawfull for Popish Bishops and Priests to keepe concubines The commandement against theft as Canisius in his catechisme confesseth c. de decalogo forbiddeth also vsury simony rapine sacrilege and all vniust gaine yet vsury and simony yeeld no small reuenues to the Popes coffers the historie of Matthew Paris doth in euery kings reigne declare infinit pillages what by vsury what by simony committed in England by the Popes speaking of Gregory the ninth his factors he saith they vexed England by vsury per Caursinos vsurarios Angliam vexarunt he saith also how they held vsury for a little fault and simony for none vsuram pro paruo simoniam pro nullo inconueniente reputauit saith he speaking of the Popes agent Felin sheweth that without the rent of Symony the church of Rome would come to contempt in Rome of late times the Popes haue erected diuers banks of vsury called monti di pieta as appeareth in Onuphrius in the liues of Iulius the third Paul the fourth and Pius the fourth and there money was to be had for ten or twelue in the hundred and sometime for lesse Vrbane the sixth as Theodoric à Niem lib. 1. de schism c. 22. testifieth sold chalices crosses and images the same man doth make strange reports of the practises of Boniface the ninth to get money omnia benesicia vendidit si non potuit habere pecunias accepit porcos sues c. lib. 2. de schism c. 10. he sayth he solde all benefices and when he could not haue money he tooke pigs cattell and such wares the merchants of Babylon now take money for masses sacraments and indulgences and extort both from quicke and dead the secular Priests charge the Iebusites to be most cunning fellowes in extorting of money in Spaine they haue a rime shewing that they haue turned all Gods commandements into practises of gaine es el primero ganar dinero that is the first commandement is to get money all Gods commandements they haue turned into these two Todo para mi nada para vos all for me nought for you The ninth commandement doth directly forbid false witnesse and whatsoeuer is vnder that conteined as lying detraction and all leud speeches tending to the hurt or disgrace of our neighbour but the Papists as if lying slandering and bearing false witnesse had beene commanded so forge and falsifie scriptures fathers councels histories and all good authours as their expurgatory tables counterfeit decretall epistles and false allegations of bastard authours and others do testifie and shall more at large be declared hereafter their late books also are full of execrable lies and slanders against M. Wickliffe M. Husse Hierome of Prage Luther Caluin Zuinglius Melancthon and all the professors of truth the Pope he hireth men to speake lies slanders and his complices delight to heare them Allen and Parsons in their resolutions of cases of conscience teach their disciples how to dissemble lie and forsweare themselues cunningly the canonists and other the Popes parasites call him a god on the earth the head and spouse of the church and beare him in hand that he cannot erre Finally where the last law saith thou shalt not couet the conuenticle of Trent teacheth that concupiscence is no sinne the Papists hold also that it is lesse sinne for Friers Masse-priests to lust and
c. in canonicis dist 19. doth falsifie S. Augustine In our country the Papists haue falsified a statute anno 2. Henrici 4. c. 15. by adding these words ac etiam communitates dictiregni thereby to authorise their cruell burning of Christians as by statute whereas in the originall rolle no such words are to be found so it appeareth that all the cruell executions of Christians in Quene Maries time were contrary to law he that looketh into the originall record in the tower shall find this most true We may therefore say of our aduersaries that which Hierome in symbolum Russini saith of men of their quality peruersi homines ad assertionem dogmatum suorum sub virorum sanctorum nomine interseruerunt ea quae illi nunquam scripserunt nonnulli Hiberas naenias libris authenticis praeferunt peruerse men for proofe of their opinions haue interlaced vnder the names of holy men things which they neuer wrote and some preferre idle fables before authenticall bookes May we thinke them then honest men which practise such falsitie CHAP. XXIIII That Popery standeth much vpon heathenish obseruances and customes CHristian religion intendeth the ouerthrow of heathenish impietie and idolatry Yet such is the craft of Satan that by the ministery of the Pope he hath established many heathenish customes vnder colour of Christian religion for first as the lawes of heathen nations were partly written and partly vnwritten so our aduersaries haue one word of God written and another vnwritten as we reade sess 4. concil Trid. do esteeme both with equall affection but the Apostle teacheth vs that the scriptures are able to make vs wise vnto saluation and Ireney lib. 3. c. 1. saith the scriptures are the pillar and foundation of our faith neque hominis consuetudinem sequi oportet sed Dei veritatem saith Cyprian lib. 2. epist 3. that is we are not to follow mens customes but Gods truth our church saith Saluianus lib. 5. de prouident des is more happilie founded vpon the scriptures only videtur nostrae ecclesia ex vna seripturafeliciùs instituta Secondly the schoolemen build their opinions as well vpon Aristotle and other Philosophers and their authority as vpon the Prophets and Apostles Bernard of Luzemburg in catal haeret sheweth how the doctors of Colein defined that Aristotle was the forerunner of Christ in naturalibus as Iohn Baptist was his forerunner in diuinis writing vpon the first booke of Lombards sentences dist 3. they seeke out the distinction of the 3. persons in the Trinitie by similitudes drawen out of Philosophy by the same also they hope to finde out the eternall generation of the sonne of God albeit the Prophet doe declare it to be menarrable and the like they attempt in disputing of the proceeding of the holie Ghost Gratian in the chap. decretis dist 21. talking of diuers orders and degrees in the Romish hierarchy confesseth that this difference was diduced from the gentiles horum discretio saith he a gentilibus maximè introducta est qui suos flamines alios simpliciter flamines alios archislamines alios protoslamines appellabant Gregorie the first writing to Mellitus as we may read in Bede lib. 1. hist Angl. c. 30. permitted the English to build boothes in the day of the dedication of their churches and to kill oxen for the praise of God which were customes of pagans seruing idoles Boniface the 4. consecrated the Church called Pantheon wherein Cybele and all heathen Gods were worshipped to our Lady and all Saints as is testified by Platina Iohn di Pineda and others this sheweth that the worship of Saints is succeded in liew of the worship of Idols and heathen Gods Baruch c. 6. speaking of the Priests of the gentiles saith they haue their heads and beards shauen from them therefore came the Popish shauing of their Prìests heads and beards From them also the Papists borow the scourging themselues before the crosse and other images for before their idoles the Priests of Baal did lance themselues the Priests of Cybele did also whip themselues as Apuleius testifieth The gentiles did keepe secret the mysteries of their religion so doe the Papists likewise vttering the canon of the Masse in a low voice lest the people should heare it and reading the scriptures in vnknowen and strange languages and they yeelde this reason lest holie things should bee cast to dogges The best ground that Bellarmine laieth for proofe of the Popes monarchy is for that the gentiles thought that forme of gouernement best but God in disposing of matters of ecclesiasticall gouernment boroweth no precedents from the gentiles Thomas Aquinas p. 3. q. 59. art 1. by a Philosophicall argument drawen from the similitude betweene our sprituall and corporall life proueth the number of his seuen sacramentes By Philosophy also the Popes agents proue that one body may be in many places at once and yet sill no place out of holy scripture certes they are not able to deriue anie proofe for it The worship of Saints is a meere tricke of Gentilisme for as the Gentiles had one principall god and diuers demie and inferior gods so haue the Papists Ambrose in chap. 1. ad Rom. saith the gentiles vsed the mediation of others to God as men vse to come to princes by tribunes and hushiers so likewise doe the papists they gaue the honor of God to creatures honorem nominis Dei deferunt creaturae so likewise doe Papists Likewise the worship of images is a meere inuention of Pagans in the book of Wisdome c. 14. they are called idoles of the nations this is plainly declared by Athanasius in his treatise against idolatry and Cyprian de idolorum vanitate Ambrose in Psal 118. ser 10. saith gentiles did worship wood because they thought it to be the image of God gentes lignum adorant quia dei imaginem putant so likewise Papists worship images not because of the matter but because they represent the image of God and in his commentaries vpon the first chapter to the Romanes he saith the gentiles changed the glory of God into the likenesse of men so that the forme of a corruptible man is by them called God and so likewise Papists call the image of God God and the image of Christ Christ and change the glory of the incorruptible God into the likenesse of man At Rome the temple of Romulus and Remus is now turned into the church of S. Cosmas and Damianus The temple of Faunus into the church of S. Stephen and at Loreto the church of Iuno Cupra into the chappell of our Lady of Loreto Gregory in his dialogues lib. 2. c. 8. sheweth that Benet in stead of Apollo substituted S. Martin in the castle of Cassinum and that he erected an altar to S. Iohn in the place where an altar stood dedicated to Apollo nay so litle difference there is betweene paganisme and popery that the image of Inpiter in brasse doth now serue in S. Peters church at Rome for the
primitiue church holy scriptures were read in the church and taken only for the word of God but now in the Romish church lying legends and fables are read in the church and lying and vncertaine traditions are made equall to scriptures In time past it was accompted folly to reade scriptures in tongues vnknowen and the Apostle sheweth that it is vnprofitable to pray in a strange language but now the Romanists both reade scriptures and pray in languages not vnderstood of the multitude and yet defend it as well done In ancient time no man euer beleeued either that the scriptures were made to vs authenticall by the Popes determination or that the Popes determinatiō in matters of faith was certeine now all is turned vpside downe scriptures are made vncerteine and obscure and the Popes determination is made most liquide and certeine The ancient bishops of the church preached diligently liued vprightly dealt with their people mercifully now the Popish bishops preach not nor leade their liues according to their profession but contrariwise liue scandalously and are the only bouchers to murder all that shall either reprehend the abuses of the church or their corruptions in manners and the powdermen and vndermining Papists follow their steppes Ancient Christians suffered most cruell torments and death because they would not worship images now the Romanists put all to death that will not worship images The ancient Romans according to S. Paules doctrine beleeued not to be instified by the workes of Gods lawe the late Romanistes hope to bee iustified by the workes of the Popes Lawes They looked for no peace by their owne satisfaction but by the redemption wrought by Christ Iesus these moderne fellowes beleeue that they can satisfie for their owne sinnes and trust in the redemption procured them by the Popes indulgences The Romans vnto whom S. Paul wrote were obedient to Kings these loose the bonds betweene kings and their subiects and stirre vp traytors to blow vp their princes They diligently obserued Christs institution in administring the sacraments and neither spit in the faces of Christians baptized nor stole away the cup from the communicants the moderne Romish priests spit on those whom they baptize and refuse to administer the cup to others then themselues Finally they are digressed from the ancient Romans in all those particulars both concerning faith and maners wherein I haue shewed that they differ from ancient Catholikes and haue deuised meere nouelties CHAP. LI. That the Romish Church that now is was inuisible in old time MVch doe our aduersaries boast of the visibility of the Romish church supposing because the scriptures speake much of the glory of the kingdome of Iesus Christ that al that honor belongeth to the church of Rome of late times but while they mistake things spirituall for things corporall and externall and suppose things vntrue all this their boast and glory will turne to their great preiudice and shame for first the beauty of the church consisteth rather in inward vertues then in outward shewes and apparell Secondly be it that the church is alwaies seene and apparent to the true members of the church yet the moderne Romish church and the glory thereof was neuer seene either of the Apostles or ancient fathers of the Church or of ancient Christians For what I pray you is the church of Rome but a multitude of people professing the moderne saith of the Romish synagogue communicating with the same in sacraments and subiecting themselues to the Popes holinesse this is confirmed by the testimony of Bellarmine in his booke de ecclesia and of Canisius in his catechisme c. de fide symbolo and I hope will not be denied by any Papist but such a church shall neuer bee shewed in ancient time and that we shall proue by inuincible reasons for first we finde not during the time of the Apostles any such head of the church as the Pope nor any such sholders as the Cardinals nor any such rotten members as the chantery priests singing Masses for soules departed as Monkes liuing in heards like swine as friers begging for fashion sake and yet abounding in all things necessary 2. The Pope with his triple crowne two swordes crossed pantofle and his guard of Suizars and purple Cardinals following him began onely of late time to be visible if such a sight had appeared in the time of the ancient fathers they would haue woondred at it as a thing most monstrous and vnbeseeming him that pretendeth to be the successor of Peter 3. While S. Peter liued no man euer saw a church persecuting of Christes disciples and deliuering them ouer to haue their throates cut by the secular power nor did either the bishops of Rome or the ancient fathers for more then a thousand yeeres after Christ imprison torment or kill such Christians as were not of their faction and opinion 4. The ancient church of Christ did neither excommunicate kings nor assoile their subiects from their obedience commanding them vpon paine of excommunication to rise vp in armes against them and to depose them the Romish church therefore which doth all these things was not then visible neither can any Masse-priest shew vs where in old time miners and powder-men sought to blow vp the principall men of the state 5. So long as the primitiue church continued in the doctrine and steppes of the Apostles and ancient fathers the same was ruled by the holy Scriptures and canons of councels and then the decretales of Gregory the 9. Boniface the 8. Clement the 5. Iohn the 22. and other later Popes were not in the world who can then say that the Roman church ordred by these decretales was then visible 6. The moderno Romish church beside the two Sacraments instituted by Christ beleeue other 5. Sacraments and hope as well to be saued by greasing when they lie a dying as by Baptisme and the Lordes Supper but such a church was altogether inuisible both in the Apostles time and long after 7. Now Papistes beleeue that Christians receiuing the Sacrament swallow downe Christes body into their stomacke nay they teach that dogs hogs and brute beasts eating consecrated hostes doe also deuoure Christs bodie but such a company of Canibals and blasphemers against Christian religion were neuer taken for Christes church for more then a thousand yeares after Christ 8. The Roman church commandeth Christians to keepe the feast daies of monkes and friers and other saints to heare Masse vpon ember daies in Lent and fridaies to absteine from flesh to goe to auricular confession at the least once a yeare and not to celebrate marriage vpon certaine daies but if all the monkes and friers in the world were set to seeke such a church and if the Masse-priests of the Romish church were ioyned with them yet could they not finde such a church for a thousand yeeres after Christ 9. In the Romish missals the priest praieth that God would be pleased to accept of the body and blood
foundation and pillar of our faith they doe make the traditions of the church not written equall to the scriptures and vpon them nay vpon the decretales of Popes and practise of Massepriestes doe build their faith all antiquitie esteemeth holy scriptures to be the canon of our faith and therefore calleth them canonicall But the Romanists esteeme them to be an vnperfect canon without their traditions and the Popes decretales and determinations Bellarmine lib. 4. de verb. dei c. 4. saith they are neither necessary nor sufficient without traditions The fathers neuer accounted the bookes of Tobiah Iudith Ecclesiasticus Wisdome and the Machabees equall to the bookes of the law and Prophets extant originally in Hebrew as appeareth by the testimony of Hierome in prologo Galeato of Athanasius in synopsi of Nazianzen in carm of Epiphanius and diuers others old and new writers the Papists in the synode of Trent decree them to be of equall authoritie with the rest the auncient catholikes euer esteemed the Hebrew text of the old testament and the Greeke of the new to be more authentical then anie translation the conuenticle of Trent hath made the old latin vulgar translation of the bible authenticall and doth not giue that honor to the originall bookes of the bible the canonicall scriptures we say receiue their force from the author of them and this is to be prooued by the consent of fathers and by arguments from scriptures law and reason they say that scriptures receiue force and authoritie in respect of vs from the Church or rather from the Pope Papists are neither willing that scriptures be turned into vulgar tongues nor will permitte them to be read of the vulgar sort without licence or publickly read in vulgar tongues in the church finally they say they are obscure and hard to be vnderstood and speake what they can in their disgrace Secondly they teach erroneously concerning Christs naturall body and concerning his office the body of Christ they beleeue to be both in heauen and on earth on euerie altar at one and the selfe same time they also hold that his body is really vnder the accidents of bread and wine giuing him a body neither visible nor palpable nor in any sort like to ours they teach further that his body is in diuers places where it filleth not the places and that his one body hath relation to diuers places they beleeue that the soules of the faithfull before Christes comming were in hell or at least in Limbo which is a part of hell and were thence deliuered by Christes going to hell as if his crosse had wrought nothing for them they teach that Christ as man is omniscient and per consequent omnipotent and that he was vir perfectus that is a perfect or growne man from the first instant of his conception his office of mediation they giue to the virgin Mary to Angels and to Saints they make also Saints our redeemers teaching that by their merits Christians obteine their desires and are deliuered out of purgatorie to Masse-priests they giue priesthood according to the order of Melchisedech and say that they offer vp Christs body and blood really for quicke and dead finally they make the Pope head spouse and monarke of the Church Neither doe they teach more catholikely of Christes mysticall body then of his naturall body for they subiect the same to the Pope and exclude all from Christ that are not subiect to the Pope the true members thereof they persecute and make heretikes and reprobates and such as liue without order or law professing their religion outwardly true members of Christes body the Church say they is alwaies so conspicuous and visible that euery one may see it and discerne it the true markes of the church that is true doctrine and the sincere administration of Sacraments and holinesse of life they denie assigning most common and vncerteine markes as vnitie vniuersalitie antiquitie succession and such like The Pope they make a most certeine and infallible interpreter of Scriptures and iudge of matters of faith they giue him authoritie to make lawes for the whole Church and power to binde mens consciences they make him more souereigne then a generall Councell and say that his power in giuing indulgences reacheth into purgatorie they say he hath power to excommunicate and depose kings and to giue away their kingdomes to others Betwixt the Catholicke church and Roman church they make no difference equalling a part to the whole they say also that the Roman church can neither erre nor faile The worship of God consisteth in spirit and trueth but they place the same in certeine externall rites and ceremonies and in meere humane inuentions and deuices nay for God they worship creatures not onely giuing diuine honour to the Sacrament but also to crucifixes and images of the Trinitie made of wood stone and colours they doe also adore not onely saints but rotten bones and ragges they know not of whom to Saints they pray they make vowes they confesse their sinnes to saints they erect churches and altars to their images they burne incense and present diuers oblations and finally in the honour of Saints haue deuised particular masses and offices transforming the Psalmes and wordes of Scriptures to Angels and Saints Their doctrine concerning the Sacraments is most exorbitant for they doe not onely adde vnto water in Baptisme salt spittle oile and diuers other ceremonies partly idle partly superstitious but also vnto the two Sacraments instituted by Christ they equall confirmation matrimonie penance orders and extreme vnction making them Sacraments as well as Baptisme or the Lords Supper in Confirmation they haue deuised both a new signe and new wordes in extreme Vnction they haue deuised new formes in the ordring of Priestes they say accipe potestatem offerendi sacrisicium in ecclesia pro viuis mortuis that is receiue power to offer sacrifice in the church for quicke and dead in Penance they vrge a necessity of confession strange formes of whipping and vncerteine hopes and new deuices of satisfaction from Matrimonie they exclude Priestes monkes and friars and make it a Sacrament albeit they know neither certeine signes nor words of the institution of it but the institution of the Lords supper they haue quite abolished for that which Christ ordeined to be receiued of the Communicants that the masse-priest doth offer for quicke dead and in the honour of Saints and Angels of which there is not one worde spoken in the institution our Sauiour in bread and wine instituted his last supper these neither leaue bread nor wine but make Christians eaters of mans flesh and drinkers of mans blood like the canibals Cyclopes Christ ordeined this Sacrament in remembrance of his death and passion these make of the same a sacrifice in honour of Angels and Saints the cup of the new testament they take from Christians abrogating as much as in them lieth the new testament established in Christs blood and
a In breuiar Rom. auge pijs iustitiam reisque dona veniam that is increase righteousnesse in the godly and grant pardon to sinners to these images they burne incense as did the heathen to their idols nay Alexander Hales p. 3. q. 30. art vlt. and Thomas Aquinas 3. p. q. 25. art 3. and other schoolemen affirme that what honour is due to the originall the same is also due to the image which is more than the heathen euer supposed lastly they kisse these images touch them with their beads and because they are blind set vp light before them Thirdly we read Deut. 4. that God to represse the idolatry of his people told them that when they heard him speake out of the fire in mount Horeb yet they saw no likenesse of any thing do they not then run into this sin that make the likenesse of God and represent God the father in the image of an old man and God the holy ghost in the figure of a doue if this be not idolatry yet it is certainly idolatry to giue the same honour to one of these images which they giue to God neither will they denie that it is idolatrie to giue Gods honour to creatures they must therefore either denie these images to be creatures or confesse themselues to be idolaters Fourthly where God by the Prophet Psal 81. forbiddeth the hauing of new Gods or worshipping strange Gods saying non erit in te Deus recens neque adorabis Deum alienum wee are taught that it is idolatry to haue new Gods or to worship strange Gods but the Papists euerie day make new crucifixes and new Gods of the altar and the Pope also canonizeth new Saints which euery one of his followers is bound to worship these are also most strange Gods for neither were they knowen to the people of God before Christ nor were any such things worshipped by the ancient catholike Church finally some crucifixes are so euilfauoured and some saints so huge and monstrous that they are more fit to scare crowes than to be worshipped of Christians The holy scriptures Amos. 5. and Act. 7. condemne them for idolaters that worshipped and serued the host of heauen but the Papists deny not but that Dulia and seruice is due to Angels and Saints and all the host of heauen and accordingly they doe them seruice in most ample manner The gentiles are condemned Psal 114. for that they worshipped images of siluer and gold and the worke of mens hands images I say that had mouthes spoke not eies saw not noses and smelled not hands and handled not feete but walked not and that were not able to viter one word out of their throte now gladly would I haue any Papist to shew me that their images are of other matter and forme and that they haue more perfect senses then the images of the gentiles the lady of Loreto notwithstanding the report of her great miracles neither seeth nor speaketh one word The gentiles did thinke they offred sacrifices pleasing to God yet the Apostle 1. Cor. 10. because they were offered without warrant saith they offered them to diuels if then the Papists haue no warrant for their sacrifices in the honor of Angels and Saints then are they to be reputed as idolaters and sacrificers to diuels The Prophet Hicremie c. 7. declareth them to be idolaters that built high places neuer commanded by God and made vowes to the Queene of heauen and serued her but this is iust the case of Masse-priests that in euery great church haue high altars and that without commandment of God or precedent of ancient Catholikes they doe also make vowes to our lady whom they call the Queene of heauen and serue her most diligently saying more aue Mariaes then praiers to God In the booke of Baruch c. 6. the Babylonians are reputed to beidolaters for that they caried their Gods of gold siluer wood and stone vpon their shoulders adorned them with costly apparell and iewels worshipped them albeit their faces were dusty and they vnable to gard themselues from rust corruption and theeues why then should not the Papists be so reputed likewise seeing they adorne dumbe idoles and worship them that cannot gard themselues from corruption and rust and are often stollen away by theeues or molten to serue base vses is it more ridiculous in the heathen to cary about their images then for the Papists The idolatrous Iewes were condemned for saying to a stocke thou art my father and to a stone thou hast begotten me as we read Hieremy 2. and yet the Papists before stocks and stones say pater noster and the babling Friers in their chaires turning to a little crucifixe of wood or mettall set by them say thou hast redeemed vs thou hast reconciled vs. and this Bellarmine lib. 2. de cult sanct c. 23. is not ashamed to allow but all of them together must be thrust into the rolle of idolaters S. Iohn giueth Christians warning to keepe themselues from grauen images 1. Iohn 5. but why so if there were no idolatry in worshipping them either must the Papists denie their images to be simulachra and themselues to worship them or confesse themselues to be idolaters The Israelites Iudges 10. confesse their seruice of Baalim or other Lords to be leud and idolatrous and God taxeth them there for seruing and inuocating other Gods if then the Papists call vpon their volto santo or their crosses or the Queene and hoast of heauen and serue them they cannot cleere themselues from the faultes of the idolatrous Israelites The worship of Angels both by scriptures and fathers is condemned as idolatrous the Apostle Coloss 2. exhorteh Christians to beware least they be seduced by humility and religion of Angels the Angell Apocalyps 22. forbad Iohn to worship him and addeth this reason for that he was his fellow seruant the worship of Angels by the councell of Laodicea c. 35. is declared to be idolatrous Christians must not leaue the church saith the councell and make meetings for the idolatrous worship of Angels Theodoret in Coloss 2. saith that by this councell those were condemned that praied to Angels S. Hierom. in epist ad Riparium saith that Christians neither adore Angels nor Archangels we honour them with loue saith S. Augustine de ver relig c. 55. and not with seruice nor do we build temples to them God will not haue vs to adore Angels saith Epiphanius haeres 79. finally Tertullian de praescript aduers haeret sheweth that the seruice of Angels was accounted to be idolatrie and that it descended from Simon Magus but the Papists cannot denie but they serue Angels they also pray vnto them in their publike letanies saying sancte Michael sancte Gabriel sancte Raphael omnes Angeli Archangeli orate pro nobis in their Masse they confesse their sinnes to Angels saying confiteor Beato Michaeli Archangelo in their breuiaries they praie to an Angel vnknowen whom they call their gardian but praying
Apostles he shall declare himselfe to want both head and braine for in the Canticles c. 2. and Ephes 5. the title of spouse of the church is declared to belong to Christ and him only the scriptures declare to be head of the Church Gregory lib. 4. ep 38. ad Ioan. Constantinopol sheweth that neither Paul nor Andrew nor Iohn nor Peter was the head of the vniuersall church but all members of the church vnder one head The Prophets and Apostles doe teach vs that the church of God consisteth of sheepe and lambes and such was Peter commanded to feede God saith by his Prophet Isay c. 11. that there shall be no hurting nor killing in all his holie mountaine and that the wolfe shall dwell with the lambe and the pard he with the kidde but the Romish Church is full of blood and wholy vpholden by cruelty in France the Pope and his complices haue caused aboue two hundred thousand persons to be murdered for the profession of the true faith the fires and butchers axes of their executioners haue consumed also infinit Christians in Italy Spaine England Scotland Germany and the Low countries very ignorant therefore he is of the doctrine of the Prophets and Apostles that supposeth that the massacring Romish church is founded vpon the doctrine of the Apostles and Prophets The Prophet Daniel doth prophecy how a certaine king shall arise that shall speake words of blasphemy against the most high and consume his Saints and that shall thinke that he may change times and lawes the Apostle also 2. Thess 2. sheweth that there shall come a departing and that the man of sinne shall be disclosed and exalt himselfe against all that is called God and that he shall sit in the temple of God S. Iohn also in his Apocalypse sheweth that Antichrist shall rise after the decay of the Roman Empire and giue life to that state and that the great whore shall sit vpon the seuen hils and haue her garments died red in the blood of Saints but this argueth that the Pope is Antichrist and that Popish religion is not Christian religion grounded vpon the doctrine of the Apostles and Prophets but rather Antichristian heresie founded vpon the Popes decretales and schoolemens fond and foolish inuentions Finallie it is not only desperate ignorance but also meere madnesse to affirme that the grounds doctrines heresies and blasphemies which before we haue spoken of are deriued out of the writings of the Prophets and Apostles would Kellison the Popes grand surueier vndertake to prooue vnto vs all the Popes traditions concerning the Masse the dirges and offices for the dead purgatory indulgences holy water holy candles paschal lambes rascall Friers and Monkes and such like trash by the testimony of the Apostles and Prophets he should but lose his labour and percase his wits too for in their diuine writings such fond superstitious and impious doctrines haue no defence nor shelter but if hee meane to find their true beginning then must he search the Popes decretales the writings of schoolemen and canonists and other the Popes adherents and there he shall not only find out the first authours but also the rest of the nouelties fooleries and impieties of the synagogue of Satan CHAP. XIII That poperie was either condemned or not knowen by Kings and Princes professing Christian religion in old time THe Popes Agents when they are vpon their owne dunghils and among their owne disciples and fauorers doe make great crackes as if the Popish religion which is now taught at Rome were the only religion professed by ancient kings princes and emperors of Rome that made profession of the Christian faith but who so list to read the ancient confessions of Christian kings and the lawes made by them both for mainteinance of the Christian faith and for the repressing of diners errors shall finde that the grounds doctrines impieties absurdities of Popery were either disallowed by them or vnknowen vnto them The first Christian king of Britaine if we may beleeue Bede and others of latter times for in more auncient histories there is no record of such a king or such matters as then passed was Lucius but we doe not finde that the Popish Masse was then hatched or that Eleutherius bishop of Rome pretended the vniuersall monarchy of the Church nay wee read that Irenaeus doth make as great account of other churches as of Rome albeit the same be first placed in regard of the splendour and authority of that citie furthermore Lucius neither had images nor worshipped them nor did he giue Latria to the crosse of Purgat one and indulgences he could not heare any thing for that Eleutherius as yet tooke not vpon him to deliuer soules out of Purgatory nor to grant pardons a poena culpa finally if Kellison seeke to prooue the articles of Popery before mentioned by the testimony of Lucius you shall soone see that the man will be at a stand The first Christian Emperour of Rome was Constantine the great but many actes of his declare that he was neither a slaue of the bishop of Rome nor a professor of Popery for first by his authority both was the councell of Nice assembled and the actes thereof established as Enschius in vita Constantini and other ecclesiasticall writers doe testifie secondly that faith which the councell of Nice published he professed but therein is not one article of Popery established but rather diuers refuted as namely the doctrine of Papists concerning Christs humanitie and the Popish reall presence and dissoluing priests mariages for if Christ be true man then is not his body inuisible and impalpable in the Sacrament againe if Christs body be ascended into heauen then is not the same in euery pixe if the same be to come from heauen then is not the same to creepe out of a pixe if mariage of Priests be honorable and not to be dissolued as was decreed in the counceil of Nice by the aduice of Paphnutius then doe the Papists teach doctrines of diuels that condemne such mariages and separate Priests from their wiues thirdly all the actes of that councell were confirmed and not only receiued by Constantine but that sheweth that the Bishop of Rome then had no more authoritie in his prouince then the Bishop of Alexandria in his as the sixth canon of the Nicene councell testifieth the 4. canon sheweth that the Bishop of Rome had no greater authority in ordeining bishops then other metropolitans the fifth canon equalleth his power in excommunication to that which other Bishops had to abridge this matter we finde that the Bishops of Rome were as well subiect to the canons of the councell of Nice as other Bishops finally we finde that Constantine made lawes for church gouernment in his time and not the Bishops of Rome Nay the bishops of Rome as is said in the counterfet donation of Constantine had their priuileges from Constantine and not contrariwise priuilegium Romanae ecclesiae pontifici
the doctrine of the Apostles and Prophets and therefore we may not thinke that they taught that Christ had a bodie inuisible or inpalpable or that his body was in heauen and earth at one time and yet not continued to it selfe or that his soule was omnipotent or omniscient or that Christians were to beleeue that dogges and hogges did eat Christs body and yet that all the communicants saue the Priest were to be excluded from the cup of the new Testament or that Christ is onely the meritorious cause of our iustification and saluation and that formally we are iustified and saued by our owne workes or that remission of sinnes cannot be obtained vnlesse we come to auricular confession and haue the Masse-priests absolution or that the Pope by his indulgences out of superfluous merits of Saints is able to deliuer soules from purgatory or other popish heresies and wicked doctrines before mentioned for these doctrines are contrarie to the holy scriptures in which the summe of the Apostles preaching is conteined Gregory the first lib. 4. epist 32. doth dislike the title of vniuersall bishop and calleth it sacrilegious and prophane he doth also condemne the worship of images lib. 7. epist 109. and lib. 9. epist 9. and commendeth Serenus the bishop of Massilia for reproouing the adoration of images neither doth he allow any more than the historicall vse of them that Purgatory which Gregory the Dialogist speaketh of differeth much from popish purgatory being rather designed for veniall sinnes than for satisfaction for temporall paines after the fault remitted lib. moral 19. c. 16. hee sheweth that the bookes of the Machabees are not canonicall scriptures and lib. 14. moral c. 32. that Christs body is solide and not like a spirit and lib. 4. dial c. 55. that things aboue in the eucharist are vnited to things below summa imis consociantur of which it followeth that there is no such presence as the Papists imagine nor any transubstantiation for if the bodie of Christ residing aboue be vnited to things below then is not Christs body included within the accidents of the host nor is the bread and wine abolished Augustine the Monke brought with him a crosse and the image of our sauiour in a table and did sing litanies as Bede testifieth lib. 1. hist Angl. c. 25. but we doe not read that hoe filled Churches with images or that hee worshipped Christs image or the crosse with latria or that in his litanies he called vpon Saints or Angels Bede saith they praied to God litanias canentes c. domino supplicabant If then we cannot find the points of popery which we refuse in the writings of the Apostles or in any record mentioning the doctrin of Ioseph of Arimathaea Eleutherius Gregory or Austen but rather find them to bee opposite to their doctrine and denised afterwards then vnlesse we meane to remooue the ancient limits and bounds set downe to vs by our fathers and to refuse the counsell of the holy ghost Prouerb 22. wee may not returne to popery forasmuch as the first conuerters of the inhabitants of this land were no authours nor fauourers of popish superstition heresies impieties and blasphemies CHAP. XV. That popish religion is most falsely termed Catholike religion and Papists Catholickes CAtholicke religion as Vincentius Lirinensis in his commonitory chap. 3. doth teach vs is that which alwaies hath beene beleeued and of all Christians wee are to hold saith he that which alwaies hath beene beleeued of all Christians for that is properly Catholicke but the faith of the Romish church conteined in the Popes decretales and disputes of the canonists and schoolemen hath not alwaies beene beleeued of all Christians their faith therfore is not catholike the assumption is proued not onely by the nouelties of the decretales glosses of Canonists and summes and resolutions of the schoole diuines but also by the falsehood and contrarieties of the doctrine therein conteined Nicholas in his decretale ego Berengarius de consecrat dist 2. teacheth that Christs body sensually is handled with the hands of Priests and torne with teeth but this is contrary to scriptures fathers and truth Innocent in the chapter firmiter de sum trinit fid cath saith that the bread is transubstantiat into Christs body which is false for Christ saide of bread which hee tooke this is my bodie The Canonists honour the Pope as a God on earth as the head foundationmonah rcand spouse of the Church the schoolemen brabble one with another and sometimes change their owne opinions Bellarmine lib. 2. de purgat c. 3. confesseth that Thomas Aquinas changed his opinion concerning the merit of soules in Purgatorie most schoole-men build doctrines of faith vpon Philosophicall grounds and vary both from scriptures and fathers in their doctrine of the diuine attributes of Christs body and soule of merits of sacraments and diuers other points how then can we repute these doctrines to be catholike It is the Property of Catholikes saith Vincentius Lirinensis commonit c. 34. to keepe the doctrine committed to them and left with them by the auncient fathers and to auoid profane nouelties but the doctrine of schoolemen concerning the diuine attributes concerning the examples of the persons of the Trinitie brought by the master of sentences the eating of Christs body by brute beasts and diuers other points is ful of profanenesse and nouelties their reasons also are more philosophicall and sophisticall then Apostolicall all the points in controuersie betwixt vs and them are mere nouelties as the decretales whereon they depend declare Leo epist 81. saith that there is one true only perfect and inuiolable faith whereto nothing can be added and from which nothing can bee taken but vnto this faith the Popes haue added their determinations concerning traditions the carnall reall presence of Christs body and blood in the sacrament of the Lords supper transubstantiation the communion vnder one kind the Popes vicarship generall and vniuersall power purgatory indulgences the worship of images and diuers other pointes of doctrine doth it not then appeare that popery is nothing else but a corruption of doctrine comming in after the publication of the Christian Catholike faith and added vnto it Furthermore as the Apostolike doctrine is catholike and vniuersall so hereticall opinions are particular and peculiar to certaine sects and persons and times but wee haue shewed that Popery is nothing else but a packe of old and new heresies Lastly by many particulars it may be proued that the doctrine of Papists hath neither beene taught at all times nor imbraced of al christians nor spred ouer al the world which doth plainly declare that neither the doctrine is catholike nor the professors thereof truely termed Catholickes First they teach that the scriptures are an imperfect rule and vnsufficient without traditions and speake lewdly of them calling them a nose of waxe a killing and dead letter a matter of strife and what else they list to deuise in their
the Popes lawes as the resistance of the churches of Asia against Victor of the churches of Afrike against Sozimus and other Popes declare 20. Of late time friers especially the Capucins haue attired themselues like chimney sweepers burners of houses 21. The rules of monks and friers are diuers from the rules of Christian religion and can not be elder then the orders of monkes and friers 22. Gregory the seuenth as Otho Frisingensis sayth was the first that did excommunicate the Emperour and taught that he had power to assoile subiects from the others of obedience to Princes 23. The vse of priuate masses without communion is but new as the old ordinall of Rome that hath no masses of that nature declareth the canons of the Apostles forbid Christians to depart before they receiued the communion 24. Innocent the third in the chap. omnis vtriusque de poenit remiss did first bring in a necessity of auricular confession he also was the first father of the monster transubstantiation as we find by the chapter firmiter de sum Trinit fid Cathol 25. Purgatory for satisfaction for temporall paines of sinnes whose guilt before was remitted was first deuised by schoolemen 26. The Iubiley among Christians was first deuised by Boniface the eigth he also decreed first that all temporall princes and others vpon paine of damnation must bee subiect to the Pope 27. Popish indulgences are but of a late stampe and the schoole doctrine thereof much latter the Papists themselues being as yet not fully resolued what to thinke of them 28. Clement the sixth first deuised the treasure out of which indulgences are supposed to be granted as appeareth by the chap. vnigenitus extr depoenit remiss 29. The doctrine of cases reserued to the Pope is not once spoken of in the writings of the fathers and yet the Masse-priests make a great matter of them 30. The doctrine of the Popes penitentiarie taxe for dispatch of pardons for murders incest sodomie and all villanies I thinke Kellison will not contend to bee verie ancient 31. Bellarmines doctrine lib. 1. de verb. Dei c. 3. concerning the new Testament where he saith it is nothing else but the loue of God shed into our harts by the holy Ghost is new for it contradicteth Chrysostome Theodoret and others in 2. Cor. 3. who teach that the new Testament is God grace remitting sinnes 32. The prohibition of mariage betweene spirituall gossips is a late deuice of the Pope for gaine 33. The separation of maried couples for religion before consummation of mariage without consent of both the parties is both new and wicked 34. The popish ceremonies vsed in baptisme are of a late inuention as for example salt spittle candles and popish exorcismes 35. Of late they haue begun to exorcise salt in salutem credentium for the saluation of the faithfull and holy water to cast our Diuels and to driue awaie discases these consurations are not found in the old Romish ordinals 36. The Masseppriests haue now gotten a new tricke to sprinkle the altar with holy water and to say thou shalt sprinkle mee with hyssope and I shal be clensed applying the scriptures contrary to the meaning of the holy ghost 37. Honorius the third in the chapter sane cum olim de celebr miss did first ordaine that the sacrament should bee worshipped and safely kept and caried with light to those that are sicke 38. Halfe communions are direct contrary to Christs institution and the practise of the church and first established in the conuenticle of Constance 39. The Masse cannot be old for that Nauclerus Platina Polydore and others confesse is was innented by diuers authors long after the Apostles times 40. The praiers for the dead now found in the Masse are not to be seene in the booke called Ordo Romanus 41. In old time the fathers neuer beleeued that Christ had a body inuisible and incircumscriptible and that might bee in heauen and earth and many places at one time 42. The godly bishops of old time did neither swinge the chalice about their head nor make crosses about it when they celebrated the eucharist 43. The saying of seruice and administration of Sacraments in tongues not vnderstood is a foolish noueltie 44. Now in the Roman Catechisme they teach that euery Masse-priest consecrating worketh three miracles but in old time they were neuer taken for such workers of miracles 45. The Papists after their Pater noster say their aue Maria and pray to our Lady which practise is neither ancient nor Apostolicall 46. The Psalter of our Lady and her peculiar offices and Masses in honour of Saints will not be iustified by ancient precedents 47. Hardly will the Papists bring a precedent of 300. yeers old to prooue that Christians praied to the crosse for encrease of iustice and remission of sinnes 48. In the missall of Sarum the Priest saith to the sacrament aue or haile and boweth to it contrarie to all ancient practise 49. The worship of Papists must needs be new for that both their Saints are new and their praiers and offices new 50. The missals breuiaries and offices of our Lady haue their antiquity from the conuenticle of Trent 51. Popish idolaters worship the sacrament and the crosse with diuine honour but they shall neuer bring allowance of antiquitie for this practise 52. They burne also incense to dumbe images kisse them and bow to them but these vnchristian trickes were not knowen in old time 53. Of late time they haue decreed that the Pope is aboue the councell but it is since the councell of Constance 54. Now the Pope pretendeth right to handle the temporall sword but that did not the Bishops of Rome for a thousand yeeres after Christ 55. Of late time the Pope hath troden vpon the necks of Emperours but in ancient time the bishops of Rome were subiect to Emperours 56. In time past the bishops of Rome were persecuted and martyred now the Popes of late time persecute and martyr others Finally all the points of doctrine differing from the faith o this church which the Pope and his complices seeke now to thrust vpon Christians are for the most part nouelties And this doth clearely appeare in this for that they are contrary to the doctrine of the Prophets and Apostles as before hath beene particularly declared the same is also coutrary to the doctrine of the fathers and ancient churches practise as we shall declare heerafter Further the Papists haue turned the whole seruice of God into a massing mommery Finally for God they worship Saints and dumbe images the institution of Christ Iesus in the eucharist they haue altered new sacraments they haue deuised are they not then ashamed to call popery ancient Christian religion CHAP. XVII That Poperic is repugnant to auncient councels MVch doc Papists bragge of councels Campion saith the first last and midst are his concilia generalia mea sunt generall councels saith he are all for me
all the fathers almost denie publicke penance to Priests and Deacons fallen into notorious crimes but the popish faction regardeth them not one iote Bellarmine lib. 1. de eucharist c. 11. saith that Augustine did not well weigh these words of Luke I will drinke no more of the fruit of the vine Augustine lib. 22. de ciuit Dei c. 10. saith that Christians doe not worship martyrs or erect remples in their honour lib. 1. de morib eccles c. 3. he denieth that we are to adore any ereature Hierome also ioineth with him in this opinion mepist ad Riparium but the popish sect doth not regard what they say nor followeth their doctrine Finally it were an easie matter to shew the fathers to bee aduerse to popery in all materiall controuersies but what shall wee neede to doe it seeing their late corruptions and false allegations of fathers doe plainlie testifie that they doe not hope for victory if the fathers may be truely alleadged of late they haue set out indexes expurgatory teaching Printers how to falsifie fathers Sixtus Senensis inepist ad Pium 5. ante biblioth sanct sheweth how that Pope had caused the fathers to bee purged or rather corrupted expurgari fecisti omnium authorum catholicorum saith he praecipuè veterum patrum scripta Pameluts hath most shamefully corrupted Cyprian and the like course all Papists take with the bookes of the fathers lately set foorth Somtime also they confesse the corruption of fathers Aeneas Sylu. lib. 1. de gest concil Basil sheweth how Popes stand vpon these words vocaberis Cephas and lanch into the deepe and such like neglecting the exposition of all the holy doctors posthabitis omnino omnium sanctorum expositionibus Alan Chartier saith they reiect the holy doctrine of fathers sanctâ—â— patrum doctrine reiectae posthabitae sunt Matth. Paris in Wilhelmo Conquest speaking of Hildebrandes decree against maried Priests saith it was made without consideration and against the iudgement of holy fathers inconsiderato iudicio contra sanctorum patrum sententiam CHAP. XIX That Popish religion was neuer testified by the blood of Christian martyrs STrange it were if the martyrs of Christ should turne from Christ and testifie for Antichrist yet because the aduersaries of truth doe boast of ancient martyrs and Bristow in his 15. motiue doth place Martyrs as setters foorth of the Popes glorious kingdome we are briefly to shew that the testification of Martyrs maketh nothing for popish religion and that appeareth first for that the Papists refuse to bee tried by the doctrine of the Apostles which were principall Martyrs Secondly we haue shewed that the principall points of Popery were neither taught nor receiued during the time of the primitiue Martyrs nor many ages after and that many points now taught and receiued among Papists were then refused as heresies Thirdly Papists adore idols and burne incense vnto them but the ancient Martyrs were therefore martyred cruelly put to death because they would not consent to the worship of idols nor burne incense to them Fourthly the practises of Papists declare that they are more like to the heathen Emperors and persecutors of Christians then to the ancient martyrs of Christs church for as they massacred Christians for maintenance of the Apostolike faith so do the Popes and their complices massacre all that stand for the same as they by sword and fire sought to vphold idolatry so doe these as they hated them deadly which taught the true faith so doe these Finally the confession of the faith published by Pius the fourth and that doctrine which the conuenticle of Trent hath of late confirmed and commanded to be taught and beleeued is in many points contrarie to the faith of ancient martyrs and in all points of controuersie betwixt Papists and vs vtterly vnknowne to them The holy Apostles commend scriptures and so doe ancient martyrs but Papists accuse them of insufficiencie obscuritie flexibility and call them a nose of waxe and a killing letter Ancient martyrs were burned and put to death because they would not deliuer holy scriptures to be burnt the Papists doe burne scriptures and suspect such for heretikes as reade them in vulgar tongues The Apostles and Primitiue martyrs beleeued the scriptures because they came from God the Papists will not haue scriptures to bee belecued vnlesse they be deliuered by the Pope They taught neither heresie nor impiety nor noueltie but Popish religion as before is declared is full of heresies impieties nouelties In ancient time the Bishops of Rome were martyrs now those that call themselues their successors doe murder Gods Saints and make them martyrs Ancient martyrs taught that one God was to bee adored the Papists giue diuine honour to the crosse and crucifixe and call the Sacrament their Lord and God Ancient martyrs did breake downe images now the Papists erect them fall downe before them and worship them Finally ancient martyrs neuer beleeued that either doggs or hogs could eate Christs body or that the same was in any place where it could neither be felt nor seene or that the same was both in heauen and earth and euery pixe at one time or that bread is transubstaÌ„tiated into Christs body or that Christians do with their teeth eate mans flesh or with their throats swallow mans blood or that the bishop of Rome is lord and monarch of the church or that he can fetch souls out of Purgatorie or that there is a treasure of Saints merites out of which indulgences are granted or that Christians are iustified by extreme vnction or eating fish and such like Popish deuises Neither is it materiall that these holy martyrs are put in Popish calenders for the Iewes bragged of their father Abraham and adorned the sepulchers of the Prophets although they neither abode in the faith of Abraham nor followed the doctrine of the Prophets Further Bristow telleth vs that S. Stephen helped all those that sought vnto him but his proofes are drawne out of legendes and certeine counterset sermons of S. Augustine in his 22. chapter de ciuit dei c. 8. there is no such matter and yet these reports that are there inserted seeme to be none of S. Augustines but suppose certein superstitious persoÌ„s should pray to S. Stephen yet S. Stephen neuer taught them so to do nor allowed such formes of praiers Lastly he talketh of Fisher More the Charterhouse monks and diuers that died in king Henry the 8. the late Queens reigne for the Popes cause and telleth vs that they were of his religion but it is first denied that they were martyrs and next that Fisher and More were of the moderne Romish religion the first is proued for that they died for the Pope and not for Christ Secondly they died as traitors either by open rebellion or by ouert act oppugning the Princes authoritie the second is euident for that diuers of them died before the conuenticle of Trent which hath now published a new forme of faith and decreed many things
nor other vertue but only that he professe outwardly the Romish religion and be subiect to the Pope a matter of no great difficulty If a man take vpon him the habit of a Monke or a Frier they make it a second baptisate and that state they say is a state of perfection so you see how easie a matter it is with Papists not only to be a true member of the church but also a perfect Christian for who cannot take vpon him a Friars or Monkes weede in the apologie for Herodotus it is testified that a certaine Frier taught that the only way for the Diuell to be saued was to put on Saint Francis his coule Further they teach that the Pope hath power to grant pardons for fornication adultery incest rapes murders periurie trechery sodomitrie maranismes and all vices as appeareth by the Popes penitentiary taxes and that for no great sums of money now what more easie then to obteine the Popes pardon If a man heare Masse euery Sunday holyday and confesse at shrouetide and be houseled at Easter and fast from flesh and obserue the rest of the Romish precepts and ceremonies he is taken for a good Catholike but these are matters to be performed without any great difficulty The Papists also teach that Christians are iustified by extreme vnction which is a matter to bee obteined at euery pild Priestes-hands They promise also generall indulgences to such as visit certaine churches at Rome and else where which may bee done with small labour Now for veniall sinnes they say that knocking of the brest and holy water is remedy sufficient for such matters they say Christians neede not to repent them they hold also that holy water is good to driue away diuels but in no place is there want of holy water If a man liue all his life most leudly and loosely yet if he confesse to a priest when he lieth a dying and promise satisfaction he faileth not to haue absolution and if he satisfie not in this life yet they hold that either by Masses or indulgences he may be deliuered out of Purgatory but indulgences are not deare and Masses are dogge cheape a trentall is not valued at 30. pence nor whole fardels at great sums By euery small good worke nay by eating red-herrings and saltfish on fridaies and such obseruances they hope to merit heauen so broad they make the way to heauen and so easie a matter to come thither Finally as Eunomius promised them that professed his faith reward in heauen howsoeuer they liued so likewise doe the Papists promise heauen to their followers so they professe and set forward the Popes cause whether they be murdrers of Kings or massacrers or rebels or filthie whore-mongers or Sodomites it skilleth not the Masse-priests promise not only pardon but also reward in heauen so they die in the Popes obedience and professe his religion This religion therefore that giueth such liberty to sinners and leadeth them such pleasant waies feeding the eies of people with sights their eares with pleasant soundes and satisfying all their senses with carnall pleasures cannot bee true We could also specifie the same by infinit examples and by particulars shew that papists run the broade way but that we reserue it to the next Chapter CHAP. XXX That Popish religion bringeth foorth such bitter fruits that the professors thereof haue no reason to boast of their workes GOod trees are knowen by their fruits let vs then see what fruits haue come of Popery that we may know whether the tree be good or no from whence they haue issued Bristow in his 39. Motiue imagineth that we haue nothing to say against his consorts and therefore braggeth much of workes and despiseth his aduersaries as running the broade-way to destruction but when his consorts shall see our discourse concerning the fruits effects of Poperie and their strange enormous wicked liues they will wish that for this matter we had neuer beene called in question First then wee saie that the Papistes erre in the doctrine of workes and next that their liues are so disorderly as if they did only study to excell in all wickednesse leudenesse and villanie Christians beleeue that the law of God is a perfect rule of good life but they hold that not only Gods lawes but all scriptures are imperfect and insufficient without traditions Christians beleeue that the perfection of Christian life consisteth in the Gospell but these teach that the rules of Benet Francis Dominicke and other monkes and friers doe direct vs to a further perfection then is commanded in the Gospell They doe as well beleeue that the lawes of the Pope do binde our consciences as Gods lawes and thinke that the workes done according to the Popes lawes do as well please God as the works commanded in Gods lawes They make more conscience to absteine from flesh on Friday then to murder Christians as their curiositie in keeping that forme of fast and their crueltie in murdring and massacring Christians doth declare The Masse-priests giue absolution to most haynous sinners and enioyne them penance afterward the Pope granteth indulgences to most horrible offenders They beleeue not that concupiscence is sinne or that it is better for Votaries to marry then to burne or that Veniall sinnes deserue the curse of the law or eternall death They teach that euery Christian is to satisfie for the temporall paines due to sinnes and that either in this life or in the life to come in purgatorie They beleeue that a man may be iustified by extreme vnction and other popish sacraments and by the works of the law and not by faith in Christ Iesus They suppose that euery man is able to performe the workes of the law perfectly of which it followeth that as the Pelagians taught a man may liue without sinne Finally by their workes they hope to merit eternall life which is directly contrary to the Apostles doctrine Rom. 6. who teacheth vs that eternall life is the gift of God If then the Papistes erre so grossely both in the doctrine of works and also in the rule of our works it is not like that their works are excellent Nay we finde by practise that their workes are for the most part impious and displeasing vnto God as for example the adoration of the crosse and sacrament their blasphemous praiers to the virgin Mary to Angels and Saints their sacrilegious taking of the cup of the new testament from Gods people their worship done to Antichrist their periuries and rebellions against Princes their murdring Gods saints their mainteining of publicke stewes and bankes of vsury and such like the rest cannot much please God or man as for example the begging of vagabond friers the forswearing of mariage the eating of muscles cockles and red herrings in Lent the taking of ashes on Ashwednesday the ringing and singing for dead men the shauing of priests crownes the greasing of sicke men of altars bels and such like toies and ceremonies
away of the power of the enemy for the same end also candles are blessed but that these creatures haue these effects we doe not learne but out of lying traditions and the authors of them From traditions also the bishops suffragan doth challenge power to baptize belles and belles so baptized say they doe driue away diuels this is recorded by Martinus de Arles tractat de superstit numer 3.9 14. and of this abuse the Germans complaine in their greeuances Agnus dei as the Papists feine doth purge sinnes as well as the blood of Christ but this is a lying tradition and contrary to scripture for there we learne that sinnes are purged not by lambes of waxe but by the blood of Christ the immaculat lambe that taketh away the sinnes of the world Such are also the rest of those Romish traditions which the conuenticle of Trent maketh equall to holy scriptures The legendes conteine more lies then leaues for proofe I reporte me to the legendes of S. George S. Christopher S. Catherin S. Margaret and the rest S. George bad the Kings daughter of Silena to cast her girdle about the Dragons necke which she did and the dragon followed her like a gentle dog sequebatur eam velut mansuetissmus canis when S. George was put into a frying pan full of boiling lead making the signe of the crosse he was therein refreshed as if he had beene in a bath coepit in eo quasi in balneo refoueri S. Christophers staffe being pitched into the ground began to beare leaues and 8. M. men presently beleeued in Christ saith Iames de voragine he telleth further how diuers arrowes being shot at S. Christopher did still flote in the aire and could not come at him and that one arrow among the rest leaped backe and stroke out King Dagnus his cie matters very improbable and to say no more not found in any authenticall history Catherine King Costus his daughter being but 18. yeares of age is said to haue beene learned in all liberall sciences in the legend also we read how Maxentius the emperor would haue forced her to sacrifice to the Gods and for that purpose prepared a wheele which was turned by an Angel with such violence that it killed 4000. gentiles it is said also that she conuerted the Empres and one of the Emperors cheefe capteines called Porphyrius matters contrarie to all stories and not only not spoken of in histories S. Margaret was swallowed of the diuell in the figure of a Dragon but making the signe of the crosse the Dragon burst and out came S. Margaret safe and sound as we reade in the legend it is there said also that she tooke the diuell by the haire of the head and bette him but how these lies may be beleeued that is the question S. Francis as Bonauenture and Bartholomew de Pisa recount was diuers times taken vp into the aire called wolues his brethern and swallowes his sisters and had the markes of Christ imprinted in his hands feete and sides and these fables the Romanists beleeue Speculum exemplorum dist 7. c. 41. telleth how frier Leo saw two ladders reaching from the earth to heauen and that Christ sate at the toppe of the one and threw downe all the Friers that came that way but that our lady that sate at the toppe of the other receiued all that came that way Caesarius Hesterbach lib. 7. c. 35. telleth that a nunne called Beatrix ranne away with her louer and liued certeine yeares in a publike bordell yet because she serued our lady deuoutly it is said that our lady supplied her place and was taken for Beatrix all the time of her absence and in the end procured her as good grace in the nunnery as any of her fellowes Thus the Papists can confirme any point of their doctirne with leasings infinite such like leasings are conteined in the legendes The miracles reported in the legendes are nothing but miraculous lies Alexius staid so long in the church porch that the image of our lady spoke and bad the sexten let him in as we reade Lombard leg 89. S. Christina being placed vpon a wheele by her own father and hauing fire kindled vnder her and oile cast vpon it for her further torment the legende saith that the flame breaking out burnt 1500. men there also we reade how Christ descending tooke her to himselfe and baptized her in the sea and that hauing her tong cut out she spake notwithstanding and that her brests being cut milke issued out for blood loe I pray you a maid that gaue milke When Eustachius a soldier sometimes of Traians followed a hart it is said that the hart standing still Eustachius saw a crucifixe betweene the harts hornes which spoke to him through the harts mouth and asked him why he did follow that hart it is reported also in the legend that being put into a bull of Brasse burning red hot he continued there 3. daies without hurt S. Brice being accused to be father of a base child he caused the same child not being yet 30. daies old to confesse that Brice was not his father he did also carie hot coles in his bosome without burning his flesh or clothes Our English Saints also wrought great and strange miracles if we may beleeue Capgraue S. Aidus espying 8. wolues that were fore hungred gaue them 8. lambes of meere compassion afterward being sory for the losse of his lambes he praied and had the same 8. lambs safe and sound out of the wolues belly when wild beasts were hardly pursued they came to him as to a sanctuary S. Adrian being called vpon by a boy that was beaten the masters hand was staid in the aire and could no more touch him S. Dunstane being in his mothers wombe as is sayd wrought miracles lighting and putting out all the candles in the church being a man he tooke the Diuell by the nose as he looked in at a window at the least as we read in the legend S. Eanswide perceiuing a peece of timber to be too short for the work where she would employ it drew it out to a iust length by praier the same saint caused also water to runne vp a mounteine S. Goodric with the signe of the crosse tamed wolues and serpents in such sort that they lay with him by the fire side without offering any hurt I cannot stand long to recount many of this kinde of lying miracles neither shall I greatly need to rehearse more seeing these doe shew how much our aduersaries relie vpon lies Neither doe Popes or their agents absteine from lying In the 3. booke of Gregories dialogues we reade how a beare was commanded to keepe the Hermite Florences sheepe I doubt whether euer Gregory told any such fable it was sure some later Pope Innocentius in the Chap. quis nesciat dist 11. telleth vs that none founded churches in Italy France Spaine Africke and Sicily but those whom Saint Peter and his successors made priests
promised safeconduct to all that would come to Trent but contrary to the same Vergerius and others were excluded out of the synod and diuers doctors comming out of Germany could not be heard to dispute and hardly escaped with their liues out of the place Charles the 9. of France anno 1572. with monstrous oaths and solemne promises drew the Queene of Nauarre the admirall and many other noble-men and gentle-men vnto Paris but it cost them full deare and lost them all their best men for there that noble Queene was poisoned there the king of Nauarre was taken prisoner and the rest trecherously murdred and so farre was the Pope from condemning this fact that he caused the same to be set out in tables in his pallace among the triumphant acts of Popes In France and Flandres vpon surrenders of townes seldome did our aduersaries regard either oath or promise diuers edicts haue beene published by the French king for the pacification of troubles but they prooued nothing but traps and engins to take men that ment simply and plainly the capitulation with them of Sancerre was megerly performed The duke of Alua and his complices contrary to promise murdred the garrison of Arlem Narden Zutphen and diuers other townes Of late we thought our selues secure hauing peace with all the world but euen then we were neerest danger and could not haue escaped it if God had not discouered the mine the powder the traine and the whole packe of traytors In the yeare 1588. while the agents of Spaine and England were treating of peace the enemies came vpon vs hoping sodenly to ouer-whelme vs with warres being taken vnprouided No treatie could be more solemnly agreed vpon or confirmed then the pacification of Gant after the surprise of Antwerp yet was neither promise nor oath kept therein but rather vnder confidence of these promises and oathes many poore people were surprised First then wee say that our hope is that God will destroy them that speake lies and not hold them guiltlesse that shall sweare falsly dishonoring his holy name this we are assured that he abhorreth the bloody and deceitfull man Secondly we may rightly conclude that such as looke for performance of oathes and promises at the hands of the Pope and his complices further then necessitie and profit vrgeth them are verie ignorant of their doctrine and practises we may say also that they are very weake and simple for once any plaine dealing man may be abused but to offend diuers times in one fault and oftentimes to runne into the same trap argueth great weakenesse negligence and wilfulnesse Finally albeit princes that liue vnder the Popes lawes were willing to keepe touch and to performe promises yet we must remember how easily the Pope dispenseth with oathes and how necessary it is for them to breake all couenāts if the Pope once declare the cōtrary party to be an heretike or schismatike In the Clementine Romam de iureiurando the Popes forbid all princes vnionem parentelam confoederationem that is peace contracting of alliance and confederation with such as are their enemies and if any contract be made then must the same be dissolued vpon paine of excommunication when the Pope pleaseth so all the assurance that Christians can haue of amitie with the Popes vassals dependeth on the Popes pleasure and his pleasure is founded vpon his profit and necessitie and our securitie standeth in watching their mines and gunpowder treasons God grant therefore all Christians grace to beware that they be not entrapped with false and perfidious promises nor vndermined with their subtilties nor blowne vp with treason and giue our aduersaries that light of reason that they may see that oathes made by the name of God in iust and honest causes are not to be dissolued either by the Pope or any other nor their treasons to be warranted by any Popish facultie CHAP. XLVI That the chiefe founders and mainteiners of Popery haue beene commonly noted for wicked and prophane men FAithfull Christians and the citizens of the city of God as the Apostle teacheth vs Ephes 2. are built vpon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets Iesus Christ being the chiefe corner stone but our Sauiour Christ was an high priest most holy innocent and vndersiled and his Apostles and Prophets were holy men and endued with speciall graces fit for that function let vs then see what manner of men the first authors and principall vpholders of Popery haue bene that by the different qualities of the one and the other we may the better esteeme of true religion and more perfectly learne to hate the superstition heresie tyranny and all the abhominations of the Popes of Rome and their wicked faction The mystery of iniquity beganne to worke in the Apostles time as S. Paul testifieth for then false teachers beganne to spread their poison and after the departure of the Apostles rauening wolues entred into the Church not sparing the stocke by little and little also heathenish and Iewish ceremonies began to be receiued in diuers places and as S. Augustine saith the world grew full of presumptions but Antichrist began not to shew himselfe openly before the times of Phocas the emperor who at the ernest solicitatiō of a Platina in Bonifacio 3. Boniface the third granted that the church of Rome should be called and accounted the head of other Churches so then the principall agent in the erection of the papacy was Phocas a barbarous Thracian by nation and a common soldier by tumult aduanced to the empire and one that began his reigne with the slaughter of his master of the Empresse and their children The next was Irene a proud insolent and cruell woman that among others murdred her owne sonne for vnto her time the worship of God continued in the church of Rome without any notable corruption but she with the helpe of Adrian Bishop of Rome and other superstitious persons first brought in the idolatrous worship of images and Saints Gregory the 7. was the first that by force dissolued Priests mariages and exalted the miter of the Pope aboue the crownes of emperors and kings taking vpon him first to depose them from their seats but among all the Popes you shall not finde any more abominable Beno testifieth he was a necromancer a murderer an empoysoner and a sacrilegious and impious person the synode of Brixina condemned him for diuers abominable crimes Matthew Paris in Willelmo conquastore writeth that being readie to depart this life he confessed that by the Diuels perswasion he had prouoked the wrath of God against mankind he threw the sacramēt into the fire because he could obteine no succh answere of it as he desired and liued scandalously with Mathilda a fit fellow therefore he was to aduance the whorish sacrilegious and murdrous religion of the later Rome that is so much degenerated from the former Paschall the 2. that atchieued that which Gregory the. 7. and others his predicessors had begun was a periured
of Christ and that for the merits of the blessed virgin of Cosmas and Damianus and other saints but where such a wicked and blasphemous company as make not onely saints but also the idolatrous Masse-priests mediators for the body and blood of Christ haue beene reputed the church of Christ and was visible before these wicked missals were framed we find not in any ancient record 10. The Romish church worshippeth the crosse and the images of the Trinity with Latria or diuine worship but such a church for a thousand yeares was neuer visible in the world 11. In the missals breuiaries and other rituall bookes of the Romish church we finde diuers praiers and confessions to Angels to the virgin Mary and other saints nay to the crosse and the image giuen to Veronica and these praiers are both practised and defended by the church of Rome but if all the Popes lanterne-bearers and disciples were set to seeke for such a church in the time of the ancient fathers they should but lose their labour and spend their wits in vaine 12. The Apostles canons as is said doe excommunicate such as doe not communicate being present at the celebration of the Eucharist we may not therefore thinke that the Romish synagogue was visible in those times seeing they thinke it sufficient for their disciples to be present at the Masse although they receiue nothing 13. In the primitiue church no man euer heard that Christians gaped and gazed on the priest administring the Lords supper or that they receiued the one kinde and not the other the Popish church therefore in those times was inuisible 14. In those times also neither was the Eucharist celebrated nor the Scriptures read in tongues not vnderstood of the multitude nor did the people pray in strange toongs which they vnderstood not the missificall congregation therfore of papists which pray not knowing what they say and being present at the reading of Scriptures and celebration of Sacraments in strange tongues vnderstand nothing was not yet crept out of Cacus his denne nor apparent in the world 15. The moderne Papistes beleeue that such as in this life satisfie not for their sinnes committed after Baptisme are to satisfie for the same in Purgatorie They beleeue also that the Pope by his indulgences is able to redeeme soules out of Purgatory and to remit all the temporall paines due for sinnes but such a church as this was neuer to be seene for a thousand yeeres after Christ To abridge this discourse it were an easie matter by diuers other points of faith and diuers other customes in administring the Sacraments and diuers other formes of gouernment all newly inuented practised and maintained by the synagogue of Rome to declare and proue that the same is a new model of a church neuer seene nor knowne to antiquitie but by these few particulars the same doth most cleerely appeare already If the Papists then seeke to bring vs backe to the formes of the ancient church then must they abandon the Pope and his adherents embracing the moderne faith and doctrine of sacraments lately broched by the idle school-men and confirmed in the late conuenticle of Trent and adhere to the church of England which as it professeth the Apostles doctrine published by ancient councels of the church so it renounceth all heresies and nouclties brought in by Papists and other heretikes and as it renounceth their false doctrine so it detesteth their treacherous practises CHAP. LII That the marks of the church and motiues to the moderne Romish faith alledged by Papists may as well be alledged by heathen men and Turkes as by them AL this notwithstanding the Papists challenge to themselues the name title and authority of the church and bring foorth a whole squadron of motiues to draw simple soules to like of their sect and to intangle them with their errors Bellarmine de notis eccles c. 3. saith that the proper markes of the church are these the name of Catholikes antiquitie continuance vniuersality succession of Bishops consent in doctrine miracles prophecies temporall felicity and such like others bring vnity vniuersality holinesse of life and such like Bristow in his Motiues standeth vpon the names of Catholiks and Heretikes miracles visions scriptures traditions fathers martyrs going out rising afterward succession immutability vnitie iudges infallible obedient subiects visibility and other markes of like nature But as well may the Turkes and idolatrous heathen nations alledge these markes and motiues as the Papists and some of them doe better agree to Turkes and idolatrous Paynims then to idolatrous and hereticall Papists For as Papists call themselues Catholikes and giue the name of heretikes to others so doe the Turkes cal themselues Musulman or true beleeuers and heathen idolaters called themselues Pious worshippers of the gods and in regard of themselues both Turkes and Paynims take Christians to be impious persons and heretikes the Turkes call Papists idolaters and the heathen in time past called Christians Atheists As for antiquitie it agreeth farre better to Paynims and Turkes then to Papists for heathen idolatry was long before the doctrine of Popery and the Alcoran is more ancient then the Popes decretales that being published by Mahomet within 630. yeares after Christ these being commended and confirmed by Gregory the 9. who entred an D. 1227. 3. Idolatry as it beganne soone after the flood so it hath euer since continued the blasphemous religion of Turkes harâ— continued euer since the time of Mahomet but Popery neuer receiued a perfect forme before the conuenticle of Trent and in most places now is decaied 4. The heathen idolaters alledge for themselues amplitude and vniuersality as well as the Papists and so may the Turkes also for in time past all nations worshipped idoles faue the Iewes and in our times farre more nations are deluded by Mahomet and his priests then by the Pope and his Masse-priests the Popes doctrine being confined within a few nations of Europe Mahometisme poslessing the greatest part of Asia and Afrike and no small parts of Europe 5. The Turkes euer since Mahomet haue had a succession of Caliphaes and priests and among the heathen there neuer wanted a discent of sacrificing idolaters but the Papists cannot deriue their succession from the Apostles eitheir in doctrine or discent of Popes for neither is their doctrine apostolicall nor are the Popes the Apostles successors beside that they are vncerteine both who were true Popes and which succeded after Peter and diuers bishops and Popes of Rome 6. The Paynims with one consent in time past worshipped idoles neither did any one among them call the matter in question the Turks are so resolute in religion that they will haue no disputing against any point of their doctrine but Popish schoolemen call all points of their religion in question neither doe they so well agree in any article but there be some that hold singular opinions the Scotists differ from the Thomistes and diuers opinions are holden by
halfe their authority Thirdly Bellarmine and others exempt the persons of the Clergie from the iurisdiction of temporall Lords doth it not then appeare that popish kings are Commanders but of one halfe of their subiects Lastlie they doe exempt the goods of the clergie from the disposition of the Prince so we may see that the King loseth halfe his reuenues where popish religion beareth swaie To conclude therefore it is apparent by the premisses that all true Papists professing and practising the Popes doctrine are vtter enemies and in hart euill affected to Kings professing a contrary religion and depend on strange and forreine Princes rather then vpon their owne Kings well they may temporize hauing dispensations for it but if opportunity bee offred to the Pope and his faction to shew their malice we may assure our selues we shall finde them like our English powder-men that is traitors and enemies of the prince and state and Kings professing Popery are but the Popes vassals and vnderlings and during the Popes good will and pleasure further they haue but halfe their kingly authority and rule but halfe their subiects and lose halfe their reuenues which whosoeuer either teacheth or alloweth he may say and sweare obedience in temporall matters as long as he list but wise men will neuer hold him for other then a temporary and vndutifull subiect CHAP. LIIII That such Papists as positiuely hold all the hereticall and false doctrines of the moderne church of Rome cannot possiblie be saued THere are many false prophets gone out into the world saith S. Iohn 1. epist. 4. speaking of his times and Reuelat. 9. he telleth vs that in the later times of the church a starre shall fall from heauen and that he that is signified by that starre shal open the bottomlesse pit out of the smoke wherof shall come locustes that haue haire like women teeth like lions habergeons of iron and tailes like scorpions we may not therefore thinke but that now also false prophets are stirring abroad and that swarmes of locustes are flying in euery kingdome seeking by glozing pretence to deceiue the simple by viperous calumniations to bite true teachers with armes to oppugne princes and with the poison and reliques of their herolies to sting and hurt all that shall professe the trueth The Iebusites and their consorts the friers and Masse-priests pretend the sauing of mens soules but they are false teachers and the very locustes mentioned by S. Iohn and sent foorth by the Pope designed by the starre Apocalyps 9. let all Papists therefore beware how they listen to their heriticall and damnable doctrine which who so beleeueth and followeth positiuely cannot be saned The word of God is true If any man saith Iohn Ren. 14. worship the beast and his image and receiue his marke in his forehead or in his hand the same shall drinke of the wine of the wrath of God afterward he saith hee shall be tormented in fire and brimstome before the holy Angels and before the Lambe but whosoeuer is reconciled to the Pope and submitteth himselfe to the lawes and kingdome of antichrist doth worship the beast and his image whosoeuer openly professeth Popery receiueth the Popes marke in his forehead whosoeuer yeeldeth to the practise of Romish religion receiueth his marke in his hand let Papistes therefore stand vpon their guard and looke well to their consciences for albeit Sanders and Bellarmine with all their skill haue endeuoured to prooue that the Pope is not antichrist yet all Bellarmines wrangling discourse is refuted in my fift booke de Pontif. Rom. and Sanders his demonstrations stande also dissolued by M. Whitakers of pious memory beside that neither they nor any of their consorts can assigne any other state vnto whom these prophesies may so well agree as to the Pope and his kingdome if then our reasons cannot resolue them yet the perplexitie of our aduersities in this controuersie may helpe to informe them and perswade them that the beast there spoken of is the Pope and that his image is the Romish gouernment whereby the old empire of Rome is in a certaine sort represented and restored Furthermore Apocalyps 22. we finde that dogges enchanters whoremongers murtherers idolaters and whosoeuer loueth or maketh lies shal be excluded out of the kingdome of heauen but like to dogges the Pope and his adherents refuse Gods word preached vnto them and teare them in pieces that seeke to feed them with the bread of life diuers of the Popes haue beene great Magicians Necromancers and Enchanters as Benet the 9. Gregory the 6. and 7. Syluester the 2. Paul the 3. and many of their followers follow also but too much this damnable practise the Masse-priests like cunning enchanters suppose that bread and wine is turned into flesh and blood in their magicall Masses they permit publike stewes keepe concubines and to monkes friers and masse-priests forbid lawfull marriage they haue murdred and massacred millions of Christians to erect and vphold their antichristian kingdome the 5. of Nouember last they attempted a treason neuer before heard of minding to murder the King his Lords and the Commons assembled in parliament and to massacre all opposite to them throughout the realme they erect idols in churches and euerie corner of their streetes and in high waies giuing latriam and diuine honour to the crosse and to the images of the Trinitie and calling the Sacrament their Lord and God and making vowes praiers confessions to saints and burning incense to images and saying Masse in the honour of saints and angels finally they doe not onely forge standers against M. Luther Zuinglius Caluin and other true teachers but also against vs all as if we taught that God is the author of sinne and that Christ despaired that there is no hell but horror of conscience and such like abhominable doctrines which we expresly detest they giue out also that we condemne good works and teach rebellion and their hearers delight to heare these lies S. Paul hauing rehearsed diuers works of the flesh Gal. 5. and namely adultery fornication vncleannesse wantonnesse idolatrie witchcraft and diuers others of that nature and among the rest heresie seditions he concludeth that those that doe such things shall not inherite the kingdome of God but neuer was any sect more subject to these workes of the flesh then the Papists their idolatries heresies rebellions murders and witchcraft I haue before noted adultery and fornication they account to be small sinnes c. at si clerici de indicijs their vnnaturall lustes are testified in diuers records and bookes their clergie cannot choose but be vncleane when they resuse marriage and forsweare it their massacres and murders and rebellions are recorded in many histories and the memory thereof will now be recorded in actes of parliament that they allow publike stewes themselues deny not and doe they thinke that wallowing like swine in their fleshly workes they shall be saued Athanasius in the end of his Creed saith it is
image of S. Peter as euery one may see and their antiquaries dissemble not The Gentiles did deifie their Emperours and benefactors and erect temples altars in their honour And what doe Papists doe not they canonize their Popes and do not Popes canonize Saints and do they not erect temples and altars to Saints they will not deny it but S. Augustine lib. 22. de ciuit Dei c. 10. sheweth that Christians built no temples nor altars to martyrs as gods nos saith he martyribus nostris non templa sicut dys sed memorias sicut hominibus c. fabricamus nec ibi erigimus altaria Heathen nations as Tertullian sheweth vs did so dispose of God that they assigned the chiefe Empire to one and distributed his offices and duties to many diuinitatem sic disponebant vs imperium summâ—â— dominationis penes vnum offieia eius penes multos esse vellent so the Papists acknowledging one God in termes doe assigne the parts of his gouernment to manie Saints making our Lady chiefe of all as may appeare by their practise and by the expresse words of Horatius Tursellinus before rehearsed to S. George they assigne the charge for the warres to S. Antony the custody of swine to S. Apollonia the cure of the toothach to S. Roch and S. Sebastian the remedy against the plague to S. Fiacre the healing of quartan agues to S. Margaret the charge of women in trauell of childbirth to S. Lewes the gouernment of horses Eusebius hist eccles lib. 7. c. 17. sheweth that ancient Christians after the custome of the Gentiles kept the images of those with them of whom they had receiued benefites In the Masse also diuers trickes are borrowed from the Gentiles they did offer for the dead and so likewise do the Papists Polydore lib. 6. de inuentorib c. 9. proueth the yearely sacrifice for the dead out of Macrobius and Cato and c. 10. the 9. daies sacrifice out of Horace fichat sacrificium pro mortuis saith he nono die from thence also he fetcheth mourning and mourning blackes The vse of burning incense saith Polydore lib. 5. de inuentorib c. 10. came from the heathen apud nos Leo tertius idem fiers sanxit saith he quod etiam ab Ethnicis seruabatur then he bringeth Virgiles testimony for burning incense From the heathen the Priests also take their washing of hands at Masse ab Ethnicis sumptum est saith Polydore apud quos sacrificantes primùm omnium nâ— uius lausabant Likewise of them they borrow their skippings and turnings for as Apuleius saith the Priests turned about sprinkling the bloud of the sacrifice The clause of the masse as appeareth by the testimony of Apuleius lib. 11. of the golden asse cited by Polydore de inuentoribus lib. 5. c. 11. came from the Gentiles for as the Priest said there 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so the Priest saith heere ite missa est The consecrating of images Durand deriueth from the example of Nabuchodonosor that called all his Princes to the dedication of the golden image as wee read rational diuin lib. 1. c. 6. The gentiles did not sacrifice without fire and water no more doe Masse priests as appeareth by the chapter literas tuas de celebrat miss In their praiers the Masse-priests turne themselues to the East and this custome Polydore lib. 5. de inuent c. 9. doth prooue to haue beene borrowed from the gentiles for God forbad his people to pray toward the East The Masse-priests carrie about their corpus Domini vpon a hackney when the Pope goeth in progresse so likewise did the Priests of Isis carry the image of their goddesse about with them and the Chaldeans the fire which they worshipped as God Choul in his booke of the religion of the Romans confesseth that tunicles albes and the pompe and ceremonies of the Masse haue beene taken from the Aegyptians and Gentiles That Purgatory came from the Gentiles it cannot be denied Virgil Aenead 6. doth testifie so much ergo exercentur poenis veterumque malorum saith he supplicia expendunt So likewise the Papists suppose that soules are there purged for their sinnes likewise from them they borrow their purgation by holy water as is signified by Polydore de inuentoribus lib. 6. c. 1. As the Gentiles beleeued that euery one had his good and bad genius so the Papists assigne to euerie Christian a good and bad Angell The Gentiles allowed no married Priests as Hierome lib. 1. contra Iouin doth testifie the same practise haue Papists vsed concerning their Priests The 2. councell of Arles c. 23. sheweth it to be a custome of Pagans to worship trees or stones or founteines yet our English Papists cease not to go on pilgrimage to S. Winifrides well nor to worship stockes and stones How then can the Papists call themselues Christians that haue in fresh practise so many heathen customes CHAP. XXV That poperie borroweth also diuers fashions from the Iewes VVHat they haue not from the Gentiles that for the most part of their ceremonies is borrowed from the Iewes from them also I haue shewed how they haue borrowed diuers heresies with the Pharisies they boast in the law and are more curious in obseruing their owne traditions than the law of God With the Hemerobaptists they sprinkle themselues continually with holy water with the same they consecrate their clergie as the Leuites were consecrated Numbr 8. by the law of Moyses they doe also borrow their shauing at the time of their ordination from the law God speaking of the consecration of Leuites aspergantur aqua lustrationis saith he radant omnes pilos carnis suae Innocentius the third in the chapter per venerabilem proueth the supreme authority of the Pope and of his see out of the words of the law Deut. 17. thence also hee proueth his Cardinals nay to shew himselfe more Iewish hee tieth Christians to the obseruance of the ceremoniall lawes of Moyses contained in Deuteronomy In the chapt cleros dist 21. they endeuour to proue the seuen orders of their clergy their seuerall functions from the Leuiticall law The burning of incense at the altar Polydore lib. 5. de inuentorib c. 10. sheweth to haue beene borrowed from the example of Aaron quod thus adoletur ad altare id primus fecit Aaron saith he The Iewes began their feasts with washing of hands and from thence doth Polydore think that the washings of masse-priests at the altar are deriued As the Iewes adorned the tombes of the Prophets so doe Papists adorne the tombes of their martyrs hoping to bee relieued by them Durandus rational diuin lib. 1. c. 6. deriueth the consecration of Churches altars and vessels and the greasing of them from the law of Moyses and this is also proued by the chap. tabernaculum de consecrat dist 1. The apparrel of Priests is transsiumpted from the Iewish ceremoniall law as Durandus witnesseth lib. 3. rat diuin c. 1. sacrae vestes saith he à veteri lege videntur