of the Scriptures First therefore seeing the Pope may Erre in faith and doctrine Secondly seeing many Popes haue so Erred De facto And thirdly seeing this strange faith was not hatched or heard of in the World for the space of one thousand and fiue hundred yeeres no not in Alphonsus his dayes as wee haue heard alreadie I cannot but perforce I must conclude that it is a rotten ragge of the New Religion CHAP. 9. Of the condigne so supposed merrite of workes TRue it is I freely grant that the holy Fathers doe often vse the word Merrit and doe often call the workes of the Faythfull merritorious yet this they doe not for any worthines of the works but for Gods acceptation and promise sake who hath promised and will performe not to suffer so much as one cuppe of cold water giuen in his Name to passe without reward That is to say the Fathers terme good workes merritorious because God hath promised to accept the workes of the Faythfull as vvorthy for the vvorthines of his Sonne and for his merites to reward them with heauen as if they had merited the same For which respect either euer or almost euer they ioyne Merrite and Grace together Of this subiect I haue written at large in my Suruey of Popery I will now onely say with their deere Abbot Bernard It is sufficient to merrite to know that our merrites are not sufficient True it is likewise that not onely the Fathers generally but the best popish Schoole-Doctours also Durandus Aquinas Gregorius Ariminensis Dominicus Scoto Marsilius Waldensis Burgensis and sundrie others do vniformly and constantly affirme that no mans workes how holy soeuer they be eyther are or can be meritorious properly but onely merritorious in an vnproper large kind of speech as is already said This is proued at large in my other bookes True it is thirdly that the religious Fryer and popish Bishop Iosephus Angles telleth the Pope roundly that it is the constant and vniforme fayth of all the holy Doctors that the best and holiest mans works vpon earth neither are nor possibly can be merritorious or worthy of eternall life if Gods holy free promise be set aside Without the which saith Angles in the name of all the rest the best works of all are altogether vnwoorthy of so great reward His expresse words are these prorsus digna wholy vnworthy Where I with the Reader to obserue seriously with me this word prorsus which signifieth wholy for if out best workes be wholy vnworthy of the reward or glory as Iosep Angles in the name of all the holy Fathers Doctors telleth the Pope both grauely and coÌ„stantly then doubtles the best works of all can no way be meritorious The case is cleere for to be meritorious as euery childe knoweth is to be worthy And consequently seeing to be worthy and to be meritorious is all one our workes which are no way worthy but euery way prorsus vnworthy can no way be meritorious When any Papist in the world can truly disprooue this Illation let me be his bondslaue for his reward Againe for the simple Readers helpe and capacitie this is the state of the Controuersie The Papists hold that mans works doe condignely or woorthâ—ly which is all one merite eternall reward I in the name of all Catholiques and good Christians doe hold and constantly defend the contrary Now to merrite is to be worthie â—s is both already prooued and of it seife euident but the best workes are no way woorthy as is alieadie proued Ergo the best workes doe no way merrit If this argument be well marked all papists are coÌ„sounded euerlastingly True it is fourthly that the Iesuite S. R. Robert Parsons indeede I challenge the man in his supposed and pretended Aunswere to The downefall of Popery hath set downe these CoÌ„clusions against both the Pope and himsâ—lfe The first Conclusion There is merite of eternall life and our supernaturall vvorkes done by Gods grace are meritorious of eternall life and glory The second Conclusion Good workes done in Gods grace are condignly merritorious of eternall life The thiâ—d Conclusion This condigne merrite is not absolute but supposeth the condition of Gods promise made to reward it These are the Iesuits Conclusions set down by the best aduise of his best learned friends among whom the Iesuiticall Cardinall Bellarmine must needes be one Which CoÌ„ciusions for all that doe euidently prooue as much as I desire True it is fiftly that the late popish Councell of Trent hath accused all such as 〈◊〉 or not beleeue the condigne merrit of mans works And coÌ„sequentlie it hath made that an Article of Popish faith ô wonderment of the World which was no poynt of fayth in the true Catholique Church for the space of 1540. yeeres viz. The condigne merrit of mans work amonster lately borne at Rome Now to take away all wrangling true it is I will it not deny that the Councell of Trent hath not the word condigne but it hath another worde equiualent to the same viz. True merrite And therefore to answere as the Iesuite doth that the Councell hath onely the word true not the word condigne is meere foolery For to merrite truly and condignly is all one Otherwise let our Iesuite tell vs howe one can merrite that thing truly which he doth not worthily and condignelyd serue Yea to the Iesuites euerlasting shame and to the vtter confusion of all his lesuited brethern S. R. him selfe doth most plainly against himselfe testifie the same to all the world These are his expresse words That good workes are a condigne or wâ—orthy merrite of Heauen followeth of that they are a true merit thereof because as I thinke onely condigne merrite is true merrite Thus writeth our Iesuite I alledge his vvordes truly as I will auoswere before God And consequently seeing true merrite and condigne merrite is all one euen by the Aduersary his free grant it followeth of necessity that the Councell decreed the condigne merrite to be a matter of sayth First therefore seeing the Fathers and Schoole-Doctors doe all generally deny the condigne merit of mans workes Secondly seeing all the Fathers best learned Papists doe all vniformely affirme that the best works are altogether woorthy of heauen Thirdly seeing the Iesuites owne conclusions doe prooue the same against himselfe Fourthly seeing this deformed monster condigne merrite of workes I meane is yet scarce three-scote yeeres of age I cannot but perforce conclude with this incuitable illation Ergo it is but a rotten ragge of the New Religion CHAP. 10. Of Transubstantiation in Popish Masse THE popish Transubstantiation in their Masse is to themselues so vnceritaine that they cannot toll in the world what to say or thinke thereof Rupertus a famous popish Abbâ—r holdeth that the Bread is vnited hypostatically to the Sonne of God Caietmus Henricus and Capreolus are of an other opinion Iohaâ—â—es Parisiensis held also that the
Papists Absolutus Theologus knew right wel that Popish Pardons are but a toy for Chyldren to play withall these are his wordes The Popes Pardons saith he were neuer knowne to vs by the Scriptures although some alledge S. Paule for that purpose neither were they knowne by the auncient Fathers but onely by lare Writers Saint Antoninus theyr popish Saint and famous Archbishoppe had the selfe same opinion And Petrus Lombardus their famous Maister of Sentences who collected with great diligence into one Volume all the woorthy Sentences of the auncient Fathers could neuer find the Popes Pardons or any mention thereof in any of all theyr writings For as Syluester truly said The olde Writers were not acquainted with any such thing Yea their famous Martyr and Bishop Maister Fisher in his aunswere to Maister Luthers Articles was inforced to admit the newnes of the Popes pardons and withall forsooth to yeeld this reason for the same viz. That Purgatory was not then so well knowne to the Church as it is now adayes Peruse and note wel the next Chapter which is of Purgatorie so supposed paynes First therefore seeing the great popish Syluester confesseth plainly and boldly to the popes Holines that his popish pardoning is neither found in the holie Scripture nor in auncient Fathers Secondly seeing Antoninus Fumus and many other learned Papists grant freely that Syluester saith the truth heerein Thirdly seeing their famous Bishop Fisher vvas enforced to graunt the young age noneage of popish-pardons when hee could not aunswere Ma. Luthers reasons Fourthly seeing their Maister of Sentences could not find any mention of them in all the the Fathers writings I must perforce thus conclude Ergo the Popes pardon is a rotten ragge of the new Religion brought into the Church after 1300. yeres by Pope Bonifacius the eyght CHAP. 5. Of Popish Purgatory COncerning the originall of Popish-purgatorie it shal be enough to set down the words of Iohn Fisher the late Bishop of Rochester the popes canonized Martyr these are his expresse words The Greekes to this day doe not beleeue that there is a Purgatory Reade who will the Commentaries of the auncient Graecians and he shall finde either very sildome mention of Purgatory or none at all For neither did the Latine Church conceiue the veritie of this matter at one time but by leysure Neither vvas it without the great dispensation of the holy Ghost that after so many yeeres Catholicks both beleeued purgatory receiued the vse of pardons generallie So long as there was no care of Purgatory no man sought for pardons For of it dependeth all the estimation of pardons If thou take away purgatory to what end shall wee neede pardons for if there be no Purgatory we shall neede no pardons Considering therefore how long Purgatory was vnknowne then that it was beleeued of some by little and little partly by reuelations and partly by the Scriptures and so at the last beleeued generally of the whole Church we doe easily vnderstand the cause of pardons Since therefore purgatory was so lately known receiued of the whole Church who can admire pardons that there was no vse of theÌ„ in the primatiue Church Pardon 's therefore began after the people stoode in some feare of purgatory Thus writeth the popish Bishop Fisher. Whose words I hartily wish that the indifferent Reader may ponder seriously with me For if he so doe hee cannot chuse but abhor late popery and know it to be the new Religion This Bishop was a learned man a great papist said for popery what possibly he could yet he graÌ„teth many things of such force is the truth which quite ouerthrow popery and turne it vpside downe First we see that the Greeke church neuer beleeued purgatory to his dayes and so it was vnknown to theÌ„ 1517 yeres Secondly that the church of Rome belieued it not for the space of 250. yeres after which time it increased by little and little Thirdly that the church of Rome did not beleeue purgatory all at once but by little and little Fourthly that the inuention of purgatory was the birth of Popish-pardons as which could haue no place till purgatory was found out by fained reuelations and the people brought into some feare thereof Fiftly that the primatiue Church was neuer acquainted with the Popes pardons nor yet with his counterfeit and forged purgatory Of which as the popish Bishop telleth vs the silly people doe stand in feare Thus therefore I must coÌ„clude Ergo Popish purgatory is a rotten ragge of the New Religion CHAP. 6. Of Popish Auriculer Confession SCotus who for his great subtile learning was of the Papists termed Doctor subtilis affirmeth resolutely that popish Auricular-confession is not grounded on the holy Scripture but onely instituted and commanded by the Church of Rome The popish Glosse of great credit with the Papists telleth them roundly that Auricular-confession can no way be defended but by tradition of the Church Panormitanus Rhenanus Richardus Durandus Bonauentura Hugo and all the popish Canonists generally approue and follow the same Glosse To this I adde that Auricular-confession was not an Article of fayth in the Romish Church for the space of 1215. yeeres All which I haue prooued at large in my Suruey of Popery and in my Motiues First therefore seeing popish Confession cannot be proued out of the Scriptures Secondly seeing it is onely commaunded by the Pope And thirdly seeing it was no matter of fayth with the Papists for the space of one thousand two hundred and fifteene yeeres I must needes conclude that it is a rotten ragge of the New Religion CHAP. 7. Of Popish veniall sinnes THE newnes and young age of Popish-Religion may be sufficiently knowne by the coyning and inuenting of Veniall sinnes if nothingels could be said therein the Thomists will haue some sinnes not against the Law but besides the law and those sinnes they call their Veniall sinnes But Durundus a famous popish Schoole-Doctor many other learned Papists affirme euery sinne to be against Gods Law And this opinion doth nowe preuaile in the popish Schooleâ— as Iâ—sephus Angles in his Booke dedicated to the Popes Holinesse 〈◊〉 vs His words are these Et hae 〈◊〉 in schol◠〈◊〉 coÌ„mâ—nior and this opinion seemeth now adayes to bee more common in the Schooles Where I wish the Reader to 〈◊〉 by the way this word modâ— now adayes because it doth most â—â—â—ely and sufficiently set before our eyes the mutability of the late Romish Religion For in that he saith niodâ— now adaies hee giueth vs to vnderstand that their Doctrine is now otherwise their it was of old time and in former ages Behold heere the new Religion and that popish doctrine is vncertaine Againe Ma. Fisher late Bishop of Rochester granteth to Ma. Luther when he was ouercome with the force of his Reasons that euery sinne is mortall of it owne nature Iaeobus Almaynus Durandus
Io Gorsonus Michaell Baius and other famous papists not able to aunswere the reasons against Veniall sinnes confesse the truth with the Bishop That euery sinne is mortall Yea the Iesuite S. R. with the aduise of his best learned friends in his Aunswere to The downefall of Popery coÌ„fesseth plainly blusheth not thereat that the Church of Rome had not defined some sinnes to be Veniall vntill the dayes of Pius the fift and Gregory the thirteene which was not fiftie yeeres agoe These are the Iesuits owne wordes True it is that Bishop Fisher and Gerson were in that Errour but that was before it was condemned in the Church as it was since by Pius Quintus and Gregorius 13. Loe the Iesuite cannot denie that great learned Papistes held euery sinne to be mortall and therefore he had no other shift to defend Popery vvithall saue this onely which is a very silly one That the Church of Rome had not yet defined the matter O sweet Iesus what a world is this that silly foolish papists should bee so bewitched as to thinke Popery the Old Religion We see it plainely confessed by our Aduersaries that for the space of one thousand fiue hundred and threescore yeeres all sinnes vvere deemed mortall But because some sinnes to be Veniall made greatly for the life of popery as without which it could hardly liue continue pope Pius and after him Gregorius decreed it for an Article of popish fayth That some sinnes are mortall and some Veniall for vvhich Venialls God cannot iustlie condemne any one to hell if wee will beleeue the Pope and his doctrine First therefore seeing the Papists cannot agree among themselues what sinnes are against Gods law Secondly seeing their opinions in their Schooles are now adayes changed and not as they were in olde time Thirdly seeing all sinnes were beleeued and holden for mortall for the space of one thousand fiue hundred odde yeeres Fourthly seeing pope Pius and pope Gregorie could change sinnes mortall into Veniall Fiftly seeing the Pope siâ—ting in his Chayâ—e or â—yding on his White Palâ—ray so he doe it iudieially can make that a poynt of popish fayth which was of no fayth for the space of one thousand and fiue hundred yeeres before that time I cannot but needes I must conclude with this ineuitable illation Ergo the Popish distinction without all rime or reason of mortall and veniall sinnes is nothing in deede but a rotten ragge of the New Religion CHAP. 8. Of the Popes Fayth VVIsedom with the whole troupe of Vertues were needfull for him that should dispute of the holy Fathers fayth or power I therefore post deosculationem pedum humbly pray to be heard in defence of Truth wherein I will desire no more of his Holinesse but onely that he will graunt so much to be true as I shall proue to be true by the testimony of the best Popish Writers The popish Seminarie Priestes write of this subiect in this manner As the pâ—udent Greeke appealed froÌ„ Alexander furious vnto Alexander sober and Bishop Crostrate from pope Adrian priuate to pope Adrian publique and as Summus Pontifex in Cathedra Petri so may the Seculars notwithstanding any decree set downe by his Holines to the contrary by wrong information giuen appeale euen from the Pope as Clemens vnto his Holinesse as Peter Thus 〈◊〉 William Watson in the name of all the rest By this Doctrine thus plainly deliuered which is a constant position in the Romish Church the Seculars giue vs to vnderstand that execrable and neuer enough detested fallacie where-with the Pope his popelings haue a long time sedueed the greater part of the Christian World viz. That the Pope may Erre as a priuate man but not as a publique person This is a great wonderment obserue vvell the sequell First therefore if wee meane to wring any truth out of the Popes nose wee must haue recourse to his Holinesse at such time as he is sober not when he is furious least he become starke mad and forget the knowledge of the Truth Secondly wee must haue the Popes aduise when he is a publique person not when or as he is a priuate man Thirdly we must goe vnto him not as he is indeed this or that pope but as he is Saint Peter that blessed Apostle of our Lord Iesus Thus much is necessarily gathered out of this popish doctrine Which beeing well marked Poperie will be the Newe Religion and turne it selfe vpside downe For first it is a constant Maxine in all popish doctrine that the Pope and none but the Pope must iudge in all Controuersiâ—s of fayth doctrine This notwithstanding we see by this popish doctrine so contrary is popery to it selfe that if the Pope judge of any matter as he is furious and not sober as he is a priuate man and not a publique person as hee is Clemens Sixtus Adrianus or some other like Pope and not S. Peter himselfe then he may Erre and so both he deceiued and deceiue others O my sâ—rable Papists how are ye led headlong into pernicious Fayth and Doctrine and eyther doe not or will not see the same Your Pope say you may Erre as a priuate mâ—n but not as pope or publique person This distinction may fitly be termed a tricke of fast and loose For if the Pope define a truth they may say he defined it as a publique person but if he define an error then say they he defined it as a priuate man Behold heere gentle Reader vppon what rotten stuffe the Papists would haue vs to ground our Fayth when we proue as I haue done elswhere that pope Anastasius pope Honorius pope Iohn pope Celestine and others haue both holden and taught false Doctrine they tell vs they did that as priuate men not as popes of Rome That their pope cannot erre in fayth iudiciallie it is this day with papists an Article of their fayth The famous papist Dominicus Scoto shal be the spokesman for the rest Albeit saith hee the Pope as Pope cannot Erre that is to say cannot set downe any Errour as an Article of our Fayth because the holy Ghost will not that permit neuerthelesse as hee is a priuate person so may he Erre euen in fayth as he may doe other sinnes But how old is this Romish Doctrine Of vvhat age is this strange Fayth Of this sâ—biect I haue written at large in my Golden Ballance of Tryall This onely will I now say that this popish Article The Pope cannot Erre in fayth was neuer heard of in Christes Church for the space of 1500. yeeres Many famous papists I might alledge but one Alphonsus will suffice We doubt not saith he whether one man may be a Pope an hereticke both together For I beleeue there is none so shamelesse a flatterer of the Pope euer except our Iesuites and Iesuited Papists that will ascribe this vnto him that hee can neither Erre nor be deceiued in the exposition
Taper they ascipe great holines and reserue it til the Ascensioâ— or Pentecost Howbeit it was first inuented by Pope Sozimus 400. yeares after Christ. This Sozimus â—alsified the Decrees of the Nicene Counsell so to establish the vâ—utped primacy of the Church o. Rome And so I must conclude Ergo it is a rotten ragge of the New Religion CHAP. 23 Of the Popish Pax and the misteries thereof INnocentius the first inuented the Pax the Misteries whereof as Durandus their famous Schoole-Doctor telleth vs are so wo derfull that they had neede to put many of their Priests to the Schoole all their life before they will perfectly vnderst and their obscure and vnsauoury significations The Paxe may not be giuen in Masse for the dead because the faithfull soules as Durand telleth vs are not nowe in the troubles of the world but rest henceforth in the Lord so that the kisse of peace or Pax is not needful for them which is the signe of peace and concorde This is the Misterie of the Popish Pax inuented 400 yers more after Christ but here I must tel them another Mâ—sterie Viz that if the with-holding of the Pax do signifie their rest in the Lord then doubtlesse is the Masse it selfe Idolacriticall which is offered for their Pargation Againe if the soules be in Purgatory so stand in neede of the Masse then is their Ceremony false and fantasticall which signifieth them to bee in rest To this I most needs adde as a merriment that our Popish Monkes doe neuer receiue the Pax because forsooth they are dead to the World but how they are dead to the world let the world iudge They haue goodly houses pleasant Gardens fine Celles they are seated in the most wholesome ayre planted vpon the most fertile soyle ennir oned with most defired prospects their dyet is finely prouided their table euer well furnished they want neither wine nor any dainty This one sure thing may be the proof sir Tho. Bedle the Monk was imprisoned in York many years at what time my selfe for Popery was a prisoner with him in the Kidcoat on Owse-bridge He is dead I wil repeat no vnttuth of the man this only wil I say for instruction sake He vsed vsualy to send euery day for a quart or a pint of wine which was very chargeable to him being but a prisoner his frends somtime wished him to abstaine adding sundry reasons for the same but he answered that in their Abby he had bin so long vsed to drinke Wine at his pleasure that hee could not now liue without it O mortified Monks O poore Fryers Nay O Hypocrirall deceiuers of the world For that more fitly is your name Now I must conclude Ergo the inuention of the popish Pax is but a rotten ragge of the New Religion CHAP. 24. Of the Popes Buls POpe Adrian the first of that Name caused hys pardons Priueledges and Grants to be sealed with Lead which they called the Popes Bulles These Buls were vnknowne to the Church for the space of 772. yeares after Christ. Ergo the Popes Bulles are a rotten ragge of the New Religion CHAP. 25 Of the Popish Agnus Dei. THe Church of God was aboue 1200. years without the vse or knowledge of this Agnus Dei Who was the first Author thereof I do not reade but cerraine it is that it beganne of late yeares for the Popes of late time haue vsed euery seuenth year and the first yeare that euery one is made Pope to consecrare solemnly with prayers Chrismes and manifold Ceremonies certain round peeces of wax hauing the Print of a Lambe and for that cause so termed With this kind of paltery stuffe the world is so bewitched that infinit numbers do ascribe a great part of their saluation thereunto Hee that hath an Agnus des about him must beleeue as he is taught by our Iesuites that he shall be deliuered by Sea and by Land from all Tempestes Thunder Earth-quakes from Hayle Thunderbolts suddaine death and from all il euill If any man will not beleeue mee let him reade a little Booke printed at Colonia containing therein the order sodalitatis B. Maria Virginis which is euery where to bee fold In which Booke hee shal find much more then I haue said Ergo the Popish Agnus dei is nothing else bur a rotten ragge of the New Religion CHAP. 26. Of Candlemas-day THe olde Pagan Romaines in the Calends of February vsed to honour Februa the Mother of Mars whome they supposed to bee the God of battaile the honour they did exhibite vnto him was this they went vp and downe the streetes with Candels and Torches burning in their hands in regard heereof that the Christian Romans should not be inferiour to the Pagan Romans in Heathenish superstition Pope Sergius decreed that vpo the day of the purification of the blessed Virgin being the second of February they should go in procession with burning Candels in their haÌ„ds therby signifying the blessed virgin to be pure and free from sin Of which point I haue at large disputed in my Suruey Now I must conclude Ergo to go vp and cowne with burning Candles like Pagans is but a rotten ragge of the New Religion CHAP. 27 Of the dolefull Oath which Popish Byshops make to the Pope IN the ancient church for the space of 1227. years all Byshops had free accesse to Counsels and free liberty when hee came thither to speake the truth out of the holy Scriptures but Pope Gregorie the 9. tooke another course with them that none shoulde haue voyces in Counsels but such as sâ—vare obedience to the Pope and promised with an Oath to defend his common Law The expresse wordes of the oath the Reader may finde in the downfall of Popery I must heere of force Conclude Ergo this execrable Popish Oath is but a rotten ragge of the New Religion CHAP. 28. Of the Popish fast of forty dayes commonly called Lent OF the Popish manner of fasting I haue written else-where at large Lent-fast as Papists vse of late yeares is ridiculous and hurtfull both to souls and bodies Ridiculous first because they prohibite to eat Egges Cheese and Butter and yet doe they permit all manner of strong Wines all â—iads of most delicate Fishes and other dainties whatsoeuer flesh onely excepted Albeit sundry men doe like as well of Fish as of flesh if not better Againe because Wines lundry kinds of Fish bring forth all those inordinate effects for the breaking whereof fasting is appointed no lesse then flesh or rather more Thirdly because in all their sasts the richer forte fill their bellies at noone with daincy dishes which is as much as any vdle man will aske for his dyet any day vnlesse it befor fashion sake Fourthly because at night they wil haue wines Fruits Figs Almonds Dates Raâ—â—ous Mâ—rmelaâ—e Conserues of Cheries 〈…〉 Fiftly because they vsâ—to stuff their paâ—uchos so 〈◊〉 at noone