Faith And one Lord Jesu Have no dissention among you If this be not the Church of Rome Then will I be converted soon Protestants Answer Unity T Is true Christs Church is alwayes one Ty'd unto him as head alone The parts thereof do well agree (e) Acts 4.23 Like Children of one Family But yet not every company Together link't in Unity Must by and by be called good If truth by them shall be withstood To make a Calf they all agree'd (d) Exod. 32.1 All cry'd Let Christ be Crucifi'd (e) Mat. 27.22 Great is Diana with a shout At once the people all cry'd out (f) Acts 19.34 John said they should yeeld to the Beast Even from the greatest to the least (g) Apoc. 13.16 As Christ his City is but one So is the Devils Babylon (h) Ut est Dei una Ecclesia sic est Diaboli una Babylon Aug. de Civit. Dei The best sometimes do disagree (i) Peter and Paul Gal. 2.11 Paul and Barnabas Acts 15.39 Chrysost Theophilact and Epiphanius Augustine and Hierom Cyril and Theodoret. Each man hath his infirmitie Better the discord bringing light Then is agreement without right (k) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Nazienz Oratione prima de pace Yet by this mark if Rome be try'd It will fall hard upon your side Your joynt-consent we cannot find Nor that you all are of one mind If we shall credit History You cannot brag of Unity Where twenty several Schisms have been (l) Genebrardus in Chro. What harmony may there be seen The laws which one determineth The Pope that follows cancelleth (m) Stephen 6. abrogated all his predecessors decrees Formosius took up his body cut two fingers of his right hand off and buried him again Yet things by him abolished By next Popes are established (n) The following Popes Theodor. 2. Romanus John 10. confirmed all Formosus his Acts. And yet another (o) After all Pope Sergius disanulled their Acts took up Formosius his body and cast it into Tyber Ex Polychron comes behind Who with the former fault doth find And all which they did quite displace Reduceth to the former grace Thus one sage Council doth decree Another saith it may not be (p) The first Nicene Council allowed Priests marriage and the Communion in both kinds The Councils of Constance and Basil forbad the Laity the use of the Cup. The Council of Trent forbiddeth both the Cup to the Laity and marriage to the Clergy The third Council of Cartharge pronounced him accursed and called him the fore-runner of Antichrist whosoever should rearm himself Universal Bishop but now the Council of Trent curseth him who shall deny the Pope of Rome to be the head Bishop of the world The general Council of Constantinople overthrew Images The second Nicene Council decreed them to be worshiped Again the Council of Frankfort under Charles the Great determineth it to be Idolatry and accurseth the Nicene Council Many the like differences might be alledged That which one Sect (q) In Anno 1476. there was a great controversie betwixt the Franciscanes and Dominicanes touching the conception of the Virgin Mary whether she were conceived in sin or not the Dominicanes held she was the Franciscanes the contrary but Pope Xystus the 4. joyning with the Franciscanes four of the other were condemned and burned at Rome or Author likes (r) Alph. de Castro lib. 1. cap. 6. holds the Pope inferior to the Council The opinion of all the Jesuites at this day is that he is above the Council About the Eucharist they have a world of differences amongst themselves as whether Christ did consecrate when he blessed the bread and wine or when he said This is my Body whether so much bread as is taken onely be consecrated whether the substance of the bread be turned to nothing or changed into the substance of Christ whether there be a bodily motion in the Sacrament whether the body of Christ in the Sacrament can be touched how the accidents in the Sacraments are without a subject whether the accidents can be broken whether they can nourish whether the water mingled with the wine be turned into Christs blood Whence come worms in the Host The same another clean out-strikes I know you Papists do agree To work the Churches misery So Herod was made (ſ) He that would know the differences betwixt the Thomists Scotists and Occamists let him read Eras L contra Latomum Luke 23.12 Pilates friend To bring our Saviour to his end Some yeild as fearing to resist Such is the power of Antichrist You may not call this Unity But rather publick Tyranny Some joyn because they do not see The very depth of Popery To build upon the Church Belief Of Lay Religion is the brief Some for their ease and Bellies sake Do to your Church themselves betake As Monks and such as loytring love Whom none but Romists can approve This is your Romish Concordance Among your selves at variance Though all for some respects are led To meet together in one Head In one point more I needs must stay Though nam'd of you but by the way Lest with a phrase of Peter's Keyes You dazle should the Peoples eyes By Keys is meant the power to preach And in Gods truth the Church to teach (t) Luke 11.52 By it (u) Viz. Preaching Heaven 's open'd to receive All those which truly do believe It is the power to loose and tye Which Christ gave to the Ministry (w) Therefore Ministers are said both to have the Ministry of Reconciliation 2 Cor. 5.8 and the Ministry of Vengeance against disobedience 2 Cor. 10.6 It was intended unto all (x) Our Lord in the person of one gave the Keys to all to shew the unity of all Cyp. de simp Prelatorum and Leo a Bishop of Rome is of the same judgement In Sermone de Nativitate Though spoke to one in several When to Believers we give Hope Then is the Gate of Heaven set ope When Mercies Promise is repeal'd Then by the Keys that Gate is seal'd (y) To bind and loose is no other thing but to declare Gods sentence Hieror in Mat. 16. When Peter did his Faith confess Th' Apostles by did mean no less And that which Christ to Peter spake (z) Austin saith he answered for all Hom. in Joh. 66.9 elsewhere often unus pro multis respondit one made answer for all and Lyranus Confessio Petri erat confessio aliorum We may not from the other take †Cuncti claves Regni c. All receive the Keys of Heaven Hier. lib. 1. adversus Jovi Each true and faithful Minister Is Peter's rightful Successor Then speak no more of Peter's Keys Except th' art sworn the Pope to please Popish Rime Holy THis you say in very deed When you rehearse the Holy Creed * So you say in the Creed that
Fair-Play on both sides OR The surest way to HEAVEN DISCOVERED IN A DISPUTE BETWEEN A Roman-Catholick AND A PROTESTANT LONDON Printed for Richard Head at the Heart and Bible in Little-Brittain 1666. To my much esteemed Friend Mr. J. L. YOU will wonder I am sure considering my profession to see me become a Poet. And indeed I do almost marvel at my self knowing my self to want the two principal furtherances of Poetry the one is Natures instinct (a) They say Poeta noscitur If a man be not as it were a Poet born he shall never prove excellent in that faculty which God in his holy providence hath denyed me the other is A certain retired freedom from all such businesses which may breed destraction (b) Carmina secessum scribentis otia quae unt Ovid. de Trist which my publick calling besides private encomberances will not afford me Yet notwithstanding upon this present occasion I have even forced my self to this straitâ—r course of verse-making though I know that for my own ease having to deal in such a distempered and unruly subject that less limited and freer kind of discourse which Prose alloweth had been more convenient because the Rules of Cadence number to which our English Poetry specially is confined do many times so streighten an unaccustomed Practitioner that he is in hazard either of obscuring the sence which in a matter of this nature were something dangerous or of marring the Verse which to the apprehension of every common conceit were very ridiculous But howsoever I have erred in the carriage of this Verse I hope to you and to others whose favour either because of their judgement or their honesty I desire this shall excuse me that meeting with our common Adversary who appeareth sometime in shape of a Statesman debating of Titles and common-wealth affairs (c) Witness the Quodlibets c. sometime as a Petitioner to the King and Parliament (d) At the Kings first coming and now since the Parliament sometime as a plausible Perswader (e) Bâ—istows Motives and Books of that nature sometime as a restorer of the holy Text to the native purity thereof (f) Rhem. Test Grego Martin sometime as a man of a very tender conscience giving reasons why he cannot come to our Assemblies (g) Howlet sometime as a Raylor at our Government and an approver of our open enemies (h) The ward-word Quo teneam vultus mutantem Proted nodo that I say meeting with this time-serving Proteus in the fashion of a Rimer or Balladins and crept in as the manner of false Brethren 1 is (i) Galat. 2.4 Similes habet labra lactucas into â—oth the haâ—… and 〈…〉 simple seduced I have endeavoured to make 〈…〉 like the Lips as the Proverb is 〈…〉 sing to 〈◊〉 I am sure without wilful forsaking the plain truth of God 〈…〉 I shall 〈…〉 The service it 〈…〉 here 〈…〉 by 〈…〉 (k) He confeseth he 〈…〉 Protestant is 〈…〉 though 〈◊〉 say the truth it 〈…〉 through 〈…〉 yet set forth after any good or 〈…〉 but it is even 〈…〉 of certain 〈…〉 egations as to there the â—avings and scraps of 〈◊〉 other 〈…〉 order or proof 〈…〉 word of 〈…〉 than Orâ— Belike the 〈…〉 rough for those for whom it was provided as 〈◊〉 it is for those which turn their ears from the Truth and are given unto fables (l) 2 Tim. 4.4 and by some upon my knowledge to whom 〈◊〉 me God hath sent strong delusions that they should believe 〈◊〉 (m) â— Theâ— 2.11 it is highly magnified as a special preservative against supposed Heresie and as a well-framed Sconce which none of us all is able to overthrow In regard whereof knowing my self 〈…〉 others to contend earnestly for the maintainance 〈…〉 (n) Iude. 3. â—2 1â— I have undertaken this which you here see For my desire and true intent therein it is best known to him which seeth in 〈◊〉 (o) Maâ— â— and in his due time will make the counsels of all hearts manifest (p) 1 Cor. 4. â— Touching the thing it self how it is and how well it is I submit it to the sensure of the godly-wise praying them that with their favourable if not allowance yet at least connivance it may pass to the use of those to whom it is intended And among others I have directed it especially to you in part of recompence for a great deal of kindness intreating you to entertain 〈◊〉 with the like measure of Love wherein it is offered And so â—…ching God to fill you with the fruits of Righteousness (q) Phil. 1.11 I command you to his grace in Christ Jesus Your loving Friend SAM HIERON Modbury Aug. 20. 1604. FAIR PLAY Or a Dispute between a PROTESTANT and a ROMAN-CATHOLICK Wherein the true Religion is made clear to the meanest capacity Roman Catholick's Preface I Pray thee Protestant bear with me (a) Indeed a man had need to be very patient that meaneth to hear thee To ask thee Questions two or three And if an answer thou canst make More of thy counsel I will take (b) Yet I fear that though thou wert brayed in a Mortar with a Pestel among Wheat thy foolishness will not depart from thee Prov. 27.22 Many sundry Sects appear Now in the world far and near The Calvinist the Protestant The Zwinglian the Puritant The Brownest and the Family of Love And many more which I can prove And the Roman Faith truly Which you call Papistry And every one confess Jesu Saying that their Faith is true But amongst these tell me how The Truth from feigned lies to know All these in very deed Reherse all Articles in the Creed And every one of them saith That theirs is the Catholick Faith But this it is that I do seek (c) I believe thou art one of those which are ever learning and never come to the knowledge of the Truth 2 Tim. 3.7 Take the Lanthorn which David used and thou shalt soon find the true Church Psal 119.105 To know the Church Catholick The Communion or Company Of holy men in Unity Protestants Answer His Preface I May not Papist suffer thee Because thy Questions idle be And if my Counsel thou wilt take Then hear the answer I will make Thou tell'st of Sects that do appear And seem'st the truth glad to inquire But ev'n in this I malice smell And see thy spiteful meaning well When thou these divers Sects dost name Thou wouldst thereby our Church defame (d) I have reason so to think because the multitude of supposed Sects amongst us is a common imputation See Brist Motives pag. 10. And make fools think that we them lov'd When as with us th' are not approv'd We do not hang on Clavins sleeve Nor yet on Zwinglius we believe And Puritans we do desie If right the name you do apply (e) Viz. If either by that name are understood those ancient
Hereticks called Cathari who dreamed of a state of perfection in this life so as Papists also do or else such factious ones among us which have sought the spoile and havock of the Church All giddy Sects among us crept We wish out of our Church were swept No name do we delight in more Then that at Antioch given of yore (f) Christians Acts 11.26 But now what Sects you Papists have I do but thy own witness crave Some Capucines some Franciscans And some be called Dominicans Some Jesuites some Seculars (b) The emulation and difference betwixt these two their Quodlibets do shew Some gray some black some white Friars And that your store may not be spent New Locusts still from Hell are sent (c) Rev. 9.3 Those Locusts do well represent the Popes Clergie they were bred of the smoak of the pit so are these of Heresie Ignorance and Superstition they destroy the fruits of the earth so these spoile the Church Thou saist thou would the Church find out So that I see thou art in doubt And so indeed Uncertainty Is still the fruit of Popery Popish Rime Catholick IN your Bible I have read The Church must through the world be spread For Christ he his Apostles sent With Power and Commandement That to all Nations they should go To Preach and to Baptize also Who hath done this to know I wish For that is sure the Church of Christ (d) I hope thou wilt not say that Rome hath done this the charge was given and undertaken before Rome was converted And for example let me know And if thou canst I pray thee show What Church did take in hand The first conversion of this Land (e) The Apostles Church for ought you can prove to the contrary And all other Countries every where Throughout the world far and near (f) Who but a Papist would dare to say this If this were not the Church of Rome Then will I be converted soon (g) You build your faith upon a very sure ground Saint Paul in his Epistle saith (h) Did Paul say that Rome shall never deny the Faith The Romans had the Catholick Faith Saying it was renowned Spoken of or published Through the world over all Catholick Universal And if your Churches were even so (i) Our Church is a part of the Catholick Church disprove it if you can Then to your Churches I would go (k) You may come to our Churches the Pope giveth you leave so that you keep your hearts to him Protestants Answer Catholick IN our Bible thou hast read 'T is well in ours for yours is fled And lurketh in a tongue unus'd Whereby poor people are abus'd The Church is Catholick as you say And so say we but why †The reason why the Church is called Catholick I pray Because to it it were disgrace To limit it to time or place It ever was and so shall be Since Christ excluding no degree (l) Col. 3.11 Acts 10.34 35. It once was ty'd unto the Jews But now no place (m) Austine saith it is Catholick because spread over the world Ep. 170. and thereto agreeth the Scripture Acts 1.8 it doth refuse It is a very fond surmise Which you the Papist do devise To shut the Church within Romes wall And yet to call it general (n) Catholick and general are all one and therefore one of their own Councels saith The Roman Church is not the Universal Church but of the Universal Church Basil Con. sy 3. The very name which you pretend Whereby your Church you would defend To all which do the meaning know Doth quite your fancy overthrow You say the charge which Christ once gave The Romists well performed have But mark how thou thy self dost hurt And lay Romes honour in the dirt That charge (i) Viz. of preaching through the world was given first to them Which lived at Jerusalem (k) The Apostles Mat. 28. Acts 1. And thence the Gospel issued out (l) Acts 8.1 As Esay told (m) Isa 2.3 the world throughout By them the Nations turned were (n) We read in Histories as in Eusebius and others how the Apostles divided themselves into all the quarters of the world And thence of Christ Rome first did hear Yet now the place (o) Jerusalem which others call'd To Turkish Empire is enthrall'd So though't were true which is not so And never shall be prov'd I know That Rome to Christ the Nations brought Yet this your reason were stark nought But now perhaps Rome doth you 'l say Bring home the wanderers to the way Indeed the Spaniards loving Gold Have brought the Indians to your fold The Frogs from Euphrates came out (p) Euphrates was a great river running near the old Babylon in Chaldea and was the defence of the City Cyrus and Darius could never take the City until by policy they dryed up the River Now in a spiritual sense it doth signifie the honour wealth and authority of Rome which hath of latter years decayed excedingly and doth daily and the frogs mentioned in Apoc. 16.13 do well resemble the Jesuites who feeling Euphrates to dry up bestir themselves and are croaking like Frogs in every corner labouring to maintain the Popes Authority I mean the Jesuited Rout Do spread themselves in each countrey To draw men to disloyalty They counsel Subjects kill their Kings Stabbings they use and poysonings (q) Our Countrey and times afford store of examples to prove this Christ gave no such commandement When first he his Disciples sent Of this conversion if you boast Whereby poor souls Hell hath engrost I yeeld it you full willingly It well agrees with Popery To draw Disciples is no mark For so doth many a feigned Clark (r) 2 Pet. 2.1 2. Acts 20.30 The Church to truth which doth convert We do embrace with all our heart Thou sayst Romes Faith once over all The world was famous so saith Paul (ſ) Rom. 1.8 And Rome did first convert our Land And hereupon you greatly stand Romes faith indeed once bare the bell And so it did deserve it well But Rome's not now as heretofore That faithful Citie 's made a Whore (t) Isa 1.21 So it was said of Jerusalem which had more excellent particular promises then Rome can alledge any If new Rome now were as the old Then we with Romanists would hold If Rome become Christs enemy Then we from Babylon must flie (t) Apoc. 18.4 To say that Rome is therefore sound Because of old it was renownd It may a Papist satisfie But men of judgement it deny Paul never Rome did magnifie As he did those of Thessaly †See 1 Thess 1.3 4 5 6 7 8. Yet now that Church is clean defac't And there the Turk himself hath plac't The Asian Churches (x) Ephesus Smyrna Pergamus Thyatira Sardis Philadelphia Laodicea Apoc. 1.11 famous once Are turned to a heap of
stones The golden lights (y) Those seven Churches were represented by seven golden Candlesticks Apoc. 1.20 of Saint Johns age Are now become even Sathans cage Prove thou that Rome hath not declind From th' ancient Church by Pauls resind And then I 'le say thou hast done more Then ever Papist did before But for first turning of our Nation I trow thou nam'st it but for fashion For they that look in History Thereof can find no certainty Simon Zelotes as some say (z) Niceph. lib. 2. cap. 40. Did first Christs Gospel here display Even whilst that Emperour did reign By whom our Saviour Christ was slain (a) Gildas Lib. de victoria Aurelii Ambrosii Some say that he of Arimathy (b) Joseph who buried Christ In the year of grace sixty three From France by Philip (c) Philip the Apostle was sent over To us the faith for to discover (d) So saith Gildas also Hereto agreeth a learned man That ancient Clark Tertullian That by th' Apostles Britany Was turn'd to Christianity (e) Tertul. in his book against the Jewes amongst other places converted by the Apostles reckoneth divers parts of France and Britain So doth Origen Hom. 4. upon Ezechiel Pope Elutherius long agoe (f) About the year of Christ 180. As his Epistle plain did show (g) This Epistle hath been found out of the ancient Records of the Kings of England Unto King Lucius hither sent Ere Ethelbert was king of Kent (h) Which was about 600. years after Christ We hold the faith that then was taught But you the same do set at naught (i) Eleutherius referred King Lucius to the Scriptures clean against the Papists course now and called him Gods Vicar in his kingdom which title the Pope alone doth now challenge When Rome the Truth doth once forsake Then we of Rome our leaves must take If that our Church were Catholick To come to Church thou wouldst not stick If of the word thou knewst the sence Thou soon would'st leave that fond pretence Our Church that truth doth firm embrace Which all those hold in every place Who leaving mens traditions clean Upon the Scriptures onely lean (k) That is truly Catholick which every where alwayes and by all viz. true Christians is believed Vincen. cont Haer. c. 3. Let Papists prove that the word Catholick being taken in that sence ours is not a Catholick Church Popish Rime Prophets SO saith the Prophet Malachy There should be offered far and nigh A clean Oblation or Sacrifice (l) When you read Altar and Sacrifice you think streight that makes for Mass not knowing or not seeming to know the language of the Scripture From place where now the Sun doth rise To the going down of the same And what is that I pray thee name If it be not the holy Mass I will be a Protestant as I was (m) If thou hadst been of us thou wouldst have continued with us 1 John 2.19 In the eighteenth Psalm I found The whole world should hear their sound (n) Namely of the Apostles and their Doctrine prove our Doctrine to disagree with theirs And if this mark you do not want Presently I will recant Protestants Answer Prophets THou cit'st a text of Malachy (o) Mal. 1.11 Hoping to prove thy Mass thereby Alas the reason is but small And helps that Idol not at all In it God threatneth the Jews †The opening of the place of Malachy Who their great priviledge did abuse And thought the Lord was tied to them And unto their Jerusalem The Prophet tells that God elsewhere Will find out those which shall him fear And in an order without blame Shall call upon his holy Name Speaking to their capacity The Legal tearms he doth apply (p) So Joel 2.28 The holy Ghost foretelling the Spiritual enlightning which the people shall have under Christ doth deliver it under the names of Visions and Dreams which notwithstanding were not ordinary in the times of the Gospel And calls our Gospel like Service A pure and spotless (q) Pure in Christ being accepted of God through him 1 Pet. 2.5 Sacrifice What ground is here then for the Mass It still remaineth as it was A gross device defaming Christ Who is our true and onely Priest (r) See more of this hereafter in speaking more directly of the Mass The speech of David of the Skies (Å¿) Psal 19.3 But according to their account Psal 18. Into the Apostles Paul applies (t) Rom. 10.18 And saith their sound went far and near As in the stories doth appear Tell me I pray what good to you This place you have alledg'd can do It maketh nought for Popery Or for your idle trumpery Indeed the infamous Fame is spread Of Antichrist your hideous head And all God's Children him do see The man of sin (r) 2 Thes 2.3 alone to be Th' Apostles Faith was far disperst And here in England was rehearst â—ith then our Doctrine is the same â—o it belongs part of their fame Popish Rime Continuance THis is another mark most sure The Faith of Christ must still endure †Christs Faith must endure therefore Rome is the true Church A hot argument as though the Christian Faith could endure no where but at Rome According as our Saviour said When for Saint Peter he had pray'd Simon thy faith shall never fail The gates of Hell shall not prevail †True the gates of Hell shall not prevail against the Church of Christ but Christ in despight of the Devil will have a Church upon earth what makes this for Rome The holy Ghost your comforter Shall remain with you for ever And I my self your surest friend Will be with you unto the end Saint Paul hath the like speech There shall be alwayes men to preach Apostles (p) Some say they are Apostles and are not Rev. 2.2 Doctors and the like In the Church Catholick If this be not the Church of Rome (q) Because you say it we are bound to believe it Then will I be converted soon Protestants Answer Continuance YOu say Christs faith must still endure I yield that nothing is more sure And alwayes God a Church will have Though thereat Satan rage and rave (Å¿) Mat. 16.18 And that is the uttermost which can be collected out of that place It glads my heart that Christ hath praid Thereby I know my Faith is staid (t) Luke 22.32 Christs prayer there belongs to all believers as well as to Saint Peter John 17.20 The comfort of Gods holy Sp'rit Is each good Christians sole delight This proves there still a Church shall be And herein thou and I agree To prove the Church tied to one Sea Requireth yet a better Plea The Faith of Christ may still abide Though Rome should into Tibur slide Gods Spirit is free and is not bound (u) John 3.8 Within the lists of Romish ground
when Christ comes to judge us all Then faith on earth shall be but small (z) Luke 18.8 How is the Church a City then (a) Mat. 5.14 Rais'd on a mount and seen of men And how a light set up on high That all that will may it espie How shall we to the Church complain (b) Mat. 18.17 If of the Church no shew remain This is thy Popish reasoning And Scriptures plain misconstruing The true meaning of those places Christ doth th' Apostles counsel give Soundly to preach and well to live Because their places were in sight And 't was their Office to give light They erring many might mislead Which in their steps might hap to tread If that their Doctrine were unsound In falshood many might be drown'd It was in vain for them to ween In doing ill not to be seen You are saith Christ upon a Mount To be well mark't make full account (c) Thus Chry. and Theophilact expounded this place 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 This shews wherein our duty stands And what God looks for at our hands Who call'd are to the Ministry To labour in God's Husbandry (d) 1 Cor. 3.9 But from hence how may proved be The Churches visibility This place affords a slender proof And little for the Popes behoof Yet you perhaps will urge it still The Pastors are set on a hill And called Light even so say I But all men can them not descry For those which want spiritual eyes (e) Ephes 1.13 Nor are by searching (f) John 5.39 Scripture-wise (g) Ephes 5.15 17. This mounted City cannot see Nor where these lightsome Pastors be (h) This was the Answer of Aug. to the Donatists Tract 1. in Epi. Johan Christ bids us we the Church should tell If things be not reformed well By Church he means all such as be Indued with Authority (i) The same which Paul calleth Presbyterian 1 Tim. 4.14 The Eldership These Office-bearers all men see In times of setled Sovereignty Yea and among themselves th' are known †This answer the Papists cannot mislike for they make use of it for themselves Rhem. in Apoc. 12.6 The error of this Popish Argument When th' outward state is overthrown When that was said in special You turn to Church in general Thereby you may deceive some fools But soon it will be seen in Schools This argument of outward state Which for a mark you intimate Against that thing doth strongly make Which you to prove do undertake Romes state hath sometimes been obscur'd And hath disgraces foul endur'd Burnt (k) By the Goths 547. sackt (l) By Charles Duke of Burbon in the dayes of Pope Clement the seventh whereupon was made tâ—… clause in the Letany Sancta Maria c. O holy Mary pray for Pope Clement c. some Popes imprisoned (m) John 14. Boniface 8. about the year 1304. Some glad to fly (n) John 17. fled to Hetruria some banished (o) Vigilius 18. and Gregory the ninth about the year 1227. Where did your glorious Church abide When Popes were glad themselves to hide Peace peace no more of this for shame Rome saith you will her clean defame †Succession Succession commeth next in place Whereby thou seek'st thy Church to grace Your turn Succession cannot serve If from the Truth Succession swerve The Jewish Church from Aaron A just descent might stand upon Even when they crucifi'd our Lord And hated all that lov'd his Word If we shall say that Church was true Consisting of so vile a crue We cast Christ and the Apostles out Among the base and damned rout The Grecian Churches at this day For their defence as much can say (p) At Constantinople there hath been a perpetual succession from Saint Andrew Nicep At Alexandria from Saint Mark Yet you of them do give this doom That in Gods Church they have no room Yet if Succession were a sign Which your grand Captain Bellarmine Dares not avouch (q) Bellarmine saith it followeth negatively that where there is no succession there is no Church but not affirmatively that where there is succession there is a Church Lib. 4. de Eccl. cap. 8. I fain would see How Rome can prove her pedigree You call your Church Saint Peters Chair As though the Pope were Peters Heir But if that ground we once deny What Papist can it verifie You cannot prove by holy Writ Peter at Rome did Bishop sit The onely place which you do name (r) 1 Pet. 4.13 The Rhemists say that thereby Babylon is meaned Rome and so they confess Rome to be Babylon Returneth to your greatest shame The things you fetch from Historie Touching this point do not agree (Å¿) Orosius saith Peter came to Rome in the beginning of Claudius reign Hierom in the 2d year others in the 4th year other the 13. year Damasus saith he came thither in Neroes reign so that there is no certainty in that which they make an undoubted principle And what our part hath herein sed By Papists stands unanswered But if he Bishop were indeed Tell me who next did him succeed Some Clement (t) The Popes decrees hold so and some Linus hold (u) Dorotheus Euseb lib. 3. cap. 4. Thus your succession is control'd Once was a Pope suppos'd a man †John 8. Platina The womans name was Gilbertia a Dutch woman of Burguntium But prov'd in time a Curtezan Then either your Succession shrank Or you must put her in the rank When Popes there were some 2. (x) Two Popes together Anno 1083. Anno 1058. and 1062. or 3. (y) Bened. 9. Silvest 3. Greg. 6. all at one time and at another time Ben. 1. a Spanish Pope Greg. 12. a French Pope and John 23. an Italian Pope Where then might your succession be One Schisme held almost forty year (z) 39. years Pope against Pope as doth appear (a) Let their own Authors speak One Council (b) The Council of Constance did these Popes put down And to another gave the Crown When these false Popes the place possest I think you 'l say Succession ceast Popish Rime Unity ANother mark there is truly The Church must have Unity As our Saviour hath foretold One Shepheard and one fold One is my Spouse one is my Love One is my Darling and my Dove This is his Spouse and at some time He doth resemble it to a Vine His Father is the Husbandman A Branch is every Christian This is his Body Mystical The which he doth his Kingdom call Whereof Saint Peter had the Keys (c) What became of the Keys when Pope Julius the second threw them into Tyber And his Successors have alwayes (d) As though no body did succeed Peter but the Pope who is rather the successor of Romulus then Peter as Pope Hadrian the fourth said when he died And likewise Saint Paul saith One Baptisme and one
their enmity Against your vile Idolatry (e) Bertram wrote against Transubstantiation ann 812. a Bishop of Florence was condemned for teaching that Antichrist was come ann 1114. Arnulph was murthered in Rome for preaching against the Pope and his Clergy anno 1128. Henry a Monk of Tolose was against prayer for the dead Pilgrimage Cream Oyl c. anno 1137. Jo. of Salisbury called the Clergy Pharisees the Pope Antichrist and Rome Babylon 1151. Gerard and Dulcimus which taught the Pope to be Antichrist were burnt with 30. more about the years 1164 1165 1166. The Waldenses which held in many points against the Pope were in anno 1167. and after increasing in divers places Almaris a Bishop burnt in Paris for holding against Transubstantiation Images Altars and praying to Saints 1206. Many in Suevia did preach the Pope to be an Heretick in the years 1236 1237 38. Grosted Bishop of Lincoln wrote against the Pope anno 1246. Arnold de Nova Villa against Masses and Sacrifices for the dead taught that the Popes belief was the Devils belief ann 1259. All Histories are full of the like examples these few may serve for a taste to satisfie an indifferent reader and to stop their mouths who say none were heard of of our Religion and Church till Luther But now the Lord hath let us see Your Antichrists deformity That all men might him fully know Before his final Overthrow Our Pastor chief (f) 1 Pet. 5.4 in Heaven did sit And so doth still saith holy Writ (g) Acts 4.21 On earth Universal Priest None dare be call'd but Antichrist (h) Gregory the Great a Bishop of Rome said that whoso calleth himself or desireth to be called Universal Bishop is the fore-runner of Antichrist Epist ad Eulogium lib. 7. He that our Church and Keys had sought By tokens in the Scripture taught Our Church and Keys he might have found Even when the World was most unsound Building of Churches nothing makes For that which here thou undertakes For then commend Demetrius Who builded Shrines at Ephesus (i) Acts 19.24 Well may the heathen People boast Of Piramees and Churches cost In Houses made God doth not dwell As holy Scripture doth us tell (k) Acts 7.48 Yet neither all the Churches here Erected by the Papists were Nor are by us abolished Places where God is worshipped If private men have evil done For it blame not Religion Those men that do Church-spoyling love Our Faith and Church doth not approve Those Cells and Dens of Idleness And Nurseries of Wickedness Upon good causes were displac'd As Baals Temples were defac'd (l) 2 Kings 10. †Touching Luthers Marriage A lawless Vow (m) It is well called a lawless Vow because it is of a thing which is not in mans power If it be said that by fasting and prayer it may be performed and continency obtained I answer the gifts of God are two-fold Some common to all Believers as Faith c. Some peculiar to some onely as this of Continency Now if by fasting and prayer we labour for the first sort we shall in some measure receive them but we have not the like assurance for the gifts of the latter sort because it may be the Lord is pleased otherwise to dispose Now to make such a Vow is a sin but to persist in it is a double evil of single life Luther well brake and took a wife Better the pure and spotless Bed (n) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Heb. 13.4 Then by unclean lusts to be led (o) 1 Cor. 7.9 Better the married Chastity (p) Papists do oppose marriage and chastity but Paul bids young women to be chast and subject to their Husbands Tit. 2.4 5. Then violent Virginity They ought not single to remain Who are not gifted to contain (q) 1 Cor. 7.9 Wedlock it self cannot defile It hath an honourable stile (r) Heb. 13.4 God doth it not to each man give Without the Marriage Bonds to live (ſ) Mat. 19.11 And it is allowed to a Bishop to be the Husband of one Wife 1 Tim. 3.2 The forced vows of singleness Have brought forth beastly filthiness Thou maist behold in History The fruits of Monkish Lechery (t) There were 6000. Infants heads found in Pope Gregories Mote as appears by the letter of Volutianus Bishop of Carthage or as some think of Huldericus Bishop of Augusta to Pope Nicholas against the forbidding of Priests marriage Thy poysoned Tongue doth further reach The noble Saxon to impeach Because to truth he did encline Thou callest him a Libertine When God was pleas'd to let him see How Christ his death hath made us free Then did he deem it slavery To bear the Romish Tyranny Though Antichrist did Rome possess †Who kept the Scriptures You kept the Scriptures I confess And in that long Apostacy Those Books were in your custody So I a Pirate false have known To keep the Goods were not his own And in the Ship to rule and raign When the right Owner hath been slain So did the Jewish Synagogue Safely keep Moses Decalogue And th' other Books (u) Viz. The Prophets and Psalms for so is the old Testament divided Moses the Prophets and Psalms Luk. 24.44 when cruelly They did Christ Jesus crucifie †Touching the calling of Ministers The Pastors which did first restore The truth which long lay hid before Thereto were called lawfully And even by your Authority You did them Priests and Doctors make And they from you this charge did take * In their admittance That they the Truth should soundly preach And in the same the People teach Hereto you caused them to swear That to the Faith they should adhere And never should Errors endure That were against the Doctrine pure That whereunto you did them call Full well they have performed all Truth they have sought to propagate And Heresies to ruinate As we account your Baptism true And never do the same renew †Yet it followeth not hereupon that Rome is a true Church There is in the Papacy a certain hidden Church and to it that Sacrament appertains Circumcision was used of old even among the Samaritans So may you make a lawful Priest Yet be not the pure Church of Christ We know that now you wiser be And swear your Priests to Popery (x) In their Oaths and Admissions they put in this clause The Catholick and Apostolick Church of Rome which in elder times was not used And bind them to maintain the state Of your three-crowned Potentate See now O Papist thou recant Th' art answer'd by a Protestant I counsel thee if thou be wise No new evasions to devise Thy tale of Ethelbert of Kent Is but a slender Argument (y) It is also answered before It skills not whence the Faith was brought Or who it first amongst us taught Let us into the Scriptures look (z) Esay 8.20 And duly search (a) John 5.39 Acts 17.11 that holy Book Thence shall we know wch Church to leave And unto which alone to cleave (b) We have found Christ in the Scriptures there we must also find the Church Aug. de Pastoribus Those swelling words (c) 2 Pet. 2.18 of Unity Succession and Antiquity Are but poor groundless fantasies To blind the simple peoples eyes Though that an Angel thou shouldst see Let him saith Paul accursed be (d) Gal. 1.8 If from the Scripture he doth erre Account him not Gods Minister If one arise and wonders show Seeking the truth to overthrow Though that might seem a motive strong Yet unto him death doth belong (e) Deut. 13.1 2 5. If threescore Bishops here and three Have been with us successively It either proves our Church is true Or else that mark makes nought for you That Faith for which Peter was slain Our English Church doth still retain We hear the Voice of CHRIST JESU (f) John 10.27 Who is the SON of GOD most true FINIS