great facility and without which there is no possibilitie of salvation 2 That divine prerogative is granted vnto them abve all the people in the world which doth preserve them everlastingly from erring in matters of faith and from falling from GOD. 3 That the Pope being Christes deputie hath the keyes of heaven in custodie to admit in by Indulgence shut out by excommunication as he shall see cause 4 That the charge of all soules being committed to him he is thereby made soveraigne prince of this world exceeding in power and maiestie all other princes as far as the soule in dignitie doth exceed the bodie eternall things surmount things temporall and seeing the end is the ruler and commander of whatsoever doe tend vnto it and all things in this world are to serve but as instruments and the world it self but as a passage to our everlasting habitation 5 That therfore he that hath the managing of this high honour to be the supream conductor vnto it hath also power to dispose of all things subordinate as may best serve to it to plant to roote out to establish to depose to bind to loose to alter to dispence as may serve most fitte for the advancement of the church and for the atcheving of the soules felicitie wherein whosoever oppose against him whether by Heresie or Schisme they are no other then verie Rebels or seditious persoÌ„s against whom he hath vnlimited endlesse power to proceede to the suppressing ruining and extinguishing of them by all meanes that the Common-welth of God may florish in prosperitie and the high way to heaven bee kept safe and open for all Gods loyall and obedient people In these poynts no doubtes or questions are tolerable And whoso with them ioyne in these shall find great connivence in what other defect or difference soever this being the very touchstone by which all men are to be tried whether they be in the Church or out of the Church whether with them or against them and by this plott have their wits erected in this worlde a Monarchie more potent then ever any that have bene before it A Monarchye which intitling them de iure to all the world layeth a strong foundation thereof in all mens conciences the onelie firme ground of obedience in the worlde and such a foundation as not onely holdeth fast vnto them whatsoever it feazeth on but worketh outwardly also by engines to weaken and vndermine the states of all other Princes howe great so ever and that in such sort as by possessing themselves of the principall places the hearts of their subiects as being those from whome they have their principall good even the happinesse of their soules to incite vppon everie conscience a gaynest their naturall Soveraigne at pleasure and by a writte of Excommunication to svbdue or at leastwise greatly to shake whom they list without fighting a blow without leavying a Souldier lastly a Monarchie which as it was founded by meere witte needeth not anie thing but meere witte to mainetaine it which enricheth it self without labouring warreth without endangering rewardeth without spending vsing Colledges to a great purpose as others can fortresses working greater matters partly by Schollers partly by swarmes of Friars than else they could ever doe by great garrisons armies And all these maintained at other mens charges for to that rare poynt have they also proceeded as not onely to have huge rents themselves out of other mens states but to maintaine also their instruments out of other mens devotions and to advance their favorites vnder the faire pretence of providing for Religion to the verie principall preferments in forraine Princes Dominions That no man need find it strange if finding the revenew of skill and cunning to be great and their force mightie especially what they worke vpon simplicitie and ignorance They inclosed in times past all learning within the wals of their Cleargie setting forth Ladie Ignorance for a great Saint to the Laitie and shewing her vnto them for the true mother of Devotion And assuredly but for one great defect in their pollicy which was hard in regard of their owne particular ambition but otherwise not impossible to be avoided That they choose their Pope lightly verie old and withall without any restraint of all Families and Nations whereby they are continually subiect to double change of government The Successor seldome prosecuting his Antecessors devices but eyther crossing them through envie or abandoning them vpon new humour it could not have been but they must have long since beene absolute Lords of all which defects notwithstanding so strong was their pollicy by reason of the force of their Cardinall fonndation That no Prince or Potentate ever opposed against them but in fine even by his owne Subiects they eyther maistered him or vtterly brought him to good conformitie by great losse and extreamitie tâ—ll such time as in his latter age the bottom of the foundation it selfe being stoutly discovered hath given them a sore blow hath changed in great part the state of the question and hath driven them to a re-inforcement of new inventions and practises 12 Howbeit those positions being the ground of their state and the hope of their owne glory in them they admit no shadow of alteration but indevour still per fas nefas euen by all the meanes in the world to strengthen them and amongst their manifold adversaries hate them most of all other who have laboured most in stopping of that foundation And seeing that by reason of this bookish age they have not that helpe of ignorance which in times past they had they cast about greatly to soake and settle them in mens perswasions and consciences by another way They tell men that the very gound whereon we build our perswasion of the truth of Christianity it self are no other then credible That the proofes of the Scripture to be the word of God can be no other at this day than probable onely being impossible for any wit in the world to produce exact necessary and infallible demonstrations Eyther that the holy Apostle Saint Paule had his calling from above or that those Epistles were of his writing so likewise in the rest and that the chiefe proofe that we have therof is the testimony of the church a thing which their very adversaries are forced to confesse Now that this probable perswasion of the truth of Christianity doth afterward grow to an assurednesse therof this issueth from an inward operation of Gods divine spirit the gift whereof is faith and that faith being a knowledge not of bare science but of beleefe which searcheth not the particular necessitie of the veritie of things delivered but relieth in generall vpon the approoved wisedome truth and vertue of him that doth deliver it Then surely whosoever will have necessarie proofe of the severall Articles of Religion doth but wittily deceive himselfe and by over-curious indevour to chaunge his faith into science doth loose that which
reward of glorie which proceeding from the Father and Prince of Peace reiecteth all spirits of contention from â—â—taining it hath entred into a meditation whether it were not possible that by the travel and meditation of some calmer mindes that at this day vsually write or deale on eyther side these flames of controuersie might be extinguished or asâ—aked and some tollerable peace re-established in the Church againe The iustnes of their vertuous desires to see it so hath bred in them an opinion of possibilitie that it might be wrought considering first that besides infinite other points not controuersed there is a full agreement in the foundation of religion in those same Articles which the twelve Apostles delivered vnto the Church perhappes not an abridgement onely of the faith but even as a touch-stone also of the faithfull for ever that whilst there was an entire consent in them no discent in other opinions shoulde breake peace and communion And secondly considering also there are in great multitude on both sides for so are there vndoubtedly men â—ertuous and learned fraught with the love of God and the truth above all things men of memorable integrity of heart and affections whose lives are not deere vnto them much lesse their labors to be spent for the good of Gods Church and people by whose ioint indevours and single and sincere dealings in common conference for the search of trueth that honorable vnitie of veritie might bee established But if the multitude of crooked and side respects which are the onely olouds that eclipse the trueth from shining more lightly on the face of the world and the only prickes which so enfroward mens affections as not to consider and follow what were for the best doe cause that this chiefe vnitie findeth small acceptation as it is to bee feared at leastwise that the endlesnesse ill fruites of these contentions which tend mainely to the encrease of Athenisme within of Mahomatisme abroad by which obstinacy the Iewes shake the faith of Christians taint the better mindes of acerbity load the words with poyson which breake so out in their actions which themselues thinke holiest namely the defence of Gods trueth which each side chalengeth that in thinking they offer vp a pleasing sacrifice to God they give cause of wicked ioy vnto his their enemies that those wofull effectes with very tedious wearinesse may draw both parts in fine to some tollerable reconciliation or to some vnity of charitie at leastwise to some such as may be least to eithers preiudice Let the one side give over their worshipping of Images and offfering supplication to Saints their offensive ceremonies their indulgences their vsing of strange language not vnderstoode in their devotions al which themselves confesse not to bee necessarie orders of the Church and such as at pleasure shee may dispence with yea Pope Clement the seaventh gave some hope to the French king that hee would not be stiffe in things of this quality and that the respect of time might iustifie the alteration and some of the later Popes condescended to them of Bauaria about the cup of the Sacrament hoping that would have contented them which since they or their successors have taken from them again On the other part let the Protestants such at leastwise as seeke to purge out that negative and contradictorie humour of thinking they are then rightest when they are vnlikest the Papacy then neerest to God 〈…〉 furthest from Rome Let them I say looke with the eye of charitie vpon them as well as of severitie and they shall finde some excellent order of government some singular â—elpes for increase of godlinesse and devotion for the conquering of sinne for the profiting of vertue and contrariwise in themselves looking with a more single and lesse indulgent eye then they doe they shall finde there is no such absolute perfection in their doctrine and reformation as some dreamers in the pleasing viewe of their owne actions doe fancie Neither ought they to thinke it strange they should bee amisse in any thing but rather a very miracle if they were not so in many For if those antient Fathers Sages of the Church who with greater helpes beeing neerer the time of puritie with equall industrie so spending their lives with lesse cause of vnsinceritie having nothing to seduce them notwithstanding were not able in their weakenesse and blindnesse of their humane nature in this world to soare vppe so high alwaies in the search of trueth as to finde out her right State in the height of the heavens but sometimes Errour to bee dwelling nearer them in steede thereof How lesse likely that our age more intangled with the worlde further remooved from those faultlesse institutions and so bitterly exasperated with mutuall controversies and conflictes should attaine to that excellencie and perfection of knowledge which it may bee God hath remooved from mans reach in this world to humble him and to increase his longing towards another world And as the present time doth discover sundry errors in the former so no doubt will the future in that which is now present so that ignorance and errour which seldome goe severed beeing no other then vnseperable companions of man so long as hee continueth in his terrestriall pilgrimage it can bee no blemish to them to revise their doctrine and to abate the rigor of certaine speculative opinions especially touching the eternall decrees of God the qualitie of mans nature the vse of workes wherein some of their chiefe Authors have come to such an vtter opposition to the Romist doctrine as to have exceedingly scandalized all othe Churches withall yea and many of their owne to rest very ill satisfied The state of truth is aloft that of vertve in the middest alwaies both places of honour but neither truth nor vertue draw to an vtter extreamitie And as in some points of doctrine so much more in their practise in order of government and ecclesiasticall degrees in solemnities and statelinesse in the service of God in some exercise of pietie devotion and humility especially in set fastings accompanied with due contrition of heart praier Besides in many other ceremonies they might easily with out offence of conscience at all frame to draw somewhat neerer to their opposites then now they are which yeelded on both sides a general and indifferent confession and summe of faith an vniforme Lyturgy a correspondent forme of Church-government to be made of the points both should agree in and to be established vniversally throughout all Christendome that this all Christians should necessarily hold and this their Divines in Pulpits should teach and this their people in Churches should exercise which done the vnitie of communion should remaine vnviolated for all other questions to be confined to the Schooles the Counsels and to the learned languages which are the proper places to trie them and it should bee lawfull for each man to beleeve as hee found cause not condemning others with
now speak of where the Grecian who is counted by the corruption of his country to be naturally a crafty merchant a seditious person in all kinds of gouernment is now become humble obedient and peaceable and at divine service gives shew of more devotion than the Romanist in any place for ought I have yet seene But the lamentable calamity of this afflicted distressed Church once florishing in all worldly glory now such as it hath pleased the wild bore to leave it is able to dissolve a marble heart into streams of tears causeth me in true sense of compassion of their miserie to wish with the humble petition of a mind pierced with grief to the iust Iudge of the world redeemer of mankind and savior of his people to cast downe his pitifull eies vpon them to behold on one side his triumphing fierce enimies persecuting without measure on the other his poore servants troden downe persecuted without helpe hope or comfort to dissolue the pride and power of the one to comfort the astonished and wasting weaknes of the other with some hope of succour and finall delivery to inspire the hearts of Christian Princes their neighbours compounding or laying aside their endlesse and fruitlesse conteÌ„tions to revenge their quarrell against their vniust oppressor to deliver now at length the Church of that bane the world of that ignominy mankind of that moÌ„ster of Turkish tyranny that hath too long raigned and laied the earth desolate A small thing were it if this revenue and treasure were only supplied and maintained out of their goods and labours or if their bodies and lives were onely wasted and worne out in his works slaueries it might be suffered for goods are transitorie and death the end of all worldly miseries But to be forced to pay a tribute also of soules to his Mahomet to have their deerest children snatcht out of their bosomes to be brought vp in his impious abhomination and to be imployed in murdering them that begat them and in rooting out of the faith wherein they were borne and baptized and which onely were able to bring their soules into happines This surely is a calamitie insupportable and which crieth out vnto God in the heavens for reliefe How long shall that hateful name of that cursed seducer vpbraid the glorious lovely name of our Savior How long shall his falshood insult ouer our faith how long shall his barbarisme oppresse our civility his tyranny affront the true honor of all lawful government but how long soever this stands firme for ever that the iudgmeÌ„ts of God are iust directed in his sharpest chasticemeÌ„ts to the benefit of the world and instructioÌ„ of men sound to vs that if those people amoÌ„gst which our Savior himself coÌ„versed at what time his beautiful steps honored this world with those Churches which his Apostles so industriously planted so carefully visited so tenderly cherished instructed coÌ„firmed by so many peculiar Epistles and for whom they sent vp so many servent praiers yea to whom are remaining those particular letters which the spirit of the highest indited in the very heavens and sent downe vnto them Aforewarning of that plague which is since befallen them if besides these spiritual prerogatives and graces the puissance and glory of the great empire of the world the christian empire of Rome being translated vnto them seated in their lap and with promise of perpetuitie to their present prosperity such then was the strength thereof Notwithstanding when they fell away froÌ„ their first zeale charitie when knowledge the right mother of humilitie made them swell when they envied each others graces which they ought to haue loved wheÌ„ abouÌ„dance of all things bred wantonnes instead of thankfulnes In fine when they forgot the Author of all their blisse and fell to snarling and biting one another insteade of putting vp and forgiving of offences if not for the name of Brotherhood yet for his sake who was father and equall lorde of both it pleased God to suffer a base thiefe and a wicked with a traine of vagabondes to the eternall reproach of all their wisedome and pollicie to advaunce himselfe so by his industrie and their securitie and to grow to such an height in his successors and folowers as to be a terror and amazement to all the world and to themselues an vnexplicable vnsuccorable calamity to strip them of all those graces and blessings which vngratefulnes wold not acknowlege pride and wantonnes did abuse And to heap on theÌ„ as much miserie as the cruelty of a barbarous and mercilesse tyrant can infflict vpon such as haue no meanes to appease him save their calamitie alone or to withstand him besides their patience then surely wee who come short of them so farre in pledges of favor and equall them in our faults And they who have had in particular the like threatening caveats of cutting off notwithstanding the virtues of their honourable auncestors may thinke it high time to enter into a more serious cogitation of their wayes to turne all their pollicies contentioÌ„s against others into an humble and sincere examination of our selues that repentance and amendment may prevent those punishments which our wickednesse hath deserued and obstinacie now highly doth prouoke 58 It remaineth that I should proceed to the churches reformed of which there are many things also to be saide But my length in my former drawne on by multitude and varietie of matter still freshly presenting it selfe contrary to my intention doth cause me to deferre the rest till some other occasion In the meane while it doth huÌ„bly and gladly submitte it selfe to be censured and controlled by those of wisedome experience and iudgement For howsoever I have waded heerein with that vprightnes of minde which becommeth a lover and searcher of trueth And have also to my best avoyded that rasâ—nes and lightnes in beleefe which they that are subiect vnto shall swallow downe many a morcell which will fill them with winde insteade of good iuyce nourishmeÌ„t yet viewing on the other side in such a multitude at this day perhaps with like integritie equall warines more diligence and manifoldly more means of certaine informations have delivered either histories or other particular relations how few there are that have not stumbled vpon many an errour where they thought was nothing but plaine ground and trueth I cannot have anie affiance or presumption of my good fortune as to hope to be the man alone that should hit trueth in all things But rather as foreseeing almost an impossibilitie of not often erring in matter FINIS