Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
truth_n	word_n	work_n	year_n	198	4	4.3724	4	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A69250	Newes from France containing tvvo declarations of two new conuerts from the Church of Rome to the reformed churches of France: the former made by Master M. du Tertrf [sic], Lord de la Motthe Luyne, late preacher amongst the order of the Capucins vnder the name of F. Firmin, &c. at Saumur on the 27. of May last: the latter by the Marquise Boniuet, Lord of Creuecœur, &c. at Rochell on the seuenth of August last. Both translated out of the seuerall French copies into English by E.M. of Christ-Church in Oxford. Whereunto is added an English letter sent from Paris by an English gentleman to his friend in England, touching the late surprisall and imprisonment of the Prince of Conde, which happened on the 22. of August last.; Declaration and manifestation, of the chiefe reasons and motives of the conversion of Master M. du Tertre, Lord de la Motthe Luyne.	Bonnivet, Henri Marc de Gouffier, Marquis de, d. 1589. Declaration de Henri-Marc de Gouffier. aut; Meetkerke, Edward, 1590-1657, attributed name.	1616 (1616)	STC 7372; ESTC S117179	43,123	84

other hand the hammer and chizell for to square and fit these liuing stones to the building of his spirituall Temple But what doe I I must conclude lest mine obseruation should proue to be longer then the text it selfe In the meane time accept of that which is done for you and bee thankfull to God for that which he hath done for his Church and in particular cease not to pray continually for the peace of the distressed Ierusalem which he hath in France Farewell London this last of August 1616. Yours E. M. A DECLARATION OF HENRY MARC DE GOVFFIER Marquise of Boniuet Lord of Creuecoeur c. IF so be that pietie and the knowledge of God were things hereditarie and of that nature that they could descend from the parents to the children as well as doe the goods and possessions of this world then should not I need at this time to declare what I am what is my beleefe and what God hath put into me for my baptisme mine education and bringing vp would testifie it I hauing beene descended from such persons whereof some haue had the feeling of Gods truth within them and others the very confidence of professing it openly But the publike calamities which for so many yeeres haue afflicted this estate haue brought to mee in particular for my part this losse more to be lamented then any other that I could neuer haue a taste of that good affection which parents are wont to beare toward their children and that those from whose care I might haue looked for a faithfull instruction in matters of saluation hauing beene taken out of the miseries of this world as soone almost as I came vnto it there was left vnto mee no other light then for the body and my soule still continued in darknesse and the shadow of death and that in such manner that accordingly as I grew in age so I daily proceeded in errour and straying from Iesus Christ and his Gospell I strayed likewise from mine owne happinesse and had beene likely miserably to continue in that lamentable and deplorable estate euen vnto this day and so forwards if God who knoweth who are his and whose names hee hath written in his booke of life had not had pittie of me and if the goodnesse of him who sheweth mercy to whom hee sheweth mercy had not preuented mee and formally opposed it selfe to the mischiefe which was pleasing vnto me and to that curse which being to mee the greatest of all yet aboue all others was hugged and liked of by my soule And if the kindnesse of God towards mee hath beene eminent in regard of the thing it selfe in that he hath vouchsafed to deliuer me from the power of darknesse for to translate me to the kingdome of his well-beloued sonne the meanes also which it hath pleased him to vse for to bring to passe this happie effect are no lesse worth the considering in that God of the meanes of my totall perdition at least as they might seeme likely to bee hath made as many meanes of my conuersion to him according as hee is wont to draw sweetnesse out of bitter things for his children and generally to make all things to turne to the best for those who are called according to his determined purpose It is now twelue yeeres agoe when I was at Rome I will say no more there mine eyes saw wonders but such as were quite of another nature then those which heretofore the Apostles being directed and animated by the holy Spirit brought forth for to authorize and confirme the doctrine of grace And how carefully and industriously soeuer I was nurtured in ignorance and brought vp in the hatred of the Religion and the loue of Idolatrie yet I could neuer bee hindred from perceiuing that there was a great disproportion betweene the state of those who at this day doe domineere ouer the Church and the condition of them who formerly did feed the flocke of Christ that was committed vnto them Yet that was scarce any more then if I should haue beheld the darknesse of the night without being able to discerne the brightnesse of the day or if I did beginne to take notice it was in that manner as men beginne to see at the breake of day That beginning how small soeuer it was then did not continue vnprofitable the rising of the Sunne drew nigh the light increased and was strengthned in mine vnderstanding the abuses of Poperie appeared vnto me both grosser and more God left not in mee his worke vnperfect hee did put me in minde of inquiring a little further and to be informed truly by himselfe in his owne word whether of the two Religions that are receiued in this Kingdome might haue the vpper hand in regard of the truth or had more conformitie vnto this word This enquirie did make mee to resolue about some three yeeres since to forsake the seruice which I finde condemned in the Scripture and to embrace that which I find therein commanded and to come forthwith out of Babylon for feare that partaking longer of her knowne crimes I should bring my selfe into a manifest danger of partaking of her vnknowne plagues Whilest I had this resolution which came to me from God behold on the contrary many considerations which came from elsewhere on the one side were presented to mine eyes the lustre the pompe the dignities the greatnesse the hopes of the earth and with all this ostentation of the glories of the world as it were a certaine voice well-neere like to that which said sometimes to our Lord I will giue thee all these things if thou fall downe and worship mee on the other side the pouertie the miseries the ruines of houses the hatred the contempt and all what is most able to cause a distaste which should bee mine assured lot in case of change These two tentations the one on the right and the other on the left hand did make me suspend the effect of that wil which the spirit of God had insinuated into my spirit I looked behind me a good while I withheld the truth in vnrighteousnes I made my selfe beleeue that by doing much euil I should haue good done vnto me I fled from the presence of God but God did make me at length feele that he deceiues himselfe which thinkes to scape by swiftnesse from before him he prepared for me a Whale for to swallow me but yet not for to destroy me I was chastened by his hand and that through the same things in the which I had sinned he tooke away out of mine hands both that which I had and that which I had not And now my hopes were cut off euen at the root now many things by me possessed were lost for me now my libertie more precious then all the rest was taken from me but God be praised who hauing taken from mee so many things yet hath giuen mee so many that if hee hath sent mee any euill it was onely for

God and in your presence with a solemne oath and protestation that I will say nothing but the truth I beseech the diuine goodnesse to assist you with his grace and heauenly light to make you know clearely both the one and the other I doe pray with all my heart and with as great affection as I am verily and shal be all my life notwithstanding this change and alteration of religion and departure from you and your society company Sirs Your most humble inward and affectionate for your good and saluation Dela Motthe Luyne From Saumur this 27. of May 1616. A DECLARATION and manifestation of the chiefe causes and motiues which haue moued and induced Mr. M. de TERTRE Lord de la MOTTHE LVYNE to withdraw himselfe from the Romish Church Directed to those of the Church of ROME THe most cleare actions of men euen of the most famous and illustrious in vertues perfections and most commendable qualities are subiect to shadowes and their workes exposed to the foolish and rash examination search censure and iudgement euen of the common people When you heard of knew and saw my departure God knowes what sinister opinions I ran into in regard of many amongst you some taking my designe to be but a lightnesse inconstancie and inconsideratenesse of minde others thinking it to haue proceeded from a matter and occasion of disquietnesse and discontent receiued from them from whom I am departed others from a desire of greater libertie and more licentious life and many other the like but all in generall esteeming it a manifest disloyaltie and notorious treacherousnesse to your societie and company I could neuer haue thought and yet lesse beleeued that the actions of a worme of the earth of one so poore and wretched as I am should haue beene gathered vp with such a throng but sithence that by the manifest prouidence of God they are fallen into this debate I am most willing and content to render and giue an account of them as S. Peter commands me or rather Iesus Christ who would disclaime me before his heauenly Father if I did not confesse him in the truth ingenuously before men I sweare therefore and protest before the most holy Trinitie to whom al things are knowne and manifest which soundeth my very reines which seeth and pierceth euen to the inmost and most secret part of my heart and thought of my soule that this my change hath no other aime and tends purely and simply to no other end then to the glory of my God and the assurance of my saluation for which two things I doe not nor will euer refuse in regard of men either shame or confusion or pouertie or dishonour or martyrdome whatsoeuer though armed with the most cruell and sensible prickings of all the punishments and torments that at any time were felt by any reasonable creature And if I haue any other intent I pray my God that hee will make an exemplary vengeance of my hypocrisie and punish and chasten me most seuerely if he knoweth and can finde out that I speake not the truth and that my words doe disagree and differ from the thoughts of my soule and feeling of my heart I am now come to the 32. yeare of mine age or thereabouts and though it hath beene with much paines wearisomnesse and trauell partly in my studies and partly in my other publike or priuate businesses yet I doe not thinke thankes to Gods bountie that I euer did weare in my countenance and forehead any marke whatsoeuer which might make mee blush for shame or hinder mee from going with my head lifted vp aloft I haue not lost with that little experience which I haue gotten in the world the desire of going on and ending my life in the same bed of honour and state of innocencie for to prostitute that so lightly which I haue kept and maintained so dearely and with so much care And how weake soeuer I am in body and minde yet the lightnesse inconsideratenesse and inconstancie which some closely obiect vnto me and reproach mee withall hath not as yet God be thanked so farre possessed my braines as that any one should haue seene from thence to issue the effects of follie and I hope that his goodnesse will not derelinquish or leaue me to that wretched and lamentable extremitie As for the matter and occasion of discontent which some others produce and lay abroad I should be to blame and should lie if I should complaine thereof it being true and I must needs auouch and confesse it ingenuously that I haue beene but too much beloued cherished and honoured in that state wherein I was and as much or more aduanced then I could haue desired wished or challenged hauing beene put to the studie of Philosophie and Diuinitie euen sooner then their customes statutes and ordinances could well allow of and permit hauing also beene made Priest precisely at the time permitted and appointed and eftsoones admitted and preferred to the office of preaching which I haue begun to exercise from my 25. yeare and alwayes since continued at Burges Bloys in this City Tours Angiers Chasteaugontier Laval Mayenne le Man 's Alenson Rhedon and other such like wel knowne townes of France with all kinde of contentment and satisfaction thanks be to God being welcome to all and vnderstood by euery one As for the libertie and a more licentious life which others last of all doe obiect vnto me God knowes and is my record and experience also can witnesse it and giue an assured proofe thereof that I haue had nothing lesse in my minde and thought then that but rather on the contrary it was the desire of a more retired solitary peaceable and quiet life and for to put an end to those poastings and vagaries which are ordinary and essentiall to men of that estate and condition who like Daedalus his images are in a perpetuall stirring motion and agitation But if that had beene the cause I neede not to haue come out from thence where I was such occasions and opportunities offering and presenting themselues daily vnto me as well as to others yea a thousand times more if I would haue taken and accepted them as well as they But God by his infinite goodnesse and mercy hath kept and preserued mee euen against these encounters wherein the strongest and perfectest in shew haue shamefully yeelded and foulely fallen I would not therefore so play with my selfe and and out of an humour as it were change my Religion if that I had not some sound cause and ground for it it being otherwise very easie for me if I had willed to keepe my wonted manner of life and to keepe my selfe so doing from so many blowes of the tongue from wry lookes from pricking suspicions which I haue in truth to the quicke felt and doe yet feele in good earnest But there is no remedy I must resolue with my selfe to swallow downe by little and little this cup of

resort and haue our refuge to the Saints and blessed ones and that a thousand other such like things which you beleeue and your Doctors teach and preach ought to be held for Articles of faith there not being any trace or ground of them in the sacred Scripture the true rule of that which ought to be beleeued and done Not being able I say to perswade my selfe that that was the true Church in the which the true faith and the doctrine of the Gospell was held and taught wherein the manners life and actions were so contrary and opposite vnto them and the corruption so great and vniuersally diffused and extended throughout But those were but small light and vaine Ideaes which went no farther by reason of the negligence as I beleeue in the which the watchings which I bestowed on my studies and other businesses kept me asleepe as also by reason of the age whereof I was which for that time did not giue me more liuely conceits thereof for want of some body that might haue heartened them on farther as indeed I was bred in the midst of them who beleeued and did the quite contrary Thus did my simplicitie hatch my ignorance wherein I liued fiue or six whole yeers since this first glimpse of light which did kindle in my soule and heart this desire and affection of the truth and to returne to this first spring and originall of the faith and manners of the Apostles and Disciples of the Sonne of God our Sauiour yet of that very Sauiour from whom by processe of time euen your Church hath swarued At the end of which yeeres finally it hath pleased that supreme goodnesse and maiestie which doth impart and communicate his graces and fauours to whom he thinkes good yea oftentimes to least worthy and capable subiects and makes the splendor of his euerlasting light to cast his beames on those soules that are deepest plunged into the obscuritie of darknesse to poure out on mine the amplitude and greatnesse of his heauenly and diuine benedictions and to make mee to see abundantly purely and to the full in their owne essence and naturall day both the truth and falshood and to harden strengthen and encourage my minde for to embrace valorously the one and to reiect the other against all the obiects and representations of humane reason the attractiue and alluring perswasions of nature the impetuous assaults of flesh and bloud and the strong suggestions and temptations of the deuill and the furious and bloudy combats of hell Whereupon I am and shall alwayes be obliged vnto him ouer and aboue all the obligations which I owe vnto him already in number almost infinite and I doe blesse praise wil praise him to al eternitie yea all the holy Angels of heauen and iust men of the earth which whereas the enuious hatefull and ill willers haue their foreheads wrinkled will be glad for me and reioyce at my departure and conuension This my change then hath no other scope and aimeth purely and simply as I haue already said at nothing but the glory of my God and the assurance of my saluation which I haue truly found out and sweare and protest that I could not haue attained vnto and wrought out in that state wherein I was vnderstand I pray you and hearken to the reasons thereof The two grounds and foundations of all Christian religion and consequently of euerlasting saluation are faith and charitie without which neither one nor the other can remaine and continue standing faith I say in Christ He that beleeues in me saith he shall not come into iudgement but he that beleeueth not is already condemned Not any faith whatsoeuer but such as God and the holy Scripture doe demand and require of vs not languishing dead grounded on humane inuentions and traditions but purely and simply on Gods word animated and quickned by the spirit of grace accompanied with good workes Charitie not fained dissembled in shew only but as the Apostle saith proceeding from a pure and cleane heart from a good conscience from an vnfained faith and a loyaltie not counterfeted The same S. Paul speaking of the first in the 1. Epist to the Corinthians chap. 3. saith it clearely and in very expresse termes According to the grace of God which is giuen vnto me as a wise master-builder I haue saith he laid the foundation and another buildeth thereon But let euery man take heede how he buildeth thereupon for other foundation can no man lay then that is laid which is Iesus Christ Now if any man build vpon this foundation gold siluer c. Where you see cleerely how vnder the metaphore and comparison of a materiall edifice and building which that it may be firme sound and lasting hath necessarily neede of a good strong foundation of firme and hard stones laid very farre and deepe in the ground he declareth signifieth and giueth cleerely to vnderstand that the true faith and beleefe in Iesus Christ our Sauiour such as he teacheth and sheweth vs in his writings is the true sure and onely foundation and the solid and setled ground-worke of all Christian religion and consequently by a necessary sequele of euerlasting saluation according to my proposition which for this first point remaines enough by this place and sufficiently proued As also no man doth deny it and call it in question but all generally doe admit and receiue it for a certaine and assured ground Let vs come to the proofe of the second point thereof to wit of Charitie I had need of more time then the shortnesse of this discourse can affoord mee for to relate all the places of holy Scripture making for this purpose That namely is manifest and cleare by the very words of our Sauiour when as being asked of that Doctour of the Law or Scribe and Pharisie which was the first the greatest and chiefe commandement thereof and hauing made answer that it was to loue God with all his heart with all his soule c. and his neighbour as himselfe he addeth that in these two points were comprised and contained closed and shut vp the whole Law and the Prophets and consequently by a necessary sequele and infallible conclusion all religion grounded and saluation established as on two solid and firme foundations without the which neither one nor the other as I haue already said can remaine and continue standing Now let vs see whether those two grounds and bases of saluation be or can be found in your Church and in the state and condition from whence I am departed to the end that from thence you may know and iudge whether I haue had iust cause and lawfull occasion to doe this or no and that the tongues that make themselues malicious and slanderous may cease from their calumnious assaults and pursuits And to begin with the faith and beleefe in Iesus Christ wee haue amongst many others three things to be considered in him 1. his person 2.

his charge and offices 3. the singular graces fauours and benefits which hee hath conferred on vs and wee haue receiued from him As for his person it is a matter of alike faith and beleefe equally grounded in the holy Scripture and acknowledged approued and confessed by all that he is very God and very man God begotten from all eternitie of the proper substance essence and nature of his eternall Father yea the very same perfectly and in all points equally God as he is Man conceiued in time produced and begotten within the chaste entrailes of the proper substance of the Virgin Mary by the working of the holy Ghost of the seede of Abraham and Dauid according to the flesh truly man as we are subiect to the same and altogether alike infirmities except sinne and ignorance Now although your Doctours directly and openly doe not beate downe and destroy these two things in the Sonne of God our Sauiour yet so it is notwithstanding that by manner of consequence and necessary sequele they take from him rob him of and carry away at the least his humanitie when as they say and it is their common doctrine and vniuersall beleefe that in the Sacrament of the Eucharist by the meanes which they call and they haue forged and inuented it for themselues but of late times of transubstantiation the substance of bread and wine is conuerted and changed they are the proper words of the Councell of Trent in the first and second Canon of the fourth chapter and of all your Doctours in dependance thereof into the body and bloud of Iesus Christ which is properly and to speake truly to ouerthrow topsie turuie and destroy the truth of the incarnation and humanitie of our Sauiour and to giue him a body not taken and drawne from the substance of the Virgin made and begotten by the seede of Abraham and Dauid according to the flesh following the promise which had beene made them thereof by that supreme maiestie long time before but from the substance of the bread and by a necessary consequence and infallible conclusion no longer any true body or a naturall man but a morsell of paste a peece of the ouen horrible and accursed blasphemie but yet farre more when as they affirme auouch and wilfully maintaine that the same humanitie of Christ in the same Sacrament is substantially present almost euery where or at least is really and corporally in almost infinite distinct and seuered places in one and the same instant So Bellarmine in his controuersies of the Eucharist and after him all the others in a row which is properly to make the body of Christ no longer a true body but to speake plainly an immense and infinite God contrary both to the truth of his humane nature and to the testimonie of all the holy Scriptures and reason it selfe For what body would that be which wanteth his naturall greatnesse and stature which can neither be felt handled nor seene c. which occupieth and filleth almost infinite places distant and farre asunder in one and the same instant as we haue already said Thus doe you see that your Church doth oppose and destroy his holy and sacred person and the humanitie of our Sauiour and turneth topsie turuie as much as in her lieth this ground of our saluation whereas in lieu of the true body of Christ shee offereth presenteth and giueth you an idle vision and a very apparition But this is enough on this matter Let vs now come to his charges and offices They are many and in great number but may notwithstanding all be reduced to these three principall of Prophet of King of high Priest A Prophet who like another Moses yea better then he and more perfectly many thousand times and without compare nay then all the other Prophets hath both by himselfe and by his Apostles and Disciples foretold denounced and declared the will of his eternall Father the lawes precepts and ordinances which he required and willed vs to obserue So had the foresaid Moses a long time before foretold when as being neere to his end and vpon the finishing of his dayes turning himselfe to the children and people of Israel and comforting them in the behalfe of his departure he did warrant them and promised that God would raise vp vnto them a Prophet from the midst of them of their brethren c. And the Apostle in the first to the Hebrewes saith expresly that God hauing in times past at sundry times and in sundry and diners manners spoken to the Fathers by the Prophets hath spoken to vs in our dayes by his welbeloued Sonne c. And a thousand other the like testimonies of Scripture which I omit of purpose not to wearie you Now those of your Church doe denie vnto him this honourable charge and office when as they say hold and maintaine that the holy Scripture is obscure ambiguous vnperfect insufficient to saluation That there is nothing in it heauenly and diuine which can binde vs to beleeue that which is contained therein That that which the Apostles and Prophets haue giuen vs and left in writing they did it not as being driuen thereunto by any particular and speciall commandement or inspiration from God but by contingent occasions and accidentall causes That its proper principall and last end is not to be and to stand for a rule of faith but only for a certaine vsefull and profitable recommendation to the keeping and obseruing of the doctrine proceeding from the preaching of the Gospell c. And that not contenting themselues with this heauenly doctrine by the meanes whereof the Sonne of God our Sauiour hath giuen and left vnto vs both by his liuing voice and by the Apostles and Prophets as it were by his owne hands all that is requisite and needfull to saluation and to the perfection which hee willeth requireth and demandeth of vs they adde to this heauenly and diuine written word contrary to the expresse prohibition which is giuen of it in many places therein where an Anathema is pronounced and a curse thundered out against those that shall be so daring bold and shamelesse as to vndertake it they adde vnto it I say as being insufficient another not written to wit an infinite number of humane constitutions traditions and inuentions To the which although for the most part vncertaine obscure and contrary among themselues they will haue vs to giue the like credit and beleefe and carry towards them the same and altogether equall deuotion with the word of God nay farre greater seeing they hold and teach as I haue said heretofore that of it selfe alone without the said traditions the Scripture is not so necessary and neither can nor ought to serue for a rule of faith and the traditions alone of themselues purely and simply without the said Scripture ought to be and absolutely are so Which while they doe what is this else but to reiect and impudently refuse

beholden and indebted to them whence it is not very hard to consider acknowledge and iudge whether the true humilitie which is essentiall to Christianitie and so beseeming it yea the fairest and richest ornament of a true beleeuer can be in them who not onely maintaine and wilfully defend such a doctrine but doe glory therein and doe oppugne and persecute euen to the fire and bloud those which on the contrary forsaking themselues and all that can come from their owne strength and merits haue no other refuge prop foundation and assurance for their eternall saluation then in the meere bountie grace mercy and free pardon of God in Iesus Christ his Sonne his merit and intercession Hee should neuer haue done that would relate shew and set to view all the abuses and errours touching the points of faith necessary to saluation Gather only and iudge out of that little which the shortnesse of the time this discourse giues me leaue to speake whether the first ground and foundation of saluation premised and supposed to wit a true faith and beleefe in Iesus Christ such as the Scripture declareth and requireth of vs is and can bee found in your Church in which is taught and preached a doctrine so diametrally contrary and opposite to it yea against all reason and whether I haue had iust cause and occasion to withdraw my selfe from thence and you also are bound to doe the like in case that you and I desire to worke out our saluation But that which is worse and more to be lamented euen with teares of bloud if it were possible is that for the most part amongst those of your Church there is no more any faith or law or God or religion at all but by a lamentable euent permitted notwithstanding by Gods prouidence for the iust punishment of their deserts are fallen into a grosse ignorance of matters of God I will not say into Atheisme and is fulfilled in them compleatly and in all points that which the Apostle S. Paul hath sometimes spoken of the Gentiles Pagans and Idolaters in the first to the Romans namely that hauing knowne God they glorified him not as God neither were thankfull but became vaine in their imaginations and their foolish heart was darkened professing themselues to be wise they became fooles and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to a corruptible man c. And who then would not withdraw himselfe from men so blinded and giuen ouer to errour and the darkenesse of ignorance Now if their faith be such or for to speak aright more properly their vnbeliefe so great what can bee hoped and looked for of the other I meane of the manners of their life indeede it is very likely that such as is the doctrine such will be the life and manners namely peruerted and corrupted c. And this is it which now in order I am to shew to you and set to your view Let vs begin with charity the loue and affection towardes God and our neighbour the true ground of all Christianity and the second firme and assured foundation of eternall saluation as wee haue said and declared before As for the first the true testimony the certaine and vndoubted proofe thereof amongst many that might be giuen and alleaged is an heartie and louing zeale and affection to his honour worship and seruice and to the true obseruing of his lawes and ordinances and the entire and perfect fulfilling of his holy will as farre as our weakenes and frailtie can suffer vs and the estate and condition of our corrupt and infected nature can permit and beare it If you loue mee saith our Sauiour speaking of this loue to his Apostles and Disciples and to vs in their persons and in the 14. of S. Iohn keepe my commandements He that hath my commandements and keepes them hee it is that loues mee And this hee repeats many and diuers times and amongst others that well beloued and fauoured Disciple in the second Chapter of his first Catholike Epistle confirmes it He that keepes his word the loue of God saith he is truely accomplished and perfected in him As on the contrary the true and infallible signe of the want the defect of the loue of God is not to care for to keepe and obserue his lawes and precepts as besides reason it selfe which is cleere and plaine for it our Sauiour in the same place before alleaged of the Euangelist Saint Iohn doth say Hee that loueth mee not saith he doth not keepe my words and the same Saint Iohn in the fore-cited places He that saith I haue knowne him and yet doth not keep his precepts and commandements he liar and the truth is not in him As for Gods honour worship and seruice it is double and of two sorts externall outward and of the body such as he prescriheth vnto vs in his word namely that Liturgy or outward and publike seruice wherewith hee will be honoured euen publikely in his Church consisting of the duties of piety and the externall actions of religion which doe shew and testifie some humilitie deiection submission affection and acknowledgement of the minde towards his diuine maiesty Internall inward in the soule and inmost part of the minde by a true acknowledging of his immense and infinite excellence perfection and greatnesse and of the sundry and innumerable obligations wee owe him with an humble submission a most deiected humilitie and low deiection before his supreame maiesty honouring adoring fearing respecting cherishing and louing him with all the strength and power of our soules the faculties of our mindes and the affections of our hearts as our onely blisse and chiefe master and Lord from whom we hold by meere dependance and free bountifull and liberall communication all what wee are what wee haue and what wee can at any time challenge looke and hope for both in this life and in the other referring in the meane time and giuing ouer our selues and all what belongs to vs or concernes vs our liues persons goods health honours affaires and other the like wholly to his diuine prouidence to the end that he may do with them as he shall thinke fitting and according to his pleasure and sacred will as belonging wholly to him with a true confidence certain firme hope and an vndoubted assurance of his diuine goodnesse infinite mercy and promises of saluation and this is the chiefe honour worship and seruice that God wishes desires and demaunds of vs as sheweth very wel the Sonne of God himselfe Iesus Christ our Sauiour answering to the question of the Samaritan woman The true worshippers saith he shall worship the Father in spirit and truth and such are those he desires demands and seekes after And hee giueth the reason thereof Because God is a spirit therfore his worship ought to be spirituall internall and in the truth of the heart answerable to his nature by so much more noble

and that which depends thereof the inuocation of Saints praier in a language not common nor vnderstood and other the like And now let them freely goe boasting that they haue the loue of God No no saith our Sauiour he that keepes not my words hee loues me not Hee that keepes not the precepts and commandements of God saith S. Iohn he is a lier and the truth is not in him And then how can they loue him when they giue him not the honour the worship and true seruice which they owe him and which hee wils requires and demands of them but doe almost wholly alter corrupt and destroy it and in stead of the truth offer and present vnto him only a meere dead body and apparition Now he that hath not in him and is deuoid of the loue of God how shall he loue and make much of his neighbour No no saith S. Iohn if a man say I loue God and hateth his brother he is a lier why so For as he addeth hee that loueth not his brother whom hee hath seene how can he loue God whom he hath not seene It is impossible and hee thus concludes This commandement haue we from him that hee who loueth God loue his brother also The loue of our neighbour saith the Moralist S. Gregorie is produced and brought foorth by the loue of God and the loue of God is nourished and maintained by the loue of our neighbour and truly he that is negligent and carelesse in louing his neighbour and Christian brother knowes not how hee ought to loue God nay loues him not at all I neede not striue and stand much vpon the proofe and testimonie of this truth in the most part of them of your Church it is knowne and appeareth well enough of it selfe without labouring to bring it to light the Sun and the light being not more visible then this is cleere and manifest that there is no more any loue charitie affection good-will vnion and concord amongst them there is nothing but diuisions dissensions partialitie enuie iealousie murmurs detractions slanders riots disputes bloudy hatred and mortall rancour of the one against the other no agreement no accord no proportion no respect and relation of pietie or compassion towards the afflicted no charitable assistance in the behalfe of the poore and needie in no wise at all And if so be that some of them as there are alwayes some particular honest and charitable men and we must ingenuously confesse it and giue them this commendation and testimonie for the truth that giue and impart some of their goods and reuenewes it will be to no good purpose rather for to found and cause to be said some Masses seruices and offices and sing leero wayes that I may so say and celebrated in poast-haste and for a fashion without any pietie deuotion affection and attention of the heart and minde whatsoeuer but with a thousand irreuerent insolencies distractions and wanderings of the minde with bad thoughts being rather horrible and detestable blasphemies then praiers and orizons acceptable to God for to build Chappels Monasteries and Couents to feede and make fat the lazie bellies of Monkes Religious and other voluntarie poore men idle droanes and vnfit to doe any good but to dine make good cheere and sleepe for their ease then to maintaine and releeue the truly poore needie and shame faste members of Iesus Christ who die of hunger either at their gates or within their houses without hauing any care pittie or compassion of them they thinking being perswaded and making themselues beleeue that they are discharged and haue well done in regard of their dutie and obligation towards God when they haue filled the wallets and bottles and with good and daintie messes couered and furnished the tables of the Capucins Recollects and other the like begging Friers the true theeues of almes and deuourers of the substance due to the truly poore and needie whereof they shall giue both the one and the other a most strict account to God and shall be most seuerely and grieuously punished And if that sometimes which notwithstanding happens but seldome they doe any good and bestow their charitable assistance vpon the truly poore and needy vpon the diseased vpon prisoners and such like yet it is alwayes ioyned with this leauen that marres makes sowre and corrupts the whole lumpe namely with an opinion and beleefe of meriting and of making God by the meanes of these things indebted to them whereas wee ought simply to exercise the workes of charitie pietie and mercy out of a pure and simple affection and compassion towards our neighbour and for to testifie our loue and gratitude towards God for the infinite fauours and benefits that wee haue receiued and doe daily receiue from him Now all what is before said being thus wherein I pray you can they testifie their loue towards God their zeale and affection to the obseruing of his lawes commandements and precepts seeing that that being the first chiefe and as it were fundamentall in respect of all the rest yet they doe not obserue it But what doe I say nay they thinke not once of it nor at all care for it By what can we know that they are the Disciples of our Sauiour seeing that as himselfe witnesseth this is the first marke and chiefe token whereby to know them yea to put a distinction betweene the good and the bad the elect and reprobate the children of God and of the Deuill as saith great S. Austin and S. Iohn confirmes it in the third chapter of his first Epistle Hereby are manifested the children of God and the children of the Deuill whosoeuer doth not righteousnesse and loueth not his neighbour and Christian brother is not of God and consequently of the Deuill Iudge then what they are and you also consequently and whether I haue had iust cause to withdraw my selfe from you for to vnite and ioyne my selfe with the children of God with the children of light with the elect and predestinated But these two chiefe and fundamentall grounds of religion and saluation being cast on ground what will become of the rest of the edifice and building I meane of those heauenly and diuine virtues that are needfull and requisite to the perfection of a good Christian It must needs be that they also fall downe and that in their stead doe succeede and bee erected a body of all vices and sinnes whereunto we see that the greater part amongst you doe apply and giue themselues ouer The remainder of that which S. Paul had said of the Gentiles in the place before alleaged of the Epistle to the Romans being truly fulfilled in them For this cause God gaue them vp to vile affections for euen c. But wee need not wonder at it seeing that those of whom you ought to receiue the precepts and doctrines of saluation and who ought to be vnto you as lights and lampes for to guide and