head of the Church and that hee neuer appointed any Pope to be his general Vicar 5 That the mariage of Priests is lawfull 6 That S. Peter was neuer at Rome 7 That the Clergie of Rome is a den of theeues 8 That the Popes doctrine leadeth to eternall damnation Defens pac Aligerius Andreas de Castro Iohannes Rochetaylada Henrici de Erford nameth him Haybalus preached openly that the Church of Rome was the whore of Babylon and the Pope with his Cardinals to bee the very Antichrist And being for the same brought before the Popes face constantly did perseuere in the same saying that hee was commanded by God to publish the same Froysard Volum 1. chap. 211. Martyrol pag. 360. Before that time there may bee seene professors of the Protestants Religion betweene the yeares 1250 1300. In England PEter the sonne of Cassiodore wrote a zealous Epistle to the Church of England dehorting it from the tyranny of the Church of Rome Ex vetust Chron. Alban extat Martyrol 323. The Popes inhibition was despised in England Anno Domini 1294. Diuers also about this time were accused here in England for adhering to the opinion of the Waldenses Turris Lond. in record reconcil inter regem Baron In Germany Gulielmus Altissiodorensis an ancient Schoolman in whose summes many points of popish doctrine are strongly opposed and confuted Naucler vol. 2. Gen. 45. Iohannes Semeca Prouost of Halberstat was about this time excommunicated and depriued of his office for resisting Pope Clement the fourth gathering certain exactions in Germanie who therefore appealed from the Pope to a generall Councell and had many great fauourers of his side Martyrol pag. 287. In France Gulielmus de S. Amore Master in Paris and chiefe ruler in that Vniuersitie hee wrote a booke de periculis Ecclesiae wherein he maintaineth 39 conclusions against the Papists but especially against the Friers Magdeb. cent 13. c. 5. Robertus Gallus borne of a Noble parentage about the yeare 1290 wrote diuers prophesies against the Pope church of Rome in a booke of visions In the first Chap. whereof hee painteth forth the Pope like an Idol In the twelfth Chapter like a Serpent In the thirteenth he resembleth the state of the Church of Rome to a body whose head is dry leane and withered like a logge of wood In another place hee compareth the Schoole-men in their subtill questions and distinctions to a man who hauing fine Manchet bread and pure Wine set before him doth notwithstanding chuse rather to gnaw vpon an hard and flinty stone Martyrol pag. 292. In Italy Petrus Iohannes a Minorite about the yeare 1290 taught and maintained many things against the Pope prouing that he was Antichrist and the Synagogue of Rome the great whore of Babylon Nichol. Emer in lib. inquisit In Spaine Arnoldus de Villa noua a Spaniard by birth about the yeare 1252 was by the Pope condemned for an Hereticke because hee wrote against the corruptions of the Romish Church his preaching was to this effect First that the Pope and his Clergie seduce the world like Satan from the truth of Christ Secondly Faith as the Papists require it is no better then the Deuils faith Thirdly that the Pope leadeth men to Hell Fourthly that Cloisterers are void of charitie Fiftly that Masses are not to be celebrated and that they ought not to sacrifice for the dead with many other propositions to the like effect Magdeb. cent 13. c. 5. Hâ—siad cent 13. c. 10. Before that time there may be seene professors of the Protestants Religion betweene the yeares 1200 and 1250 In England RObert Grosthead Bishop of Lincolne a man of great learning and godlinesse who liued in the daies of Pope Innocentius the fourth and constantly resisted his vnlawfull demands as by name the inuesting of a young Italian boy whom the Pope had recommended vnto him to be admitted into the next vacant Prebend in his Diocesse for his sharp reprouing the Pope of Rome and powerful preaching against the corruptions in that Sea hee was commonly called Malleus Romanorum The Hammer of the Romanes for his courage and doctrine the Pope was much incensed against him and sware that he would hurle him downe to such a confusion that he should be made a gazing stocke to all the world notwithstanding all which this good Bishop died peaceably And when as after his death the Pope would haue cast his bones out of Christian buriall in the night following the said Bishop seemed in a vision to appeare before â—â—m and smiting him with his Crozier-staffe on his right side with a sterne looke and terrible voice to say vnto him O thou scuruie lazy bald doting Pope hast thou purposed to cast my bones out of the Church God will not suffer thee to preuaile woe to thee that despisest for thou shalt be despised And so seeming to depart the Pope was found the next morning in a manner halfe dead Math. Paris Martyrol p. 295 296. In France Laurentius Anglicus an Englishman borne but Student in Paris of prime esteeme in that Vniuersity wrote against the Pope affirming that in him and his Prelates Antichrist was already come Martyrol p. 292. Almaricus a Doctor of Paris was burnt for withstanding altars images inuocation of Saints transubstantiation Car. Chron. 1202. In Sweden About the yeare of our Lord 1240 there were in Sweden many Preachers who in their Sermons inueyed against the Pope affirming the Pope and his Bishops to bee hereticks and Symoniacks and that popish priests were meere seducers that the Popes curse was not to bee dreaded and his indulgences were meere fopperies Ex Chronic. Abbat Vsperg Crantz lib. 8. c. 10. In Germany Frederick the second resisted the Popes vsurpations exiled his authoritie out of Germany and fought against him prosperously Mat. Paris p. 71. Sygefridus Seginoburgensit Rudicenus Rhathenicensis Conradus Frisingensis Bishops of Boiora ioyne with the Emperour against the Pope Auent lib. 5. Euarardus Inuanensis an Archbishop in Germany spake thus of the Pope in an Assembly of Bishops at Regenspurg He vnder the colour of religion layeth the foundatioÌ„ of the kingdome of Antichrist These priests of Babylon will reigne alone they can endure no equall they will neuer rest vntill they haue trampled all things vnder their feet he sitteth in the Temple of God and is exalted aboue all that is worshipped Thus doth that child of perdition whom they vse to call Antichrist in whose forehead is written the name of blasphemy I am a god and cannot erre Auent lib. 7. p. 546. Before that time there may be seene professors of the Protestants Religion betweene the yeares 1150 and 1200. In England GErhardus and Dulcinus Nauarrensis about this time preached against the Church of Rome defending and maintaining first That prayer was not more holy in one place then another secondly That the Pope was Antichrist and Rome the very Whoore of Babylon prefigured in the Apocalyps These two about
the Pope and his Clergie hee was driuen to recantation yet after his Death many adhered to his opinion Malsmb In Germanie HEnry the third Emperour withstood Hildebrand the Pope and his vsurped Supremacie Sigeb Chron. in anno 1077. Walenam Bishop of Mergburg Merian Scot. Sigefridus Archbishop of Mentz Martyrol pag. 161. The Councell of Wormes Aventin Anal. lib. 5. The Councell of Brixia about the yeare 1083. pronounced the Pope to bee deposed and withdrew themselues from his Authoritie Abbas vsb Martyrol pag. 164. In Italie NIcetus an Italian Abbot Benno Vgobaldus Leo. Iohannes Petrus Natro Theodinus Cardinals with diuers other Bishops Priests of Italie forsooke the Pope and adhered to the Emperour Auent Anal. lib. 5. Sygebert a Chronicle writer of those times taxeth the Popes Excommunication of Princes and absoluing their Subiects from obedience of noueltie and heresie Sygeb in anno 1088. And thus through Gods assistance wee haue traced out the footsteps of the Protestants Religion from Luther to Berengarius from the dayes of Henry the eight vnto the comming in of King William the Conqueror And wee haue found a cloud of witnesses in England France Germanie Italie Spaine Bohemia and diuers other Countries for the space almost of Fiue hundred yeeres successiuely professing and maintayning the same whereby wee may plainly see that our Religion was long before Luther and that they were not all Papists that liued in the Christian world before Luthers dayes as the Papists foolishly doe traduce Now let vs follow the same tract a little higher and make enquirie whether we may not finde the same in the Elder dayes and in the yeares of former Generations euen to the time in which Poperie first began and before the hatching of the same which by the like assistance of Almighty God I doubt not to performe in that which followeth But now for a while in the next ensuing Centuries we shall I confesse behold the Church of Christ like the Sunne obscured in a cloud Popery being about this time in the height of her Pride Reuel 17.2.14 When the Kings of the earth gaue their power and strength vnto the Beast and the Nations were drunken with the Cup of that Babilonish Strumpet Besides that euen as our Aduersaries themselues acknowledge those times were barren and obscure times because there were few good Writers in those times which did Record the occurrents of the times And therefore there cannot be expected so large Catologue in these as wee haue either in the dayes before or in these latter Times Yet blessed be the name of the Lord he hath not left himselfe without witnessesse euen in these most obscure times But there we may meet with diuers who followed the same way and professed the same Truth which we Protestants now doe as may appeare by the Induction following Betweene the yeares 1000. and 1050. In England Marianus Scotus an Historiographer who liued in the daies of King Edward the Confessor and spared not in his writings to reproue the practise of Papists in those daies Maxian Scot. hist Martyrol p. 149. Vnder the raigne of King Canutus although superstition did in this land wonderfully abound yet diuers points of the Protestants religion as Iustification by Faith obedience in all sorts of people to Magistrates in the same manner as we now hold them was then professed as may appeare by Canutus his Lawes Martyrol p. 148. ex Iornal hist In France Luthericus an Archbishop in France about this time denied the reall presence in the Sacrament Baron Ann. 1004. n. 5. Glaber Rodulphus wrote how that the Bishop of Rome should haue nothing to doe in another mans Diocesse The which he also saith was the opinion of all the French Prelats Hesp lib. 2. c. 9. Quem refert Baronius In Germanie Rodulphus Ardens Preached against the popish opinion of Merits as appeareth out of his Homilie Dominic in Septuagint and in his 1. Hom. in Dominic Trin. The same Rodulphus Ardens also taught that there is no abilitie in vs to keepe the Law As may appeare out of his 2. Hom. in 18. dom Trinit Betweene the yeares 950. and 1000. In England The Cleargie of England in a Councell held 975. withstood Dunstans prohibition of Priests Marriage Hen. lib. 5. Fatholdus whom some call Ethreredus a learned man of Scotland so euidently by Scriptures and Fathers proued that Marriage was lawfull to men in spirituall offices that Dunstans Miracle was reputed an illusion of the Deuill Hist Magdeb. cent 10. c. 9. Aelfricus Archbishop of Canterburie about the yeare 996. wrote an Epistle to Wolfine Bishop of Shirburne against the housling of the Sacrament And another Epistle to Wolstan Archbishop of Yorke against Transubstantiation Which with a Sermon of his in the Saxon tongue are extant Martyrol p. 1040. 1401. 1042. In France Fulco Archbishop of Rhemes vttering his minde freely in a Councell held at Rhemes vnder the Raigne of Carolus Simplex against the abuses of the Court of Rome and for seeking reformation of the Church was slaine in that Counsell by Vinemarus Ex Rhem. Concil Luitprandus a famous Historiographer in the daies of Otho the 1. wrote against the Pope Epist Luitpr ad Reginomundus Episc Hisp In Germanie Otho the Great Deposed Pope Iohn the 13. and assumed into his owne hands the nomination and making of Popes which was a manifest resistance against the growth of the primacie Sigon lib. 7. ann 963. Theophilact is thought to haue liued about this time he was Bishop of Bulgaria and wrote Greeke Commentaries vpon the Euangelists c. Hee said Antichrist should spring in the decay of the Roman Empire and of Marriage that it was honourable and a step to the Chaire of a Bishop Theophilact Betweene the yeares 900. and 950. In England The English Clergie about this time were very peremptorie against the Reall presence Osbernun vit St. Oden Martyrol p. 1029. The Lawes of King Athelstan and of King Edward the Elder doe plainely shew that the Kings of England at that time gouerned as well in causes Ecclesiasticall as ciuill Extract è legibus Rex Athelst Martyrol p. 1039. In France Reynerus confesseth that about this time there were in France diuers of the Predecessors of the Abbigenses which euen in those daies held their opinions Illyr tom 2. c. 5. p. 548. In Germanie The booke entituled Fasciculus temporum complaineth of the manifold abuses which about this time were in the Church of Rome which caused diuers of the Germans to write and to inueigh against the same Fascic temp p. 68. Betweene the yeares 850. and 900. In England KIng Alfred caused the Psalter and diuers other parcels of holy Scripture to be translated into the English tongue that the English might be the better acquainted with the same Gulielm de Regiby Angl. Iohannes Scotus a great learned man was famous about this time he wrote a Booke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and an other De corpore
pope-Catholike Aduersaries and finde out their starting holes by examining what they obiect or can except against the Catalogue before recited and see what colour they haue to set vpon their false suggestion which they buzze into the eares of their proselites that our Religion was not heard of before Luthers time when we haue such a cloude of Witnesses of our side as already hath beene produced Their first cauill is against the smalnesse of the number Genebrard Chr. lib. 4. Admit say they that there haue beene in the daies of old some that haue leaned to diuers of these hereticall propositions of the Protestants and haue opposed themselues against the doctrine of the Romish Church Brist praefat in motiâ—â— as there hath beene scarce any peece or Article of the Roman faith but by one or other first or last it hath beene called in question yet as Andrew said of the fiue Barly Loaues and two small Fishes which were to bee deuided among fiue thousand hungry people Iohn 6.9 Ioh. 6.9 What are these among so many so say they What are these few Bellarm. lib. 4. de Eccles c. 8. Rhem. in Act. 11 ss 4. this little handfull of Protestants in regard of whole Countries Kingdomes and Nations throughout all the world who haue embraced the Catholike faith of the Church of Rome and adhaered to that sea or how can so small a number make a visible Church To this we answer 1. That number or multitude is no true marke or note of a Church for if Truth should be measured by the opinion or practise of the multitude Then Iesabels Church should bee better then the Church of which Elias was 1 King 18.19 for Baals Prophets were 450. fed at Iesabels Table when as Elias as farre as hee could see was left himselfe alone Then should the Pagan religion bee better then that in Israel which was but an handfull in regard of the rest of the world Psal 76.1.2 Psal 147.19.20 Then should Turkisme bee better then the Christian religion for that at this day hath greater number that follow it then this And so the Turke should be better then the Pope Mahumetisme more to be commended then Poperie because the ones Dominion is larger in extent then the other and that hath more Proselites then this But our Blessed Sauiour himselfe preuenteth that obiection when he calleth his flocke Pusillum gregem A little flocke Luk. 12.31 Math. 7.13 Luk. 12.13 and againe telleth vs. Mat. 7.13 that wide is the gate and broad thei way that leadeth to destruction and many there bee which goe in thereat but straight is the gate and narrow the way which leadeth vnto life and few there bee that finde it 2. It is no wonder that in these times of persecution of the Church of Christ by the See of Rome the number of true professors was so small for these were the daies and times Reuel 12.5.6 When this woman fled into the wildernesse when the greatest part of the Christian world both small and great rich and poore Reuel 13.16 17. bond and free were compelled to receaue the marke of the Beast and no man could buy or sell saue hee that had the marke or the name of the beast or the number of his name By reason whereof the number of this faithfull flocke of Christ was much diminished and obscured which is the cause why the professors of our Religion in those times being driuen from place to place and persecuted by Antichristian tyrannie Their names the places of their abode and other circumstances whereby their memories should haue beene preserued could not so easily be made knowne vnto vs. 3. As the true Church may sometimes bee more secret and hidden yeâ— reduced to a very small number as already hath beene declared so that number be it neuer so small that company be they neuer so few professing the Truth aright and hauing the right markes of the Church may be a true Church Where two or three saith our blessed Sauiour are gathered together in my name Math. 18.26 there am I in the middest of them Mat. 18.20 Whereupon Tertullian inferreth Tertul. exhort ad Castital Augustin Ennar in psal 28 Durand lib. 6.72 v. 25. Where three are that sincerely professe the truth there is a Church And Augustin saith The Church sometimes was only in the house of Noah sometimes in Abrahams family only sometimes in Lot and his house And the Papists themselues doe acknowledge that at the time of our Sauiours Passion the true Faith remayned onely in the Virgin Mary 4. Neither haue I in the Catologue before recited set downe all that either liued or are recorded in the seuerall Ages aboue mentioned but onely a few in stead of many by which few it may bee easily gathered that there were many more of them for such Learned such eminent men when they shew foorth themselues could not want partakers howsoeuer the oppression and Tyrannie of the aduerse partie did keepe them vnder Neither are there so few who haue already beene named if wee rightly cast the account In some of these Centuries and halfe Centuries I confesse there appeare more in some lesse as the cloud of Popish ignorance or persecution did thicken or lessen as sometimes amounting to hundreds at other times to thousands as may appeare by that which already hath been alledged And this if wee had no more witnesses to preduce were enough for answer vnto their demand who require vs to shew any that professed our Religion before the dayes of Martin Luther and to stop the mouthes of our Popish aduersaries who thus vauntingly insult ouer vs Rhem. in Rom. 11.4 That they will not put the Protestants to proue that there were seauen thousand of their Sect before their new Elias Luther began But let them proue say they that there were seauen or any one either then or before then in any Age that was in all points of his beliefe Obiect 2 And these last wordes of the Rhemists are a branch of another Obiection which the Papists frame against our former Catologue Gregor de Valenc Com. theol â—om 3. d. 1. And that is this How can you prooue say they that those parties whom you claime to bee yours such as in the former Catalogue were mentioned held the same Religion which you now doe or if in some things they may seeme to accord with you yet that in all points they were of your beliefe To this I answer 1. That it is not requisite that to proue them to professe the same Religion together with vs wee must proue them in all points to haue beene of our Beliefe or that the least difference in opinion should make a difference in Religion for what Church euer was there wherein all the members thereof did fully consent in euery point without any shew of difference Surely not the Pope Catholique Church for doe all that professe themselues members of that
from the Truth our Faith and Religion hath euer kept it selfe vnspotted The true cause why during the former ouer-clouding times of Poperie the Exercises of our Religion haue beene neyther so frequent nor so publike as now it is eyther in place or persons was the persecution of Poperie and the generall corruption of the Papacie which as a Leprosie infected and as a Myst obscured the Times so that sometimes not the true beleeuers themselues such I meane as are come to our knowledge were void of error in euery point though they firmely held the foundation And if it pleased God in processe of time to giue more libertie to the persons and more puritie to the Doctrine why are wee vnthankfull and why should any enuie if the Truth hath growne more ripe in our Age And if there be any yet among vs I would to God there were not too many such who stand as Newters and lookers on not regarding any Religion nor caring to ioyne themselues to either side vntill they see the sequell and issue whether the Protestant or Popish Church is likeliest to be most praeualent To such I say as Elias said to the people of Israel How long halt yee betweene two opinions 1. King 18.21 If the Lord be God follow him But if Baall then follow him Let them consider and call to minde whither of the two Religions sauour more of grace and of the spirit of God whether doth attribute most to God whether hath beene most fauoured by God Let them consider the damnable positions the horrible combustions and hellish proiects of Poperie and the sauing counsels peaceable prosperity and heauenly blessings which haue accompanied ours let them as the Apostle counselleth proue all things 1. Thess 5.21 and hold fast what is good If they doubt whether of them carrieth greatest shew of either veritie or Antiquitie I say vnto them as it was said to St. Augustine at the time of his conuersion Tolle lege Take vp this booke and reade or rather as the Lord speaketh by his Prophet Ieremie stand in the waies and see Ierem. 6.16 Aske for the old paths where is the good way and walke therein and yee shall finde rest for your soules Lastly to the true members and vnseduced Protestants of our Church I say with the Apostle to the Corinthians Brethren you see your calling 1 Cor. 1.26.27 28. albeit not many wise men after the flesh not many mighty not many noble are called But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise and weake things to confound the mightie c. yet some noble some learned some Worthies haue embraced the same Religion together with vs and that in all ages and times of the world What would wee haue what can wee desire more we haue Verity and Antiquitie for vs we haue the Patriarkes the Prophets and Apostles on our side we haue the company of innumerable Martyres who haue scaled the Truth thereof with their blood we haue the fellowship of many Churches in diuers Nations Being therefore Compassed about with so great a clouds of Wanesses Heb. 12.1 let vs follow the footsteps of those who haue walked before vs in this way of righteousnesse and runne with patience the race that is set before vs. What though Papists raue and rage and plot and seeke by all meanes to bring our Religion into disgrace yea If it were possible to cut of the name of Israel Psal 83.4 that it might be no more in remembrance Psal 82.12 Yet these aduersaries of the Lord shall be found lyers but the true Church of God shall endure for euer Consider what great things God hath done for vs and how mightily alwaies he hath defended and approued our Religion how miraculously did he preserue it manger all the furie of the Lyon and the wilde Boare of the Deuill and Antichrist euen in the time of their greatest persecutions how wonderfully hath he from time to time detected and defeated all plots and proiects conspiracies and trecheries of the enemies what strange deliuerances hath he giuen vnto vs By this wee may know that God fauoureth vs because our enemies preuaile not against vs. Psal 4â— 11 Psal 46.11 The God of Iacob is with vs the God of Hoasts is our refuge he hath giuen vnto vs a Dauid a man after his owne heart to rule ouer vs a Iehosophat whose heart is set to seeke the Lord a Iosias whose chiefest studie is to build vp Gods house and whose chiefest Title is to be the Defender of the Faith he hath taken away our feares by the happie returne of our most hopefull Prince redoubled our ioyes in his forward zeale for the furthering of true Religion he hath blessed vs with an Honourable assemblie of States in the high Court of Parliament and vnited their hearts and mindes to seeke the promotion of his glory and the publike welfare of the Common-weale he hath stirred vp the hearts of all faithfull Subiects within this Iland to pray and cry Grace Zech. 4.7 Grace to that Parliamentarie assembly What now remaineth but that as the Apostle counselleth Wee stand fast in that libertie wherewith Christ hath made vs free Gal. 5.1 and as our Sauiour doth admonish vs that wee be faithfull to the death Reuel 2. â—0 constantly professing and religiously perseuering in that Religion which we haue learned out of the Scriptures and which hath beene practised so long agone in all Ages by so many Patriarkes Prophets Apostles Bishops Confessors and holy Martyrs That so wee may glorifie God and stop the mouth of the aduersarie and both by life and doctrine confound Poperie till that misterie of Iniquitie bee fully reuealed whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth and destroy with the brightnesse of his comming which we beseech the Lord to hasten Euen so Come Lord Iesus come quickly Amen FJNIS
vpon the name glorying in no name so much as in the name of Christians And that such protestations were made such declarations of the same Faith which wee professe by the Bohemians Waldenses c. alreadie hath beene made manifest But how long time is it I pray that the name Papist whereof of late they were ashamed and wherein they now so much glory was knowne or acknowledged in the world Act. 11.26 Optat. Mileuit lib 2. cont Parm. or whence is it that leauing the auncient name of Christians they rather with the Donatists appropriate vnto themselues the name of Catholicks Doubtlesse howsoeuer they bragge and boast of Antiquity wee may apply that of Bildad vnto them They are but of yesterday Iob. 8.9 for how could a man know what it was to be a Papist Trent Councel concluded An. dom 1563. or what was the body of Religion before the Councell of Trent had defined it which was since Luthers time Let them shew where their Papall Supremacie was before the time of Pope Goodface the third Platina or their Latine Seruice before the yere 680. Iacob de Vorag in vit Gregor Exposit Rom. ord ann 1215 1222. ex Act. Rom. Pontif. 1414. or their Romish Masse before Adrian the 1. Anno 780. or their Agnus Dei before Pope Sergius an 700. or their Transubstantiation before the Councell of Lateran or their eleuation and adoration of the Sacrament before the time of Honorius the third or their receiuing of the Communion in one kinde onely and the absolute forbidding of the contrary before the Councell of Constance Iohan. Scot. lib. 4. dist 17. artic 3. Idem ibid. or their absolute necessity of Auricular Confession before Innocent the third in his Councell of Lateran or the prohibition of Marriage to the Clergie before the same time I might instance in many other points of Poperie which howsoeuer they may carrie some shew and shadow of Antiquity yet being duly considered they will appeare to be but late inuentions peeced and patched together by their Popes as each of them in their succession was minded to adde something to make vp the full measure of the mysterie of Iniquity Neyther let them boast as of commonly they cracke of the ancient Church of Rome Rhem. annot in Act. 11. sec 4. Idem in Eph. 4.13 so famously renowned by the Writings of the Apostles and commended and appealed vnto by the auncient Fathers for the name and shew of the Romane Church See M. Fox his description of the difference of the now Church of Rome and the old Acts and Monum first 26. pages is but an emptie shew of Names and Titles this present Romane being in a manner wholly departed in the Questions controuerted from the auncient and retayneth nothing but the Title The true auncient and Apostolike Church of Rome so much commended by the Fathers and sought to by the World professed another kind of Faith then this doth and the same that we now defend against them That Church affected no such prowd and swelling Titles it vsurped no such transcendent Iurisdictions it obserued no such foolish Superstitions it maintained contrarie Doctrine to their now Errors To what purpose then should any sticke vpon the name of the Romane Church when the true Faith is changed Or what doe the Prerogatiues and Royalties of the auncient Church concerne this that is turned to another Religion Or who regardeth an House of stately Building or anticke memorie of auncient Antiquitie when the Plague hath infected it and Theeues possesse it Leaue therefore yee Romanists to cracke of your Antiquitie or to traduce vs of Noueltie wee may take vp the words of Nicephorus Concil Ephesin pag. 307. the Patriarke of Constantinople in an Epistle to Leo Bishop of Rome Wee also haue the Name of Rome the true and auncient Faith of Rome among vs being built vpon one and the same foundation of Faith in matter of Faith we follow them Wherefore let S. Paul glorie and reioice in vs also and ioyning new things with old and comparing vs in Doctrines and Preaching let him glorie in vs both alike for wee as well as they following the Doctrines and Institutions wherein wee are rooted are confirmed in the confession of our Faith wherein wee stand and reioyce c. As for you my poore seduced Countreymen who suffer your selues to be seduced and mis-led by these Popish Circumcellions take heed and beware how you fauour these Merchants of the Romish Strumpet who vnder fained pretences and subtile insinuations goe about to make merchandise of your soules 2. Pet. 2.5 These latter dayes saith the Apostle are perillous times and these Popish Priests and Iesuits I may say are perillous seducers â— Tim. 3.1 6 7. They of this sort creepe into houses and lead captiue silly women laden with sinnes and led about with diuers Lusts euer learning and neuer able to come to the knowledge of the Truth Listen not vnto them It is not good for Eue to fall to conference with the Serpent Genes 3. no nor for Adam neyther to suffer Eâ—e and the Serpents parley or to encline vnto them least hee also be partaker in the Transgression Consider what is the end they ayme at not Religion but the Soueraigntie of their high-towring Church not the Consciences of men yeelding to their Ceremonies and Superstitions will satisfie them vnlesse they haue their wills in ouer-ruling all and bringing them vnder their Antichristian Yoake How doe they disturbe Thrones and fill the World with Anarchie and Confusions and whose soules they should winne to God by ministring the Word and Sacraments their bloud they sacrifice to the Deuill by stirring them vp to Treason and Rebellion Beloued 1. Ioh. 4. â— beleeue not euery Spirit but trie the Spirits whether they be of God or no A Foole saith Salomon beleeueth euery thing Prou. And surely it is their folly who suffer themselues to be seduced by giuing too easie credit to the slauering insinuations of these Popish Teachers and are hereby brought into a great dislike of our Church because they beleeue their words and doe not make search and enquirie after the truth of the same Beware least that dreadfull iudgement of God fall vpon you 2. Thess 2 10 11. Because they receiued not the knowledge of the Truth that they might be saued therefore God shall send them strong delusions that they should beleeue lyes You will say That you are no Changelings That yee are of the olde Religion That you keepe the olde Faith and will liue and dye in the same Religion which your fore-fathers professed Poore soules Popish Religion is not the oldest Religion but a late vpstart a Modell of Superstition your Popes Catholike Church is but an Impostume growne in the Church Wee confesse that for a long time the Christian World hath beene annoyed with it yet euen in the time and before the time of this declining