in their Fasts used aâ—…l manner of delicates and strange fruits with sundry sorts of Spice in great abundance so likewise do the papists u And 2. From Elixay the heretike the pope hath learnt to celebrate divine Service in an unknown tongue for that was his heresie x And 3. From Montanus the heretike the pope learnt to prescribe his rules of Fasts for â—…e first limited times of Fasting y And 4. From the Collyridians he was inspired to worship the Virgin Mary And 5. Erom the Cajâ—…nes to invocate Angels And 6. From the Carpâ—…ratians to worship the images of Christ and S. Paul and therfore we slâ—…nder the Church of Rome but with a matter of truth when we say That her religion is beticall And 9. Popery is an insolent religion teaching those Tenents which do flâ—…tly and directly thwart the truth of God For 1. The Scripture teacheth us That the use of strange Tongues is unprofitable in the Church to the ignorant auditory and therfore they who teach pray or sing in the Church ought to use the vulgar Tongue understood of the people for the edification â—…xhorration consolation of all a But the papists contrary here unto teach That the worship of God ought to be used in the Latine tongue and that it is not onely unprofitable but also hurtfull for the common people to have the holy Scriptures read or sung in the Church in the Vulgar tongue b And 2. The Scripture teacheth us That that which entreth into the mouth defileth not a man c all meats being clean creatures and allowed to be eaten by the faithfull with thanksgiving d But contrary her unto the Papists teach That it is not lawfull for a Christian under pain of mortall sinne to eat of all sorts of meats on all dayes and times As in Lent the four Ember weeks Fridayes Saturdayes and the Vigils of some Saints e And 3. The Scripture teacheth us That Antichrist as God sitteth in the Temple of God attributing to himself that which is proper to God f and that the place of his sitting is the great City which hath seven hills and raigneth over the Kings of the earth g But contrary hereunto because this toucheth them to the quick the papists teach That Antichrist is to come of the race of the Jews of the Tribe of Dan and that the place of his seat shall be in Jerusalem h And therefore we may truely say That Popery is an insolent religion And Popery is a derogatory doctrine and that both in regard of God Christ the Word and Faith 1. Popery is a religion which deâ—…racts and derogates from God the Father for the Scripture saith That we ought to serve God alone wo is the Creator and Governour of the world i But the papists teach That we ought not serve God alone but also the Saâ—…nts because they are Patrons of Kingdoms People Cities Societies and 〈◊〉 k And 2. Popery detracts and derogates much from Christ and that many wayes viz. First from his Kingly Office while they deny him to be the 〈◊〉 Head of the Church making the Virgin Mary the Qâ—…en of 〈◊〉 as God the Fâ—…ther is the King and giving 〈◊〉 her the one half of that heavenly Kingdom And Secondly from his Prophetical Office here note That the Papists deny Christ out Prophet to become in the flesh and that In their Transubstantiation for Christ our Prophet was conceived of the holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary but their Christ is not begotten but created whence they say That the sacrificing Priest in the celebration of the Masse creates his Creator Again Christ our Prophet was born of the flesh of Mary and the seed of David but the Papists Christ is created of bread Again our Christ is the same to day and tomarrow and for ever But the Papists Christ was not yesterday or the day or hour before the consecration of the hoast And Thirdly From his Priestly office while they deny him to be the alone propitiatory sacrifice for sin and the only Mediator and Intercessor between God and man For they say 1. That Christ is the propitiatory satisfaction and sacrifice for sin primarily and principally but secundarily our satisfactory works in this life and purgatory after this life satisfie the justice of God for our sins diametrally contrary to Sâ—…ripture which saith 1. That the bloud of Christ purgeth us from all our sins and thâ—…refore there is nothing left for Purgatory to purge And 2. That Christ {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} by himself Heb. 1. 3. purged us and neither by Purgatory nor by our own works and therefore the vulgar Latine Bible which is only with the Papists authenticall hath expunged those words And 3. That as Christ purgeth us by himself not by others from all our sins not from some so also perfectly and imperfectly l And 2. They deny Christs intercession to be sufficient while they pray unto the Saints to pray unto God for them And 3. Popery detracts much from faith for the Scripture teacheth That we are justified by faith in Christ without the works of the Law m But the Papists teach that not faith only but works also do justifie us n And 4. Popery detracts much from the Word of God The Scriptures teach That they were dictated by God himself and have sufficient authority in themselves and contain all necessary doctrine to piety and salvation o But the Papists teach That although the holy Scripture be the Word of God yet it should have no authority were it not for the approbation of the Church and that it is an imperfect and maimed doctrine which containeth not doctrine sufficient to piety and salvation but must be supplied by unwritten Traditions p I will conclude this with a testimony or two of their own A Papist waâ—… driven by Tindall in disputation blasphemously to say We were better to be without the Lâ—…w of God then the Lâ—…w of the Pope q And Sylvester Prieâ—…iss Master of Pope Leos Pallacâ—… in his Bâ—…ok Contra Luâ—…berum thus writeth Indulgentiae â—…baritate Scripâ—…urae non invotuere nobis sed authâ—…ritate Româ—…inae 〈◊〉 Rom in â—…mque Pontificium que mâ—…jorest The pardons for sin granted by the Pâ—…pe are not warranted unâ—… us by the authority of the Scripture but of the Church and Pope of Rome whose authority is greater then that of the Scripture Mark it will And a little after A 〈◊〉 Rom 〈◊〉 Romani Pont fiâ—…is 〈◊〉 Scriptura robur authoritâ—…tem trabit that is The Scripture drâ—…werb all its authority efficacy and power from the authority of the Church and Pâ—…pe of Rome And therefore oh horrible blasphemy if the Pope would not licence the Bible and grant it to be 〈◊〉 it were but â—…s a dead letter not to be regarded at all And therefore seeing Popery is so derogatory a
held so dangerous that the fear thereof brought our prudent State to a pawse even in the holy work of Reformation as a Prelate of our own witnessed b and therefore let that abide in us which we have had from the beginning c and let us keep the profession of our hope without wavering d taking especiall heed of relapsing and falling back again with the dog to his vomit and the sow to the mire e into any forsaken and demolished erroneous opinions or superstitions of Popery Our Fathers in the times of Reformation taught us the certainty of our salvation the perseverance of the Saints the sweet doctrine of Predestination the heavenly gift of Faith the free grace of salvation and to prefer in the service of God the inward worship of the Spirit before unmeasurable outward pomp or any lip-labour or bare outward performance Yea these doctrines have been sealed unto us by the blood of many holy Martyrs Bishop Cranmer Latimer Ridley Hooper Farrer c. and continued and confirmed by the unanimous teaching of many famously learned unparalleld Juell Morton Davenant Fulke Wâ—…itakers Humpbry Sutcliff Willet and many others Now if 〈◊〉 build again what we have destroyed we make our selves transgressors f Wherefore let not us leave these doctrines and lean unto the contrary maintained by Papists Pelagians Remonstrants and their abettors but let us hold fast and keep to the instructions which we have been taught 2. Thessal 2. 15. let us not waver nor be carried about with every blast of windy doctrine g but hold fast what we have learnt that no man may take away our Crown h lest if we re-edifie or re-admit what hath been banished Sathan will not come alone but bring in with him seven Spirits worse then himself i Saint Augustine tells us of a man that fell into a ditch and his friend coming by and being desired by him to help him forth he began to question with him How he fell in If he were drunk when he fell or If it were dark How long he had been in If none at all had come by since he fell in and the like demands Oh saith he help me forth from hence and do not enquire how I came hither If a man see his house on fire he doth not first enquire How it came In what room it began What damage it hath already done By whose negligence it was Whether it was done wilfully or carelesly But he labours by all means with all speed to quench it Give me leave my Lords for the conclusion of this first Rule to apply these passages Every seeing eye and marking man observes how our Church and Religion is on fire and how the very main pillars thereof are in perill utterly to perish for these doctrines have been miserably shaken burnt battered defac't and opposed viz. The persâ—…rance in faith and grace the certainty of salvation particular redemption the free grace of salvation and that it is not of works with divers others which by persons popishly affected at least in these points have been withstood the contrary Popish errours broached printed and preached and the defenders thereof preferred and countenanced as by many particular petitions and instances hath been proved to your Honours yea the case stood so and the matter was so managed that if the Lord had not been the more extraordinarily gracious unto us in calling your Honours to help us we might ere long have taken up the Fathers complaint with some mutation That all England is become an Arminian Now I know your Honors in your grave wisedome and great care of us will not so much enquire Who first broached these opinions amongst us Who first gave life unto them and who nourishment Who fomented and who favoured them who preached them and who promoted the Preachers of them although all these be worth enquiry that the instruments of our mischief may be found out as study how to suppresse and expell these doctrines and Doctors from amongst us for the present and make provision against them for the time to come And thus much shall suffice for the first Rule 2. Let us not presume to arraign God at the bar of mans understanding to give an account to us either of his works or will For the shallow shell of mans brain cannot comprehend those Oceans either of his Works How they are done or of his Will Why he did so 1. Touching hiâ—…Works many things are impossible with man wch are possible enough with God k as was Christs conception to his blessed Mother l and some things to the Fathers as shall appear in the next particular Our help here must be in the heavenly evidence of things not seen m walking by faith not by sight n Disciples must turn disputing into beleeving o as hath been with all humility acknowledged by the Fathers Now 2. Touching his Will it is strange that some should hold it strange That Gods will should be given as a sufficient and finall reason of his works as if man were of Gods privie Councell and did know what reason moved him to all his works or as if Gods justice should not be approved further then man can give the reason thereof Alas who hath known the mind of the Lord or who was his Councellor p or what man is he that can know the counsell of God or who can thinke what his will is q Therefore it must suffice us That the Scriptures give Gods Will as a determining reason of his Workes r And if the naturall wise man demand a reason How this can stand with the Justice or that with the Mercy of God c Let Saint Pauls reprehension stop his mouth Ob man what art thou that that pleadest against God hath not the Potter power to make of the same lump one vessell to honour another to dishonour s Saint Augustine saith plainly That onely God knows the reason of his will Posset Deus cur ergo non fecit quia noluit cur noluerit penes ipsum est t and as flatly That Gods will is the necessity of the creature Voluntas Creatoris est rerum necessitas u And Saint Paul wraps up this mystery in a holy rapture admiring the deepnesse of Gods wisedome and unsearchable judgements and wayes note this well past finding out x Gravely and divinely doth learned Musculus reprove the boldnesse of man daring to examine the justice of Gods works as if it were no further to be approved than our shallow sense can comprehend it Non vocanda in jus divina providentia sed discamus altitudinem illam Rom. 11. 33. reverenter suscipere Non ferenda morositas non tribuentium Deo justitiae laâ—…dem nisi quoad sensus eorum pertingit y Thirdly give not too much place to curious questions or disputations especially touching the Works of God A simple man may knit more knots in an hour
knock Oâ—… lâ—…t the fire of your zeal so consume all carnall state policy in your Honours that though by probable arguments you should be perswaded That if error heresie or Popery were tolerated permitted or winked at the Common-wealth would prosper and flonrish the more and our Traffick with forraign Nations of that Religion would be more free yet let not this promised and flourishing Fortune cause you to open the door to any such toleration permission or connivencer Remember in generall as the Jacinth if it be rubbed with lime is soon set on fire but hardly quenched and the Adamant and iron soon joyned but hardly dissevered and the coyn soon receiveth its stamp but cannot loose it without melting Even so error and heresie are soon admitted but hardly rooted out and therefore yee should be one in withstanding constantly and couragiously all heresies errors and superstitious vanities More particularly Remember for I know your Honours are not ignorant of it as is evident by your Proclamations Statutes Acts and Edicts to that purpose that Pâ—…pery is a great plague unto us and a most pernicious doctrine in it seâ—…f aâ—…d therefore be yee one in the rooting up weeding out and extirpating thereof I will give unto your Honours and all who shall peruse this imperfect and impolished piece a Character of Popery and then Ex ungue Leonem let all the world judge thereby whether that devillish doctrine be to be tolerated admitted permitted winked at or embraced by any Church or State which desireth prosperity peace religion and safety Popery is a Superstitious Iâ—…olatrous Supercilious Pernicious Devillish Theevish Cruell Hereticall Insolent and Derogatory doctrine Hence I thus argue That Religion which is superstitious idolatrous supercilious perniciâ—…us c. Is not to be admitted permitted favoured harboured and embraced by any Christian Church or State which desires to be preserved protected prospered and blessed by God but rather by all means to be suppressed rooted out and extirpated root and branch But Popery is such a Religion Ergo The Papists I know will not put me to prove the Major that being luce meridiana clarior as true as Gospel as the Proverb saith and therefore I passe by that But unà voce they cry out The Minor is false and dare me to prove it which I will do particularly and plainly but briefly although I could both adde more particulars and more enlarge these then I have that the world and all them who view this Treatise may see that I do them no wrong First I say Popery is a Superstitious Religion for God will be worshipped both for the matter and manner as himself hath prescribed in his Word s But the Papists say That God must be worshipped according to the Traditions Ceremonies and constitutions of the Roman Church and that the Constitutions of the Pope do equall in value the Gospel of Christ Dist. 15. cap. Sicut and Dist. 19. cap. In Canonicis and Dist. 20. cap. de Libellis And therefore we may well say That Popery is a superstitious doct ' Secondly Popery is an Idolatrous Religion Note here these things Viz. 1. What Idolatry is Namely To give the honour worship and service which is due only unto God to a Creature whether good or bad holy or prophane And 2 How manifold Idolatry is two wit twofold i. e. 1. Internall and Mentall and is forbidden in the first Commandment And 2. Externall and visible and is forbidden in the second Commandment And 3. That both this Definition and Division of Idolatry do agree with the Church of Rome If any doe question this I referre him to our famous Featley Fol. 490. 491 492. where this trueth is proved and painted out to the life amply fully and faithfully I will for your Honours satisfaction adde a word or two The Scâ—…ipture teacheth That the worship of Images is a thing abominable t and expresly forbidden u also That the holy Spirit callâ—…th Image Teachers of lyes and vanities x And therefore in no wise to be allowed in the Temples of Christians But the Papists teach That the worship of Images is well pleasing unto God and very 〈◊〉 and profitable for the Church And that Images are the lay mens Books He therefore that teacheth the câ—…ntrary is accursed * The Word of God teacheth that Christ Jesus our Redeemer by the perfect sacrifice of himself once offered upon the Crosse for the putting away of sin hath so reconciled the faithfull unto God his Father that there now remaineth no more sacrifice for sin y But the Papists teach that the Masse is a Sacrifice for the râ—mission of the sins both of the quick and dead * Is not Popery then an Idolatrous Religion Yea perhaps themselves will not deny it for Gregory de Valentià the prime of the Schoolemen professedly pleads for Idolatry and endeavours to prove it to be lawâ—ull out of the words of Saint Peter z When yee walked in unlawfull and abominable Idolatries Quid attinebat ita determinatè cultus simulacrorum illicitos notare si omnino nullos simulacrorum cultus licitos esse censuisset a What need saith he Saint Peter deterre us from unlawfull Idolatries if some kinde of Idolatry were not lawfull And therefore it is evident that Popery is an Idolatrous doctrine And 4. Note That Popish Masse is Idolatry and therefore their Religion is Idolatrâ—us Bellarmine himself most truly observes That although all the other controversies could be composed between Protestants and Papists yet in this it were impossible for them to be reconciled Quod illi Missam suam divinissimum Dei cultum nos borrendum idolatriam judicamus b Because Papists say That their Masse is a most sacred sacrifice and divine worship But Protestants affirm it to be most horrible idolatry By this it appears to every seeing eye That Popish Masse is no excrement but an essentiall part of Popish Religion and consequently If their Masse be Idolatry then their Doctrine is Idolatrous Now for the proof of the Antecedent your Honours may please to take notice That there are two kinds of Priests which offer sacrifice for sin the one after the order of Aaron the other after the order of Melchisedech They diffâ—r thus Oâ— the order of Aaron there are many one succeeding another of the order of Melchisedech only Christ who is an eternall Priest and his Sacrifice of eternall virtue Now Popish Masse Priests which say they offer Christ in Sacrifice for the sins of man are not of Aaron for that order ceased with the death of Christ nor of Melchisedech for of this order there is none but only Christ and therefore they are Baals Antichrists Idolatrous Priests and consequently their sacrifice of the Masse is Idolatry and their Religion Idolatrous And Thirdly Popery is a supercilious Religion for the holy Scriptures teach That our good works because they are imperfect can deserve
nothing at Gods hand c But the Papists teach That our good works deserve the grace of God and everlasting life also that men may do works of supererogation i. e. over and above those which the Law of God commandeth whereunto the doers thereof are not bound and they are available to help others d And therefore we may truely say That it is a proud and supercilious Religion And Fourthly Popery is a pernicious Religion where it is 〈◊〉 permitted and embraced and that both to Princes and People First To Princes and that in many regards namely 1. The Pope and Popish Clergy chalenge freedome from their power The Scripture indeed teacheth That every soul ought to be subject to the higher powers which are the Magistrates e But the Papiâ—…ts teach That Ecclesiasticall persons are not subject to the secular power or politick Magistrate but all ought to be subject to the Pope who compareth himself to the sunne and the Emperour to the moon and therefore Emperours and Kings in token of subiection and obedience do kissâ—… his feet f And 2. The Pope hath power over Princes and as he saith is of greater authority and power in a Kingdome then the lawfull King and Prince thereof as was observed by a Fryar who saith That it was not without cause that Malchus whose eare Peter cut off was the high Priests servant seeing that Malchus signifieth a King From whence he collects as the Papists indeed would have it and which Princes should observe and mark That as Malchus was servant to the high Priest so the Regall Majesty of Kings and Emperours is subject to the power of Priests g And Dorman said The Pope is the head and Kings and Emperours are the feet And Stanislaus Orichovius in Chimaera saith The Emperâ—…urs Maiesty is so far inferiour to the Pope in dignity as a creature is inferiour unto God Whence our famous Tindale deliberately and considerately said Popish Kings are but shadowes vain names and idle things having nothing to do in the world but when the Pope needeth their help And 3. The Pope challengeth power to excommunicate Princes and to cast them ouâ—… of the Church as Pope Clement excommunicated our Henry the eighth and Pope Pius 5. our Elizabeth And 4. The Pope hath power as he saith to depose Princes and to cast them out of their thrones and to dispose of their royalties and egall seats as him listeth Pope Benedict 9. desiring to puâ—…l down Hâ—…nry 3. Emperour and to raise up Peter King of Huâ—…gary 〈◊〉 â—…im the Crown of the Empire with this verse Petra dedit Româ—…ns Petro tibi Papa coronam The Rock to Peter gave Rome the Town The Pope to thee Peter gives the 〈◊〉 Thus Pope Zichary by the consent or conspiracy of the Nobles of France de 〈◊〉 Chilpericus the true naturall and liege 〈◊〉 tha Realm and placed Pipin in his room And Pope Bonifice the eighth because he could not have the Treasury of France at his command endeavoured with all his both worldly aâ—…d ecclesiasticaâ—…l puissance to remove Philip the French King from his 〈◊〉 and under his Bulls or Letters pateâ—…ts conveyed the same solemnly unto Albertus King of the Romans And therefore we do the Papists no wrong in saying Popery is a pâ—…rnicious doctrine to Princes And 5. Popery teacheth Regicide and King-killing 1. Bernardus de monte Policianâ—… a Dominick Fryar poysoned Henry Emperour of Lucemberg in the Sacrament John Chastell attempted the death of King Henry the fourth of France and Jaques Clementâ—…ffected it Thus private papists and priests have practised Regiâ—…ide 2. The Jesuites the prime pillars of popery do maintain it The popish Divines at Salamanca held That the Catholikâ—…s in Ireland who did fight against our Queen Elizabeth were by nâ—…â—…onstruction Rebells And this was also thus resolved by John de Sequenza Emanuel de Royas Jasper de Mena and Peter de Osorio professors of Divinity in the Colledge of Jesuites there And John Chastell confessed that the argument of King-killing was ordinary among the Jesuites and the aphorismes of Emanuel Sa confirm as much and likewise a book composed by the principall of the Seminary at Rhemes wherein it was affirmeâ—… and maintained That it was lawfull in certain cases for the Subject to kill the King 3. The Pope himself hath winked at such offendors for many of those who had a hand in the Gun-powder plot fled for that fact into Italy but not any of them was ever questioned reproved punished or called to an account for it by the Pope yâ—…e fourthly such Judasites and Traitours have beâ—…n praised by the Pope as we see pope Sixt us 5. who made an oration in praise and commendation of the Fryars faith who murdered Henâ—…y 3. of France And fifthly the popes have practised it by their agents for Innocent the fourth after he had excommunicated the Emperour Frederick corrupted one in Apulia to give him poyson of the which the Emperour recovering he afterwards hired his bastard sonâ—…e Manfred us to poyson him whereof he died And Alexander the third writ unto the Soldane that if he would live in quiet he should by some sleight murder the Emperour and to that end sent him the Emperours picture And thus by some gradations and steps it evidently appears That the popish doctrine alloweth of Regicide and King-killing 6. To fill up the mystery of iniquity popery teacheth That it is meritorious to murder those princes who will not take the popes part in the favouring and furthering of his idolatries and superstitions witnesse Cardinall Como his instructions to Parry and Sixt us his oration mentioned before in defense of the Jacobine that murdered Henry the third I will conclude this with a story of our own King James being admonished by Queen Elizabeth a little before the coming of the Spanish Armamado to take heed of the Scottish papists and the King of Spain answered pleasantly That he looked for no other favour of the Spaniards then that which Polyphemus promised to Ulyssâ—…s To devour him last after all his fellowes were devoured Certainly wofull and wretched experience hath proved this true That those princes who embrace and entertain Popery are not onely in a miserable slavery but also in as great dâ—… of their dearest lives as any private person if they will not 〈◊〉 all things comply with and be obedient and subiect unto the Pope that man of sinne And therefore our late Prelate now I hope with the Lord who was never corrupted with thâ—… 〈◊〉 of the times boldly concludes That Jesuited Papists caâ—…not be good subjects â—…ndly Popery is a peâ—…nicious dâ—…ctrine to People as well as to Pâ—…inces and that in a threefold regard to wit 1. Iâ—… respect of their estates for faith they say is not to be kept with Hereticks and the Pope can dispense with and absolve from all coveâ—…ants contracts bonds and bargains made with such And 2. Iâ—… respâ—…ct of