reading some bookes intreating of Religion and such as handle matters now in controuersie I haue bestowed some time in reading and examining the places of holy Scripture whereof Saint Paule speaketh 2. Tim. 3. that the whole Scripture is giuen by inspiratinn of God and profitable to teach to improoue to correct and to instruct in righteousnesse that the man of God may be absolute being made perfect vnto all good workes Iohn 5.39 Esay 8. whereof he also beareth record that the Scripture is of power to make vs become wise to saluation through faith in our Lorde Iesus Christ It is shee as I said before to whome our Sauiour Christ sendes vs as also the Prophet Esay when he vseth these wordes Romish seruice To the lawe and to the testimony if they speake not according to this worde it is because there is no light in them there haue I found seeking her opinion and aduice touching the seruice and doctrine maintained in the Romane Church which shee in no wise approoues but contrariwise in expresse wordes condemnes it I haue not disdayned to peruse the auncient fathers and doctors of the Christian Church whome the Romane Church ordinarilye vse for a buckler against those of the religion their owne wordes doe make mee know that their bookes serue not so much to confirme the seruices in the Church of Rome as to destroy them One thing hath exceedingly mooued me that is the Masse and prayers vsed in the Romane Church Masse which beare witnesse against themselues hauing many traces and reliques of the auntient doctrine of the primitiue Church which was in the Apostles time And to shew that I do not speake this at randome I will produce some witnesses aswell out of the holy Scriptures and auntient fathers as out of that which is contained in the Masse and in the seruice of the Church of Rome The principall controuersie at this day is concerning the pure seruice of God Those of the Church of Rome and in generall all the religious thereof do fully esteeme and conceiue it to consit in praying to Saints and Ladies Praying to Saints to honour and serue them nay which is more to present themselues before their images and there yeeld vp their offerings and deuotions God speaketh so plainely by his first commaundement to worship and serue him onely Exod. 20. Math. 4. Deut. 6. Esay 48. Exod. 20. that it is easilie seene how hee condemneth all seruice in the Romane Church And heereunto I adde his protestation made by Esay Not to giue his glory to another his declaration else where that he is iealous of his honour What can there be more expresse against all the seruices of images then the prohibition by the second commaundement Against Images not to make any image nor the likenesse of any thing not to bowe downe to it and worshippe it I shoulde neuer haue done if I shoulde rehearse all the passages of holye Scripture which are against images and the seruice of them Haba 2. Ierem. 10. they are called vanity teachers of falshoode and those that shall serue them are threatned to be brought to confusion The other great contention at this day is touching the transubstantiation and worshipping of the host TransubstantiatioÌ„ They perswade themselues in the Church of Rome that the bread and wine of the Masse after their consecration is no more bread and wine but the true and naturall bodie of our Sauiour Iesus Christ and thereuppon they forge that the substaunce of breade and wine must not be there any more sought for vnder these apparances of bread and wine Christ Iesus is there really all whole both God and man in his owne proper substance and therefore they teach men to bow downe themselues and worship this bread and this wine wherein doubtlesse they commit a great Idolaty if Christ Iesus be not there Act. 3.22 Acts. 3.20 Iohn 12.8 Mat 28.5.6 Mar. 24.23 Mar. 13.21 Luke 17. Ma. 24.27 as they would haue it beleeued And I pray you what meane so many places of the holy Scripture which testifie that Christ Jesus is ascended vp into heauen that from thence he shall not come vntil he commeth to iudge the quicke and the dead that the heauens do containe him vntill the day that all things shal be restored that we shall haue the poore alwayes with vs but him we shall not haue alwaies that wee must not follow those that shall say Christ is heere Christ is there that he shall come like lightning that goeth from the east towards the west The Apostle Saint Paul names bread and cuppe the bread wine in the celebration of the supper Whosoeuer shall eate of this bread 1. Cor. 11. saith he and drinke of this cuppe c. Our Sauiour Christ Iesus after the communication of his supper Math. 26. Marke 14.22.23.24 Luk. 22.19 Iohn 4.14 nameth the cuppe which he had ministred to his Apostles the fruite of the Vine I will drinke no more saith he of this fruite of the vine hee himselfe requires it at the hands of his worshippers Who worship the father in spirit truth places wholy contrary to the doctrine of transubstantiation and adoration of the host 1. Cor. 10.16.17 I know well that the breade of the supper is called the body of Christ and the wine also the bloud of Christ but notwithstanding I note on the other side that the same bread is called the communion in the body of Chrost the wine is called the bloud of Christ but it is also named the communion of the bloud of Christ and the new Testament in the blood of Christ Which places teach vs that we must not alwaies take the words in the foote of the letter nor vnderstaÌ„d that the bread wine of the supper be not more bread and wine in their substance but as bread is called the communion in the body of Christ the wine the communion and new testament in the bloud of Christ for because they represent vnto vs our coÌ„munion in the body bloud of Christ the new testament in the same bloud of Christ and moreouer the bread and wine of the Lordes supper represent vnto vs the body and bloud of our Sauiour Iesus Christ August in prolog tract Psalm 3. Tertulâ—adu Marcio lib. 4. chap. 40. Et lib. 3. Cotra eunde cap. 19. as S. Augustine and Tertullian name them the one a signe the other a figure of the body and bloud of Christ And this was the reason when Christ instituting his supper hath saide of breade This is my bodye and of wine This cuppe is my bloud Hence it comes that the auntient Church as the wordes of the Masse giues vs to vnderstand when they came to the communication of the supper vsed this exhortation sursum corda therby aduertising the faithfull to lift vp their harts aboue the visible things of the Sacrament and to imbrace Christ Iesus
in heauen through a liuely and true faith And such or the like manner of speaking is not to be thought strange for there is not any but doth acknowledge that here is a question of a Sacrament and it is well knowne that in matter of Sacrament the Scripture vseth to giue vnto the signe the name of the thing signified as when shee nameth the Circumcision couenant Genes 17. Exo. 5.11 albeit it was but a token of the Couenant and the Lambe which was offered in the Passe-ouer she names him Passach that is to say Passage and yet notwithstanding he was but a token of passage Sacrifice for quicke and dead They thinke that in the Masse there is a sacrifice propitiatorie for the remission of sinnes both for the quicke and dead but I doe see that the whole Scripture sendes vs to the sacrifice of Iesus Christ which he hath offered Heb. 20. Rom. 5. viz. his owne body vpon the Crosse Jt is through this onely oblation that we be made holy and haue eternall redemption How can the Masse be propitiatorie for our sinnes seeing that in the Masse there is no effusion of bloud Heb. 9. and as the Apostle to the Hebrewes saith There is no remission without shedding of bloud I haue considered and oftentimes meditated as well on the three Euangelists as on Saint Paule touching the institution of the Supper of our Sauiour Iesus Christ Heb. 5. 7 Psal 110. Math. 1. Acts. 4. 1. Cor. 22. wherevpon they would builde and grounde the sacrifice of the Masse But I haue seene plainely that it was without any apparance of reason For Christ Iesus vnder the formes of Bread and Wine presents his body and bloud and commaunds to communicate it and to preach his death and passion vntill his comming he speaketh nothing at all touching the offering it in sacrifice I finde likewise in other places in the scripture that Christ Iesus is the onely sacrificer according to the order of Melchisedech that through his onely sacrifice the wrath of God is appeased and therefore he is called Iesus that is to say Sauiour S. Peter saith There is no other name giuen vnder heauen whereby we must be saued S. Paule saith that he reioyceth in nothing but in Iesus Christ and him crucified It were a needelesse thing for mee to recken vppe all places that serue for this purpose In the Masse it selfe there are wordes to be found which beare recorde that those that haue composed it haue beene constrained to confesse that aunciently in the action of supper there was but a sacrifice of prayse and thanksgiuing according to the doctrine of Saint Paule When and as often as you shall eate of this bread and drinke of this cup you shall pronounce the death of our Sauiour vntill his comming Masse condemned by her owne Canons and behould the proper speeches touching the same in their owne Canons Pro quibus tibi offerimus vel qui tibi offerunt hoc sacrificium laudis pro se suisque omnibus that is For which we offer vnto thee or those that offer vnto thee this sacrifice of praise for themselues and all others And in another place in a Collect for the dead Praesta quaesamus omnipotens deus vt animae pro quibus hee sacrificium laudis tâ—ae obtulmus maiestati that is Graunt wee beseeche thee Almightye God that the soules for whome wee haue offered vnto thee this sacrifice of praise c. And in another Collect beginning Propitiare Domine there is pro quibus tibi offerimus sacrificium laudis that is Be mercifull O Lord to those for whom we haue offered vnto thee this sacrifice of praise The Church of Rome nourisheth men in ignorance Reading the Scriptures forbidden forbidding laye people and women to read the Scriptures and in their prayers and assemblies they vse an vnknowne tongue I could neuer comprehend how many bee accorded herewith that which is said in the Psalmes Happye is he Psal 1 Psal 19. 119. Deut. 4. who in the lawe of the Lord exerciseth himselfe day and night that the law of the Lord is an vndefyled law conuerting the soule and giueth wisdome to the symple that she is a light to lighten our feete c. Saint Peter saith that we doe well to be attentiue to the reading of the Prophets which giue vs light as it were a Candle in a darke place and Saint Paule saith in generall termes that whatsoeuer is written is written for our learning Saint Ierome knew verye well this doctrine when he wrote to Lata in these Termes Let the daughter loue diuine and heauenly bookes insteade of sylke and precious stones and in those bookes let her not be delighted with the outward gilding and embrodering of the couer but with the inward erudition distinguished and corrected according to faith let her learne fyrst by the Psalmes of Dauid to renounce wordly vanities let the Prouerbes of Salomon teach her to liue vertuously let her accustome her selfe to contemne and detest earthly things in Ecclesiastes let her follow the example of patience and vertue in Iob let her take the holy Gospell into her hands and neuer let it depart from her but with all her hart let her study the Acts and Epistles of the Apostles and when shee shall haue enritched the closet of her heart with such ritches then let her learne the doctrine of the Prophets and the bookes of Moses and for the last the Canticles For if shee shoulde haue read it in the beeginning shee might peraduenture haue beene wounded in her heart by not rightly vnderstanding the holy songs of the spirituall weddings vnder carnall wordes Vpon this purpose Saint Augustine doubteth not to pronounce August in hu 50. Sermon to his brethereÌ„ in the desert that hee who maketh no reckning to reade and meditate in the holye Scriptures sent from Paradice ought to feare not onely the incurring of eternall tribulations but also the enduring euerlasting paines and punishments For it is so dangerous vnto vs not to reade the holy Scriptures that with great griefe of minde the Prophet cryeth out Esay 5. Ose 4. 1. Cor. 14. For this cause my people haue beene led into captiuitie for that they haue no knowledge for hee that is ignorant shall be ignorant and a little after he addeth that those who will not vnderstand in reading in this world God will not know them in the day of iudgement and then finally he exclaimeth Why are we not carefull to reade the holy Scripture where our soules are fed and nourished for euer Seruice in an vnknowne tounge As for the seruice vsed in a tongue vnknowne I am greatlye abashed that so many reasons vsed by the Apostle S. Paule in the 14. Chapter of the first Epistle to the Corinthians to withdraw men from so palpable abuse coulde not touch nor mooue the heartes of the Pastors and Gouernours of the Romane Church for to feede the
and retire from her Forasmuch as if we beleeue workes to be sufficient we must wholy deny Iesus Christ and say that his passion was without fruite which were a sinne against the holy Ghost And therefore now doe I purpose with all my affection to withdraw me from this Laban or idolatrie as did the good Iacob with an infallible beliefe that her promises are vaine and deceiuing and I doe knowe my nature to be so depraued and corrupted that it were impossible for me to attaine saluation through my workes according to her cursed counsell And that which I finde more detestable is that notwithstanding the perfect wisdom of holy writ whereunto the Prophets Euangelists Apostles and the sacred word of our Sauiour Iesus Christ doe beare recorde that in beleeuing them we shall haue life euerlasting the scope of our desires and tipe of true felicitie and contrarywise a curse and Anatheme pronounced against those that shall eyther thereunto adde or diminish Apoc. 22.21 Yet our aduersaries against this celestiall trueth the onely foundation of faith do approoue a thousand traditions and vnwritten doctrines Humaine traditions forged vpon a mortall anuile in the shop of humaine wit But O prodigious thing oh monster of our age vnknowne to the most peruerse hereticks and fullest of impietie One Archicoriphee and as it were a Patriarke of others hath not blushed to write nay which is more to imprint and publish not without horrible blasphemie a little Treatise of the insufficiencie of the Scriptures Insufficiencie of the scriptures Where is then the perfection of them which is so highly commended by the Apostle who saith It is not permitted to know aboue that which is written 1. Act. 1. Cor. 4. no not if an Angel should speak otherwise Gala. 1.5 Could they not or ought they not or had they not the knowledge or durst they not fully reueale vnto vs the mysteries of truth concerning saluation Surely it were sacriledge to thinke it and Atheisme to beleeue it Alas what would become of so many religious soules since the worldes infancie vnacquainted altogether with the inuentions of Romaine Bishops brought forth but since a few forepassed ages Let vs assure our selues that that which is the first whether it be prophecie or the written gospell is most true and sufficient to saluation otherwise what should wee beleeue where should we ground our selues whereon would our faith laye holde if we should follow mans inuentions Euery man is a lyer and cursed be he that trusteth in the arme of flesh Men would teach against Gods worde that the sonne of man God and man Transubstantiation is vnder the forme bread in the pretended sacrifice of the Masse that his body is made of bread or at least that the substance of bread is changed into him that he is to be sought for betweene the hands of the Sacrificer Good God what absurditie is it to seeke the father of eternitie the creator of the world who hath the heauens for his throne respecting his diuinitie and who according to humane nature sits on the right hand of the father from whence he shall come visibly to iudge the quick and the dead to seeke him I say as great as he was vpō the crosse closed within a little morsell of dowe lesse than halfe a foote Should he be found where he is not What blindnesse trow you is this Let vs rather seeke him where he aduertised vs that he would retire himselfe and prepare a permanent habitation for those that are his he alone is a faithfull witnesse he alone is our Doctor to reueale his secrets Let vs go to the law of grace to the gospel that speaketh plainly and certainly hereof What is he so ignorant or foolish that would fastē to this corruption the prince of immortalitie seeing that the Sacrament is often subiect to the eating of Mice or Rats apt soone to corrupt I can alledge in testimonie of the trueth that which I saw at Lymoges in the Couent of the Iacobins the Prouinciall being come thither found an infinite number of formes or consecrated sacrifices much eaten with Rattes and wormes wrapt about likewise in cobwebs and againe in the said place the first sunday after the Octaue vnder pretence of religion the Subprior threw downe the box falsely and maliciously accusing those of the true religion reformed thereby minding to haue massacred them as a domestical seruāt of the said couent publickly confessed and therfore was whipped in the said towne banished the same In Leride a goodly town in Spain in the church of the couent of S. Dominick in my presence the proctor of the Couent being come into the city said Masse consecrated many Wafers to giue vnto the communicants wherof sundry were left whence returning to the Vestry one fell down which he treading vpon it claue to his wet feet without being able any way to pull it off but was mixed with the durt which could not be wiped away Foure Augustin Monkes were hanged in Seuel for that they said Masse and did not purpose to consecrate such is their extraordinary proceeding to cause the people to become idolaters to the bread and chalice Molon an inquisitor at Barselon after the consecration did cut the host with cissers Also Pope Sixtus the fourth in the towne of Florence commaunded that when the Priest held vp the host the people thē worshiping should be murdred which bloudie choler was put in executiō Pope Gregory the 7. hauing asked the Sacrament touching the reuealing of certaine things against the Emperor receiuing no answer threw it into the fire To be short Pope Victor the 3. a Bishop of Ebora and also the Emperour Henry the 7. were poysoned in taking the host and chalice Loe these are the absurdities and prodigious actes wherunto transubstantiation would subiect the glorious body of our Lord if it could preuaile Besides the Concomitācie which is falsly pretended therein Sacraments vnder one kinde is the occasion of the peoples priuation of the cupp against the ordinance of Christ who hath commaunded saying Drinke yee al. Mat. 26. and the practise of the Church 1. Cor. 11. and so they are depriued of consolation in participating through a liuely faith really the benefits of the bloud of our Sauiour for the remission of sins and confirmatiō of Gods couenant Now the taste of the substance of bread the sauour and odour of wine the inseperable accidents of the essence their true foundation and wherin they subsist doe teach vs that the signes abide in their naturall and essentiall proprietie not in their vsage which represēts vnto vs as a liuely image and really present and as an instrument of Gods grace the spirituall food the quickning refectiō the pledge of immortallity to the penitent faithfull soule bread being the communiō of the body the chalice sanctifieng the communiō of the bloud of life known receiued apprehended applied aswell throgh the secret operation
the Lord and God Gods trueth that will and can helpe vs that without him there is neither God nor saluation that he will not giue such honor vnto any other How louingly and fatherly doth God admonish his people in the olde Testament that they shoulde not runne so after vanitye but should haue all their refuge vnto him alone And Christ the Sonne of God in like manner cryeth out a maine in many places of the new Testament that we should come vnto him that he is the true Wel indeede that he is the way and the trueth and that he is our quickning So the beloued Apostles doe also nothing els but onely preach and teach that Christ is the Sauiour of the world that he onely is our aduocate and intercessor with the father that he onely hath washed away our sinnes with his blood that through him by faith without workes we are and shal be iustified before God and that there is no other name vnder the sunne by which we can or may be saued but by the name of Iesus Wherefore it is a great impiety of vs sinfull men that haue so louing and so gracious a God who is so willing and ready to helpe vs and is able to deliuer vs out of all danger extremity yet we will seeke for helpe by others which haue need themselues of Gods helpe Praying to Saints is as to God dishonour so to their owne disquiet and without his helpe and grace can neuer be saued For in Popery there is no thing so small and of no accoumpt but they runne to Saints for it and seeke for helpe and counsel of theÌ„ This is against God and is also against the Saints owne rest and peace that we should call vpon them to make intercession for vs howsoeuer Ierom reasoneth thus seeing Peter Andrew and Iohn saith he whilst they yet liued vpon earth Hieromes error could obtaine some thing for others by their intercession should they now be able to do nothing being in heaueÌ„ They may now much more by their intercession win vs seeing their loue is perfected But I answere him I deny not that the Saints vpon earth in their life time may pray one for another obtain somwhat but do very willingly confesse that one may and ought here temporally pray for another which is according to Gods commaundement 1. Tim. 2. vers 1.2.3 Iam. 5. vers 14.15.16.17.18 But when one is gone from this temporall into eternall life he takes no longer charge or care ouer vs neither can helpe vs for he knoweth there is a God that both can and will helpe vs. Or if the Saints in heauen doe pray for vs they must necessarily knowe our distresse and afflictions The absurdity then ariseth of Hieroms reason for which they pray for if the Saints in heauen do know our sorrowes and if their loue be perfect then without all doubt they will obserue the holie apostle S. Paules rule which he hath left vnto all men Rom. 12. v. 15. Reioyce with them that reioyce and weepe with them that weepe And that the Saintes in heauen should be grieued for our sakes and suffer disquiet and heauinesse is directly against Gods word For it is expresly written in the third chapter of the booke of Wisedom v. 3. Illi autem sunt in pace but they are in peace And likewise Reuel 7. v. 17. and chap. 21. v. 4. it is plainely recorded that the Saintes after this life haue neither sorrow neither crying neither any more paine for God hath washed all teares from their eyes and they feele nothing but ioy and blisse Otherwise where should the saying of the Prophet Esay be fulfilled For he saith in the 22. of his Prophecie v. 18. Residebit my people shall dwell or rest in the tabernacle of peace and in sure dwellinges and in safe resting places Where may a man haue these things Gods children may expect no perfect peace in the things of this life but affliction Where is the tabernacle of peace In the olde Testament there was but little rest peace and safetie and much more warre tumults hunger and all kinde of persecutions In the new Testament likewise haue the people of God from the beginning thereof vntill the ende had little rest and peace as also our Lord Christ promised not much temporally here vnto his owne Ioh. 16. vers 20. Yee shall weepe and lament and v. 33. In the world ye shall haue affliction and Math. 10. v. 34. NoÌ„ veni missurus pace sed gladium I came not to send peace but a sworde Which is to be vnderstoode of worldly peace for Christ hath called his from the world and therefore can haue no peace with the world but a sword that is they shall be persecuted scourged and wholly killed So Christ telleth them plainelie Iob. 16. v. â—0 the world shall reioyce but ye shall sorrow And else where the world will hate you True rest and peace onely in heauen persecute and kill you this must all true faithfull christians as Gods owne people expect Where then is that peace rest safety which God promiseth his people we must then surely lift vp our eyes vnto the triumphant Church which is with God in heauen for there is the true peace rest and safetie Here hence therefore ariseth that which hath now beene vnanswerablie said that the praying vnto and calling vpon Saintes is against the honour and glory of God and against the Saintes owne rest peace and safetie For it is vnspeakeable to shewe how many Saintes they runne vnto in Popery And thence arose the vse of Pilgrimage a man runneth one while hether to Mary the Lordes mother shortlie thither to Saint Iohn This Popery is heathenish idolatrie and presentlie againe to Saint Benet or to Saint Barnarde wherein is surely sought the Saintes honour not Gods And there hence it is also come to passe that there bee almost as many Gods as Saintes in heauen Saint Nicholas is the God for the water Saint Leonard for the prisoners Popish foolerie Great impietie to spend so much vpon sencelesse things and forget Iosephs bonds Lazarus his miserie Saint Sebastian for the pestilence S. Apolonia for the tooth-atch and more such like Thence also is it that men shew ouer aboundant honour vnto their images and cloath them with Veluet and silken gownes with great ritches about their handes and necks with stately Rosaries as they call them and with beautifull and excellent garlands set vpon their heades they kneele downe also and pray before them and giue honor vnto dead sencelesse wodden and stone images clothing them after the brauest manner But contrariwise they let the liuing images and fellow members of Christ Iesus go bare and naked and dye with hunger Of the Masse The Masse is alike auaileable against diseases as ringing of Bels is against enemies and euil spirits 4. Kreitzer make 30. starling Well then let that
poore People with a better nourishment They compell them moreouer to confesse all their sinnes to the eare of a Priest Auricular confession which thing they would not vse if they had but penetrated into the knowledge of these wordes of Dauid Who can tell how oft he offendeth O cleanse thou me from my secret faults or if they had regarde vnto the example of the selfe same Dauid Psal 19. who saith that it was to God alone that hee confessed his sinnes The Church of Rome teacheth that saluation must bee sought for Iustificatiō by workes in mans merits and that our iustice commeth through workes but I shoulde bee too long in reciting all that which the Scripture saith to the contrarye For shee dooth acknowledge that there is not any sufficiencie or capacitie in man to do well we are not able to thinke any good thing of our selues 2. Cor. 3. Gen. 6. 8 Psalm 53. 1. Cor. 2. Gala. 3. 2. Tim. 1. Rom. 3.8 5. Act. 1.3 Phil. 3. as the Apostle saith she condemneth the thoughts of mans heart euen from his in fancie and saith that they are at strife with GOD and that they cannot be made obedient to the lawe of God she pronounceth that men are dead in sinne and affordes them no hope but in the mercy of GOD through the obedience of our Sauiour Iesus Christ and furder she declareth that we be iustified gratis by his exceeding great mercie through faith in Iesus Christ without the workes of the law And certainly we stand in great neede thereof for as Saint Ieromie saith Hierom in Pro. cap. 20 Et in Eccl. cap. 7. Lib. de orat what righteousnesse and what cleanenesse can be here in the life of the iust the workes which we minister through this body of ours are alwayes mingled with some errour we be taught saith Saint Gregorie of Nice in the holy Scripture that there is not one to be found among men which can passe one onely day without spot And therefore Saint Augustine was moued to say that which euery one of vs ought to say of ourselues after this example I presume not at all of my selfe In Psal 58. for what good haue I wrought to the end thou shouldest be mercifull vnto mee O my God and that thou shouldest iustifie me What hast thou found in me but onely synnes There is nothing in me of thee but bare nature which thou hast created all the rest is my synnes which thou hast defaced I haue not first risen vp to come vnto thee but thou didst come to awake me and before I brought any good thing to passe thy mercy O Lorde directed me And Saint Barnard asketh Serm. admilites tepli cap. 11. In his Manuel cap. 22. Why men should require againe at our handes that which Christ Iesus hath paide for vs He that hath borne the punishment of synne and giuen vnto vs his iustice the selfe same hath likewise payde the debt of death and hath receiued life for death being dead life returneth againe euen as sunne being in esse iustice commeth againe Now death hath been extinguished in the death of Christ and the iustice of Christ hath beene imparted vnto vs. To be short I say with S. Augustine All my hope is in the death of my Sauiour his death is my desert my refuge my saluatiō my life my resurectiō my merit is nothing else but the mercy of the lord I am not poore of merit so long as the Lord of mercies shall haue his being and if the mercies of the Lord are great then am I great in merits and looke how much the more he is mighty to saue so much the more am I assured The opinion of Purgatorie whereon are grounded so many Masses Obits and yearely seruices done to the dead is plainely ouerthrowne by infinite places of holy Scripture wherof some do testifie that there is no condemnation for those that are in Iesus Christ and that liue after the spirit and not after the flesh that he who beleeueth in Christ Iesus Rom. 8. Iohn 3.36 5.24 is gone from death to life and shall not enter into condemnation Other places there are that assure vs of the forgiuenesse of our sinnes in the bloud of Christ Iesus his blood cleanseth vs from all sinnes 1. Iohn 1. Ephes 1. Col. 1. Esay 5.3 Ephes 5. Apoc. 1. saith Saint Iohn by himselfe hee hath purged vs from our sinnes through his bloud we haue redemption wee haue deliuerance that is to say remission hee hath beene deliuered vp for our sanctification and to washe vs he hath also washed away our sinnes and defaced our iniquitie as a cloude and therefore he hath promised by his Prophet that men shall seeke for the iniquity of Israell Esai 44. and the sinne of Iuda but it shall no where bee found and addeth the reason because saith the Eternall J will pardon their iniquities Ier. 5. Yea were they redder then Scarlet they shall be made whiter than Snowe And likewise the ancient Fathers could neuer finde any other Purgatorie in the holy Scripture Iohn 1. then the bloud of the Lambe which taketh away the sinnes of the world Saint Augustine saith that the Catholique faith beleeueth according to the authoritie of God that there is the kingdome of Heauen Secondly Augu. contra Pelag. Hipp. lib. 5. that there is the lake of hell wherin euery Apostatate or strāger to the faith in Iesus Christ shall suffer torment of the third place saith he we know nothing at all do not finde in the holy Scriptures that there hath bin any such and also he saith in another place that there are but two wayes the one leadeth to condemnation and the other to saluation Serm. de temp 232. Euchir cap. 115. de verb D. and elswhere he disputeth against Purgatorie it selfe Bretheren saith he let no man deceiue you for there are two places and there is not a third for any he that shall not be worthy to raigne with Christ Iesus without doubt he shall perish with the diuell Here is all the forgiuenesse of sinnes Christ Iesus taking vpon him the punishment of our sinnes and not the fault hath wiped away both punishment and offence we are not here without sinne but we shall depart from hence voide of sinne Where is Purgatory then Serm. 37. de verb. D. Mary behold saith he in another place the purging of our sinnes is the bloud of the iust that is to say Christ Iesus Saint Cyprian saith Serm. 31. de trinit lib. 4. cap. 2. that when wee shall depart hence there shall be no other place allotted vnto vs for repentance nor to make satisfaction here life is either lost or gotten Saint Hierom likewise vpon Esai cha 65 saith Cypr. contra Demet. lib. 4. cap 4. that he who shall not haue obtained pardon for his sinnes whilst he liueth in this world shall depart in that
manner doth perish vndoubtedly Hence it comes that another saith that so long as we liue here we haue a remedy Grego Nazianzene Carm. de Reb. suis in Moral reg 1. cap. 2.5 Faith onely iustifieth but when our last end is come there remaines but a perpetuall prison that is for those that shall not receiue remedy in this life for it is the time of repētance saith S. Basyll so soone as we are gone why all power of dooing any good is taken from vs. How comes it to passe saith he in another place that the wretched sinfull soule dare be so bould as to approach vnto God Mary in stedfastly beleeuing that the purging of her sins hath bin effected through the bloud of Christ Jesus To be short if Roses may be gathered among thornes I might here produce what the doctors of the Romane Church haue conceiued hereof Lomb. lib. 8. Sent. D. 19. C. Nunc. Lombard saith that euen as those who in ancient time beheld the brasen Serpent lifted vp were healed from the biting of Serpents so likewise if by a right and true fight of faith we beholde Christ Iesus who for vs was hanged vpon the Crosse we are thereby deliuered and freed from the bonds of Sathan that is to say from our synnes yea in such sort that after this life he findeth in vs nothing punishable Scotus likewise in his 4. booke of Sentences Dist 15. and the Glose of the Canons saith that Nec cordis contritione nec oris cōfessione peccata remittuntur sed tantum gratia Dei sed ipsae contritio cordis signum est peccata est dimissa sicut exterior satisfactio signum est cordis contritionis gratia enim praecedit contritionē Epiph. 2. lib. 1. tho Heros 59. in Cant. According to which I conclude with Epiphanus that there is neither fasting nor almes nor repentance nor iustice neither good nor euill that profiteth after death It is not my purpose nor intention to set downe here in perticular all that which hath distasted me in the church of Rome there are verye many other things by me obserued which in no point agree with the worde of God But I thinke that those pointes which I haue alreadye touched are sufficient enough to make it manifest that I haue enterprised nothing without good reason and that my conscience would neuer haue suffered me to liue in quiet and rest if I had done otherwise All which things carefully ballanced in my minde haue exceedingly mooued me to this resolution and I thinke verilye there is no true Christian soule but is with them I finde that it is a difficult thing to resist Gods voyce and to fight against the truth which discouereth her selfe so apparantly Psal 142. Psal 158.143.119 51. My conscience still vrging me what could I do else then sit downe and say O my God leade me in the right way teach me to do thy will I am a poore sheepe that is strayed make me to know thy Sion Drawe me into thy holy Hill cause me to see in these troubles and confusions that shee is the true Church and espouse of our Sauiour Iesus Christ bring mee into this rocke of life where thou doest gather together thy flocke open my eyes and suffer me not to bee deceiued with the horrible abuses of the world I did perceiue in generall the corruption of mens manners and therefore I perswaded my selfe that shee was not the true Church onely through holynesse of outwarde conuersation I did know and confesse that shee is that company which hath true faith and followeth the infallible doctrine of the Sonne of GOD Ambr. in Luk. lib. 6. cap. 9. according to the saying of Saint Ambrose He commaundeth vs saith he to seeke and principally to choose that church wherin Christ Jesus dwelleth but there is a church that reiecteth faith possesseth not the foundations of the Apostles preaching and such a Church we must leaue Yet notwithstanding I could not chuse but somewhat be touched in my heart in respect of the vncharitable reproaches which many great personages haue a long time vsed against all the Court of Rome and against the principall gouernours conductors of the Romaine church and especially considering the complaintes and murmures on euery side vsed against the dissolution of the Clergie Barnard in Serm. 33. Cant. Cant. I remember the wordes of S. Bernard who speaketh as followeth Now from whom shall the Church conuey or hide her selfe All are friends and all are enemies all are allies and all are aduersaries and are domesticals and there is none in peace and charity all are neighbours and all seeke but their owne profit They are Ministers of Christ serue Antichrist they walke in the honour of the goods of the Lord and yet they honour him not Beauty of the strumpet And hence comes that beauty of the strumpet which thou seest dailye gaily apparalled sometimes like stage players and other whiles like kings hence comes their golden bridles their imbrodered saddles and gilded spurrs By meanes hereof their tables with delicious cates and rich vessell of siluer are furnished hence proceedes their drunkenesse and gluttony the harpe and the viole hereof comes their wine-presses abounding in plenty their garners the one answering the other alwayes full By this meanes are their hogsheads full of oyntments and sweete sauour their purses neuer empty and in respect of these things forsooth they are and will be so called Princes of the Churches Archbishops Bishops Archdeacons Deanes prouosts and such like But this comes not so to passe iustly but because they walke in obscurity and trace the workes of darkenesse and therefore it hath bin heretofore prophefied and now it is accomplished behold in peace my bitternesse is most bitter It hath been before bitter in the death of Martyres after more Bitter in the controuersie of Heretikes and now most bitter in the maners of domesticalles a man cannot driue them away nor flie from them so mighty are they both in power and number the Churches griefe lies in the entrailes it is incurable therefore her bitternes most bitter Hitherto S. Barnard He that desireth to know further In Psal 90. In conuers S. Paule let him reade the wordes of the selfe same author vpon the 90. Psalme and in his Sermon of the Conuersion of Saint Paule where hee saith among other things Alas Lord those whom we see to effect the highest places in thy Church are the first and chiefest to persecute thee c. He further in his first Sermon of consideration to Pope Eugenius breaketh foorth into these termes What is it faith hee that Image makers say vnvnto thee Go to and sticke not for thou maist bouldly buy them with the spoyle of Churches Though there bee many that cease not to enueigh against the Ministers of the reformed Churches and that sticke not to call them Heretikes to charge them with slaunders yet doe I plainely perceiue
before the blessed Sonne of GOD Christ Iesus a Lambe without spotte in whom there is found no guile nor sinne seeing that euery sacrifice is receaued in respect of the Sacrificer as it is written in Gen. 4. The eternall had respect to Abel and his offering I omit for breuitie sake a thousand other absurdities that followe after this newe sacrifice of the Masse and likewise a whole worlde of horrible and most abhominable villanies which are to be found in the order of these Sacrificers as well regular as secular which sufficiently declare of what stuffe both themselues and their sacrifice are made I will not heere saye any thing of the grosse and beastlye ignorance which is in many though they be respected and honoured like great Doctors of the people and gouernours of soules which blinded as they are they leade with themselues into the pit of perdition I neede not likewise to make knowne to you the vitious life and scandalous conuersation Of Monks and their liues and too too notorious of the religious and Monkes meere abusers of the people who in Cloisters and Monastaries are nourished in idlenesse and entertained with the labour and sweate of the poore and simple people who conceiuing too good an opinion of them doe oftentimes take the very breade out of their owne mouthes to giue it to them which they abuse ouer wantonly through excesse and gluttony But to returne to their chiefe leader Patriarche Whē this deceiuour vsurpeth supreame authoritie ouer the lawes doctrines and documents of the sonne of God accusing them of insufficiencie and lacke of power to demonstrate vnto vs the Soueraigne good saying in a worde that the holy Scriptures are imperfect what doth he else then depriue him of his doctorall robe But the truth is and so it behoues vs to beleeue assuredly that as Christ Iesus hath sent vs from the euerlasting Father as a most wise Maister with charge and power to bring men to their saluation so hath he likewise by his doctrine laide open most sufficiently the way and meanes therevnto Traditiōs Whereby certainely is ouerthrowne all the host of traditions all this Iliade and infinite number of humaine inuentions and vnwritten doctrines forged in the shoppe of this deceiuer Pope aboue the Scriptures by the which he doth not onely surpasse but is also contrary and opposite to the deuine and wholesome doctrine and precepts of Christ Iesus a most sufficient Maister and teacher the true Messias both God man Pope is Antichrist accomplishing that which S. Paule foretolde of him that he should oppose and lift vppe himselfe against all that which is called God 2. Thes 2. No lesse doth he of the royall dignity of Christ Iesus whereof hee depriues him attributing it to himselfe as well in heauen as earth vsurping and chalenging the full authority to dispose after his fancie of the whole Church as well tryumphant as militant Hence it comes that this proud and arrogant deceiuer Canonising saints takes vpon him to make Saints to canonise those that seeme good vnto him deifying them in such sort as that the siely ignorant people cannot know nor discerne Christ Iesus among this rable of saints and eftsoons it falleth out that the bodies of those are honored and superstitiously adored by men in this worlde whose soules are tormented by the diuils in hell He taketh also power ouer Angels Pope commaundeth Angles and all the happy spirits of the celestiall court to commaund them what could he vsurpe more in heauen vnlesse he would banish and driue God himselfe if he could from thence But alas what authority takes he vpon him here vpon earth what exceeding great tyranny and cruelty dooth he exercise Some he excommunicates anathematizeth others he taketh the temporall spirituall sworde hee deposeth Kings and Monarches from their thrones to bee short being seated in the Temple of God hee causeth himselfe to be worshipped as God 2. Thes 2. But oh Lorde Iesus when wilt thou discomfit and bring to confusion this wicked vsurper by the breath of thy wrath when wilt thou abolish him by the brightnesse of thy comming when shall this beast with his false Prophet be cast into the pit or lake to the end she do no longer seduce the world Apo. 19. When shall that houre come wherein we shall vnderstand great consolation that voyce of the Angell crying alowde Rome is Babilon She is fallen she is fallen that great Babilō Apo. 18. O lord when shall it come to passe that the great nations and kings of the earth shall haue drunke enough of the wine of the wrath of her fornication and haue spewed foorth all the venome which already thy haue sucked out of her cuppe As for my part I am weary and tired therewith and therefore I renounce her I detest and abiure her in the presence of this Church of God both now and for euer louing rather to endure the Crosse of Christ in the bosome of his lawfull spouse then enioy the pleasures and ioyes of this world betweene the armes of a shamelesse strumpet who hath so long time deceiued me through her fooleries But againe I renounce and abiure now and for euer both her and all her doctrine in so much as that it is against the expresse word of God blasphematory Apostatique superstitious and as farre from the meaning of Christe our true maister as darkenesse from light as falshood from trueth vice from vertue most humbly beseeching almighty GOD thorough the entralls of his mercy and through the most precious bloude which his sonne Iesus Christ hath shed for me that he will not lay to my charge the faults of my youth nor iudge me according to the sinnes of my ignorance but rather pursuing his mercy begunne in me he will pardon all my offences committed by me either in works words or thoughts and in others through examples and wicked superstitious doctrines and that it would please the same God to worke so that those who hetherto haue beene wrapped vp in the palpable darkenesse of error and ignorance and luld a sleepe vnder the shadow of the winges of that strumpet hauing beene drunke with the wine of her fornication may now awake out of that profound sleepe and slumber of death to tast how little soeuer it be of the sauourous fruite of life and drinke onely a glasse of the delitious waters of the foūtaines of immortallity which streame from the house of God into the assembly of the elect for then I do assure my selfe they will forthwith abandon the venomous Cisterns of that defiled strumpet and most malicious deceiuer For this end therefore O mercifull father and euerlasting God we power out before thee euen from the bottome of our harts our humble petitions for that the compassion we haue of so many poore soules which she causeth to be drunke poysoned with a deadly poyson couered ouer with an agreeable sweetnes makes our eyes
comfort iustice and life euerlasting in my hope Now must feare and amazement giue place vnto all these now must pensiuenes and hell it selfe depart from mee Christ Iesus abiding and liuing in mee dooth consume and banish all euils that afflicted mee Hence it comes that this vnion and coniunction is the cause that I am deliuered from the terrours seperated from the flesh transformed into Iesus Christ and into his kingdom which is the kingdom of grace iustice peace ioy life health and euerlasting glory so that liuing in him there is no hurt can chaunce vnto mee God promised that there should no more come an vniuersall deluge and in signe of a peaceable loue he gaue the rainbowe a pledge of his mercye which the Gentiles called Ianus as saith Berosus the Chaldean This is that bowe whereof S. Iohn speaketh in the Apocalips to be ouer the head of Iesus Christ signifying Christ crucified with his armes spread abroad The redde coulour of which celestiall bow representeth the bloud of Iesus Christ and his greene colour betokeneth hope for that in his wounds and bloud remaine all the hope of our good being and the seuerall colours declare vnto vs the multitude of his mercies This is that token which God the Father promised in redemption of the world whereof Saint Paule to Titus Chap. 3. saith That the bountifulnesse and loue of God appeared not in regarde of any workes of iustice by vs performed but he saueth vs according to his great mercy When there shall be presented before mine eyes the darke clouds of sinne when sorrowes and terrours shall with huge violence threaten me when dangers persecutions iniuries and other torments shall come vppon me then will I beholde the celestiall couenant I will cast my eyes vppon Iesus Christ crucified in whom I shall finde plenty of hope For he is our only refuge and such a one as Saint Paule 2. Corinths calleth the Father of mercie and God of all consolation comforting vs in all our calamities Wherefore I will alwayes be running to him arming my selfe with inuincible patience For the good Chirurgeon sheweth his experience in dangerous wounds the physition his skil in great maladies in perilous battels the prudent couragious valiant captaine declareth his strength policy in great tempests and stormes the expert pilot exerciseth his diligence Affliction is no new thing neither am I alone he that endures it S. Gregorie saith that if we would consider that which the Saints haue endured wee should see all our tribulations to be of very small importance particularly if we looke vpon and contemplate Iesus Christ the true God tormented vpon the crosse wee should perceiue our miseries in comparison of his to be but a drop of water in respect of the whole Sea And S. Barnard saith that Christ Iesus is not onely the mirrour of patience but the recompence and rewarde thereof To this ende therefore will I contemplate his crosse whereby I shall reape great comfort and rewarde But what recompence say the worldlings wilte thou haue seeing thou hast forsaken thy countrie thy parents thy meanes whereby thou mightest haue liued pleasantly thou hast left thy vocation and all these hast thou abandoned in the pride of thy dayes Then will I answer them according to the saying of Saint Bernard in his meditations that if it be a difficult thing for one of the most iust vnder the law to be saued at the point of death it will be more hard and as it were impossible for him to be saued that at his death presents vnto God nothing else but his bones which dogges refuse hauing giuen their flesh to Sathan as dayly they doe employing the time in vaine-glory in proud ambition onely delighting in the flesh as they are guided by the diuel But then they wil tell me that at the houre of death through vertue of the Popes Bull saying S. Peter S. John S. Paul S. Caphas Popes pardons and S. Macharus helpe me they shall be saued But if they waite til that time in that beleefe they shall manifestly see how God will heare thē sith they attribute to a mortall creature Gods eternall glory and place their hope in the Bul of a Croisade which is highly esteemed in Spain where euery yere it is bought at ten shillings price by vertue wherof they are tolerated in Lēt time to eate Egs Milke Butter Cheese and besides to be absolued as they fondly imagine from their sinnes and aswell à culpa as à poena that is to say aswell from their faulte as from the punishment once in this life and another time through Purgatorie at the houre of death Besides this there is another Bull named de los finados that is to say of the dead through which first hauing yearly well paide for the same the party liuing may for euery Bul fetch a soule of his friend or parent out of paine To be short great store of siluer and reuenews is gotten in respect of pardons or the Popes indulgences who vaunteth that he detaineth and keepeth treasure of the bloud of Christ and of Martirs An intollerable and auaritious abuse doubtlesse contrary to holy writ which certifieth that the mercy of the father of compassions presenteth to the faithfull forgiuenesse of their sinnes to saluation through the vertue of his Holyghost applyed and receiued by a liuely and iustifying faith of euery one beleeuing in Christ who was giuen for our iustice sanctification and redemtion dyed for our sinnes and rose againe for our iustification This is all my hope the foundation of my faith whereby I may ouercome the terrours of sinne and death and enioy eternall life And againe of the like corrupted stuffe as the Bulles before mentioned is the Canonizing of Saints and deifying them with whome the seelie ignorant people commit idolatrie and spirituall fornication very impiously and incredulously against GOD who is onely able to saue and restore to life those that are dead Pilgrimages Hence proceede so many pilgrimages into strange countries vnder pretence wherof many adulteries fornications Sodomies incests much drunkennesse and other execrable wicked actes are daily committed and their bodies are adored and superstitiously worshipped vpon earth whose soules oftentimes are tormented in hell The manner of the Popes proceeding in canonizing many Saints for the most pretended is very notorious For many times since the raigne of Poperie Canonasing saints those are placed in this ranke of whome there remaines no memorie or testimonie of their life and conuersation to the end that through processe of time and running on of the worlde there might be conceiued and brought forth a forgetfulnesse of their vices and enormious crimes which they might haue perpetrated And if any dare speake against such persons endeuouring to bee any hinderance that vnder such a false title holinesse and sanctitie be not attributed vnto them the Inquisition knoweth very well how to stop his mouth and remedie it by cruell torments and
God how they depraue the Sacraments by their filthy inuensions Sacramēts depraued how they annoint their belles with Oyle and creame as they call it with the assistance of God fathers and God mothers imposing names vpon them how this Antichrist that weareth the three Crownes Popestriple Crowne with others of the like stampe doe chalenge to themselues the power and authoritye of Iesus Christ both in heauen and earth though to none other but onely vnto Christ it doth appertaine and belong as being giuen vnto him of God the Father To be short I will omitte very many superstitions and heresies that haue caused me to flye from this pretended Catholick Church to settle my selfe with al maner of humility in the church reformed by Gods grace in this kingdome I make no doubt but there are many the very instruments of Sathan who enuying my holy resolution and saluation will drawe out of hell a sea of slaunders intending thereby the decay of my good fame and to bring mee into an euill opinion of the faithfull I knowe they will endeuour to spotte my coate of innocencye with a thousand lyes but time that reuealeth all things shall shew the contrary One thing comforteth me which is that if our head Iesus Christ hath receiued many opprobious speeches the faithfull who are his elected members shoulde not desire to bee exempt from the same seeing it is the meane to attaine to heauen Let them say what they will let them doe what they can neither promises nor threats neither iniuries nor persecutions nor the sword can through Gods grace with-drawe me from my holy resolution which is to imbrace the true and liuely faith of the reformed Churches assuring my selfe that GOD who hath euer care of his poore faithfull will be a sufficient buckler to defend me against all their assaults It remaineth now that with all humility I do beseech the congregation of the faithful to receiue me into their number with whom I desire to finish the residue of my dayes to the end with them I may freely serue my God and walke according to the sincerity of his Gospell Amen So Signed IOHN NORMAN We the Ministers and Elders of the Church of Tours do certifie vnder our hands that the said Norman hath made and signed his Christian profession and abiuration of Papisticall religion all the people being assembled at the said Church of Tours the 17. of September beeing Sunday with praises and thanksgiuing of al the faithfull 1600. So signed B. Rousseau Minister L. hommo Martin P. Mercier Doucet D. Mercier Elders for all the rest And the 24. day following of the same moneth the saide Norman being in a place at Fraisneau in the presence of all the congregation hath againe made the abouesaid declaration with promise to continue in the true profession and holinesse of a Christian life So signed B. Rosseau Minister L' hommè I. Bazin Mesgrier Bourrand all Elders A christian declaration made by Father Abraham sometimes Prior of Carmes in the towne of Arles publiquely in the reformed Church of Vzez THAT great excellent Philosopher who in respect of those vertues wherewith the heauēs adorned him was surnamed the Diuine viz. Plato gaue thanks to God for three things for that he was borne a man and not a beast a Grecian not a Barbarian but aboue all for that he had receiued the benefit of life in the time of Socrates from whose mouth he had learned many goodly and vertuous instructions If this Heathenish Philosopher hath esteemed it and that by good reason for a happy benefit to be borne in the Olympiads of Socrates of whom he might learne certaine humaine sciences but not the knowledge of his saluation alas with what a strict bond are we bound to praise and glorifie the name of our blessed Sauiour who hath caused vs to be borne in this age which is dyed red in the bloud of so many faithfull witnesses of his veritie and also by the brightnesse of his gospell shining through the clouds and mistes that are thickned by the malice of Sathan intending to hide from me the sweet sunne of iustice and knowledge of truth But among all those that are bound to this dutie of giuing of thankes I doe acknowledge and confesse my selfe this day the greatest debter do place among all the benefits receiued from Gods hand this of my conuersion and entrance into his Church to be the first and chiefest Without which alas what could haue profited me all the fauour receiued from his sacred hand but on lye to haue turned to my condemnation ruine and confusion What would it haue auailed mee to haue beene stamped in the stampe of Gods face if I bare the marke and character of the beast What good had it beene for mine eyes to haue beene lightned with this corporall light if my soule had been enclosed in the darkenesse of infidelitie What health had it beene for me to haue breathed in an ayre agreeable to my body which beeing infected with such impieties had beene contagious to my soule What honour to beare the name of a Doctor and to teach a lye to destroy instead of instructing to ruinate and bring to decaye that which I should haue built and repayred The Lord therefore be praised who hath vnmasked my eyes and caused me to see the light of his Gospell wherein my sight hath beene so long dazeled and blinded Blessed be that happy day wherein this good God hath caused to appeare the effects of his eternall election in me and hath acknowledged mee for his adopted childe and lawfull heyre of that great and eternall kingdome which his sonne Iesus Christ hath purchased for his elect through the merite of his perfect obedience Beholde me now come into the house of God betweene the armes and in the bosome of Christ his espouse as farre from impieties and sacriledges of that shamelesse Babell as the truth from falshood and light from darkenesse Beholde now I am come into the sweete libertie of my conscience which hath so often summoned mee to leaue and depart from the Seminarie abuses of papistrie from those horrible sinkes and vautes of impietie where the Lordes holy name is so villainously prophaned and the honour of the eternall who is infinitely iealous of his glorye shamefully prostituted to idols and marmosets where the bloud of Christ serueth for a traffique where his onely sacrifice which is the expiation of our offences is held incapable and insufficient to blotte them out and deface them Mans merits where mans merites go cheeke by ioule with those of Iesus Christs where the sonne of God our Redeemer is robbed of his greatest and most worthy titles of office where coadiutors are giuen him for intercession and Sacrificing Prayers to Saints where the pastorall staffe is taken out of his hands wherewith hee ruleth and gouerneth his flocke where the Empire of the world and conduct of his Church is shared in halfe with him
meane while dooth feede them onely with humaine traditions with prohibitions that nothing may be saide to the contrarye neither may be enquired for the truth out of the saide Scriptures confounding the trueth of Gods worde with his decrees and statutes The which things teach vs manifestly the loue and kindnesse of such a sheepheard towards his flocke that insteed of feeding it with the wholsome doctrine propounded in Gods worde and refreshing it with the sweete waters of Gods graces the which are conueyed into our hearts by the pure and sincere preaching of his worde doth rather cast it downe into the pit of errors and superstitions depriuing the common people most vniustly from the reading of the holy scriptures and keeping them thereby in ignorance The peoples ignorance whereby they cannot be resolued of their saluation prescribing vnto them an infinite number of traditions as if the scriptures were not sufficient to saluation yea accusing them most blasphemously of imperfection and of obscuritie against the plaine testimonie of S. Paul 2. Tim. 3. vers 16. 2. Tim. 3.16 For the whole Scripture is giuen by inspiration of God and is profitable to teach to conuince to correct and to instruct in righteousnesse that the man of God may be absolute being made perfect vnto all good workes This it is that opened our eyes that mooued our heart and setled vs vpon the right way from the which we erred by our corrupt nature The profit of God his worde and this doth manifest vnto vs the mysteries of saluation For as Chrysostome an olde Father very well teacheth Wee must onely beleeue the holy scriptures by this doore enter both sheepheard and sheepe who enters not through it is a theefe for it is a propertie of the diuell to adde somewhat to the commandements of God and beholde therefore how clearely God commands Deut. 4. ver 2. Deut. 4.2 to content our selues with this rule for to discerne by it the truth from falsehood Yee shall put nothing vnto the worde which I commande you neither shall yee take ought there-from that yee may keepe the commandements of the Lord your God which I commaund you Shall we desire a more expresse charge The Romish doctors part in this play But why doe our doctors of the Romish Synagogue notwithstanding all this They take their refuge to traditions of men without yea against the worde of God adding vnto it and detracting from it according to their pleasure They say the holye Scripture is not perfect enough she is obscure and hard to be vnderstood but we must explicate and cleere her with our traditions but I pray you what other perfection can they finde for vs to come to saluation Let vs here what the Apostle saies 2. Tim. 3. vers 15. Thou hast knowne the holy scriptures of a childe which are able to make thee wise vnto saluation through the faith which is in Christ Iesus And in the Gospell of Saint Iohn chap. 20. vers 31. we are set twise to the scriptures But these things saith he are written that yee might beleeue that Iesus is that Christ that Sonne of God and that in beleeuing yee might haue life through his Name Dauid the Prophet considering the same Psal 119. verse 103. and 105. saith How sweete are thy promises vnto my mouth yea more then Honie And againe Thy worde is a Lantherne vnto my feete and a light vnto my path Yea but is it not say they a commendable thing to serue God according to the institutions of our Fathers and to keepe vs by them Is it not a thing agreeable vnto GOD to worship his Saints to goe in Pilgrimage to fast whole Lent to confesse to heare Masse c. But I pray you vpon what ground is this built and who requires such at your hands if wee will serue GOD let vs serue him according to his worde let vs enquire for his holye will and hauing found it let vs follow it obediently for truelye there was neuer so base a maister but hee would be serued according to his will prescribed vnto his seruants or disciples concerning their duty Wherefore shall we then deteine from God his right who hath reuealed his holy will vnto vs in his worde and the meanes how he will bee serued by vs. If then we will be obedient vnto him let vs seeke nothing in our selues to please him nor also the institutions of the Fathers to followe them according to the commaundement of GOD giuen to the Israelites Ezech. 20. verse 31. Walke yee not in the ordinances of your Fathers neither obserue their manners nor defile your selues with their Idols I am the Lord your God walke in my statutes and keepe my iudgements and doe them For as God saith in the 55. Chapter of the Prophet Esay verse 8.9 For my thoughts are not your thoughts neither are your wayes my wayes saieth the Lorde For as the Heauens are higher then the Earth so are my wayes higher then your wayes and my thoughts aboue your thoughts And in the 15. Chapter of Mathew the 9. verse But in vaine they worship me teaching for doctrines mens precepts But let vs turne our selues to him seeing hee dooth inuite vs so kindely by his worde and as Cyprian an olde Father saith Cypr. Epist 3. lib. 2. Let vs not beholde those thinges that haue beene done and teacht before our times if so be wee will followe Iesus Christ but let vs before all things cast our eyes on those thinges which Christ who was before all men hath commanded to be done by vs following rather the trueth then custome And although an Angell from heauen should Preache you an other Gospell then I preache vnto you let him bee saith the Apostle an Anatheme Gallathians 1. Our Doctors holde to the contrarie by Popely authoritie that all those are execrable that doe not holde for good their institutions and humaine traditions But is this so wonderfull deere bretheren that such men shewe themselues so haynous enemies against the trueth and the holye Scriptures seeing they bee so bolde as to come thus farre that besides all their blasphemies against the worde of GOD Robbing of Iesus Christ to vnder-creepe and to robbe from Christ his office and honour that onely appertayneth vnto him before God his heauenly Father to accomplishe the worke of our gracious redemption stealing awaye a parte of his sacrifice by their merites and indulgences drawne out of the treasure of the Romish synagogue which as they saye is full of the merites of the Apostles and holye Martyres and of their workes of supererogation this they make the poore ignorante people beleeue Those now that haue great store of money and goods for that is it that maketh their chimney to smoake the spit to broache their roast meat buy of the same thinking to get therby saluatiō and thus according to their pleasure doe distribute for money the bloud of Iesus Christ wherein they are like
not vnto Simon Peter but Simon Magus of whom is spoken in the 8. chap. of the Acts and treade vnder feete the sacrifice of Christ by the damned sacrifice of the Masse The Masse a damned Masse I name it damned and with good reason for if Satan in any article sheweth himselfe impudent deceitfull and malicious it is in this point For what is the Masse but a manyfest and damnable prophanation of the merites of Iesus Christ yea such a prophanation whereby not onely the body of our Lord Iesus Christ is againe here on earth killed being neuerthelesse ascēdid into heauen glorified by God his father and placed to his right hand commeth to be broken of a man as being comprehended in a peece of dowe but also the greatnesse the full satifaction the vertue the eternity of his merites are vtterly reiected The scripture to the contrary teacheth vs manifestly to fly such a monster of errors admonishing vs that we obtaine onely by the blood shedding of our Lord Iesus Christ once done at the Crosse saluation and not by the damned sacrifice of a priest who offers againe and teares in peeces as a cruell hang-man the body of our Lord Iesus Christ that it is by his onely sacrifice done for vs as the Apostle saith 1. Cor. 1.30 But ye are of him in Christ Iesus who of God is made vnto vs wisedome and righteousnesse and sanctification and redemption That according as it is written he that reioyceth let him reioyce in the Lord Whereof the Apostle testifieth in the 9. to the Hebrewes making a comparison betweene the sacrifices of the olde Testament with the sacrifice of our Lorde Iesus Christ shewing the difference of the one to the other opposing the imperfection and mutability of the one for they were renewed euery yeare to the perfection of the eternity of the sacrifice of our Lord Iesus Christ And therefore reade the new Testament ouer and ouer you shall finde no where one word I say not onely of the Masse which is an inuention of Satan but neither of any Propetiatory sacrifices of what kinde soeuer they be but of the onely sacrifice of Iesus Christ Psal 110.4 who being anoynted of God his father to bee an eternall priest according to the order of Melchizedeck hath voluntarily giuen ouer himselfe vnto the death and for euer reconciled vs with God the father If then the matter be thus cleare what shall our Docters reply to maintaine their Masse which is vtterly conuicted by these places of the holy Scripture for they cannot hold the words of the Apostle for trueth vnlesse they accuse themselues of this their abuse the reason is euident for if the Leuiticall sacrifices haue beene vnperfect and not sufficient to wash away the sinnes of the children of Israel because it was necessary to iterate renew them often how much the more shall the Sacrifice of our Lord Iesus Christ bee of small estimation before God his father when not onely euery yeare but also euery day yea almost euery houre it must needes by a priest be itterated and renewed And loe this is the doctrine of that great vicar of Iesus Christ of his Bishops and Supposts or Cardinals c. Consider once the substance of this faire sacrifice which is figured in the Masse but why do I call it a sacrifice seeing it is nothing els but a manifest deuision of Christ and his merites for as the Apostle saith Heb. 7.22 Where no shedding of blood is there is no sacrifice Marke once briefly the doctrine wherewith they nourish the people when they speake concerning saluation they keepe them depending on their tradition and merits of men where the scripture contrariwise testifieth most euidently that we cannot please God in any sort of our selues or by our merits but that we obtaine saluation onely by faith that it is his pure goodnesse as we read in the 3.4.5 and 10. chap. to the Romanes and in the 2. 3. to the Ephesians where the Apostle excludeth cleerely all these commeritors when he sayes By grace are ye saued through faith and that not of your selues it is the gift of God Not of workes least any man should boast himselfe in the 3. to the Phillipians vers 8. I esteeme saith the Apostle speaking of his owne person hauing thousand times more reason to boast of perfection and holinesse of his workes then our Papists haue now a dayes I esteeme saith hee all things but losse for the excellent knowledge sake of Christ Iesus my Lord for whom I haue counted all things losse and doe iudge them to be doung that I might winne Christ Shall we desire a cleare and manifest testimony for to humble our selues before God and so to lift vp our harts vnto God for to craue mercy from him But the wickednesse of the Romish cleargy is so great and the poore people is so blinded that they neuer examine themselues and the vnworthinesse of their merrites which be not at all yea insteed that they should cry out with the Prophet Dauid in his 143. Psalm vers 2. Enter not into iudgement with thy seruant for in thy sight shall none that liueth be iustified they flatter themselues bring to an account before God their merrites and worthinesses to be saued by them or at least partly Wherein we haue to marke the great deceitfulnesse of Satan who knowing our sicknesse and our weaker part and obseruing that men by nature is giuen to an idle presumption pleasing of themselues and that man flatters commonly himselfe he propounds vnto him his merrites and good workes to this end that putting his confidence on the same hee might forget to imbrace the grace of God which saueth vs in Iesus Christ and therefore if any doctrine be mingled with the deceite of Satan Iustification by merrits the deuills Doctrine it is this doctrine namely of the iustification of the poore sinner before God for if he could once take away the trueth of this Doctrine which is the foundation of our saluation he might soone come to the ende of his purpose and intent seeing that without this there is no more any life for the poore sinner no mercy no couenant no promise but in a word eternall damnation if we will trust in any manner on our selues or haue opinion onely of any merrite The death of Papists a good thing to obserue From whence I pray you come so many sobs so much weeping so many teares and to be short such an vnbeliefe and incertitude of saluation in the article of death not only amongst the common people but also amongst the Priest and teachers yea such a despaire that they condemne themselues hauing no feeling of the salutary grace of God is not the reason because they considering and diligently examining their owne workes finde nothing that can subsist before such a iust iudge Surelye it is so for they are all but infirmities and stinking pollutions And this is the