Agreement in Doctrine with the ancient Church we may hence also conclude whether this Church of Rome hath continued a true and faithful Church of Christ or hath indeed made that defection which was foretold should succeed the dissolution of the Roman Empire as the Christians in all ages have unanimously and universally understood that which should be taken away and become the Mother of Harlots and Abominations of the Earth which is expresly said of the mystical Babylon the great City which then reigned over the Kings of the Earth the woman drunken with the blood of the Saints whether there reigneth not that man of sin the son of Perdition who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God above all nominal Gods as Kings and Emperors or that is worshipped or reverenced so that he as God Cum super Imperatorem non sit nisi solus Deus qui fecit Imperatorem dum se Donatus super Imperatorem extollit jam quasi hominum excesserat metas ut se ut Deum non hominem aestimaret c. Optatus l. 3. which with more reason may be said of the Pope sitteth in the Temple the Church of God though adulterous and apostate Church shewing himself that he is a God above all earthly Gods as Kings and Emperors and the immediate Vicar of the true God For the Doctrine of the Primitive and Ancient Church how contrary that is to these Principles and Practices every one may see in the sacred Scriptures and it is almost vulgarly known from the writings of the ancient Christians commonly cited as to obedience to temporal Princes and Magistrates But be this never so evident I know it will be hard to perswade one who hath been trained up in the Popish Principles to believe it Not only the prejudice of Education but more particularly the opinion of the Perseverance and Infallibility of the Church which above all things from their tender years is deeply rooted in their minds will be a great obstacle and stumbling-block in their way But let them take heed that a too particular application of a general promise do not deceive them The Jews had as express promises as any they can pretend and were as zealous as they are now and yet were deceived with lying words saying the Temple of the Lord the Temple of the Lord as they do now the Church the holy Catholick Apostolick Roman Church 12. Here also such Princes as having escaped these corruptions will again subject their necks to the Roman yoak may see what a snare they involve themselves in and what a slavery they must lie under to the Papal Tyranny how dangerous it is to have their peoples minds infected with these Principles and their consciences directed by such Guides And here King James's Defence of the Right of Kings sub fin if there be any truth in that speech of Cardinal Perron That so long as the Kings of France have kept good terms of concord with the Popes they have been the more prosperous and on the contrary when they have jarred with the Holy See they have been infested with boisterous storms and tempests here I say if this be true they may perceive the true reason of it viz. in the one case they were free from the molestation of the Popes and their Emissaries and in the other they were infested by them But how little truth there is in that assertion may partly appear by what hath here been written and is also proved by our late learned King James in his solid confutation of it by instances not only in France but other Countries also And in England who hath been more prosperous and succesful than she who wholly cast off the Pope's authority and would not be courted to so much as to admit his Legate and who more unhappy than they who have too much complyed with them 13. Lastly we must here take notice of that which cannot but administer matter of grief to all true and cordial Christians and that is the scandal of these Principles and Practices the occasion which thereby is given to those who are not well acquainted with the Doctrines and Practices of the ancient genuine Christians nor have well considered the great evidences of the truth and excellence of the Christian Religion to suspect it to be no other than what they apprehend it to be in the lives and actions of such spurious professors of it viz. a meer Imposture with great subtilty and artifice managed for secular ends and the injury which thereby is done to the holy Martyrs when we shall see Rebels seditious Traytors and Parricides honoured and magnified as Martyrs and that not by the vulgar only but by their Popes themselves and Cardinals by their learned Writers in printed Books and Preachers from their Pulpits nay when we shall see Relations in printed Books and representations by printed Cuts and Pictures of most horrible persecutions and martyrdoms pretended to be suffered where in truth was no such matter what a tentation may this give to weak unlearned or prejudiced minds to suspect that the ancient holy Martyrs either suffered not at all or if they did were only such turbulent spirits or poor deluded souls as many of these Nor hath the holy providence of God escaped their prophane abuse by entitling it to such trifles as a prudent Historian would disdain to mention and palpable lyes as may be seen in Sanders Ribadeneira and other such like Writers To which if we add the abuse of miracles by lyes and forgeries we shall find that the gates of Hell that is the counsels have prevailed against these degenerate successors of Peter with a witness Nor could a more effectual means be devised for the subversion of Christianity and all Religion not the very arms of Mahomet and his sect than this mystery of iniquity nor if it be well considered hath the whole World produced any thing which doth better deserve the name of Antichrist And indeed if we consider the present growth of Atheism and Infidelity among us and trace it to its roots and original we shall find it all to be of an Italian Extraction and from thence propagated to France and so to England and other parts Nor shall we find any other reasons for it than what are here mentioned the Italians perceiving better what is acted among themselves than those who are more remote For let the Italian subtilty be what it will I think it is plain that they have made no deeper search into either the secrets of Nature or of Antiquity from one or both of which they must derive their principles if they have others besides what are here mentioned than other Nations have made 63. And now before I conclude I must crave leave to make this address to several sorts of persons distinctly And first to all Christians in general that they will seriously consider whether they be not obliged for the honour and reputation of our holy Profession and
become matter of offence and scandal to them and so occasions of separation in that circumstance they cease to be indifferent and it would be no less contrary to Prudence than to Charity to impose or longer strictly to require them and is plainly contrary to both the Doctrine and the Practice of the Apostle v. Rom. 14 15. 1 Cor. 8. 9.20 21 22. 10.22 and 2 Kin. 18.4 especially in so dangerous a circumstance as this when it gives so great advantage to such an adversary who so studiously and industriously endeavors our divisions it can never be approved as any way consistent with prudence and that care of the flock which all faithful Pastors ought to have not to allow at least such indulgence and liberty in such things as is necessary to the preservation of unity in the Church 2. By scandalous coldness in Religion and worldliness in the Clergy It is certain both from reason and experience though perhaps not commonly observed that there is scarce any so universal and powerful a cause of separation and factions as this For the generality of people do rarely judge by any other rule than that of our Saviour by their fruits and are therefore very apt to judge of the truth of mens Doctrine by the virtue and piety of their lives and actions And there is a certain authority of reputation which ought always to accompany authority of Jurisdiction and is in truth the more powerful of the two to retain people in a sweet voluntary and so more perfect obedience and this being lost the other which alone holds them only in a kind of violent and forced not natural and genuine obedience is very difficult to be managed very hazardous to be cast off and is seldom of long duration Now the former which is the proper authority of the Church and Clergy for what is coercive more than bare excommunication is in truth a branch of the Civil Authority can never be retained by only abstaining from those we call scandalous sins but by the constant sincere and vigorous practice of those great virtues of Religion Humility Meekness Heavenly-mindedness contempt of the World devotion in Religion and zealous endeavors for the Salvation of Souls without which the observance of the rules only of ordinary moral virtues will be attributed rather to humane Prudence than to Religion But to see men zealous for the accidents and formalities of Religion and cold in the practice and promotion of the great essential and substantial parts and the very business of it to hear men cry up morality as if there was nothing more in Religion than that and yet in the practice even of that to come far short of the very Heathen Moralists to see men prophanely turn the sacred Profession into a kind of trade to design it and apply themselves to it no otherwise than others do to civil or secular employments as a means to get a livelihood to get wealth honour and preferment in the World and when they have and perhaps by indirect means heaped Living upon Living and Preferment upon Preferment accordingly use or rather abuse the charity of our Ancestors and the revenues of the Church in such indulgence to Pride Ostentation voluptuous or delicious living as would be scarce excusable in the religious Laity nay to vie with them in such vanities or insatiably to heap up treasures not for the necessary relief of their own Families but to raise great Families in the World even of their more remote relations that which the time hath been hath been held no less than sacriledge without any regard to such works of Charity and the promotion of Christianity as all good Christians according to their ability are obliged to These things to which might be added the general decay and neglect of the ancient discipline do more effectually weaken the proper authority of the Church and Clergy than any Ecclesiastical Canons or Civil Laws can establish it and being naucious in the sight of the people provoke the more religious to run to private meetings and sects and the rest to jealousie and suspitions of all Religion to Infidelity Irreligion and Prophaneness and so in both give great advantage to the Romanists and help forward the promotion of their labours and designs The truth whereof is confirmed by the happy success of those who take a contrary course For thanks be to God we are not without some who by their good employment not only of the revenues of their Ecclesiastical preferments but also of their private fortunes their virtuous and pious lives and their fervent sound and profitable Preaching prevail with many of the several sorts of Non-Conformists to become their auditors and reclaim them And were there some good and effectual course taken that we might have more such lights set up in the more conspicuous Candlesticks of the Church we should find that the most effectual means both to dispel the mists of Separatists and keep out the Romish Foggs from overwhelming us and to promote and establish the honour and authority of the Church and Clergy Nor would the blessing of God be wanting to the pious use of such means 6. That they the Clergy especially will take example by their adversaries and not be less studious and industrious by just and proper means to promote and propagate the true Religion in its genuine purity and simplicity than they their errors abuses and corruptions of it by indirect and evil means They compass Sea and Land to make Proselytes c. and to that end have heretofore readily encountred all difficulties and dangers though now they cannot much complain of either and spare no pains nor cost We of this Nation particularly have long since had a large harvest proposed to us and nothing wanting to encourage us to the work but our own good will and zeal for our Masters service nay like sloathful servants have been whipped to our work and both Conformists and Non Conformists have had their turns It were well if at last we would be sensible of this duty before a third party come and drive both to that which neither of themselves would willingly undertake Can we believe a Divine Providence and yet think the discovery of that other World was a casual thing or can we acknowledge a Divine Providence in that and yet believe there was no other design in it than to employ our Sea men or furnish us with Tobacco we have reason to believe that this neglect hath not been dissembled hitherto nor will escape unpunished for the future unless timely amended 7. That they will not be less vigilant and active for the preservation of their Religion and with it of their lives liberties and fortunes and all that is dear unto them than these sons of Perdition are to confound and destroy them and to that end make diligent search and enquiry into their present mysterious practices for the discovery whereof much light may be taken from
and the days following 22. The same day the King whether troubled at the horridness or fearing the odium of the fact by Letters directed to the Governors of the Provinces casteth the odium upon the Guisians telling them That the sedition was raised without his privity or consent that they as soon as they perceived that the friends and kindred of Coligny whom he still called cousin did intend to revenge the wound given him that they might be before-hand with them stirred up so great a party of the Nobles and Parisians that they by their help cut off the Guards that he had assigned to Coligny and as many of his friends as they met and this example was followed with such fury and violence throughout the City that such a remedy as might be wished could not be applied in any due time Now at last the sedition that seemed to be allayed was again upon old grudges between the two Families revived which thing since it hapned contrary to his will he would that all should understand that the Edict lately published was not thereby in any part violated but he did command that it should be religiously observed and that the Governors should see to it that mutual slaughters should not be committed in other Cities nor that they should take Arms one against another but that every one should keep home in the City and Countrey and abstain from violence upon pain of death to those that did not obey In the end of the Letter these words were added Here I am with my Brother of Navar and my Cousin Conde ready to undergo the same fortune with them The same day were Letters of the same contents written by the Queen sent not only through the Kingdom but to the Dyet or Assembly of Switzers and dispersed by the King's command through England and divers places in Germany 23. The next day slaughters and rapines were continued Petrus Platius President of the Court of Customs a man eminent for his gravity learning and integrity whom one Michael by name Captain of a Band had the day before cheated of a great sum of Gold by the help of slingers lent to him by Nic. Bellofremontius Senescaeus and Carronius Provost of the Merchants defended himself from the fury of the people That Senescaeus was lately by the King put into the place of Innocentius Triperius Monstrolius great Provost del ' Hospital under whom that Office whose jurisdiction belonged only to some mean person of the King's Retinue after that began to be conferred upon Gentlemen as all those things which belong to the Master and Colonels of the Horse He first obtained the name of great Provost those being much offended at it who by how much was added to him in titles did complain that by so much their jurisdiction was diminished That so large jurisdiction for some time after the death of Monstrolius had ceased which at last the King conferred upon Senescaeus for the Nobleness of his Family and such learning as with us is rare in a military person Therefore Senescaeus coming this day from the King to Placius told him that though the King resolved utterly to root out the Protestants by slaying them that there should not remain one that pisseth against the wall yet that for many reasons he would give him his life and sent him to conduct him to the Louvre for that he did desire to learn from him many things concerning the affairs of the Protestants which it behoved him to know Then Placius desired to excuse himself and desired that he might stay till the fury of the people were somewhat allayed that in the mean time he might be kept prisoner wheresoever it pleased the King On the other side Senescaeus who had received such command from the Queen did hasten him that he should without delay obey the King's command and assigned him Pezovius one of the privy leaders of the Sedition for his greater security as he said by whom he was delivered into the hands of those that lay in wait and being thrown off his Mule upon which he rode he was stabbed with daggers his body was dragged and thrown into the stable of a publick house and his house lay three days open to ransacking his wife being sled and his children wandring hither and thither His office which in his absence in the time of war was managed by Stephanus Nâ—â—llius affections and bloud thirsty man and who was believed to have hired these cut-throats against the life of Placius was by him obtained of the King 24. Such cruelty raging every where while the Heavens seemed more than ordinarily serene an accident hapned whereby the minds of the enraged people were after a strange manner inflamed An Oâ—yacantha which is a kind of shrub which they call white thorn growing in the Church-yard of St. Innocents did whether of its own accord which sometimes happens when nature sailing that plant is come to that that it is about to dry up of whether by warm water poured upon it by impostoâ—s did in an unusual time put forth its flower All which the factions flattering themselves in their madness did refer to God signifying by these tokeâ—â— that what they had done was acceptable to him And therefore they said that the Heavens did rejoyce to see the Massacre of the Protestants And James Carpenter alluding to the Month in a writing that he published called that light Augusto Therefore the seditious flocking together at the same of the blossoming thorn did skip about with great joy which they also testified by the unusual beating of a Drum though without command for even that they might do then and so interpreted it as if the Protestants being rooted out the Catholick Religion and the Kingdom of France should recover its ancient splendor and flower But the Protestants argued otherwise and if this were to be looked upon as a Miracle they said this was portended by this sign that though the Church might seem by this wound to be utterly extinct yet it should come to pass that it should in a wonderful and incomprehensible manner revive and flourish which also they did confirm by the example of the wonder shewed to Moses in the bush which though it burned yet was it not consumed They added that it might be said rather to belong to the commendation of innocence than the approbation of butchery because the thorn blossomed in a place which took its name from Innocents The same day some drawn out of the King's Life Guard by Gasper Castreus Nanoaeus are by the King's command sent to †Castillionem ad Lupam Chastillon to take and bring Coligny to wife and children as also the sons of Andoletus But Franciscus the Eldest Son of Coligny and Vidus Lavallus the Eldest Son of Andoletus had already saved themselves by flight All the rest are taken and brought with all their precious houshold-stuff to Paris 25. It was the King's design that as soon as the slaughter of
for that he had sent Ambassadors into England to treat of Peace with the new King Therefore despairing of their design as to King Philip the Conspirators fly to their last and desperate Counsels and in the first place they make it their business to satisfie their Consciences and that being done they confirm their resolutions to attempt some great Enterprize And thus their Divines discoursed To depose Kings to grant their Kingdoms to others is in the power of the Supream Judge of the Church But all Hereticks being ipso jure separated from communion of the Faithful are every year on Holy Thursday Caena Domini excommunicated by the Pope And this holdeth not only in Professed Hereticks but in those that are covertly such because being reputed ipso Jure Excommunicate they do incur the same Penalties which are ipso facto deserved by professed Hereticks From thence it follows that Kings and other Christian Princes if they fall into Heresie may be deposed and their Subjects discharged of their Allegiance Nor can they recover their Right again no not though they should be reconciled to the Church When it is said that the Church the Common Mother of all doth shut her bosome against none that return to her this is to be understood with a distinction viz. provided it be not to the damage or danger of the Church For this is true as to the Soul but not as to the Kingdom Nor ought this punishment to be extended only to Princes that are thus infected but also to their Sons who for their Fathers Sin are excluded from Succession in the Kingdom For Heresie is a Leprosie and an Hereditary Disease and to speak more plainly he loseth his Kingdom that deserteth the Roman Religion he is to be accursed abdicated proscribed neither is he nor any of his Posterity to be restored to the Kingdom as to his Soul he may be absolved by the Pope only Thinking themselves abundantly secured within by these reasonings they begin to seek outward strengthenings to their Conspiracy and chiefly Secresie which they sealed by Confession and the receiving of the Sacrament To this end there was an Oath drawn up amongst them May 1604. in which they did engage their Faith by the H. Trinity and the Sacrament which they were presently to receive that they would neither directly nor indirectly by word or circumstance discover the Plot now to be communicated to them nor would they desist from prosecuting it unless allowed by their Associates Thus being encouraged by the Authority of their Divines they be take themselves to the adventure as not only lawful laudable but meritorious This was done before John Gerard of that Society Unto this after Confession by the Sacrament of the Holy Altar were drawn in the next May at first five of the Conspirators Robert Catesby Tho. Winter Tho. Percy Kinsman to the E. of Northumberland John Wright and the aforementioned Fawkes called out of Flanders Catesby the Author of this Tragedy thought it not enough that this or that or any single person should be aimed at but that all together and at the same time should be comprehended in this Conspiracy For so he reasoned with himself The King himself might many wayes be taken away but this would be nothing as long as the Prince and the Duke of York were alive again if they were removed yet this would advantage nothing so long as there remained a Parliament so vigilant so circumspect to whatever might happen or if the Parliament could or the chief Members of it could be destroyed there would remain still the Peers of the Realm so many Prudent Persons so many powerful Earls addicted to that Party whom they could hardly resist and who by their Authority Wealth and Dependants would be able if occasion should be to restore things to their former state Therefore not by delayes but at one blow all were to be swallowed up and so laudable an Atchievement was to be brought to effect altogether and at once At Westminster there is an old Palace of very great Honor and Veneration for its Antiquity in which the great Councils of the Kingdom are used to be celebrated which by a word borrowed from us they call a Parliament In this the King with His Male issue the Bishops of His Privy Councel the Peers the English Nobility the Chief Magistrates and those that are delegated from particular Counties Cities Towns and Burroughs in short the Men of greatest Wisdom and Counsel do meet together Here Catesby thought a convenient place to execute his so long studied and digested Plot and having made a Vault and storing it with a great quantity of Gun-Powder to involve all those together who could not severally be taken together with the King and His Family in the Rubbish of the same Ruines Therefore when he had dealt with Piercy and he after many bitter complaints of the King through impatience broke forth into these words That there was only one way left to be delivered from so many Evils and that was to take the King out of the way and to that end as he was ready for any attempt did freely offer his own Service Catesby who was more cautious and cunning moderated the Gentlemans heat and God forbid said he that this Head of thine so dear to all good men should be so fruitlesly exposed to such danger The business may be undertaken and accomplished yet so as that you and such as you are may still be preserved for further consulting for Religion and the Publick weal. Then he opens his design in very plausible words and with like Artifice shews him the manner how it was to be effected Piercy agrees and presently hires an House nigh to the place and very opportune to work his Vault The Parliament that was called the year before was deferred till February following Nov. 1604. Mean while Tho. Bates Catesby's Servant a dextrous Fellow and one in whom his Master did much confide being least he should suspect any thing taken into the privity of the Fact when at first be seemed to be moved at the horridness of the thing he is sent to Tesmund alias Greenwell for those men that they might the better be undiscovered went under two Names sometimes under three by whom he was perswaded and strangely confirmed to the Execution of the design being made sensible of the Meritoriousness of the work Afterwards Roben Keyes and after him Ambrose Rockwood and John Grant were taken into the Plot. III Eid Xbr. the Vault was begun Dec. 11. Christopher Winhie and a little after Robert Winter being also taken into the Society The work being often intermitted and often repeated at length the Vault was brought to the Wall of the Court where a new difficulty ariseth from the hardness of the Wall and the thickness of three Ells so that under a long time the work could not be finished and there were now but a few dayes to the sitting of the
their Obedience to her and were offended at the Bull as a mischievous snare to them therefore for their satisfaction it is Decreed at Rome Thu. lib. 74. Camd. an 1580. that the Bull doth always Oblige Elizabeth and the Hereticks but not the Catholicks rebus sic stantibus but only then when they should be able publickly to put it in execution And that it might in due time be effectually Executed Missions are made into England to Prepare a Party to adhere to the Spaniard at his coming to invade us Bacon Observ Collect. Consid And the better to conceal and disguise the Practice and make the Queen and her Councel the more secure it is Resolved not to have any Head of the party here But the Emissaries coming dayly over in various Disguised Habits deal particularly and so more effectually Camd. fine Ann. 1580. with the people in their secret Confessions Absolving them particularly in private from Obedience and Fidelity to the Queen as the Bull of Pius v. had done in publick but only in general Camd. p. 315. 348. and severally Engaging them in that secret manner as hath been before mentioned so as none could be privy to others engagements And these Doctrines were every where inculcated Camb. fin An. 1581. Thu. l. 74. That Princes not professing the Roman Religion are fallen from their Title and Royal Authority 2. That Princes Excommunicate are not to be Obeyed but thrown out of their Kingdoms and that it is a meritorious work to do it 3. That the Clergy are exempt from the Jurisdiction of Secular Princes and are not bound by their Laws 4. That the Pope of Rome hath the Chief and Full Power and Authority over all throughout the whole world even in Civil matters 5 That the Magistrates of England are not Lawful Magistrates and therefore not to be accounted Magistrates at all 6. That what ever since the Bull of Pius v. was published which some hold to have been dictated by the Holy Ghost hath by the Queens Authority been acted in England is by the Law of God and Man to be reputed altogether void and null These Doctrines thus secretly instilled into mens minds in private were seconded with several pernitious Books in print against the Queen and Princes Excommunicate And as well to deter the rest from Obedience and move them to Expectation of Change and Reconciliation to the Church of Rome as to encourage their own party Camd. an 1580. l. 318. they not only by Rumours but also by printed Books gave out that the Pope and King of Spain had conspired to subdue England and take it for a prey This is true says Sir Fr. Bacon Collect. of the Churches and witnessed by the Confessions of many that almost all the Priests which were sent into this Kingdom from that year 1581. to the year 1588. at what time the Design of the Pope and Spain was put in Execution had in their Instructions besides other parts of their Function to distil and insinuate into the People these Particulars It was impossible things should continue at this stay They should see ere long a great change in this State That the Pope and Catholick Princes were careful for the English if they would not be wanting to themselves Which are almost the very words of Sanders mentioning the considerations upon which these Seminaries were at first founded But notwithstanding this we are not to think that All the Priests which were sent over Camd. an 81. Thu. lib. 74. Bac. Collect. were acquainted with the Arcana and Secrets of the Design but only the Superiours and some of the best qualified for the business who managed and steered the actions of the rest according to their private Instructions 30. Hereupon says Rishton who published and inlarged Sanders his book speaking of these Missions soon after ensued a great change of minds and wonderful encrease of Religion Which that we may know it by its Fruits presently appeared in several desperate attempts and Resolutions to Kill the Queen First by Somervil year 1583 who being taken and condemned with Hall a Priest and others whom he confessed was three days after found strangled in the prison for fear probably least he should have discovered others Then to pass by the practise of Bern. Mendoza the Spanish Ambassadour Lieger here with Throgmorton and Martins book by William Parry Doctor of Law 1584. Thu. lib. 79. encouraged thereunto by Ben. Palmius a Jesuite Ragazonius the Popes Nuncio in France Cardinal Como and the Pope himself who sends him his Benediction Plenary Indulgence and Remission of all his Sins and assures him that besides his Merit which he shall have in Heaven his Holiness will remain his debtor to acknowledge his desert in the best manner he can and after all this very much excited to it by Dr. Allens Book which saith he teacheth that Princes Excommunicate for heresie are to be deprived of their Kingdoms and Lives All which Parry confessed produced the Letter from the Pope written by Cardinal Como and was executed in March 1584 5. and the Pope soon after in April was called to account in another world Immediately before this in Thuanus precedes the relation of the murther of the Prince of Aurang 10. Jul. by Bal. Gerard confirmed in his resolution by a Jesuite at Treves promising him if he dyed for it he should be happy and be put in the number of Martyrs and also encouraged to it by a Franciscan at Tourney and three other Jesuites at Treves 31. To Gregory succeeded as well in his practises year 1585 as in that See Sixtus v. chosen Pope the twenty fourth of the same moneth of April and about this time John Savage into whose head the Doctrines that it is meritorious to Kill Excommunicated Princes and Martyrdom to die for so doing being by the Giffords and Hodgeson priests throughly inculcated made a vow to kill the Queen And soon after the same resolution is taken up by Antony Babington year 1586 a proper young gentleman of a good family upon the same principles in like manner inculcated and somewhat enforced with other hopes if he escaped the danger by Ballard a Jesuite who incited him to it as not only Just and Holy in it self but moreover Honourable and Profitable to him if he should overcome the difficulty For what could be more Just and Holy than with the hazard of his Life to vindicate his Countrey and the Cause of Religion without which Life it self ought to be nothing esteemed of Elizabeth was now long since by the Lawful Successor of Peter cast out of the Communion of the Church from that time she doth not reign in England but by a usurped Power contrary to the Laws exercise a cruel Tyranny against the true Worshippers of God Whoever should kill her doth no more than he that should slay a profane Heathen or some damned accursed creature he should be free from all sin
all kind of crimes even those which are not comprehended in Bulla Coenae Dominicae and from those also which the holy See hath reserved to it self and pro tempore to commute vows and pilgrimages c. by Jul. 3. to give indulgence from fasts and prohibited meats Lastly by Greg. 13. to converse with sectaries and for that purpose to wear secular habits viz. for a disguise a thing prohibited by the S. Canons and to correct all kind of Books and so to mend the writings of the Fathers wherein what Plagiaries they have been is known to them who converse with Books that from thence have great confusions been brought into the Church and the Discipline generally been dissolved for by the Breve of Paul 3. the people are allowed to leave their own Pastors and run after them and to receive the Sacraments from them to whom Greg. hath committed authority to animadvert as well upon the Clergy as the people that all may be done rightly and after the Roman mode so that from Priests whether regular or secular it is uncertain they are suddenly become universal Pastors of the people or rather wandering vagabond Bishops Periodentas circumcelliones hamaxarios Episcopos that there is nothing which they cannot now do at Rome where they are called the Popes eyes mentis Pontificiae oculi that their Principles are inconsistent with the French that it is certain that to them is principally given in charge that they should oppress the Gallican liberty at first by guile and afterwards with open force even as in these last wars they have endeavoured to do that with them they are reckoned anathema who take the Kings part but that the French think the contrary and that not to obey the King is as to resist God and to fight against Heaven that they think that the Pope may excommunicate Kings and People when he pleaseth but the French on the contrary hold them for Sectaries who think that the Pope may interpose his authority in any difference of State that they attribute to the Pope an infinite power over all Kingdoms and set him above the Church above Councils and in fine make his power equal to his will to do what he please but the French hold his power to be finite or limited And for their good deeds and practices that Claud Matthew a ring-leader of the faction whom Henr. 3. had familiarly used in his private devotions and who therefore was well acquainted with his piety and devotion to the Rom. Cath. Religion with great impiety and ingratitude went to Rome and would have perswaded Greg. 13. to have excommunicated him unless he would comply with the leaders of that pernitious faction which being denied by him was after his death obtained of his successor Sixtus that Varada of the same society confirmed Barriere in his purpose to kill the King when he made some scruple at it that they confess as much but with frivolous cavillation seek to excuse it Nor are these the faults of single persons among them forasmuch as it is a usual thing or constant custom with them when they have any enterprize in hand to confer together about it c. that by their occult art of prying into secrets they have by little and little insinuated themselves into the minds of the simple and acquired a dominion in their consciences Whereof there is a fresh example in the five Popish Cantons of the Switzers whom when the Jesuites had in vain attempted to draw them from their League with the other Cantons of the Protestants made for their common safety they leaving the men like the serpent which deceived our first Parents set upon the women and perswaded them not to lye with their Husbands till they had broken off the League But the Switzers discovering the fraud shewed themselves men and handled the Conspirators according to their desert The Venetians likewise whose Justice and Prudence the duration of their State doth easily evince saw as much Yet they since did it an 1607. v. l. 137. and being warned by our example they did not indeed thrust them out of their Territories for how could they do that being so near neighbours to the Pope but did maturely shut them up within their own inclosures and interdicted them the hearing of confessions And how powerful they are among us by these means they openly profess and glory in it in their letters to their General But thus is the discipline of the Church overthrown and contrary to the prudent prohibition of the Council of Nants the saying of St. Aug. Neminem digne poenitere posse quem non sustineat unitas Ecclesiae the judgment of the ancient Christians who condemned Audius for making separation in the Church the people seduced from their own Pastors are adulterously allured to communion in sacris with them apart from others and at last stirred up to rebellion against their Prince and emissaries suborned to murder him Their conspiracies are well known against Prince Maurice which at last took effect and in England those of Parry Cullen York Wikiams in Scotland those of James Gordon and Edmond Hay and with us that so often mentioned of Barriere But among the ancient Christians these monsters were unheard of Of the Christians was no Cassius no Niger no Albinus as Tertullian speaks Nor was that crime ever heard of in France till the coming in of the Jesuites For it was brought in by them from Spain whence they had their original where the Gothes as an ancient Author informs us took up this detestable custom that if any of their Kings pleased them not they put him to the sword and set up whom they pleased in his place On behalf of the Jesuites Cl. Dureus rather pleaded in bar of the action than spoke to the merits of the cause but P. Barnius answered more copiously in writing But as much of what was spoken by the others is here purposely omitted for brevity sake so those things particularly which I find answered by him except that of Portugal which notwithstanding his answer seems very probable as well agreeing with their principles and actions though such mysterious practices are not easy to be fully proved And thus stood the case with the Jesuites in France when the King was about to * Which was done 17. Jan. proclaim war against their great Patron the King of Spain and whether the particular consideration of these or either of these to prevent what they feared might be the consequence of them †V. Perefix 229. did produce that attempt of their Scholar Chastel or not for he was more deeply seasoned with their principles and instructions than to make a full confession yet certain it is that that attempt did produce a more speedy determination of the cause than could otherwise have been expected by a Decree 29 Dec. 1594. Thu. l. 111. whereby the Court did ordain that the Priests and Students of the Colledge of Clermont for
a better foundation continuing constant to the last to her Conscience and Religion and to her God was by him constantly blessed and preserved to the last during a Reign more than twice as long as his and from conspiracies neither fewer nor in themselves less dangerous than those against him and this was it which made her to hear the full relation of a horrid conspiracy against her person with that undaunted courage which amazed him who should have been the actor of it Parry apud Cambd. an 1585. to behold it and with admirable constancy to contemn the many like conspiracies which she certainly knew were at one and the same time by the Seminaries and Spanish Ministers in agitation against her Cambd. an 1594. See before p 26 27. Ps 31.14 reposing her confidence in him whom she knew was able to save her with this pious ejaculation Thou art my God my times are in thy hand not They will kill me I shall never go out of this City I shall dye c. 62. The same distinguishing Providence might be further observed in another History to which this is a proper introduction but leaving that to the observation of others I will here conclude with some REFLECTIONS AND OBSERVATIONS upon what hath been already related that we may see what use and improvement may be made of it 1. And first in the History of England we may plainly behold the continuance of the combination of Rome and Spain which was the occasion of that part of the discourse even to the very time of those consultations which were designed to commence in execution immediately upon the Queens death which may therefore reasonably induce us to believe that it did not then cease but was continued in and produced at last that monster of all devillish and infernal conspiracies of blowing up the whole State at one blow 2. We may therein also clearly perceive the justice reasonableness and even necessity of those Laws which in the Queens Reign were made to prevent and restrain those wicked practices of the Jesuites and other Romish and Spanish Emissaries and their disciples which hath been acknowledged by some of the more sober Priests 3. We must also therein take notice of the admirable Providence of God in the preservation of that Queen from so many so various so mysterious secret conspiracies the truth of which is further confirmed by the like practices of the Romish and Spanish Agents in France and other places about the same times and from so great open hostility one while diverting another while defeating her enemies and making her victorious and this notwithstanding the several * V. sect 26 33 36. excommunications and solemn execrations and imprecations of several Popes one after another against her as of Pius 5. Greg. 13. Sixtus 5. and Clement 8. which were all not only ineffectual but rather turned into a blessing unto her 4. In the History of France compared with the other that distinguishing Providence which was the occasion of that part of the discourse is no less conspicuous and observable in a most remarkable judgment of God upon all those who either persecuted or deserted or so much as refused or neglected that reformation of Religion which she happily established and defended for in this last sort also we have †V. sect 48. p. 97-100 noted it though by the by and this notwithstanding all the incitations and encouragements of several Popes and Cardinals So that here we have a most remarkable example of their Curses turned into a Blessing and their Blessings into a Curse 5. And here if we take for Principles the two last of Bellarmines Notes of the true Church of Christ 4. De Ecclesia c. 17. the one the unhappy exit or end of those who oppose the Church For as he adds although God punisheth his and whips them yet at length he casts the rod into the fire Deut. 32 43. Praise his people ye Nations for he will avenge the blood of his servants C. 18. and render vengance upon their adversaries the other the temporal felicity by the Divine Providence conferred on those who defend it For never says he did Catholick Princes cordially adhere to God but they most easily became triumphant over their enemies If I say we take these for our Principles it will be very easy for any one upon what hath been here related to make the conclusion viz. which is the true Church of Christ and which the meretricious and adulterous who have been true Catholick Princes and who the Kings of the Earth who have committed fornication with the great Whore the woman drunken with the blood of the Saints and this will further appear from what follows 6. And therefore in both these Histories we may also take notice of the actions and practices of the Popes and their party their Adherents Agents Emissaries and Disciples viz. exciting and fomenting wars and invasions among Christian Princes with breach of publick Faith seditions and rebellions by Subjects against their own Princes and the murders of Princes by their own Subjects encouraged thereunto by an impious pretence of absolution from their duty of Obedience and even oaths of Fidelity and by promise of Reward even of greatest eternal Reward for that which hath been abhorred by all other Religions and always reputed contrary even to the Laws of Nations and of War and persecutions and horrible slaughters of Christian people by their own Princes and all this by an abominable abuse of Religion and the most sacred and solemn parts of Religion and only for their own cause for the upholding of the Papal Innovations Usurpations and Antichristian abuses Note The persecutions and slaughters of Christian people excited by the Popes upon the account of Religion since the first appearing of the Waldenses and Albigenses may be thought for the numbers slain to come near if not to equal the Heathen persecutions or rather much exceed them In the first persecutions against that people which were raised whether by the exhortation or decree and command as some say of Pope Innocent 3. are reckoned to be slain in France alone 1000000 of people and of later days have been reckoned 150000 Christians within the space of scarce 30 years consumed by the Inquisition But these are things out of our present story 7. We may here likewise observe the nature and manner of their actions and practices which consist of the two great species of injustice vis dolus violence and fraud open force and secret and mysterious practices and machinations and so make up a compleat mystery of iniquity The one we may behold not only in the Spaniard's Forces raised and employed at the instigation of the Pope and his Agents but also in the Forces raised by the Popes themselves who pretend themselves Vicars of the Prince of Peace and as Christian Bishops should be the Preachers of Peace and not the Trumpets of War both against the Queen
of England and the King of France and the other in the secret practices of the Jesuites and other Confessors and Emissaries exciting to Rebellions and to assassinate Princes 8. And here taking another of Bellarmines Notes of the true Church Ca. 13. Mat. 7.16 Gal. 5.19 22. viz. Sanctity of Life of the Authors and Propagators of the Religion and our Saviour's rule By their fruits ye shall know them together with his Apostles Catalogues of the works of the Flesh and of the fruits of the Spirit for our Principles it will not be difficult to conclude whether these men be the Authors or Propagators of the true Religion for here for their Religion that only is to be taken about which the difference is and for which they contend seeking by these means to maintain and promote it or rather of an abominable innovation and corruption of the true Religion and whether their Church be the true and faithful Church of Christ 2 Thes 2. or rather that mystery of iniquity that abomination of desolation that man of sin and son of perdition who hath set up himself in the Temple of God 9. We may here also behold the Principles from whence all these actions and practices have proceeded V. Foul. l. 1. c. 4. l. 2. c. 1. V. Foul. l. 2. c. 2. 5 6. V. Foul. l. 2. c. 3 4. viz. 1. That the Bishops of Rome as successors of St. Peter have a supreme power and authority derived to them from Christ over all Christian Persons and Churches all Nations and Kingdoms all Princes and States 2. That by this power and authority they may lawfully absolve subjects from all duty of Obedience and oath of Fidelity to their otherwise lawful Princes and Governors and deposing them may dispose of their Kingdoms and States to whom they think fit 3. That Princes excommunicate by the Pope are no longer to be obeyed by their Subjects but to be deprived of their Kingdoms and lives 4. That to rise in Arms against such Princes excommunicate or by any means to murder and destroy them is not only lawful but moreover meritorious even in their own subjects and that to die in such an attempt is martyrdom c. And of all this we have here a more effectual evidence than only from the writings or printed Books of some private men viz. in the Bulls and Acts of the Popes themselves of Universities and Colledges of Divines the frequent Sermons of their Preachers and Instructions of Confessors and Practices of their Penitents Note It is here to be noted that besides these Practices and Principles so pernitious and destructive to the Sacred though Civil Right of Princes and States and the peace and quiet of Common wealths there are others no less pernitious and destructive to the Church and to the Salvation of particular persons which because they come not within the compass of this History we take no notice of 10. And here we may see what is the Religion of these men For though there be other points in controversy whereof many little more than meer verbal about words and expressions which are kept up only through heat of contention and might easily be agreed by sober judicious and disinteressed persons and others originally only the private opinions of some men of great authority in their times wherein the substance of Religion is no more concerned than in the speculations of Philosophers though now commonly received and adopted into Religion by the Popes and their Faction whether for secular advantage or to hold up their pretended Infallibility yet these are their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 their * V. Sandys Europae speculum of their Head Assertions p. 24. in 4 to fundamental and ruling Principles for which they contend the Principles from whence all these Persecutions Wars Massacres and Murders have proceeded and the Religion quae nunc novo exemplo Martyres facit as †Vindic. Areopag c. 27. p. 124. Del Rio speaks in the case of Garnet whom he and Bellarmine will needs have to be a * To whom we may say with Optatus lib. 3. Si illos videri Martyres vultis probate illos amasse pacem in qua sunt Prima Fundamenta Martyrii aut dilexisse Deo placitam unitatem aut habuisse cum fratribus charitatem Nam omnes Christianos fratres esse probavimus Charitatem illos non habuisse manifestissime constat sine qua nullum vel nominari potest vel esse martyrium saith he to the Donatists p. 99. Martyr whether he will or not But perhaps some may say that this is not the faith or practice of all of that communion Nor do I think it is but that many are better Christians than to be imposed upon by the strength of such delusions such especially who living in such Churches as continue in that communion are not satisfied to separate from their own Church though they clearly perceive and abominate these abuses and heartily desire their reformation and many such I doubt not but there have been and still are among the most sober judicious and pious of the French even of the Clergy And though I am very willing to think charitably of many of our English Romanists yet I see not how they can be excused who separate from the Church of England which is and ought to be their own Church so long as it continues a member of the Church of Christ which an unjust excommunication by an apostate Church cannot hinder to joyn with such a Faction Nor do I see how they can be excused who refuse to take the Oath of Allegiance which I am very confident not a man of the ancient Christians would have refused and it is hard not to think that because they received not the love of the truth offered to them that for this cause God hath sent them strong delusions that they should believe a lie c. But notwithstanding that some who for the reason mentioned continue in that communion may by the mercy and grace of God escape these delusions yet it is apparent that these are the Doctrines of the Pope the Church and Court of Rome and of the Jesuites and the rest are generally so seasoned and levened with such conceits of the Pope's authority as are easily improved into these when ever occasion is offered especially if any thing of private interest intervene as is very observable in the History of France though they of all Papists are least inclined to favour the Papal Usurpations where scarce a City unless restrained by the powerful presence of some of the loyal Nobility or inhabited most by Protestants but did or was ready to revolt to the League at every occasion 11. And here again if we take for our Principles two more of Bellarmine's Notes of the true Church viz. * C. 11. Sanctity of Doctrine containing nothing false as to the Doctrine of Faith nothing unjust as to the Doctrine of Manners and †C. 9.
the due consideration of their former practices and of their principles Their end in general is pretty well known and what latitude they are like to take to themselves in the choice of means for attaining that end may not only be conjectured by their former practices but demonstrated unanswerably from their certain principles From which considerations though a man that is willing might easily satisfie himself what they are now doing yet because some who are concerned to be convinced of it will not perhaps be so satisfied and because to the more effectual prevention of so great a mischief a more particular discovery of the matter of fact and of the instruments and circumstances of it may be necessary all who have any love to their Country or regard to the interest and safety of themselves or their relations though the consideration of Religion should not move them are concerned to use their utmost endeavour in it But if neither the consideration of the horrid confusions and massacres heretofore raised in France by these Furies nor of their continual Treasons and Conspiracies against Queen Elizabeth and her Kingdoms which they then would have betrayed to the invasions of the King of Spain as now probably they would to the King of France that is those who steer their motions though their common agents may be generally ignorant of the design nor of that horrible Gunpowder Conspiracy against King James the Royal Issue and flower of the English Nobility and Gentry nor lastly of our late Civil Wars which may in time be justly proved and demonstrated to have been the product of the Romish machinations to which might be added their restless endeavors for the subversion of our Government and for the breaking of the great Metropolis of this Nation as the two main obstacles in their way if all this and besides all the safety of his Majesties person which perhaps may be further concerned in it than is commonly apprehended be not sufficient to awaken us of these Nations to a speedy vigilance and activity before it be too late to discover and detect their machinations and couragiously oppose their proceedings especially those who are in authority within their several Jurisdictions to look narrowly if not into their matters of Religion yet at least into their provisions of Arms and Ammunition into their correspondencies and secret negotiations and engagements and especially to discover those who under several disguises not only insinuate themselves into familiarity with persons of Quality and creep into their Families under the notions of Physitians Painters and other employments but also get into publick offices and employments and perhaps to be chosen into the Parliment it self it may be feared we shall ere long smart for our stupidity and supine negligence 3. To those who still continue of the Roman Communion and are in danger to be drawn in to engage in such undertakings for the promotion of their Religion by fraud and force by disturbance or subversion of Governments raising or fomenting wars between Christian Princes and States and such like means that they will well consider the justice and piety thereof For most certain it is and agreed on all hands that they are contrary to the means used by our Saviour and his Apostles and Disciples and their Successors for the original propagation of the Gospel Nor ought it to be replyed as some have impiously said that that was for want of force for he who could command legions of Angels is not to be thought to have wanted force if he had pleased to make use of it nor had the Christians for many ages before these Unchristian Doctrines were ever thought of less power in the World than they have had since or less occasion to have made use of it had they thought it lawful and besides it is no less contrary to their Doctrine than to their Practice 2. The use of such means is most injurious and scandalous to the most holy pure and innocent Religion which hath been always most propagated and glorified by the magnanimous sedate and constant sufferings of its genuine Professors but always most dishonoured by the furious violent and perfidious practices of the spurious Zealots of the abuses of it 3. It is contrary to the very nature of the true Religion and the express Doctrine of the sacred Scriptures 4. It is condemned by the judgment of God disappointing blasting and confounding all attempts of that nature in these Kingdoms for near an hundred years together Nor will their zeal and good intentions excuse them Paul had as much of both when he persecuted the Christians as they can have and of the Jews he testifies to the Romans that they had the zeal of God but not according to knowledge and our Saviour foretold that they who should kill his Disciples would think they do God good service in it Nor will their following of the probable opinions of their Confessors excuse them for when blind guides lead the blind both fall into the ditch as our Saviour saith Nor will it be much comfort to them who dye in their sins through the Priests default that the Priest also shall answer for it as the Prophet saith But that which is the secret root and main prop of their delusion and most effectually deceives them is an unhahpy mistaken opinion deeply rooted in their minds of the infallible authority of the particular Church of Rome For as Cardinal Perron hath well argued V. King James Def. of the Right of Kings if these things be unlawful which have for so many ages been acted by the Papal authority that interposed with all the formality and solemnity that could be it would follow that the Pope hath been Antichrist and the Church of Rome the Synagogue of Satan for so many ages past This is it whatever other specious arguments and pretenses are alledged which makes them no less obstinate in their errors than the Jews are in theirs A deceived heart hath turned them aside and they cannot deliver their soul But if they will but 1. Lay aside the prejudice of Education 2. Consider the great evidence there is that these things are contrary to Christianity 3. And with that compare the little real ground there is to believe this pretended infallible authority it may by God's blessing be a good means to undeceive them but then as to the third particular they must deal candidly and impartially setting aside 1. Such proofs as concern only the perseverance of the Church of Christ in general 2. Such as concern only the authority of particular Churches over their own members for neither of these make any thing for the Church of Rome more than for any other particular Church then what else they can alledge will be found to be far short of what the Jews might alledge to prove that they are still the true Israel of God But the confounding of these things is that which imposeth upon their minds and judgments The
ancient Apostolick Creed and what-ever other rule of Faith is mentioned by Irenaeus Tertullian or any of the Ancients and were held to contain the sum of the Christian Faith are to this day generally received and believed by all the Christian World so that Christ hath still a Church upon Earth what-ever become of the Church of Rome the like may be said of the sacred Scriptures but in none of these is the least mention of any such infallible authority of the Church of Rome no nor of any such authority of the Church of Christ as the Church of Rome does pretend to Nor is there any colour or pretence of proof that that authority was ever in any one age to this day the general belief of the Christian World no nor so much as of the Church of Rome it self for 700 years I may truly say for 1100 years and more 2. That they will likewise well consider the prudence of such undertakings the Nobility and Gentry especially of these Nations who embrace the Roman Religion They have had almost an hundred years experience of the ill success and unhappy consequence of such attempts to themselves and their party whereby they have only made a rod for their own backs provoking and exasperating the severity of Laws against themselves and when the Romish Agents had lately dissolved the Government and brought all things into confusion as is not a little apparent they did when they had crept into the Court and insinuated themselves into the several Factions of the Kingdom by underhand dealings incensing them one against another what did they advance their cause by it but only involved themselves in the same publick calamity wherein they embroyled the Nation The Emissaries are men who have neither Estates nor Fortunes to lose or hazard nor wives and children to suffer with them and if their attempts prove unsuccesful can easily retire to their Colledges again beyond Sea And their motions and actions are steered by foreigners who sit far enough out of all danger and in great security expect to make their profit and advantage of us all So that both these have hopes of advantage without any or any great hazard only the more honest and well meaning Nobility and Gentry do certainly run a very great hazard without any probability if things be rightly calculated of much mending their condition at the best For did they now suffer something in their Estates according to the Laws which certainly would never much be pressed did they not continually incense the Kingdom against them by restless attempts through the instigations of the Emissaries endangering the peace and quiet of it yet is that in some measure recompenced by their freedom from the trouble and charge of divers publick employments and the rest would be dearly bought off by enslaving the Kingdom again to the Roman Usurpations and that with so much hazard both to themselves as in respect of conscience and the justice of the undertaking for there is but little of true Christianity in him who will not readily suffer a greater loss rather than venture upon an unlawful or but doubtful action so also of the prudence of it for the higher they go in their attempts there is no doubt but it will fall more heavy upon them after so many and great provocations if they miscarry therein and of that the danger is greater than can easily be foreseen and to the Kingdom in general the peace and prosperity whereof they ought to desire and endeavour upon the account both of natural duty and of interest For whatever some who do not well consider it may promise themselves those who have Estates and Fortunes here be their Religion what it will are like to have their shares of whatever publick calamity or mischief is brought upon the Nation which they who at Rome and from other foreign parts do steer the motions of the Emissaries and other sticklers here in that cause are not much concerned to consider *** 4. And lastly to those who either through weakness and inconsiderateness are scandalized at these and such like wicked practices of the Romanists or any others professing Christianity or through wilfulness and wickedness do make use thereof to confirm or encourage themselves in their affected infidelity who having first sinned themselves into despair of any good by the observance of Religion at last seek to encourage themselves against all fear of evil by the neglect of it This last sort I intended not among Christians in general and yet do here joyn them with the other sort here mentioned because what is to be said to those may be said also to these The scandal and ill use that is made of these practices is either more particular from abuse of pretended miracles and martyrdoms whereby some may be induced to doubt of the ancient Christian Miracles and Martyrs and for satisfaction in this particular I shall here for brevity sake refer them to the writings already written and extant in print some in the English Tongue of the verity of the Christian Religion or from such practices in general of men in great place in Church or State or repute for Learning as are thought inconsistent with a real belief of what they possess whence some who affect to know more than the vulgar will needs perswade themselves and others that all such are Atheists and Infidels and thereupon bring all Religion under a suspition of being nothing else but a more refined piece of policy and because I have found by experience that many have no better arguments for their affected infidelity than this and yet few of those who have written of the verity of the Christian Religion have taken any notice of it or thought it worth a particular answer I shall recommend these things to their consideration 1. That this is no argument or evidence against Religion but only a bare supposed opinion and judgment of such persons without any evident and express ground or reason for it 2. That the opinion or judgment of great Statesmen or Scholars meerly as such is of no greater authority in this particular than the judgment or opinion of other men for such men may in general well deserve that reputation which they have and yet be utterly ignorant of those Principles which are necessary to be known to ground a judgment in this case There are very rarely found any men that are well skilled in all the parts of Learning or of some one profession as for example of the Law some are good Conveyancers who are very unskilful in Bar-Practice many good Chancery-men who are no great Common Lawyers c. So in Divinity some are well skilled in Textual some in Polemical or Scholastical some in Casuistical Divinity and yet but meanly skilled in the other parts of it and this part which considers the evidences of Religion is but rarely studied by any but such as have to do with Infidels each man ordinarily applying himself especially to