then I know full well that many false hearts would be found lurking vnder painted hoodes and cakes of foule cancred malice vnder meale mouthed protestations neither would it bee troublesome to finde out a two-legged Foxe or if the coles of long festered choler were of that condition as that being heaped together in their malicious minds they could blister their tongues or scald their lippes we should neede no further search to finde out a Romaine catholike Howbeit although they haue no windowes in their brestes wherethrough wee may see into euery corner of their consciences how they packe and shuffle now and as it is greatly to be feared meane to cut also if Poperie should get the vpper hand yea although they shrowd their wicked deuises with a vaile of obscuritie and contriue their cruell crafts in tenebris yet if that foresight and circumspection be had which the subtiltie of such househould enemies requireth I doubt not but it shal be easie to espie the Woolfe though he wander in sheepes clothing by the manner of his howling and the Asse though he iet in the Lions skinne by the length of his eares Before I proceede further A linsie woolsie religion I will here admonish that kinde of our gospellers that are of a linsie woolsie religion common pedlars and patchers of Christ his coate which had no seame in deede Who because they are better affected to the state then the former I would be loath to tearme them Foxes and yet hauing no warrant for a particoloured profession I may not honour them with the title of sound Christians you shall know them by these colours They hold it a matter of charitie to say God haue mercie on the soules of the dead and show them their errour then they reply what shall we bid the deuill goe with them Their aue maria sticks close betwixt their teeth though their Pater Noster was forgot many yeeres agoe They cannot be well perswaded of children dieng without Baptisme therfore they cry out for headlong hast to the ministratiō of this sacrament They wil not beleeue that it is a sinfull and superstitious thing to sweare by the Saints and euery other creature and when they are tould that it is a robbing God of his honour they fall a woundering at the verie first principles of religion Thus the Serpent gets his ground by creeping and where Sathan cannot get an ell he will take an ynch hoping by little ynches of superstition in the end to make vp an ell of Idolatrie and thus by little and little Poperie hath stolne into the Church Those that are thus tainted I exhort in the feare of God to reade the scriptures and to heare his word the knowledge whereof is able to purge them from these filthie dregs of the Babilonish cup. Hauing spoken of Foxes hereticall Foxes schismaticall who most of all endaunger the saftie of the Church it followeth that we entreat of Foxes schismaticall which of late yeares haue peeped out of their denne to the disturbance of our peace These are they whom in auncient time they called Catharists as also the Donatist Browinsts Brownistes wee commonly call them imagining a perfect beautie of a Church in this world and seuering themselues from all others as if in their particular conuenticles this perfection were to be found in whom behold a two fould errour First in that from the Churches blemish by indirect consequence they conclude her nullitie Two fold errour This is a grosse absurditie Secondly in that these mote catchers see a mote in the eye of an other and will not see the beame in their owne eyes this is blind singularitie For if they speake of manners they should know that how corrupt so euer they are either in the pastour or in the sheepe they may not inforce this outragious conclusion that where such corruptions are found there is a nullitie of the Church so long I say as the life of the Church is that is so long as the truth is there taught Christ his truth the life of the church Math. 23.2 Of this the Lord himselfe is witnes speaking to the Scribes and Pharises so long as they sit in the chaire of Moses that is to say so long as they teach the doctrine of Moses doe you saith he that which they say but doe not that which they doe although there be no cause but that a man may withdraw himselfe from such infectious companions as Paul admonisheth 1. Cor. 5.11 Psal 17.4 Psal 1.1 as Dauid sheweth by his owne practise and warneth vs to do the like Againe if they speake of imperfection of doctrine many circumstances are to be considered before wee depriue any assemblie great or small of the name of a Church In the Church of Corinth not onely touching manners the discipline of the Church was loosly obserued 1. Cor. 15.17 sinceritie of preaching by an affected kinde of babbling was much prophaned but also a pro and con houlden touching the resurrection of the flesh an article of such weight that withouten it the preaching of the word should be in vaine and yet Corinth houlds the name of a Church The Galathians were most of them turned aside by the false Apostles from free iustification which is the principall ground-plat of the christian Church and yet notwithstanding Saint Paul giues them the name of a Church The like is to be seene by that which the Apostle writeth to Timothie 1. Tim. 4. 2. Pet. 2. Iude. also by the second of Saint Peter and that of Saint Iude that there were home-bred enemies and false Disciples in the bosome of the Church which for all this neither lost the name nor nature of true Churches But the case is otherwise in a body rotten in the noblest parts as the synagogs of the Iewes which stubbornly resisted the preaching of the Apostle from which for this cause he disioyned the Church of Ephesus or as that sinfull assembly that sits vpon the seuen hills Acts. 19.9 From what Church we ought to separate our selues and opposeth it selfe directly against the kingdome of Christ whose name with a desperate impudencie it boroweth for which cause we haue it in iust execration following the doctrine of the Apostle But I neede not to pursue these schismatikes the name of almightie God bee magnified this land is well washed from them O Lord show mercie still to this Church and send vs also a stronge purging pill for Poperie and superstition Then shall wee see Ierusalem in prosperitie and the hearts of thy faithfull seruants shall be replenished with gladnesse Foxes called scabd sheepe The last sort of Foxes are those which before I called scabd sheepe Saint Paul prophecieth of these that in the last dayes should come perillous times 2. Tim. 3.1.2.3 men should be louers of their owne selues couetous boasters proud cursed speakers disobediēt to parēts vnthankfull vnholie without naturall affection truce breakers false
now it may be boldlie auerred that mercy and trueth are met together righteousnes and peace haue kissed each other Now then ye noble Lords graue sages valorous captaines resolute souldiers braue gentlemen worthie citizens laborious comminaltie shew your honours your valours your worthines your trustines and painefulnes in promoting that which is and ought to be your glory rather hazard the last drop of your dearest blood then see her dishonoured without whom all your honours are but vanities Nay Peace and plentie the children of Religion if you receiue her not as you should for her owne sake yet respect her for her children and thinke it not too much to bestowe your wealth to maintaine her your honours to countenance her your authoritie to assist her your wisdomes to pleade for her against the prophane pollicie of that miscreant Machiuel who is become a counseller amongst the greatest Statesmen of Euâ—ope against hellish Atheisme which â—oeth about to perswade the world that â—here is no religion at all and especiallie â—gainst that common strumpet Romish â—uperstition who is not ashamed to borâ—ow religions name So shall you shew a â—tudious zeale and affectionate loue toâ—ards your Prince also whose prosperiâ—ie is the pillar of your peace Lastlie I haue in this treatise detecâ—ed treacherous dealings of Roman Caâ—holikes and manifested their dangeâ—ous proceedings to the view of euery good subiect the which I haue published vnder the patronage of all you that loue the Gospell whom the Almightie protect with his power and guide with his grace Yours in the Lord I. B. THE SVMME OF THE CHAPTERS Chapter 1 AFfliction hath been is and shall be the common condition of Gods Church and the lot of his inheritance The lamb standing on mount Sion is more mightie to saue then the enemie to destroy Chapter 2 The enemies of the Church are either cruell Tigres or craftie Foxes Househould enemies most hurtfull to the health of the Church Chapter 3 The true semblance betwixt a two-legged and a foure-legged Foxe Chapter 4 An oration from olde Rainard to his Iesuiticall cubbes and extrauagaunt Fox-priests wherein his experienced wilines directeth them from curious contemplation to treacherous practise Chapter 5 The semblaunce betwixt the Fox and the Lion Antichrist and Mahomet in broaching their damnable doctrines and leuieng many nations to their lawes Chapter 6 Of sundrie sorts of Foxes that are most of all troublesome to this our Church Chapter 7 Of the vnkennelling of the Foxe and the duties of the Terriers vsed for this purpose Chapter 8 Two principall reasons why Foxes are suffered in the Church Chapter 9 Eight reasons prouing all perfit papists rotten-hearted subiects to true Christian Princes Chapter 10 Twelue reasons prouing by diuinitie and true Christian pollicie that Foxes ought to be tied shorter Chapter 11 Two principall gardiens of the vineyard Magistrates and ministers where first of the duties of ministers in hunting of the Foxes Also see an enditement found against many Patrons of benefices Chapter 12 The dutie of Christian Magistrates as well Soueraigne as others in purging of the Church from these noysome vermine Chapter 13 Two Toiles wherewith Foxes must bee taken there see the miserable end of Traitors A TOILE FOR TWO-LEGGED FOXES CHAPTER I. Affliction hath been is and shall be the common condition of Gods Church and the lot of his inheritance The Lambe standing on mount Sion is more mightie to saue then the enemie to destroy THey do greatly abuse themselues which are perswaded to see the Church in so quiet and calme estate as to be without afflictions either within or without or both together within and without the contrarie experience whereof the histories of all ages doe sufficiently declare For if we looke into her continuall course heretofore It is Bellarmines dotage to make outward prosperitie a marke of the Church or consider what the spirit of God hath prophecied concerning the future state of the Church wee shall finde that it hath beene from the creation of the world vntill this day and shall be vnto the consummation therof tossed to and fro with many cruell stormes subiect to many afflictions and persecutions for proofe and experience whereof consider the estate of the Church vnder Adam Churches persecutions Was not righteous Abel a principall member thereof vnnaturally murdered by the bloudie hand of his elder Brother Genesis Thus first arose the tempest against the boate and little barke of Iesus Christ the same continued vnder Abraham Isaac and Iacob vnder Moises the Israelites tyranized by Pharao Exodus distressed in the wildernes and diuersly tempted before they could take possession of the land of promise If euer the Church enioyed a pleasant and a faire time of weather Iosua it was vnder Iosua and those which then ruled the people being most triumphantly planted in Canaan together with the seruice of God Iudges afterwards vnder the Iudges vntill Samuel for one day of faire weather â—n whole yeare of stormie and foule then behould the arke of couenant taken captiue 1. Sam. 4.11 Silo ruinated and all brought into an vtter confusion howbeit God pittying his Church raised vp Samuel by whose ministerie this storme ceassed 1. Sam. 7. and the schooles of the Prophets were reformed But this Sunne was scarce vp when horrible darknes was brought in by wicked Saule the priests themselues being massacred the sorcerers restored 1. Sam. 28.8 the people exposed to ignominy being no better then a bodie without an head 2. Sam. 2. vntill that Dauid houlding the scepter the welfare of the Church began to grow as also vnder Salomon 1. King 6.7 8. c. who furnished the Lords house â—oth within and without with a most triumphant magnificencey yet this happie state is ouerturned ten tribes â—gainst two 1. King 12. the sinagoges ruined to â—odge Iereboams calues in the Leuits expulsed the poore prophets constrained â—o be hidden in holes 1. King 18.13 and there to be sustained with bread and water 1. King 17.4 Helias himselfe being brought to that extremitie that he was faine to be fed with a Rauen. Now as for the kingdome of Iuda there the faithfull seruants of God had no worse enemies than the Kings and the Priests namely vnder Achaz and Manasses 2. King 16. 2. King 21. What grieuous affliction did the Church sustaine when in the daies of Ieremie the Chaldeans wasted Ierusalem 2. King 25. spoiled the Temple slew the Nobles before the princes face put out his eyes dishonorably led him away captiue to Babilon leauing that populous countrie admired for prosperitie a barbarous wildernes and dreadfull example of miserie To come vnto the shipmaster himselfe Luke 2.17 what colde entertainment receiued he in this world borne in a stable from thence forced to flie into the deserts of Egypt Math. 2.14 Mark 6.3 Iohn 1.4 brought vp and nourished in a poore carpenters house in a citie of so
they want â—uthoritie or their purses be not well â—ined but be not deceiued for such litâ—le sparkes may serue the Popes turne â—y being kindled to a flame and that is wilines is a ware of The Iuie creeâ—ing along the ground beginning at â—he first to compasse the lowest part of the oke at the last by getting ground ouerpeereth the highest branch pierceth still the pith sucketh the sap to the ruine of the whole trunke so these subtill Foxes by insinuation and sugred speeches seeke first to enter into the coÌ„sciences of persons inferiour hoping by daily addition of newe addicted fooles to the fleshpots of Egypt to fortifie their faction but indeed the marke that they leuell at is to rase vp the foundation of our peace and to ouer-peare the head of her royall person Fourthly the subtiltie of the Foxe is herein discerned because perswading men vnto vertue and reuoking them from vice The Foxe is a counseller for his owne aduantage he doth it for his owne aduantage and then especially seeketh the spoile of the Church So that fitlie they may be resembled vnto theeues trauelling by the hie way and lighting into true meaning coÌ„panie can talke of simple dealing of sober liuing of the reward of the vertuous of the punishmeÌ„t of the vitious to the inteÌ„t that vnsuspected they may take their bootyat vnawares or to the craftie gamester who suffereth the simple man to winne for a while that afterward being greedy of play he may lurch him as he listeth Euen so these deceiptful workmen speake some good things but they intermeddle euill things they speak the truth but to scatter lies to root theÌ„ in mens harts as Sinen in Virgil mingled falshood with truth that he might more easily entrap the Troians they speake peace with their mouths but haue conceiued mischief in their harts they can say salue frater with Ioab aue Rabbi with Iudas when their purpose is to stab with the one and to betraie with the other To conclude they are deceiptfull merchants which vtter euill wares and set them out with lying words to make them saileable Wherefore as Paul commaunded the diuel to silence although he spoke truth least that his vttering of truth might aduantage his lying and gaine credit to his kingdome and as Iesus Christ sharpely rebuked the diuel saying vnto him we know who thou art teaching vs not to giue eare vnto the diuell although he tell the troth so let the rulers which regard the honour of the highest labour earnestly to hinder the course of these seducing spirits which are scattered in our land and to put the diuel to silence in them that his people be not beguiled and drawne away to straunge worship The Foxe craftily disswades from religion and loialtie Another of their wiles is in their manner of perswasion first against religion secondly against loialty Against religioÌ„ by whispering into the eares of the seduced Church agreement councels coÌ„sent fathers harmony teachers credit vniuersality antiquitie vnity apostolical traditioÌ„s all which an alblasted Moter hath trict trimly in colours hauing put as it were an new coat vpon an old deformed bodie as if where the asse had put vpon him the Lions skin the world could not discerne him by the length of his eares but the name of God be magnified he is discouered and his new vernished leaden dagger stabd in the intrals of his holy mother My purpose in this pamphlet is rather to discouer the wickednes of English Italionates then to dispute against the wilfull obstinacie of any Catholike champion yet because this is the dust that Master Allablaster with others more cast in the eies of our countrimen to put them quite out or at leastwise to bleare them I will briefely scatter it and so proceed in my former course Church agreement an old Motiue to the popish faith remoued and confuted BY the Church they would haue you to vnderstand the Church of Rome The Catholickes in their brags vnderstand by the Church the Romish Church for her eminencie and then when they tell you that the Church agrees the Church degrees the Church cannot erre all this in their language is to be spoken of the Romish Church Now if this proud Moter or any other of his fraternitie can bring you any prophecie or promise by which this her priuiledge may appeare that Rome is the mother Citie of the vniuersall Church Vrge this against a Romane Catholike as she was of the ancient Romane Empyre as also that this is her prerogatiue that she caÌ„not erre theÌ„ haue they done some thing but they may assoone find Paradise in hell as anie such text in the scripture Contrariwise she is poynted at 2. Thes 2.3 Apoca. 17. as by that finger to be the seat of apostasie by Saint Paul 2. Thess 2.3 vers and by Saint Iohn in the Apocalypse Rome the sea of Apostasie yea by many auncient fathers Greeke and Latine albeit they in their times saw not that was before their eyes Againe if it were lawfull for men why should Rome rather be chosen then Ierusalem the first and the auncientest of the Churches called of the prophets the citie of God Esay 2. from whence the word of God should goe fourth into all the world founded by Saint Peter and the rest of the Apostles or rather than Antioch Acts. where were named the first christians and where it is apparant that Peter and Paul liued Sirs what can you say for your selues faith sometimes florished at Rome And what then so did it at Ierusalem at Antioch at Ephesus c. But was not Ierusalem turned into Ieruskaker Was not Bethel that is the house of the Lord turned into Bethauen the house of iniquitie Is not the candlesticke remoued from those famous Churches of Asia Ephesus Pergamus Thiatira Philadelphia c. These places are altered for wickednesse and Rome for bad life and bad religion And thou Rome though sometimes faithfull art now the Queene of pride the nurse of â—dolatries the mother of whoredomes â—he shop of heresies Romes abhominations where the enteâ—ance into Gods house that is the scripâ—ures wherein he hath placed his eternall truth is forbidden vnto his people where the Church is not onely made a place of merchandise of mens soules â—ut is changed into a shop of more abâ—ominable Idolatrie than euer was amongst the pagans themselues where â—he true Iesus Christ is changed into a â—ead and sencelesse thing hauing neiâ—her head nor feete which cannot keep â—t selfe from the talents of theeues nor â—et from the teeth of mice and rattes which perisheth of it selfe if it be not â—he sooner deuoured But here some fauorit of poperie will â—ell you What if the Pope sit in Peters chaire that the Pope sits in Peters â—haire answere him that so did the Pharisees in Moyses seate Matt. 23. yet neuer â—he better no iot the holier for all that â—o that I may iustly
say to him as did Themistocles to a certaine od SeriphiaÌ„ who obiected to Themistocles that his â—lory receiued greater brightnes from the renowne of his country then from the merit of his vertues not so said Themistocles for if I were a Seriphian I would not liue without renowne and if thou werest an Athenian thou couldest not liue without shame In like sort say if Saint Peter were at Rome he liued not like the Pope and if the Pope sit in Peters chaire he liues not like Saint Peter but euen as Neanthus hauing gotten Orpheus his harp iangled and iarred so long that whereas hee looked for the trees to skip he brought the dogges about his eares euen so the Pope hath so long boasted of Peters succession that the simple discerne his doublings and nouices in religion begin to espie his Iugling But some man will say is there theâ— no certaine visible place Whether there be any certaine place on which to builde our beliefe on which a Christian man may depend so farre as to say we must beleeue and doe that which is taught and commaunded in such a place Christ resolueth this demaund but answereth not that it is Rome or any other place but saith he where the dead bodie is thither the Eagle gather themselues together and what iâ— this dead bodie but Iesus Christ and him crucified besides which I wil know nothing saith the Apostle vnderstanding by the name of Christ his person and by the word of crucified all his sufferings for vs vntill that last crie of his which shaked both heauen and earth Math. 27. This concerneth doctrine Now for outward seruice heare him answering to the woman of Samaria whose demaund was Iohn 4. whether they should worship in the Temple of the Samaritanes or of the Iewes that for a time it was the Temple of Ierusalem and none other which God had chosen to be worshipped in But saith he the time is come that men shall worship neither in this mountaine nor in Ierusalem but the true worshippers shall worship in spirit and in truth that is to say they shall serue God with a pure spirituall worship without distinction of place By this I trust the ignorant shall be able to descry what the Catholcikes meane by their Church agreement as also how to keepe themselues vnsnared by such Moters as goe about to entangle them As for our selues we giue the Church of God all her true honour confessing that whosoeuer hath not this true ancient Catholike and Apostolike Church to his mother the same hath not God to his Father Councels consent a false chalenge of a Romane Catholike with a caueat how councels are to be gathered and receiued THe Catholiks make many a goodly Brauado and whosoeuer is willing to be deceiued may beleeue them vpon their bare words The ancient fathers in an holy wisedome haue called Councels as befitted their times for thâ— abandoning of heresies and establishing of truth such were these old Councels the first Nicene the Councel of Constantinople the first Ephesine and such like which we refuse not but theirs are latter and are nâ— better many of them then if thâ— whoremasters whores were gathereâ— together to take order for the stewes But let vs consider whether all Councels serue for a Catholickes comfort Many hundred yeares agoe the Councell of Constantinople decreed that Images placed in the Church should be ouerthrowne and dashed in peeces Councels coÌ„demning popish opinions The Councel held at Eliberis in Spaine in the time of Constantine decreed that women should not frequent vigils that Images should be banished out of the Church and that nothing should be painted on the wall to be worshipped The Councell of Gangrens accursed them that condeÌ„ned the priests mariage The third Councell of Carthage decreed that the chiefe bishop should not be called the prince of priestes or highest priest but onely the bishop of the chiefe sea The Councell of Hippo decreed that the bishop of the head sea should not be called the chiefe priest that no scripture should be read in the Church but Canonicall In a Councell holden at the Citie of Pize both Gregory Benet were deposed Alexander the fifthe lected Pope they notwithstanding holding still the title of papalitie and so a lease of Popes vntill the comming of Constance At the Councell of Basil Pope Eugenius concluded an hereticke deposed and a Duke created Pope in his place Thus they crake much of the authoritie of a councell and bleare mens eies with so glorious a name when as indeed their drunken superstitions by them are vtterly condemned It is truly said of many Councels that In nomine Dei incipit omne malum How councels are Therefore are they to be receiued with this caueat thaâ— they be gathered in the name of Christ decree according to his rule aimâ— at his glory So shall they be no otheâ— wise receiued then they bring the iudgment of Christ and the Pope shall bâ— put to silence who for all shew of prâ— and con will determine for his purposâ— wheresoeuer he is president Gerson and Panormitanus not new protestants but ancient fathers being at the Councell of Basil where it waâ— argued what authority a Councel hath decreed that we must rather beleeuâ— one simple man alledging the scripture than an whole Councell to the contrarie the thing it selfe is ratified in the greaâ— Nicene Councell where many woulâ— haue forbidden priestes mariage and onely Paphnutius being vnmaried alledging the scriptures which allow mariage in al men did euince the contrarie The harmonie of fathers a false motiue to poperie IT cannot be denied but many fathers stand hard for their Catholike â—eligion as father Piggius father Hosius â—ather Lombard father Thomas father â—cotus father CaietaÌ„ Fathers pleading for the Romish religion one of the best Carâ—inals father Bellarmine father Stapleâ—on and many more hireling villaines which are at the Popes pay which alâ—hough in many things they agree no â—etter then Herod and Pilate yet can â—hey consent to degrade Iesus Christ â—rom his office as well as the other did â—o bereaue him of his life So that you â—ee what a consent of fathers here is â—or the defence of a Pope-holy faith But there are other auncients as faâ—her Moses father Dauid Esay Ieremie c. In a word our fathers are the Paâ—riarches Prophets and Apostles and when they shall proue that we dissent from these auncient fathers that is our worship our faith is not builded vpon the foundation of the Prophets and Apostles as on the other side that theirs is then haue they spoke to the purpose Now if they meane by fathers consent to bring in Augustine Chrisostome Cyprian Basil Athanasius and the rest with one accord to make their plea for poperie then shamelesse beastes they are conuinced alreadie by the friendes of the bridegroome and confounded of their owne consciences if they haue any at all Lastly for this
point how farre the auncientest and holiest men next after the Apostles are to be listened vnto heare Augustine himself How farre the ancient fathers are to be harkened vnto by the iudgemeÌ„t of Augustine where he saith That the testimonies of Cyprian and Agrippinus are not to be alledged as if it were not lawfull otherwise to thinke if they perhaps shall speake otherwise then the truth doth require And in an other place he saith That we ought not to beleeue the Catholike Doctours if they shall auouch any thing contrarie to the Canonicall scriptures and confesseth that in his owne bookes many things may be found which without rashnes may iustly be censured Teachers credit a popish snare to entangle the ignorant and a baite to drawe them from searching of the scriptures O Foxes full of all subtiltie for hence it is that you haue forbidden the scriptures to be read in the vulgar tongue and such as all Christians vnderstand The common faith of the Catholike and moreouer haue taught â—t to be sufficient to beleeue what your Church beleeueth without inquisition what it is and to credit your teachers without search of the scriptures but proâ—ided a man haue a good meaning reâ—erre himselfe to the articles of your â—aith kneele downe before a crucifix â—e apt to say an Aue Maria or a Pater â—oster O then behold a merit by and â—y atchieued Iohn 4.24 1. Cor. 16.13 Ephes 16. 1. Pet. 3.9 and Gods wrath appeaâ—ed Is this to serue God in spirit and â—n truth Is this which you teach the â—aith by which we stand which must â—eat backe the fierie darts of the enemies namely to build vpon the affiâ—nce of Bellarmine Stapleton Allablaster Indeed if you could bring the matter to this passe that in stead of Sic dicit Dominus exercituum sic dicit Dominus Deus vester Papa that is in stead of thus saith the Lord of hostes thus saith your Lord God the Pope and in stead of os Domini locutum est The next way to make all the world papistes the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it Os Bellarminianum veâ— StapletonianuÌ„ dixit the mouth of Bellarmine or Stapleton hath said it then is iâ— likely that all christendoÌ„ shal be papists shortly nay Atheists perhaps for I am sure of all your teachers the Pope musâ— haue the credit And then what if his holines be as deuoutly minded as Paul thâ— third Paulus 3. who lying on his death bed said he should shortly vnderstand whether there were a God in heaueÌ„ or no wherof he had alwaies doubted or as Iohn 22. who taught that mens soules did sleepe with their bodies Iohn 22. Iohn 23. Atheists or Iohn the twentie three who taught that men died after the manner of beastes for which heresie and many more flagitious deeds he was depriued of his papall iurisdiction in Concilio Constantiensi What if the Pope were thus minded and so would proclaime it I say vndoubtedly all the world as noster magistellus Allablaster would beare vs in hand are bound to beleeue him But wee are taught to search the scriptures 1. Iohn 5. and to try the spirits both by commaundement and example by the light whereof all this your darknes hath been and shall be discouered Iohn 4. Vniuersalitie a false marke of the true Church THere are no greater deceiuers in the world then they who to discerne the true Church members whereof wee ought to be if we will be saued from the false from the which we ought to separate our selues if we will not be damned stand wholy vpon a multitude For if in worldly affaires more fooles are to be found then wise how is it then when the point concerneth supernaturall goodnes and wisedome If the aduersarie will not credit Christ himselfe speaking in plaine tearmes of the broad way which leadeth to destruction through which many passe and the narrow gate that leadeth vnto life which fewe doe finde yet perpetuall experience might better teach them then to stand vpon vniuersalitie as a marke of the true Church when the deluge came vpon the world The greater number the worser whether was paucitie or multitude a marke of the Church what was Abrahams house in comparison of the Cananites what was Israell to comprise hypocrites in the number in respect of the whole world what Church was the multitude a marke of when Christ being in the earth in his person the rulers reiected him and the multitude cryed away with him away with him crucifie him crucifie him what multitude was the number of sixescore persons when the Christian Church began To conclude when these proude boasters of their great numbers shall well haue counted what they are in comparison of the rest of the world which acknowledge not the Messias then may they proue if they will not maliciously erre that the multitude is rather to be suspected then reckoned a true note of the true Church Antiquitie of religion a vaine brag of Romaine Catholickes MEn time without mind haue accustomed to commend themâ—â—lues vnder the name of antiquitie specially vnto the ignorant whose â—gnorance also they doe abuse and â—â—us it commeth to passe by Gods iust â—â—dgment that they who will not suffer â—hemselues to be taught take many â—â—mes that for latter which was forâ—er and for new which is old such are â—â—ey of whom Peter speaketh who said â—f that time when a man spake vnto â—â—eÌ„ concerning the comming of Christ 〈◊〉 iudge the world that all things were â—s they are now since the first fathers â—hich thing is false saith he 2. Pet. 3.4 for they â—â—ould know that the world was not â—reated in such sort as now it is and â—hat God hath alreadie executed an â—orrible Iudgment on the corruption â—hereof Ier. 44.17 In like sorte they reproched â—eremie that he had mard all with his â—ew preaching yea and when they â—eare Christ himselfe they say what kinde of new doctrine is this Mark 1.17 Iohn 5.39 but he bids them search the scriptures for they speak of him In like sort say these great asses that will know nothing what new doctrine is this you teach where was the new Church of yours threescore yeares ago before Luther ran out and like a fugitiue fled from his mother behold their common language We answere them that primum quodque verissimum The protestants would that the prophets Christ and his Apostles should end all controuersies And we will appeale vnto Moses Dauid the prophets apostles and auncient fathers to be tried for the antiquitie of our religion if they dare put the controuersie by them to be ended Looke what forme of seruice was in the Tabernacle and Salomons temple in their time and whether it commeth nearer our seruice or the Popes portuis they read Moses and the prophets and expounded them and doe not we so we haue nothing touching the substance of religion but we are able
to proue it from the scriptures for antiquitie so cannot they their transubstantiation purgatory inuocation of Saints prayer for the dead or any such pelting trash But as for their Masse it is like a beggars cloake made of a thousand patches The Masse like a beggars cloake one patch being fiue-hundred an other foure-hundred an other three-hundred yeare old The vine which the Lord transported out of Egypt hath been a long time in the hand not of vineyarders but destroyers from whom it now being taken restored and husbanded by the seruants of the eternall the enemies cry out with full mouth that all is new which is against their corruption We here then doe protest that in the times of our fathers there was a Church that is to say a number of the children of God as it were secret and shut vp as may be proued by writings from age to age that there were some who opposed themselues against those superstitions and idolatries which by little and little gat the vpper hand in the West Babilon called three hundred yeares agoe by one of their owne Poets a temple of heresie in the which the Lord for this suffered not that baptisme should be vtterly taken away and abolished We protest further that in our time in which it hath pleased God to display the banner of his truth there doth stiâ— remaine some of the elect buried as 〈◊〉 were in the middest of this Babilon who in respect of the eternall counseâ— of God appertaine at this present vntâ— the true Church but by little and littâ—â— as it pleaseth God to draw them out 〈◊〉 this gulfe are actually made membeâ— of the same Lastly we protest that thoâ—â— great personages which the Lord of hâ—â— goodnes of latter yeares hath raised vp haue not built vs a new Church as the falsely call it but haue gathered together the poore sheepe who were scattered amongst the Wolues Vnitie falsely pretended a marke of thâ— Romish Church The Lord Iesus speaking of himselfe sayeth that he came not to senâ— peace vpon the earth Math. 10.34 but rather diuision which diuision is the foyling oâ— Sathan the breach of his peace and thâ— ouerthrow of his kingdome 1. Cor. 11.16 Saint Paâ—â— saith that heresies must be but yet fâ—â— the benefit of the beleeuers The dâ—sciples followed Christ but yet the people euen then were diuided into Pharisies Sadduces Herodians Essenians Nazarites and Samaritans Therefore if the aduersaries meane to finde out a Church where there should be no diuision nor diuersitie of opinion let them say where it is If they say it is theirs it is a lowd lie what vnitie is that when the black-fryers are against the grayfryers and the crouchet against them both and all for their browes what vnitie is it when Canus is against Caietan and Bellarmine against them both what vnitie is it Non tà nta nobiscum quam secum est contentio when some amongst them for their sects are called Thomists and othersome Scotists c. Truth it is the catholiks would faine haue vnitie amongst themselues and therefore they Dealings of papists to maintaine their vnitie if there be any thing that condemnes any poynt of their Popish opinion in the bookes of their writers they blot it quite out as their dealing is to bee seene in the writings of Ferus one of their honestest To be short betwixt the iarres of the Romaine catholikes and ours this is a difference worthie your diligent obseruation that ours are pettie iarres in matters of discipline all of vs houlding the foundation which is Christ crucified Theirs are capitall concerning saluation it selfe like vnto Herods and Pilats wherein both were against Christ or like vnto those of the Stoickes and Epicures wherein both were against Paul Apostolicall traditions made a masking weede for popish vnwritten verities The aduersaries to gaine some credit for their owne speculations ring out as lowd as they can this word of Apostolicall traditions whereoâ— they produce diuers examples scattered here and there throughout Sainâ— Paules epistles as of the vaile of women of the order of speaking the word of God in the assemblie of collections gatherings for the poore and almes To giue directioÌ„ for this point it is onâ— thing to make lawes to tie mens consciences to as to say this you must beleeue and not beleeue do and not do vpon paine of condemnation and an other thing to haue respect vnto â—hat which is requisite for vse and praâ—tise as well of the doctrine as of the disâ—ipline which God the onely lawgiuer â—ath ordained requisite I say accorâ—ing to time place and persons which â—eing subiect to varietie yea to conâ—rarietie somtimes the Lord of the new â—ouenant if I may say so could make â—o certaine nor perpetuall ordinances â—eeing this pollicie is accidental and not â—f the substance either of doctrine or gouernment of the Church Wherefore â—t pleased him in respect of this to giue generall commandement that whatâ—oeuer he ordained should be executed â—rderly Contrariwise the Scribes and â—harisies not contented to sit in Moses â—haire that is to deliuer the doctrine â—nd discipline taught by the ministerie â—f Moses would needs make lawes for â—he consciences of men and so adde â—omething of their owne vnto the serâ—ice of God whereupon the Lord had â—ather scandalize and offend them then â—ubiect his disciples vnto them shewâ—ng that he accounted not the vsage of â—uch traditions indifferent but called them the abolishing of the diuine ordinances and a leauen to be taken heed of I speake concerning the new couenant because vnder the old the Church being enclosed within the limits of one people of one countrie of one holy place the Lord not only set downe the doctrine of the seruice and gouernement of the Church as touching the substance but particularized the ordinances according to persons times and places inuiolately to be obserued without adding to or clipping from leâ— this suffice concerning the soueraigntiâ— of him who hath written in his thighes the King of Kings and Lord of Lords All which if it be true as it cannot bâ— denied then those Apostolicall traditions and goodly vnwritten verities which the new vpstart Moter Mounsâ—â— Allablaster or any other birds of his fether shal whisper into the eares of theâ—â— followers are but so many sacrilegiouâ— degradations from the royall or prophetical state of our Sauiour Christ anâ— a tyrannicall vsurpation ouer the portâ—on and heritage of the Lord seruing thâ— head of the Church as Sampsons companions serued him against the expresse commission deliuered vnto the Apostles against the expresse example of Saint Paul and therefore their new ordinances vnwritten verities Apostolicall traditions in lieu of being obeyed are to be held accursed and had in execration by the ordinances of God Deut. 18.20 Galath 18. though they should be taught by the Angels of heauen themselues Deut. 18.20 Gal. 1.8 Hitherto for the preseruing of the vnlearned sort from the
Secondly hee forbids his catholikes to confer with the protestants Thirdly hee hath buried the scriptures least their light should discouer his darknes and least the common people should espie his Iugling he commands them not to meddle with the word of God There needeth no more to make men grow suspicious of the popish religion then these things well weighed CHAPTER 6. Of sundrie sortes of Foxes that are chiefly troublesome to the Church of England FOr the better auoyding of these enemies so pestilent and pernicious it is furder to be considered that sundry sortes of them are crept into the Church to supplant and vndermine it for some are heretikes either denying the person of the great sonne of God or degrading him from his offices and infecting his word with a million of errours of whom hath been intreated before and more shall be spoken hereafter Others are schismatikes who without cause depart away from the communion of the Church others are hypocrites or counterfeit christians reformed in name but more than deformed indeede who by their scandalous manners and wicked examples waste and destroy the vines especially the yong ones Which sort of Foxes are otherwise called scabd sheepe and are compared to leauen which sowreth the whole lumpe of which the Apostle giueth vs a rule in the person of the incestuous sinner that we should not companie together If any that is called a brother be a fornicatour 1 Cor. 5.11 Hereticall Foxes recusant papistes or couetous or an Idolater or a railour or a drunkard or an extortioner with such an one eate not Of Foxes infected with heresie which do especially disturbe the church of England there be two sorts the one called recusants because they haue forsaken our fellowship the other churchhaunts who with false hearts frequent our assemblies temporizing for feare of a fine or furder penaltie The first sort plead Baals cause with open mouth despise the Lords temple in Ierusalem post from Dan to Bethel to please Ieroboam hate our congregations and count it damnable to tread in our assemblies If these Foxes were as sharply punished as they are easilie discouered we shuld not haue so many Masses neither so many goe to Masse and yet Masse rated at so round a reckning I need not stand to mark out these malapart merchaunts their practise betraies thē they show outwardly how they are affected inwardly old doting dames and yoong minions old foolish fathers and yoong boyes that cannot tell why they were borne speake bouldlie for Poperie in defiance of the Gospel refuse the Church and checke the reprouer make a mocke of the ministerie and scorne true religion and yet haue peace and prosperitie If a prince be misused death is thought too smal a punishment for the offender if a man be so wicked as to procure an insurrection or raise a rebellion he must loose his head for it and good reason But whereas God hath soueraigne dominion ouer all a worme of the earth shall set himselfe against him deface his maiestie rob him of his honour blaspheme his blessed name yet escapeth without seueritie of punishment and that is no good religion These are those wretched people that haue sould themselues to be vassals of iniquitie and haue receiued the stamp of the beast in their foreheads that are readie to lie in waite for the Lords annoynted and haue cursed Dauid to his face These are the sonnes of those bloudie fathers that haue murdered the prophets These are the posteritie of Amelech vnworthie to liue amongst Israell which haue serued Baal Hamon and haue runne vnto the golden calues of Dan and Bethel These are the relikes of Iebus and the remnants of the Hittites that haue bin pricks and thornes in the sides of righteous men and will be kniues to our throats if that might come which their harts faint in waiting for but the same God that hath hitherto preserued vs detected their dissembled zeale and sheathed their sworde in their owne intrals shall still continew our most gratious protectour vnlesse the ouerflowing streames of our sinnes stop the course of his mercies and eclipse the brightnes of his fauour which hitherto hath shined vpon vs. Church papists There is an other sorte of Foxes in nature not much different from the former but yet not so easilie described neither are they oftentimes reputed as they are A token sent from the old Foxe to his yoong cubs It is not many yeares agoe since there came a token from the old gray Foxe to the cubs of his kind wherein was printed the fiue wounds of Christ with this poesie fili da mihi cor tuum that is sonne giue me thy hart whereby it appeareth that either Rainard was so well disposed as to maintaine dissimulation or els his brood were in a wrong boxe for they tooke his embleme in no other meaning Therefore haue they learned to temporize and with double hearts to halt on both sides hauing one for God and another for Baal one for the prince Temporizing papists described and an other for the Pope one for the Masse and another for the communion The manner of these for the most part is to peepe into the Church once in a month but preaching their queasie stomakes cannot away with especiallie if Idolatrie and papistrie be discouered I cannot more fitly compare these than to cunning watermen who looke one way when they take their iourney an other or to Cacus that notorions robber of whom it is recorded that he was wont to drag beasts backward into his Caue by their tailes to the intent that by contrary tracke of their feete he might be freed from the suspition of felonie euen so the popular demeanour of these hollow minded votaries lookes one way when their secret plots and practises tend an other and when they come to the Church they doe but drag backward with Cacus hiding their hollow hearts vnder show of conformitie yea howsoeuer these deepe dissemblers in outward appearance show milde and gentle promising all loyaltie to their prince agreement to gouernment and consent to religion yet trust them not for a Foxe will show himselfe a Foxe when time serues his turne The poets wittily faine that when Iupiter had made man A poeticall fiction fitlie applied being delited with such a cunning peece of workemanship he demaunded of Momus finde-fault what he could spy in so fine a feature and curious frame out of square and worthie iust reproofe Momus commended the proportion and comely disposition of the lineaments but one thing saith he I like not well that thou hast forgotten to place a window in his brest through which we might behold whether his heart and his tongue did accord If a window were framed in the brests of these discontented catholikes that her maiestie and the state-guiding counsell and all the true friends of this kingdome might know their secret intentions or if their consciences were as deeply sounded as they may be iustly doubted