this our age how great it is and in what blessinges it chiefly consisteth All learning and good studies were laied to sleepe in the former age A diuision or partition of this present woorke into three principall partes and an appendix How farre the former age beleeued aright VVherein the former age did erre The chiefest point of our saluation VVho haue their sinnes remitted and for what 1. Cor. 1. 30. A Catalogue of such errours wherewith this doctrine of trusting onely in Christ hath bene corrupted In what opinion the Masse hath bene heretofore saide or soung Apaena culpa The sacrifice of the Masse doeth blasphemously derogate from the onely sacrifice and satisfaction of Christ Pilgrimages These wandering Pilgrims were as wise as waltames calfe which went nine miles to sucke a Bull. Indulgencies Fraternitie of Friers falsly thought to be the Communion of Saintes Suffrages of Monkes Monkes woorkes bought and solde for monie Syngraphae super redemptionem operum Monasticorum Obligations about bying Monasticall woorkes Monkes woulde haue other men trust to their woorkes How much heretofore men attributed to Popes pardons So did Frier Tecell preach at wittemberge Soules deliuered out of Purgatorie for monie Popish pardoners blasphemous comparisons betwixt the red Crosse and the Crosse of Christ The Popes Bull. Non ficta sed facta Popish impietie Iubile appointed as a market for monie The first deuiser and inuenter of Iubile Inuocation or prayer to dead Saintes The Papistes did imagine Christ to be a little preatie boy still whom his mother might commaund Vvhat Saintes were praied vnto A rable of rites and Ceremonies obserued in the woorshippe of Saintes contrarie to rhe first commaundement Thou shalt haue none other Gods but me A Popishe prayer to Saint Peter O abhominable blasphemie 2. Tim. 3. 16. A briefe repetition of those thinges which were thought necessarie heretofore to the obteining of saluation The superstition of holie water The maner of Ethnikes to vse holie water sprinkle Virgil. lib. 6. Aeneiad Theodoret in vita Iuliani A good deede of Valentinian The superstition of sticking vp waxe candels before the Sacrament also before the altars and images of Saintes The idolatrie of the former age how great it was How Papistes exeuse the woorshipping of Images The Ethnikes pretend the verie same for their idolatrie The blasphemous Legend of lies Ludoâ—icus viues in lib. de causis corruptarum artium The historie of Lombard Traditions Decretalles Superstitious vowes religiÌ„ously obserued The rrue vowe of Baptisme was neglected in those dayes Pardons for walking the stations of the citie of Rome Stations are certeine Churches where pardons be graunted Trifling satisfactions 1. Iohn 2. 2. How farre foorth the chastening of the bodie is not to be disallowed 〈…〉 of a 〈…〉 to hoâ—â—e water The superstitious obseruing of fasting dayes The Pater noster and Aue Maria was wont to be rolled and trolled vpon a paire of beades How rich vsurers did satisfie for their sinnes heretofore Radulph Agrico la Longolius Frederike prince of Mantua were so superstitiously besotted In time of Papistrie it was thought lawfull to keepe a Concubine 1. Cor. 11. 29. The Laie people corrupted by the priestes euill example Verres de furto de seditione Cethegus The superstition of the seale called Agnus Dei. The superstition of an Easter waxe candel and of candels consecrated vpon Candelmasse day The Iewish superstition of the name Iehouah The superstition of the name Abracadabra VVhat woorkes were heretofore in time of Poperie thought to be good woorkes Stationaries are those which wayte vpon the Pope when he celebrateth his stations All these forenamed woorkes are not grounded upon the sacred Scripture The additions which the Iewes had put to the Lawe Mat. 23. 5. Mark. 7. 3. 4 VVhat woorkes are truely to bee saide good woorkes The dueties of a Christian man. Vnto what good woorkes Saint Paule doth exhort vs. Tit. 2. 12. Rom. 12. 1. Gal. 5. 24. Eph. 4. 23. Eph. 5. 1. 1. thess. 2. 12 Eph. 4. 2. 3. 1. Cor. 10. 31. Philip. 2. 4. Coloss 3. 17. From what vices doth Saint Paule dehorte vs. VVhat manner of faith the Apostles teach Ephe. 2. 10. Galat. 5. The efficacie of good woorkes A foule and fond errour to thinke that the Pope is the head of the Church Christes Vicar and Saint Peters successour The Authoritie of the Pope how great it was thought to be Decrees and Decretalles 1. Tim. 4. 1. A proud bragge Mat. 28. 18. The arrogancie and passing pride of the Pope of Rome The negligence of the Pope in caring for the Christian common wealth Popish Edictes and prohibitions against all Scripture Baptisme wherefore it was instituted of Christ The abuse of Baptisme Belles had Godfathers The superstitious consecration of water with salt The abuse of Confirmation The abuse of penaunce and confession The manifolde abuse of the Supper of the Lorde amongst the Papistes The Superstitious reseruation and ostentation of the Lordes bread That the papistes heretofore either knew not at all or else neglected the principall partes of Christian Religion Gen. 3. 15. Irenaeus Cyprian Hieronymus A corrupt Text. Prudentius The seede of the woman How it is read in the Greeke text How it is read in the Haebrue Picus Mirandula Prudentius Verses of Christ his passion The meaning of Prudentius his verses Christ his Priesthoode hitherto vnknowen to the Papistes The difference betwixt the olde Testament and the new vnknowen True iustification heretofore vnknowen How much was ascribed to merites and good woorkes VVoorkes for to sale The iustice of faith vnknowen The abrogation of the lawe vnknowen The iustifying faith vnknowen A definition of the true Christian faith Rom. 5. 1. Difference of woorkes vnknowen Difference of sinne vnknowen heretofore The true vse of Gods lawe vnknowen A godlie prayer From the creation of the worlde there is but one way to obteine saluation by namely by onely faith in Christ Our faith and the faith of the Patriarches is all one The sanctitie of the old Patriarches The patriarches were Christians not in name but in deede Act. 4. 12. Act. 10. 43. The blindenesse of the Papistes Trust and confidence As the Israelites trusted to the Leuiticall ceremonies and sacrifices so the Papistes trusted to superstitious rites Gen. 3. 15. Apoc. 12. 9. 1. Iohn 3. 8. Iohn 1. 29. Act. 13. 38. 1. Iohn 2. 2. 1. Tim. 2. 5. Iohn 4. 16. Eph. 2. 8. 9. Act. 15. 11. The way to rebuke a sinner first and then to comforte him Gen. 3. 15. Luke 24. 47. Act. 20. 21. Mark. 1. 15. The order of our preaching at this day Seneca Epistola 29. The manner to correct sinne in preaching is to rippe vp the originall infection of mans nature Our best deedes are stained and cainted The Gospell ioyned with the lawe In our sermons we must chiefly note secrete sinnes because of Hypocrites Few Papists haue knowen what sinne is 1. Rom. Papistes carelesse to obserue Gods preceptes but carefull to keepe
¶ A NOTABLE discourse of the happinesse of this our age and of the ingratitude of men to God for his benefites Written in Latine by that godly learned man Iohn Riuius and now newly Englished for the comfort and commoditie of the vnlearned by W. W. Student Iohn 17. 3. This is life euerlasting that men knowe thee to be the onely verie God and whom thou hast sent Iesus Christ Horat. Interdum vulgus rectum videt est vbi peccat Imprinted at London for Tobie Cooke and Philippe Eede 1578. To the Right Honorable M. Doctour Wilson one of the principall Secretaries to the Queenes most excellent Maiestie and of her Highnesse most honorable priuie Counsell W. W. wisheth increase of all godlinesse in this present life and in the life to come eternall happinesse in heauen THE wonderfull varietie and diuersitie of opinions and iudgements amongst the Philosophers concerning mans summum bonum or chiefest happinesse in this life is not vnknowne to your Honour and other learned men how that some said it did consist onely in vertue othersome in beautie othersome in honour othersome in wealth othersome and that no small summe in pleasure and some in a certeine mixture or medlie of all these It were needlesse to reckon vp in this place all their idle fansies fond dreames about this one point Howbeit I would certifie the simpler sort of this thing how that all of them erred and wandered in bywayes how that euerie seuerall sect and familie of Philosophers shot farre wide of the marke For as S. Paule testifieth They became vaine in their thoughtes and their foolish heart was full of darknesse When they professed themselues to be wise they beecame fooles We Christians that haue bene trained vp in Christes schole haue learned a better profession of our Maister and Sauiour Iesus Christ We know and are taught so to say that God maketh the wisedome of the world foolishnesse We are instructed and so we stedfastly beleeue that the onely true felicitie of this our life and the true happinesse of this our age standeth in the publishing and preaching of Christes Gospell which is to the Iewes a stumbling blocke to the Graecians foolishnesse and to the Papistes new learning but in deede the power of God to the saluation and the wisedome of God to the instruction of as many as are called both of the Iewes Graecians and Papistes This glorious Gospell of our God was first preached here on earth by our Redeemer and Sauiour Christ himselfe then after his ascension it was carried into all partes of the worlde by the Apostles and their successours with such successe that Christes spirituall kingdome was by the scepter of his worde enlarged farre and wide Which thing the deadly enimie of mankind Sathan greatly enuying knowing that the flourishing state of Christes kingdome would be the decaie and downefall of his laboured by all meanes possible to beare downe his scepter and scepter bearers by force and violence which thing he after a sorte brought to passe by raising vp the ten bloudie persecutions against the Christians vnder the ten Tyrantes or Emperours of Rome But the Diuell seeing that this his former policie would not preuaile seeing that the Christians the more they were tormented for their faith the more they grewe and multiplied deuised to deale no more by violence and bloudshed but chaunging himselfe into an Angel of light sought meanes how in time of peace he might withdrawe men by little and little from the true Religion of Christ to the counterfeit and hypocriticall religion of Antichrist This craftie counsell and pestilent practise pleased the subtile Serpent well which wrought this effect that it eclipsed and diminished the fulnesse beautifull light of Christes kingdome which was onely mainteined by the sworde of the spirit that is to say by the worde of god And because he might the more easily leade the people out of the way of trueth his purpose was wholy hitherto bent to ouerwhelme the candle vnder the bushell to darken the light of the Gospell which he brought accordingly to passe by corrupting and infecting the Priesthood with the glorious pompe and vanities of the worlde with the wanton delightes and vaine pleasures of this present life Then euen then he set Antichrist of Rome in his royall seate as his vicar and lieftenant generall there to rule and reigne as God of this world in the children of vnbeliefe bewitching them with strong delusions that they shoulde beleeue lies that all they might be damned which beleeued not the trueth but had pleasure in vnrighteousnesse This is that man of sinne by which is ment not one particular man but a succession of men as by the beare in Daniel is not ment onely one King of the Persians but a succession of Kinges this I say is that man of sinne and that aduersarie that exalteth himselfe aboue all that is called God or that is worshipped so that he doth sit as God in the Temple of God shewing himselfe that he is god This is that wicked man whose comming is by the effectuall working of Sathan with all power and signes and lying woonders and in all deceiueablenesse of vnrighteousnesse among them that perishe because they receiued not the loue of the trueth that they might be saued By this meanes Sathan lulled as it were the worlde a sleepe for the space of these seuen hundred yeeres last past Now some man will maruell much how the Pope should growe to such an vnbridled authoritie as he hath gotten Surely we can assigne no other cause but this such was the will of God and such was the depth of his secrete iudgement for the contempt of his Gospell Was it not I pray you reuealed to S. Iohn that the purple whoore of Babylon shoulde make all the Kinges and Princes of the earth and the inhabitantes thereof to drinke of the golden cuppe of wine full of the abhominations and filthinesse of her fornication The verie beginning and foundation of Antichristes kingdome was laied euen in the Apostles time For S. Paule writ to the Thessalonians that the mysterie of iniquitie began then to woorke but it was then hindered by the brightnesse and puritie of doctrine receiued in the Primatiue Church Afterwardes it grewe vp by degrees and specially by three steppes First by the great errors of the heretikes in the East Church which Chrysostome doth call the armies of Antichrist Secondly by the lamentable contention and emulation amongst the Christian Bishoppes in the Orientall partes Thirdly by the superstitious deuotion for I will not call it liberall donation of Princes and Emperours For after that the wicked parricide Phocas Emperour of Constantinople had geuen the Primasie or name of vniuersall Bishop vnto Boniface the third the Popes authoritie or rather tyrannie increased excedingly Then they sought not onely to be Lordes within themselues but also to be aboue all higher powers yea aboue the
backward into their former darknesse of ignorance errours For certeine men haue now begonne with no little care and cunning to set a faire glasse vpon old superstitions and with comelie wordes to cloake and couer the faultes and vices of the Papistes But now at this day seeing that our aduersaries doe shew foorth euidently and plainely without dissimulation what they goe aboute what they looke at what they ayme at what they shoote at and seeing that now wee may almost feele and groape as it were with our handes the fond counselles and wicked practises of the vngodlie Papistes I doe see there is no greate daunger and I thinke that wee neede not to feare so much any more lest they can induce and bring any man hereafter so easily into errour vnlesse hee bee starke blinde out of his right wittes For who now doth not see that the aduersaries of sounde and wholesome doctrine doe endeuour to take quite away to pluck out of all mens heartes yea after a sorte to burie wholy and altogether to ouerwhelme the very sacred and holy religion of Christe For thus they teache Ad verbum Woorde for woorde I will put nothing to of mine owne That faith say they by which a man doth stedfastly beleeue and assuredly trust to haue his sinnes forgiuen him for Christes sake and to possesse euerlasting saluation hath no testimonie or witnesse at all in the Scriptures yea it is cleane against it What else If any man shall say that the iustifying faith is nothing else but a stedfast trust in Gods mercie pardoning our sinnes for Christes sake or that that only confidence is the meane whereby wee shal be iustified let him bee accursed Item If any man shall say that to the obteining of saluation it is necessarie for euery man to beleeue assuredly and without all doubting of his owne infirmitie that his sinnes are forgiuen him let him bee accursed What is there any more of this stuffe Yea If any man shall say that a man is absolued from his sinnes and iustified for that he doth certeinly beleeue that hee is absolued or that no man is truely iustified but hee that doeth beleeue himselfe to be iustified and that our absolution and iustification is fully perfected and finished onely by this faith let him bee accursed I tremble and quake to rehearse such deuilish decrees of vngodlie men They will haue faith to bee onely a simple credulitie and a bare knowledge of the historie of Christ and not also a stedfast trust and beliefe in Christ as S. Paul in all his Epistles vnderstandeth it They woulde haue vs continually to doubte of the good will of God towardes vs They denie that a man is iustified only by trust and beliefe in the mercie of God pardoning our sinnes for Christes sake that is they denie that a man is iustified Gratis freely as S. Paul saith euen by the grace of God and that without woorkes They denie that faith is necessarie for all men to the obteining of pardon and remission of their sinnes They denie that faith is alwayes necessarie to absolution from our sinnes that is to speake more plainly they denie that wee ought necessarily to beleeue the Gospell For I pray you what other thing is absolution but the voice of the Gospell sounding by the minister of the Church by which voice that remission of sinnes promised to the penitent in the Gospell is priuately and particularly applied to euery mans conscience And seeing that our Sauiour Christ in the Gospell of S. Marke flatly commaundeth both namely to repent and to beleeue the Gospell beholde heere the intollerable boldnesse or rather impudencie of our aduersaries For they very willingly graunt the one that we ought to repent but verily they doe so stoutly denie the other namely that wee ought to beleeue the Gospell that is the preaching of forgiuenesse of sinnes that they accurse and condemne euery one that affirmeth this to bee true Christ saith Credite Euangelio that is Beleeue the Gospell but these men say quite contrary If any man say they shall affirme that in absolution of sinnes wee must beleeue the Gospell let him bee accursed Now what an absurde thing also is this their Anathema If any man shall say that if grace bee lost through sinne faith also is alwayes together lost with it or that that faith which doth remaine is not a true faith although it bee not a liuely faith or that hee which hath faith without charitie is not a Christian let him bee accursed Here to be briefe they affirme that adulterers manquellers extortioners and such like whome S. Paule denieth euer to be heires of the kingdome of God persisting still in their sinne and wickednesse may conceiue some hope and trust of their saluation and may promise vnto them selues that God for Christes sake will be mercifull â–ª and fauorable vnto them for that is it which we call To beleeue If this their assertion be true then surely the Apostle S. Paule is in an errour But if it bee impietie to graunt that the Apostle erred then they them selues doe erre and are deceiued and doe manifestly teach a falshood In the meane while such is the miserable blindenesse of those mens mindes they doe not see and perceiue how that they speake contraries They doe denie that there is any liuely faith in heinous sinners and wicked offenders Ergo it necessarily followeth that their faith is a dead faith such an one as the Diuels also may haue in them according as S. Iames witnesseth How therefore can that faith be founde true which is dead Here I doe beleeue they will coyne and bring foorth out of their owne braine as Iupiter brought forth Minerua out of his head a new definition of faith But let vs briefly haue a viewe also of other of their Diuelish decrees The Catholike Church say they doeth reteine and receiue whatsoeuer the chaire of Peter hath giuen out doeth giue out and shall giue out concerning faith and religion Hereby you may easily vnderstand how greate the credite of the Church of Rome and the authoritie of the Apostolicall seate is amongst them Let vs proceede on forward to the rest Ecclesiasticall constitutions say they concerning fastes feastes and abstinence from meates and many other thinges doe bind a man in conscience to obserue and keepe them Etiam extra casum scandali yea without the case of offence to any This is a hard saying But what followeth Christ say they doeth giue and graunt many thinges vnto vs here on earth through the merites and intercession of Saintes which otherwise he would not bestowe vppon vs Wherefore they doe verie holily and religiously which with a deuoute pietie and godlinesse doe visite those places which are dedicated to them and which by this meanes seeke for helpe at their handes Here you see that they doe allowe prayer to the deade and
commend vnto vs as namely the feare of God repentance trust in God loue towardes him from the whole heart the confession and propagation of the Gospell calling vpon God in trouble and aduersitie thankesgeuing in prosperitie cheerefulnesse in miseries and afflictions perpetuall praise of God iustice and vpright dealing towardes thy neighbour diligence and painefulnesse in thy office duetie sobrietie temperance chastitie and such like And those which are next in place to these to ouercome anger to put away hatred to represse the desire of reuenge to refuse glorie to loue our enimies to blesse them which curse vs to doe good to them which hate vs to pray for them which hurt vs raile vpon vs and reuile vs to recompense an iniurie with a benefite to giue meate to the hungrie drinke to the thirstie almes to the needie to interteine and receiue straungers into thine house to couer and cloath the naked to visite the sicke to admonishe him that is in an errour to teache and instruct the ignorant to helpe the perplexed and doubtfull man with thine aduise and counsell to make enimies and those that disagree friendes againe to comforte the afflicted and such like What other thing doth the Apostle S. Paule teache but that we should alwayes endeuour not trusting to our owne strength but chiefly to Gods assistance and labour to liue godly iustly innocently vprightly holily chastely soberly temperately profitably to the Church of God friendly for the life of men agreeably to Christianitie and in summe to liue worthie the Gospell of Christ He willeth vs to walke in newnesse of life and not to serue sinne any more to offer vp our bodies a liuely holy and an acceptable sacrifice to God to crucifie our flesh with the affections and desires thereof to keepe our selues immaculate and vnspotted of the world He warneth and exhorteth vs that we be renewed in the spirit of our minde and that we put on the newe man which is created to the image and similitude of God in righteousnesse and true holinesse that we be followers of God as deare children that we walke worthie of God and as becommeth Saintes supporting one another through loue endeuouring to keepe the vnitie of the spirit in the bond of peace being courteous and tender hearted one to another He biddeth vs to tame alwayes and to represse our naturall viciousnesse and our wicked affections neither to waxe proud and loftie in prosperitie nor to be too much deiected and cast downe in aduersitie whatsoeuer we doe to doe all to the glorie of God no man to regard his owne things but rather those thinges which are other mens Moreouer to be such that no man may be offended at any time with vs but that we prouoke others by our good example vnto godlinesse and vertue Finally he exhorteth vs that we pray without ceasing that in all things we giue thankes to God that we alwayes sigh after heauenly things and despise humane and earthly thinges Euerie where verely both this same Apostle and the rest doe deterre dehort vs from whoorehunting from obscenitie and filthinesse of wordes from hatred and heartburninges from spitefull enuie from vaineglorie from ambition from auarice from pride from surfeting and gluttonie and from all other vice and wickednesse And before all things they doe perpetually inculcate that faith which looke what an one it is within such an one doeth loue towardes our neighbour shew it forth represent it to be without Thus you haue heard what be the duties of a Christian man and the workes which are truely good acceptable in deede to God and which God hath ordeined that we should walke in them as S. Paule saith to the Ephesians And these verely are those good workes which both giue euident testimonie of our faith declare our minde to be gratefull mindfull of Gods benefites towardes vs commend vnto Infidels our Christian profession which allure inuite our neighboures to the studie of godlinesse If these thinges had bene in former ages diligently daily inculcated into the eares mindes of all men truely there had not so many superstitions so many vices abuses crept into the Church as there did of which now we will goe on forward to speake and to intreate of the rest which remaine behind But first let vs say somewhat of the Pope the God vpon earth as the Papistes doe call him They were drowned in a deepe and great errour which were persuaded throughly that the Bishop of Rome was by Gods law head of the catholike Church the high Priest of Christian religion the vicar of Christ and successour of S. Peter as it were a certeine God amongst men partaker of both natures with Christ and superiour to an vniuersall Synod or generall Counsell to whom it was lawfull to broach a newe doctrine which was contrarie to the doctrine of the Gospell to make a new article of our faith in the Creede to prescribe vnto all men a new forme and manner of liuing who lastly might commaund euen the Angels themselues as his garde attending his becke and who might at his pleasure thrust out of Heauen whome he would yea those that were guiltlesse and had neuer deserued it I omitte and let passe howe that he commandeth that all the decrees of the Apostolicall seate shoulde bee receiued as if they had bene confirmed and ratified by the diuine voyce of Peter himselfe that he will haue vs to beare the yoke put vpon vs by the holy seate yea though it be scarse tollerable that he doth suffer him selfe to be reproued and rebuked of none though he doeth leade an innumerable sorte of soules to Hell with him that he doeth take away in the Supper of the Lord rites instituted by our Sauiour Christ that he transferreth to his owne constitutions that glorie which is due vnto God alone that he goeth on still to manteine and defende doctrines of Diuels for so doeth the Apostle call them concerning forbidding of marriage concerning the vse and choyce of meates and finally concerning such like thinges that he glorieth that both the swordes are giuen to him that he challengeth vnto him selfe the power both of the celestial terrestriall Empire according vnto that saying Data est mihi omnis potestas in coelo in terra that is All power is giuen vnto mee in Heauen and in earth that he affirmeth himselfe to haue the right of translating the Monarchie which Cesar now obteineth to be brief that he compelleth religion to serue his profite that hee ruleth and reigneth like a King that he encreaseth his dominions by warres that he possesseth and holdeth straunge cities by force by fraud finally by any pretence whatsoeuer in summe that he desireth him selfe to bee set both aboue the Scripture and the Church and almost aboue God him selfe that hee maketh a gaine of
Emperour himselfe This kingdome of Antichrist from that time forward grew mightily specially vnder the Emperours of Constantinople and namely vnder the Emperour Constantinus Pogonatus or Barbatus and vnder the Emperours of Germanie Henries and Frederikes Now in this time of darkenesse it is much to be maruelled vnto what vile slauerie and thraldome Emperours and Princes were brought by the Bishop of Rome Some of them being resolutely persuaded by the Romish Cleargie that the Pope was Christes vicar vicegerent yea halfe a God refused no Popish subiection One waited at his gate barefoote and barelegge another was tied fast with chaines vnder the Popes table there to picke vp crumbes like a dogge another suffered him to set his feete vpon his necke another held his stirrop when the Popes holinesse vauted vpon his horse another was thrust into a Monasterie and made a Monke In such slauish subiection were Princes in those dayes Then in deede the Churche of Rome the whoore of Babylon was gloriously in open rule but the true Churche of Christ was not in any visible gouernment no more than it was in the time of Elias the Prophet And this was that the Scriptures might be fulfilled and founde true which say that there should be an Apostasie or defection from the faith that is a generall reuolting from true Religion that iniquitie shoulde haue the vpper hand that no man should haue the libertie of his life but he that should take vpon him the character or mark of the beast O wofull and lamentable times O most miserable and vnhappie dayes And yet the Papistes at this day crie with open mouth most impudently The Catholike church The Catholike Church saying that it hath alwayes bene to be sene at Rome They tell vs with shame inough that the Pope can not erre that his faith is Catholike and pure without all blot or blemish and that if we beleeue iumpe as he beleeueth we shall surely be saued But we will neuer beleeue Antichrist nor run to Rome albeit sometime a faithfull citie to inquire after our faith and Religion We wote well that now it is and hath bene a great while the sinke of all sinne and iniquitie in the world the verie seate and habitation of Antichrist himselfe We will not haue that proude Italian Priest to be our Doctour and generall Scholemaister a man made of all abhominations and whoredomes We will not lay the foundation or ground-worke of our faith vpon the glorious name of any mortall man whatsoeuer We see the end of all Poperie to be ignorance We see they derogate and detract all from Christ and his Passion and attribute their saluation to Masses to mens merites to Saintes prayers to Pilgrimages to vowes of virginitie to their owne good workes and to a thousand other trifling toyes We see they preferre mens traditions inuentions before the truth of Gods word We can shewe if neede be at what time and by which Popes euerie parcell of Papistrie was deuised He that will make a true Anatomie of it and examine it from point to point shall finde that it tendeth wholy to gaine and no whit to godlinesse To be short we knowe by the Scriptures of God that their Religion which forbiddeth marriage and meates is a doctrine of Diuels This was the miserie and infelicitie of former ages in which times notwithstanding God had his Church though not alwayes subiect to mans senses in which ages God raised vp euermore some good men which inueihed bitterly against the Popes intollerable pride and tyrannie as namely Hilarie Bishop of Vienna in Fraunce Paulus Cretensis and Iohannes Lampeon both Bishoppes denied his supremasie the Church of Rauenna in Italie would not acknowledge the Pope for her head Nilus Archbishop of Thessalonica writ a learned booke against the Popes primasie Afterwardes in Italie yea euen in Rome Arnoldus Brixianus an eloquent man oppugned stoutely the Popes primasie and tyrannie Counsels and Synods condemned the Popes supremasie after whom God raised vp here in England a valiant stoute souldier Iohn Wickleffe and in Bohemia Iohn Hus Hierome of Prage with many others as histories record and witnesse But at the length when it pleased the great goodnesse and riche mercie of God to take compassion on the world then drowned in darknesse he renewed the heauenlie light of his Gospell by which Antichrist of Rome should be reuealed and by little and little vtterly destroyed Then he raised vp mightie Capteines to make warre against that spirituall Pharao whom he appointed like Moses and Aaron to safe conduct vs out of the land of Aegypt out of the house of bondage out of the sorowfull seruitude of Poperie in comparison of which that Aegyptiacall slauerie was great libertie To this end and purpose he raised vp in this most happie and blessed age sundrie learned Diuines as namely Martin Luther Zuinglius Oecolampadius Caluine Peter Martyr Bucer Bullenger Gualter Theodore Beza Chemnisius Hemingius Riuius Zanchius Daneus Cranmer Ridley Latimer Hooper Bradford M. Iewell M. Nowell M. Iohn Foxe with infinite others both Englishmen Scots Frenchmen Germanes Italians Spaniards and Danes Surely this the happie age which Chrysostome fortold speaking of the last times Ad nullam rem fugient nisi ad Scripturas alioqui incident in abhominationem desolationis Then saith he will they flee vnto nothing but vnto the Scriptures otherwise they shall fall into the abhomination of desolation To whom agreeth S. Hierome writing vpon the Prophet Nahum And Gregorie prophesieth plainely of our time thus Ecclesia post eosdem dies quibus deprimitur tamen circa finem mundi grandi praedicationis virtute roborabitur The Church saith he after those dayes wherin she is depressed and holden downe shall for all that about the end of the worlde be strengthened with the great power of preaching Which thing is come nowe to passe in these dayes as we may see how that the preaching of the Gospell hath greatly preuailed against all the raging persecution of the Papistes the Lordes name be praised for it As oft as we thinke vpon this Gospell we dare auouch that these latter times are better times that this age is a golden age For if Aristides the iust was called Graecorum foelicitas that is The happinesse of the Graecians we may more worthily call Christ our felicitie and if the age wherein he liued was called Aureaaetas that is A golden age because iustice flourished in it verelie we may more iustly call this our age a golden age because the glorious Gospell of God shineth nowe most clearely in the eyes and soundeth most shrilly in the eares of all Israel O that men would therefore praise the Lorde O that men would acknowledge before the Lorde his louing kindnesse and his wonderous woorkes before the sonnes of men Thus we haue seene the chiefest happinesse of this our age to be the preaching of the Gospell of God amongest vs A
Pilgrimages instituted for religion and deuotion sake What say they else The vse of images say they is acceptable and gratefull to God and we doe well to fall downe flat before them calling vpon the Saintes whome they represent These verely are plaine and euident inough neither neede they any larger explication Let vs therefore goe on forward to the rest We must firmely and stedfastly beleeue say they that there is after this life a Purgatorie for soules departed in which is payed the punishment as yet due for sinnes Notwithstanding they may be succoured and holpen by the sacrifice of the altar by prayer by fasting by almes deedes and by other workes of the liuing as also by indulgencies that they may the sooner by that meanes be deliuered and set free from thence Now verely that appeareth plainely which I saide in the beginning what the aduersaries and enimies of the Gospell goe about namely to take quite away at once all faith all godlinesse all holinesse all religion yea the pure and sincere seruice of God finally to burie and ouerwhelme Christ him selfe the authour of mans saluation also to thrust vpon vs their owne vaine dreames the foolish fantasticall and doting deuises of men yea doctrines of Diuels as the Apostle calleth them to the end that we should herafter direct all the actions of our life by the rule and squire of the Popes will nothing at all regarding either what God willeth and commaundeth or what he prohibiteth and forbiddeth vs to doe whome the Papistes because they are flat Epicures doe neither wishe to be mercifull vnto them nor feare him when he is displeased with them But let vs render immortall thankes vnto God the eternall father of our Lorde and Sauiour Iesus Christ which hath suffered the follie and madnesse of the Papistes to be so manifested at this day that no man now can doubt any more what opinion and persuasion all of vs ought to haue of them For they are indeed deceiuers of mens mindes as S. Paule saith vnto Titus and men that turne away from the trueth yea verely as the same Apostle saith vnto Timothie men that resist the trueth as Iannes and Iambres withstood Moses But they shall preuaile no longer For as the madnesse of those Magicians was then euident to all so the madnesse of the Papistes is now reuealed to all men For as they are indeed so they are also accounted of all men seducers and deceiuers the enimies of the crosse of Christ Epicures which haue their bellie for their God which minde earthly thinges which bewitch men that they may not beleeue the trueth Wherefore seeing that this madnesse of the Papistes is now manifested to all men no man can doubt but that no Christian ought to haue any societie and fellowshippe with such kinde of persons And if perhaps any man heretofore hath doubted of it let him now verely cease to stand in doubt any more knowing the impietie of their doctrine by which they labour to ouerthrow quite from the foundation our Christian Common wealth Fooles they are and mad men which with the Giants wage warre with God him selfe and hope to haue good successe in the matter seeing that it is moste truely spoken of the wise man There is no counsell nor wisdome against the lord But that I may come now at the length vnto that for which I haue spoken these thinges of the follie and madnesse of the Papistes we ought woorthily all of vs to giue as greate thankes to the immortall God as wee can either conceiue in minde or vtter in woordes for the renewing of Ecclesiasticall doctrine and for the disclosing of almost innumerable errours superstitions and vices commonly tearmed abuses Now what kinde of errours and how great haue beene heretofore in the Church if any man be ignorant of them he may with a litle labour coniecture what they are euen out of the bookes which the enimies of the Gospell haue written out of which wee haue brought foorth these few for a shew They doe not vnderstand at all what faith is what the Gospell is what absolution is finally what Christ is They teach that men ought onely to beleeue whatsoeuer the chaire of Rome hath deliuered out in tradition doth deliuer out and shall deliuer out They will haue men to make choyce of meates contrarie to the doctrine of the Apostle yea without the case of offence They doe allowe and wonderfully commend to all men inuocation vpon dead Saintes which thing commeth very neere to idolatrie They doe approue woorshipping of images Pilgrimages to holy places as to Rome to Treuirs to Compostella and such like They doe confidently affirme and hold that there is a Purgatorie from whence indulgencies and pardons may release deliuer vs And who can rehearse the whole rable of those doctrines which they teach all which are full fraught both with impietie and superstition Who hereafter will not maruell and wonder at the blindnesse of the Papistes in this so happie an age in which after most grosse mistie darkenesse of errours wherein we went all astray there is restored by the great bountifulnesse of God a certeine light vnto the world Indeede all Gods benefites bestowed vpon vs ought to excite and stirre vs vp to be thank full vnto him but yet that principall and singular benefite of God in instauring the doctrine of the Church than which there could no greater gifte be giuen to men on earth I say that onely benefite is it which of all other wee ought chiefly to maruell at which we ought moste to celebrate and for which before all thinges wee ought to be thank full And the greater the blindnesse of the enimies of the Gospell is so much the more verely doe they owe vnto the immortall God whose eyes of the mind God hath opened in this age to acknowledge and behold the trueth and veritie But in this felicitie and happinesse of our age great and incredible is the ingratitude of men to God at this day which I am constrained to confesse not without great sorrowe and griefe Of which argument and matter I haue within these fewe dayes last past compiled a booke being happely moued and stirred vp thervnto by the absurditie and impietie of a certeine writing which the enimies of the Gospell published abroade in Printe which booke of mine most deare friend I thought good to consecrate and dedicate vnto you though it be vnpolished and written Extempore and that for these two causes both for to declare my good will towardes you and also for your famous godlinesse towardes God and singular care of Christian religion which zeale and feruent affection I doe againe againe pray from my hearte vnto God that he woulde daily more and more augment and encrease in you The sonne of God our Lorde and Redeemer Iesus Christ keepe and preserue you with all yours safe and sounde
spotlesse as though nuw by this one thing all their sinnes had bene purged and cleane put away Yea moreouer lying now at the point of death they commanded their executours to see them buried in a Franciscan Friers weede being verely persuaded that the Diuell had no power at all ouer any man that was lapt cloathed with that holy garment so brought to his graue The same men in those dayes hauing buried their wiues and being nowe widowers thought that it was lawful for them to take vnto them a concubine the Magistrate wincking at so great wickednesse and in the meane while howe many yeeres did they for all that liue in so filthie a life being touched with no godlie sorrowe and griefe of their minde for their sinnes neither abandoning nor casting off their concubine neuer purposing to liue chaste afterwades Onely in a certeine feigned and hypocriticall repentance and to satisfie the commandement of the Bishop of Rome they came once a yeere to the Lordes table but howe worthily and howe faithfully the matter it selfe doeth declare with what fruite any man may easily coniecture by Saint Paules commination And yet in the meane time they seemed to themselues to bee verie faire and good Christians Such was the blindnesse of former times and such examples tooke the Laie people from the Priestes Neither could they freely enough finde faulte with the people whome they did corrupt by their yll example nor condemne easily in the Laietie that which any other man might iustly reprehend in them For I pray you with what face shoulde the whoremaister exhorte an other to chastitie the impenitent to repentance hee that is defiled with all kinde of wickednesse exhorte an other to holinesse Or what can his authoritie preuaile who is deprehended found faultie in the same vices which he reprehendeth in other men which him selfe doth indeede accuse his owne faultes whilest hee chideth other men not so guiltie as he But let vs returne againe to our purpose The same men of those dayes were woont alwayes to carrie and beare aboute with them in their bagges a seale of waxe consecrated by the Bishop of Rome which of the imprinted image or figure they did tearme Agnus Dei that is to say The lambe of God being verely persuaded that that same seale had in it a principall power and a wonderfull vertue by reason of the blessing of Christes vicar by which there was diuinely from heauen inspired into those kinde of seales a certeine secret vertue against all thunderclappes lighteninges and tempestes and I can not tell what other euilles Such a vertue they attribute to their Easter waxe candels and to those which are consecrated vppon the feast day of the Purification of Marie also both to blessed salt and blessed holie water in which thinges they thinke there is a power and vertue to driue away euill Spirits and Diuelles Such a like superstition there was amongst the Iewes and a vaine credulitie of that name which they call Tetragrammaton which being engrauen in gold they supposed that whosoeuer carried that about with them should be safe and sure by the vertue and efficacie thereof from greate and many mischiefes The like superstition also is that which one Serenus Samonicus writeth of that ridiculous name Abracadabra that being written after a certeine manner in a paper and hanged vpon the necke of him that is sicke of an ague doth by little and little driue away the disease The same men of that time iudged those to be good woorkes which there is no man at this day but will confesse they were full of superstition and idolatrie as for example these vowed Pilgrimages gadding into woddes and hilles the redeeming of the Popes bulles the woorshipping of images and pictures the adoration of images the bowing of the necke before Churches perfuming before the altars of Saintes the burning of franckincense and waxe candels the fulfilling of vowes giftes hanged vpon the pillers of the Church the adopting of housholde gods superstitious fastes choyce and difference of meates abstinence from milke cheese butter flesh egges thred bare apparell contemning despising of marriage often watchinges lyinges vpon the ground babbling of prayers which they did not vnderstand voluntarie vexing tormenting of their bodies the offering of an hired wages to the Stationaries that scratch scrape for monie the election into the couent fellowshippe of Friers building of Monasteries founding of Masses ordeining of altars memories anniuersaries the wearing of an image of waxe consecrated by the Bishop of Rome inuocation to dead men for helpe the hanging of the Gospell about their necke the walking of the stations of Rome supplication to the couerings and cushinges of Saintes the sprinkling of holie water the tasting of consecrated salt the bearing about of images in publike processions the worshipping and kissing of vncerteine relikes long tedious songes in the Church the houres of our Ladie satisfaction for sinnes the Euening prayer of the virgine the censing of hearbes and boughes the profession of a Monasticall life voluntarie beggerie and who can rehearse all the rest of that trash Now what authoritie of the mysticall Scripture haue these woorkes What witnesse of Gods worde Where is there any mention at all of these thinges in the writinges of the Prophets and Apostles Finally what either commandement or example is there extant any where in the holie Scriptures for these Moreouer what do they auayle to religion Of what force are they to obteine saluation What rewardes are promised and proposed to them Who either of the auncient Diuines taught these thinges or who in the first and Primatiue Church did euer obserue them Last of all what necessitie I pray you is there of these either to the amplifying of Gods glorie or to the profite and commoditie of others Thus verely it is plaine and euident how greate a mist of darkenesse there was spred ouer all mens minds in former times seeing that of those which had the charge to teach others such thinges were inculcated into the eares of the people indeede shadowed after the shape of sanctitie and holinesse but to say the trueth onely foolish deuises of men Such were in old time amongst the Iewes those thinges which they had added and put to the Lawe which our Sauiour Christ mentioneth so often in the Gospell as for example broade philacteries long fringes of their garments often washinges of their handes and of pottes babbling of prayers ambitious fastes and other such like thinges How much better had it bene to haue inculcated and beaten those thinges onely into their heades which come neerer to true godlinesse and wherein mans saluation consisteth Such we knowe are those good workes in deede both verie acceptable to God and worthie of a Christian man which both the Table of the ten commandements doeth teache and Christ doth command and the Apostolicall doctrine doth
Ecclesiasticall matters and of the holy Ghost that he reacheth foorth his feete for most noble Princes to kisse that he canonizeth for Saintes dead men whom he thinketh will be profitable to him last of all that he breaketh leagues that he breaketh the faith and religion of an oth that he giueth leaue for men to doe against the commaundementes of GOD and that he permitteth subiectes to forsake their allegeance and to cast off all obedience and loyaltie to their lawfull Prince and what one man I pray you can rehearse all his doings of whiche there is neither end nor measure For I let passe pretermit many thinges which were to be added of the negligence of the Pope in caring for the Christian common wealth for he boasteth that he is set ouer it by God as cheefe President whose charge is to see that it take no harme in correcting and amending corrupt doctrine in abolishing wicked worships in assembling Synodes calling Councels in amending the corrupt manners of all states finally in gouerning guiding other matters affaires perteining to his office function Yea I thought good to passe ouer in silence those thinges which all the world almost crieth out vpon namely that the Pope forbiddeth many thinges which either are no where prohibited by Gods lawe or plainly permitted by the same that he requireth his owne lawe to be of more account than Gods commaundements that he prouideth euerie where rather for his owne gaine than either for Gods glorie or the saluation of Christian people that by his indulgencies pardons he both augmēteth the libertie impunitie of sinning also cutteth away all occasions causes of amendment of life finally that he neither careth to see his own canons obserued nor endeuoreth to represse that infinit vnmeasurable riotte and excesse of the Cardinals of Rome Hitherto you haue heard of the Bishop of Rome whome the Papistes account to bee our supreame Bishop most holie Lorde Some salute him with the title appellation of Prince Father of mankind othersome vouchsafe to giue him the name and honour of a terrene or earthlie God. Now let vs come to Baptisme which sith that it was instituted ordeined by Christ him selfe for mans sake namely that they which are borne by nature the children of wrath may through a certeine new regeneration by the Spirit beecome the sonnes of grace and that by Baptisme they might be purged frō the spottes of sinne which they brought with thē into the world when they were borne this vse the Papistes in former ages maruellously defiled For they were not afraid to baptise sacring belles other belles with great ceremonies yea almost obseruing the same rites whiche were vsed in baptising infantes For neither exorcisme nor vnction is left out they haue godfathers they haue names giuen them and all the rest of the thinges which were woont to be vsed in the true Baptisme are practised very deuoutly or rather superstitiously not without greate reproche mockage and despite of the true Baptisme especially seeing here as in baptising of childrē euerie hedg Priest Curate will not serue but onely the Bishop of the Diocesse namely to this end that there may bee more authoritie in the stage play whilest that such a christening is full of pompe And because Baptisme was ordeined of Christ to be the lauer of regeneration the washing away of our sinnes the Papistes were woont to consecrate with superstitious rites for they had no commaundement of Christ concerning that matter water with salt by which either those that entered into the Church as I said before or those whiche went out thence might sprinkle them selues to wash away the spottes and blottes of their daily sinnes and those light offences and faultes of theirs which custome nowe also lasteth in places of Poperie Now what great abuse was there heretofore of confirmatiō as they call it For wheras in it there ought to be had a diligent inquirie of doctrine a professiō of faith as a chefe principal thing to be required in bishoping the Papists leauing neglecting these send the children away after that they haue signed them in the foreheads with the holy Chrisme to vse Petrus Lombardus wordes geuen them a boxe on the eare So if you respect the true vse of confirmation it hath no place at all amongst the Papistes and the thing it selfe being quite taken away there remaineth onely the name and a certeine shadowe of an old auncient custome There were also many intollerable abuses in penance confession as for example that hard to scrupulous a reckoning vp of all our sinnes reseruing of certeine cases that appendix in absolution of the merites of Saintes Romish indulgencies humane satisfaction for sinnes and if there bee any such like In the Supper of the Lorde the cheefest abuse was of Masses especially that manifold number and great varietie of them as for trauellers wayfaring men for sailers seafaringmē for women trauelling in childbed item the Masse of the crowne of thorne the Masse of the three nailes the Masse of Christs vncircumcision what were they not woont to flee for reliefe vnto Masses as many as desired wished to haue a prosperous ioyfull euent to all things which they enterprised went about which sought a remedie for their diseases which would gladly escape shun all imminent euils daungers Yea moreouer Masses were thought to be profitable to deliuer the dead frō the fire of Purgatorie For the matter was now come to that passe that that Sacrament which was instituted and ordeined to excite stirre vp liue men to the remembrance of Christs death was almost wholy translated to the dead I doe omitte the superstitious reseruation of the Lordes bread and the pompe in which the same is carried about and shewed both in publike processions and also in solemne vewinges of the field in the Rogation weeke I doe furthermore omit let passe that taking away of one parte of the Sacrament from the people flatte contrarie to the institution and ordinance of Christ But let vs come to matters of greater weight and importance and first and formost to the promises concerning Christ to come in the former age no man had any rememberance or certeine knowledge of that promise which is the first both in time order Such cloudes of ignorance errour did so miserably darken the whole world And yet there are some also at this day which thinke that we doe wrest that place of Genesis in which is conteined the first promise to the vauntage and commoditie of our owne cause when as in deede the most auncient Doctours of the Christian Church make with vs as Irenaeus who not once or twice but often testifieth that the seede of the woman is that which Marie brought foorth into the world to wit our Sauiour So doth
mouing him to mischiefe that he alwayes beware most diligently of the snares and trappes which the diuell hath laide for him that he yeelde not to him that setteth pleasure as an obiect before him or to him which is desirous to ensnare and allure him with the inticementes of vices finally that he shunne all occasions and cut off as it were the handles to sinne Neither if he once happily obteine the victorie ouer his enimie let him not by by hope for truce peace as though he were past all perill but let him remember that he must alwayes stande in the forefront of the battell neither if he bee vanquished and ouercome let him despaire nor if he bee victor let him swell with any secrete pride And let him verily enterprise al these things not trusting to his owne strength and power but hauing his hope and his whole assurance placed in Gods ayde and assistance and calling vppon the sonne of God in godlie prayers for helpe In the meane space in our Ecclesiasticall meeting wee warne him to repaire very often to the Lordes table to the end that hee by receiuing Christes body may both be stirred vp to the remembrance of the promise concerning forgiuenesse of sinnes and also confirmed concerning Gods good will and celestiall fauour towardes him For the holy Ghost doeth vse this Supper as a meane and as it were an instrument to raise vp in vs assured confidence in Christ and loue towardes our neighbour Now as Baptisme is a perpetuall signe of that free remission of sinnes and of that reconciliation for Christes sake so the Supper of the Lord doeth testifie and witnesse vnto vs that those benefits last and dure for euer at all times in the Church of Christ and that they are not voyde and of none effect streightway no not in very great and greeuous falles if so be wee being touched with repentance doe flee vnto the exceeding great mercie of God for Christ if we desire forgiuenesse of our sinnes and that not without a feruent desire and studie to returne againe into fauour and friendship with God nor without a most firme purpose to amende our liues and to keepe and obserue hereafter Gods Pawe And truely Christ would that this Sacrament of his bodie and bloude should be a perpetuall monument and pledge of his loue towards vs namely that wee repenting from our hearte may after we haue receiued this pledge stirre vp our faith and be persuaded that wee haue our sinnes forgiuen vs for Christes sake who offered vp him selfe for vs vpon the altar of his Crosse a lambe immaculate and vnspotted that wee by this assurance might comfort our selues and might raise vp and holde vp our afflicted conscience that wee might giue thankes to God for so greate a benefite that wee might declare this our thankfullnesse towardes God in our whole life in all our actions and that wee might as the Apostle saith shew foorth the Lordes death perpetually finally that wee being put in minde by this pledge may euery way boldely trust that wee are now the members of Christ and that Christes benefites belong vnto vs For this Sacrament was chiefly instituted for this cause as I saide before but must say it oftener that wee vsing it might both exercise and confirme our faith and also that wee our selues might bee comforted with the remembrance and memoriall of the Lordes death which brought saluation to vs that so at the length wee might giue that thankes to God and to the sonne of God which wee doe woorthily owe vnto them Very few in the former age knew this vse of the sacrament called the Eucharist If perhaps any calamitie fall vpon him or if our heauenly father mercifully chastise him for some deserued offence wee bid him suffer it stoutly and with a chearefull minde and to remember that by that meanes hee is called to repentance that so God hath giuen him an occasion to exercise his faith that so hee is pricked forward to prayer that so that slouthfullnesse and deade sleepe which in prosperitie possesseth mens minds is shaken off finally that so our mindes are stirred vp and awakened to acknowledge our sinnes to amend our life to despise all humane and earthlie thinges Now verely in publike sermons in which heretofore there hath bene almost no other thing woont to be intreated of than of mens traditions of forged fables lying tales and feigned miracles of Saintes of vaine visions and apparitions of shadowes of vowes of Pilgrimages of indulgencies and pardons of offering vp a reward to the Stationarie souldiers of the caue or Purgatorie of S. Patrike and of such like trifles here our Preachers at this day in their Sermons doe teache and tell vs of faith in Christ of charitie towardes our neighbour of true inuocation of the crosse or affliction of repentance and of the fruites of repentance of iustification of those woorkes which may bee truely tearmed good woorkes of the Supper of the Lorde of bringing vp children in the feare of the Lorde of liberalitie towardes the poore and of such like pointes necessarie to saluation to bee briefe they preach those thinges verie much or rather those thinges onely which become wholesome doctrine as S. Paule warneth Titus Also in the same Sermous as likewise priuately and in secret confessions both the rude and ignorant are taught and instructed and the vnwarie are admonished and the slouthfull are rebuked the forward are incited the weaklinges are strengthened the afflicted are raised vp those that straie and wander out of the way are brought in againe they which are wholy displeased with them selues for the guilte of their sinne are comforted they which sleepe secure in sinne are terrified and made affraide with threates and not to vse many woordes all men alike are pricked forward to leade their life after the will and imitation of God all men are willed to thinke vpon death hanging daily ouer our heades by reason of vncerteine chaunces and to prepare them selues for that day wherein they must departe this life neither to loose the time of repentance giuen vnto them by the benefite of God. Lastly in those Sermons of our men there are not nowe woont to bee alleadged and cited I can not tell what solemne Doctours there are quoted none of these subtile none of these Seraphicall finally none of these irrefragable Doctours as Albert Thomas Aquinas Petrus Lombardus Rabbanus Nicolaus de Lira Dunse Dorbell Occam and other such like which heretofore were rife in the Papistes mouthes but now Moses the Prophets Christ the Apostles and the Euangelistes are cited to proue and confirme the matter which they doe there entreate of Thus you haue our minde and meaning namely what kinde of man wee at this day woulde haue him to bee who professeth him selfe to bee a Christian not more in woorde than in deede You haue also a summe of Christian
and turne that your sinnes may bee put away Christe him selfe in Iohn saith GOD so loued the worlde that he gaue his onely begotten sonne that whosoeuer beleeueth in him shoulde not perishe but haue life euerlasting But the same Christ in Matthaewe saith Not euerie one that saith vnto mee Lorde Lorde shall enter into the kingdome of heauen but hee that doeth my fathers will which is in heauen Paule saith vnto Timothie Christ Iesus came into the worlde to saue sinners But the same Paule vnto the Corinthians saith Bee not deceiued neither fornicatours nor idolatours nor adulterers nor wantons nor theeues nor couetous persons nor dronkardes nor railers nor extortioners shall inherite the kingdome of God. I would to God I woulde to God that wee would acknowledge in parte and studie to be thankefull for so notable a benefite of GOD in restoring this sacred doctrine and that after so greate ignorance and blindnesse of men in matters perteining to saluation and which are chiefly necessarie to bee knowen Which thing verely woulde come to passe first if wee thinking vpon the infelicitie and olde superstition of former times and beeing as it were astonied at Gods greate benefites would breake foorth into the praises of God into Psalmes and hymnes into spirituall songes singing and making melodie to the Lorde in our heartes giuing thankes alwayes for all thinges vnto GOD euen the father in the name of our Lorde Iesus Christ as the Apostle saith Secondly if wee woulde labour to promote and set forward the ministerie of the woorde to keepe honour to defend and manteine godlie teachers if we would labour to helpe and releeue the necessarie studies of the Church Last of all if wee woulde liue godly and holily towardes God patiently in afflictions vprghtly towardes our neighbour diligently in our duetie temperately and soberly in our diet and in our clothing honorably towardes our parentes obediently towardes our magistrates masters louingly curteously with all men liberally towards the poore needy to be short if we would liue innocently chastely soberly friendly to our enimies profitably to the Church of God fauorably to the life of men agreably to Religion consonantly to Christianitie conueniently meete for the Gospell and as S. Paule saith Liue worthie of God that is to speake most plainely if we did both loue God with our whole heart and from our verie bowelles and also if wee did beare as great good will to our neighbour as we doe to our selues if we our selues would doe that to no man which we would not haue done to vs if we were such towardes others as we would other men were towardes vs finally if we did helpe and succour alwayes our neighbour either with our substance or with our helping hand or with our good aduise and counsell not regarding euerie man his owne thinges but the thinges of other men if we did studie to profite all men yea euen our enimies to hurt no man no not if we be prouoked lastly if wee would be terrified from sinne and wickednesse rather with the loue of God than for feare if we would not loose the bridle to our lustes if we would doe nothing which ought not to be done But O our execrable abhominable ingratitude we doe not measure and ponder as it is worthie the greatnesse of Gods benefits neither doe we sufficiently consider with our selues how great commodities this doctrine instaured by God hath brought a good while agoe vnto Christendome For in how many errours were we heretofore wrapped in in how great superstitions were wee nusled in to what passe was Christian pietie come vnto was it not come to this point that it was thought a better and a more excellent thing for a man to be called a Franciscane than simply a Christian that wee did attribute much more to mans rites than to Gods preceptes that in obteining saluation we did trust rather to ceremonies than to the fauour and mercie of God or to the merite of Christ that almost altogether excluding Christ whose death was a pacification of Gods wrath against sinne wee did of our selues seeke to satisfie for our owne sinnes that wee did not onely iudge that heauen was due to our merites but also that we did sell our good woorkes of supererogation Finally that leauing and refusing God euerie man did for him selfe woorshippe reuerence adore the idol of his owne hearte I doe omitte and let passe lighter matters how that we did both feare vaine apparitions and shadowes of walking spirites and also how that wee did feigne deuise Purgatorie fire out of Virgils Aeneades how that wee gaue that seruice and honour to mortall men long since departed which should haue bene giuen to God onely how that they whiche were deliuered from the plague gaue thankes to Saint Roch they whiche returned safe from battell gaue thankes to Saint George they which had escaped shipwrack gaue thankes to Saint Nicholas they which had gotte good store of riches gaue thankes to I can not tell what Saint Erasmus they whiche had a plentifull and fruitfull vineyarde gaue thankes to S. Vrban they which were eased from the torment of toothachegaue thankes to Saint Apolline they whiche had conceiued borne children without any greate paine gaue thankes to Saint Margaret For wee of these had plainely made Ethnikall and Heathenish Gods and as the Gentiles in times past were woont to pray vnto Aesculapius and Apollo for the depulsion and driuing away of diseases vnto Mars for victorie vnto Neptune for a prosperous nauigation vnto Iuno for riches vnto Bacchus for plentie of wine vnto Ceres for abundance of corne vnto Lucina for an happie childbirth so wee were woont to begge and craue the like benefites of them whom wee speake of Yea as amongest the Ethnikes in olde time euerie citie or region had their Gods whom they did peculiarly woorshippe for as the Poet saith Cecropia serues as God Minerua wise and Creete Diana dame Hipsiphile soile adores the black-smith Vulcane halt and lame But Sparta woorshippes Iunoes grace Micaena honors Pelops stock The coastes of Menalis serues that Syluan God which Faunus hight And eke Lauinia lande doth woorshippe Mars that warlik wight So at this day Venice hath her S. Marke in whose tutelship she stands Millain hath S. Ambrose Paris hath S. Denis Collin hath the three Kings or the three Magi Francia hath S. Chilian Polonia hath S. Hedeuigis finally other haue other Saintes to defend them Also euerie seuerall companie and order of craftes men hath adopted their peculiar patrons and as it were houshold gods to defend them as for example the Goldsmithes haue got them S. Eulogius the Shoomakers S. Crispin the Fullers S. Seuerus the Painters S. Luke the Physicians S. Cosma S. Damian the Lawyers S. Fuon the Students of artes and liberall sciences S. Catharine If wee would repeate call
to minde these other superstitions almost innumerable we should now the more easily measure after a sort in our minde the magnitude greatnesse of Gods benefite especially if wee did remember that as yet there are euerie where verie many countries which are ouerwhelmed in most thicke darknesse of errours ignorance not differing at all from those nations which in times past were wholy giuen ouer to the worshipping of idols as well nigh all those people be at this day which with so great clamours outcries call for that state of religiō againe which they vaunt to haue profited so long the Christian common weale who desire that the ceremonies of their fathers may be worshipped which woulde haue the Emperour bring this to passe that looke what religion they receiued when they were children the same being old men they should leaue to their posteritie to be briefe who had rather embrace obserue the institutions traditions of their Elders old customes mens prescriptes than the rites of the Apostles than the veritie of the Gospell than the cōmandements of God amongst whom the Lombardicall historie is of more authoritie than the sacred scripture the Decretals than the Gospels the Bishop of Rome than the sonne of God Christ Iesus Therfore how greatly are we bound to God for instauring the doctrine of the Gospell in this our age What thanks ought we to giue render vnto him How greatly ought we to take heede bew are that we doe not by chaunce any thing vnwittingly which might offend the authour of this benefite What great care ought we to haue alwayes to labour trauell about those things which are gratefull and acceptable to God who loueth vs so entirely But how thankfull to God the common people are for this benefite alas it appeareth too plainly euidently at this day For the greater part of those men who would be accounted Christians without enuie be it spoken is giuen to gluttonie to surfeting to all kind of wickednes the maior part I say liueth nicely delicately riotously the greater number is carried headlong into all kind of pleasure intemperancie they loue they drinke apace they runne a whore hunting they snatch catch they filch steale they sweare forsweare they cogge and lie they defraude and deceiue in summe whatsoeuer ought not to be done that they doe Now amongst the Noble men vices preuaile beare too great a sway and to be briefe these especially Otia vina Venus venatus balnea lusus that is Idlenes wine Venus way with hūting bathes diceplay In Kinges courtes dronkennesse ruleth and reigneth and now to liue there is naught else but to vie drinking there In Noble mens gorgious buildings and goodlie houses nothing else almost by their leaues is done but daily diceplaying iollie tossing of beere potts daunsing to the sound of the Citterne or Lute I doe omitte let passe how that some of these Noble mē haue turned those possessions whiche by the liberalitie of their auncestours were left to the Church into their owne vse and suffer the miserable Pastours of the Church to dy almost for hunger so farre are they off from helping and releeuing them as much as in them lieth This verely is our gratitude and thankfulnesse towardes that singular and notable benefite of God which he bestowed vpon vs in taking away from among vs superstitions and in instauring holie and sacred doctrine No man truely can either declare in woorde or shadowe out in thought how excellent and how great this benefite of God is For now at the length we haue learned whiche is the holie Catholike Apostolicall orthodox and true Christian Church and what that communion of Saints is whereunto they must ioyne them selues in faith in will in opinion in prayer and in confession whosoeuer will be members of the people of God and of that mysticall bodie whereof Christ is the head in what parte of the world soeuer they liue in Nowe we haue learned that thing whiche almost no man heeretofore knew namely that all mē are saued by Christ alone no man by his owne merites that all men obteine saluation and eternall felicitie through the Mediatour the sonne of God not for the dignitie of their woorkes by whiche meanes verely both the Patriarches and also the Prophetes the people of Israel and finally all the godlie which haue bene from the creation of the world vnto this day haue bene saued For Christ as he that should come to bee the deliuerer of mankinde was promised from the beginning Wherevppon in the Reuelation there is that mention of the Lambe whiche was slaine from the originall of the worlde Therefore the Gospell or Euangell that is to say that forgiuenesse of sinnes reuealed and promised from heauen by the free goodnesse of GOD for the deliuerer to come hath bene alwayes euen from the verie beginning of mankinde though not yet in name and in woord yet in deed and in truth For this redeemer Christ is that seede of the woman promised vnto Adam which shoulde breake the serpentes heade that is which shoulde destroy the woorkes of the Diuell to witte sinne and death Hee is the seede of Abraham in which seede all the nations of the earth shoulde bee blessed Hee is that Prophete promised by Moses Hee is the sonne of Dauid who shoulde reigne ouer the house of Iacob foreuer This is hee whiche was shadowed by the Leuiticall sacrifices and foretolde by the oracles of the Prophetes Therefore wee haue all the godlie which haue bene euen from the beginning of the worlde ioyned with vs in the profession of the same faith For looke in whome the Patriarches the Prophetes and the people of Israel placed all their confidence in the Messias promised to them in the very same Christ nowe exhibited vnto vs both Apostles Martyres Confessours and finally wee all put our hope of saluation And this is the true Churche whiche wee haue learned out of this doctrine renewed this is that communion of Saintes which being as I saide before euen from the beginning of the worlde after the promise concerning the deliuerer to come was first propagated and continued in the Patriarches and Prophetes afterwardes in the Apostles Martyrs so on continueth perseuereth vnto this day by diuerse degrees orders of Christians professing the same faith perfourming shewing obedience to the Ministers of the Church The sonne of God our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ doeth by his woord and Gospell gouerne and by his holy Spirit helpe and assist this Church and this communion of Saintes O thrice happie and foure times blessed are they whiche ioyne them selues vnto the societie of this Church whiche hath the sonne of GOD for her President the Angels for her protectours the holy Ghost for her sanctifier finally all the godlie and electe of all ages as many as
or as S. Paule speaketh abounde more euerie day than other in it But O the execrable and abhominable negligence of men in repeating and calling to minde Gods benefites in rendering due and deserued thankes to so gratious and bountifull a god For wee liue so that wee differ nothing at all from Epicures that the name of God is for our sakes contumeliously reproched and euill spoken of amongst the Turkes that wee doe alienate all men from religion vnto which wee ought by our honest manners and good conuersation to inuite and to allure all men And in the meane season whilest we liue so wee both greeue the holie Spirit and cause that wicked and vncleane spirit to reioyce at vs and also wee yeeld our selues whom Christ hath redeemed by his bloud voluntarily to the bondage seruitude and slauerie of Sathan wee whom Christ hath deliuered from our sinnes doe wittingly willingly rush headlong againe into sinne wee whom he hath made heires of the heauenlie kingdome doe cause our selues through our owne fault to be disinherited This verely is all the thankes that wee giue vnto GOD for this doctrine of the Gospell renewed this is the thankes wee giue vnto Christ for giuing vs saluation so wee giue our selues to bee ruled and gouerned by the holie Ghost With these deedes wee approche and drawe neere vnto the Lordes Table So doe wee expect and waite for the comming of Christ And for ought that I see death is like to attache vs so doing so wee are like to come vnto Gods iudgement seate But that I may returne to my purpose truely I my selfe thinking and musing with my selfe vppon Christ whom wee beginne to confesse and acknowledge truely by this doctrine instaured am incredibly moued and affected neither is there any thing whereby I doe receiue either greater comfort or greater pleasure than by the remembraunce of Christes benefites and of the good will of our heauenlie father towardes vs who hath so loued the worlde that he hath preferred our saluation before the loue of his onelie sonne And falling into this cogitation I can not temper and refraine my selfe but I must needes exclame and crie out sundrie times with Saint Paule If God be on our side for vs who can be against vs Hee that spared not his owne sonne but gaue him for vs all to death howe shall he not with him giue vs all thinges also Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods chosen It is God that iustifieth who shall condemne It is Christ which is dead yea or rather which is risen againe who is also at the right hand of GOD and maketh request also for vs yea and in this cogitation of Christ there is nothing at all which may dismay and discomfort a conscience laden with greeuous sinnes much lesse driue it to desperation For if the lawe being broken and transgressed doeth woorke a feare terrour in vs let vs remember that Christ hath redeemed vs from the curse of the lawe if sinne terrifie vs let vs remember that the bloud of Christ hath cleansed vs from all sinne if death daunt vs let vs remember that Christ is the life and the resurrection if the wrath iudgement of God amaze vs let vs remember that we are reconciled to God by Christ if Sathan assault vs let vs remember that Christ hath triumphed ouer him being vanquished and subdued if hell fire make vs affraied let vs remember that Christ hauing beaten downe hell hath giuen vs an entrie into heauen In such terrours and in such a tast and feeling of eternall death you should in old time haue sought for this consolation in vaine in the Popes kingdome For that was nothing but mans satisfaction Romish indulgencies and the communion of Monasticall woorkes bought both with suite and with siluer the sacrifice of the Masse Pilgrimages to holie places and such other like trifles were opposed and set against sinnes and against death euerlasting The habit and weede of a Franciscane Frier and that staffe of reede that is that help of their seruice for the dead that helpe of memories of anniuersaries of oblations of nightwatchers as were set against Sathan and hell fire These thinges I rehearse to this end and purpose that it may the better be vnderstood how deepely we are indebted vnto our heauenlie father for this renouation of Ecclesiasticall doctrine that by this meanes we may be the more excited and stirred vp to pay with mindfull hearts deserued thankes to God so bountifull and so benigne vnto vs For vnlesse thou doest often call to minde with thy selfe what great blindnesse there hath bene heretofore in Christendome howe grosse darknesse and thicke cloudes of errours and ignorance vnlesse thou by diligent cogitation and consideration doest often remember the superstition of the former age surely thou shalt neuer vnderstand how great commoditie the instauration of holie doctrine hath brought vnto vs And it is a certeine part of gratitude or thankfulnesse to repeate in memorie the euilles passed from whence thou art deliuered that so thou maist the better ponder and also weigh the greatnesse of the benefite that so thou maist consider well what good thing thou hast receiued that so thou maist commend and praise that same benefite with a gratefull commemoration and that so thou maist offer alwayes to God through Christ the sacrifice of praise that is that so thou maist with thy whole heart giue thankes to Gods goodnesse and that thou maist pay thy vowes vnto the Lorde before all his people as the Psalmist saith For God requireth of vs this sacrifice called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or a sacrifice of thankesgiuing And if the Ethnikes and Panims in olde time when any thing had fallen out fortunately and luckily amongst them were woont to declare their grateful good will towards the gods by appointing solemne Processions and supplications to be said about all the temples and tabernacles of their gods or by offering vp sacrifices vnto them how much rather ought we to see to this in this renouation of the doctrine of the Church than which there could no greater benefite haue bene giuen vnto vs that we be mindfull and thankefull and that we declare and witnesse to the world this our thankfulnesse by celebrating the praises of God continually by singing hymnes to God both with our selues at home and also in the congregation and companie of the godlie abroade by assisting and succouring the Ministers of the worde by godlinesse and holinesse of life by doing our dueties towardes our neighbour by suffering aduersitie patiently finally by what meanes soeuer wee can And surely in this instauration of the doctrine of the Church we may almost feele with our verie handes that I may so speake the goodnesse of God towardes vs The diligent consideration of which thing ought worthily to stirre vs vp as I said before to giue thankes to God for so great bountie
mans prescriptes Eating of flesh in the Lent. Papistes punish more grieuously the transgressours of mens traditions than the breakers of Gods lawes so doe they vse to correct sinne and wickednesse The neglect of singing in the Church The neglect of mumbling vp Mattins The superstition of Monkes in neglecting their Ceremonies The superstitious obseruing of an holie day amongst the Papistes VVhom the Papistes woulde admitte to take holie orders as they call them 1. Tim. Cap. 3. How superstitiously the Iewes obserued their Sabboth day Iohn 18. 28. They which acknowledge their owne sinnes how they are to be comforted The saluation of all men is onely of 〈…〉 mercie through Christ Christes benefites how they are to be applied to penitent sinners Iohn 3. 16. 1. Iohn 4. 9. 10. Ephes 1. 7. Coloss 1. 14. 1. Cor. 5. 7. 2. Cor. 5. 21. The summe of the former doctrine How faith is conceiued by the preaching of the Gospell Christ onely hath done the deeds for vs. The vse of the Euangelicall absolution The keyes committed to the Church Iohn 20. 23. Absolution what it is Mark. 1. 15. The penitent person must come often to the Lordes supper Faith is conceiued by the preaching of the Gospell Augustine Faith is confirmed by the Sacrament The great loue of God towardes vs declared by giuing a visible signe of his inuisible grace VVhat is to be done after the receiuing of the Lordes supper The signes of a penitent minde 1. The. 2. 12. Obedience of Gods lawe is necessarie to the true penitent The office of the lawe The lawe doeth serue as a looking glasse to the faithfull Naughtie deedes cannot agree with a true faith Augustinus How God doeth helpe him that striueth against sinne The good woorkes of the godlie are neuer perfect but euer polluted and defiled The rewarde which God promised to good woorkes he payeth for Christes sake Honest deedes are Gods gifts in vs. Augustine Fulgentiâ—â— Our righteousnesse what it is Esai 64. 6. Augustine The righteousnesse of woorkes how farre foorth it hath his reward Galat. 3. 13. Rom. 8. 1. VVhatsoeuer is wanting to the perfection of our woorkes is pardoned for Christes sake Augustine How Gods commaundementes are fulfilled Idem Our want supplied by Christ VVhat kinde of obedience of Gods lawe is necessarie to a true penitent person VVoorkes meete for the regenerat to walke in Titus 2. 12. Eph. 4. 32. 2. Thes 5. 17. 1. Cor. 10. 31 1. Pet. 2. 11. 1. Pet. 3. 8. 9. 1. Pet. 5. 6. 7. 8. 1. Pet. 4. 9. 1. Pet. 5. 6. 7. 8. 1. Iohn 2. 15. 1. Iohn 3. 18. 1. Iohn 4. 9. 20. Iam. 1. 27. Iam. 4. 7. 10. Matth. 5. 16. 39. 42. 44. Luke 6. 35. Matt. 7. 12. Matt. 25. 35. The repentant fighting with the flesh the worlde and the Diuell must call vpon GOD for his ayde and assistance Cyprian VVe must pray to God the father for his holie spirit who may woorke in vs all vertues beseeming a Christian man. No man can obserue Gods commaundementes without the helpe of the holie Ghost A Caueat for Christians not to greeue the holie spirite of god Ephe. 4. 30. VVhom the holie Ghost doeth helpe Cyprian Fasting Prayer Almes must be ioyned to prayer and fasting Esai 58. 7. 9. Tob. 12. 8. Act. 10. 2. 4. The relapse of the regenerate into sinne how it must be cured Apoc. 2. 5. Luke 7. 37. Rom. 5. 20. Luke 18. 13. 1. Cor. 5. 7. Rom. 1. 13. How a man may mortifie his flesh 2. Pet. 2. 45. Examples of Gods wrath against sinne 2. Pet. 2. 6. The sabuersion of Hierusalem Particular punishmentes Heb. 10. 28. 2. Pet. 2. 20. VVe must not sinne voluntarily vve must resist Sathan who goeth about to deuoure vs. vve can neuer haue anie truce with the Diuell VVe must often receiue the Lordes supper by which our faith in Christ and charitie towardes our neighbour is increased The supper of the Lorde is a pledge of Christes loue towardes vs. vvhy the supper of the Lorde was instituted A preparation or comfort in calamities The fruites of aduersitie and tribulation vvhat manner of sermons the Popish sermons were VVhat manner of Sermons ours are at this day Tit. 2. 1. The manner of our priuate confession at this day VVhat kinde of doctors the Papistes doe cite in their sermons VVhat Doctors our Preachers doe alledge Of the Bishop of Rome Eph. 1. 22. Coloss 1. 18. How farre foorth the godlie may tolerate the authoritie of the Bishop of Rome How those thinges are to be taken which hitherto have bene either saide or written against the Pope The intollerable arrogancie of the Pope descried in manie of his sayinges and doings 2. Thes 2. 4. Antichrist doeth sitte in the Churche of GOD and doeth defende himselfe and his doinges by the name of the Churche whereby i Ì„t appeareth that the Turke cannot be Antichrist vvhy we haue changed diuerse thinges of the Papistes in ecclesiasticall Ceremonies VVherefore in baptising we ought rather to vse our vulgare tongue than a strange tongue Iustinian alloweth the vulgare tongue in Baptisme A wicked custome of baptising belles The true vse of repentannce and of confession The abuse of confession Christes death is the onelie satisfaction for sinne and no other thing vvhat rites in penance are noâ— to be disallowed Psal. 51. Tertullian wicked satisfactionâ— The supper of the Lorde is the true Masse in the Church of God. vvhy the Fathers called the Eucharist a sacrifice Luke 22. 19. The Eucharist is a memoriall of Christes sacrifice The true vse of the Eucharist vvhy it is called the Eucharist The abuse of the Eucharist Erasmus or Luther is here meant The taking away of the cup from the people is against Christes institution vvhat kinde of ceremonies haue our men taken away They which teach that we are iustified by faith onelie doe not take away good woorkes but onelie confidence in workes vvorkes of supererogation sold for siluer The assurance of our saluation is in Christ onelie Freely By faith alone All mens saluation consisteth in the onelie merite of Christ vve are iustified freelie and by faith alone Rom. 3. 24. Act. 15. 11. vvhat it is to be iustified by faith alone Faith is as it were a hande A slaunder of the aduersarie vve onely take away confidence in merites Saint Ambrose Psal. 32. 1. Saint Augustine Idem contra Pelagianos Idem ad Bonifacium An obiection of the Papistes The answeare How and to what end our Preachers exhort vs to good woorkes vvhy we must doe good woorkes Faith vnperfect without woorkes of loue Ambrose Augustine Chrysostome Galat. 5. 6. There can be no true faith in those which goe on still in a wicked life A purpose to sinne cannot stande with a true faith 1. Iohn 5. 5. A distinction of woorkes The first sorte of woorkes are the superstitious woorkes of the Papistes Ephe. 2. 10. The seconde sorte of good woorkes consisting in bodilie exercise Manie are moued with the hypocrisie and outward
shewe of good woorkes The thirde sorte of good workes which are good in deede To leade a Christian life consisteth in these woorkes 1. Thes 2. 12. vvho liueth noâ— Christianly Monkishe woorkes vvho liueth Christianly vvorkes meete for the regenerate Our aduersaries are agrieued that we reiect the first and second sorte of woorkes The Papistes are angrie with vs for that we ascribe our saluation only to Chist and not to mans merites The Papistes are grieued that wee condemne their superstition and idolatie 1. Cor. 10. 14. 1. Tim. 4. 7. 8 There are and haue alwayes bene some vndiscreete Preachers which haue not spoken wisely and discreetly ynough of good woorkes Augustinus Phil. 2. 12. Galat. 4. 21. The Papistes accuse vs vniustly as destroyers of good woorkes Monkes woorkes Matt. 6. 7. vvhat it is to refuse the worlde and to renounce the Diuell The Papistes finde great faulte with vs for that we call that a good woorke whiche euerie man doeth honestly in his vocation vvhat woorkes please God and what displease him The dressing of an horse how farre foorth it is a good woorke Eph. 6. 5. Coloss 3. 22. Tit. 2. 9. 1 Pet. 1. 18. How farre foorth it is a good woorke to be at a sermon VVoorkes which Monkes bragge and boast of An other obiection of the aduersarie The answeare There were no heresies in the Primitiue Church than are now There haue bene alwayes certeine which haue resisted wholesome doctrine 2. Tim. 3. 8. The cause of heresies and tumultes is not in the Gospell but in the malice of Satan An obiection The Aunswere The cause of loosnesse of life Our Preachers labour to salue euerie sinne with a seuerall remedie out of Gods woorde Matt. 3. 2. 7. 8 1. Iohn 3. 16. Matt. 5. 22. Galat. 5. 20. 12. Matt. 5. 44. â—5 Matt. 6. 15. Luke 16. 19. Luke 12. 16 1. Tim. 6. 8. 9 Heb. 13. 2. 1. Pet 4. 9. Luke 18. 14. 1. Pet. 5. 5. Mat. 12. 36. Eph. 4. 29. Luk. 12. 40. Luk. 6. 35. Ephe. 5. 18. Luke 21. 34. Esai 5. 11. 1. Pet. 5. 8. 1. Cor. 6. 9. Eph. 5. 5. 1. thess. 4. 3. 1. Cor. 7. 2. Heb. 13. 4. 1. Cor. 6. 18. Matt. 25. 41. 2. Cor. 5. 10. How euerie man in our sermons is admonished of his duetie Rom. 13. 4. The duetie of the Magistrate The subiectes duetie Rom. 13. 1. 2. 5. 7. The husbandes duetie Coloss 3. 19. Eph. 5. 28. Eph. 5. 22. 23. The wiues duetie Parents dutie Ephe. 6. 4. 5. 6. Childrens duetie Seruantes duetie The maisters duetie The Preachers duetie 1. Pet. 1. 2. 1. Tim. 6. 17. Rich mens duetie The customers duetie Luke 3. 13. 14. The souldiers duetie 2. Tim. 4. 2. Christians in name and not in deede Hilarie The great corruption of this our age A vaine vaunt of faith without good workes Much professing now a dayes but small practising Tit. 1. 16. The doctrine of the Gospell is euill spoken of because of our yll liues The great ingratitude of this age Matt. 11. 12 1. Pet. 2. 9. Saint Paules sweete exhortations Rom. 12. 1. Calat 5. 24. Tit. 2. 11. 12. Eph. 5. 1. 2. Eph. 2. 10. Matt. 5. 16. 1. Pet. 2. 24. Tit. 2. 14. Galat. 1. 4. 2. Cor. 5. 15. Coloss 1. 22. Against those which sinne through hope of Gods mercie Psal. 13. 8. Psal. 34. 16. Exod. 20. 6. Ezec. 33. 11. Iohn 3. 15. Iohn 5. 29. Iohn 1. 29. Matt. 3. 2. 8. Act. 15. 11. Act. 3. 19. Iohn 3. 16. Matt. 7. 21. 1. Tim. 1. 15. 1. Cor. 6. 9. 10 How we may be thankefull to God for this great benefite of the Gospell Eph. 5. 19. 20. 1. Thes 2. 12 Our great vnthankefulnesse How great errours there were in the former age Purgatorie deuised out of the sixte booke of Virgils Aeneades The superstitious honouring of Saintes in the former age Saint Roch. Saint George Saint Nicholas Saint Erasmus Saint Vrbane Saint Apolline Saint Margarete The woorshipping of Saintes in the former age was not vnlike the idolatrie of the Ethnikes Ouide The peculiar Gods of seuerall cities and countries amongest the heathen nations Seuerall Saintes Patrones of seuerall cities at this day According to the number of thy cities are thy Gods. Iere. 2. 29. Seuerall trades haue seuerall Saintes to be their patrones and Protectours Manie countries are as yet drowned in darkenesse vvhat greate thankes we owe to God for restoring his Gospell The ingratitude of the common people The ingratitude of Noble men and Gentlemen The corruption of Princes courtes Some noble men take to themselues the Churche goodes wherewith Pastours and Preachers shoulde be mainteined Now it is well knowen which is the catholike Church All men saued onelie by faith in Christ Both we at this day and the Fathers in old time were saued by the same faith Apoc. 13. 8. The Gospell was from the beginning of the worlde Gen. 3. 15. 1. Iohn 3. 8. Gen. 12. 3. Deut. 18. 15 Act. 3. 22. vvhich is the true Church and Communion of Saintes vvhat kinde of societie the Church is How Christ ruleth and defendeth his Church The societie of the Church is perfect felicitie Psal. 84. 1. 2. 4. 12. The great comforte and consolation which a Christian man may receiue by meditating and musing vpon the Communion of Saintes Comforts which we receiue by Christ crucified for vs. Act. 10. 43. 1. Tim. 1. 15. Luke 19. 10. Esai 61. 8. Luke 4. 18. Iohn 3. 17. Coloss 2. 13. 14. Matt. 11. 28. Galat. 4. 5. Eph. 5. 2. Heb. 2. 14. Gal. 3. 13. Coloss 2. 15. Eph. 4. 8. Psal. 68. 18. Rom. 8. 34. 1. Iohn 2. 1. Heb. 9. 24. Eph. 4. 24. 1. Tim. 2. 5. Heb. 4. 16. Ioh. 1. 29. Ioh. 11. 25. 1. Cor. 1. 30. Esai 53. 5. Osee 13. 14 Iere. 23. 6. Esai 7. 14. Christ is the scope both of the law and of the Gospell Especially at this day men ought to be thankefull for the doctrine of the Gospell Coloss 3. 16. 2. Pet. 3. 18. Mans extreme ingratitude to God for his infinite benefites shewed by his wicked life The remembraunce of Christes benefites of what force it is with the godlie Rom. 8. 31. 32. 33. 34. vvhat greate consolation redoundeth to a distressed conscience by the right remembraunce of Christes benefites Gal. 3. 13. 1. Iohn 1. 7. Iohn 11. 25. Coloss 2. 15. vvhat comfort of conscience there was in time of Poperie vvhat great thankes we owe to God for the renouation of Ecclesiasticall doctrine A part of thankefulnesse to acknowledge from whence we came Psal. 50. 14. VVhat kind of sacrifice God requireth at our handes By what things we ought to declare our thankefulnesse towards God. From what darkenesse ignorance we are deliuered An obiection Some doe impiously lay the cause of all calamities vpon the renouation of this celestiall doctrine Ciuil warres in Germanie An aunsweare The wicked opinion of Porphyrius August lib 2. de ciuitate dei Cap. 3. So did Demetrian complaine as it appeareth by S. Cyprians reprehension Tertullian Our age may be called happie although calamities come vpon vs For the renouation of the Gospell counterpaiseth all calamities Iohn 17. 3. 2. Cor. 5. 2. 1. Cor. 7. 31. Phil. 1. 23. Luke 2. 29. How the godlie are moued with calamities Calamities come not by fortune but are sent of God. Publike calamities are as it were the voyce of the lawe VVherefore and to what end calamities are sent of God. Matth. 3. 2. Mark. 1. 1â— Calamities are tokens and witnesses of Gods wrath against our sinnes VVhat fruit the godlie reape of calamities Psal. 6. 1. Ieremie 2. The ioy of the Gospell preached is greater than all calamities Rom. 8. 28. Afflictions happen for the best vnto the godlie How the godlie suffer calamities Orofius A godlie Prayer 1. Thes 2. 12 1. Cor. 1. 10. Phil. 2. 2. Actes 19. Matth. 9. ¶ Imprinted at London at the three Cranes of the Vintree by Thomas Dawson for Tobie Cooke and Philippe Eede dwelling in Paules Churchyard at the signe of the Tygres head
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Thessalicus Phlegias miseranda voce per vmbras Testatur quid sit prae se contemnere Diuos Gloria Teuerorum Superûm labor Ilion ingens Excellens Asiae columen Phrygiaequé columna Firma decennali cecidit prostrata duello In se magna ruunt fateor summisque negatum est Stare diu fato tamen illa labare negandum est Magna ruunt ratio est satis obuia fingit Fortunam sibi quisque suam Dominiqué voluntas Perficitur nobis scelerum contagio poenam Adfert propriae sumus vnica causa ruinae Summe Deus cuius bomitate hic angulus orbis Nec maris obruitur transmissa mole voracis Nec contorta timet iaculatum fulmina Papam Anticipat tectosqué delos frandesqué latentes Daprecor vt gratis animis haec dona ferentes Soli accepta tibi tuainssa capessere proni Et mandata sequi nunquam vertamus in iras Te quem sola iuuat miseris miseratio parcens Repprime letali laetantes caede Cethegos Macchiauellitas atheos his finibus arce In lucem veniant hypocriticaturba Baalis Sacrifici laruisqué ostendant ora remotis Nulla fides placitis Epicuri habeatur ineptis Vt placeant quaecunque tuo sunt consona verbo Denique succidatur bumo radicitus impietatis Fibra nec exertas turbent zizania fruges Nunc cūm vela legenda sient statioqué petenda Vir venerande quibus coelo te laudibus aequem Virtutisnè prius mirer studijnè labores O nostri tutela status quem culta Lycei Quem Demosthenicae dulcissima suada medullae Quem Stoa Zenoni rigido platanusque magistro Discipuloque vmbrosa Academia sacra Platoni Quemque omnis doctrina docens loca pulchra docendi Delectant cuius laudes monumenta perennes Illustrant quae impressa typis venalia prostant Virtutem commonstrat bonos velut vmbra secutus Ipsa fidem Princeps famam respublica raros Ingenij fructus duplex Academia voce Praedicat vnanimi nec dico quid Aula quid ipsa Castra quid explorans regiones Nauta quid vrbis Artifices quid diues infima turba loquantur Haec sunt nata domi praeconia vera sed illa Pondus habent maiu◠quae defert Gallicus hospes Italus Almannus Flander Lusitanus Iberus Quae quia nec nostri ingenij est recitare nec huius Temporis ecce aliâs ad missa redire statutum est Nam priùs Arctophylax linquet sua plaustra Bootes Rhinoceros motas quassabis in aëre pennas Ignis aqua sedem partes petet vnda supernas Quà m cadat ex animo nostro pietatis imago Vera tuae viuax dum spiritus hos regit artus Dignum laude virum Musa vetat mori ¶ A Christian encouragement for the Translatour FOnd fansies pend in rowling verse and many wanton woorkes of loue As pleasures Palace Fansies schoole and Venus court are rife which moue Young youthes to vaine delightes and spurres them foorth to runne a sinnefull race Alas what griefe is it to see such poysoned baites deuourd apace Such shamelesse men would punisht bee and yet of some they praised are Such godlesse bookes ought to bee burnd as chaffe yea as enchaunting ware Good godlie woorkes fare worse for these as daily practise proues wee see Yet be content and take thy chaunce let no such scourge discourage thee Thy labour is not spent in vaine for why good men will like thy paines And eke allowe this worthie woorke then care not thou for other gaines No wise man now will discommend this happie age of ours but hee Who with Demetrius the Smith doth gaine by Popish trumperie Who measures godlinesse by gaine who doth for God his bellie chuse Who for his hogges with Gergesens doth Gospell Christ and all refuse Whose faith an idle fansie is and doating dreame on holie Church Of Rome or rather harlot vile who leaues him in the lash and lurch All godlie men will render thankes to God for this thrice happie day Wherein the Gospell flourisheth our onely harbour hope and stay The Lorde preserue our gratious Prince who settes it foorth with might and maine Our onely gemme of ioy God graunt the Moone may waxe and neuer waine Ecclesiastes 7. 12. Say not thou Why is it that the former dayes were better then these For thou dost not inquire wisely of this thing 1. Iohn 2. 8. The darkenesse is past and the true light now shineth Post tenebras Lux. Rom. 1. 21. 1. Cor. 1. 20. The originall of the Pope and poperie The Pope setled in Sathans seate not in Saint Peters chaire 2. Thes 2. 3. 4. 9. 10. Daniel 7. 5. Apo. 17. 2. 4 2. thess. 2. 7. Flowe the Primasie or Popedome of Rome grewe vp Phocas who had murdered Mauritius the Emperour was the first Pope maker for before that time the Pope was not taken for the vniuersall head of the Church nor yet for Christes vicar Emperours brought by the Pope into shame full slauerie The true Churche of Christ hath not alwayes bene in a visible gouernement 2. thess. 2. 3. Mat. 24. 12. Apo. 13. 15. The common crie of Papistes at this day which call vs to their holy whoorishe Church of Rome 1. Tim. 4. 1. In euerie age some withstoode the Popes proceedings though they had not such light of the trueth as we haue now The happinesse of this age generally The best learned Diuines of this our age Chrys vpon the 24. of Matthaew Hierom vpon Nahum Gregorie vpon Iob. Psal. 107. 15 Our age happie for that nowe all good learning flourisheth with the Gospell Of the happinesse of England specially ◠Pet. 2. 9. The Papistes golden day shall neuer come I trust to hinder our happinesse 1. Cor. 10. 33. The rage and madnesse of the Papistes is now reuealed God be praised for it Papistrie is nothing else but painted hypocrisie and double dissimulation with which they haue deceiued the vniuersall worlde Craftie conueyance discouered and detected Diuelishe decrees of the Papistes made in their Tridentine counsell Anathemata Papistica sine omni fundamento doctrinae VVhat the papists haue euer taken faith to be Ephe. 2. 8. 9. Absolution what it is Mark. 1. 15. The Papistes denie that we ought to beleeue the Gospell Ephe. 5. 5. VVhat it is to beleeue Contrarieties in the doctrine of the Papistes Iames 2. 19. Traditions of the Church of Rome Ecclesiasticall constitutions Merites and intercessions of Saintes VVoorshipping of images Purgatorie The drift of poperie 1. Tim. 4. 1. Papistes plaine Epicures Tit. 1. 10. 2. Tim. 3. 8. Iannes and Iambres Magicians Phil. 3. 18 19 A Christian ought to haue no societie with a Papist The Papistes make warre vpon God Prou. 21. 30. Our duetie it is thus Certeine errours of the Papistes 1. Tim. 4. 4. Places of pilgrimages That singular benefite of God in instauring the doctrine of the Church passeth all other The ingratitude of this age to God for their happinesse Virgil. George lib. 2. The happinesse of