sucuus Anno Dom. 333 The raigne of the Caesars Anno Dom. 743 15 88 Fridericus 1. Anno Dom. 333 The raigne of the Caesars Anno Dom. 743 37 89 Henricus 5. aliâs 6. Anno Dom. 333 The raigne of the Caesars Anno. Dom. 743 10 yeares 90 Otho 5. aliâs 4. Anno Dom. 333 The raigne of the Caesars Anno. Dom. 743 13 91 Fridericus 2. Anno Dom. 333 The raigne of the Caesars Anno Dom. 743 33 92 Rodulphus Anno Dom. 333 The raigne of the Caesars Anno Dom. 743 19 93 Aldulphus Anno Dom. 333 The raigne of the Caesars Anno Dom. 743 1 yeare 3. monethes 94 Albertus Anno Dom. 333 The raigne of the Caesars Anno Dom. 743 9 yeares The names of the Caesars 95 Henricus 6. Anno Dom. 752 The raigne of the Caesars Anno Dom. 998 5 yeares 96 Ludouicus 4. Anno Dom. 752 The raigne of the Caesars Anno Dom. 998 33 97 Carolus 4. Anno Dom. 752 The raigne of the Caesars Anno Dom. 998 32 98 Venceslaus Anno Dom. 752 The raigne of the Caesars Anno Dom. 998 22 99 Robertus Bat. Anno Dom. 752 The raigne of the Caesars Anno Dom. 998 10 100 Sigismundus Anno Dom. 752 The raigne of the Caesars Anno Dom. 998 27 101 Albertus 2. Anno Dom. 752 The raigne of the Caesars Anno Dom. 998 2 102 Fridericus 3. Anno Dom. 752 The raigne of the Caesars Anno Dom. 998 53 103 Maximilianus Anno Dom. 752 The raigne of the Caesars Anno Dom. 998 26 104 Carolus 5. Flandr Anno Dom. 752 The raigne of the Caesars Anno Dom. 998 30 yeares 105 Ferdinandus Anno Dom. 752 The raigne of the Caesars Anno Dom. 998 6 yeres 4. 〈◊〉 106 Maximilianus Anno Dom. 752 The raigne of the Caesars Anno Dom. 998 11 yeares Of these Emperours more shalbe said in peculiar 〈◊〉 when I come to the second part and first booke thereof The third booke containeth the description of the second Monarchie that is of the Persians CHAP. I. Of the originall of the monarchie and succession in the same GOd most mightie and most faithfull for his power doth whatsoeuer pleaseth him and for his promise sake hee vndoubtedly accomplisheth whatsoeuer he hath said He suffered the Iews his peculiar people to be long afflicted by the Babilonians but after that 70. yeares were fully complete and expired according to his promise Isai. 45 1.48.20 He with great ioy wrought their deliuerance He appointed king Cyrus to set them at libertie whom for that purpose he called his annointed Es. 45.1 Which Cyrus hauing conquered the kingdome of the Medes against Astyages left the said kingdome to Darius his vncle by whose aide he tooke Babylon and so transported the Monarchie of Babylon to the Persians Cyrus deliuered the Iewes from captiuitie the very same yeare that he took Babylon He also gaue them great treasures to build the temple of Hierusalem and sent them home againe vnder the conduct of Zorobabel Esd. cap. 1. cap. 2. 2. Par. 36. ver 23. Esd. 7. v. 15. He commaunded to giue them of his own reuenewes day by day so much as should be necessary Esd. 6. verse 8.9 Cyrus king of Persia brought forth by the hand of Mithridates the treasurer all the vessels of the house of the Lord which Nabuchodonosor had taken out of Hierusalem and placed in the house of his false God Cyrus numbred them vnto Sesbazer the Prince of Iuda To wit 30. Chargers of gold a thousand chargers of siluer 29. kniues thirtie basons of gold 410. basons of siluer and of other vessels 1000. all which with other rich gifts the king bestowed on the Iewes to build vp againe their Temple Esd. 1. 2. Par. 36. The building of the Temple was hindered by the aduersaries of Iuda and Beniamin that is the inhabitants of Samaria whom the king of Assyria had placed in the stead of the ten tribes which ten tribes he had carried away vnto Ashur and put them in Halah and in Habor by the riuer of Gozan and in the citie of the Medes for at that time the Medes and Persians were subiect to the Assyrians which vexation hindering of the Iewes in building their Temple continued about the space of thirtie yeeres that is vntill the sixt yeare of Darius the sonne of Histaspis surnamed Assuerus and Artaxerxes indifferently Esdr. cap. 4. The difficultie The Prophet Daniel who liued euen in the time of the captiuitie of Babylon affirmeth constantlie that the same night in which Balthasar the king of the Chaldees was slain Darius King of the Medes tooke the kingdome being 62. yeares of age Dan. cap. 5. vers 31. and the said Daniel saith that he vnderstoode the time of the captiuitie by the bookes of Ieremy in the first yeare of Darius sonne of Assuerus who was of the seede of the Medes Dan. 9. vers 1. but Esdras writeth plainely that Cyrus was king of Babylon and gaue the Iewes leaue to build their temple to whom also he gaue great treasure as is alreadie saide Esdr. 1. Esdr. chap. 6. vers 3. The answere I say first with Saint Hierome vppon Daniel that Cyrus gaue the title of honour to Darius as well in respect of his olde age as for kinred sake I say secondly that Cyrus went about warres in other Countreyes and so had not the title though he were king indeed I say thirdly that Darius died the same yeare that he and Cyrus wan Babylon so as the Monarchie of the Medes Persians and Babylonians descended wholly vnto Cyrus The names of the kings of the Persian Monarchie Darius A. M. 3426 the time of their reigne A. M. 3655 9 monethes Cyrus A. M. 3426 the time of their reigne A. M. 3655 30 yeares Cambyses A. M. 3426 the time of their reigne A. M. 3655 8 yeares Smerdes magus A. M. 3426 the time of their reigne A. M. 3655 7 moneths Darius Histaspis aliàs Artaxerxes alias Assuerus A. M. 3426 the time of their reigne A. M. 3655 36 yeares Xerxes A. M. 3426 the time of their reigne A. M. 3655 20 yeares Artabanus A. M. 3426 the time of their reigne A. M. 3655 7 monethes Darius Artaxerxes Longimanus A. M. 3426 the time of their reigne A. M. 3655 40 yeares Zerxes A. M. 3426 the time of their reigne A. M. 3655 2 monethes Sogdianus A. M. 3426 the time of their reigne A. M. 3655 7 monethes Darius Nothus A. M. 3426 the time of their reigne A. M. 3655 19 yeares Artaxerxes Mnemon aliàs Memnon A. M. 3426 the time of their reigne A. M. 3655 40 yeares Darius Ochus aliàs vagosus A. M. 3426 the time of their reigne A. M. 3655 26 yeares Arsames sonne of Ochus A. M. 3426 the time of their reigne A. M. 3655 4 yeares Darius Arsami filius aliàs Arbelas or Melas A. M. 3426 the time of their reigne A. M. 3655 6 yeares The first obseruation It is to be obserued that Artaxerxes was the commō name of all
thinke that these 72. Iewish priests sent by Eleazarus the hie priest brother to Symon Priscus into Egypt to king Ptolomeus to translate the old testament out of their vulgar tongue that is the Hebrew into Greeke did translate the same seuerally being placed in 72. distinct celles so as no one coulde know what another did without diuine inspiration This notwithstanding they all agreed so perfectly when their interpretations were compared together as if they had beene all in one place and one acquainted with anothers act Which if it were true the decision whereof I leaue in suspence to the iudgement of the reader it coulde not but prâ—ceede of the holyghost Others as saint Ierome Aristeas Iosephus and all the Iewish Rabbins hold the flat contrarie opinion and auouch boldly that the report of the 72. celles and of the translation accomplished in so many seueral places is nothing else but a fable Which latter opinion seemeth more probable though not certaine because the Iewes could best tel the case of whom S. Hierome receiued his opinion Howsoeuer it was two things are certaine first that the Hebrew text is the foundation and originall and onely to be stoode vpon so often as any difficultie ariseth in the olde testament Secondly that howsoeuer they did translate yet was there such corruption of their translation euen in saint Hieromes time and before his dayes as it was found in very many places to swarue wholly from the Hebrew Which thing not only Saint Hieerome but Origen and other writers do witnesse for which cause Saint Hierome and Saint Augustine do verie wisely and grauely exhort to haue recourse to the Hebrew in the old Testament and to the Greeke in the new Testament so often as any varietie doth appeare And here wee must note two things first that those priests which Eleazar sent to Ptolomee were 72. in number as sundrie thinke albeit the two odde persons be omitted of others for breuitie sake Secondly that they translated onely the Pentateuche as writeth Iosephus in his first booke of antiquities Adde heereunto with the same Iosephus that they were sent to his librarie at Alexandria where if wee will beleeue Genebrardus were 54. thousand and 800. bookes CHAP. VI. Of Esdras Zorobabel and Nehemias God albeit hee doth often afflict and exercise his people with the crosse of temporall punishment for their good that so they may beholde their owne vnworthienesse and appeale to his mercie and wholly depend vppon his holy prouidence yet for his mercie sake hee doth in all ages and at all times excite worthie persons for their great commoditie and solace For after that he had visited the Iewes and kept them in bondage seauentie yeares in a strange countrey among infidels and idolaters hee raised vp diuers excellent men for their preseruation to wit Zorobabel Esdras and Nehemias Zorobabel was the captaine that brought them home and caused the temple to be builded Nehemias builded vp the walles of the citie deliuered the people from oppression and prouided that the law of God was put in execution among them This Nehemias was in great fauour and authoritie with king Artaxerxes and so obtained most honourable and ample letter patents for the accomplishment of whatsoeuer he did desire Esdras descended of the kinred of Aaron hee was a priest well learned in the law of Moses Hee was called Esdras the scribe that is one who had authoritie to write the lawe and to expound it Saint marke calleth such a one a Scribe Saint Mathew tearmeth such persons Lawyers and doctours of the lawe which is a point well worthie the obseruation This Esdras performed the office of a true priest indeed for he collected the bookes of holy scripture which were dispersed after the destruction of Hierusalem in time of the captiuitie without which bookes pure and sincere religion could not consist Yea so soone as the temple was builded againe vnder Zorobabell he is noted as Hierome recordeth to haue found out the Hebrew letters we now vse whereas vntil that time both the Samaritans and the Hebrewes had the selfe same characters Eusebius Caesariensis a man as well of great antiquitie as of learning calleth Esdras the most excellent diuine and skilfull doctour among the Iewes affirming that hee changed the Hebrew letters for this ende and purpose lest the Iewes should conuerse with the Samaritans He addeth further that his memorie was so great as he could recite the scriptures without the booke Some write that he inuented the prickes annexed to the text but others hold the contrarie The fift booke of the Monarchie of the Greekes from the Machabees vntill Christ. CHAP. I. Of the partition of the Monarchie and the reason of the same THe former part of the Monarchy of the Greekes which is from King Alexander the great vnto the Machabees conteineth 155. yeares and may be proued exactly by the chronographie of holy Writ The latter part of the Monarchie which is from the Machabees vnto Christ or if yee will from Antiochus Epiphanes to Herodes Magnus which is al one contayneth 173. yeares but cannot be proued out of the holy scriptures as the former part which is the cause of this my partition for perspicuitie sake yet may it bee gathered sufficiently out of the bookes of the Machabees Iosephus Iulius Africanus and Egesippus The obseruation As Alexander began this monarchie in the seuenth yeare of his raigne in the age of the world 3641. so did Antiochus Epiphanes sonne to Antiochus Magnus the sixt king of Syria beginne the time of this partition that is the second part of the Monarchie in the age of the world 3749. He was hostage at Rome from whence he fled and vsurped the kingdome of Syria from his brothers sonne he pretended to protect his sisters sonne Philometor the yong king of Egypt by that meanes sought craftily to get the kingdome of Egypt into his hands For better expedition of his wicked purpose he procured certain cities to be yeelded into his hands In his returne from Egypt he tooke Ierusalem and spoyled it The Agyptians peruing his craftie dealing receiued their cities againe in regard whereof hee entred Egypt with a strong armie but had the repulse by aide of the Romans after which repulse he retured in great rage and tyrannically bent his force against Hierusalem he constrained the Iewes for the space of two yeares vtterly to forsake the law Machabeus therefore and his sonnes being priests rose vp in armes against his brutish crueltie and deliuered the people CHAP. II. Of the gouernment of the Iewes after the captiuitie A triple gouernment was among the Iewes betweene the captiuitie the aduent of our sauior Christ Iesus for they were gouerned first by princes of the tribe of Iuda and royall stocke of Dauid from the captiuitie vntill Antiochus After that they were gouerned by priests who were not of the royal petegree of Iuda but of the tribe of Leui.
neither could Aaronicall succession be found any where at all priesthoode was bought with money and the hie priest was changed euery yere Which obseruation if it be annexed to the case of Alcimus will confound our papistes vtterly So write Iosephus and Eusebius Yea Iosephus addeth that from Herod vntill the citie was burnt by Titus there were 28. priestes who liued 107. yeares CHAP. VI. Of the varietie of religion before the incarnation of Christ our Sauiour Epiphanius in praefat contr haereses Barbarisme before the floud from the time of Adam Scythisme after the floud from y e daies of Noah Grecisme which began of the idolaters and was deuided into the sect of Pythagoreans Platonickes Stoickes Epicures Iudaisme which was from the time of Abraham it was deuided into the Scribes Pharisies Sadducees Hemerobaptists Osseans Nazareans Herodians Samaritisme from the time of Nabuchodonozor it was deuided into the Gorthenes Sebneans Essenes Dositheans At what time as the Church was miserably afflicted with the tyrannie of Antiochus sectes and diuisions euery where arose and pure doctrine was troden vnder foote Before Christ these three were the principall the sect of the Pharisies the sect of the Sadduces and the sect of the Essenes The Pharisies as some thinkeâ— had their denomination according to the etimologie of the word that is of separation because they did separate themselues from the common sort of Gods people and liued after another maner Yet others thinke more fitly that they had y â— name of y e interpretation of the holy scriptures because they taught out of the chaire of Moses and declared the scriptures vnto the people So write Reuchlinus and Iosephus and the etimologie of the name is consonant therunto For the Hebrew word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 doth as properly signifie to expound as to deuide For which consideration saith Iosephus they are called Pharisies that professe the knowledge of the legall rites The Sadducees were corrupt with the Philosophie of the Greekes they had many things common with the Epicures they denied the resurrection they held that there were neither Angels nor spirits they reiected the bookes of the prophets and al this notwithstanding they would be called Sadducees that is iust men as the worde soundeth in the Hebrew tongue The Essenes that is workers were euen such and none other then this day be our popish Monks and Iesuits For the Essenes fled from the common people they dealed not with secular affaires they gaue themselues to contemplation they had all things in common they woulde not marrie they had precise houres appointed for reading and prayer they liued in great abstinence they dwelt in celles and were clad in poore attire These were the Essenes saith Iosephus who best knew the sects of his owne time and of his deare countrey-men and who knoweth not our popish Dominicans Franciscans Scotsts Thomists and Iesuites to be the selfe same sectaries They differ onely in these sixe points first they vse not so strict abstinence as I haue proued in the first booke in the 17. chapter and eleuenth section For our Iesuites will conuerse with the best and eate of all meates that are the best yea they are so farre consâ—med with seuere abstenicie that their great doctor Heywood when hee did sowe sedition in this Realme against his naturall soueraigne and natiue countrey pronounced before a great assemblie after he had beene reproued for not keeping the popish fasts that he could dispense both with himselfe and others to eate vppon all dayes at their pleasures which thing neuerthelesse the common people deluded with their doctrine thinke verily to be the ready way to hell Secondly the Essenes were distinguished from other people by their vsuall precise kind of abstinence where and with whome soeuer they did conuerse but our Iesuits are so farre from that that if you meet them in the common inne vpon the friday at Douer or other place of arriuall on what day soeuer yea though it be good fryday they wil eate flesh with you for companie and so accommodate themselues to the time as you may worthily deeme them worldelie politikes and not religious Iesuites as they professe to be Thirdly the Essenes were louers of peace but our Iesuits are fosterers of rebellion the Essenes sought quietnes but our Iesuits stirre vp sedition in euerie countrey Fourthly the Essenes delt faithfully with all men but our Iesuits deale vnfaithfully and glorie in the same Their constant doctrine is marke wel my words that one may say and sweare cleane contrarie to his minde so these three points concurre First if the iudge or magistrate before whom he sweareth be not a competent iudge or lawfull magistrate such a one is not in England by their opinion the Papists onely excepted Secondly if the matter bee not an article of their faith Thirdly if they dissemble to redeeme their vexation or trouble and this kinde of dealing is with them a godly politike equiuocation This rotten foundation once laide they make many sandie buildings thereupon for they will both say and sweare to their neighbours iudges and magistrates here in England that they haue not said masse bin in such places reconciled such persons beene in such company and so foorth when for all that they haue daily practised the same yet they perswade themselues that all this may lawfully be done The like execrable and plaine diabolicall equiuocation they vse when to auoid the danger imminent they are content with their lippes to acknowledge our most gratious soueraigne for their Queene but in their hearts thinke the flat contrarie Which thing is euident by the detestable excommunication of their pope Pius whereof I haue spoken at large in the preface of my Motiues For in that deuillish curse proceeding fro the master deuil himselfe her most excellent M. is not called the true and lawfull Queene but the pretensed Queene of England which their dissimulation is the flat herisie of the Helchesits Fiftly the Essenes taught to yeelde faithfull seruice and obedience to all magistrates specially to princes but our Iesuites stirre vp their Popes to sowe sedition and to make warres against Princes to excommunicate them and to dispossesse them of their royall scepters Sixtly the Essenes professed humilitie as well in deede as in worde but our Iesuites professe nothing lesse indeede though they desire to be so reputed This is to be proued many wayes for first whereas euery secte of their Religion the Dominicans the Franciscans the Carthusians the Carmelites the Capuchenes and the rest hath some one cardinall for their protector the late hatched Iesuites being rumors to all the rest cannot be content to submit themselues to any cardinall for which their hautie mindes they are iustly despised of them all Againe for a shew of humilitie their professed fathers so termed will haue no possessions yet they labour closely tooth and naile to get large possessions to the Seminaries to their penitentiaries readers students
rash impious and most execrable in Gods sight The perioch of the chapter Priestes were married in the olde lawe and in time of the new testament in the East church and in the West Many popes of Rome were the sonnes of priests neither were they bastardes but legitimate children Many holy and learned bishops were married men S. Gregory S. Spiridion S. Cheremon S. Philogonius S. Eupsichius S. Paphnutius defended the marriage of priestes publickly in the councell of Nice and auouched in the spirite of God that the vse of holy wedlocke was honourable in them euen in time of their priesthood S. Cheremon and his wife fled togither from persecution euen at that time when he was Bishop of Nicopolis Eupsichius was the bishop of Cesarea and forthwith after his marriage martyred for Christ Iesus The apostles themselues were married begate children and carried their wiues about with them while they preached the gospel abroad in the countrey Clergie men vsed the benefite of marriage aswell as secular persons vntill the vntimely birth of wicked pope Syritius Bishops priests and all religious persons so termed may most lawfully marry by the lawes of God and are onely debarred thereof by the odible lawes of man or rather to vse the apostles wordes by the detestable doctrine of Satan All this I haue proued effectually in this present chapter Yea the marriage of priestes was vsed without restraint in Germanie for the space of a thousand seuentie and foure yeares after Christes sacred incarnation That is vntill the daies of the vngratious pope Hildebrand who termed himselfe Gregorie the seuenth who crept into the popedome by naughty meanes in the yeare of Christ 1074. And because I wil charge the Papistes with nothing but that which they shall neuer be able to denie their own deare moonk Lambertus Schafnaburgensis a man whom their trusty friend Ar. Pontacus Burdegalensis affirmeth to haue handled the histories of his time very exactly shalbe my witnesse against the pope and popishly prohibited marriages This writer so authenticall as ye heare writeth in this maner Hildebrandus papa cum episcopis Italiae conueniens iam frequentibus synodis decreuerat vt secundum instituta antiquorum canonum presbyteri vxores non habeant habentes aut dimittant aut deponantur nec quispam omnino ad sacerdotium admittatur qui non in perpetuum continentiam vitamque caelibemprofiteatur Sequitur aduersus hoc decretum protinus vehementer infremuit tota factio clericorum hominem plane haereticum vesani dogmatis esse clamitans qui oblitus sermonis domini quo ait non omnes capiunt verbum hoc qui potest capere capiat Apostolus qui se non continet nubat melius est enim nubere quam vri violenta exactione homines viuere cogeret ritu angelorum dum consuetum cursum naturae negaret fornicationi immunditiei fraena laxaret Pope Hildebrand togither with the Bishoppes of Italie decreed in frequent Synodes that after the ordinaunces of olde canons priestes shoulde not haue wiues and that suche as had wiues shoulde either put them awaie or bee depriued of their liuinges and that none shoulde be admitted to the order of priesthoode but hee that woulde professe the perpetual vow of single life Against this decree the whole faction of the clergy stormed wonderfully exclaming that Hildebrand was mad a flat heretike as who had forgotten the words of the Lord who saith that all cannot liue continent and the Apostle saith hee that cannot abstaine let him marrie for it is better to marrie then to be burnt and would violently compel men to liue like angels and while hee denied the accustomed course of nature gaue libertie to fornication and vncleannesse Out of which wordes I note first that this Lambertus was a Monke and a great patron of poperie which I proue by two reasons first for that hee tearmed it a faction to withstand Pope Hildebrands wicked decree Again because he affirmeth the late prohibition of priests marriage to bee according to the old canons which canons for al that were not before the daies of the late Pope Syricius as I haue proued I note secondly that since this Lambert was a great and zealous papist all must needs be of good credit that he saith against the papists and popish doctrine I note thirdly that priests were married in Germanie aboue one thousand seuentie yeeres after Christ that is till the time of this wicked Hildebrand I note fourthly that it was so strange a thing in those dayes to speake against the mariage of priests in Germanie that they reputed Pope Hildebrand a madde man and an heretique for withstanding the same And yet such is the fondnesse and madnesse of the common sorte this daye that they deeme them mad men and heretikes who speake in defence thereof I note fiftly that all the learned in Germanie proued the Pope an heretike by the flatte testimonie of Christ and his Apostle I note sixtly that by the verdict of all the learned in Germanie that great and goodly country Pope Hildebrand did not only enforce them violently against their auncient custome but withall did open the window to al filthie liuing Priests were also married in our owne countrey of England till the late dayes of the saide Pope Hildebrand if wee will beleeue our owne English Chronicles Polidorus another deare friend of the papists shall tell them what he thinks of the Popes proceeding touching the marriage of priests thus doth he write Illud tamen dixerim tantum abfuisse vt ista coacta castitas illam coniugalem vicerit vt etiam nullius delicti crimen maius ordini dedecus plus malireligioni plus doloris omnib bonis impresserit inusserit attulerit quam sacerdotum libidinis labes proinde forsitan tam è republica christiana quam ex ordinis vsu esset vt tandem aliquando ius publici matrimoni◠sacerdotibus restitueretur quod illi sine infamia sanctè potius colerent quam se spurcissimè eiuscemodi naturae vitio turpificarent Yet this I wil say that this compelled chastitie of priests was so far frō excelling chastity in wedlock as no crime whatsoeuer hath brought greater shame to priesthood more harme to religion more griefe to all good men then the vnchast life of priests Therefore perhaps it were no lesse necessarie for the publike weale of christendome then for the order of priesthood that once againe priests might marrie publikely that so they might liue honestly without shame not pollute themselues so filthily This is the iudgemēt of their own popish Polidore who being an Italian knewe best the Romish fashion He confesseth plainly as you see that priests were maried in old time wishing for great causes that it were so againe Their great Cardinall Panormitanus giueth so worthie a testimony of this controuersie as which being well marked will confoūd al papists in the world these be his words Continentia nō est
the bone of a dead dogge if it be saide by any to be a relique of a saint will drawe them with facilitie to touch it to kisse it and to adore it as if it were God almightie For which cause saint Austen saieth truely that many bodies are adored vpon earth whose soules are damned in hell Yea the dead corps of Hermannus was adored for a saint twenty yeeres at Ferrara who yet was an heretique as writeth their owne Platina The first obiection They are vndoubtedly the true relikes of true saints which the church appointeth to be adored euery where And saint Austen speaketh onely against priuate abuses of certaine priuate persons not against the generall practise of y e vniuersal church For the vse of the church is first to canonize the saint and after to propose his relikes to be adored Which church being therein directed by the holy ghost cannot erre as you imagine The answer I say first that how your church both may erre and hath erred de facto is already prooued I say secondly that your abuses are as generall as your reliques For you all teach to adore all your reliques religiously in all places wheresoeuer insomuch as your owne Ludouicus Viues granteth that many christians do sinne no lesse in adoring their images and relikes then do the Gentiles in adoring their false gods I say thirdly that your worshipping of reliques is flatly reproued by S. Paul in what maner soeuer ye doe it The apostle of Christ yeeldeth this reason because it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 voluntarie worship◠not contained in Gods word I say fourthly that if Christs crosse must therefore be adored because it touched Christs bodie which is the reason of popish adoration euen so ought the lippes of Iudas to be adored because they touched Christs sacred mouth This reason is inuincible if it be well vrged I say fiftly that the Pope may erre in canonizing your Saints as your owne Doctour Melchior Canus telleth you neither can Aquinas indeede denie the same And certes as the pope may erre in canonizing your saintes so may he much more erre in determining such and such reliques to be the bodies bones or ashes of such and such saintes and consequently so may all papistes adoring them commit idolatry yea though it were granted that true reliques might be adored because as S. Austen grauely saide their reliques are adored on earth whose soules are broyling in hell fire I say sixtly that when the pope taketh vpon him not only to canonize saintes but withall not to erre in so doing he doubtlesse chalengeth to himselfe the authoritie of God omnipotent and may therefore fitly be called Antichrist howsoeuer the Iesuites and his other vassals labour to defend him in this The second obiection If it were not a godly act to adore holy reliques to translate them from place to place as the church hath a long time vsed holy Moses who had Gods spirite largely would neuer haue so reuerenced the dead body of S. Ioseph nor yet haue caried it so many miles The answere I say first that the flesh of Iosephs bodie was wholy consumed and nothing left but bones and ashes For the Israelites abode in Egypt about 215. yeares after the death of holy Ioseph I say secondly that as the wicked gaine nothing by being buried in temples after the christian maner euen so neither are the godly worse for being buried in places prophane For they who die in the warres for the seruice of their Soueraigne and defence of their natiue countrey are doubtlesse in as good case notwithstanding their base kinde of funerall as if they had died at home and been buried with all pompe and solemnitie I say thirdly that the translation of S. Iosephes bones out of Egypt was not for religion sake whereof holy Writ maketh no mention but to shew his hope and confidence in Gods promise and to confirme the faith of his brethren For these are the wordes God will surely visite you and yee shal take my bones away hence with you As if he had said Haue full trust in Gods promise for your deliuerance for vndoubtedly God will bring you into the land of Chanaan as he hath said and for the better confirmation thereof I appoint my bones to be taken with you thither and for this end doth the Apostle ascribe this charge giuen to Iosephes brethren to the great commendation of his faith The third obiection The scripture telleth vs that Helcana and Anna his wife went thrise in the yeare on pilgrimage to Hierusalem Sundrie of the Greekes left their owne countrey and came to adore in Hierusalem The Eunuch came from farre to adore in the same place S. Paul himselfe made haste in his iourney that he might keepe Pentecost at Hierusalem Christ likewise with his mother Mary and S. Ioseph her husband came on pilgrimage to Hierusalem The answere I say first that God appointed his temple at Hierusalem to be the peculiar place of his externall worship and that al his people should repaire thither at three seueral times in the yere To wit at Easter Pentecost and the feast of tabernacles So that S. Ioseph S. Marie S. Anna and Helcana went to Hierusalem at that day euen as we doe nowe to the Church to heare diuine seruice and sermons And therefore their pilgrimage was honourable and highly to be commended I say secondly that Christ himselfe went not of any necessity but for our sake and to giue vs an example of obedience and humilitie For hee came to fulfill the lawe not to dissolue the same I say thirdly that saint Paul hasted thither for the gospel sake because then there would be great concourse of people whom he desired to instruct with godly sermons I say fourthly that as Iosephus writeth sundry of the conuerted gentiles as the Eunuch Cornelius and others vsed to resort to Ierusalem with the dispersed Iewes where they adored the liuing God then as we do now in the church neere at home But they went not to adore stockes and stones as the papists do nor to put religion in dead creatures The fourth obiection Going on pilgrimage is a very auncient custome and that for religion sake for S. Alexander a most holy martyr who liued aboue a thousand and two hundreth yeares agoe went for that end to Hierusalem as writeth Eusebius in his historie The answere I say first that to go on pilgrimage is an holy and auncient thing indeed as which both Christ himselfe S. Paule and other holy men haue practised as I haue already graunted I say secondly that though Saint Alexander had a great affection to see those places where Christ hadde been present and wrought his miracles yet did he neither think his praiers more acceptable in y e place then in an other nor yet thought his iourney to be any part of satisfaction for his sinnes For hee knew right well