Christ Iesus So that such Heresies Schismes as arise in our Churches like a Math. 13.32 Tares in the field are defended by none but by such as b 2. Tim. 3.13 waxe worse and worse deceiuing and being deceiued as appeareth either by their secret colluding vnder colourable tearmes of a true meaning craftily deuised for escaping of due punishment so was it with c Arminius in declarat sententiae Apologia Arminius d Vorstius in Oratione Responsione ad articulos Angliae Vorstius and others or by their open and shamelesse reuolting to Papists as Schioppius Iustus Caluinus Walsingham and others or to Anabaptists as Smith or to Brownists as Iohnson or to the Anti-Trinitarians as Laelius Socinus or to the most abominable Sect of Familists as Dauid George Henry Nichols and some such Phantastikes in England and the Low Countries against all which Viperous Generation and Deuillish Brood of Hellish Heretikes Our Churches pronounce f 1. Cor. 16.20 a Maran-atha and our Soueraigne Princes according to their seuerall Estates of Gouernment vnder God in Christ Iesus are carefull to execute the sentence of death thereby g Deut. 13.5 to purge out all euill from Israel and to root out the Relikes of the Great Antichrist out of their Kingdomes For what should be done else to meete with these mischiefes § XXXIII Surely The vse of the latter doctrine what meanes God Himselfe vsed against the Head the same must bee taken in hand by good Men of God to cut off the Taile I meane that against such Heretikes and Schismatikes they must put in vse the double Sword Spirituall and Temporall that for the Ministerie this for the Magistracie To Ministers For that Ministers must fight with the Sword of the Spirit h Ephes 6.16 which is the Word of God against these enemies the Apostle doth warrantize by this his prescription directed to Titus who i Tit. 1.6.9 must ordaine in euery Citie of Creete where he left him such Elders or Bishops as hold fast the faithfull Word as they haue beene taught that they may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to conuince the Gayne-sayers For as when k Math. 2.14 Christ with Ioseph and Marie flying from HEROD went downe into Aegypt l Euseb lib. 6. de Demonstr Euangelicâ ca. 20. the Images there trembled and when the Gospell began to bee preached by the Apostles the Oracles there m Vid. Zâ—huerum Adag sacr Centur. 5. Adag 63. ceased according to that Prophecie of the burden of Aegypt n Esay 19.1 Behold the Lord rideth vpon a swist cloud and shall come into Aegypt and the Idols of Aegypt shall be moued at his presence and the heart of Aegypt shall melt in the middest of it c. So when Christ shall speake by the preaching of the Gospell for reformation of Religion then Antichrist shall feare and Heresies will flye away as o Iohn 3.23 they who doe euill hate the light to the great encouragement of all Gods seruants who because the Euangelicall and Apostolike faith ouerthroweth all Heresies therefore are alwayes to be most mindfull to keepe that rule saith p Leo primus Epist â—6 cap. 1. Leo to Anatolius For to the q Esay 8.20 Law and to the Testimonie if they speake not according vnto this word it is because there is no light in them since this Word is a r 2. Pet. 1.18 light that shineth in a darke place vntill the day dawne and the Day-starre arise in our hearts But it may be this Word howsoeuer it be Å¿ Rom. 1.16 the power of God vnto saluation in them that beleeue yet cannot through the iudgement of hardening winne the Heretike although it most euidently conuinceth the Heresie and therefore the Temporall Sword must bee drawne out by the Magistrate onely t Rom. 13.4 who beareth not the Sword for nought To the Magistrate For u Prou. 20.26 a wise King scattereth the wicked and bringeth the wheele ouer them because it is a Law that x Deut. 17.12 the man that will doe presumptuously and will not harken vnto the Priest that standeth to minister there before the Lord thy God or vnto the Iudge euen that man shall dye and thou shalt put away the euill from Israel For lo a double rule fit for all Gouernours to obserue for their quietnesse against all such disturbances the former from y Tertullian lib. contra Gnostices cap. 21. TERTVLLIAN Duritia vincenda est non suadenda Stubbornenesse must by force bee ouercome and not be perswaded by any fayre meanes The latter from z Bernard BERNARD Melius est vt pereat vnus quà m vnitas It is better that one perish then that the vnitie should bee dissolued Princes are here to deale as Chyrurgions doe with ripened vlcers launce the sinners to let out sinne if not from the Offendor who it may be is incorrigible yet from the ouer-lookers and standers by who by that meanes may feare as Cyprian a Cyprian Ser. de lapsis said Plectuntur quidam quò caeteri corrigantur Exempla sunt omnium tormenta paucorum that is Some are punished that others may bee restrained for all may take example although some onely smart To the people of God Therefore if Christian Princes by that true Authoritie which they receiue from God shall seuerely punish either pernitious Heretikes or obstinate Schismatikes according to their due deserts either with Death or Exile or Proscription or Imprisonment or depriuation from Benefice or by any other course which by Law is prescribed wee my deare Brethren must not grudge or murmure thereat as the a Numb 16.41 Israelites did vpon the iust destruction of rebellious Corah and his company lest as they were so we may bee plagued with some Iudgement for our rash discontentment which if it proceede of pitty is folly since they pitty not themselues but if from a settled affection of good liking towards those wicked Imps then it is a part-taking which is as obnoxious to punishment as the sinne was of the principall Offendors seeing as the rule of b 3. Henr. 7.10 Law runneth in high Treason such as Heresie is to God-ward there is no Accessorie When c Prou. â—9 16 the wicked are multiplied transgression increaseth but the righteous shall see their fall Surely wee true Subiects vnto His Soueraigne Maiestie within these His seuerall Kingdomes and Dominions Three dueties are most entirely bound and obliged to a threefold dutie First of Gratulation Secondly of Supplication And thirdly of Obedience 1. Of gratulation Of Gratulation or most heartie thanksgiuing vnto our great and best God that hath so thorowly inflamed the good heart of our most Gracious Soueraigne Lord King IAMES with so godly a zeale for the iust defence of the True Ancient Catholike and Apostolike faith that we may as truely report of His most Sacred
aedificatur Ecclesia sed in fine saeculi dedicatur saith the same r Aug. in Ser. 21 de verb. Apost cap. 1. Father Now is the Church builded but in the end of World it is dedicated Ob. Yea but why then doth the Holy Ghost absolutely command vs to be perfect if wee cannot bee perfected here Sol. Surely the reason of such precepts is two-sold first in respect of Gods Elect who by those exhortations vnto perfection are the more encouraged to follow good courses knowing hereby how GOD doth approoue them and finding withall by GODS assisting grace an abilitie and a willingnesse in themselues to performe them because as in the Creation Å¿ Psal 34.9 dictum factum by his Word were all things made so in Regeneration he spake and he doth of his owne meere mercy enable vs with means to perform what he enioyneth vs since t Esay 55.11 his Word shall not returne to him void Secondly in regard of the Reprobates and wicked Worldlings who hereby are not only u Rom. 1.20 without excuse being so plainley warned against their wickednesse but also much restrained of their licentious and madde outragiousnesse as Herod was by x Mark 6.14 Iohn Baptist. Wherefore since the precepts for perfection prooue that wee are not yet made perfect Vses of the Doctrine the vse of this Doctrine thus plainely declared is two-fold First 1. For correction for correction Secondly for direction The correction is of three sorts of Perfectists First Pelagians and Celestians who affirming that a man in this life may be so perfect as to be without sinne were learnedly and largely confuted by Saint Augustine y Aug. tom 7. lib. in Caelest in his booke against Caelestius demonstrating mans present imperfection in this life by his manifold omissions of necessarie duties and his infinite committings of hainous transgressions both in his nature vnregenerate which is wholly sinfull and in his reformed course of life so full of great slips as that he hath need daily to pray z Mat. 6.12 Forgiue vs our trespasses as we forgiue them that trespasse against vs and with the Psalmist a Psal 143.2 Enter not into iudgement with thy Seruants O Lord for no flesh is righteous in thy sight Secondly Papists who stand so much vpon the perfection of mans righteousnesse in this life as that they sticke not to affirme both b Bell. l. 4. de Iustific c 11. c. that a man in this life may perfectly fulfill the Law of God yea that c Cassand in confut art 21. Rhemens in 1. Cor. 9. § 6. he may doe more greater and more holy workes then the Law requireth so that those workes of supererogation may bee sold for money or in courtesie communicated to others for their help as Petrus de Asoto said d In assert Cathol de legâ— apud Tilem Hâ—shsiuÌ„ de sâ—xâ— Papist er art 16. Colon. Antidâ—d de bonis operibus Inter. c. de banis operibus Supererogamus non-nihiâ— de his ad quae ex necessitate tenemur we do supererogate somewhat of those workes vnto which wee are bound of necessitie For Pelagius went not thus farre as they who make men of themselues to bee in a manner equall with Christ both for fulfilling the Law as he fulfilled all righteousnesse and for meriting for others as well as for themselues But what will not proud flesh attempt to say or doe if it be not restrained I cannot for lacke of time lest I bee tedious neither will I further trouble you with any long or laborious Disputation in this double Controuersie which we haue with these Antichristian Aduersaries since you may reade them fully answered in these points by diuers of our c Caluin in Antidot Concil Trid. Sess 6. cap. 11. ibid. Kemnit par 1. Exam. D. Abbots against Bish p. 2. pag. 550. c. D. Willet Synops pag. 914. c. Luc. Osiand fil cap. 12. Ench. in Pontific 4.3 most Reuerend and Learned Diuines Only for a taste wee may thus farre remember you First in the former point that indeed God gaue his Law not altogether vnpossible for man to performe since hee could in his integritie Christ did it for vs and we shall hereafter when wee are restored vnto perfection fully in the life to come But in the meane-time albeit wee are in Christ reclaimed and called to Grace Sol. yet is the Law as Peter said f Act. 15.10 a yoke which neither our Fathers nor we were able to beare by reason of the g Gal. 5.17 flesh still rebelling against the Spirit and our manifold imperfections arising from that h 2. Reg. 4.39.40 wilde Gourd our inbred concupiscence which is death in the pot such an hurt to the heart that albeit Christs i Matth. 11.29 yoke is easie and his burden light his k 1. Iohn 5.4 Commandements are not grieuous in respect of our Charitie or l Rom. 5.1 loue of God shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost yet are none liuing so able to beare them to carrie them to doe them but he shall sometime fall as the iust m Prou. 24.16 man falleth seuen times in a day and riseth againe hee shall sometimes transgresse as in n Iames 3.2 many things we sinne all because as Saint Augustine o August lib. 4. in Iulian. Pelag. cap. 2. said excellently So farre as concupiscence is in vs it hurteth although not to the destroying vs out of the lot of Saints if it bee not consented thereunto yet to the lessening of spirituall delight of holy minds So that the fault of not fulfilling the Law of God is not either in God commanding or in the Law commanded hee commanding what we should doe and this contayning the duties thereof but in our selues who should rather herevpon confesse our infirmities then arrogate to our selues any such great perfection seeing as S. Paul said p Rom. 7.14 The Law is spirituall but I am carnall sold vnder sinne And as Saint Augustine concludeth q August in lib. de sp tit c. 19. Lex data est vt gratia quaereretur The Law is giuen that Grace may bee sought Gratia data est vt lex impleretur Grace is giuen that the Law might be fulfilled Neque enim suo vitio non implebatur lex sed vitio prudentiae carnis For it is not by any default of the Law that wee fulfill it not but by default of the wisdome of the flesh which r Rom. 8.6 is enmitie against God for it is not subiect to the Law of God neither indeed can be Secondly in the latter point where they hold workes of supererogation that is that a man may doe more then is commanded and that out of their abundance they may allot such Workes to the benefit of others they sow vp two Pillowes Å¿ Ezech. 13.14 on all arme-holes the
Idolatry bee as f Aquin. 2.2 q. 94. art 1. Tolet lib. 4. Instit. cap. 14. themselues define it the giuing of diuine worship to a false god then the Pope committeth a double Idolatry by authorising g Concil Trident sess 25. cap. â— Images to bee set vp in Churches and to bee worshipped seeing either they are Images of things which are not nor euer were as h Vide D. Rainold lib. 1. de Rom. Eccles Idololatr cap. 5. §. 25.26 c. of Christopher Katherine George and other fayned Saints and so by their owne generall confession the worshipping of these is palpable Idolatry or else they are Images and resemblances of the true God so not the true God for nulâ—um simile est idem and so indeed a false god for inter verum falsum noÌ„ est medium and thereby according to their owne definition they commit grosse Idolatry by giuing the worship of the true God to that which indeede is no god but a meere creature as i Tertullian de Idololatr cap. 4. Tertullian defineth that the consecration of an Image is Idolatry And Augustine k August lib. 5. locution ss in Deuter. from the nature of the word doth shew that since 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 doth note the seruice due to God Idolatry is the giuing of that seruice to an Idoll which is not God Yet this is not all their wickednesse against this Law 2. By superstition which they wilfully transgresse by vile superstitions in burdening the Church with an infinite number of idle Ceremonies false Reliques idolatrous Temples polluted Altars garish Vestures sâ—range Gestures idle Pilgrimages May-game-like Processions subtill Suffrages deuillish Dirges and an huge masse of such like beggerly and impotent Rudiments of the World mentioned in their l Ex correctione Pij Quinti Missall Breuiarie and m Editum sub Leone 10. Romish Ceremoniall but maintained by n Bellar. lib. 2. 3. de Eccles triumph Bellarmine o Suarez tom 1 de Relig. lib. 3. c. Suarez p Vasquez li. 4. de Adorat Vasques q Feuard lib. 6 thâ—omach Cal. Feuardentius and the r Tomi tres Antiquit Liturgi· carum editi in 8 Duaci 1605. Dowists Marchants made Å¿ Reuel 18.3 rich by the filthynesse of the Whore that if t August Epist 118. ad Ianuar. Augustine in his time had cause to complaine against the abundance of Ceremonies crept into the Church to the hinderance of more necessary exercises of true Religion such as are the hearing of Gods Word truely preached and the duely and daily receiuing of the blessed Sacraments rightly administred we haue now faire more iust occasion to cry out with the good olde Father Hierome against this trifling in the vse of Religion that u Hieronym in Math. 23. contrary to Gods Commandement we deuoure and neglect matters of great moment and shew our opinion of Religion and diligence in small things that bring gaine yea and to wish with the Cardinall of Cameracum that x Petrus de Alliaco lib. de Reformat Eccles cap. de ref Praelatorum in Gods seruice not so much burdensome prolixitie as deuout and sound breuitie might be obserued Well yet the y Iere. 13.23 Against the third Commandement Black-a-Moore cannot change his skinne nor the Leopard his spots This Triple-mitered Cerberus will not bee reformed but as Antichrist against the third Commandement was found to bee full of blasphemies so to our great astonishment hath the Christian World heard the Pope of Rome open his mouth against God by tattling titling by tattling in Table-talke things horrible and hideous as did z Balaeus Valera in Iul. 3. Iulius the third that greasie gowtie and porke-noddle Pope who louing Porke exceedingly although his Physician forbad it vnto him because of his disease when one day hee missed it from his Table and vpon his demand thereof his faithfull Seruants told him the Physicians minde in a great rage said I will haue my Porke in despite of God Yea another time the same Monster being in a fury for a cold Peacocke not serued vp when a Cardinall desired his Holinesse not to bee angry for so small a matter sayd If God for an Apple cast our first Parents out of Paradise why should not I his Vicar be angry for my Peacocke a thing of farre more worth then an Apple By titling first in his Lawes when hee taketh himselfe as did a Act. 12.20 Herod Antipas the name of God as wee read in their Canon law b Gratian. 96. dist can 7. that the Pope can neyther bee bound nor loosed by the secular power seeing that he was called God by the godly Prince CONSTANTINE it is manifest that God cannot be iudged of by men Secondly in his Libels as in these Verses set out in a Pageant of Triumph for Iulius tertius c In monumento quodam â—ononiae Oraclo vocis mundi moderaris habenas Et meriâ—ò in terris crederis esse Deus Thirdly in his Glosses d Gloss in can 2. q. 6. causae 15. vpon the Canon Law where the Pope is said to haue power of Dispensation contra ius naturale contra Apostolum against the Law of Nature and against the Apostle Fourthly in the vse of his owne proper person as e Innocent 3. lib. 1. de mysterijs Missae cap. 5. where the Cardinall Deacons are said to carrie the Pope on their shoulders as the Leuits vsed to carrie in the Wildernesse the Arke of the Couenant and f Lib. 1. Ceremoniar Rom. Eccles sect 7. cap. De Ense dando in Vigil Natiui where the Pope in blessing the Sword vpon Christmasse Eue doth shew that the Sword doth signifie the chiefest Temporall Authoritie to be giuen by Christ to the Pope his Vicar on Earth according to that g Mat. 28.18 All power is giuen to mee in Heauen and in Earth and in another place h Psal 72.8 he shall rule from Sea to Sea and from the Floud vnto the Worlds end How this abuse of Scripture can bee excused I craue to know of their curious Casuists especially of Molanus i Ioh. Molanus tr 2. theolog practicae cap. 5. conclus 3. the Popes maine Friend thus determining of Sacriledge dishonour is offâ—red vnto God whensoeuer an holy thing is handled vnâ—euerenâ—ly as for Example when holy Scripture is abused to Iests and of old Azorius k Azor. tom 1. Instit Moral lib. 9. cap. 28. q. 3. Against the fourth Commandement 1. By doctrine who defineth this to be one kind of Blasphemie when in speaking thou giuest to a thing created what is proper to God For I cannot see how they can shift off the Pope from being a sacrilegious person and a Blasphemer in the foresaid bad practices accustomably vsed Yet hee proceedeth further in the breach of dutie towards God by prophaning the holy Sabbath the Day
of our great Dutie against the fourth Commandement both by doctrine and life by doctrine when hee warranteth his l Aquin. 2.2 q. 122. art 3. ad 4. Dominic a Soâ—o lib. 2. de Instit iure q. 4. art â— Suarez tom 1. de Relig. lib. 2. cap. 4. Rhemists in 15. Mat. §. 3. Schoolemen to teach that the Lords Day is not the lawfull Sabbath by the Law of God but onely by Tradition whereas euen by the confession of some of m Bellar. lib. 3. de Eccles triumph cap. 11. Azorius tom 2. Instit lib. 1. ca. 2. his best Learned the Lords Day is in Scripture both commended to be the n Psal 118.24 Day which God hath made that is separated from other dayes by many of his actions especially o Mat. 28.1 of his Resurrection and p Act. 2.1 sending of the Holy Ghost and therefore commanded to bee the Day of Gods Seruice wherein we may be glad and reioyce 2. By life and practice by life when they vsually on that Day either allow openly or winke at idle sports of Playes May-games and youthfull Reuels as appeareth by the Relikes of this Rudenesse yet standing in some Parishes of England where since the Reformation there hath not beene resident a Preaching Minister and as it is q Raphael Volateran lib. 22. Anthropolog ca. de Alex. 6. recorded of Alexander the sixth that vpon all Festiuall Dayes without difference hee vsed to haue acted before him Plautus his Comedies and other Interludes and many times hee was woont to retyre himselfe to the toppe of Mount Hadrian thence to behold the Courtezans minsing and ietting by him as they went into the Fields Is this your Deuotion holy Popes on the LORDS Day which should be kept so r Esay 58.12 gloriously holy that you should not doe your owne pleasures Surely no maruell if your people now Å¿ Iere. 8.6 rush into all prophanesse since you their Shepheards t Iere. 50.6 cause them to erre from Mountaine to Hill and so to forget their resting place But I hope that howsoeuer you neglect your dutie towards God yet for shame you will haue some respect of your Neighbours who esteeme so well of your high stile of holinesse Surely no such matter he that feareth not God doth not regard man and therefore against the fifth Commandement Against the fift Commandement as Antichrist was to lift vp himselfe aboue Kings and Princes so the Pope exalteth himselfe aboue all Christendome 1. By proud practices First by practice of Pride against the Emperour as u Vid. Plat. in horum omnium vitis Gregory the Third excommunicated LEO ICONOMACHVS ZACHARIE the First deposed the lawfull King to set vp Pipin to be the king of Fraunce LEO the Third created for Emperour CHARLES the Great GREGORIE the seuenth first attempted to depose the lawfull Emperour HENRY the fourth ALEXANDER x Volaterran l. 22. Anthropolog in Alex. 3. the third trode vpon the necke of the Emperour FREDERICK BARBAROSSA as ADRIAN the y Idem ibidem fourth had made him hold his stirrop yea and z Roger. Houedenus pag. 2. Annal sub Rich. 1. CAELESTINE the third was not ashamed to put the Crowne vpon the heads of HENRY the sixth and of the Empresse with his feet pushing it off againe with his foot and saying 2. By seditious doctrines I haue power to make and vnmake Emperours at my pleasure secondly by positions of doctrine wherin the Pope teacheth that a Decret Greg. li. 1. tit 33. ca. 6. there is as great difference betweene Popes and Kings as is betweene the Sunne and Moone and that b Extrauag Commun lib. 1. tit 8. cap. 1. the materiall sword is subiect to the spirituall this being put into the hands of Priests that of Kings and Princes and both of them in the power of the Church Whereupon besides the spirituall power of binding and loosing there is ascribed vnto the Pope a temporall power of setting vp or deposing Kings either directly as the c Hostieusis in Can. Quod super his c. Syluester Angelus Silmistae alij in verb. Papa Canonists the Popes parasite d Tho. Bozius l. 4. de Regno Italiae cap 5. 6. Tho. Bozius say or indirectly by force of the spirituall sword as the subtill and wicked e Bell. lib. 5. de Pont. RoÌ„ c. 5. c. Iesuits haue craftily imagined both these in truth like f Iudg. 15.4 Samsons foxes tied together by the tailes to carrie the firebrands of furious rebellion against Kings and Princes into the middest of Christendome g Vid. G. Barcklaium lib. de Potestate Papae auouching these positions against all Scripture which requireth h Rom. 13.1 euery soule to be subiect to the higher power euen the soule saith i Chrysost in Epist ad Rom. hom 23. Chrysostome of Apostle Prophet Prelate and all as therefore many Popes look k Tom. 1. 2. Concil apud Binnium into the Epistles of Leo Gregorie Agatho others haue willingly acknowledged the Emperor for their Liege Lord. But those were men of a moderate spirit and Antichrist was then but in the hatching For afterward that which was crushed l Esay 59.4 Against the sixth Commandement brake out into a Viper or Serpent which did not onely sting great Kings but poysoned all poore people For as against the sixth CoÌ„mandement Antichrist was to be a Murderer so is the Pope proued to bee by his practices both accomplished in sundry Princes as in m Historia de vita Henrici 4. apud Christoph Vistitium tom 1 Illustr German Scriptorum HENRY the fourth Emperour n Abbas Vrspurgens in Frederico 1. FREDERICK BARBAROSSA o Math. Paris Roger Houeden in Ioh. King IOHN of England the p Vid. French Inuentarie Process in Fr. Raualliac two HENRIES of France all slaine by the Popes and Papists procurement or happily preuented by God eyther disclosing them intended as against q Vid. English Iustice blessed Queene ELIZABETH by PARRY and other Villaines iustly executed for Traitors or turning them backe into his owne bowels as to ALEXANDER r Guicciardin lib. 5. histor the sixth who thinking to haue poysoned his Friend a Cardinall was by the mistaking of his Seruant mistaking the bottle full of Poyson dispatched himselfe Å¿ Erasm Chili sub tit Malum retortum Turdus malum sibi cacat The Pope here prouided a rod for his owne taile as t Prou. 26.26 whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein and hee that rolleth a stone it shall returne vpon him For whosoeuer u Gene. 9.6 sheddeth mans bloud by man shall his bloud be shed It is a point of Gods Iustice which a priuate man must not vndertake without a publike calling set downe in the Law x Deut. 19.21 life for life eye for eye