because it most consisteth in visible things to be beholded with these our bodily eyes as are sumptuous and goodly Temples glistering with costly glasse windowes triumphantinges liuely pictures images exquisitely carued forth most precious clothes of Arras Chalices Crosses of the finest Ducket gold height of Piramides Copes of crimsin veluet others of cloth of gold and siluer which are thinges most pleasant to the eies to behold And to delight the hearing with songs of Mnsicke noyse of Organs and sound of Belles al these things are delectable in déed and haue some shew of humane wisdom for all that haue they not God for any Authour neither did Iesus Christ nor his Apostles euer institute or occupie the like rather they taught vs to despise the world and all that is therein to aspire vp to heauen instructing vs to renounce our selues and all the lustes of the flesh to do the holie and perfect will of God to take vp our Crosse and wade thorow many tribulations into the glorie of God And this cannot we abide we must haue a religion which wil helpe to augment our dignities and earthly riches that we may liue here in all voluptuousnes and securitie And because the Gospell taken in his puritie is quite contrarie to that there is nothing in the earth that this nation hateth more then to heare speake thereof farre preferring a worldly felicitie present which by no meanes they will forgo vpon hope of any eternall absent and hidden ioyes which are to come Cap. 14. A comparison of the diuine seruice inuented by the Italians with the counsell of some subtill Phisition HE that would thorowly examine the forme of Religion planted by the Italians by the authoritie of their soueraigne high Priest shall finde all these things afore truely obserued amongst them So that flying therby with wings swifter and stronger then the wings of any Engle they are able to beate downe to the ground those that are so sawcie as to withstand in any thing or gainsay in any wise the formes of their seruices which they haue introduced to fetch vnder their subiection the greatest Potentates of the earth and to draw thereby deniers and reuenues from them imitating herein some craftie Phisition who preferring a good bootie of siluer before the health of the sicke patient will learne what meate and drinke pleaseth best his appetite and hauing found that he loueth claret wine aboue all things and sugar to make it haue a daintie taste which he taketh imagine that he goe visit the patient who will straight begin to tell him how he can get no recouerie of his sicknes albeit he hath vsed much blood letting taken many pilles and other phisicke which hath brought him verie low and put him to much paine this same impudent Phisition that tell him that all that serued but to weaken him to take away his stomacke and by mouing a question to the sicke patient shall aske him if he loue not well good claret wine He answering with all his heart this Phisition shall reply that he will warrant him to recouer his health againe if hée leaue taking these hard medicines and those pilles so bitter in swallowing and to get some daintie wine of most delicious taste if he should send his man ten miles for some to haue alwaies at the least thrée or foure good bottles in his Celler in store And bid him besides least the vapours should sume too much to intoxicate his head to take Coriander comfits at the end of his repast assure him that this wil make him more lustie againe then all the phisicke in the world I let you iudge with what audacitie the sicke shall dare to imbrace this counsell But if it chaunce after he hath béen verie ill and his sicknes begin to grow away he come to recouer straight here vpon how will he honour this Phisition he shall neuer be able sufficiently to set foorth his praise But in the seruice of God it is otherwise we must eate the bread of affliction and sorrow drinke the water of bitternes which are verie bitter and loathsome drugs to swallow as things much offending our taste whereas in the seruice inuented by the Italians there is nothing but y t which is verie pleasant to our humane senses and which doth verie well agrée with our carnall nature and therefore do ignorant men imbrace with a most ardent desire all that they inuent which when they haue once receiued is hard to be rooted out of them because their eye sight is not quicke inough to discouer the marke whereat they shoote which is only to beare rule and to share and make boote of the money which they get from them Cap. 15. That they care not at Rome for any diuersitie of Religions so they tend only to maintaine their Domination THis is most manifest for if any man inuent any new form of religion neuer knowne before in the world apparelling himselfe after a straunge fashion neuer séene before vsing iestures altogither rediculous and foolish liuing after a most austere to cruell and brutish maner as do the Capuchians Fucillians and such like foolish orders of Friars all shall be approued and receiued by the Italians with great plaudities so that such religions will serue them for a wall and defence for their kingdome and gaine but if any one appeare or come neare them that dare speake against such abuses and touch them to the quicke a litle leaning vpon the pillar of that doctrine which hath béen giuen from the terrestriall Paradice they will shake a heauen and earth and remoue all a world to stop his mouth and kill him with great exclamations that he went about to sow new doctrines and begin some new sect of religion whereby we may cléerely sée that vnder this cloake of religion they do but aspire to be rulers and to finger mony from other peoples and nations and that all the warres and ciuill broyles which haue so long troubled Germany Swicerland all Flanders and France haue byn broched and begun by them for such matters albeit those who had the conduct thereof enterprised them for the zeale they bore to their owne religion Cap. 16. That the Romanes are not contented to staie themselues with that which is spirituall but would also dispose the kingdomes of the earth at their pleasure THat the Italians shoote at this marke also I bring euident proofe that when they had set their matters in so good forwardnes that the Emperour and the other Christian kings had graunted this title of soueraigne high Priest and vniuersall Bishop to their Prelate of Rome for to be a greater staie and pillar of the Christian Church and to kéepe the other Bishops and Pastours in better order and within the compasse of their dutie they are not content to rest with that passe further and cause to preach and publish by word and writing that their Bishop is Christes onely Lieftenant on earth to whom all Scepters and
contrary to our dutie towards God which is to shew our selues humble lowly and glad to bee taught by him and to tremble at his words as this Dampish earth an insensible and deafe creature taught vs at the publication of the law when it reeled trembled and was readie to shake in sunder at the voyce of God Moreouer what fayre shew soeuer they can set on the Constitutions of Pastors the shall alwayes be humaine and whosoeuer obayeth them obayeth but men and there inuentions But he that woulde looke with a vigilant eye to the neere examination and déepe sownding therof shal easily discouer that their only purpose is to amplifie there authoritie more and more still and to drawe coyne from people secretly selling that at an hard and deare rate which God geueth vs fréely and offereth vs most gratis And this is the reason why the Italyans fearing lest the publications of such doctrine altogether heauenly and diuine would make there Domination shake from the top quickly turne it vp side downe and soone diminish all the profits that the reape out of the countries of all Christendome by meanes of their reaching inuentions they haue therefore by a most subtill péece of prouidence toke order in the matter that the Doctrine and lessons of these men come not to light by remedies which séeme to be the fittest in the world for their purpose Cap. 26. The first meanes that the Romanis vse to maintaine their Domination FIrst to preuent lest any should attaine to so great knowledge in the holy Scriptures that they should finde out of themselues the most perfect and onely wholsome meanes of saluation to consist therein and to despise all other humaine seruices the haue caused all that concerneth the Diuine seruice to be written and pronounced in a tongue out of vse with all nations the vnderstanding whereof cannot be attayned but in consuming many yeares great trauels and much cost to th ende to kéepe the people still in ignorance of the true way to serue God Taking good héede not to translate it into Italian lest by and by they should proue to lerned to suffer the councell of Rome to handle them as they haue done And beside all this to vse the matter so that the that vnderstand Latine should not learne to much by the lecture of the Epistles and Gospels the haue set downe an order that the shall sing thē with such a Note that those which vnderstand the tongue very well otherwise shall not vnderstand much more in that place then the ignorant people for to speake troth the councell of Rome vseth the word of God no further but so fare as it will serue for there Domination and enriching in other partes of Christendome and would be willing that whatsoeuer therin is contained importing any disaduantage to their dealinges had bine cut of fiue hundred yeares since for that they haue no néede of it obseruing therein verie well the saying of a certaine Philosopher vsed in these speaches Take heede leste in seeking to much the Heauen yee loose not the earth Which is as much to say that they must prefere earthly things before the kingdome of God As we sée the Italians doe interpreting or reading Gods commandements when the cutof the defences made in the law of God againste Images whereof one is not to make Images another not to bow downe to them and the third not to worship them Would they euer do this thinke you but that they foresée that the true vnderstanding of this commandement wold coole fréeze the zeale of those that bring offrings to the worshipping of their Images with the which they licke their lippes full swéetly But they will not I warrant you peruert or misconster this article Thou art Peter and vpon this Rocke will I build my Church All the world shall heare what these wordes signifie they will want no Trumpets for the matter that they may therby be Dominators and Kings and fetch in mony by Cart lodes to Rome such force and vertue haue those wordes so sure a staffe vnto them is the rocke of S. Peter Sée then this is one mean most ingeniously inuented to containe the people within the obedience of the Romane Councell Cap. 27. A second meane that they haue to keep men in their seruice still BVt iudging that to be a sufficient remedy to withhold learned men who by reading of the holie scriptures by true contemplation of thinges created by the handie worke of God and by the great harmony of both these ioyned togither should be brought to the knowledge of the Creator and to the true seruice conuenient for his holie name and so fall to be opinatiue reiecting the Italian Domination and by such meanes shake their so sure gouernment make it totter a litle Against whom being men well armed with sound arguments it were a most dangerous thing for the Italians and their suppostes to deale by way of disputations yet sée they haue defenses ramparies to let them for making any breach in their Domination First to make them hold their tongues no more but to giue them some fat benefice some Abbey or Priory and to schoole them a litle with this lesson that the veritie which they saie they know is but poore and bare god wot wearing but a thrid bare coate neuer able to make a man rich as it was apparant indéed in him who was the Veritie it self hauing no place to hide his head in that beside it had the world all Kings and Princes of the earth for enemy On the other side he that wold be employed for Rome she had to command all ouer y e world and had the bestowing of Bishoppricks Abbies Priories and Parsonages to aduance and make happie all those that imbraced their part Now of a great number few or none stand out with them but are ouercome with such temptations if there be any that will not yéeld to them we sée by and by that the Bishops and their Officials haue them in chace and do their vttermost to inflame the Magistrate against them to put them to death as did the Priests of the old law against Helias Ieremias and the rest of the Prophets their successors against Christ But if the Magistrates chance to wincke at them the Councell of Rome hath caused Ecclesiasticall Counsellers to bee admitted into all Courtes of Parlament to aduise stire vp and inflame all Presidents Proctors of the King and all other councellours to make open warre with fire and sword against such people not without sore charge to the Iudges to looke vnto them menacing their negligence herein with double punishment By reason whereof it shal be heard for them to escape their handes Whereby appeareth how great the carnall wisedome of this nation is to maintaine and hold fast their reuenues and Domination Cap. 28. The third meane whereby they fortifie thēselues with the Forces of three of the most mightiest in al Christēdome NOt to
shall perceiue our owne infirmitie to learne thereby to humble our selues before his diuine Maiestie and still to haue in admiration the superexcellencie and depth of his wonderous workes Cap. 52. That the lights of heauen do draw vs to seeke God in heauen and do witnesse that their Creator is infinite and incomprehensible ALthough that the lightnings thunders cloudes raine snow and haile which are engendred in the middle region of the aire yéeld such ample testimonies of the power bountie and prouidence of God yet mounting a litle higher to the torches of heauen whereof the néerest vnto vs is the Moone kéeping continually the course that God hath assigned her to giue light in the night and to moysten all bodies and from her let vs mount higher by degrée and degrée to euerie Planet till we come to Saturne eleuated highest of all and from him to the starry firmament and we shall sée a number of those that are farre bigger for we cannot contemplate the firmament with his blazing torches infinite almost in number may wée cannot behold at one time the one halfe but we shall be rauished to admire the force and greatnes of the maker who hath framed a péece of worke so excellent aboue al other wondrous things Now we haue béen ledde so high with our bodely eyes which can go no higher we must haue recourse to the eyes of our vnderstanding the which being lightned and conducted by the brightnes and light of Gods word shal make vs mount yet higher into two other heauens to come where S. Paul by a traunce and rauishment of the diuine spirit saw Iesus Christ the sonne of Iustice and many other vnspeakable things in the glorie of God hauing full confidence and beliefe that in his essence being diuine infinite omnipotent glorious quickning all things according as Dauid witnesseth comprehendeth in him all things without being comprehended of any and that in his perfect light and glorie all Angels and blessed spirits are lightned and liue But because that his infinitie maiestie glorie and brighnes cannot be beholded of vs for that it would rauish all our sences and our sight is not able to endure so pure and bright a light whereof Eliseus Isaias being great Prophets hauing beheld but one onely beame haue béen throwne downe to the ground and not able to stand to behold it any longer But I must returne from this bottomlesse sea of glorious brightnes and come againe to the torches of heauen which hée hath set in his great Pallaice wherein he hath placed vs créeping vpon the earth to receiue instruction at their handes and for breuities sake I will go no further then the cleare and pure Sunne as the most perfect accomplished image of his Creator and maker which representeth best vnto men the wonderfull profoundnes of his great vertues Cap. 53. Of the Sunne the very portraiture of his Creator what are his workes and operations ANd first I say that euen as men cannot comprehend the quanty of his essence being a thousand times greater then it appeareth to our eyes as by demonstrations all Astronomers proue nor likewise the qualitie thereof nor the manner how it casteth his heat and light ouer the whole world So also can we conceiue neither by our vnderstanding nor exteriour secnes the greatnes or qualitie of the diuine essence nor how it hath produced it operations in the creation of the world in the conseruation of the same nor the manner how it worketh to create in the faithfull the new man which fighteth against the flesh Likewise as this great celestiall light is in perpetuall operation and mouing to runne his great race about the whole world alwaies doing good and bringing infinit commodities to other creatures so God is alwaies watching and in action for the benefit and preseruation of his creatures Moreouer as when a thicke cloude hath depriued our sight of his beames for a moneth togither or more and that this let being taken from vs we begin to sée his beames againe which bring a certaine ioy or gladnesse vnto vs and driue the cold far from vs so the faithfull neuer séeke to behold God in his works and vertues but that they receiue great pleasure and delectation And besides as when this diuine image retireth back from vs into Capricorne the Caldes comming from the North-parts and from the frozen sea comming to afflict all liuing creatures spoyling our mother the earth of all her trimme and good ornaments and making her naked and vgly to behold so when God angry at our sinnes taketh his holie spirit from vs the prince of this world of the aire the God of this age the ruler of darkenes which is the diuel commeth to assaile and enuiron vs to tempt vs and bid vs battell and to annoy vs many other waies But as this great celestiall light goeth not from vs to forsake vs but to distribute his light to the people which liue vnder the North Pole and that by his long absence wée know better the benefites that wée receiue by his presence so God sometime holdeth his face from vs to the end that desiring him we should séeke for him shewing vs his countenance againe we should taste better what a benefit it is to enioy alwaies his presence For as this blazing torch comming towardes being leaped backward to approach vnto Cancer beginneth to renue the face of the earth and to beautifie her with gréennesse and with an infinit number of hearbes and floures of diuers colours giuing life to many hundreth thousand millions of little Annimals to serue for foode to birdes and fishes to féede their young withall who by an harmonious melodie full of all ioy and gladnes celebrate the bountie of their soueraigne the Sun which they receiue by such instrumēts as it pleaseth him to vse to heate againe that part of y e earth from whence he had absented himselfe so farre wherein he magnifieth the omnipotencie bountie and wisedome of his maker which hath attributed to him so many vertues to the end that we should wonder at him in his so beautifull and perfect workemanship so also he pulleth downe our presumption for that we cannot shew any such like péeces of workemāship nay we cannot so much as conceiue by our vnderstāding how he giueth life to so many liuing things and how one onely floure is cloathed with such diuersitie of colours If it be so then the greatest and quickest vnderstandings are surmounted by the operations of one of the creatures of the Almightie how shall wée comprehend those of the diuinitie whereas it worketh in vs of it selfe as in Baptisme the water of regeneration or in the Lordes Supper in the eating of the bodie of Iesus Christ or in the vnitie of the thrée persons in one onely diuine essence Wherby appeareth that this celestiall bodie is to vs of it selfe a most excellent Preacher to make vs leaue of the vaine disputes of the maner hwo God worketh
in y e sacraments to content our selus simply with the ordinance that he hath giuen vs in instituting them and neuer to go further for the matter Cap. 54. That this light reproueth those who detaine men in worshipping images and the workes of their owne handes to seeke God by them THis same Preacher also reproueth the spirit of me of a most brutish errour when men being drawne by him to the knowledge of the most high God by an eleuation of their spirits towards the highest heauens they turne their backe to him séeking him here in earth in buildings made by the handy worke of men forgetting the lesson of S. Steuen the first Martyr which was that God did not inhabite in Temples made with the handes of men Which the Sunne can likewise proue vnto vs by an argument á Minore ad Maius Thus if it be so that all the forces of men are not able to build an house big inough to enclose and containe me how is it then that they are so foolish and presumptuous to thinke to lodge him that is infinite and hath his dwelling in the inaccessible light of the which I am but a sparke how dare they thinke that he may be contained nor comprised in houses made by men and that the temples built by them and that their tapers and candles are more agréeable to him then we his great lightes who without waxing old or consuming do distribute continually to the world so great and admirable a light For as for their temples they are but earth and grant that they be vawted with stone couered with bricke leade or state yea were it with gold and siluer all that is taken out of the bowels of the earth So that all your buildings stand you in no more stéed then earthes and holes do to the Foxes that is to preserue you from the iniuries of the vehement heate raine and cold but you are not in any wise by their meanes the néerer to God nay rather when you are in his temple of the world they let you that you cannot behold his wondrous workes putting as it were a barre betwéene heauen and you And as for the images that ye place within them in contempt of vs by your most detestable ingratitude séeing that God doth preserue you by me and the rest of the celestiall lightes and doth bestow on you all kinde of blessings is it not then a great ouersight in you that in forsaking vs who are the workemanship of the Creator ye will preferre before vs images made by the deuise of men albeit they approach in nothing neither in matter greatnes qualitie nor effects to those that are the handie worke of God For first they are made of an earthly and dead substance which commeth nothing néere our greatnes without any mouing or operation and without the heate and light which we haue Moreouer they are but lying Doctors as Ieremy the Prophet saith For they haue no power life wisedome light nor bountie neither can they sée any thing is it not then falsly done to go about to represent by them Almightie who is the welspring of life light and him who is all goodnes it selfe afterward to translate vnto them the honour that appertaineth vnto him Further one is pictured that he is thrust into the side and blood issuing out which was neuer so another sheweth a laughing countenance and neuer laugheth Other are pictured with eyes and they sée not some with eares and they heare not and others with a mouth and yet they speake not at all Whereby appeareth that there is no veritie in their witnesse and that all that they can do is but to transport the mony aut of our purses into the Italians handes or to some other of their supposes emploied in their seruices onely Nor we for our parts being the true celestiall images do not represent any lye to your eyes and the testimonie that we yéeld to the Almightie is most true wée haue not required any oblations of your gold or siluer nor any other seruice or adoration as the Italians haue done by their dead images and nothing els do we request at your hands but that you will yéeld to the Almightie the glorie and honour of all things as apperteineth to him not giuing away any part thereof to any creature that euer was or is at this present vnder the firmament Sée here briefly what is the instruction and lesson of him who marcheth as King among other Plannets Cap. 55. How that Italians are prooued to haue abused the world in making men go to Ierusalem by the forme of the firmament COme we now to this great gilden and azured Heauen whose spéech is all one as before publishing from one Pole to the other and ouer all the world that what account soeuer men make of their earthly Temples they come nothing néere it in beautie greatnes long continuance and lust For the greatest tempell that euer was built was but of halfe aleague in lenght and the Astronomers afferme that their is fiftie nine Millions of leagues from the earth vnto they starry Heauen and from they other side as much wherby it should follow that my roundnes should containe verie néere thrée hundred fiftie and fowre Millions of leagues and yet for all that cannot containe the infinite essence of God How then doe men suffer themselues to bee abused worse then brute beasts by the Romans and their Italian Councell who make them beléeue that they can shut him into there pipes in their Temples to behold him therein and to carrie him vnder their Canapes to th ende to rob you by this meane of your mony and altogether to begiule you They same heauen being round and equally distant in all partes from they earth doth manifest vnto men that their is no one place more nere to him or his heauenly glorie then another In this he conuinceth of a shamefastlie and falsehod the Roman Counsell and those that mainetaine it who to approch to God caused in times paste great toupes of men to trot so farre as Ierusalem and Rome to goe the soner into God almighties Paradice although indéede this was but a maske and shift found out and practised by the Italians to aduance and increase their Domination and so to fish mony out of Iudea Syria notwithstanding by this consinage they haue caused to perish in these voyages that they made them to vndertake both Christian Kings and Princes and more then two millions of men speaking not of their great trauels perils maladies and other sorrowes besides that they haue made them endure whose chaunce it was to returne from so long a vyage These are then they goodly and they Celestiall lessons which are giuen vs from aboue as most excellent preseruatiues against the craft and cautelous dealing of the Italians by the which if we be not al together out of our wites we shal be by them set at all libertie and winde our neckes out
of their Domination and by they same meanes will kéepe our mony in our purses to helpe vs at our néede and also to doe our freinds good and these that we shall sée stand in any great necessitie Cap. 56. The harmonie of they holy Scriptures of the Bible and of the heauenly creatures to humble man to geue glorie onely to God and to seeke him aboue in heauen BVt to the one that we may be armed on euery side God hath not onely prouided for vs these heauenly instruction but also to instruct vs more familiarly hee hath left vs his Apostles and Prophets to teach vs all after one manner and by the same lessons of they number of which if we will take the most heauenly to wit King Dauid in his Canticles I saie they Prophet S. Luke and S. Iohn in their Gospels S. Paul to the Romans and to they Galathians and S. Peter in his first Epistle we shall finde they swetest harmony and goodlyest Concordance that may be deuised to be found amongst all the Preachers of his worde that are in the world And sée this is the true touch stone wherby we must examine all they writings and doctrines of men that is to wit whether they agrée with they testimonies that God giueth of himselfe by his creatures which as they publish that all things are procéeded from a supreme and former cause that doth maintaine and preserue them so also must hee giue him the hommage of all his benefits and to haue recourse to him as to a bottomeles fountaine to lade out of him all blessings as well spirituall as temperall confessing his greatnes bountie and excellencie in respect of his great and admirable workes to humble vs and to tame this pride growing in vs by nature in exalting him as the giuer of all that which wee haue to depend wholy on his good pleasure and most holy will And to make proofe of this great concordance the royal Prophet Dauid speaketh vnto the eternall to this effect Call vpon me when thou art in trouble and I will helpe thee and thou shalt worship me Wherein we see a strict commaundement to call vpon God and to gine him thankes as an act properly due to the diuinitie and incommunicable to all the rest of his creatures as hee speaketh in another place To thee O God who art aboue in the heauens we lift our eies For to shew vs the forme of calling vpon him which is not to haue our spirites fixed heere in earth in the workes of mens hands but to eleuate them towardes the heauens as Christ himselfe vsed saying Our Father which art in heauen and so foorth And as for faith that it onelye ought to looke vp to God this Prophet verie well prooueth In God is my soule well pleased he onely is my safegard and the rocke of my defence he is my sauing health and my strong fortresse so that I shall not fall for hee holdeth me vp And if we regard well a great part of the Psalmes and amongest the rest the 104. and 118 to what do they tend but to magnifie the excellence beuty and greatnes of the workes of God And surely there is no thing so excellent for man to practise as to exercise himselfe in the contemplation of them to giue the praise and honour therof vnto his Creatour And all the rest of the Psalmes tend but to extoll the admirable vertues of the liuing God as his bountie power mercie iustice liberalitie and clemencie Moreouer there are certaine principall verses amongst the rest which by the riches of an immitable eloquence do praise set forth and aboue all things aduance his holy and diuine lawe shewing that the soueraigne felicitie of man consisteth in the mediation therof day and night forcing himselfe with all his heart thorowly to obserue the same But after that hee hath thus spoken of God of his workes and of his law what saith hee I pray you concerning men and of his owne person when he saith What is man hée is a thing of naught and all that he worshippeth is but vanitie in another place the same kingly Prophet saith All are gone out of the way they are all corrupt there is none that doth good no not one And speaking of his owne person although hee were the most holy king that euer raigned ouer Gods people he saith Be mercifull to me O God a pore sinner c. and that his mother hath conceiued him in sinne praying God to wash him and to purge him from all his iniquities as him onely that could doe it Now hauing thus much spoken of man and of his doings to abate and pul down his pride and presumption and not to leaue him there but to prepare him to séeke all that which he wanteth in the person of his redéemer imbracing him by a true and liuelie faith as being him that to satisfie the diuine iustice shuld carrie all our transgressions and sinnes vpon his owne backe as Dauid describeth in the 22. Psalme and the Prophet Esay in the 53. Chapter of his prophecie which they did set downe before the comming of Christ and after his death his Apostles wel I haue prooued by a most admirable consent and vnity He that wil then no more submit himselfe vnder the Italian yoke to be raunged vnder their Domination let him read quicklie the aforesaid bookes and consider and ponder them well in his mind weighing diligently euerie word and euerie sentence one after another and conferring aduisedly the beginning with the middle and the end Let him examine this doctrine with other instructions that God doth giue vs particularlie both in heauen and in earth not to approoue and make them serue to our fantasies and opinions but laying all them wholie aside to take their instructions and simplie to follow their lessens In this doing he shall learne that we are all Burgesses and felow-Citizens of the great Temple and sumptuous pallace of our God and that by the consideration of our vicious and poore nature he shall be taught to mount aboue the heauens to inuocate vpon God and to obtaine by this meane all things wherof he shall stand in need And from thence comming vnto his most holy and sacred word magnifiyng it as the onely instrument of our saluation and a perfect declaration of the counsell and will of God towards men and hauing the knowledge of these thinges no man shall be able to withdrawe vs from this way of warshipping GOD on high to séeke him in Temples buildings and other places of this earth but if we goe to those places that shall be onely to make profession of our faith to bée assistant at publicke praiers to heare the word of God to examine whether the Doctrine that is taught vs be conformable to these Doctors of whome I haue now spoken which when we shall finde we shall imbrace as diuine and of God and putting vs againe in mynd and confirming those things which the
and within a litle therabouts and with one winke of her eye make tremble Constables Marshals of France gouernours of prouinces and by the least word or letter alter the Parlaments of France what may ten 1000. Italians do enuironing a Pope It is certaine they may force his will by violence depriuing him of his libertie in his gouernment of y e church Or if he bow not that way which they wold haue him they wil not sticke to giue his holines some dramme of such perfume as they did to the deceassed Quéene of Nauarre This is the cause why commonly we sée foure or fiue Popes to die during the raigne of one Emperour Wherefore he should do well either for loue of his life or his libertie to retire and come away from amongst them Cap. 8. Vpon what occasion the Romanes changed their Monanarchie into a populer estate that is to wit vppon the rauishment of Lucretia committed by their king Tarquinius BVt to make a more liuely representation of the great wisedome of the Italian we must mount a litle higher to the beginnings progresse and aduancement of this admirable domination whether by degrées it hath eleuated it selfe in perceiuing the Tarquins their kings were verie vicious and nothing valerous they spied out matter inough quickly against them to be rid of them so iumpe at that time fell out for their purpose the rauishment of Lucretia perpetrated by Tarquinius their King wherupon they made a commotion against him by and by to thrust him out of his kingdome not that they meant to restablish any other in his place but to alter this forme of gouernment although it be absolutely the best when kings rule as they should do and behaue themselues well and to institute another which should exalt them as they thought most likely aboue all other peoples and make them all tributarie to them Now this was their order to haue a Senate wherein men of the greatest spirites verie well learned and experienced were only admitted by whom euery yéere should two Consuls be chosen who should alwaies haue the conduct of warres and besides if any important affaires chanced then was there elected one to be a Dictator and such a one as was most worthie of all Italy to command to resist whom soeuer came against the Romanes So that if one Consull lost a battaile the estate was not thereby ouerthrowne because his fellow had mustered in a readines another Army readie to fight and giue battell againe so that if he also were vanquished they had for all that good hope yet being the Dictator to come vpon whose valour and experience they most of all relied as on Marius and Fabius for he set in incontinent for the third man This is the reason that when the enimies of the Romanes had gotten two fieldes against them as diuers times did Pyrrhus and Hanniball they were not dismaied for all that and thought themselues thereby neuer a whit the more ouercome whereas contrariwise if any King Prince or common wealth had once had an ouerthrow by a battell in the field they could not so soone recouer their losse but would iudge themselues straightwaies ruined and ouerthrowen By this meane their domination séemed altogither inuincible till by their owne Armies by ciuill broyles and domesticall iarres they conspired their owne ruine and destruction Cap. 9. How the Romanes by pretence of their Faith founde meanes to augment their Domination ALbeit that this so goodly order and forme of gouernment might haue béene sufficient to make them surpasse all other people yet they perceiuing that the breaking of faith and promises did worke the ruine of all estates that made no conscience to violate them the Italians well aduised hereof as those that saw well inough that Faith was the most firme bande of humane societie and that where it raigned not euen did stand verie flipperie and were alwaies staggering tottering and shakyng with feare and mistrust to the end to binde themselues most strictly to the obseruation of the same and to make all the world belieue that they would inuiolably kéepe their promises they builded a Temple of FAITH to the which they gaue great honour and reuerence Whereupon euerie one assuring them selues in their fidelitie desired their league and friendship and to couer them selues with their protection and fauour sparing neither tribuite nor subiection to obtaine the same This was a most rare péece of pollicie and wisedom found out by them whereby they bore sway and drew profit from all other peoples albeit otherwise the Italians were farre surpassed by them in number forces Hereby may we then sée euidently that they haue a spirite more sublimate and ingenious then any other nation that liueth vnder the scope of the heauens Cap. 10. The ruine of the first Romaine Domination and the causes thereof BVt as all earthly thinges come in processe of time to faile in glorie and naturall force so this braue Signiorie which seemed to sway the whole earth fell at last to decay and ruine because at the first beginning they did but shaue and clip those which were subiugated and forced to take hold on the cordes of the empire to make them a little gentler and tamer afterwardes they fell roundly to fleying of them besides the horrible and detestable cruelties of Nero Caligula Commodas Heliagabalus and other such like monsters made this nation odious and spited of manie others who beginning a little to discouer that the Romaines had not brought them in subiection by any greater power or multitudes whereby they excelled them too that waies but rather had gotten the vpper hand by sowing quarrels amongst them by supprising them vnawares and establishing among them a better order of militarie discipline then was before they resolued with hazarde of their liues to ouerthrow their tirannie and to pull downe their intollerable Domination to the ground Amongst other the people of the North enuironing the left arme I mean the Gothes the Saxons and Hungarians who hauing experience of their strength to bee farre passing that of Italians obseruing a better order in their warfare then before set forwarde and prosecuted so lustilie the course of their hartie enterprises that they became in short time maisters of the citie of Rome and many other partes of Italie In like manner Arthure a most valiant king of England accompanied with sixe hundred thousand men victoriously ouerthrew Lucius the Romaine Senator marching with no lesse number of souldiours then he pretending to make the English tributarie as they were before time The Gaules likewise cast of their yoke and the Almaines got from them the dignitie imperiall into their owne handes whereupon ensued the totall subuersion of this their first earthly violent and forced Domination vnder the which they had yoaked in the neckes of all the rest of the people of Europe Cap. 11. Of the beginninges and first foundations of the second Domination of the Romanes in christiandome THey then perceiuing
by their profound wisedom that there was no meanes to be had for the reestablishment of their first Domination because the nations of the North most strong and warlike had made proofe that the corporall strength of Italians was farre inferiour to theirs and that it was impossible to bring them euer so low againe by armes or force to yéelde them that obedience they had done in former time yet the Italians lay other ambushes for them and begin to deceiue these people to bring them vnder againe by a victorie altogether spiritual voluntarie and nothing at all carnall tastiug nothing but a spirituall gouernment and such a one as might guide men to life euerlasting and to lay the foundation stones of this Domination they must vphold that there is none other meane to be brought for the confirmation of the christian Church but by establishing of a soueraigne Heade and vniuersall Bishop in like manner forsooth as it is in the Monarchies and Empires of the world Perswading themselues that if they had carried awaie this pointe once they might verie well preuaile in the rest séeing that Rome had béene the seate of the rulers and Emperours of the earth they might rather then any other nation com by this prerogatiue to dispose of christian people vnder the cloake and authoritie of their vniuersall Bishop at their owne will and pleasure so that they might without euer striking stroke or shedding bloud be kinges and make money come apace from al prouinces which should protest to hold y e christian part And for a fairer shew and more credit of the matter it were verie méete to publish by word of mouth by reporte and writings that Rome had béene the seat of S. Peter and that he suffered martiredome there so that thereby he had planted in that citie a more excellent dignitie and prerogatiue then in anie other citie of the world Cap. 12. How in creating an vniuersall Bishop at Rome the Italians entred into possession of a farre more excellent Domination then that which they had lost before THese two pointes being once granted them the Italians might verie well dispose at their pleasure of all christiandome putting on but the cloake and authoritie of their vniuersall Bishops This was an easie way for them to hold for the recouerie of a more excellent Domination being now spirituall and heauenly then the first which they had lost and by this prerogatiue might they make the purest and most precions golde and siluer of all christianitie to flie to Rome It was most easie of all to make this currant among other Bishops perswading them that all this did but encrease their dignitie and profit and inuest them with a power to make heade against the kinges of the earth to cast of their yoake and neglect all their magistrates By reason whereof this inuention was found good and passed quickly without any contradiction but there was onely a little strife betwéene the Bishop of Rome and him of Constantinople for the superioritie of them two But yet on the Italians side there was no meane to make them forgoe this dignitie they would in no wise lay it downe because they foresaw that therby they could make what doctrin they listed currāt throughout all churches and their constitutions to be receyued euerie where as the decrées of their soueraigne and heauenly Court they could make them selues redoubted and feared of the kinges and princes of the earth as though they were the onely Porters of heauen gates and that no man coulde come in there but by their leaue meane and fauour To make the rest of the Clargie receiue this inuention there was no more adoe but to performe it with a smell of the augmentation of their dignitie and profit and they straight waies embraced it with all ioy and gladnesse for whilest that men are liuing here in this earth verie few are found but will suffer themselues to bee infected with such plagues which as Galen saith are Auarice and Ambition which bring vnto the soule that which the falling sicknesse doth bring to the bodie And if there be anie found anie found amongst the rest which haue the glorie of God and the saluation of men in greater regarde it is in so small number that the greater part shall soone ouercome the better and bring them quicklie to a contrarie bow Cap. 13. How the people follow none other religion but that which their Pastors teach them and how the Romanes giue vs one according to their owne nature TOuching the people by whom I comprehend Nobles Citizens and Pesants in matter of religion they will embrace that which their Pastors shall preach vnto them or that wherein they haue béene brought vp without making any further choice So that if a man be of the Empire of Tartarians he will frame himselfe to the forme of diuine seruice that is there established in like manner will hée doe that is borne among Turks Iewes Lutherians and Catholiks the worst is when he is grounded in one he wil take no knowledge nor make none examination of anie other but will haue them all in detestation and shall be as glorious in his owne as if he had found some pretious treasure of inestimable valour especially when he hath his eyes dimmed by sensible terrestriall and humaine religion The Italian is not here to séeke how to deale with him he can handle the matter so well that he will fetch some substance from him without any warre or violence and at his owne pleasure and to effect the same he hath no more to doe but to winne to his side the Doctours and Priestes which instruct the people who may teach them a religion which is altogether agréeable to their owne nature But here is the point of controuersie which hath and shall be euer betwoone God and men that God wil be honoured with a seruice agréeable to him selfe and of the qualitie of his owne nature to wit spirituall diuine and heauenly and wee humaine creatures cleane contrarie will serue him with a seruice that is nearest and best agréeing to our owne nature for it is his will that when we adore and inuocate his holy name we should lift vp our spirits aboue the heauens and we desire to finde him here below on earth in our Temples vnder some visible forme which we may sée and touch because that our earthly nature taketh farre greater delight in that which it séeth with the bodily eyes then to transport it selfe in spirit aboue the azured heauens so farre distant from vs. In like manner those which will make their prayers to the saintes of Paradice take great pleasure to haue their images here below on earth sauing a long iourney to goe into the kingdom of heauen to séeke them God will haue his diuine seruice procéeding from his diuinitie and such a one whereof he himselfe is the authour and we take more delight in that which is humaine and procéedeth from our owne braine
haue not onely for that it is leuied with such wonderfull celeritie and vnusuall spéed For when they purchase any collection of mony or any other Bull of an Abby or a Bishoppricke they spare no Horse flesh to gather vp the summes taxed hauing gotten them vp once they must go in post and chaunge Horse so often that it séemeth the Flie with a Swallowes wings no height of mountaines no rough narrow stéepe stony hellow crooked nor raggie waies no depth of snowes nor hardnes of yse or frostes no riuers that can staie or stop the passage of this mony it must to Rome it must flie it must not créepe on the face of the earth and sure it is of a wonderfull swiftnes in comparison of the heauines delaie and long time that the monies of Kings Princes and other great Estates are in getting into their coffers whē oftētimes before they can get it in they must force the good wil of their subiects be driuen to chuse out men that shall sit vpon their Subsidies other Imposts others to collect the same they which will not take such charges vpon them but by great constraint and being vrged by necessitie and then the poore people paie such summes sore against their will putting it of as long as they may Then must there be straining of moueables and much heauing shouing to haue them againe hatred despleasure anger ill will much adoo and great delaie on euery side so that it will aske commonly thrée or foure moneths at the least to collect and deliuer in these Deniers to the receipts although it might easily be carried thither in thrée or foure houres and in verie déede may be saide to march but with wodden legges in respect of the swift course and great celeritie of that which is transported to Rome This may verie well shew that the qualitie and nature thereof is farre more excellent and pretious then of that coine which the Kings and Princes of the earth possesse Yet some may peraduenture reply that that which commeth by the sale of offices approcheth verie néere the nature thereof I will confesse so but I will also answere that such trafficke is but an Italian tricke and inuention for that by all lawes and ordinances both of God and man all such sales are forbidden as most pernicious and greatly damageable to the common wealth and matters most vnworthie vnbeséeming all good Christians that haue the feare of God before their eyes Cap. 25. A description made by learned men which hath alwaies feared the Councell of Rome and the causes why I Thinke I haue said inough of the Domination and filching of mony wherewith the Italians haue a great while preuailed to fill their pockets to master the world Now must I speake of the meanes wherwith they serue their turn to maintaine thēselus in their estate to make it good against al other And albeit in inuention and deuising the yare so cunning and can passe and make séeme good to euerie one that which they haue inuented and deuised yet are they farre more expert in kéeping their estate and can remoue and preuent all lets that may endamage them to hold their owne Foreséeing then that they had intangled the people of Europe within their Domination vnder the pretence and cloake of religion there was no more likelihood that the people might euer pull their neckes out of their yoake being farre grosser and harder to receiue anie chaunge then the people of Affrike séeing also that all that they feared was lest that some addicting themselues to the contemplation of Gods workes to the studie of Philosophie and to the reading and perusing of the holie scriptures in the language wherein they were written might view all the religions that are vsed vnder the scope of the heauens and séeke out the first causes principles and inuentors thereof and hauing curiously examined all might make these conclusions viz. that all religion is either diuine or humane that the diuine is procéeded from God the other from men that by the diuine there is nothing required at our hands but to offer our selues soules and bodies to God to do that which is his will which is to follow vertue and to flie vice to call vpon him and adore his holie name and for our sinnes I haue recourse vnto the mercie that he offereth vs in Iesus Christ the which he offereth vs fréely without our mony or riches onely enioyning vs charitably to helpe and loue one another On the other side casting their eyes vpon humane religion they shall sée that all religions that men haue whether they be Pastors of the church or who soeuer they be for their authours tend onely but to get rule to draw away the substance of those that embrace them and are fitter to tye men by the féete to this earth then to carrie them vp to heauen where the seate of God is Concluding likewise this that that religion is best by the which God is best serued then it must néedes follow that following his will declared by his word he is better serued then by the traditions of men wherefore we must not go beyond that as being the onely obiect of faith and as being the onely thing which agreeth with his Doctours and Preachers in all the partes of the world to wit the Firmament with his admirable greatnes and beautie almost incomprehensible the Planets placed betwéene it and vs the ayre and that which is engendred therein the earth the water and the creatures which liue and moue in the same altogither setting forth from the one ende of the world to the other the greatnes maiestie wisdom prouidence power and bountie of God the Creator and preseruer of the same On the other side seruing to conuince vs of weakenes of spirit of ignorance of blindnes and vncapablenes to comprehend his essence his profound wisedome and the meane wherby he hath created all these things how he conserueth them in their being and how he worketh euery daye in the diuersitie of so many things which we sée before our eyes to learue vs thereby that it is an intollerable auragancie and presumption in men to thinke to be his councellers to make lawes like lictle Kings in his Church which he calleth the Kingdome of heanen and his Spowse to there great shame which name themselues seruants in the same by whome agreat ouersight and rashnes not to be borne with all goe about to establish in it certaine humaine Constitutons as though they weere to commād and not to obay For séeing that it is his Spowse seruantes must not be so saucie as to make Lawes for her to bee at their checke Séeing then that hée is the soueraigne King and him before whome all things are present no man may enterprise such things without encroching vpon his kingdom reputing himselfe of greater wisedome then hee who is his creatour which are greuous offences deseruing very great punishments and cleane
as high as heauen gates shutteth openeth them euen as they do the doores of the Consistorie at Rome In some this foundation stone is that Saint Peter had his Apostles seate at Rome and there was martired whereof followeth that the Romane Bishop is his successour and hath vniuersall charge ouer the whole world For the first I deny séeing that neither the Acts of the Apostles nor any other of the Epistles of S. Paul hath made mention therof that he himselfe witnesseth that he was the Apostle of the Iewes called to those that were of the circumcision For the second y t he was martired there I cōfesse for that those of Rome and their Emperours to make a triumph of Iesus Christ and of his doctrine to quench their insatiable crueltie against Christians had caused S. Peter to be transported to Rome from another place where he was detained first prisoner to put him to death ignonimiously and make him a publike spectacle to the world But for hauing by this crueltie and iniustice depriued the world of so famous excellent seruant of God that they should be reputed his successours there is no reason at all nay contrarie I will stand to it they ought therfore altogither to be disinherited for was there euer any man so impudent that for hauing murthered another would dare to challendge his succession And if he had béen borne at Rome and appointed Apostle to the same place which he was not neither they haue made themselues vnworthie of all successorie right and title For this were a prettie matter that for vsing all crueltie and committing bloodie murthers against the seruants of God men should get domination and principalitie as well in earth as in heauen it were farre wide to say so and the greatest absurditie in the world that men might imagine Nay contrarie Christ menaceth great punishment for the like matter when he cried out Ierusalem Ierusalem thou which killest the Prophets thereby denouncing her ruine and ouerthrow by the fire of Gods vengeance foretelling her destructiō to come and the miserable estate wherein she is at this present houre If then this were sufficient to depriue Rome of her succession yet furthermore were she worthie to be depriued for her rebellion against the Gospell and the doctrine of S. Peter wherein she hath perseuered since the death passion of Christ hauing brought foorth the most detestable monsters for Emperours as Tyberius Nero Calligula Commodus and Heliogabalus which haue euer béen remarked to liue vnder the vaute of the heauens who as cruell beasts estranged and degenerat from all Christian blood by reason of y e enormitie of their liues could not suffer any such cleare light to shine there néere them being also set on by their sacrificing Priests Pagans and Idolaters who only taught publikely at Rome soone to extinguish the same But if there were any good Bishops there they laie close and did not openly discouer themselues and were no part of the bodie of this people being indéed sent thither from diuers other partes personages of great learning and eloquence rather to make residence there then in any other part for that this citie was stil replenished with learned men cunning Philosophers and Pagan Oratours against whome it had not béen for Pastors meanely learned to haue disputed without ouerthrow and conuiction Yet all this hath nothing eleuated the Italians aboue any other people of Christentie for hauing Domination ouer them but rather it bringeth lower and abaseth them as a testimonie of their great resistance and rebellion to the truth and the teachers thereof Cap. 37. Constantine the Great King of England apposed himself against the tyrannous persecutours of Christians that Italy brought forth BVt if ye come to aske me what Nation hath more right to haue the Sea of an vniuersall Bishop erected in it then Italy I answere that as Italy hath made it selfe vnworthie by bringing forth the murtherers of S. Peter and of other tyrannous and persecuting Emperors hauing a long time made resistance to the Gospell so those haue best deserued it who being pushed forward with an holie zeale of Gods glorie and of the saluation of men hauing abandoned their liues kingdomes and treasures to make passage for the Gospel throughout the whole worlde in destroying the doctrines of Pagans and all idolatry which had raigned before more then two thousand yéeres all ouer the world except only among the Iewes Now what nation hath that béen of so hautie and magnanimous courage which hath done God so signall a péece of seruice Surely it was England which hauing brought forth that great and thrise sacred Constantine who of a Pagan that hée was making profession of the Christian faith and receiuing Baptisme straight began to warre vpon Maxentius the Romane Emperour a most cruell murtherer and a great persecutor of Christians whome he vanquished and planted the true Gospell and kingdome of Christ not onely in the I le his natiue countrie that bred him but also at Rome the receptacle of all Idolatrie and from thence made passage for it vnto Alexandria the capitall Citie of all Affrica to Constantinople and all that countrie bordering towards Asia enlarging the kingdome of the sonne of God farre and wide which séemed at that time to be banished out of this worlde by the continuall warres of the Romans destroying and ouerthrowing wheresoeuer he went that of Sathan shewing himselfe to be the Executour of that which Iesus Christ had foretold in the twelfth of S. Iohn saying Now is the iudgement of this world now shall the Prince of this world be cast out O that the wonder of thy holie and almost diuine enterprises do make thée go farre beyond all humane creatures for the light that thou madest to shine in the world surmounteth as much that of the holie Kings of the old Testament as doth the light of the Sunne the cléernes of the Moone And as for that which the Apostles and other faithfull Pastors which went before thée it was alwaies diuined and entermingled with the darknes of superstitious Idolaters which had full course among the Emperours and Kings of the earth but thou great Instrument of the Eternall thou hast chaced farre out of thy sight all the sacrifices seruices that men did dedicate vnto the diuil according to the witnes of S. Paul who saith that the Gentiles did sacrifice vnto him And more then this it is thou great Monarke that hast so firmely planted and established this light in the world that what assaults so euer haue béen made to extinguish it yet could it neuer altogither be put out and defaced If then one so great and diuine a benefite had procéeded from Rome as is from England who could imagine how great prerogatiues and honours almost diuine they would challenge from other people whereas neuertheles the Emperour sprung out of Italy haue euer béen the most signall persecuters of Iesus Christ and of his Martirs for all
cannot chuse but argue those of great inhumanity who haue ouercharged them with so heauie burthens not only against all good reason but also against the ordinance of the sonne of God and the briefe forme of praier that he hath taught vs but also against all humane order obserued in tendering of petitions vnto Kinges of the earth which are abridged with as fewe and short wordes as may bée possible Sée wherefore it were most necessarie to stop y e course of such Italian influences not to suffer our selues to be handled at their deuotion and not to depend any longer of them as heretofore we haue done but to finde out the remedies hereof it is not an easie matter amongst the Northren people because that such drugs do not grow amongst them no more then do the Palme-trées and their Dates But euen as one countrie bringeth foorth oftentimes poyson and the preseruatiue far the same euen so he that would preserue himselfe from their domination and draught of mony that they vse to draine out of other prouinces shall borrow a good péece of wisedome found out at a time of great néede by the common people of Rome to restraine the course of the domination of their Senatours who had them before at aduantage to villanize abase and reduce them into bondage and slauerie at their pleasure The common people perceiuing that they had their counsell apart where they might take secret deliberation to increase their authoritie and to pull downe gnaw the people which should be hard things for them to remedie because the Senat did consist of verie learned men great Orators and full of maiestie aduised themselues to create Tribunes for their owne defense which should oppose themselues to the ordinances of the Senate in case they did any thing diminish their libertie should kéepe the Senators short that they should not tirannize ouer them nor draw their substance from them as before time was their common practise By this meane the people was no more exposted in pray to the Senate but maintained still themselues in their owne liberties for euen as the bodie of man is verie well at ease when none of the Elementall qualities doth suffer it selfe to be ouercome with the contrarie so that common-wealth euermore flourisheth when none of her partes do suffer it selfe to be in subiection to the other Cap. 45. That it is verie requisite that the Magistrate should set his hand to the reformation of Churches because that will neuer be done by meanes of any Pastors ACcording to this there is no more effectuall remedie to preuent the Ecclesiasticke least he gnaw the rest of the people then to chuse out in euerie towne some learned and vertuous man which is not of the same qualitie not too much addicted to ceremonies and superstitions who must haue an eye to their counsels constitutions and preachings and who must also discouer their end to the end they may sée whether they go about any thing to the preiudise of the Nobles of the Magistrates or of the people and if they do to withstand them therin hauing power and authoritie to assemble the people to aduertise them by spéeches and Orations in their Temples how that they go about to deceiue them If in the time of Constantine the Great such Protectors had béen chosen they would neuer haue permitted the Ecclesiasticks vnder shadow of Purgatorie and praiers for the dead to haue depriued the lawfull heires of so many Counties Lordships Barronies Féefarms and other landes whereof they haue robbed and spoiled them nor that the goods of Hospitals giuen to the poore should be eaten and swallowed downe by them for although that they would not contradict such doctrine yet perceiuing that vnder the colour thereof they pretended to make trafficke and sale of the kingdome of heauen and to sell for faire readie mony life euerlasting they would haue gainsaid them and reproued such théeues who vnder a false apparance of bringing men to heuē pretended to picke their purses to make them loose that which they had on earth they wold haue taken order at the least that the poore should not die for hunger languishing and crying séeing the Priors of Hospitals to deuour their good singing and making merry Sée then this is a good remedie whereby wée might kéep fasting the Italian and the Ecclesiastick and make them content themselues with their owne and to kéepe within their owne limits For to hope that euer they will reforme themselues they neuer did it yet nor neuer will For if you looke since the death of Iousa to Iesus Christ betwéene which there is more then a thousand yéeres you shall finde that the Ecclesiasticks neuer ceased to corrupt the true seruice of God By reason whereof he gaue them ouer into the hands of their enemies And how to restablish them he raised vp Iudges and Magistrates how also after they had Kings he inspired many to reforme and reduce his true seruice hauing béen abastardized by the Ministers and ordinarie Priests of his Church And why I pray you were Prophets sent But to accuse and conuict the ordinarie Pastors of their impietie rebellion and disloyaltie After the maner of which Prophets S. Iohn Baptist termeth them a generation of vipers and Iesus Christ calleth them théeues and robbers And S. Paul in his time cried out against their abuses And in the time of Constantine they had diuided Christendom into more then twentie seuerall sects all which this holy parsonage cut off in his time reducing them all to one vniforme confession at the Nicene Councell By whose example Kings and Magistrates ought to set to their handes and out of the miserable dissipation wherein we liue to restablish one true way for the seruice of God as Moses did command them to wit that they should meditate in his law day night to kéepe it themselues and to cause others to obserue it also And not to expect till the Pastors reforme it whereof a great number séeke but to enrich themselues and to sway ouer others Cap. 46. That it is verie needfull to withstand the enterprises of Churchmen be they Priests or Ministers and to chuse protectors for the conseruation of the people ANd to take away the doubt that some may propose to wit if such Tribunes are necessarie among those who haue cast off the Popes yoke and haue Ministers It is certain that the reason is all one for to be persuaded that they are of better borne and of more gentle nature then the sacrificing priests issued out of the race of Abraham there is none apparance But to go no further then to the Apostles themselues if we looke but to the marke that they leuelled at before the Ascension of Iesus Christ and before he had sent downe his holie spirit vpon them we shall sée that they were enflamed with an ardent desire to be promoted to rule beare sway So that if once they be tollerated to set downe
of greater consequence as the Tribunes may make ample relation hereof and proue it by many sundry examples Cap. 48. That the controuersies about the Lords Supper by which the Pastors trouble the whole world are easily to bee accorded and quieted if the Magistrate would but go about it in good earnest WHerefore if we do not take some order for the peace and tranquilitie of Christendome by some such meane as I haue set downe in vaine otherwise shall we looke for any firme and assured concord For those who aboue all other ought to séeke for reconciliation betwéene God and man afterwards betwéen themselues are nothing els but the verie instruments of trouble sedition kindling the fires of discord euery where to set all in flame and conclusion For to stay till of their owne motions there fall out some accord betwéene the Councell of Rome and the Lutherians and betwéene them againe and the Caluinists touching our Lords Supper that will neuer be no more then betwéen Caiphas and the Apostles of Iesus Christ wherefore if there be none other to step in amongst them moued thereunto by pittying the ruine of other Estates which I haue named who must craue aide of the greatest Kings and Christian Magistrates to make them hold their tongues they will trouble heauen earth about this disputation of the Supper a matter neuertheles verie easie to be accorded betwéene them For we all agrée to this that the faithfull taking the bread the wine from y e hand of their Pastors receiue by this meane the verie bodie and blood of Iesus Christ to be vnited with him and made flesh of his flesh bone of his bone What is it that is yet in controuersie but onely the maner and forme how that commeth to passe Now the Capernaits desiring to comprehend the maner of this eating Iesus answereth them that The words that I speake vnto you are spirit and life As if he should say vnto them there is none but those who vnderstand the operation of the diuine spirit and how he giueth life vnto all creatures who can comprehend how that is done But our soule which is detained prisoner in this bodie she cannot so much as conceiue how the spirite of God being infinite and incomprehensible hath it operation in all y t is in the world nay that which is farre lesse we cannot imagine how the Angels of heauen and the spirituall Damons employ their Forces to execute the iudgements of God nor the temptations of the wicked spirit against vs nor how a legion of diuels may be in one onely man nor after what maner they lodge in him And yet thinges farre lesse then all these cannot we comprehend as the essence of our soule and whether it be within vs or about vs. For how it can so quickly stirre and remoue all the members of the bodie nor also by what force the Adamant which is in the rocks of y e North can draw vnto it yron being in a ship more then ten or twentie leagues of And whereas he calleth his words Life it is to giue vs to vnderstand that as our humane vnderstanding cannot conceiue how God inspireth life to all creatures and giueth it to some liuing creatures in the belly of their dammes giueth it to an infinit number of litle Animals Locusts and little Flies and no man can comprehend the forme and maner how he doth it nor so mnch as this how many liuing creatures being pend in and depriued of all externall light for all that sée most cléerely so likewise must we conclude that God worketh in this Sacrament by a diuine operation and altogither incomprehensible which man cannot comprehend nor shall not comprehend whilest he is resident in this Elementall and corruptible bodie It should suffice vs to know what S. Paul teacheth vs that there is in vs an interior and an exterior man So that in this Sacrament euen as the exterior receiueth the signes of bread and wine so the interior receiueth the bodie and blood of Iesus Christ for the nourishment of euerlasting life without making any déeper search of the maner how it is done This point so concluded vpon it shal be méete for the peace and tranquilitie of Christendome that the Tribunes should humbly entreat Christian Kings and Potentates to imploy the power and authoritie that God hath bestowed vpon them to bury in perpetuall obliuion all these meanes deuised by the Ecclesiastickes be it of Transubstantiation Consubstantiation Infinitie of Christes bodie and many other quiddities the fountain of troubles and diuisions in Christendome by this meane to preuent the Italians least for things wherin they haue none interest they ruine also other Estates of this Continent And if any debate should fall out betwéene the Tribunes and the Ecclesiastickes and that they could not agrée that the King should assemble a good number of men of profound knowledge and great experience and especially those that are best affectionate to the benefit and quiet of their countrie and without any interest in this controuersie The which should not be moued by the outragious cries and violent passions of mutinous and seditious preachers And to séeke out such fellowes as Messieurs Budee de l'Hospital de Pibrac and Monsieur Groulard who is at this present first President of Normandy And looke what the King shall resolue by the counsell of these learned men to cause thorowly to be obserued And to go about these matters so secretly that the Italians heare no inkling thereof least they by their craftie conueiances hinder not the happie successe of this busines To foresée this well it shall néede but to make the world belieue that these assemblies were made for some other purpose and that some new occurrence had fallen out and giuen occasion to treat of religion all vnder one Cap. 49. That in vaine we looke for deliuerance out of the miseries of France by any Assemblies of Pastors IF we doe not vse these or the like remedies our hope shal bee in vayne to expect for any goodly effect of Synodes or Assembles of the Ecclesiastickes because there shal be alwayes but one or two of the most learnedst and eloquentest albeit the be all of one nation who shall dispose and carrie away all things at there lust all the rest seruing but to say Amen and to subscribe to there aduise For when any one amongst them hath got aname to be profoūdly learnd to bemore subtil indisputing then others no man dare gayne say him y e tremble al vnder his authoritie if he besome what styrring ambitious desirous to beare sway he wil make thē receaue what Articles lawes he list for y t hauing studied matter ynough to defend himselfe w t Arguments to reach vnto his purpose y t others shal litile think of and perfaming his matters with a litle apparant benefit for them they will let him carry them away so and subscribe to whatsoeuer hee would