emperor_n anastasius_n the_o vicar_n of_o god_n by_o the_o divine_a command_n preside_v over_o the_o earth_n 507._o a_o authority_n like_o this_o also_o be_v exercise_v by_o the_o western_a emperor_n of_o the_o french_a line_n be_v stayled_a the_o ruler_n of_o the_o true_a religion_n a_o title_n give_v to_o charles_n the_o great_a and_o to_o ludovicus_n by_o two_o several_a council_n which_o they_o have_v call_v 2._o and_o the_o present_a french_a king_n do_v claim_v the_o supremacy_n over_o the_o french_a church_n as_o may_v be_v see_v in_o â—â—ohellus_fw-la and_o p._n pithâ—us_n cite_v before_o sect._n 5._o one_o of_o the_o french_a writer_n tell_v we_o it_o be_v the_o opinion_n of_o his_o nation_n that_o le_fw-fr royiassisté_fw-fr de_fw-fr son_fw-fr conseil_n d'estate_fw-la est_fw-la â—â—â—es_fw-la diâ—â—_n chief_a terrieâ—_n de_fw-fr l'eglise_fw-fr de_fw-fr son_fw-fr royanme_n &_o 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d pape_n 234._o and_o it_o may_v be_v prove_v concern_v other_o christian_a prince_n 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pope_n eugenius_n that_o the_o apostle_n be_v forbid_v to_o exercise_v dominion_n luke_n xxii_o 25_o 26._o and_o therefore_o he_o add_v if_o you_o will_v have_v apostolical_a and_o royal_a power_n together_o you_o lose_v both_o 2._o final_o therefore_o it_o be_v unreasonable_a for_o the_o roman_a bishop_n to_o challenge_v such_o authority_n here_o and_o the_o law_n of_o god_n and_o man_n forbid_v it_o so_o that_o i_o may_v expect_v you_o shall_v be_v so_o far_o from_o receive_v any_o article_n for_o the_o sake_n of_o this_o authority_n that_o you_o shall_v not_o scruple_n to_o renounce_v the_o authority_n itself_o which_o be_v so_o ill-gotten_a at_o first_o so_o wretched_o abuse_v while_o it_o do_v obtain_v and_o so_o legal_o take_v away_o at_o last_o and_o in_o so_o do_v you_o will_v demonstrate_v yourselves_o to_o be_v loyal_a to_o your_o king_n faithful_a to_o your_o country_n friend_n to_o your_o
but_o must_v be_v confess_v to_o aim_v at_o the_o present_a and_o future_a happiness_n of_o all_o that_o we_o shall_v address_v ourselves_o to_o in_o this_o matter_n and_o i_o shall_v rejoice_v if_o my_o pain_n herein_o may_v attain_v these_o bless_a end_n and_o let_v you_o particular_o understand_v how_o glad_o i_o will_v encourage_v your_o love_n to_o the_o church_n of_o england_n and_o comply_v with_o all_o your_o pious_a desire_n since_o i_o be_o sir_n your_o affectionate_a and_o faithful_a friend_n friendly_o and_o seasonable_a advice_n to_o the_o roman_a catholic_n of_o england_n the_o introduction_n my_o friend_n and_o countryman_n it_o be_v observe_v by_o other_o and_o complain_v of_o by_o yourselves_o that_o you_o lie_v under_o many_o inconvenience_n by_o reason_n of_o your_o stiff_a adherence_n to_o those_o opinion_n which_o rome_n call_v religion_n the_o charge_v you_o be_v at_o to_o maintain_v a_o foreign_a jurisdiction_n and_o your_o want_n of_o the_o communion_n of_o those_o christian_n among_o who_o you_o live_v the_o uneasy_a rite_n impose_v on_o you_o here_o and_o the_o great_a hazard_n of_o your_o salvation_n hereafter_o be_v reckon_v by_o other_o to_o be_v evil_n appendant_a to_o your_o profess_v the_o faith_n of_o that_o church_n but_o if_o you_o yourselves_o do_v not_o feel_v or_o not_o fear_v these_o thing_n and_o so_o account_v they_o no_o grievance_n yet_o you_o be_v sensible_a of_o other_o pressure_n and_o frequent_o complain_v that_o your_o estate_n be_v obnoxious_a to_o the_o penalty_n of_o the_o law_n and_o your_o person_n expose_v to_o the_o general_a hatred_n of_o the_o people_n you_o tell_v we_o you_o want_v many_o privilege_n of_o other_o subject_n and_o lie_v under_o many_o burden_n from_o which_o other_o be_v free_a you_o perceive_v that_o your_o action_n be_v observe_v your_o design_n suspect_v and_o your_o party_n accuse_v to_o be_v the_o cause_n of_o all_o public_a evil_n how_o far_o some_o of_o your_o own_o persuasion_n have_v contribute_v hereunto_o i_o shall_v not_o take_v upon_o i_o to_o judge_v esteem_v it_o a_o more_o charitable_a employment_n to_o offer_v some_o expedient_a to_o free_v you_o from_o those_o sad_a effect_n which_o you_o complain_v of_o than_o either_o to_o inquire_v after_o the_o cause_n of_o the_o nation_n general_a antipathy_n to_o your_o religion_n or_o dispute_v about_o the_o occasion_n thereof_o wherefore_o whilst_o some_o accuse_v your_o practice_n and_o other_o deride_v your_o worship_n i_o have_v so_o much_o affection_n for_o your_o person_n as_o my_o countryman_n and_o so_o much_o charity_n for_o your_o soul_n since_o you_o bear_v the_o name_n of_o christian_a as_o to_o present_v you_o with_o some_o useful_a advice_n it_o be_v true_a the_o common_a apprehension_n concern_v you_o may_v almost_o discourage_v such_o a_o attempt_n it_o be_v general_o believe_v that_o a_o roman_a catholic_n prejudice_n be_v like_o they_o in_o st._n augustine_n who_o be_v descend_v of_o misbelieve_a ancestor_n prefer_v their_o extraction_n before_o the_o truth_n and_o like_o the_o resolution_n of_o cotta_n in_o cicero_n who_o say_v that_o no_o discourse_n of_o either_o learned_a or_o unlearned_a man_n shall_v ever_o remove_v he_o from_o the_o opinion_n receive_v from_o his_o forefather_n concern_v the_o worship_n of_o the_o immortal_a god_n 2._o but_o i_o know_v many_o of_o you_o be_v master_n of_o more_o reason_n than_o to_o ground_n your_o faith_n upon_o so_o uncertain_a a_o foundation_n it_o be_v not_o the_o part_n of_o wise_a man_n say_v a_o learned_a father_n to_o be_v enslave_v to_o a_o receive_a opinion_n nor_o rash_o to_o give_v up_o themselves_o to_o their_o father_n custom_n but_o to_o endeavour_v to_o find_v out_o the_o truth_n 1_o and_o it_o be_v the_o advice_n of_o the_o great_a apostle_n to_o prove_v all_o thing_n and_o hold_v fast_o that_o which_o be_v good_a 1_o thess_n 5._o 21._o because_o it_o be_v a_o zeal_n without_o knowledge_n and_o a_o foolish_a obstinacy_n to_o be_v confident_a of_o that_o which_o we_o never_o do_v examine_v i_o can_v easy_o believe_v your_o spiritual_a guide_n will_v esteem_v no_o sin_n more_o mortal_a than_o to_o inquire_v into_o those_o principle_n which_o you_o receive_v from_o they_o and_o they_o will_v scarce_o allow_v you_o the_o liberty_n to_o peruse_v a_o few_o line_n present_v by_o so_o charitable_a a_o hand_n but_o their_o prohibition_n methinks_v shall_v make_v you_o more_o suspicious_a and_o inquisitive_a and_o cause_v you_o to_o resolve_v to_o try_v that_o coin_n which_o shun_v the_o touchstone_n know_v that_o truth_n seek_v no_o corner_n and_o that_o which_o be_v real_a fear_n no_o test_n the_o church_n of_o england_n put_v no_o such_o restraint_n upon_o her_o adherent_n nor_o be_v she_o unwilling_a to_o have_v her_o doctrine_n try_v by_o scripture_n and_o the_o best_a antiquity_n because_o she_o find_v those_o be_v her_o best_a son_n that_o have_v inquire_v most_o narrow_o evil_n need_v a_o mask_n and_o a_o disguise_n say_v the_o brave_a agesilaus_n but_o light_n make_v true_a goodness_n to_o be_v more_o illustrious_a and_o more_o lovely_a and_o a_o great_a than_o he_o say_v every_o one_o that_o do_v evil_a hate_v the_o light_n neither_o come_v to_o the_o light_n lest_o his_o deed_n shall_v be_v reprove_v but_o he_o that_o do_v turth_o come_v to_o the_o light_n s._n john_n iii._o 20._o 21._o if_o therefore_o you_o have_v but_o so_o much_o consideration_n as_o to_o suspect_v and_o so_o much_o courage_n as_o to_o examine_v i_o shall_v not_o be_v without_o hope_n that_o my_o advice_n may_v take_v place_n since_o as_o plato_n note_v every_o soul_n be_v unwilling_o deprive_v of_o truth_n which_o man_n can_v resist_v when_o once_o it_o appear_v unto_o they_o i_o shall_v ask_v no_o more_o of_o you_o than_o to_o search_v impartial_o whether_o the_o doctrine_n wherein_o you_o differ_v from_o the_o church_n of_o england_n deserve_v so_o firm_a a_o assent_n as_o you_o give_v they_o and_o he_o that_o dare_v not_o do_v this_o be_v not_o a_o disciple_n but_o a_o slave_n it_o may_v be_v those_o counselor_n may_v please_v the_o heady_a bigot_n of_o your_o persuasion_n better_o who_o advise_v they_o to_o ease_v their_o mind_n by_o reproach_v the_o law_n and_o the_o government_n or_o to_o attempt_v the_o shake_n off_o their_o grievance_n by_o more_o desperate_a course_n but_o i_o do_v not_o believe_v the_o wise_a and_o more_o sober_a romanist_n can_v approve_v such_o curse_a motion_n there_o be_v many_o of_o they_o too_o noble_a to_o admit_v such_o thought_n it_o be_v the_o stoic_n character_n in_o galen_n that_o they_o will_v rather_o betray_v their_o country_n than_o renounce_v their_o maxim_n but_o i_o take_v those_o of_o your_o party_n to_o be_v general_o of_o a_o better_a temper_n and_o therefore_o i_o hope_v you_o will_v account_v it_o to_o be_v far_o more_o friendly_a and_o seasonable_a advice_n to_o try_v these_o your_o principle_n strict_o before_o you_o expose_v your_o country_n or_o yourselves_o to_o suffer_v all_o the_o ill-consequence_n of_o your_o rigid_a maintain_n of_o they_o and_o if_o you_o once_o right_o understand_v they_o i_o hope_v you_o will_v discern_v they_o do_v not_o deserve_v to_o be_v retain_v at_o so_o dear_a a_o rate_n so_o that_o it_o be_v possible_a you_o may_v resolve_v to_o quit_v your_o mistake_a opinion_n and_o your_o real_a suffering_n together_o however_o though_o your_o enquiry_n shall_v not_o have_v this_o effect_n yet_o this_o trial_n of_o your_o principle_n ought_v not_o to_o be_v whole_o decline_v for_o i_o will_v advise_v you_o to_o examine_v the_o roman_a doctrine_n if_o it_o be_v but_o only_o to_o declare_v that_o your_o religion_n be_v not_o a_o blind_a and_o accidental_a choice_n and_o to_o vindicate_v yourselves_o from_o the_o charge_n of_o the_o old_a samaritan_n who_o worship_v they_o know_v not_o what_o section_n 1._o whether_o the_o roman_a opinion_n which_o differ_v from_o the_o church_n of_o england_n be_v the_o old_a religion_n i_o doubt_v not_o but_o these_o who_o have_v be_v educate_v in_o the_o romish_a religion_n as_o well_o as_o those_o who_o have_v inconsiderate_o turn_v to_o it_o do_v please_v themselves_o in_o fancy_v they_o be_v of_o the_o old_a religion_n and_o hence_o they_o assume_v and_o appropriate_v to_o themselves_o the_o name_n of_o catholic_n upon_o this_o presumption_n that_o they_o do_v entire_o and_o in_o all_o thing_n agree_v with_o the_o ancient_n and_o universal_a church_n but_o my_o friend_n if_o you_o have_v the_o patience_n to_o inquire_v you_o will_v find_v there_o be_v no_o good_a ground_n for_o this_o persuasion_n it_o be_v evident_a the_o roman_a be_v not_o the_o old_a religion_n in_o any_o other_o article_n but_o only_o in_o those_o which_o be_v find_v in_o the_o apostle_n creed_n or_o found_v upon_o the_o plain_a word_n of_o holy_a scripture_n for_o that_o be_v the_o
notwithstanding_o their_o mouldy_a pretence_n as_o if_o they_o have_v come_v from_o far_o and_o be_v descend_v from_o ancient_a time_n their_o true_a original_a be_v much_o late_a and_o near_o to_o this_o present_a age._n and_o now_o second_o it_o will_v be_v easy_a to_o determine_v that_o as_o the_o roman_a be_v not_o the_o old_a religion_n so_o neither_o aught_o the_o professor_n of_o it_o to_o appropriate_v to_o themselves_o the_o name_n of_o catholic_n for_o whether_o we_o take_v it_o in_o the_o primary_n and_o grammatical_a sense_n for_o universal_a or_o in_o its_o common_a acceptation_n for_o true_a believer_n the_o romanist_n have_v no_o peculiar_a right_n to_o this_o venerable_a title_n first_o because_o their_o faith_n in_o those_o point_n wherein_o it_o differ_v from_o the_o church_n of_o england_n be_v not_o universal_a for_o as_o the_o judicious_a mr._n brerewood_n compute_v the_o christian_n hold_v the_o faith_n of_o rome_n be_v not_o above_o a_o four_o part_n of_o those_o who_o believe_v in_o christ_n rel._n and_o the_o excellent_a author_n of_o europae_n speculum_fw-la etc._n thus_o make_v out_o the_o account_n the_o greek_a church_n say_v he_o in_o number_n exceed_v any_o other_o and_o the_o protestant_n in_o number_n and_o circuit_n of_o territory_n be_v very_o near_o equal_a to_o the_o papal_a part_n these_o be_v two_o four_o part_n to_o which_o if_o we_o add_v the_o oriental_a christian_n which_o be_v not_o of_o the_o roman_a communion_n and_o those_o under_o prester_n john_n or_o the_o abassine_n christian_n we_o have_v another_o four_o part_n of_o the_o christian_a people_n and_o then_o the_o romanist_n be_v but_o one_o four_o part_n of_o christian_n only_o and_o it_o be_v very_o odd_a to_o say_v that_o the_o four_o part_n be_v the_o whole_a and_o sure_o my_o friend_n you_o can_v serious_o think_v the_o roman_a church_n to_o be_v the_o universal_a or_o catholic_n church_n in_o this_o sense_n when_o you_o remember_v that_o the_o pope_n authority_n be_v not_o acknowledge_v by_o the_o generality_n of_o those_o christian_n live_v in_o england_n scotland_n and_o ireland_n with_o the_o plantation_n thereunto_o belong_v nor_o by_o those_o of_o denmark_n and_o sweden_n nor_o by_o those_o of_o transylvania_n walachia_n and_o moldavia_n nor_o by_o the_o large_a church_n of_o russia_n nor_o by_o the_o populous_a state_n and_o province_n of_o the_o dutch_a with_o their_o many_o plantation_n abroad_o nor_o by_o at_o least_o five_o part_n of_o six_o of_o the_o vast_a country_n of_o upper_a germany_n nor_o by_o two_o part_n of_o three_o of_o the_o swisser_n nor_o by_o those_o of_o geneva_n and_o piedmont_n nor_o by_o very_o many_o in_o france_n hungary_n poland_n etc._n etc._n how_o many_o million_o of_o christian_n be_v there_o in_o the_o eastern_a world_n who_o have_v no_o dependence_n on_o the_o roman_a church_n the_o christian_n of_o the_o greek_a church_n proper_o so_o call_v under_o the_o three_o patriarch_n of_o constantinople_n alexandria_n and_o antioch_n those_o of_o armenia_n who_o be_v profess_v enemy_n of_o rome_n and_o yearly_o excommunicate_v the_o pope_n the_o georgian_a christian_n with_o many_o other_o lesser_a name_n in_o asia_n the_o abassine_a christian_n in_o africa_n all_o these_o be_v not_o of_o the_o communion_n of_o the_o roman_a church_n and_o therefore_o how_o can_v that_o church_n pretend_v to_o the_o title_n of_o universal_a or_o catholic_n in_o this_o sense_n but_o second_o if_o you_o say_v you_o be_v catholic_n that_o be_v true_a believer_n in_o all_o point_n i_o desire_v you_o to_o consider_v that_o none_o say_v so_o but_o yourselves_o and_o it_o be_v suspicious_a their_o witness_n be_v not_o true_a who_o bear_v witness_v to_o themselves_o s._n john_n v._n 31._o and_o where_o so_o many_o article_n of_o faith_n be_v new_a it_o be_v probable_a some_o be_v false_a since_o the_o old_a thing_n in_o religion_n be_v the_o true_a and_o the_o best_a so_o that_o upon_o the_o whole_a enquiry_n the_o church_n of_o england_n may_v more_o just_o claim_v the_o title_n of_o catholic_n because_o the_o principle_n thereof_o be_v few_o and_o clear_o deduce_v from_o scripture_n believe_v in_o the_o primitive_a church_n and_o universal_o receive_v by_o all_o sort_n of_o christian_n who_o differ_v in_o some_o ceremony_n but_o for_o the_o point_n which_o this_o church_n account_v necessary_a to_o salvation_n the_o whole_a christian_a world_n general_o agree_v in_o they_o and_o since_o the_o religion_n of_o the_o church_n of_o england_n be_v the_o most_o ancient_a and_o most_o universal_a you_o will_v be_v more_o true_o of_o the_o old_a religion_n and_o more_o proper_o style_v catholic_n by_o embrace_v the_o faith_n profess_v in_o your_o own_o country_n and_o disow_v those_o who_o damn_v all_o christian_n but_o they_o of_o their_o own_o party_n although_o it_o be_v evident_a there_o be_v in_o the_o world_n christian_n far_o more_o in_o number_n than_o they_o and_o among_o those_o many_o equal_a in_o learning_n and_o superior_a in_o piety_n to_o the_o best_a of_o the_o roman_a church_n who_o be_v reprobate_v and_o sentence_v to_o eternal_a flame_n by_o their_o uncharitable_a anathema_n section_n ii_o whether_o the_o say_v opinion_n be_v not_o introduce_v for_o evil_a end_n although_o all_o this_o be_v matter_n of_o fact_n and_o acknowledge_v by_o your_o own_o writer_n yet_o i_o must_v expect_v the_o venerable_a esteem_v you_o have_v so_o long_o have_v for_o the_o roman_a church_n will_v make_v you_o slow_a to_o believe_v this_o deserve_a charge_n of_o innovation_n and_o perhaps_o you_o will_v wonder_v how_o so_o pure_a so_o celebrate_v and_o so_o orthodox_n a_o church_n as_o rome_n primitive_a be_v shall_v vary_v so_o much_o from_o her_o first_o faith_n yet_o since_o the_o change_n be_v so_o evident_a and_o so_o well_o attest_v i_o hope_v at_o least_o your_o curiosity_n will_v tempt_v you_o to_o inquire_v first_o for_o what_o end_v she_o shall_v bring_v in_o these_o new_a doctrine_n second_o by_o what_o mean_v they_o become_v so_o general_o believe_v three_o of_o what_o nature_n the_o thing_n themselves_o be_v four_o whether_o there_o be_v authority_n sufficient_a in_o the_o roman_a church_n to_o impose_v they_o on_o the_o whole_a christian_n world_n five_o whether_o the_o catholic_n of_o england_n ought_v to_o be_v sway_v by_o that_o authority_n to_o embrace_v they_o and_o if_o in_o examine_v these_o particular_n any_o thing_n shall_v be_v speak_v which_o sound_v harsh_o to_o your_o ear_n accustom_v to_o hear_v nothing_o but_o encomium_n of_o rome_n i_o shall_v desire_v you_o to_o consider_v that_o truth_n be_v seldom_o grateful_a to_o offender_n and_o i_o must_v say_v with_o one_o of_o the_o writer_n of_o the_o pope_n life_n we_o relate_v these_o thing_n because_o they_o be_v do_v and_o if_o the_o pope_n will_v not_o have_v base_a or_o evil_a thing_n report_v of_o they_o they_o must_v do_v no_o such_o thing_n or_o if_o they_o do_v they_o not_o fancy_n they_o can_v be_v so_o conceal_v as_o that_o they_o shall_v not_o be_v know_v nor_o relate_v to_o posterity_n papyrius_n masson_n de_fw-fr vit._n pont._n for_o my_o own_o part_n i_o profess_v i_o take_v no_o delight_n in_o accusation_n nor_o shall_v i_o say_v any_o thing_n out_o of_o malice_n to_o that_o church_n but_o out_o of_o pity_n to_o the_o soul_n of_o those_o who_o without_o reason_n dote_v upon_o it_o if_o you_o inquire_v what_o end_v the_o roman_a church_n can_v have_v to_o bring_v in_o these_o new_a doctrine_n i_o reply_v the_o first_o decay_n of_o that_o church_n begin_v in_o her_o manner_n for_o after_o there_o be_v christian_a magistrate_n say_v s._n hierome_n the_o church_n become_v full_a of_o riches_n and_o empty_a of_o virtue_n malach._n and_o for_o the_o roman_a bishop_n they_o begin_v very_o early_o to_o affect_v a_o dominion_n beyond_o the_o bound_n of_o priesthood_n as_o socrates_n note_n 11._o which_o make_v s._n basil_n say_v thirteen_o hundred_o year_n ago_o i_o hate_v the_o pride_n of_o that_o church_n 32._o and_o cause_v a_o heathen_a historian_n of_o that_o age_n to_o say_v the_o roman_a bishop_n be_v rich_o clad_v carry_v in_o litter_n and_o profuse_a in_o their_o feast_n 27._o but_o the_o fault_n of_o that_o age_n be_v small_a in_o respect_n of_o aftertime_n for_o as_o their_o wealth_n and_o power_n increase_v their_o manner_n grow_v still_o worse_o and_o worse_o as_o we_o find_v by_o the_o complaint_n of_o salvian_n and_o many_o other_o till_o at_o length_n about_o the_o nine_o age_n your_o own_o baronius_n say_v the_o face_n of_o the_o roman_a church_n be_v become_v most_o filthy_a when_o lewd_a and_o potent_a courtesan_n sway_v all_o there_o at_o who_o pleasure_n see_v be_v change_v bishop_n place_v and_o which_o be_v horrid_a to_o pious_a ear_n their_o paramour_n be_v thrust_v into_o s._n peter_n '_o s_o chair_n false_a pope_n which_o