and teach we saie also and prooue by most sufficient arguments that the Scriptures are sufficient of themselues and conteine all things pertaining to the worshippe of God and saluation of men Therefore also so nigh as we can we frame the manner of our worship of God according onely to the Scriptures If therefore the matter of the Scriptures if the forme of God his worship prescribed in the scriptures be acceptable vnto God then also is our religion but the former cannot be denied therefore also the latter must be graunted THE FIFTH ARGVMENT touching the ende of true religion THat that we haue saide of the contrarietie and difference betwixt popery in the former things and betwixt that religion which the Scriptures commend may also be said touching the end of that religion which the scriptures commende and the ende of poperie For the scriptures commend that religion wherein all things are referred to the glorie of God The Prophet saith Not vnto vs O Lord not vnto vs but vnto thy name giue the glorie Psal 115. 1. And againe Helpe vs O God of our saluation for the glorie of thy name deliuer vs and be mercifull vnto vs for thy names sake Psal 79. 9. Our Sauiour beginneth his praier which he commendeth vnto all men with this petition Hallowed be thy name and concludeth it with these words For thine is the kingdome the power and the glorie The Apostle commaundeth whether ye eate or drinke or whatsoeuer ye doe doe all to the glorie of God 1. Cor. 10. 30. All the Apostles say Vnto him that is vnto God be praise in the Church by Christ Jesus throughout all generations for euer Eph. 3. 20 21. And againe Vnto God euen our father be praise for euermore Amen Phil. 4. 20. And againe Now vnto the King euerlasting immortall inuisible vnto God onely wise be honour and glorie for euer and euer Amen 1. Tim. 1. 7. And again To God onely wise our Sauiour be glorie and maiestie Iud. 25. So also the Angels gaue glorie and honour and thankes to him that sate vpon the throne Rev. 4. 9. All creatures also in heauen and on earth and vnder the earth and in the sea and all that are in them did Iohn heare to say Praise and honour and glorie and power be vnto him that sitteth vpon the throne which liueth for euer and euer Revel 5. 13. Many other the like testimonies of scripture there are in the same booke in the psalmes and elswhere teaching that all things are to be referred to the glorie of God and that this glorie of God should be the principall ende of all things and that nothing should be done but that whereby God might be glorified Matth. 5. 16. This is likewise manifest by reason because God hath made all things ruleth all things and all things hold of him and serue vnder him therefore it followeth that all things should seeke his praise and glorie aboue all things and referre all things thereunto 2 Now what doth poperie doth it thus respect God his glorie in all things doth it referre all things thereunto Nothing lesse what with inuocation of Saints and trusting in them what with making images and worshipping of them what with giuing of the Pope the name of god the headship of the Church power to forgiue sinnes to let out of purgatorie to command the deuills in hell to open heauen gates and magnifying him accordingly what with turning of bread into the bodie of Christ and adoring the same what with commending the free will of man and teaching his abilitie and strength to keepe the commandements of God what with the doctrine of the blood of Martyrs of merits and of works supererogatorie what I say with these and other the like things they ascribe so much to these things and so much respect the praise honour and glorie of these things that they doe nothing almost for the glorie of God Therefore they may say if they would speake truly and according to their doctrine and all their practise Not vnto thy name O Lord not vnto thy name yea they may adde the third time Not vnto thy name giue the glorie but unto saints vnto Pope vnto bread vnto Martyrs vnto vs. If they will yet say that all these things make to the glorie of God let them shew how which waies and what glorie God hath by them Our Sauiour Christ Ioh. 7. 18. saith thus of and for himselfe He that speaketh of himselfe seeketh his owne glorie but he that seeketh the glorie of him that sent him is true and no vnrighteousnes is in him In these words he prooueth himselfe to be true and free from vnrighteousnes because he sought the glorie of God that had sent him and on the contrarie that he that seeketh his owne glorie speaketh of himselfe and is not sent of God This may be well applied against Pope and poperie For our Sauiour speaketh as well generally as of himselfe The Pope therefore seeking his owne glorie and not the glorie of him by whome he saith he is sent doth manifestly condemne himselfe to speake of himselfe and not to be sent by him of whom he boasteth Poperie likewise seeking the glorie of it selfe and of other things not of God doth also bewraie it selfe not to be of God nor acceptable vnto God 3 As for our religion it ascribeth nothing to Saints or any other thing neither to our selues but all to God Our doctrine and whole religion abaseth all things yea our selues also and all that is in vs acknowledging that we haue no power in our selues and of our selues to doe speake or thinke any thing that is good confessing also our selues to be full of all euill naturally and prone to all sinne and wickednes teaching that what good soeuer is in vs it is onely of God and that no good thing is euer perfect whilst here we liue further also professing that whatsoeuer good we doe we merite nothing thereby at God his hands but that God for all that if he would deale with vs according to our vnworthines might most iustly cast vs out of his presence for euer Thus I saie doth our religion teach and thus we freely confesse and with heart and tongue we saie Not vnto vs O Lord not vnto vs but vnto thy name giue the glory Therefore as this was a good argument for Christ thereby to approoue himselfe to be sent from God so also it is as good and firme for iustifying and approouing of our religion to be of God because it seeketh the glorie of God Thus much for the ende of Poperie THE SIXTH ARGVMENT touching the effects of true religion IN the next place let vs consider of the fruits of poperie and see whether they helpe vs not also with some armor against poperie As therfore Poperie teacheth doctrine contrarie to the scriptures so the fruits of poperie cannot be agreeable to them Such as their doctrine is such must be their fruits because their doctrine
loue abound more and more as the Apostle writeth vnto the Philippians and as our Sauiour himselfe Phil. 1. 9. commendeth the loue of the Church of Thyatira saying that her workes were more at the Rev. 2. 19. last then at the first This the Lord requireth of all but especially of such as himselfe hath most highly aduanced and made the sonnes of the Psal 29. 1. mightie yea this is the ende for which he doth thus aduance them and make them so mightie Ester 4. 14. Neither neede any man to feare any disgrace or dishonour by such forwardnes in zeale yea rather euery man is to hope the contrarie For God himselfe hath expressely promised to 1. Sam. 2. 3◠honour them that shall honour him Therefore the Apostle hoped and fully assured himselfe that in Phil. 1. 40. nothing he should be ashamed but that Christ should be magnified in his bodie where by opposing his owne shame to the magnifying of Christ and the magnifying likewise of Christ to his owne shame he plainely teacheth that they that studie and bend their endeauours most to magnifie and exalt Christ neede not to feare any shame and disgrace of themselues Moreouer they that continue the honouring of him with that honour and according to that honour whereunto he hath exalted them shall build vp the surer house to their owne posteritie For as the Prophet speaking generally of the man that feareth the Lord and delighteth greatly in his commandements Psal 112. 1. 2. that his seede shall be mightie vpon the earth so more particularly the Lord promised to Dauid to set vp his seede after him which 2. Sam. 7. 12. should proceede out of his bodie and to establish his kingdome And this promise all men knowe to haue beene most amply performed Yea to Iehu a man not so according to God his owne heart as Dauid was did the Lord promise that because he had diligently executed that which was right in 1. King 10. 30. God his eyes c. though not with a perfect heart therfore his sonnes vnto the fourth generation should sit vpon the throne of Israel This promise also was performed vnto the full For Iehu himselfe beeing reckoned for one Zecharia the sonne of Ieroboam king of Israel was the fifth discent from Iehu And this honour was more then the honour of any other king of Israel after the diuision of the kingdome For no other king of Israel besides Iehu had aboue one or two at the most as seuerall generà tions of their owne stocke and line to succeede them in the kingdome Three indeede are said to haue succeeded Homri to wit Ahab Ahazia and Iehoram but this last was not the sonne of the middle but both Ahazia and Iehoram were brethren and the sonnes of Ahab and Iezabel Now to returne to the fruit of beeing zealous in honouring 2. King 3. ◠and 9. 22. the Lord when the threede of all earthly honour shall be drawne to an ende so as that it can not possibly be lengthened one inch more then shall beginne the honour that is without ende Then shall Christ confesse them before the Mat. 10. 22. cōpared with Luke 12. 8. Father and before his Angels in heaeuen that haue confessed him before men in the earth He will not commit the proclaiming of their praise to any other as Ahashuerosh did the praise Ester 6. 11. of Mordecai vnto Haman but euen himselfe will be as it were the Herauld thereof Neither will he whisper the praise of such in secret but he will publish and proclaime it in the greatest and most honourable assemblie that euer was Yea this Iesus the king of glorie shall Math. 23. 35. Dan. 12. 3. Math. 22. 30. Philip. 3. 21. 1. Ioh. 3. 2. place them at his right hande and shall make them like to the starres yea to the sonne in firmament yea to the angels yea euen vnto himselfe Verily Right honourable this glorie though it should continue but one daie is more then all earthly glorie though it should continue a thousand yeares If Dauid saide the like of the courts of God vpon earth what may be Psal 84. 10. saide of the highest court of God in the highest heauen what heart therefore would not be enflamed and set on fire with the knowledge and certen assurance of these things when Peter Iames and Iohn did see Christ Iesus in the mountaine with Moses and Elias in that glorious apparell for a while which one day they should put on for euer how were they affected there with Truly so that although they themselues were not one whit transfigured with Christ yet they could haue bin cōtent for euer to haue dwelt in that mountaine onely to haue enioyed this glorious sight of Christ Moses and Elias For what said they Peter speaketh for the rest as oftentimes he did for all not as beeing the head of all but as hauing the boldest spirit and said Master it is good for vs to be heare if thou wilt let vs make three tabernacles one for thee one for Moses and one for Elias Were these thus rauished with the bodily sight of the glorie onely of Christ and of two other and that vpon the earth and but for a time How then should the heart of euery Christian be rauished with the spiritual sight by faith of the euerlasting glorie of Christ Iesus of all the Saints generally and of himselfe particularly which one day they and himselfe shall haue for euer in the heauens and whereof in the meane time by the same faith they and he are as certenly assured as if they were alreadie in possession thereof How zealous also should euery the like Christian heart be of this our religion whereto onely this glorie is promised and whereby onely it is to be attained So great was the glorie of Moses hauing talked but a while with the Lord in the mountaine at the receiuing of the law that without a vaile the Israelites could not looke vpon him Exod. 34. 33. Was glorie so great at the giuing of the law vnto Moses How great then shall it be at the finall rewarding of the perfect obseruation and full satisfaction of the law by Christ Iesus was glorie so great after a while talking with the Lord how great then shall it be when we shall haue our whole conuersation and liue with God for euer was glorie so great in an earthly mountaine how great then shall it be in the high heauens was glorie so great vpon corruption how great then shall it be when that that is sowen in dishonour shall be raised altogether in glorie was glorie so great vpon weaknes how great then shall it be when that that is sowen in weaknes shall be applied in power Finally was glorie so great vpon a naturall bodie how great then shall it be when that that is sowen a naturall bodie shall be raised in a spirituall bodie I write not these
saie his pride be considered against men as before it hath beene noted against God For how can he that lifteth himselfe aboue God or at the least matcheth himselfe in all things with God make any account of men This pride of his against men is so well knowne to all that fewe words thereof will suffice For how doth he entertaine the ambassadours of all Princes sent vnto him or any other that goe to see his holines what curtesie doth he shew them Forsooth he vouchsafeth nothing vnto them but onely the kissing of his filthie foote Therefore if the Earle of Wylshire his dogge at the holding forth of the Pope his foote to be kissed of some there present had bitten it cleane off as he ranne took it into his mouth had he not beene as worthie thereof as Iezabel was to be wholly eaten and deuoured of dogges How also doth his pride appeare in riding vpon mens shoulders as thinking the earth too base for his princely foote to tread thereon and all other creatures almost too vyle to beare his diuine person What shall we say also of his triple crowne of most pure golde set with all pretious stones not like to the thornie crowne that Christ did weare but farre passing all the diademes of all other Princes yea what further shall we say of his monstrous abusing of the Emperours from time to time when they were greater then now they are Hath he not made them with their wiues and children to waite many daies togither at his court gates as if they had beene beggers at some rich man his dore crauing an almes of some small peece of siluer or of bread and cheese Hath he not sent them whither it pleased himselfe to doe their penance inioyned by him Hath he not commanded them what seruice he would as if they had not onely beene his pages but also his lackies Hath he not commanded them to hold his sâ—yrrop and rewarded them with a blow on the eare for holding the wrong styrrop Hath he not troad on their necks hath he not crowned them with his feete will any doubt of these things because they are reported by M. Fox in the booke of Martyrs Let him knowe that M. Fox hath these things out of the bookes of other euen of their owne religion which haue written more largely of these things then M. Fox could doâ— So it pleased God to haue the memoriall of his intollerable pride preserued by his owne brood that the posteritie might make the lesse doubt thereof Againe what shall I saie of the right which he chalengeth to himselfe for aduancing and deposing for setting vp and putting downe Kings and Princes at his pleasure what shall I saie of those bulls excommunications and hellish but yet foolish thunder bolts against the Lord his annointed ouer vs for the cursing of her Maiesties owne person and discharging all her subiects of all obedience vnto her what shall I saie of the continuall debate contention strife and warres which alwaies he hath made betwixt Princes May this fellow truly saie as our Sauiour saith Matth. 11. 29. Learne of me for I am meeke and lowly in heart Nay rather he may truly saie Take heede of me for I am proud and haughtie in heart May he also saie as the Prophet Dauid saith Psal 131. Lord mine eyes are not haughtie neither are mine eyes loftie c Nay rather also he may make a cleane contrarie hymne to be sung in a contrarie tune Saint Peter whose successour he vaunteth himselfe commaunded all men to submit themselues to Kings and to honour them 1. Pet. 2. 13 and 17. But he commandeth all Kings to submit themselues to him and to honour him Saint Peter beeing iustly reprehended by Saint Paul Galat. 2. 14. did patiently take the same reprehension and after that wrote neuerthelesse of Saint Paul 2. Pet. 3. 15. But the Pope to preuent all such reprehensions and to stoppe the mouthes of all men that no man may dare to finde any fault with him chalengeth this as a speciall prerogatiue as we haue heard before that no man may saie vnto him Why dost thou so 6 That which hath bin said of him may also be said of his Cardinalls Bishops other of his traine Like master like man They are all of one broode of the same nature of the same spirite Such also as the Pope himselfe is such haue bin many of his whelps here in England From whom haue all treasons come all insurrections all rebellions all conspiracies against her Maiesties person the whole state of the land Haue they not come from Iesuits Seminary priests and as they call them catholique noble-men and gentlemen It cannot be denied What also shall we say of the murther of the late French king by a Iacobine fryer and of other like practises of the Papists against their Soueraignes in other countries Can the Protestant be iustly charged with any such things against their princes though popish As for that of the Duke of Suffolke against Queene Marie as it was before the title of Queene Marie was thoroughly knowne so all men know what colour of reason he had to doe as he did by the will and testament of that noble Prince king Edward the sixth Besides it is also knowne how soone and willingly he yeelded himselfe As for the Ladie Iane how innocent shee was in that action the Chronicles of our land doe testifie Touching Sir Thomas Wyat he intended no hurt against the person of Queene Marie but by his oath to the will and testament of king Henrie the eight thinking himselfe bound to doe whatsoeuer he could for the hindring of all forraine gouernment he did therefore withstand the comming in of the Spanyard Concerning the late tumult of Hacket and his two associates as Hacket himselfe was iustly executed so the other two were condemned of all men in that behalfe and therefore all men see how farre this differeth from the continuall practises and heynous treasons of the Papists allowed and iustified in their open writings as appeareth by Cardinall Allin his booke of that matter and likewise approoued warranted by the Pope himselfe the head as they say of their Church 7 To leaue this 5. coÌ„mandement let vs come to the next wherein the Lord forbiddeth all crueltie and commandeth all mercie as likewise he doth in many other places Doe they therefore I meane the Pope and Papists as they are Papists behaue themselues any better in obseruation of this commaundement then all the former No certenly but such as their pride is such is their crueltie As the Scripture oftentimes ioyneth these two euills togither so also they concurre in them For it may be truly saide of them as the Prophet writeth of his time psal 73. 6. Pride is as a chayne vnto them and crueltie couereth them as a garment This is manifest by that which hath beene before spoken of the persequution of the Protestants in our owne land of the
where it hath bin in like māner maintained defended and established To begin with Luther when it pleased God first to open his eyes to see both the abominations of poperie and also the truth of the gospell and likewise to deliuer him from the miserable darknes and bondage of the one and to translate him to the glorious light and libertie of the other yea to giue him an heart courage and tongue boldly as the Lords herault to condemne and disclaime the former and to preach and proclaime the other how many how diuers how great and how mightie aduersaries had he How few also how simple and how weake were those that tooke his part yet how mightily and how miraculously did God preserue vphold him yea also blesse and prosper the worke of his ministerie almost to all Christendome The like might be saide of many other who although they had not so great nor so many enemies as Luther had yet had more greater then they had beene able to haue resisted had not the Lord mightily taken their part 2 What shall we saie of little Geneua doth it not stand in the very mouth of the aduersarie there of the Duke of Sauoie doth this aduersarie want either power or malice Is it not therefore manifest that the Lord which neither sleepeth nor slumbereth psal 121. 4. is the keeper there of and that he doth protect and defende it by his mightie power and outstretched arme What shall we saie of the towne of Rochel besieged for the gospels sake and for harbouring the professours thereof by all the power of France for seauen whol monethes together were there not during that siege many conflicts skirmishes did not the whole power of France make seauen principall assaults thereunto in all which the Pope his side greater power had the greater losse doe not the French histories themselues testifie that in the first assault within lesse then one moneth there were discharged against the walls and houses thereof the number of thirtie thousand great shotte Doe not the same also write that in the second assault there were two thousand fielde peeces laide against the towne yet what successe had these and the other assaults The King was forced in the ende to withdrawe his forces and still to graunt them continuance of their former priuiledges and specially to the griefe of his heart the libertie of the gospel What also shall we saie of God his prouidence toward the said citie during all the time of the former siege for the poorer sort wanting corne the Lord sent euery daie into the riuer a multitude of such fish as the which they vsed in stead of bread and that this was the speciall and extraordinarie worke of God it appeareth in that that so soone as the siege was remooued the supplie also of the fishes did cease 3 Aboue all what shall we saie of our owne little Iland and of our most dread soueraigne and gracious Queene Hath not the whole land and especially her Highnes had many and mightie enemies continually Before shee came to the crowne in the daies of Queene Marie were not Queene and Councell for fiue yeares togither her mortall enemies did they not translate her from place to place by night and by daie whether in health or sicke were not sometime her owne seruants remooued from her and straungers appointed to attend vpon her was not the place directly vnder her one night fired to her great daunger if it had not beene preuented did shee not sometime in the euening feare death before the morning did shee not in the heauines of her heart and agonie of her soule write Much suspected by me nothing prooued can be Did shee not sende these words to some of her seruants that came and attended to see her Tanquam ovis who kept her in all those great and deepe daungers who restrained her enemies especially the bloodie and butcherly Bishops Bonner and Gardiner who deliuered her in the ende who aduaunced her vnto the crowne did not the Lord all this and that most wonderfully And may it not be saide in some sort of her preseruation deliuerance and aduauncement as it is saide of Christ himselfe especially considering that all her daunger was for Christ his cause This is the Lord his doing and it is vvonderfull in our eyes psal 118. 32. 4 Sithence shee hath beene placed in the throne of Maiestie haue her daungers bin lesse or fewer No verily but as her place hath beene higher so the deuill and all his whelpes haue more sought her vtter ruine and ouerthrow To omit forraine assaults many home rebellions many secret conspiracies and priuie treasons many open insurrections haue beene against her Highnes from time to time Many haue beene sent partly from the Pope partly from the King of Spayne first adjured by their sacrament of the altar secretly or openly most traiterously to murther her Many here within the realme haue conspired and attempted the same Neither haue they beene such as haue wanted opportunitie to haue effected their purpose but euen such as haue beene continuall courtyers waiting daily vpon her person yea as haue had all their aduancement and honour from her such also as haue had familiar accesse vnto her and with whome likewise shee of her princely curtesie and kindenes towards them hath vouchsafed verie often priuately to confer yea euen then when they haue come with full purpose and resolution to haue defiled their hands with shedding of her sacred blood haue they beene admitted to her priuate and secret conference Who then bridled them who tooke away all heart and courage from them Is it not euident to all men and must not all men acknowledge that the secret power of the Almightie did both withhold them and also preserue her And may not shee truly saie with the Prophet psal 94. 17. If the Lord had not holpen me my soule had almost dwelt in silence But is this all No verily the Lord hath not onely thus miraculously kept her but also highly honoured her in the eyes of all nations As shee maintaineth the cause of Christ Iesus so God hath performed to her in some sort the promises made vnto Christ Iesus As shee is a principall member of the spouse of Christ Iesus so hath God honoured her with those honours that he hath promised to the same spouse All Princes almost haue brought presents vnto her and all people haue beene in admiration of her Search all histories turne ouer all Chronicles sacred or profane diuine or humane ecclesiasticall or ciuill yet shall ye neuer finde a woman prince a maiden Queene whose preseruation hath beene so mightie whose glorie so great whose gouernement so long so prosperous and so happie 5 All this hath beene the more admirable and is the more to be considered by how much the more and oftner shee hath beene cursed with bell booke and candle by him that arrogateth to himselfe plenitudinem potestatis all authoritie in heauen in
of those times doth prooue that there was no greater plentie in those times then is now Yea rather doth not this commend the mercie and liberalitie of God the more in prouiding as well for the great multitude that is nowe by the meanes of the long and great peace we haue had as he did then for that small number of people that was then If it be obiected that many townes cities were greater then then now they be and that this prooueth as great a multitude to haue bin then as is now I answer that as some townes and cities are decaied so also many more both townes cities and villages are mightily encreased Thirdly though the former plentie of former times should be graunted yet it is not to be ascribed to poperie For then now also where poperie is there should be like plentie But we see the contrarie For in Spayne and other countries of poperie there is farre greater dearth at all times then where our religion is receiued THE FIFTH PART OF THE tenth argument touching the workes of God both against Poperie and for our religion NOw then let vs proceede and to the former exāples both of God his iust iudgement against poperie and Papists and also of his mercies for our religion and the professours thereof let vs adde an other sort of mixt workes of God that is of such things as God hath done both for one and also against the other and whereby at one and the same time he hath signified both his liking of the one and also his disliking of the other Here I will not referre the reader to the histories and bookes of other but doe onely intreat him wisely and in the feare of God to consider such things as haue beene so lately done in the eyes of the whole worlde as that euery childe of twelue yeares age knoweth them and talketh of them 2 First therefore let the great Navie of the king of Spayne sent forth anno Dom. 1588. for the inuasion of this kingdome and captiuating of the people if it had beene possible be considered with the successe which it had This Navie was so great as that the seas neuer before did beare the like and therefore also themselues did call it the inuincible Navie Neither was it sent forth onely by the King of Spayne himselfe but also with all the blessings that might be of the Pope and the whole Church of Rome As the whole popish holy cleargie in England in Queene Maries daies made many earnest and loude praiers went many solemne processions and sang many deuote Masses for the childe-birth and safe deliuerance of Queene Marie so in like manner did the Pope and colledge of Cardinalls and the whole holy Synagogue of Rome in Rome in Spayne and in many other places make the like supplications goe the like processions and sing the like masses for the good and happie successe of the saide Navie Therefore came this great armie not onely intending all violence and crueltie but also fully perswaded in their owne hearts of all victorie They made the like account of preuailing against Englande that sometime Senacherib King of Ashur with his Captaine Rabshakeh made of preuailing against Ierusalem and therefore saide no doubt in their hearts secretly the same that Rabshakeh spake in words openly 2. King 18. 25. Am I now come vp without the Lord to this place to destroy it The Lord hath saide vnto me goe vp against this land and destroie it They thought it had beene impossible for vs to haue escaped their hands as sometimes Benhadad king of Aram did thinke it impossible for the Israelites to escape out of his hands and therefore hearing that men were come out of Samaria against him he made not reckoning of it but said Whether they be come out for peace take them aliue or whether they be come ought to fight take them yet aliue 1. King 20. 18. Finally they so presumed vpon the vertue of the Popes blessing and vpon their great forces that they made reckoning before of deuiding the spoile amongst them as sometime Sisera and his mother with her wise ladies did of deuiding the spoile of the Israelites Iudg. 5. 29. 3 But what came of all this Truly as there neuer had beene sent forth the like power by sea against any people so was there neuer the like ouerthrow They had not cried loud ynough vnto their gods therefore they did not helpe them they set themselues against the God of heauen therefore he confounded them They said as the Egyptians saide Exod. 15. 9. We will pursue we will ouertake them we will deuide the spoyle our lust shall be satisfied vpon them we will draw our sword our hand shall destroy them but we may truly sing and say as Moses and the Israelites in that place sung and said vers 6 7 10. Thy right hand O Lord is glorious in power thy right hand O Lord hath bruised the enemie And in thy great glorie hast thou ouer throwne them that rose against thee thou sentest forth thy wrath which consumed them as the stubble Thou blewest with thy winde the sea couered them they sanke as lead in the mightie waters All this may we truly say because the Lord the Lord onely did ouerthrow Pharao and his people in the redde sea He gaue their flesh to be meate to the fishes as before he had giuen the flesh of the Egyptians Yea he did this in a maner without any strēgth of men he commanded both winde and sea against them and they both obeyed that so himselfe might haue all the glorie and none might giue any part thereof to vs neither we take any part thereof vnto our selues yea that so he might make it knowne to all the world that Pope and Spanyard had not onely opposed themselues vnto the Queene of England and her religion but also to the God of heauen and his truth So that as all the praiers processions and masses here in England for Queene Marie her safe deliuerance for the yong Prince in her wombe came to nothing in like maner did all the works of like deuotion by the Pope himselfe and the rest of the Church of Rome in Rome and elsewhere come to lesse then nothing For as before his curses of our Queene and land were turned into blessings so now also his blessings of the Spanyard and his forces were turned into curses Who seeth not by this that he that dwelleth in the heauens did laugh them to scorne and that that the Lord had them in derision as it is said and threatned vnto all such as assemble togither against the Lord and against his annointed psal 2. 2. c. As the prophets priests of Baal cried vnto their gods so did the Spanyard vnto his gods both which he imagineth to be in heauen and also before which he falleth downe and worshippeth in the earth I meane both vnto all his Saints and also to all his grauen images made of
repentance before the Lord Iudg. 20. 26. Now the sinne of the Israelites for which they receiuing such a double foyle appeareth by the text to haue beene first too much confidence of the victorie in regard partly of the goodnes of their cause partly of their great multitude and secondly that although they sought vnto god in that behalfe yet they sought not in such humble and earnest manner as they should haue done and also did at the last when they had not onely warrant from God to goe againe to battell but also a promise of victorie Now if these sinnes be so dangerous to a good and iust cause what may be feared of great sinnes Thus much shall suffice to haue spoken concerning them that are of our religion THE FOVRTH VSE CONCERning Atheists and all those that are of no religion TOuching them that are not of our religion they are especially either Atheists and such as are of no religion or Papists By Atheists I meane not onely such as in deede and openly professe theÌ„selues to be such not fearing plainly to denie God and all religion of which sort we hauee too many euen in our lande but also such as doe beare men in hand that they are of our religion but in truth are not For albeit they will goe to Church and performe other outward duties that our religion requireth yea will also sometime speake and doe something for our religion yet all is but in pollicie they practise onely the precepts of cursed Machiuel and therfore if any change should come which the God of heauen keepe from vs they are as readie for any religion as for this To this sort of Atheists I doe also referre many ciuill men that neuer knew or heard of Machiuel himselfe neither of his precepts which come also to Church c. and liue likewise vprightly as touching ciuill righteousnes and outward equitie amongst their neighbours which will also sometimes talke of religion both ours and poperie and yet in truth also are of no religion at all neither Protestants nor Papists Moreouer hitherto belongeth a great multitude of poore soules in this land that for want of instruction are so ignorant that they know not what religion is or any point of religion and which therefore make no difference betwixt our religion and poperie All these I wish seriously to consider of my former arguments and thereby to prouoke themselues to make more account of religion generally and secondly of our religion onely then euer they haue done As they haue heard our religion to be of God and acceptable vnto him so let them know that they cannot please God in any other waie but onely in our religion How miserable therefore wretched and fearefull is their estate and condition Let all such therefore lament this their miserie heartily thanking God that they vnderstood it before their ende and whilst it is called to daie let them not harden their hearts but heare the voice of God yet calling them to his true religion and knocking at the dore of their consciences to be entertained with his truth Let them seeke the Lord whilst he may be found and call vpon him whilst he is neare Esa 55. 6. least neglecting his grace offered vnto them the Lord remooue his kingdome and depart himselfe as it were out of their hearing and so withdraw his mercies from them and poure out his iudgements vpon them that they stretch out their hands and the Lord hide his eyes they make many praiers and the Lord heare not Esa 1. 15. they seeke and there be none to be found to helpe them Ioh. 7. 34. yea least notwithstanding their seeking they die for all that in their sinnes Ioh. 8. 21. Let such as now laugh at and make as it were a Maie-game of all religion and the professours thereof weepe mourne in time for their such laughing least the Lord also doe laugh them to scorne in their miserie Psal 73. 13. and doe mocke theÌ„ when their feare commeth Prov. 1. 26. bringing such heauines vpon them that they cannot laugh though they would yea and in the ende casting them into the place of vtter darknes feare horrour where is nothing but weeping and gâ—ashing of teeth Math. 8. 12. that is in hel fire that neuer shall be quenched where their worme dieth not and their fire neuer goeth out Mark 9. 43 44. Those also that hitherto haue beene secure and careles regarding no religion let them likewise in time better regard such meanes as whereby they may be drawne to our religion THE FIFTH VSE CONCERning weake and ignorant Papists TO Papists also I saie the same especially to such as are Papists in a kind of conscience that is to such as are not of that religion of any obstinate and wilfull minde but because in ignorance they are perswaded their religion to be the right waie and ours to be a wrong or by-waie I doubt not but that there are many such in the land Yea I hope that many Papists are such This I doe hope of such Papists as bring not forth those fruits that poperie approoueth of whereof I haue spoken in my sixt argument before which are also mercifull and readie to doe good not to them onely of their owne religion but also to other These I hope to be rather ignorant then wilfull Papists therefore I haue also some good hope of their conuersion in time especially if it might please God to mooue their hearts to haue regard of the perfect law of god which conuerteth the soule Psal 19. 7. And truly in the Christian loue that I beare vnto these and in the pittie and compassion I haue of their soules as I see them full of pittie and compassion towards the bodies of other and likewise to haue many other excellent commendable things in them I haue the rather set penne to paper for the writing of this treatise to trie if it might please my good God to blesse my labour vnto their good euen to the winning of them to our religion For I protest vnto them and God knoweth I speake the truth of my heart and lie not neither dissemble that I so desire their saluation that I would be gladder thereof then of all worldly wealth and good whatsoeuer In the meane time me thinketh that howsoeuer they be commended for many excellent things indeede not very common yet all their commendation is very defectiue and lame for want of commendation touching true religion Yea certenly when a man hath saide all that he can in commending such persons and then saith that these were excellent men or worthie women were it not for one thing that is for their religion this one thing wanting is more then all they haue For this one thing concerneth God all the other for which Papists are commonly coÌ„mended concerne but men And our Sauiour saith that the great and first or chiefest commandement is to loue the Lord our God c. Math. 22. 38. yea
this is so great that the other without this concerning men not being grounded vpon this are not onely litle but in truth touching themselues nothing at all For Christ calleth this not onely the greater but also the first commandement Now where there is no first there can be no second Notwithstanding I hoping this want of true religion in them to be as I saide especially of ignorance doe therefore the better hope of their more easie conuersion and doe the more heartily wish the same that there may be no such defect in their commendation as there is but that it may be more full and perfect Such therefore hauing vouchsafed to reade my former arguments I doe also most heartily desire according to right to iudge of them Some I haue heard to haue renounced poperie vpon the sight of the great ouerthrow of the great Spanish Navie in our narrow seas anno 1588. by the mightie power of God in our behalfe as Rahab hearing of the great and mightie works of God for the Israelites renounced her owne people and was incorporated into the bodie of Israel Ios 2. 11. If that one argument before more largely handled in this treatise did so greatly preuaile to the conuersion of some howe much more ought all the arguments before applied to this purpose preuaile with other in like sort Let none therefore so lightly regard all such things as whereby our religion is so commended and poperie so euidently euicted 2 Let none oppose the religion of their fathers and forefathers c. to all other contrarie arguments Indeede Dauid exhorteth Salomon to know the God of his father and to serue him with a perfect heart and with a willing minde c. 1. Chron. 28. 9. and this is an excellent instruction for all fathers to giue vnto their children and likewise for all children to learne of their fathers when as the fathers haue knowne serued the same God that Dauid had knowne and serued and that according to his word as Dauid had done but if so be the fathers know not neither serue that God or not in that manner that God requireth then it is a foolish and wicked instruction to be vrged to the children by the fathers or to be obeied by the children namely to know and serue the God of their fathers 3 For when fathers haue rebelled against God not walked in his statutes and ordinances then the Lord oftentimes complaineth of the children that haue walked in such steppes of their fathers and therefore also threatneth the greater and heauier iudgement against them In the 78. psal v. 57. the Prophet complaineth of the wickednes of the Israelites and amplifieth the same by like example of their fathers They turned backe saith the Prophet and dealt falsly like their fathers they turned backe like a deceitfull bowe So Christ also speaketh vnto the Iewes as to a people past hope therefore biddeth them to fulfill also the measure of their fathers Math. 23. 32. So likewise Steuen amplifieth the sinne of the Iewes by the like example of their fathers Ye stiffnecked and vncircumcised hearts and eares ye haue alwaies resisted the holy Ghost as your fathers did so doe ye c. Act. 7. 51. Therefore also the Lord many times admonisheth the Israelites and Iewes not to walke in the waies neither to doe the works of their fathers Harden not your hearts saith one Prophet as in the daie of contention or tentation in the wildernes where your fathers tempted me c. psal 59. 8. By an other Prophet God speaketh thus I saide vnto their children in the wildernes walke ye not in the ordinances of your fathers neither obserue their manners neither defile your selues with their idolls Ezech. 20. 18. So the messengers that Hezekiah sent forth to inuite the Israelites to the Passeouer at Ierusalem bidde them not to be like their fathers c. neither stiffnecked like their fathers c. 2. Chron. 30. 7 8. In like sort speaketh Zachariah Be ye not like your fathers c. Zachar. 1. 4. Many other the like places are in the scriptures whereby we see this argument not to be good This was the religion of our fathers therefore it shall be ours 4 Yea certenly this is the very argument of many obstinate Iewes for the defence of their idolatrie The word that thou hast spoken vnto vs in the name of the Lord we will not heare it of thee but we will doe whatsoeuer thing goeth out of our owne mouth to burne incense vnto the Queene of heauen and to poure out drinke offerings vnto her as we haue done both we our forefathers Ier. 44. 16 17. Thus answered the wicked Iewes and thus answered many Papists saying they will not heare the word of God but will praie to the virgin Marie whō they call indeed the Queene of heauen as hath bin shewed before and to other such heauenly things for no other reason but because they and their fathers haue done so But such Papists as loue their owne saluation I exhort in the Lord not to be so wedded to the religion of their fathers Will any of you say thus My father was a ttaytour to his Prince and was therefore executed therefore I also will be a traytour to my Prince that I may beheaded drawne hanged and quartered as my father was Some it may be will not sticke to say so but all that are wise will take heede of such words and thoughts Therefore why also will you say My father was a Papist and idolatour and of that religion that God hath condemned and so consequently a traytour vnto God therefore also will I be so will any of you say especially such as God hath aduanced to great honour or worship and wealth in the land My father or grandfather was a sadler or butcher or grasier or husbandman or of some other the like meane trade therefore also I will be so I thinke none so foolish why then will ye say the like and ten times worse in religion will any of you saie My father or my mother or both had this or that bodily disease and died thereof for want of remedie therefore also I feeling the like in my selfe will not be cured of it though I may I thinke none so madde Why then will ye say the like touching such a grieuous spirituall sicknesse of your soules as poperie is why will ye die in your sinnes and not be saued O ye Papists and many other that are not yet of our religion 5 Neither doe I say these things as condemning yours and my forefathers I condemne not them but I condemne their religion As for themselues I leaue them vnto the Lord as not knowing whither they secretly repented or no of their poperie before their end If they did not repent it is farre more better to condemne them then to condemne the worde of God of any vntruth and God himselfe of any vnrighteousnesse Be ye not therefore like the
20. the which was so fully executed by Iehu according to the word of the Lord that they paid most deerely for Naboth his vineyard 2. King 9. 27 33. 10. 6. Though Ioash king of Iuda committed many sinnes after the death of good Iehoiada the high priest yet his putting to death of the Prophet Zechariah the sonne of the same Iehoiada is onely mentioned as the chiefe cause why his owne seruants conspired against him and murthered him 2. Chron. 24. 25. Though Haman had not fully effected his bloodie purpose against Mordecai and the other Iewes yet we know that the same measure by the righteous iudgement of God was measured vnto him that he had onely intended to haue measured vnto Mordecai Est 7. 10. 3 Here especially let vs remember how God dealt with the Amalekites onely for withstanding the Israelites as they came out of the land of Egypt Exod. 17. 8. First although the Lord did discomfort them before the Israelites at the praier of Moses whē they first came out against Israel yet did not the Lord satisfie himselfe with their ouerthrow of that daie but presently he spake further against them vnto Moses vers 14. saying Write for a remembrance in the booke and rehearse it to Ioshua for I will vtterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from vnder heauen and again v. 16. The Lord hath sworn that he will haue warre with Amalek from generation to generation Afterward also the Lord opened the mouth of Balaam whome Balak sent for to curse Israel the Lord I saie opened his mouth with a curse of destruction against the Amalekites Nomb. 24. 20. Yea but perhaps these were but words Words indeede they were but yet afterward when that generation of the Amalekites which then liued and foure other at the least were dead and rotten those words were fulfilled For as long after this as before we heard that God remembred the kindnes of the Kenites for their good the same God also remembred that sinne of the Amalekites to their ouerthrow For he sendeth Samuel with this mandate and commission to Saul against Amalek 1. Sam. 15. 2. I remember what Amalek did to Israel how they laide waite for them in the way as they came vp from Egypt now therefore goe and smite Amalek and destroy all that pertaineth vnto them and haue no compassion on them but stay both man and woman both infant and suckling both oxe and sheepe both camell and asse This was foure hundred yeares after the former sinne committed A man therefore would haue thought that God had not nowe any more thought vpon it for all his former note of remembrance But the Lord remembereth when men forget and thinke also all to be forgotten Yea the Lord did so remember this sinne and doth so remember other the like sinnes as that if he forbeare the punishment for a time yet at the last he commeth in also for arrearages For in the former commission giuen to Saul we see with what seueritie the Lord will haue Saul to proceede against the Amalekites Yea afterward in the same chapter when Saul had beene too remisse in the execution of that commission the Lord raised vp Samuel to doe or see that to be done against Agag the king of Amalek that Saul had neglected 4 If therefore there shall be any such Papists or Atheists as by no meanes will be reclaimed and drawne to our religion in this treatise commended and prooued to be of God and acceptable vnto him yet at the least let them take heede and beware of speaking the least word and doing the least deede against it or against any that loue and maintaine the same for louing and maintaining thereof Let them not flatter themselues God is the same now that euer he was And the more himselfe hath spoken or done for commendation and iustifying this religion the more that others raised vp and also directed by him haue spoken written or done in the same behalfe the greater shall be the iudgement in the ende of all such as shall not regard the same 5 Now the successe of all that I haue written in this cause I commit to him that is onely able to giue a blessing thereunto The Lord therefore make vs all that doe alreadie professe this religion thankfull vnto him for that he hath in his abundant mercie vouchsafed vs the glorious light the rich benefit and the sweete comfort thereof The Lord confirme and strengthen vs to continue therein vnto the ende The Lord enrich vs more and more daily with the faith knowledge loue and feare of God with the righteousnes mercie and all other vertues touching God or men that it commendeth The Lord fill the hearts of all great persons with more zeale to speake and doe more for the aduancing it especially any speciall opportunitie beeing offered The Lord thereunto animate incourage and inable all his owne Worthies to defend it against all aduersaries thereunto with all honourable successe The Lord preserue aduance and honour them that haue aduanced and honoured it Especially O Lord preserue aduance and honour thy seruant our dread Soueraigne Queene Elizabeth yea O Lord as thou hast set her higher then all other in her kingdomes so stil magnifie thy mercy towards this Church and other Churches which as it were sucke of her breasts that neuer gaue suck in making her elder then any of her owne people especially then any of thine and he◠aduersaries The Lord open both the eyes of such as haue not regarded our religion to see the glorie of it and also their hearts to embrace it Finally touching such as be incurable the Lord restraine them from doing that to the hindrance thereof which Satan by them endeauoureth and in the ende doe with them and to them that which shall be right in his owne eyes Amen AN ADDITION OF CERTAINE DAINties of Poperie collected partly out of their popish seruice bookes and partly out of the writings of some princi pall Doctours of speciall account in the popish church when poperie it selfe was at the highest HAuing in my former generall treatise against poperie and in defence of our religion charged poperie to be a religion maintained and vpheld by vnlawfull means and whereof both matter and forme are contrarie to that religion which the Scriptures commend to be acceptable vnto God yea to be a religion maintaining open blasphemies against God and Christ Iesus and wherein there is scarse any worship of God at all Hauing also charged it to be a religion wherein nothing is done to God his glorie but all things almost referred to the glorie of the Pope of Saints of the woodden stonie golden or painted crosse c. of reliques of saints of men c. Hauing affirmed it to be a religion that teacheth no obedience to the ten commandements of almightie God but that alloweth disobedience vnto euery one of them and that therefore it is a religion altogether licentious loose and full of carnall
note leauing the further consideration of them to the godly reader 5 First therefore sith all these things doe most liuely shew the extreame follie high abominatioÌ„ of poperie how ought all papists to be ashamed of their religion How ought all Protestants that sometimes haue bin papists to be grieued for their poperie How ought they likewise to mourne for any of their frieÌ„ds yea for any other yet remaining in that estate yet shut vp in the shadow of death How ioyfull likewise and thankfull ought we to be that God hath opened our eies to see these things that he hath not sent his angel onely into our houses as sometime he did into the house of Lot to take him guide him out of SodoÌ„ before fire came froÌ„ heauen to destroy that citie but also hath giueÌ„ vs his holy spirit in our hearts thereby deliuered vs froÌ„ so ridiculous so grosse so horrible a religioÌ„ 6 Further we see by these things how dangerous it is not to beleeue the truth and how blockish we are if we be left vnto our selues Verily there is no errour so foolish so absurd so grosse so abominable so monstrous but that if God doe forsake vs if he take his spirit from vs if he leaue vs to our selues we are readie to beleeue it as truth yea to be zealous therein yea farre more zealous then any of Gods owne children are in the truth 7 O therfore let vs not deceiue our selues late vs hate poperie as such a monster ought to be hated let vs make that account of the truth giue such credit obedieÌ„ce theruÌ„to that for our conteÌ„pt light account thereof God neither giue poperie any returne againe vnto vs. Let vs earnestly pray let vs keepe watch by night ward by day let vs alwaies with all carefulnes looke vnto our selues let vs take heede of all Iesuits seminatie priests yea of all papists and likewise of all other meanes whereby we may be entangled with this filthie sottish religion and be drawne thereunto Let vs delight in the communion fellowship of al them that loue the truth and are able to confirme strengthen helpe vs forward in this religion which now generally we professe vsing all other good means commended vnto vs for the same end Let vs take heed not onely of the maine stock of poperie but also of euery bough branch twigge yea of euery leafe for there is dâ—ungerous if not deadly poison in thâ— least patch of poperie And as the whole substance of popish doctrine was not hatched all at once but now one egge laide laide and then an other now one chicken and then an other now one opinion and then an other vntill all the whole brood was come forth and when it was throughly hatched brought forth it had not all the stature nor all the feathers nor all the strength the first day but crept and got vp by litle and litle so the deuil being stil as subtil as he was and seeing poperie now to be banished and grieuing that it is forced to liue so long in exile therefore daily laboureth as alas by too great experience we daily see by litle litle againe to winne vs thereunto Priuately indeede in many places of this land and it is to be feared in too many I pray God also that it be not in too great places and with too great persons he laboureth where the whole body of popery doth remaine there to vphold it and where it is not there also wholly to bring it in againe For we see many now to be Papists euen of both sexes yea some to be recusant papists whose fathers were little more then borne in the beginning of the raigne of her most excellent Maiestie But although Satan the olde aduersarie where he thinketh he may be bold and where he hath fitte instruments to worke by hath in some priuate places euen in this flourishing time and bright light of the gospel drawne some to the whole doctrine and religion of popeâ—ie yet he will not as yet be so bold as to attempt this publikely NotwithstaÌ„ding he goeth about it by degrees by litle litle tunning as it were and filling his vessels here there one with stroÌ„g popish drink an other with small that is one with a maine point of poperie another with a smal point yea not onely tunning filling theÌ„ ther with but also tapping broching theÌ„ so filled giuing of the drink of theÌ„ by whole kannes to other to drinke And this he doth according to his old subtiltie hoping the more easily to bring in to broach all againe so to make all drunkeÌ„ againe with the cuppe of fornications that is in the haÌ„d of the whore strumpet of Rome 8 Wherefore in the feare of God in the tender loue that I beare vnto the soules of all I doe admonish all to take heede of this euil Whatsoeuer hath bin accounted poperie by good reason shewed to be repugnaÌ„t to the truth coÌ„mon consent of all churches reformed held as erronious heretical let all diligeÌ„tly take heed they neuer coÌ„ceiue any good liking thereof again If we feare any more to embrace all poperie let vs take heede that in the mean time we neuer entertain any one opinion therof though neuer so litle If we feare to be drunken with the stroÌ„gest drink or with many cups of poperie let vs refraine from tasting therof For as with them that delight in strong drinke one cup draweth on an other so also may we feare it wil be with theÌ„ which begin to smel of any one point of poperie It is dangerous it is dangerous to drinke in any one errour of poperie though neuer so small especially to persist in the liking thereof to say when we haue tasted it This is good and most dangerous it is to coÌ„mend the same to other to make them to drinke of the same cup with vs all this is very daÌ„gerous whither we doe it for some good liking of the thing it self or in regard of our own estimatioÌ„ or in any other respect whatsoeuer For we may feare least the Lord harden our hearts euen to like of those errors which as yet our soules abhor 9 I write not this to gal or gird at any or to disgrace any one particular person my heart hateth all such hatred delighteth in loue peace as wel in the credit of other as of my selfe but in a general loue I do generally admonish all to take heede in this behalfe The Apostle speaketh in the like generall maÌ„ner not admonishing some onely but also euery one to take heed least at any time there should be in any an euill vnfaithful heart to fal away Hebr. 3. 12. froÌ„ the liuing Lord. Yea after that he had testified vnto theÌ„ that he was perswaded good things Hebr. 6. 9. of theÌ„ such as did accompanie saluation yet he speaketh as generally exhorting theÌ„ to take heede that no man did fall away froÌ„ the grace of Hebr. 12. 15. God Adding further as a special means to take heede thereof that they should not suffer any roote of bitternes so much as once to spring vp amongst theÌ„ where by the root of bitternes all men know he meaneth errours and heresies Finally he addeth these reasons fitst that such roots or root would trouble theÌ„ secoÌ„dly that it would defile theÌ„ There is none therefore so stroÌ„g in the grace of God but that he may fal though not finally as hath bin shewed in my treatise if he be secure take not great heed 〈…〉 himselfe There is none so well 〈◊〉 with the sweet precious liquor of Gods truth but that he may becom bitter by suffering such bitter rootes to spring vp in his heart There is none at such peace with men and with his owne conscience but that he may be disquieted disturbed and troubled There is none so well was washed clensed by the pure water of Gods holy spirit but that he may be polluted defiled There is none therefore that may thinke this mine admonition of taking heede vnto himselfe to be superfluous and needles for him 11 To conclude I do again in all huÌ„ble maÌ„ner beseech all whoÌ„soeuer both all the reuerend fathers gouernours of our church also all other my learned and good brethreÌ„ as well remaining vnder our mothers wings in the Vniuersities of Cambridge and Oxenford as also alreadie called forth to labour in the ministerie of the word in particular churches all these I say I doe huÌ„bly beseech earnestly exhort to be feruent in spirit in behalfe of the truth and with all zeale to vpholde defend maintaine and daily in the places where we liue and in the hearts of the people ouer whoÌ„ the holy Ghost hath made vs ouerseers to further to encrease and to enlarge that sound and wholesome doctrine which hitherto hath bin taught by vs and heard like wise and in some measure receiued by those amongst whome we haue laboured THE ENDE