Inquisition Nay Bellarmine doth confesse that the Papists would not suffer any among them Qui ostendunt vllo signo etiam externo se fauere Lutheranis Who doe declare by any signe externall that they fauour the Lutherans but they doe mittere illos mature in locum suum send such quickly to their last home Read but Lencaeus the Louayne professor in his booke Devnica religione or Pamelius in his book De diuersis religionibus non admittendis Who both with might and maine dispute against Tollerations It was a great commendation in the Emperour Constantino who would not suffer Idolatry in any part of his Dominions as Eusebius writes of him And it was commendable in Amphilochius a Bishop who reproued Theodosius the Emperor that he so long winked at Arrius and suffered him to spread his pestilent heresie ouer the body of the Church and it was commended in the Emperor who was not angry with the words of iust reproofe but forthwith banished Arrius gaue him some part of his iust deserts But heerein we neede not seeke out forraine histories wee haue examples at home who neuer would yeeld to tollerate corrupt religion Edward the sixth a Prince most famous and vertuous was sollicited by Carolus the Emperour and his owne Counsellors to permit the Lady Mary to haue Masse in her owne house his resolution negatiue saying he would spend his life and all that he had rather then to agree and grant to that hee knew certainely to be against the truth The late Queene Elizabeth of blessed memory could neuer be perswaded to tollerate Popish Religion who after innumerable dangers and manifold persecutions with vnspeakeable courage notwithstanding many difficulties at home of Princes abroad and of the Diuell euerwhere professed to maintaine the truth of the Gospell and to deface Idolatry and superstition which with singular constancy shee continued all the dayes of her life And now this our great gracious Soueraigne followes the steps of those religious Princes not all the World can change his constant resolution in Christian Religion his eares and hearts abhorre their charmes who are Petitioners in this kind for the granting of such a request might much disquiet the Christian Church State and Gospell God euer keepe and blesse the King in this his holy and spirituall perseuerance in the truth of the Gospell make his heart like Mount Sion neuer to be remoued A King so constant in profession of the Gospell and so learned and profound in all spirituall knowledge that he is able to confute and conuince with sound arguments the enemies of the Gospell and thereupon it was as I take it that Suarez the Iesuit said That Learning did disparage the royall dignity because the Champions of Rome see that they are not able to incounter with his Highnes matchlesse knowledge And surely if learning grace any man it must be more gracious in a Monarch a Man of Men. What made Salomon so famous and so renowned but specially his wisdome and knowledge Iulius Caesar Constantine and Charles the Great Iustinian Leo Palaeologus Cantacuzaenus the Alphonsi and many more Sigismund the Emperor commended for playing the Deacon at the Councell of Constance Henry the eight writing for the seauen Sacraments whose Booke subscribed with his owne hands the Popish Priests glory to haue it in their Vatican The Cardinall of Millan thinkes it the highest commendation he could giue the late King of Spaine In eius regia dignitate vt verbo complectar sacerdotalem animum licet aspicere In his regall dignity to comprize all in a word wee may see his sacerdotall heart Iuuenal Haec opera atque hae sunt generosi Principis artes And in the sacred studies of diuine Learning our dread Soueraigne may carry the Palme and weare the royall Crowne who hath deliuered to the World better Principles of Theologicall knowledge out of his Chaire of State then the Mitered Pope did euer é Cathedra for a King to descend to the Preacher is a worke of piety as Salomon did I the Preacher haue beene King in Ierusalem but for the Priest to climbe into the Kings throne is to play the Popes part the part of Antichrist Our royall Soueraigne hath made it his last delight to delight in the Law of the Lord and in his Law doth hee meditate day and night In which spiritual labour hee hath so profited himselfe and others that hee hath taken Princely paines to publish the truth of Christ and to proclaime to the Potentates of the world the errors of Antichrist So that all people haue cause to pray God saue the King spiritually That a diuine sentence may be in the lips of the King and his mouth shall not transgresse in iudgement who like the good Emperour Constantine labours to decide matters of Religion by the true rule of Gods word for so Constantine commanded the Bishops to order all points by the Booke of God which Booke he placed for the same purpose in the middest of them And euen so speaks our dread Soueraign whatsoeuer I find agree with the Scriptures I will gladly imbrace what is otherwise I wil with their reuerēce reiect godly golden words The Lord euermore blesse his body and soule spiritually and enlarge the great Talent of his Princely wisdome giuing him as great a measure of knowledge as was giuen to Salomon yea such riches treasures and honours as none had before him or after him and as his Maiesty hath taken manifold paines to reduce the Popish Sectaries out of their spirituall blindnesse that they who will not bee wakened out of their slumbers of ignorance by the voice of so royall and religious a sheapheard may be compelled by the Sword of Magistracy to depart out of Babylon or out of his Dominion But herein it becomes not me to giue counsell rather fall to prayer that the Lord whose cause it is would take the cause into his owne hand and stirre vp the hearts and hands of all Christian Kings to compell all people who will not be moued by the word of Gods Ministery to come out of Babylon might be forced by the sword of Magistracy to depart from her least they receiue of her plagues Qui phreneticum ligat lethargicum excitat ambobus molestus ambos amat saith Austen He that bindeth a franticke man and awakes him that hath the lethargy loueth both though he be greeuous to both And as the same Father in another place Quod autem vobis videtur inuitos ad veritatem non esse cogendos c. Whereas you thinke that men are not to bee compelled to the truth against their wils ye erre not knowing the Scriptures nor the Power of God which maketh those willing though they be compelled against their wils Goe into the high wayes and compell them to come in saith our Sauiour Christ whereupon Saint Austen saith Qui compellitur quô
Iustice defend the Faith and promote the Church So we read that when the Emperor is crowned the Archbishop of Colen propounds seuerall demands An Ecclesiam defensurus Iustitiam administraturus Imperium conseruaturus viduas orphanosque protecturus c. Whether hee will defend the Church Administer Iustice Preserue the Empire and protect the widdowes fatherlesse and friendlesse The Kings of Sparta at their Coronation did sweare to raigne according to Lycurgus Lawes and I thinke it is the order of most Christian Kings at their Coronation to sweare to rule according to Iustice and to maintaine the lawes and liberties of their kingdomes for farre be it from Kings thoughts to say with Thrasymachus Principum vtilitate libidine omne ius definiri All Law to be defined by their pleasures and profit for that is to say with the Mother of Antoninus Caracalla to him quodlibet licere any thing to be lawfull for him or with Caracalla himselfe Imperatores leges dare non accipere Emperors giue Lawes but doe not liue by them The foundation of well-gouerned Kingdomes hath two supporters saith Machiauell bonas Leges bona Arma good Lawes and good Armes And that famous Emperor Iustinian saith Imperatoriam Maiestatem non solum armis decoratam verùm legibus oportet esse armatam Imperiall Maiesty not onely to be adorned by Armes but also armed by Lawes and then the Lawes will be best obeyed when the Law-makers obey themselues It was a woe our Sauiour denounced against the Interpreters of the Law because they did lode men with burdens greeuous to be borne and they themselues touched not the burdens with one of their fingers Promulgers and publishers of Lawes ought to be practisers of the same It was a royal speech of the Emperor Traian when he deliuered the sword praefecto praetorij saying to him Si bene imperauero prome sin contrà aduersus me stringito If I rule well draw out that sword for me if otherwise against me and happy is that Kingdome whose supreame head giues good Lawes to others and liues by them himselfe it animateth all to obey Ad te oculos auresque trahis tua facta notamus nec vox missa potest Principis ore tegi Principis vita est censura ciuium saith Plinie The life of King the life of imitation his good life as powerfull to draw people to goodnesse as good Lawes Claud non sic inflectere sensus Humanos edicta valent quam vita regentis The Rulers godly life like a good Glosse vpon a Text makes a perfect commentary vpon the Law to moue vulgar obedience O then let vertue and piety flame in the breasts of Princes cherish these O sacred Potentates at your high Altars and then your excellent actions will produce exemplar imitations Persius Regibus hic mos est centum sibi poscere voces Centum ora centum linguas Many millions of men are your spectators nay the world is your stage wherein your actions are euen axioms to draw that many-headed beast the multitude eyther to vertue or vice What a glorious and most applauded of all the Saints of Heauen is your well-acted taske and office if you render vp your Crownes to him that is the King of Crownes and Scepters with a commended plandite then indeed you shall worthily Pers Sat 1. Os populi meruisse Cedro digna locutum linquere Leaue happie monuments on earth of your immortall same and at your farewell from your earthly thrones leaue a lamenting and bewailing world but attended vnto heauen with the praiers of your people with an army of Angels to welcome your arriuall And heerein how are the people of great Britaine bound to render perpetuall praises to Almighty God who hath blessed them with such a godlie and gracious King who with his life lawes and labours by his publicke example in the true seruice of God by the integritie of his life industry in sacred studies clemencie in gouernment delight and diligence in hearing Church-exercises making his Court as it was said of Constantines Ecclesiae instar like a Church their publicke Seruice and Sermons deuoutly performed and religiously accepted and embraced labouring Regis ad exemplum totum componere regnum by a Kingly patterne of deuotion to excite all to an holie imitation So that wee ought to giue God more thanks then Plato did who yet thanked God for three things 1. pro ratione 2. pro natione 3. pro eruditione for his reason nation and learning 1. for his reason being made a man not a beast 2. for his nation a Grecian not a Barbarian 3. for his liuing in the daies of learned Socrates of whom hee reaped great knowledge Wee ought also to thanke God for these and other blessings beeing not meerely men but Christian men liuing vnder the reigne of a most Christian King a Defender of the Faith and cherisher of the Gospell a louer of Peace that wee may truely say as the people did at the death of Pertinax the Emperour Dum illeregnabat tranquille viuebamus neminem metuebamus While hee reigned wee liued quiet and feared no enemies So now euery man may sit in peace vnder his Vine and Figtree beare a part in the song of those heauenly Souldiers praising God and saying Glory be to God in the high heauens for our peace on earth VVe enioy that blessing promised to Salomon I will send peace and quietnesse vpon Israel in his daies A blessing worthie of thankesgiuing So that wee may in a Christian peace serue the God of peace and praise him for our peace and pray to him for the preseruation of the happy instrument of this our peace for peace is a nurse of Religion but bloudie warre the mother of misery mischiefe and abhomination for Nulla fides pietasque viris qui castra sequuntur In time of Warre the God of peace neglected True faith and Pitty is then reiected Let all from head to foote from our Salomon in the Throne to the poorest member in the kingdom prostrate their humble soules to the throne of God the giuer of all blessings and in all faithfull obedience tender him their dutifull seruice seruing the Lord in feare and reioycing in trembling ascribing all praise and thanks to God saying Saluation belongeth vnto the Lord and his blessing is vpon the people Gratias agere Deo possumus referre non possumus giuing God all possible thankes for his blessings the least whereof is more worth then all our thanks yet Ascensus gratiarum descensus gratiae the ascending of our thankes doe bring descending graces And with our best and faithfull seruice to our good God the King of Kings let our loyall and dutifull seruice be neuer wanting to his vertuous vicegerent his annointed deputy on earth our high and dread Soueraigne Qui tangit eum tangit pupillam oculi ipsius as the Lord speakes of Sion Hee
vp Israel against Dauid and all Adoniahs that gape to take the kingdome from our Salomon all like them let them perish like them Then will all loyall subiects reioyce when they see the vengeance they shall wash their feet in the bloud of the wicked Let our feruent prayers be daily powred forth vnto God to defend him from all Traytors to reueale their plots and reuenge their purposes that they qui volunt occidere regem posse nolunt That they who would kill a King may neuer haue power to performe it that no danger may assault him no treachery may endanger him giue thine Angels charge O Lord to sentinell ouer him make his chamber like the tower of Dauid built for defence a thousand shields hang therein and all the targets of the strong men and his bed like Salomons threescore strong men round about it of the valiant men of Israel they all handle the sword and are expert in warre euery one hath his sword vpon his thigh for the feare by night that so no enemy may oppresse him nor the wicked approach to hurt him to destroy his foes before his face and plague them that hate him his seed long to endure and his daies as the daies of heauen So shall the Lord be gracious to his Seruant and mercifull to vs his people who continually pray God saue the King Corporally CHAP. X. 2. Spiritually GOD Saue the King Spiritually God euer keep him constant and couragious to maintaine the true profession of the Gospell and to labour to purge Gods Church of all superstition and to plant in it Gods true religion This is the first duety of Kingly seruice vnto God to cleanse his Church of all idolatry and superstition The good Kings Ezechias and Iosias were carefull in this behalfe Ezechiah when hee came to the Crowne of Iudah he tooke away the high places brake the Images and cut downe the groues and brake in peeces the brazen serpent c. that is rooted and raced out all Idolatry So Iosiah puts downe all Idols and Idolatrous Priests who defiled the Temple So Asa tooke the wicked Sodomites out of the land and deposed Maacha his Mother because shee had made an Idoll in a groue So Salomon installed in his kingdome built a Temple for seruice and worship of the Lord. It is the office of a King specially to take care to prouide that God may be religiouslie worshipped that his people may feare the Lord serue him in the trueth for the happinesse of King and Kingdome consists in the trueth of their religion For that nation and kingdome which will not serue the Lord shall perish and be vtterly destroyed saith the Prophet Esay Est boni Principis religionem ante omnia constituere saith Liuie It is the part of a good King first to establish true religion for that is the very fountaine and foundation of all felicity Beneficentia quae fit in cultum Dei maxima gratia That loue and care which is declared towards the true worship of God is most commendable for true religion is Cardo or Axis the very Pillar of all prosperity the soule of Tranquility the totall summe of true felicity Propter Ecclesiam in mundo durat mundus saith Luther Christs Church on earth is the cause of the continuance of this earthly world without the light of the Gospel Kings people liue in thraldome in the Egypt of wofull blindnesse it is but painted happinesse a vaine flourish nay a dangerous ship of state where God sits not at the sterne As all kingdomes stand luteis pedibus vpon clay feet so that Kingdome cannot stand at all which wants the foundation true religion It is the speech of an Heathen but may be the lesson of a Christian Religio vera est firmamentum reip c. True religion the foundation of a Common wealth and the chiefe care ought to be to plant the same So Dauid reioyces in nothing so much as in the Arke of God desirous rather to be a dore-keeper in Gods house then to rule in the tents of the vngodly Like to that good Emperor who gloried more to be membrum Ecclesiae then caput Imperij a member of Gods Church then an head of a great Empire Salomon begins well first in building an house for God knowing nothing can prosper without God Except the Lord keep the City the watchman watcheth but in vaine In vaine doe the Kings of the earth stand vp if they assemble against the Lord for then hee laughes them to scorne and shall haue them in derision Be wise now therefore O ye Kings serue the Lord in feare be wise in Diuine matters serue the Lord in feare for his feare is the beginning of wisedome to direct you to rule your selues and people in the seruice and worship of his holy name We read it recorded of Constantinus the Emperor that when he died he did much lament for three things which had happened in his reigne First the murther of Gallus his kinsman Secondly the liberty of Iulian the Apostate Thirdly the change and alteration of religion And surely there cannot be a greater cause of lamentation then an innouation or alteration of religion yea then a tolleration of a contrary religion It had beene a hard matter to haue had obtained a tolleration of such a thing as a Masse at Moses hands with a masse of money A godly Prince may not suffer any religion but the true religion in his Dominions and this we may proue by diuers reasons First the exercise of a false religion is directly against the honour and glory of God Ergo. Secondly consent in true religion is vinculum Ecclesiae the chayne and bond of Gods Church for there is but one faith therefore a difference and dissention in religion is a dissolution in Gods Church but no Prince ought to haue his hand in dissoluing Gods Church for Kings are nursing Fathers of the Church Thirdly it is the Princes duty to prouide for the safety of the bodies much more for the safety of the soules of his Subiects Now true religion is the foode but false the bane of soules and you know Qui non seruat periturum cum potest occidit He that doth not helpe one ready to perish being able to helpe kills him Fourthly the Angell of the Church of Pergamus is reprooued for hauing such in Pergamus as maintained the doctrine of Balaam and the doctrine of the Nicholaitans and the Church of Thiatyra reproued for suffering Iezabel to teach and deceiue Fiftly the Lords Altar and Baals Altar must not stand together Quae concordia Dei Belial No agreement twixt God and Belial Indeed the Papists haue beene very earnest to supplicate for a Tolleration for their corrupt religion and yet themselues neuer allow it The Pope neuer afforded such fauour to Protestants witnesse their
thy truths sake Be euer thankefull to God and then he will euer be mindfull of you to blesse you the Lord will increase his graces towards you euen toward you and your children therefore praise the Lord from henceforth and for euermore for he hath not dealt so with euery Nation and if our deseruing were put into the lottery of other people wee should bee rewarded with a blanke Gods loue and gracious fauour to vs is ignis accendens fire to set vs on fire Let our thankefulnesse to God be ignis accensus a fire flaming to God in all zeale loue duety thankes seruice and deuotion God hath set England as it were vpon an hill a spectacle to all Nations strengthened by sea and land ad miraculum vsque to the admiration of all people blessed it with an extraordinarie peace prosperity of long continuance we are the worlds enuie let vs not become their declamation Nothing but our vnthankefulnesse to God our licentiousnesse in life our disobedience to his Word our securitie in sin our contempt of good meanes and mercies offered can worke our ouerthrow and these if we doe not drowne them quickly in the riuers of repentance so one may breed and bring our wofull downefall The Lord hath blessed this land with great and gracious blessings in it the golden bels of Aaron are powerfully rung the word by faithfull teachers mouingly deliuered Oh let our perpetuall prayers praises and thanks ascend to heauen because Gods graces and mercies plentifully descend to earth Et si desint gratiae quia nos ingrati If any grace be wanting it is because we want grace to be thankefull for this our happy gouernment hauing a prosperous peace and that which is the procurer of peace with God and men that blessed passage of the Gospell Si totum me debeo pro me facto quid debeo pro me refecto saith a Father If wee owe God our selues for our creation what doe we owe vnto him for our regeneration preseruation and saluation We therefore that haue tasted of the great cup of Gods mercy let vs with Dauid take the cup of saluation giue thanks and praise the name of the Lord let vs praise God for these aboundant mercies and euer pray vnto him to preserue the happy instrument of manifold benefits and blessings to vs our most dread and deare Soueraigne duty bindeth vs to this taske our owne welfare mooues vs to this duety for his prosperity is our tranquillity his safety is our felicity the blessing redounds to vs and if he should miscarry which God forbid we should be partakers of his misfortunes Therefore be alwaies obedient and diligent to serue our royall Head golden in all vertues and princely perfections in all loyall and Christian dueties louing his Highnesse in our hearts which is the best earthly defence for a King Inexpugnabile munimentum est amor ciuium saith Seneca The loue of the people is an inuincible munition and as that great Rabbi of pollicie Machiauel hath set it downe for a sure rule Contra regem quem omnes magnifaciunt difficilis coniuratio oppugnatio irruptio Against that King whom all highly esteem and reuerence conspiracy or treachery is very difficult or if attempted seldome succeedes Let vs bee in pace Lepores but in praelio Leones in peace like Hares timerous to offend his Grace in any way of disobedience but like Lions fight for him against all his enemies with an vnwearied courage vndanted magnanimity ioyning with our fighting hands our feruent prayers to God like faithfull Israelites against all rebelling Amalekites Oratio coelos penetrat hostes in terravincit saith Origen Prayers pierce heauen and ouercome enemies on earth plus precando quam praeliando more by praying then by fighting Dauids encountring with Goliah in the name of the Lord was more powerfull then his fling and fiue stones Let vs make it one part of our daily praiers to God to keepe our King as the apple of his eye and hide him vnder the shadow of his wings to saue him from all enemies bodily or ghostly to consume them in his wrath consume them that they bee no more let them know that God ruleth in Iacob euen vnto the ends of the world beseeching God of his great mercie euer to prosper this most peaceable and puissant Monarchie of great Brittaine Arise vnto it as vnto thy resting place Turne not away thy face from thine Anointed who hath now happily to our immeasurable ioy worne the imperiall Diadem of great Brittaine these 15. * yeares Many more happie and prosperous yeares wee pray to be continued prolong his daies O Lord as the daies of heauen and grant that his Highnesse and his Princely posterity may in these kingdomes reigne so long as the world endureth Enlarge and enrich his royall heart with all Regall gifts and Diuine graces sutable for his high calling Saue and defend him from the tyranny or treachery of all forraine and Antichristian power and from the plots and proiects of domestical aduersaries Let them couer themselues with their confusion as with a cloake Blesse his most gracious spouse and bedfellow Queene Anne let thy Angels O Lord encampe about her to guide guard her in a safe protection and euer continue thy most heauenly hand of benediction vpon the high mighty Prince Charles the famous Prince of Wales the second ioy of great Britaine Lord looke vpon him from heauen Giue thy iudgements vnto the King and thy righteousnesse vnto the Kings Sonne Teach him O Lord in his tender yeares like a good Iosias to learne and loue thy true religion the way to winne the eternall Crowne of life Be gracious O Lord to the County Palatine of Rhene Fredericke Prince Elector and to his most vertuous and gracious wife Princesse Elizabeth with their Princely progenie O Lord preserue them with thy mightie and out-stretched arme giue them a most happy peace and prosperity in a Princely honor felicity all the daies of their liues O Lord scatter the deuices of the crafty that their hands may not accomplish any wicked thing they do enterprise Confound all them that haue ill will at Sion that repine at the peace of the Church the welfare of great Britaine the prosperity of his Maiesty his royall progenie that howsoeuer they haue shift of faces and maske vnknowne yet let vs pray that that stone which is cut without hands may breake the Images of such Traitors in peeces giuing him victory ouer all his enemies Cloath them all with shame but vpon him let his Crowne flourish and grant him an happy multiplication of many prosperous yeares to renew with many returnes these our cordiall and annuall Ioyes long to sit vpon his Throne and make his foes his footstoole And let high and low rich and poore young and old yea let Heauen and earth
lose the right of Dominion as also sometimes for other faults and againe So soon as any one for apostacy from the Faith by iudgement is denounced excommunicate ipso facto his Subiects be absolued from his gouernment and from the oath of Allegiance And the Cardinall Tolets Glosse vpon his wordes Note that albeit Thomas named onely an Apostata yet the reason is all one in the Princes case that is excommunicated for so soone as one is denounced or declared as excommunicate all his subiects be discharged of their obedience which exposition his brother Cardinall Allen applaude in these words Thus doth this notable Schooleman write neyther doe we know any Catholicke Diuine in any age say the contrary Simone Pacensis ioynes forces with these fellowes saying If Kings or other Christian Princes become heretickes forthwith their Subiects and vassals are freed from their gouernement If any Prince bee vnprofitable or make vniust Lawes against religion or against good manneraâ— or doe any such thing to the detriment of spirituall things the Pope obseruing due circumstances may apply a fit remedy euen by depriuing such a King of his gouernment and iurisdiction if the cause require it Gregory of Valence is harping vpon the like notes If the crime of heresie or apostacy from the Faith be notorious that it cannot be couered then euen before the sentence of the Iudge the aforesaid punishment meaning depriuation from his dominion is in part incurred so far that the subiects may lawfully deny obedience to such an hereticall Lord. Where note by the way that now many of them doe hold that all hereticall Kings and such they account all protestant Rulers are depriued of their dominion before their Pope in his deâ—…itiue sentence hath so denounced Indeed their owne Caiâ—tane in this was not Catholike denying Subiects to be absolued before sentence publickely denounced and therefore Allen contradicts him saying iâ—se facte Kings be depriued so soone as they doe appeare hereticall followed also by Philopater saying it is an opinion of the Faith agreeable to Apostolicall doctrine that euery Christian Prince if hee fall from the Catholike religion falls presently from all his power and dignity by the force of Gods Law and 〈…〉 and that before sentence of the supreame Pastor denounced And the fiery Foâ—e Guâ— Reynoldâ— approues the murder of Henry the third the French King because bee fauoured Heretickes before any excommunication published his reason is Publicke griefes doe not attend for legall formes Simancha goes further That a secret hereticke not onely is to be excommunicated but his sonne also his reason is Heresie is a leprosie and leprous sonnes begotten of leprous parents and therefore seemes to inferre not onely a depriuation but also a depriuation of all succession Atque patrem prolem inre priuare suo I need not recite the generall verdict of popish vassals according with these to maintaine the Popes infolency in attempting the deposition of Kings repugnant to his lawes and liking Who knowes not that haue reade the workes of these Saunders visib Monar Suarez def fid catho adv Angl. sect err lib. 6. Francisc Victor relect Depotestate ecolesiae Becanus Rossaeus Bellarmine Allen Ferron Parsons Creswell with many dozens of prostituted hirelings who being fed fatte at the Popes high Altar and gaping for or gaining the purple Hat haue studied to extoll the papacy which they could not doe more pleasingly to the Pope or profitably to themselues then by ascribing to the Pope a power ouer Kings to depriue them if they breake their good behauiour to him and to free subiects from allegiance to them being blasted with the fulminations of excommunication making their master Pope an absolute Lord of the Temporals turning the Crosier staffe into a Scepter yea a commaunder of Scepters making their Church an humane body politicke to ouer-rule all yet vnder a painted pretence of Peters primacy to ouerthrow all Princes supremacy Egregiam verò laudem spolia ampla tulistis Thus this spurious spawne of the olde Serpent by this serpentine policy erecting the papall primacy of Popes aboue Kings the Diana of Romes religion haue raised the Pope to this pontificiall domination But the chiefe pillar whereof they boast would build this point of the power of Popes deposition of Kings if they be not Catholike Kings of the Romane size is the Decree of the Laterane Councell held about three hundred yeares since consisting as they say of seuenty Patriarkes Archbishops and foure hundred and twelue Bishops and eight hundred other eminent Prelates who did decree that the Pope had this power ouer Kings To which wee answere Thar the Decrees of men ought not to take from Kings that power which God hath giuen them But the Lateran Councell was a Conuenticle of Mercenary men and vassals to the Pope who to please Innocent the third their Lord and great Master were willing to gratifie his Holinesse with vnholy Decrees yet we may doubt of that too if Platina be credited who faith That in that Councell many things were offred to consultation yet nothing determined because the Pope suddenly departed to pacifie a sedition then raised and died in his iourny Yet grant it were a lawfull Councell and this matter so there decreed what of that shall a few proud Prelates assembled to flatter the Pope infringe the Lawes of God commanding obedience and subiection to Kings shall Gods commands be countermanded by Councels which so oft haue erred nay haue confirmed heresies as the Councell of Arimium held with the Arrians yea Ephesus Seleucia and Remino concluded with them which made Saint Hierome complaine The whole world groaned and wondered to see it selfe Arrian The error of the Councell of Carthage in rebaptizing is well knowne The Councell of Chalcedon fowlly erred giuing to Leo then Bishop of Rome the title of the Vniuersall Bishop which name he reiected though others embrace it In a worde the late Councell of Trent brought foorth to light a world of errors that I may say with Nazianzene hee neuer saw any Councell haue a good end Yea as their owne writers say Councels haue erred and may erre which in these latter times must needes be so when as the Pope is both party and Iudge which matter of the erring of Councels hath so oft and so soundly beene by our Diuines manifested that I need not insist vpon it But how vaine it is to obtrude for vndoubted proofe the erroneous decrees and nouell opinions of clawbacke Papalines parasites to the Pope to infringe the power of Kings giuen them in Gods word commanding euery soule to be subiect to these higher powers which place of Saint Paul the Champions of the Popes power to depose Kings as their Cardinall of Perron pleades for them doe expound to be a prouisionall precept or caution accommodated to the times A strange error of stout Champions and as the royal
moue them to such cruelty One of the specials of them Percy a Pensioner in an honourable place the others with worship wealth in the Common-wealth no penall Lawes vrged vpon them with many other prouocations to peace and amity Quorum si singula duram Flectere non poterant potuissent omnia mentem If some of these could not yet all conioind Might well haue turnd to loue a Lyons mind But all could not for howsoeuer they made a shew of obedience it was counterfeit Ore tenus Honouring with lippes not hearts They surely had receiued the Present of their Pope long agoe sent to his deare Children here namely the fiue wounds of Christ with this poesie Fili da mihi car tuum sufficit My sonne giue me thy heart and it sufficeth Rome had their heart England their hate and wee might of them haue complained had not the Lord helped with the Prophet Dauid Thou hast made the Land to tremble and hast made it to gape heale the breaches thereof for it is shaken Thou hast made vs to drinke the wine of giddinesse Yet these could flatter with Iudas Auc Rabbi Haile Master or Master is it I Yet for all Syren-songs let vs looke to our selues for Viâ— fidus affectus quorum diuersa fides saith Chrysostome VVhose faith is different their fidelity is doubtfull Their words sweeter then hony yet Vnlpina cauda semper prominet rictus rugitus Leonem prodit The Foxe may be knowne by his taile the Lyon by his iawes clawes and roaring By their fruits ye shall know them Trust not their iugred speeches for they haue learned the language of the Low-Countries I meane of hell their art of equiuocation to speake one thing and meane another and you know by equiuocation Iudas and Iesuits may be taken for honest men And how can their fidelity be good I meane them of their Clergy for as euery popish Bishop is sworne obedience to the Pope and Sea of Rome and to defend to death Rogalia Sancti Petri The Regalities of Saint Peter so in the English Colledge of Rome it is a Statute-Law or papall constitution that whosoeuer doe enter into it hee is bound to sweare after certaine yeeres being perfectly Iesuited to returne into England for the defence of the Catholicke Faith and there publikely or priuately to preach the same Now their Faith which they call Catholicke granteth to their Roman Church power to free subiects from all duty of obedience as doth appeare in the foureteene section and seuenth Chapter of their late Councell of Trent from which fountaine flowes Tâ—… So that they will not submit themselues to any Protestant King in any loyall and faithfull 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as did in somelately appeare in refusing the Oath of Alleagiance wherein his Maiesty specially aimed Separare pretiosum à vâ—… As the Lord by Ieremy to separate the precious from the vile to discerne and distinguish the Pseudocatholickes of this Climate from others of his sound and faithfull subiects And how I pray you was this oath impugned by the Popes Briefes by Bellarmine and others accounting it vnlawfull prohibiting all Popish Sectaries to accept it which oath yet specially touched their alleagiance to the King against the Popes primacy pretended in temporall things and but little the supremacy in spirituall things so that they who are thus rooted and vnmoueably grounded in all the mysteries of the Church of Rome beleeuing the Pope the supreme Head of all hauing power to excommunicate Kings to depriue them to absolue subiects from alleagiance to giue authority to kill Kings and accounting such deeds done meritorious are Clancularij proditores Clancular Traytors Schoole-Traytors who though they liue Vespertilionum instar Like the night-birds in obscurity and neuer reduce their Theoricke into Practick yet are they Traytors in Esse though not in Actu But to leaue these and to returne againe to our Powder-men Traytors both in fore and fieri Claneular at first their Chamber was a Mine vnder the Earth but being discouered then they shewed themselues Damonesmeridiani Noone day Diuels and were Sagittae volantes in die Arrowes that flie by day for perceiuing their purpose discouered and treachery preuented and disappointed of their priuate blow and blast which should haue beene acted in secret now they resolue to runne a desperate race and practise a publicke rebellion And so gathering their Catholicke Company and pretending the quarrell of Religion which they thought had had the vertue of a snow ball to encrease their number by tumbling vp and downe and hauing gotten such prouision of Armor Horses and Powder as time would permit they ranged about as open and auowed Rebels The story whereof I omit to rehearse because it is vulgarly knowne and in a Booke at large rehearsed Well the Catholicke cause moued these to this cursed Treason in which impiety behold their policy for if their villany had succceded which God in his mercy preuented they had deuised to haue laid all the blame vpon the Puritans The poore Puritans must haue the shame of Papists impurities and impieties Here in they shewed themselues to be Neroes brats who when he had set fire on the City laied the fault vpon the Christians as Tacitus writes of him or as in old time in the dayes of the ten persecutions of the Primitiue Church if any thing had befallen the world euen by Gods hand as plague or famine c. all reproaches were put vpon the Christians and crying out Christianos ad Leones Cast the Christians to the lions A shamefull and shamelesse shift to translate the infamy of so odious a fact vpon the innocent but it verifies the Prouerbe Hoc calciamentum consuit Hystiam Aristagoras induit Hystaus hath sowen the shooe and Aristagoras puts it on but thankes be to God Inciderunt in foueam quam fecerunt The fact and fault was knowne to be their owne and brought these delinquents to a shamefull fall Another policy they had pretended appointing an hunting match against the time of this treacherous designe thinking with Esau to haue brought dainty Venison to their Father not Isaacke but Antichrist and to haue surprized the person of the Lady Elizabeth now the Princely wife to the County Palatine of Rheine Thus they shewed themselues right Nimrods who was a mighty hunter and in name also Nimrod-like who is by interpretation a Rebell rebellious hunters or rather Fowlers to lay such snares but yet all may say with the Psalmist The Lord hath deliuered vs from the snare of the hunter praised be his goodnesse for euer But to passe ouer their policy in this worke of impiety painted ouer vnder a pretence of restauration of religion Is murder and massacres the seed of Rome from which these seedes-men would fetch Religion will the darnell of death produce the seed of life For the publike good Gods seruants haue wished themselues to be
Mariana c. Yea this Kingdome is so diuided among it selfe that we presume and this presage it shall not long stand They that would further behold this Campe of the Midianites sheathing their swords in their neighbours sides let them reade the worke of that learned and reuerend Doctor D. Hall in his Booke called the Peace of Rome And yet the Papists with might and maine exclaime at factions in the Church of England to whom we may say with our Sauiour Hypocrita eijce primùm Trabem de oculo tuo Hypocrite first cast the beame out of thine owne eye sweepe cleane before your owne threshold before you blame spots in others They tell the World what an implacable discord and dissention is betwixt the Protestants and the Puritanes a name we scarce know and is proper to none but onely vnto Iesuites who thinke themselues so pure that they will arrogate to be of the society of Iesus But we may truly say that which they shall neuer say That in the Church of England there is vniuersality and vnity in substance of doctrine and religion and in circumstance we haue or hope for a generall vniformity But they want these and yet of late they haue a new policy to purge and raze many of their owne dead Doctors to speake that in their graues they neuer thought on in their studies putting out that which they printed and putting in that which the Authors neuer purposed Thus haue they serued Caictan Gratians Glosse Ferus Polydore Lodonicâ—…Vines c. And to this end serue their Indices Expurgatorij To purge away their best blood and leaue them nothing but skinne and bones And thus haue they serued Andreas Mazius Comments and Iansenius Harmony vpon the Gospell yea whom not if hee hath touched neuer so tenderly the sores of Rome this is the medicine to helpe the malady But I would this punishment had beene onely inflicted vpon their owne Doctors and that they had neuer laied their correcting hands in corrupting the Fathers of whom they haue a long time boasted the Fathers the Fathers are all of our side but these are but wind and words and as he said of the Nightingale Vox est praeterea nihil A meere voice and nothing else for these will vse the Fathers as Soloâ— his Friends or as Merchants vse figures in Accounts for hundreds if they please them for Cyphers if they crosse them and truly the ancient Fathers of the best esteeme speaâ—e little or nothing on their side in any fundamentall points and difference twixt them and vs except they haue dieted and giuen them vomits and purgations except they haue so done to them as Clement the eighth did to his Predecessor Sixtus Quintus corrupting that his correction of the Bible by a new Translation which one called a new Transgression and they haue herein so falsified many of the Fathers and foisted in other counterfet Fathers that it puts me in mind of a Popes Iester Pogghius speakes of who when he told the Pope tales to make him sport did it standing behind a cloath for being outfaced So the Fathers who speake for them must stand behind a skreene mantled or mangled by their correction So that taking away these desperate shifts which the Church of Rome vseth there will be found no great antiquity vniuersality or vnity in the Doctrine of the Church of Rome But to leaue these and other motiues allectiues to many to loue the Church of Rome for I did not intend to muster vp all their motiues wherewith they fight against vs for so I should send out a Ship and not a Pinnesse I will rather mention a few markes and apparent tokens whereby these children may iustly misdoubt their mother to be an harlot and in part palpably perceiue her corruption Her first whorish marke is her blasphemy against the Scripture being that woman in Saint Iohns vision sitting vpon a scarlet coloured beast full of the names of blasphemy and that in foure respects first her blasphemy and contempt of the Scripture appeares because the Church of Rome maintaines that all things necessary to saluation are not contained in the Holy Scripture and that the best part of true religion is knowne by vnwritten traditions and that these traditions are to bee receiued with the same reuerence and affection wherewith wee receiue the Scripture as the Councell of Trent decreed Many things belong to Christian Faith which are not contained in the Scripture openly nor obscurely saith Canus The greatest part of the Gospell is come to vs by tradition very little of it is committed to writing saith Hosius The Canon Law set out newly by Pope Gregory the 13. saith that men doe so reuerence the Apostolicall seate of Rome that they rather desire to know the auncient institution of Christian religion from the Popes mouth then from the holy Scripture Their workes are full of such words by which all may see their blasphemy comparing traditions of men with the infallible worde of God 2. Their mouthes are full of bitter and irreuerent speeches against the Scripture calling it a nose of waxe to be writhed this way or that way a dumbe Iudge as Pighius termes it dead inke as another yea Bellarmine their great Doctor saith the Scripture is not simply necessary or as Eckius we must liue more according to the authority of the Church then after the Scripture or the Scriptures without the authority of the Church are no better then Aesops fables And often they will deny the Scripture it selfe as Catharinus accuseth Caietan their great Cardinall called by them an incomparable Diuine and the most learned of all his age who doth charge him for denying the last chapter of Markes Gospell some parcell of S. Luke the Epistle to the Hebrewes the Epistle of Iames the second Epistle of Peter the second and third of Iohn the Epistle of Iude all which are Canonicall they wil denie the scripture if it make not for them say with Eckius Scriptura sine ecclesia authoritate non est authentica The Scripture without the authority of the Church that is the Pope for so Gregory of Valence saith by the Church we meane her Head that is the Roman Bishop is not authenticall 3. They make their Pope Iudge ouer the Scripture whosoeuer resteth not on the doctrine of the Bishop of Rome as the infallible rule of God from whom the holy Scripture takes her strength and authority hee is an heretike saith one of her side The Pope may change the holy Gospell and may giue to the Gospell according to time and place another sense We are bound to stand to the Popes iudgement alone rather then to the iudgement of al the world besides saith Aluarus Pelagius The Popes rescripts and decretall Epistles are Canonicall Scripture If any man haue the interpretation of the Romane
At Rome all sacred things are to be sold Temple priests prayers heauen and God for gold Yea many of their great Popes symoniacall hereticall boyes yea the feminine Pope Ioane was no honest Pope yea their owne Baronius saith that a notable strumpet to Adelbert Marquesse of Tuscia prostituting her daughters to the Popes did create Popes at the pleasure of the strumpets and he cries out How filthy was the face of the Romane Church then when most powerfull and withall most sordide whores bare all the sway at Rome and their louers were thrust into Peters seate At this day as wee reade the Pope hath a pension from the stewes at Rome Were he like Peter he would abhorre to foule his hands with such stinking gaine or enrich his coffers with an harlots hire rather with S. Peter say Thymony perish with thee or with our Sauiour to the women taken in adultery Goe away and sinne no more and not to giue them a toleration or dispensation for fornication To leaue this point as the Poet left Rome with this verse Roma vale vidi satis est vidisse reuertar Cum leno meretrix scarra cinaedus ero Oh Rome farewell I haue seene and seene too much Returne I will when turne baud whore or such The third marke may be this That there is no point of our faith but many learned in the Church of Rome approue the same and no point of Papistry by vs confuted but some of the chiefe of their Church haue disliked as well as we that we may say to them as our Sauiour did to that bad seruant Ex ore tuo te iudico of thine owne mouth will I condemne thee Thus the diuision of the tongues and people of Babilon are a meanes of the plantation and edification of Gods Ierusalem This point hath beene demonstrated in the chiefe questions betwixt them and vs by many learned Diuines of our Church and excellently verified and declared by Doctor Morton a singular ornament of our Church in many of his workes but especially in his first and second part of his Catholicke Apology wherein he hath ouerthrown the points of Popery of the chiefest difference by the affirmations and assertions of the best learned Papists to whose labour in this point I refer the iudicious Reader The fourth marke is this That many maine points in popery are absurd and euen against common sense and the light of nature What man endewed with mother-wit can perswade himselfe that the Pope is Iudge and Lord ouer the Scripture Church Councels and all the world and that in his breast there is an infallibility of not erring when as common and continuall experience speakes the contrary What likelihood is there in the doctrine of transubstantiation that the Priest should pull caelum in caenam Christs body with all his dimensions put in a little boxe and the same body be in seuerall places and parts at one time What colour of trueth can there be in the doctrine of workes of Superogation that a man can merit more then is needfull for him and that this his ouer-plus of obedience by the Churches dispensation is beneficiall to other who want this plenitude when as our Sauiour saith VVhen ye haue done al those things which are commanded you say we are vnprofitable seruants To pretermit their ridiculous ceremonies which Kemnitius well termes Sarcasmi Diaboli as christning of Bels sprinkling of holy water Exorcismes Annealing spitting in the baptizeds mouth creeping to the Crosse praying vpon beades c. or their doctrine of praying to the dead who can neyther heare nor helpe or their many mediators and intercessors when as Paul saith There is but one mediator betweene God and man which is Iesus Christ 1 Tim. 2. 5. If any man sinne wee haue an aduocate with the Father Iesus Christ the righteous c. 1 Iohn 2. 1. or their auricular confession and absolution of their sinnes yet the very Pharifies could fay Who can forgiue sinnes but God onely Luke 5. 21. or that saying of Masse or singing Dirges for the dead could benefit the dead as well writes S. Ambrose herein qui hic non aocipit renaissioneÌ„ peccatoruÌ„ illac non haâ—… he that doth not receiue remission of his sinnes in this life shall not find it in the life to come and as S. Cyprian Hâ—e vita 〈…〉 â—…t tenetur c. Here life is to be lost or got after death neyther Masses Dyrges or Auc-Maries are auaileable How repugnant to a good mans reason is their popish equiuocation to dissemble the truth with a mentall reseruation How doe they follow the counsell of Peter of whom they boast who commands them to lay aside al dissimulation or as S. Paul cast off lying and speake trueth euery man to his neighbour but the Father of lies will not haue his children to speake truth this doctrine none but Atheists Machiauelists or Iesuites can commend Not to touch all the fringes or fragments belonging to this whore wherewith she is apparelled I will but handle foure of her relickes foure points of popery which in my weake apprehension are dislonant to common reason much more to Christian religion 1. Her Latin seruice 2. implicit faith 3. worshipping of Images 4. Popes pardons a touch and away not tast of her cup for it is full of poyson no not primis labris degustare onely looke vpon it and see how vgly it seemes to common sense excepting eyes and eares for therein popery is a bewitching Lady faire images for the eyes and sweet musicke for the eares like the booke giuen to Iohn sweete in the mouth sweete to carnall and naturall men but bitter in the belly very sowre to the soule which is sanctified and shall be saued 1. Popish Latin seruice What possibility is there that Seruice or Praiers said in a tongue which the people vnderstand not should be profitable to them As the Apostle If I pray in a strange tongue my vnderstanding is without fruit and the same Apostle I had rather in the Church to speake fiue wordes with my vnderstanding then tenne thousand wordes in a strange tongue and againe Except ye vtter words that haue signification how shall it be vnderstood what is spoken for ye shall speake in the aire and the Apostle seemes vpon purpose in the whole chapter to condemne this point which chapter 1 Cor. 14. I commend to all lay Papists to read it yet in their mother Tongue except they vnderstand the Latin To pray in an vnknowne tongue is not to pray but to prate like a Parrot and yet the Tridentine Councell decreed Non expedire vt diuinum officium vulgari passim lingua celebretur not expedient that Diuine Seruice should be celebrated in the vulgar tongue and they call it an intollerable error of the Lutherans who thinke the contrary And this doctrine of Luther who requires a knowne
by a deputy shall goe to heauen by an Attourney Staphilus relates at large a Colliars faith which Colliar at the point of death and tempted of the Deuill to know his Beliefe sayd I belieue and die in the faith of Christs Church vrged againe what the faith of Christs Church was answered That faith that I belieue in Thus the Deuill receiuing no other answer was vanquished This implicite faith rather fancy is that folly which they would haue their laity to loue excluding knowledge from the nature of faith and make a naked Assent sufficient for saluation Thus these Soule-thiefes doe not onely put out the Candle of knowledge the Scripture and put it vnder a Bushell least it should descry them but would extinguish all light of grace their Creede which doth condemne them To belieue as others belieue or as the Church belieues and yet know not the beliefe of the Church a purblind faith to saue the blind They teach the people not to trouble themselues with searching into the misteries of Christian religion or points of faith but say as their Rhemists tutor them that they will liue and dye in that faith which the Catholicke Church teaches and this Church can giue a reason of the things belieued a very quicke way if it were a good way but God requires a distinct knowledge of the points of our faith to be able and ready alwayes to giue an answere to euery man that asketh a reason of our hope and faith not to haue the particular knowledge of our faith locked vp in the Church-chest but in our owne breast not to send to Rome or the Pope for an answere to ground their faith on for they may be dead before their message be deliuered or an answere returned This implicite faith was in no request in Iustines time who writes that such as could no letter on the booke vnderstood all the mysteries of faith and indeede it is most necessary for all Christians to know and learne the fundamentall points of faith which in the Church of Rome by the vnlearned cannot be attained for how should any know that which is propounded to him in an vnknowne tounge how should he vnderstand his Creed that knowes not a word in English of his Credo It is expounded to them may some say Worthily I doe warrant you when as many of their Priests and some of their Popes could not be Latin expounders Their expositions like their Legends commonly-read by them in the Church to the people full of monstrous lyes as the Virgine Mary came downe from heauen to visite sicke S. Fulbert and gaue him her breasts to sucke and that Saint Francis vsed to preach to Birds and instruct them who did heare him with great deuotion c. Good stuste to be read in the Church yet this read in the mother tounge that they might learne this apace but the booke of truth the Scrpture read in an vnknowen tounge to belieue that implicitly still they labour to imprison the people in the dungeon of ignorance and superstition It is heresie for a Lay-man to dispute in a point of faith sayth Nauarre Neither will they suffer the people to reade any bookes which examine their religion If any write honestly against their errors their congregation of Cardinalls serues on them a Prohibition commit them to the prison of suppression If Lara speakes of Iupiters lust her tounge must be cut out the people may not looke vpon their enemies in the open face nay their these Bishops and learned Priests who should know light from darkenesse are not permitted this priuiledge without a special Licence therein obtained and their Authors must be of the Romane stampe or first purged before they may peruse them Whereas our Church giues free liberty to all to reade priuatly their bookes Veritas non quaerit angulos truth seekes no corners and were they not conscious of the guilt of their owne cause they would neuer take this course to depriue the people of the word and reade it in an vnknowen tounge or tell the people an implicite faith is sufficient Thrirdly worshipping of Images I am come to the third monster of this Beast and I am loath to touch it for the very Iewes abhorre it Their worshipping of Images the booke of God euery where cries woe to them that worship any carued Images Cursed are all such and to shew the vanity and iniquity of Image-worship I first recommend to euery Lay-papist to reade soberly and diligently the Chapter of Esay namely the 44. And wheras these Papists commonly excuse themselues with this answere we worship no Images but onely they serue vs to put vs in remembrance of God First let them know that if they will follow the Doctrine of their Tutors and I feare they follow them too much they must worship them with a diuine worship the old schoolemen saith the Iesuite Vasquez doe say Imagines Christi esse colendas adoratione latriae The Images of Christ are to be worshipped with the highest adoration their Iesuite Azorius sayth Constans est Theologorum sententia imaginem codem honore cultu coli quo colitur id cuius est imago It is the constant opinion of Diuines that the Image is to be worshipped with the same honor and worship wherewith that is worshipped whose Image it is Is not this I pray plaine idolatry Bellarmines proposition heerein is this Imagines Christi Sanctorum venerandae sunt non solum peraccidens vel improprie verum etiam proprie The Images of Christ and Saints are to be worshipped not accidentally or improperly but also properly yea the second Councell of Nice decreed that Images are to be worshipped Their late Councell of Trent sayth and commands all to doe it with Diuine honor So that we truly say that whosoeuer is a true Papist is a true idolater yea their owne writers who write sparingly therein testifie as much Dici non potest quanta Idolatria apud rudem populum alatur per Imagines Saith Agrippa and Cassander it cannot be expressed what great idolatry is nourished among the rude people by Images Yea as an other Sunt bene multiqui Imagines colunt non vt figuras sed perinde quasi ipsae aliquem sensum habeant magisque ijs credunt quam Christo There are very many who worship images not as shapes but euen as aliue and more trust their Images then Christ Manifestidus est hoc quam vt verbo explicaripossit Saith Cassander This is more manifest then can be expressed in a word Dum imaginibus exhibent latriae cultum Saith Gerson while they offer to images the worship of Latria Let not Bellarmine outface men with Quis Catholicorum diuinum honorem imaginibus vnquam detulit Who of the Catholickes euer offered diuine honor to Images no true Catholickes euer did it but Papists doe it and he with many