what do your people learne by hauing the sacred Trinitie pourtraited and drawne as you doe I could tell you of diuers of your English-papists who thereby were fallen into the very heresie of the Anthropomorphytes and when I tould them of their errour they could very hardly be drawne from it thinking it to be the faith of the Romane Catholike Church by whose authoritie such pictures were allowed What I pray you may your Simples learne by obseruing how you tricke vp with gownes and kirtles with crownes and garlands with bracelets chaynes and ringes some of your Goddesses in your Churches and chappells will they not thinke that your Saints are so attired in the heauens that the soyle is cold and wheras The vaine attiring of Popish Pictures they obserue how some of your Saintesses haue gownes and kirtells made of such Dames refuses as an honest woman would hardly weare yea to see the Queene of heauen so attired will they not thinke that heauen is very poore either hauing no silkes or else wanting Taylors to make new gownes for the Queene her selfe Againe what may your Ignorants learne when they shall behold our Sauiour pictured as in Saint Andrewes Church at Bourdeauz as ascending vp into the heauens vpon the backe of an Eagle will they not inferre that he mounted not vp to the heauens by his owne power but rather by the helpe of an Eagle one of the liuing Creatures which are attending about the throne as wee haue it described in the Reuelation of Saint Apocal. 4. 7. Iohn As concerning the third end of Images to wit adoration I haue in a few words already shewed the iniquitie of the same M. Flud himselfe dareth not to call the childe by its owne name but giueth it onely the name of honourable esteeme But here I adde further that the Bishops of Rome shall haue this speciall priuiledge to Polid. lib. 2. de Iâ—uent cap. 23. citat Plutar. in viâ—a Numa Clement Macro lib. 1. Saturâ—al cap. haue brought the adoration of Images into the Church That so Rome popish may be like to Rome heathenish in all things Rome at first had no pictures at all in their Temples Numa his decree forbidding the same after they came in as monuments onely of the worthies as when Hercules ouercame Gerion This being obteined in short processe of time by cunning of the Archflamines and false Priests they came to be worshipped Euen so in Rome Christian at beginning no pictures were to befound in Churches as is clearely to bee gathered out of Origen disputing against Celsus It may bee Orig. contra Ceâ—sum lib. 7. versus Finem thought they crept in to be in some credit not long before the time of Gregorie the Great and shortly after within lesse then an age that which hee detested came to be good by publike decree of his Successours especially in the time of Baniface the 3. who set open the Pantheon of Pagans in Rome and in it insteed of the Images of false Gods set vp the Images of all Saints making the Image of the blessed Virgin to be cheife so that the Temple which in time of Pagamsme was called Pantheon that is the Temple of all Gods is now also called the Pantheon the temple of all Saints and Martyrs Againe whereas by reason of the abuse of Images diuers Councells Sinod Constantinop sub Leo Constant the later had 338. Bishops at it were assembled both in East and West for redressing of the same as your adoration of Images hath this priuiledge to haue beene condemned by the first Generall Councell that was assembled about them and by others that followed both in East and West So haue your Popes Constantine Gregorie 2. and 3. Zachary Stephen Adrian with others this prerogatiue that for the adoration and worshipping of Images they haue preuailed against Councells Generall against Emperors both of East and west yea in the times of Charles the Great though all Churches of the West were against them yet they preuailed yea and if what some Greeke Authours doe relate be true not without many lying prodigies to confirme the same yea Bellarmine is not ashamed to confesse that then the Romane Empire was taken away Bell lib. 2. de Imag. cap. 12. from the Emperour by which S. Paules prediction according to the Fathers exposition was in part fulfilled that the Romane Empire which letted the comming of Antichrist should be taken away and so that man of sin 2. Thessal 2. Austen Tertul. Hierom. alij come to be reuealed I here obserue how our Aduersaries to infringe and diminish the authority of one of those Councells which did condemne the worshipping of Images do obiectagainst it the wicked life of Constantine Copronymus by whose command it was assembled Admit we grant he was a wicked man according as some Authors report of him yet for wickednesse especially in Lucifers sinne hee came behinde a Pope of yours called Constantine who was tooth and naile for adoration of Images who also was the first that would suffer an Emperour to kisse his feete he came also far behinde that Monster of crueltie Irene the Empresse who not content with the regencie of the Empire vnder her Sonne Constantine but aiming at all and proiecting marriage with Charles the Emperor she most barbarouslie murthered her owne Sonne Constantine the young Emperour whose impietie the heauens and earth seemed to detest by Ecclipses and Earthquakes and yet this glorious Dame was the cheifest Establisher of adoration of Images vnder whom and by whose command the prophane Nicene Councell approued the worshipping of Images though in a farre more Conc. Nis Idolo sub Irene moderate sort then you now either teach or practise Let not then the wicked life of Constantine be more hurtfull to our cause then the barbarous Immanitie of your Irene the luciferian pride of your Constantine be against yours no nor let not Henry the eights vices a note often song by yours be more preiudicial to our Churches then those of Gregorie the 13. Clement the 7. and Sixtus the 5. to yours you cannot iustly lay any such imputations of vice to any of our Soueraignes or Prelates which indeed established Christian religion and reformation amongst vs as we can to your Kings Emperors Popes Purpurates and Prelates As for Henry the 8. we are not tied to defend him in all points hee was for his faith more yours then ours as it euidently appeareth by the Statute of his sixe Articles which are part of the very substance and marrow of Popery Had he beene as he should hee would neuer to the eternall perdition of innumerable Soules haue so disposed of Church liuings and impropriations he would neuer haue put to death some worthy Christians as he did those I meane who professed the Gospell of Christ and denied your Popes supremacie Mr. FLVD pag 146. num 28. No lesse wonderfull is the miracle recorded by h h De passione Imag.
A SVRVEY OF THE MIRACLES OF THE CHVRCH of Rome prouing them to be ANTICHRISTIAN WHEREIN ARE examinedaâ—nd refuted the six fundamentall Reasons of IOHN FLOOD Ignatian published by him in defence of Popish Miracles By RICHARD SHELDON Catholike Priest and sometimes in the Church of Rome Mr. FLOODS COLLEAGVE IEREMY 50. 14. Put your selues in aray against Babilon round about all yee that bend the bowe shoote at her spare no arrowes for she hath sinned against the Lord. LONDON Printed by Edward Griffin for Nathaniel Butter and are to be sold at his shop at S. Austens Gate at the signe of the Pyde Bull. 1616. TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE VVILLIAM Earle of Pembrooke Lord HERBERT of Cardiffe Marmion and S. Quintin Lord Chamberlaine to his Maiestie Knight of the most Noble Order of the Garter one of his Maiesties most Honorable Priuie Councell RIGHT HONOVRABLE SVCH is the condition of bookes though the lynes of them may haply be as apples of beaten gold that like houses without couers they are not reputed perfect vnles they beare in their Fronts the Name of some Potent Patrone whereby they may be shadowed from the blasts of ignorant and malicious Censurers Our most Christian and victorious Soueraigne hauing as another Dauid with the flint of Gods word and the slâ—nge of his admirable Spirit smitten the Golias of Rome in his forehead wherewith he lyeth prostrate on the ground groueling in the ignominie of his meretricious enormities hath by his Princely example drawne diuers of his Worthies to gather vp the spoyles of his victories amongst whom and behinde whom my selfe as a souldier postliminio in praelium reuertens haue being moued thereunto by the zeale of Gods truth vndertaken this taske to reueale the Antichristianisme of his Exuuies I meane his rotten and ragged miracles Hauing finisht the Treatise and bethinking my selfe of a Patrone I conceited thâ—t the Patronage of such an argument was meete for the Emperour himselfe and also that his shield would be more then needfull for the defence of a poore Souldier against a world of Aduersaries Yet weighing with my selfe how his most learned eyes and victorious hands are filled with presents of Bookes from euery hand and of euery argument I resolued not to presume in this kinde and yet for my securitie and safetie I determined not to depart a latere Principis whose Princely fauour I haue already layd vp as a crowne vpon my heart To your most Honourable Selfe therefore who for your rare Vertues are honoured with the grace of being Comes Pallatinus à latere I haue presumed to present this my worke and to lay it into the hands of your most Honourable and Christian Patronage I nothing doubt of your Noble admittance of the same such a Humanitie is seated in your Noble brest as in a naturall Center and such is the nature of the argument handled that it beareth this affiance with it selfe that it will not bee vnwelcome to so Religious and Christian a Peere of the Church If I be demanded the Reasons of this my Dedication to your Honour I summe them vp thus Loue Opinion Religion Loue for I confesse ingenuously the very first moment I saw your Honour attending vpon our Soueraigne your most Noble aspect did present to my apprehensfull view true Nobilitie adorned with a Christian 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and a Panoplie of all vertues which then like a Load-stone drew my minde to loue and admiration of your most Noble Person the which some courteous respects of your Honour to my selfe haue since confirmed Opinion and Fama verax which reporteth your Honour to be a worthy Fauourer of learning an Honourable Mecaenas to all such as desire your Patronage a noble testimonie of true Nobilitie brought forth in your birth nourished by your education perfected by your affectation and prosecution of all noble studies Religion wherein your Honour by the hand of heauen for this Donum optimum is from aboue à Patre luminum appeareth by imitation to be another Iob sincere vpright and fearing God siding to no side but walking via regia via media before the Christ of our Lord and Christ our Lord by which Christian Collar of vertues though your place be most Honourable I may say in Agesilaus his words Conciliasti loco dignitatem When I weigh with my selfe how his most Excellent Maiestie clothed with the zeale of the glorie of Gods house after a most learned Premonition with pen hath in his excellent Declaration pro iure Regio consecrated himselfe Pugilem a Champion to the warres of the Lord I cannot but be comforted to thinke what commanders he would finde who like Isadas holding lance in one hand and sword in the other will be ready ruere in hostes And would God the day were come that the old Romanes wisdom were followed who resolued to fight against Philip in Grecia lest they should be put to defend themselues against him in Italie So our Christian Monarch would be pleased to command the Capitoline Ioue of Rome to be assaulted who now by himselfe in his Breefes and by his Ignatians furiall bookes sendeth Sentences most furious into this Kingdom not to be written with inke but with blood as his Maiestie writeth which his presumptions what are they else but incitements to some hellish and furious Rauillacs At whose head and Crowne doth Suarius ayme and point in his most furious booke My pen dreadeth to write what his Maiestie hath declared in his most learned Declaration touching the same point And may not Clemencie it selfe be awaked with such roares to doe such things as appertaine to the seueritie of iustice Opus alienum opus eius What shall we say Let vs pray Memento Domine Iacobi tui omnis mansuetudinis eius Let his enemies o Lord be confounded who proiect euill to his soule And grant Lord that the presage which one Worthington hearing of the happie Inauguration of our most gracious Soueraigne vttered at Valladolid in these words We are vndone we are vndone Iames of Scotland is proclaimed King of England Let it O Lord proue a true prophecie against them and their Ioue let them be vndone at home and abroad night and day sleeping and waking in themselues and in their posterities who thirst thus after the blood of thy Annointed Ones and haue made thy house a den of theeues If peaceable Salomon become Lion by their traiterous prouokings let them impute it to themselues Sanguis eoruÌ„ supra capita eorum And so most humbly leauing my Booke vnder your Honors gracious protection I pray most heartily the Lord Iesus to blesse your Honour with an assured pledge of true happinesse in this life and with fullnes thereof in the life to come Amen Your Honours most humbly deuoted RICHARD SHELDON The Contents of the Treatise Following CHAP. I. A Prelude shewing the Popes Psendochristianisme in respect of his lying signes and wonders the same is declared by diuers particulars Page 1. CHAP. II. A
Souldiers in praelium Domini And although he hath performed his part so excellently that as Hircius affirmed of Caesar for his Commentaries his Maiesty seemeth rather to haue taken away then to haue giuen others occasion of writing yet such seemeth to be his Princely zeale that he prizeth as a Sacrifice any seruice done in this kinde what if by his most learned penne Golias seeme prostratus his Exuuiae to some seeme not taken from him I meane the ragges of his miracles and rotten superstitions Thirdly I considered seriously tanquam Classicum Belli that Clangor of God by the mouth of his holy Prophet Put your selues in aray against Babilon round about Ierem. 50. 14. all ye that bend the bow shote at her spare no arrowes for shee hath sinned against the Lord. If I amongst the rest of Gods Souldiers obey this his voice and shoote against Babilon the best arrowes my simple arme can draw out of the Quiuer of Gods booke with the bowe of his holy Spirit this my diligence I hope shall not turne to my reproach let them rather be reproached and reprooued who tumbling as fat as brawnes within their sties will not shoote out one arrow in Print for feare of reproach and lest they should bee put to defend what they shall commend to presse And what will they dare to deliuer any thing in Pulpit which they are afraid to commend to the Theater of the world As the Presse is the worlds Stage so is the Pulpit Gods Theater and a Stage for Angells I see they feare with Arcesilaâ—s and are worthy to bee rewarded with him but they haue the golden Arte of supplanting For my part should I foreknow that this Treatise of mine which is sweete in my mouth might proue bitter in my stomacke and belly yet out it should my shoulders are of steele armed for all censures But to all idle drones if neuer so elegant who are ready with Bonamicus Lazarus the Patauine to carpe at other mens labours as Erasmus said to him Lazare veni for as so I to these Bon-amici Lazari venite for as My good friends and Lazars come yee out shew your selues or else as your handes be tyed from writing so let your tongues be tyed also from censuring or else be not discontent if you bee reputed by some seuere Censurers like Esops Asse with head euer in manger and yet striking with his heeles It is not inough to bestow a bimestrian Sermon and the same twice or thrice to bee said ouer and then account your selues as worthy to be Censours ouer other mens labours vaevobis if liuing of the Gospell and hauing diuidents sufficient for two or three worthier then your selues your tongues or pennes Euangelize no more nor better no more of this lest I bee twitted as I was once speaking for the free inlarging and increase of a free beneuolence c. What this man comes lately from Rome and shall hee teach vs what wee are to giue c. But for my part I haue done crauing pardon if I am ouerbold in this my free Epistle whereof the period shall be this He that followeth Auarice cannot be innocent Further in all sinceritie humility I pray for the Church in generall that such as halt betwixt God and Baal may bee remooued è castris Domini And for my selfe in particular I humbly beseech our Lord Iesus that he would bee pleased so to assist me who am the least of all his Familie with the Graces of his blessed Spirit to the end that I may neuer fall from that Grace in which now I stand In fide viuo Iesu fily Dei Amen Yours in Christ Jesus Richard Sheldon Epigramma de Miraculis Antichristi Parturiêre diù septem tibi Rómule montes ridiculos mures iam peperêre suos Cuitua non odium vel cui portenta cachinnum non moueant posthâc is mihi prodigium est VIA-PORTA nou coll Ox olim Soe A BRIEFE PRELVDE SHEWING THE PSEVDO-CHRISTIANISME OF PAPISTS in respect of their lying SIGNES and WONDERS CHAP. I. ONE Faith one Baptisme one Ephes 4. Christ saith Saint Paul writing to the Ephesians by which we are euidently instructed that one and the same Faith doth now saue the faithfull of these later ages of the Church which did saue those of the primitiue times likewise as the same Christ and in the same manner was then and is now to be beleiued the same baptisme and in the same sort was then and is now to be practised and frequented This Christian axiome soundeth well in the eares of all reformed Churches because their totall scope and proiect is separating the pure siluer of Christian faith from the drosse of popish superstition to reduce all points of religion and necessarie rites of Christian discipline to the primitiue Antiquitie and prime institution of Christ and his Apostles But it is too too harsh in the eares of Papists who by their additions of many nouelties and vaine traditions to Christian religion haue aboue measure contaminated and corrupted the simplicity of the same and therefore being vrged with these their nouelties they are constrained to teach and desperately to affirme that the primitiue Church the Apostles and fâ—unders of the same did at least implicitely tanquam in principijs bâ—leiue all that which they themselues do now explicitely and expressely beleiue vpon the opening and vnfolding of their holy Father the Pope to whom with their Angelicall Aquinas they Aquinas 2. 2. q. 1. art 10. commonly attribute power to order ordaine stablish and declare the symbole of faith And therefore to vphold this their paradoxe diuers of them haue not beene ashamed to apply to the primitiue Church and her times that of the Apostle sapiebat vt paruulus loquebatur 1. Cor. 13. 11. vt paruulus she was wise as a litle one she spake as a litle one as not hauing all points necessary of faith expressely and explicitely suggested vnto her but they forsooth by vertue of the infallible determinations and decisions of their Inerrable Iudge the Pope can speake wisely and beleiue perfectly in euery particular conclusion the which it shall please their holy Father to determine prouided it be ex Cathedra that is with intention and purpose to teach and instruct the vniuersall Church whereof they make him sole Head and Vmpire And although the ancientest Bishops of Rome and the Primitiue Fathers of the Church did hold some points as doubtfull obscure and apocriphall yet their Romish Father hath such a potency that sitting in Cathedra tanquam ex tripode he can cleare all and make that to be an expresse article of faith which the auncientest Church either held for doubtfull or else had no expresse knowledge nor practise therof That in this vanitie wherein they doe most egregiously please themselues and vpon which all Ignatian-papists build their faith I doe not vniustly impose against them it is manifest in a few amongst innumerable other cleare instances As first their
hee wanted the pillar to conuey him and the Manna to feede him euen so must wee esteeme him a foolish Christian who being entered into the cleere light of Christs Gospel because he sees not the power of miracles which in the beginning of that Christian Progresse was granted to Saint Peter and Paul for conducting of the first beleeuers through the wildernes of Gentilisme or of Pharisaicall pride and for comforting them to reiect stoutly the yoake of their spirituall Pharaoh because of this he will refuse to be guided by the Arke of Gods word wherein are comprehended the whole mysteries of his law and without the which there is no way to the heauenly Canaan certaine he must bee counted more then mad CHAP. IIII. The impeietie of Papall Indulgences the open Pollution of the caelibate and other pregnant vices of Rome against the credit of all Christian profession I Come next to speake of that which I did obserue touching Indulgence and dispensation wherein I neede not to be tedious and longsome the case being so notorious onely summarily and truely relate to your Lordship of things which I did see three or foure that did most specially offend me There can be no more said concerning this abuse now adayes then our fore beeres haue said many yeares agoe Omnia venalia Rome and certainly no lesse if we should speake vprightly That is to say Rome is a common staple of Pardons for all the sinnes and crymes that can be committed and those sold at so high a rate which is the reason why one should thinke the Camera de Componendis within Saint Peter Palace one of the richest houses in Christendome This mooued a fine iest in a certaine German who hauing some dispensation to purchase at Rome which he look't to haue granted to him gratis but finding an ordinance on the backe of it for paiment of one hundred Ducats tooke a penne and blotted out the date wherein was said Datum Romae putting in the place of it Emptū Romae swearing that because they had liberty of Conscience in Germanie that he would rather take it vpon his libertie then buy it so dearely I did see their diuers Monasteries or Conuentuall houses of religious persons wherein liue great numbers which houses bee no way endued with rents nor prouided but only referred to voluntary charitie for helpe whereof the Pope doth grant them some priuiledged Altars with extraordinary Indulgences and a peculiar Festiuall day vpon the which thither the whole people resorteth but chiefely profligat and debaushed persons as Whoores Bawdes idle Rascalls Charlatanes Coosoners who for the offer of some grosse almes bring back with them so many Pardons of sinnes so many soule Masses by redemption from Purgatory induring which time of the Visitation of this Altar the people entring at one dore and issuing out at an other all the day long without intermission there is no other voyce to be heard at the first port but calling out aloud Fate vnabellissima diuotione Make Sirs a braue deuotion by the which is meant to giue a sat Offering Conferring this voyce with that which is to bee heard in their Camera de componendis it resembleth in my eares that cry of the two Daughters of the Horse-leech mentioned in the Prouerbs of Solomon Duae sunt sanquisugae filiae quae semper clamant affer affer all which deuotion consisteth in the multitude of those who bought the Pardons being so vnder the name of Religious exercise a Trade of abominable impietie for while I was curious to aske the Priests of those Altars vpon the importance of their priuiledges I did receiue no other answere but what was once graunted by the Pope was absolutely good and effectuall for all Againe I saw this which fell foorth during my being there The Duke of Neuers came there in great and glorious state extraordinar Ambassador from the French King to the Pope who according to the custome of that Seat with such personages did graunt him Indulgences very large and bountifull that one would haue thought the ports of hell was not able to preuaile against them and when the Dukes Medalls and Beads came to be blessed vpon the Popes Altar according to the forme there was no famous Whore in Rome who had not also numbers put in for her saying which I haue heard with mine eares The French Indulgences should procure them both English and Spanish money This kinde of Marchandise and publike sale of sinnes is vsed in so lewd and vile a manner that the most simple man in the world would count it to bee a scuruie ridiculous inuention of insatiable auarice During my being at Rome there hapned to dye there a rich Venetian Merchant who left in Legacy a good summe of money to that Church standing vpon the Monte di Trinita for celebration of his Funeralls and seruices for his soule the same day which was appointed for those Funerall Offices I did finde my selfe soone in the morning vpon that Mount because it is a fresh and delectable walke when a number of Fryers with great Torches comming to enter into the Church was demanded of a Gentleman of Rome who was beside me whither they did goe to whom one of them did answere Andiamo cauare del purgatorio Lánima di quel mercadante Venetiano chimorse láltro iorno which is to say translated sincerely we go to hale out of Purgatory the soule of that Venecian Merchant who died the last day The Gentlemā replied in bitter speech against the Pope calling him Cuillione Morbidotto which be ignominious contēptible words because saith hee hee doth not keepe in Purgatory to the worlds end all those wretched soules of Venice who doe so disturbe the Apostolike Seat for it was in the meane time of those late broyles betwixt the Pope and the Venetians Can any iest in the world be more worthy of derision then this or any thing more like the pittifull Idolatry of the Gentiles where the Priests made the sensles people to thinke there was no way to make their gods propitious but by their rich Offerings This sort of doing is so frequent there that we see no other businesse and if it be true which they hold Quel che fa sua santita è fatto that which the Popes Holinesse doth is done certaine all those of those Countries must bee in heauen before their feete be cold as wee say because the most wicked and godlesse among them neuer departe◠this life but laden with Pardons And this farre I thinke is enough to prooue that the abuse is not onely authorised but as it were married with Religion seeing vpon the meanes thereof they doe found Cloystrall societies And this onely speaking de facto for to reason Quo iure these are practised it is Theologicall alwaies the most learned among them haue said to me touching the Popes power Il nostro signore è dio soptala terra Our Lord the Pope he is God vpon earth hee
when you go on thus If God when Heretikes blaspheme his mother c. If you vnderstand Sir that the Reformed Churches doe approue any to blaspheme the euer-blessed Virgin Marie the mother of our Lord Iesus your calumniation is most impudent for my part I know none such should I know them I would execâ—ate their communion and to confesse ingenuously the inward of my Soule I little regard any of The most holy Mother of Christ alwaies to be blessed by vs and all Generations those fonde Disciplinarians who speake coldly of her or of her due blessed praises Sir you may vnderstand that the Orthodoxe of the Church of England doe with honourable remembrance make mention of her in their publike assemblies as desirous to be accounted children of those generations which according to her owne glorious prophecie were to call her Blessed We adore Luc. 1. 48. Epiph. heres 79. contra Collirid only to speake with ancient Epiphanius the Father Son and Holy Ghost est tamen in honore apud nos Maria Notwithstanding Mary is in honour with vs. We are not ignorant that it is maximum scelus honorè Creatoris impendere Creaturae the greatest wickednesse to giue the honour of the Creatour to the Creature wee therefore dare not adore her with diuine worship neither dare wee associate her as a secondarie Mediatrisse with her sonne in the worke of our redemption but wee place and honour her as amongst the redeemed ones amongst them and aboue all them calling her blessed for those great things which the Lord respecting her lowlinesse or humilitie hath done vnto her and for this both the lippes and heart of my house shall euer call her blessed But if you make vs to blaspheme the mother of Christ because we permit yea allow yea in some cases command the wooden Images or statues of her which you set vp and abominably adore to be defaced and remoued we cannot but maruell at your impudency Do not you rather blaspheme who after the corporall assumption of her beleeued in your Church doe yet Iuno or Pallas-like furnish her with many wodden noses vpon earth and those so furious ones as she doth strike out and off both tongues and noses of those who dare but play with them What is blasphemie if this bee not What is religion if our defacing of such idolatrous puppets be not Sir wee deny not but that the blessed Virgin Maries pictures may according to the truth of historie bee drawne and kept with a ciuill due respect and vse but such as are adored by you we reiect as Idolls and wee deface them as being subiects whereon the mightie maiestie of God is blasphemed and the reuerence of his mother dishonored Durst your Adrian Pope command that your sacrament-god Adrian quodlibet 3. pag. 63. should be rather cast into the priuie then suffered to fall into the hands of Heretikes who would abuse the God why then may not lawfull authoritie command such Statues or Images to bee defaced or remooued by which the infinite maiestie of God is blasphemed and the reuerence of his blessed mother dishonored You sir that are so grand a Theologue and dare grauely in writing cal the wooden noses of Schem Hall c. the noses of the euer blessea Virgin looke you to your blasphemie for what you speake so grauely your blinde Obedients beleeue grossely to wit that the euer blessed Virgin Monster-like hath many noses one at Sichem another at Hall c. but leauing you to the meditation and adoration of them for your paynes in this your discourse we will leaue you the nose of Iohn Swickius Risselman his tongue if you can tell where they are as fit to make reâ—ikes of as many which you worshippe and adore But if Swickius had his nose whift off and Risselman his tongue stroke out what else may we therein obserue but first Gods iust iudgement in suffering you to be deluded by some miracles and signes of the beast Secondly to haue the faith of his seruants to be tried and also I fit M. Floods tale with mother out of Spec. verbo Imago ex 7 when two Souldiers were strangly punished for casting a none at an Image and striking of Christs arme at which blowe bloud emaned and the virgins picture puld it selfe in peeces and rent her stony garments for horrour of the fact Vinc. Bellnac lib. 7. cap. 110. Motiues pag 79 Gregor 3. lib. ep 30. such wicked laddes as you describe those to haue beene to haue their iust guerdon and reward not so much for their blasphemie as for their other sinnes And yet for my part I cannot but thinke that those lewd Souldiers did exceede in their sacrilegious insultations as being perhaps induâ—d with some disciplinarian Spirit euen against the Person of the blessed virgin her selfe Howsoeuer it happened it maketh nothing for you against vs we do not allow any so to doe in your Churches and kingdomes where such idolatrie by authority is allowed and commanded But shew vs M. Flood where any one of our Churche remouing defacing your Idol's by the command of authoritie hath susteined any hurt so much as a fingers ach but I put you in minde in my Motiues how it fared with some of your Worke-men at Dowâ—y who being appointed to trimme vp and remoue a ceâ—taine Statue c. were very strangely smit from heauen tormenta paucorum exempla sint omnium Yea ancient Gregorie relateth how prodigiouslie some were punished with death who being by papall authoritie commanded digged vp bones of Saints which slept in rest that they might be worshipped with your superstitious manner of translation and adoring M. Flood pag. 149. num 31. Our Aduersaries themselues namely M. Chrashaw t t Iesuits Ghospell doe confesse that such is the Athcisme and prophanesse of men that neuer since the planting of the Gospell miracles were more needfull might they be expected Why may they not be expected if they bee so needefull Is Gods power or his loue lesse to mankinde since Luthers preaching If his prouidence neuer faileth his children in so weightie affaire as marriage as the same M. Crashaw u u Life of Galeacius cap. 21. saith why should they thinke the same defectine in working miracles so necessary to maintaine his religion against prophanesse why should God be bound vnder paine of being thought Antichrist not to worke miracles ANSWER What M. Crashaw may write in this particular wee cannot but approue seeing that it is agreeing to that propheticall saying of our Sauiour speaking of the later times which are these That charitie should waxe cold iniquitie Math. 24. 12. Luc. 18. 8. abound and faith should be so scarse that the Sonne of man comming should hardly find any vpon earth Whereout although human reason would inferre as you do concerning miracles yet seeing it hath not pleased his infinite Wisedome so to determine we wretched wormes who are not of his Councell dare not
the same Thus this famous Prelectour by which it is euident that howsoeuer the Spanish and Papall Emperour haue drawne them into their subiection they haue not done the same by the power of miracles and integritie of life but only by dint of sword which did so immanely and barbarouslie make hauocke of them to the destruction of some millions of them that no tongue is able to expresse the immanitie of their doings I doe here professe ingenuouslie that whilest I liued a Romanist reading the outragious cruelties which those most barbarous Spaniards did then and there commit against those wretches I could not containe from teares hauing these or like considerations offering themselues to my minde Doth it not appertaine to the iust iudgement of God to auenge such immane cruelties haue not Christian Princes iust occasion to wage warre against that Nation for making such hauocke of mankinde euen against the law of nature her selfe Can these men be endewed with the spirit of God who thus tyrannize like Furies of hell Are these the speciall deuoutes of the Masse Are these the cheife pillours of transsubstantiation do these challenge the defence of the same to be their peculiar glorieâ— thus then And be it so let thein glory in their impieties let immanitie impietie idolatrie and treacherie runne thus euer handy pandie together vnder a brauing robe But let great Britaine be thankefull yea euer thankfull to the great God of heauen who in 88. deliuered her from the like immanitie as the Barbarians suffered which their then imperious Commaunder the Duke of Medina threatned against her it is well knowne that he intended a totall and vtter subuersion of all what they doe now proiect and aime at I cannot say yet I will be so bold out of my tender loue to my Countrey to write what I haue heard some of them beforehand purposing and consulting to proiect in these our halcyonian times of peace and prosperitie It were meere stupidity once to thinke that the Pope and his Confederates doe not incessantly expect an occasion for the subuersion of this Kingdome which I do the rather because I doubt not but that our enemies doe desire nothing more then that we should sleepe in securitie the which by this one instance may appeare when of late by iust command there was a generall reuewing and refurnishing of armour in this Kingdome and trayning of men how did the bristles of some corrouce and grow testie Ex subitaneis cognostitur habitus A habitods knowne by suddaine actions but now I will to what I obserued in my trauailes Wheresoeuer and whensoeuer I heard as I haue done often some no small ones of those Countries and of those Courts debate vpon eightie eights ouerthrow they euer resolued that Elizabeth liuing so they termed that renowned Queenes raigne there was no such like attempt to be made but shee being dead then if varietie of Competitours which they hoped for did bring confusion it would be good fishing otherwise if their follow a Successour peaceably to the Crowne as by the gracious prouidence of God hapned in our present most dread Soueraigne to their feared confusion and our vnspeakeable comfort then they resolued that all meanes possible were to be vsed that Peace whereof they stood The mysteric of the Pope and his confederates against this kingdome in great neede a Renowned Queene hauing brought them vpon their knees might be concluded which being made men by the secret endeuours of Priests and Religious who might be sent hither with more securitie then before we must draw said they if not wholly yet at least to be our indirect fauourers and friends some of the Commanders and those who cannot bee wonne by pretence of Religion must be purchased by gifts and large promises But aboue all we must labour to shake hands with some of those to whom the care of the Nauie the Portes and Sea coasts is committed that if any such like attempt hereafter be thought vpon by the Pope or his Catholike Maiestie we may finde some fauourites till this be done said they it is in vaine to thinke of Englands conversion so they termed her intended conquest and subuersion Thus and in like sort they then proiected which my sterie of iniquitie whether it be now on foore or not I cannot say Loue causes ielousie and where fraude hath euer been found treacherie may be suspected I cannot say that Carrochings and Feastings entercoursings and complyings fauourings and giuings haue any such intent but Danai metuendi etiam dona ferentes I will not say there are gifts or giuers but if there be ex vno disce omnes by one learne all When I was prisoner in Newgate for profession of Poperie the then Seniour Deu Pedro sent vnto the prison a pretty nay a pettie diuident of fiue pounds to be deliuered It is more then to be feared that gifts may ballance and turne English Needels from the North pole to the South c. among the Priests that were there it was sent by one Richard Pilson an Englishman and one of the Presidiarie Souldiers of Dunkerke a man familiarly knowne to me in former times at the same place This man not knowing that I had taken the oath of Allegeance told me that his Lords pleasure was that if any Priest there had taken the Oath of Allegeance hee was to haue no part thereof which afterwards I found to be true for diuision was made and I not minded The Diuisioner which was Freeman the Ignatian and the other Priests thought that I knew nothing of the grand Present but afterwards vnderstanding that I knew both of the money and of the circumstances wherewith it was to be diuided they fearing lest I would make the partialitie knowne to the State gaue me a part and also caused Pilson to denie what hee had before ingenuously told me Thus much I write by the way by which we may inferre at what and at whom they doe or would Highly to bee commended is that honorable Person who of late refused a Ievvell of great value ayme in their gifts and what they doe proiect by them Munera magna dabit fallat fallax vt in hamo Et piscatorem piscis amare potest Concerning the miracles which your Indian letters mention of which you specially intend as I gather by your marginall note I answer that your Ignatians haue been so bold of late yeeres to write at home so many fonde and fabulous things of their Holy Father that they deserue no credit for such narrations as they fetch from so farre of Againe you who of late haue so gloriously boasted of your miraculous childe whereof I my selfe being amongst you could learne no certaintie You againe who haue most impudently endeuoured to gull so iudicious and learned a Nation as this is with a stramineous miraculous face of the chiefe Powder-plot Artchitect Garnet You who haue obtruded vnto vs so See my second addition in the
life is in perfection surpassing matrimoniall state is vaine for wee are not to consider celibacie and single life matrimoniall state as they are in speculation but as they are in action practise and vse and so considered cleare it is that celibacy or single life is not to be preferred before matrimoniall state in him or her who haue not the gift of continencie nay rather in them it is wicked and damnable though laudable and highly to be commended in those who haue the gift So that the perfection of either of these two states of life is from the minde according to that of most learned Nazianzene Mens est c. It is the mind which giueth Greg. Naz. in Epitaph Sor. Gorgonia perfection either to marriage or to virginitie And so to conclude this point celibacy or single life with continuall burning is a damnable state marriage with continency is holy and honourable in all And so it resteth proued concerning the first point the other part I remit to some other occasion of these false-prophets doctrine that euery circumstance and part thereof is very aptly and punctually applied to the Papists and their Popes wherby it also followeth that if they doe miracles for confirmation of the said points that the same are lying mendacious Antichristian which is the proposition I haue endeauored in all this treatise to proue and declare and haue by Gods Grace brought to this issue that in the question I haue satisfied my owne iudgement and conscience and I doe most heartily pray that the same may tend to the profit and good of Gods Church and to the confusion of her Enemies which are more wise in their generation then the children of light are in their kinde CHAP. XVI An Appendix touching the vanity of certaine Popish miraculous visions which are usually brought by Papists for defence of their Religion but being examined are found to be against the same IT is an old and a true saying he shall neede a long spoone who must eate with the Deuill and therfore to greate purpose the Apostle calleth his workings and practises with men Astutias crafts subtelties deceits the 2. Cor. 2. 11. which will more easily appeare if wee doe but obserue what manner of men he hath deceiued and in what sort he hath deceiued them to wit by Fables of visions fictions of miracles and strange prodigies of which their itching eares haue beene ouercredulous listening and longing after them euen with a kinde of greedinesse Secondly if we consider in what time to wit when the vigilancie of the Pastours beganne to slacke and they began to slumber then the Deuill began to sow his cockell and Math. 13. 25. darnell where good wheate had beene sowed before euen in the Lords fielde where hee himselfe had cast his seede before And lest the Pontificians should be thought now of late onely to haue entered into these kindes of courses I will hauing alreadie spoken sufficiently of miracles take paines in this place as in an Appendix to shew in a few examples how their Progenitours haue endeuoured to drawe Ancient and venerable men into these Iusts and to impose Fables of visions vpon them thereby the more to countenance the bad cause which they haue vndertaken to maintaine First I will beginne with a Fable which is somewhat corruptly cited out of venerable Bede and is produced for proofe of their Purgatory flashes but the Christian Reader will vpon the scanning of it finde it to bee but a fiction yea and the Pontificians themselues must so account thereof vnlesse they will go contrary to their owne religion I will not afford to set downe with all those solemne words with which Costerus that famous Ignatian doth cite out of Bede in substance it is thus One Drietelmus Coster dominica 5. post pentec Bed lib. 5. histo Aug. cap. 13. Coster hath the very like history dom 3. post pasca out of Boniface Arch. mogunt ep ad Cadelburg a married man sodenly falleth vpon an euening into a traunce dyed in the euening and was reuiued in the morning saith Coster who told afterwards strange things to the standers by Hee saith that at first he was carried by a beautifull Angell towards the East where hee first seeth a place full of many soules one while tormented with extreame cold another while plunged into most accensed and kindled fire thence hee is carried a little further where hee obserueth many firy bals arising out of a horrible depth which balls hee interpreted to be soules tormented by the diuels in hell fire and whilest hee was beholding these horrors with great astonishment his good Angell leaueth him in whose absence he obserueth the diuils to laugh I neuer reade in true diuinity that Diuels had leasure in their torments to laugh but of such stuffe their Legends are full and to cast soules vp and downe like wilde-fire bals they approached also vnto him but durst not touch him Then presently like a resplendent starre appeareth vnto him his good Angell and carrying him further into the East sheweth vnto him a place glorious for light pleasant for flowers in which were diuers soules full of ioy and walking in white garments Secondly he sheweth vnto him a place of greater ioy and happinesse in comparison of which the former seemed but as a sparke Now Drietelmus hauing seene all that he was to see and being to returne againe to his body and to relate vnto others what hee had seene the Angell expoundeth vnto him his vision which is thus the first place is purgatory where all those are punished which haue not fully satisfied O vanity of vanities who can euer fully satisfie Gods iustice though in Purgatory for their sinnes and these shall be all saued at the day of iudgement The second place is hell out of which no man the deliuery of Traianes soule by Gregory was not yet heard of by Bede can euer be deliuered which is once cast into it In the third place here I will vse Costers words onely Full of sweet flowers are receiued those soules who haue liued here well and godly and are not of this perfection that Coster ibidem they may presently goe vp into the highest heauen al which also at length after the last iudgement had by God shall come to eternall glory but those who are perfect in all there wordes thoughts and workes and who are those holie Coster are there any of your Ignatians such they presently shall be admitted to that most glorious state of the blessed so soone as their soule goeth out of their body and this is the place which thou sawest a farre off doe thou now goe and take thy body and be carefull how thou carriest thy selfe for heereafter Thus farre profound Costerus out of Bede who if he had beene more circumspect hee would not haue inserted as he doth many like into his dunsticall Homilies for most part stolen out of others this vision so
intercession for it there would haue been no hope of mercie but the king was as Briget deliuereth Christs commandement to Ibidem gather together wise and spirituall men such as had his spirit and with them to consult how the wall of his Church might be reedified this diuine vision I relate that the Pontificians may remember that the reformation of the Church belongeth to the temporall Magistrate hauing wise and spirituall men not onely their Nothing more execrable in the sight of God nothing more pernitious to religion then imposition of handes vpon the vnworthy Lib. 4. Reuelat. cap. 140. 141. 142. 143. Bishops associated and ioyned in Councell with him Great is the charge of Kings to doe this and great and immense is their danger if they neglect it who in nothing can neglect it more then if they suffer liuings or imposition of handes to bee laid vpon the vnworthy And may wee not thinke that such a reformation would haue beene acceptable to Christ if performed vpon Gregory the eleuenth against whom Christ reuealed so many dreadfull threatnings to Briget So iustly may we not think that a reformation would now becom the Romane Synagogue when not onely the Personall sinnes of Popes and Cardinalls are become most abominable but the very state office and function of that See and yet it is not at the highest vntill shee shall by decree of her Councell haue obtained absolute direct Monarchie in all temporalls and spiritualls is become most execrable so that ratione officij by the reason of their office and Papacy all Popes are become children of perdition and destruction not onely because destroying others but also because by reason of their office they are as men destroyed themselues And here to salute Paul the 5. by the way was there euer any time in which that See was in worse condition no surely neuer worse in respect of pride which now is so great and intollerable in that See that Paul the fifth is not content with all other Popes at their first entrance to make vnto himselfe a new triple and monarchicall crowne but hee further suffereth and permitteth his Nephew Cardinalls and other his kinred to haue engrauen in their vessells of siluer and gold this too too ambicious poesie Eternitati Burghesianae dicatum Dedicated to the Burghesian Eternitie Hee can also bee content to haue his papall power called the Pontificious omnipotency and himselfe a most seuere Challenger and Pursuer of the same yea a Vicedeus Vice-god Neuer worse in respect of couetousnesse with which virtue this most holy one of Rome is so ouertaken that hee is thought not to come behinde Sixtus the 5. nor Iohn the 22. for his auarice Neuer worse in respect of those worst sinnes which crie for vengeance from heauen at which this holy Father can greatly and manifouldly winke in his purpured Cardinalls witnesse that late accident when no lesse then 15. boyes the purpured brethrens Ganymedes were discouered whereof two were burnt the rest escaped but the purpured Incubyes were neuer called in question Neuer worse in respect of corrupt affection to his carnall kinred whereof hee hath aboue the wont of carnall Popes cardanalized diuers to the boulstering vp of the Burghesian faction and eternitie Neuer worse in respect of presumption of spirit witnesse that his bold attempt against the Venetians which in the end turned to his confusion witnesse that his imperious command and headlong censure without any instruction at all against the oath of Allegiance which if it were to the full looked into might greatly weaken his power in this Kingdome otherwise it will infallibly increase it to the ruine of this Church Neuer worse in respect of bloody attempts against Christian Princes witnesse that neuer to be forgotten neuer to be sufficiently deplored and detested powder-treason which notwithstanding beyond the seas I haue heard called and approued as a Romane zeale zeale of holy mother the Church of his speciall Minions and dearest manciples with more then hellish fury attempting the same to the vtter ruine of this Kingdome And yet notwithstanding all these Papall ornaments of such detestable vices he forsooth and he onely must bee the Vicar of Christ he onely a Vicegod he only an vnerrable Iudge in all controuersies of faith and religion But who â—â—n doubt but that hee is in the same esteeme before heauens consistorie as Annas and Caiphas were after they had reiected and crucified Christ as Innocent the 4. was concerning whom Mathew of Paris writeth a very Par. in Henrico 3. strange vision worthy of the holy Fathers noting made vnto a certaine Cardinall whose name that Authour of purpose concealed In effect it was thus that Innocent the fourth was presented before the seate of Gods maiesty and was there accused by a glorious woman who carried the forme of a temple in her hand vpon which this word CHVRCH was written and when Innocent cast himselfe downe prostrate to begge mercy the Matrone more instantly vrged against him and accused him of three things Prime cum in terris c. First Two prodigious visions whereas God had founded his Church free vpon earth hee had made her a handmaide Secondly the Church was founded to be a saluation for sinners but this man hath made it a Sanctuarie for Bankers Thirdly the Church was founded in firmnesse of Faith Iustice and Truth but this man hath made Faith and Manners to decay hath taken away Iustice and darkened Truth Giue mee therefore saith the Matrone iust iudgement against him To which things when Innocent was not able to reply he was taken away whose end of what sort afterwardes it was his desperate life may speake But more clearely it appeareth in the Vision of the Bishop of Lincolne who summoned him to iudgement concerning which Ralph of Chester writeth that the very night in which Innocent died there was heard a voice in the Popes Court summoning him thus Veni Miser ad iudicium Dei Come thou Miser to the iudgement of God and most fitly did the name Miser agree vnto him who to his seruants and fauourites being round about him and deploring his death spake thus Why weepe you you wretches and misers doe I not leaue you all riche â—hat else doe you desire or require and so breathed out his corrupt soule This vision sheweth how tyrannicallie Popes haue oppressed the Temple of God in which they sit exalting themselues but doubtlesse the patience of God will at last strike home and then how great the blow shall be against them let vs heare their Briget rather then the Prophet and Euangelist declaring the same Roma est quasi ager c. Rome saith Christ â— as a field ouergrowne with cockle and darnell therefore it must first be Lib 4. Reuelat. cap. 57. purged with a sharpe yron then clensed with fire and afterwards ploughed with a yoke of oxen therefore I will deale with it as he doth who remoueth plants how then is Rome
of Theatines which was then arising in Naples and so the good Ignatians nose was wyped of his golde and the poore Theatines their Antagonists very well contented therewith Some such other forfeitures vpon their aduentures might be deliuered they aduenture so much that it is no maruell if they often loose their aduentures Their aduentures in this kinde are very frequent and great as England Genoua Rome Venice Flanders very well knowe But leauing them to their gainefull trade I will returne to the Vision which me thinkes clearely checketh the horrible abuses of the Pontifician Bishops in the reseruations of their cases their metaphysicall defences of these their dealings this place serueth not to handle onely agreeing to the instruction of this Vision there haue not as yet risen vp amongst them any zelous reprouers and reprehenders of these Pontifician abuses and therefore those two spots which our Sauiour so greatly condemned remaine still in their Church to the destruction Dist 40. Cap. Si Papa and perishing of many soules but of this no maruaile for it is agreeing to their Canon Si Papa If the Pope should lead innumerable soules to hell yet no man may iudge his fact nor condemne his proceedings which yet was not obserued by the Prelates of the French church in the time of King Hugh when as at a Synode gathered Sinod Rhem. sub Hugone at Rhemes they did by the mouth of their famous eloquent and learned speaker Arnulphus condemne the Pope in diuers things and resolutely determine that the Pope himselfe if hee would not heare the Church might be reputed as an Ethnike and Publicane Daies and yeeres would faile me if I should stand to recount all visions which might be produced against themselues out of their owne Authors I haue heard some learned wish that a masse of their visions might be published together to the reprouing of their folly and reducement of many to the Church of God I concurre in part only in iudgement with such For I thinke that such a course might perhaps be profitable with the iudicious and intelligent Papists if they would take this as a principle with them that that Religion cannot be of God which needeth to be supported and borne vp with lyes and fictions which are of such a dangerous consequence in matters of religion that as a holy Father hath said If but one lye only could be found in the holy Scriptures it would be sufficient to discredit the whole But as for their superstitious Idiots who are delighted with nothing more then such vanities I suppose by tryed experience that little fruit would be gathered thereby Such a worke to publish such a masse of fooleries would be exceeding laborious to the Authour all which may well be supplied if painefull and zelous Ministers would with discretion and choice eftsoones publish some of their fooleries in Pulpit I said with choice and discretion because I would wish that such things should be cited out of their owne Authours who are full fraught therewith and not taken out of such trifling Pamphlets as Plutoes trauailes and such like I heartily wish that such Preachers at least Doctors who liue amongst Popish or Semipopish people would be more careful what imputations they lay against them They are exceedingly scandalized when any lyes or such doctrine as they teach not is imputed to them A famous Predicant of a Funerall erred egregiously in this kinde within this yeere c. I was ashamed to heare him c. And here I cannot by the way but maruaile with what wisdome any man dare presume to licence vnder the shadow of Maiestie such stuffe which although in part true yet for substance is vaine But let the courteous and christian Reader be perswaded that we neede not to deuise any thing in this kinde against our Aduersaries their workes are so replenished with such fooleries against their owne principles of Religion that a scholler shall finde it a harder matter to relate them all then to confute them the first being impossible the second most facill and easie And here concluding I giue the Reader to vnderstand that although lying signes wonders and prodigies in sholes and multitudes are signes and markes of Antichristianisme especially in these later timer neuertheles the mighty hand of God doth neuer so forsake his Church to leaue altogether the rodds of sinners vpon the shoulders of his seruants but that sometimes hee doth with miraculous deliuerances assist them but this he doth apparantly openly clearely euen in the sights and to the confusion of their Aduersaries whenas all their miracles prodigies wonders are secret hidden from a farre of by heare-say For how else but by the mightie hand of God was the Church of Bohemia protected and defended in the time of King Sigismund and Pope Martin who laboured and proiected by the vtmost of their powers the ruine of that Christian flocke For my part I dare compare those holy warres of those Christians with those of the Machabies yea if we had them fully and perfectly recounted vnto vs wee should finde them to equallize if not to excell their victories what can we thinke but that the right hand of God did powerfully ayde them when their Iudas Machabeus renowned Iohannes Trosnoue surnamed Zisca did eleuen seuerall times notwithstanding their huge forces foyle and ouerthrow them Was it done by meanes of humane strength no no our Aduersaries will tell vs the contrarie And to particularize in some doth not Pope Aeneas Syluius cap. 48. Pius the 2. in his Historie of Bohemia tell vs that when a threefold potent Armie was gathered against these poore Christians a very handfull of souldiers one out of all Saxonie and the Territories thereunto adioyning the second out of rich and warlike Franconia the third out of Bauyre Sueuia and the Prouinces of the Rheyne with valiant Captaines appointed ouer them did in three seuerall parts with all violence assault those poore Christians intending their vtter ruine doth not I say Pope Pius the second tell vs that presently vpon the sight of the Christians without doubt Gods terrour being in them they did flee before them yea saith Pius non visum hostem fugerunt before they saw the enemy they fled and flew so hard that they ceased not to flee vntill the Christians ceased to pursue them by occasion whereof their bag and baggage was left to the Christians and an happie occasion also giuen them to make spoile of many popish towns to impose tributes vpon them Thus in effect Pope Pius who yet relateth vnto vs a more potent deliuerance of those Christians for when vpon such a shamefull ouerthrow the Papists were ashamed the Pope and Emperour together gathered another greater the greatnesse whereof you may inferre because it had foure thousand horse in it army and then againe therewith assaulted them but Iulian the Cardinall who was generall for the Pope ouer the whole Army had no sooner entred into the limits of those
Christians but presently totis castris trepidatum est priusquā hostis vllus in conspectu daretur faeda fuga coepta There fell a dread and trembling ouer the whole Campe and before any enemy was to be seene a filthy flight was begunne Who did this but the Lord of hostes like as of old he did in the Campes of the Madianites and Amalakites in the behalfe Iud. 7. of his people And this flight notwithstanding all that the Cardinall could doe gaue great spoile and left infinite riches to the oppressed Christians and so ill was there successe against that people of God that cessatum est à bellis there was a cessation of warre and by Popish cunning they did afterwards seeke to subuert them That these things which I haue written bee true touching these Christians deliuerances inimici nostri sune iudices Our very enemies are Iudges and witnesses And may wee not admire the like prouidence of God towards the Christians in Fraunce especially at Rochel when God in his sweete prouidence caused the Sea to yeeld vnto them vpon their shores like as he did Manna in the desert abundance of fish when as through extreame want they were wel nigh the point to haue surrendered who else but GOD hath discouered and brought to light diuerse desperate attempts against our late Soueraigne of happy memory whose finger else but Gods did confront against the Spanish ostentation and Romes curses in 88. Whose prouident arme else but Gods did bring to naught the powder-vndermining which was carried so warily and charily sealed with so many Sacramentall oathes and protestations that had not God reuealed it England had beene blowne vp in her ruines But why doe I stand to recount these miraculous deliuerances of God what to make them necessary arguments of the truth of our holy religion No no but to confront against the Aduersaries and to shew vnto them that our deliuerances haue beene mighty and publike euen in the sight of the enemy but their miracles are alwaies in huggermugger brought from farre off and beleeued by heare say There he other more infallible markes of true religion propounded in sacred Scripture the which I dare constantly challenge as more specially to be found amongst the reformed Churches then amongst the Popish as first a great token of a true Church it is to haue in it those who with great zeale and sinceritie are desirous to heare the word of God according to that of Christ Oues meae vocem meam audiunt My sheape heare Iohn 10. my voyce Christ saith not my sheepe haue heard or shall heare my voyce but thus in the present tence My sheepe heare my voyce denoting thereby vnto vs that to heare the word of God ought to bee the daily and neuer intermitted worke of Christians in which how farre the Popish congregations are surpassed by the Christian Churches no man can so well tell as hee who hath been amongst both for my part I must needs confesse that the zeale of Christians heerein is incomparably more then the deuotion of Papists Againe in this saith Christ all men shall know that you are Iohn 13. 35. See Delrius his Pref. in Mag. disquisit discoursing vpon the hate their order findeth my Disciples if you loue one another How well this precept is obserued amongst the Pontificians the must bitter oppositions betwixt Scotists and Thomists the enormous emulations and most horrible detractions in the Court of Rome betwixt Popes and Cardinalls the neuer ceasing calumnious contentions betwixt Friars white and blacke betwixt Monkes white and blacke betwixt all Monkes Friars and the Ignatians betwixt Ignatians and the Seculars doe cleerely euince and demonstrate God is my witnesse that I speake out of my conscience what I haue obserued as for mutuall loue and charity there are more signes to bee found in the Protestants of the reformed Churches when I name Protestants I meane the Zelous-ones not Semi-popish-ones not Semi-Atheists then can be shewed amongst the Papists Againe patience and meekenesse if sincere vnfained is an admirable signe of true Christian religion Now let all the Pontificians Ignatians lay their heads together and giue me one instance of such Christian patience practised in their Churches as I will shew practised by this Church State and Kingdome of England I meane that incomparable patience meekenesse and spirit of compassion by which the Papists were tolerated to breathe in this Kingdome vpon discouery of the Powder-treason Had the like attempt beene acted in any of the Popish dominions fire and reuengeful sword would haue massacred not onely the Actors and Abbettours but euen all those who by suspicion might haue beene thought to haue had any knowledge consent or approuance of the same And herein I dare speake what I know that many Papists though otherwise I dare say for them innocent in the fact did thereupon expect vtter ruine to themselues and their religion yea did not the Arch Traitour Garnet himselfe presage so much to his order if the plot should happen to bee discouered Therefore let it stand proued that the Church of England is guided and directed by the Spirit of God which could in such a sodaine shew it selfe so mercifull and meeke against such who with sangnefreddo cold bloud as the Italian phrase is would make bon-fires with vs if wee were in their powers and yet notwithstanding great-fauourers and receiuers of Ignatians there are where the Foxes lye and lodge who would haue laughed if Westminster had beene ouerturned and who as yet shadowed vnder pufft wings tiffiny and fardingals doe as may be doubted plot some like enterprises to the ruine of this Church and Kingdome but beware of securitie O yee Christian Brittans beware of securitie Again humility is laid as a ground-work for Christian religion to be built vpon by which humility and pouertie of spirit not outward base garments coules weedes girdles in not sparing of the flesh to vse the Apostles phrase is to be vnderstood now this pouertie of spirit Coloss 2. 23. must be especially regarded towards God whereof the Papists are so depriued that their very doctrine in one respect leadeth them to that pride and presumption of spirit which Christ detested in the Pharisee Let all their Catechismes be searched and they will define vnto you that the sinne of presumption is when a man looketh for saluation without merits their owne merits they meane by which doctrine it is as cleere as noone dayes that in respect of saluation their Popish may and ought to hope for the same partly by their owne merits and what is this else but a kind of presumption euen to iustle with God and with him to remember their merits But the reformed Churches are so farre from leading a man into this presumption of his owne merits that I may say it and truely saie it that it is as it were the summe of our holy Christian and Catholike doctrine to bring a man to a perfect