161 3. In Respect of the Popes Court 162 4. Again of the great and scandalous Incontinency of the Roman Clergy by reason of their single Life 163 Chap. 35. In what regard the name of Catholicks is given to the Members of the Church of Rome by some of the Reformed 165 Chap. 36. God from Time to time hath raised Godly Men that have cried against the Errors of the Roman Church and have Discovered them 166 Chap. 37. Concerning the Greek Church with the following Exercitations 1. The Greek Church could never yet be brought to joyn Her self to the Church of Rome and it is as opposite to Her as ever the Reformed Church was 167 § The Turks are beholding to none more then to the Pope for their possession of Greece and of the Eastern Empire which hath caufed the Miserable slavery of the Greek Churches 168 § Thereupon a most humble Address to the Christian Princes and States 169. n. 2 Chap. 38. Concerning the Waldenses See of them briefly Page 179. Art 5. SECT 3. Chap. 1. Of the Reformation of the Church in general with a full Thesis 169 Chap. 2. Of the last Reformation in particular made by Luther Zuinglius Bucer Calvin c. Chap. 3. Of the Reformed Church and Religion with this Exercitation 1. Which Churches and Assemblies are comprehended properly under the Appellation of Reformed Churches Affirmatively and Negatively 173 Not those of the Socinians and Anabaptists 173 Chap. 4. Concerning the First Reformers of the said Reformed Churches with the Exercitations 1. What esteem the Reformed make of the said Reformers and how far it doth extend 171 Again of the same Matter in three several Exercitations The 1. is page 180 The 2. is page 181 The 3. is page 183 2. Concerning the Contention between Luther and Zuinglius about the Sacrament of the Lords Supper 183 3. Luther retained his Error concerning Consubstantiation of his old Leaven wherewith in time of Papistry his Judgment was corrupted 182 4. Refutation of this shift of the Jesuites that because Luther was in that Error â—â—erefore 〈◊〉 Refutation of their Opinions and Doctrinâ—â— is not â—â—â—siderable 〈…〉 Chap. 5. Concerning the Reformed Churches themselves 1. Conjoyntly 2. Separately Chap. 6. Of the Reformed Churches Conjoyntly with the following subordinate Heads Head 1. The Reformed Churches have had just Causes to separate themselves from the Church of Rome 198 2. And therefore they are not Schismatical 198 § It is not a sound Argument of the Jesuites to Convince the Reformed of Schisme That they have separated themselves from the Communion of the Church of Rome 188 3. By such a Separation of the Reformed Churches they did not separate themselves from the Communion of the Catholick Church but onely from the communion of a particular corrupted Church Art 11 12 13 4. And the said Reformed Churches do declare That they are the same in kind with all the good Churches which have been in the world before them Head 2. The Reformed Religion is true and Orthodox and their Faith is sound 174 Head 3. Also the Reformed Churches Truly and Properly so called are Pure and Orthodox having the true Notes and Marks of the true Church 196 Head 4. And therefore it is falfe that the Reformed Churches and Religion are Heretical 185 § It is a false Maxim of the Jesuites That for not to be an Heretick one must have Communion with the now Church of Rome and must acknowledge the Pope for the Head and Monarch of the Church See 186 187 Head 5. Concerning the Antiquity of the Reformed Religion 176 With two Exercitations The first is page 176 The second is page 178 Head 6. Refutation of a New Sleight and Device of a Seminary Priest of Rhemes against the Religion of the Reformed Churches 193 Head 7. Concerning the Acknowledgement of a Seminary Priest of Rhemes That 3. Articles of the Controversies propounded by Bishop Jewel were and are of weight 1. The Supremacy of the Pope 2. The Corporal Presence 3. The Sacrifice of the Mass 194 c. Head 8. Against the Reconcilement and Reunion of the two Religions the Reformed and the Roman 205 Head 9. Against Toleration of false Religions with the Pure and Reformed Religion when they differ in Fundamental Articles 206 Head 10. Refutation of this slander of the Popish Doctors That the Reformed are Enemies to Scriptures 207 Head 11. Answer to this Demand of the Popish Writers to the Reformed by what Authority They maim and rob the Corps of the Bible meaning their Rejection of the Apocryphal Books from the Canon of Faith 208 209 Head 12. Refutation of this Accusation of the Jesuites That in the Religion and Doctrine of the Reformed there is no Stay or Certainty 210 Again of this matter 211 Head 13. Of the Troubles and Differences which happens in the Church about Religion In a full Thesis Again of the same matter 242 Head 16. The Remedy to such Contentions is by a Synod or a Council 243 Head 17. There is Vnity in the Reformeds Faith and Concord among them and how 212 217 Head 18. A Refutation of this Accusation of the Popish Writers That in the Doctrine of the Reformed Churches many Paradoxes are to be found And that in General 213 § It is in the Doctrines of the Church of Rome that many Paradoxes are to be found 215 Head 19. The Doctrine of the Reformed Churches That the Ministers of God have Power to forgive sins if the sinners repent and believe the Gospel maketh not the said Minister into be Priests as they are called in the Church of Rome 209 Head 20. The Reformed Doctors of the Reformed Churches are impudently accused of Ignorance by the Popish Writers 216 Head 21. Rejection of the injurious Names given to the Reformed by the Popish Writers and what names the Reformed do approve and make use of 201 Head 22. A Representation of good Magistrates and truely Christians toward the Reformed Religion 220 Chap. 7. Of the Reformed Churches Separately in regard 1. Of the Protestants called by the vulgar Lutherans 2. In regard of the Reformed Religion and Church of the Kingdome of England See of both in the following Section SECT 4. 1. Of the Reformed called Protestants and Lutherans by the vulgar And what differences in Religion there is between them and the other Reformed called Evangelicks and Calvinists by the vulgar 190 Of the Religion and Church of the Kingdoms of England with many Chapters concerning them Chap. 1. Consisting in the following Narrations 1. What Augustine the Monk sent in England by Pope Gregory did after his coming in there 221 2. Of the shaking off of the Popes yoak by Henry the 8. King of England 221 3. Of the demolishing of Monasteries in England by the said King Henry 222 4. Of the Reformation of the Church and Religion of England begun by King Henry 224 5. In Queen Mary 's time extream was the Cruelty toward the Reformed 252 Chap. 2. Consisting in
beginning of the Reformation in the Raign of Edward the Sixt. 1. THe first Service Book of King Edward was not altogether approved by Bucer and Peter Martyr but in some things reproved As the censure of Bucer upon the same doth declare Vide Bucer Script Anglican pag. 428. 2. That first Service-book was rather accepted of the Protestants by toleration because at first they could obtain no more then by an absolute approbation 3. The same Service-book was changed and reformed and many things were left out of the said Liturgie by another Edition thereof established in the Fifth Year of Edward the Sixt. 4. And that latter Service-book of King Edward is in substance all one with the Service-book of Queen Elizabeth 5. And that since King Edwards Reigne there hath been no material Alteration of the English Service-book 6. The Papists have no cause to inveigh against this alteration of the Service-book of the Church of England if they remember that themselves have changed their Breviaries Portesses and Missals more then once even of late years See Possevin Appar v. Missal Et ver Breviarum Of the mention of Saints made in the Liturgie of the Church of England and of their Feasts keeping yearly 1. VVHen in the Church of England according to the Liturgie thereof the said Church doth adorn the Calendar with the Names of some Eminent Saints and do make honourable mention of them in her Religious publick worship as the Antient Church did of her Martyrs yet she doth not call upon them She doth not lift up the hands nor bow the knees nor present offerings nor direct her prayers nor intend any part of Religious worship to them But to their God and ours as S. Augustine answereth for the practice of the Church in his time 2. She doth remember the Saints of God but in no wise made Gods of Saints She doth blesse God for them and not worship them for God 3. Although her Devotion doth glance by their Names yet it doth pitch and is fixed upon the Angel of the Covenant the Holy of all Holy ones our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ On the blessed Virgins Anniversary she doth honour Christ in his Mother On S. John Baptists she doth honour him in his forerunner On S. Michaels she doth honour him in his Archangel On the Apostles she doth honour him in his Ambassadours On the Evangelists she doth honour him in his Chroniclers On S. Stephen she doth honour him in his Martyr On S. John the Divine his day she doth honour him in his beloved Disciple who also leaned on his breast at Supper It is a great Error in the Worship of God to be altogether for Prayer and to make no esteem of the Preaching of the Word of God both must not be severed one from the other 1. FOr if it be said of Christ that his House is an House of Prayer and not of Sermons We must observe where he spake this it was in the Temple where he spake it And were not these very words part of a Sermon which he Preached to the Buyers and Sellers there 2. He hath but little skill in the Language of Canaan who knoweth not that Prayer and Invocation of Gods Name is in the Scripture by a Synecdoche taken for the whole Worship of God Acts 2.21 Rom. 10.13 3. Yet admit that our Saviour should in that place take Prayers strictly for that part of Gods Worship which consisteth in lifting up our hands to prefer our Petitions and Supplications unto him S. Paul furnisheth us with a direct answer to this Objection even by those Questions he propoundeth Rom. 10.14 How then shall they call on him on whom they have not believed How shall they believe on him of whom they have not heard And how shall they hear without a Preacher 4. As there is no powerful Preaching without Prayer to God for a blessing upon it so no good Prayer without Preaching to direct both in the matter and form and to enflame our hearts with zeal How the Magistrate is to carry himself toward Seducing and Seditious Hereticks that are not Tolerated in a State 1. LEt it be accounted Mercy not to execute the Rigour of Penal Statutes upon silly seduced Sheep But certainly it is cruelty to spare the Wolves which worry them 2. I mean those Wolves who plot Treason against their Natural Prince who scandalize the State and who stain with impure breath the Gold and Silver Vessels of the Sanctuary who turn Religion into Statism or rather into Atheism 3. Such Wolves are in England the Popish Priests and the Jesuites 4. Who not onely shew their Rage in not sparing our Sons and our Daughters and daily enticing them and by their Agents conveying them over beyond the Sea to sacrifice not their bodies but their souls their Faith their Religion to the Moloch of Rome 5. But besides who plot the ruine and overthrow of the State who say as the Children of Edom in the day of Jerusalem down with it down with it even to the ground or rather up with it up with it to the trembling Aire blow up King Queen Prince Parliament Clergy Laity Nobility Gentry Commons Lawes Statutes Charters Records all in a Cloud of fire that there remain not so much as any Cindars of them upon the Eearth lest parhaps the Phenix might revive out of her own Ashes We must not in England frequent Hereticks Seducers nor keep familiar society with them rather we must fly from them and detect them to the Magistrate when they be banished from the Countrey 1. WE must beware in England of the Agents of Rome Priests and Jesuites who go about to withdraw us from the love of our Countrey from our Allegiance to our Prince and which is worst of all from the true and pure Worship of God 2. If stealing away the bodies of our Sons and Daughters be so hainous a crime that many conceive it better to deserve the Gallows then the stealing of a Horse or of a Sheep what punishment do we suppose they do deserve who steal away their souls from God and their hearts from their Parents 3. If we account them as capital Enemies who seek the ruine of our Estate can we esteem otherwise of them who seek the utter ruine and overthrow of our Souls 4. And let us not be deceived in regard of them because their outward behaviour is fair and their company delightful For as they are Panther like which hideth her ugly visage which she knoweth will terrifie the Beasts from coming near her and allures them with the sweet smell of her body but as soon as they come within her reach she maketh a prey of them 5. Therefore as we tender the Salvation of our Body and Soul our Estate in this Life and in the Life to come let us take heed how we play at the hole of the Cockatrice And do familiarly converse with the great Whore or with any of her Minions lest they draw
the following Informations 1. Of the Engl sh Service Book and of the Change in it since the beginning of the Reformation in the Reign of King Edward the 6. 234 2. See also of this Matter 247 3. Of the mention of Saints made in the Liturgie of the Church of England and of their Feasts keeping yearly 230 4. In the Worship of God Prayer and Preaching of the Word of God must not be severed one from the other 236 Chap. 3. Consisting in the following Refutations of Accusations 1. Refutation of this Accusation That the divers English Translations of the Bible are full of Corruptions 248 2. Refutation of this Accusation of the Jesuites That in the State of England and also in the English Church great Corruption of Manners is to be seen 233 Chap. 4. Concerning the Jesuites and Seminary Priests in regard of England with the following Exercitations 1. From the time of the Reformation of the Religion of England both did never cease to Trouble assault the Church the State of it 231 2. Great is the evil and harm that they did cause to that State 251 3. What they did alledge for their Justification of coming in England against the Laws of that State 254 4. Refutation of this Accusation That in England great cruelty hath been exercised against them and that in regard of their Religion 250 5. They are not to be spared in England by the Magistrate being both seducing Hereticks and seditious and treacherous Persons 237 6. There is great reason to prohibite their Books in England by the Soveraign 255 7. By many of their Books they have gained nothing hitherto against the Truth of the Reformed Religion of England 232 Chap. 5. Concerning the Anabaptists in England There they are condemned utterly and publickly according to Justice and Reason 230 Chap. 6. Of the Contentions and Differences that happen in the Church about Religion With three Exercitations propounded before See of them pag. 240 242 243 Chap. 7. Concerning Separatists with the following Exercitations 1. It must be for corrupt Doctrines And not onely for corrupt Manners that we may separate one from another in regard of Publick Assemblies and Exercises of Religion 225 Joyning to it this other Exercitation 227 2. There is a necessity to have a certain Form of Liturgie for the publick Administration of all the parts of Divine Worship in the Christian Church 229 3. Concerning Episcopal Government in the Church of England we have writ of it and commended it not long since in a Latine Treatise De Ritibus Ceremoniis Ecclesiae pag. 20 Chap. 8. Consisting in the Representation of two notable Duties of the true Members of the Reformed Church of England 1. The first is not to frequent Hereticks Seducers nor keep Familiar Society with them 238 2. The second is to be careful to entertain Peace and Concord 245 SECT 5. Chap. 1. Of Heretical Churches and Religious 1. Conjoyntly 2. Separately Chap. 2. 1. Conjoyntly With these Exercitations 1. Of Heresies and Hereticks in a full Thesis 2. Heresie is a dangerous thing and spreads soon over the whole Body of the Church and produceth woful effects 258 3. It is a false Maxime of the Jesuites that for not to be an Heretick one must have Communion with the Church of Rome and must acknowledge the Pope for the Head and Monarch of the Church 186 187 4. Of the Impudency of Error and of Hereticks in these times 258 5. Hereticks and Deceivers grace themselves with high and strange Titles and glorious Names to blear the eyes of the simple 260 6. The Divel often maketh of Women strong Instruments to dispread the poison of Heresie 261 7. Of the different kinds of the Hereticks Books and whether some of them may be tolerated 259 8. The Reformed must avoid the familiar company of Gods Enemies and of the true Religion for fear of being infected by them 261 Chap. 3. Of Heretical Religions separately as of Socinians and of Anabaptists Chap. 4. Of Socinians with the following Exercitations 1. Their Errors are in great number and in regard of the principal Articles of Orthodox Faith represented fully pag. 262 c. 2. Which Errors or rather Furors are short wayes to Mahumetisme and to Hell 266 3. In regard of the said Errors the Socinians are not comprehended by the Reformed under the Appellation of Reformed and true Churches 273 Chap. 5. Of Anabaptists with these Exercitations 1. They were in the beginning of the last Reformation divided in many Sects in Germany 266 2. Some of them maintained more Errors and some less but all of them did profess such Doctrines that they could not be suffered 1. Neither in the Church 2. Neither in the State 3. Nor in the Families See of them all pag. 267 c. 3. Against the Anabaptistical Enthusiasts we maintain That the Spirit is not without the Word of God and that it must be examined by the said Word of God 270 4. In regard of these Errors and Heresies the said Anabaptists are not comprehended by the Reformed under the appellation of Reformed and true Churches 173 5. Also in regard of them they are utterly and publickly condemned in the State and Church of England 230 Chap. 6. Of Schismatical Religions and Assemblies With these Exercitations 1. Of Schisme and Schismaticks in a full Thesis 270 2. It is a false Maxime of the Jesuites That for not to be Schismatick as also an Heretick one must have Communion with the Now Church of Rome and must acknowledge the Pope for the Head and Monarch of the Church 186 187 Chap. 7. Of false Religions Namely 1. Of the Pagans 2. Of the Modern Jews 3. Of the Mahumetans Chap. 8. Of these three false Religions conjointly 272 Chap. 9. Of these three false Religions separately 1. Of the false Religion of the ancient Pagans with the following Heads 1. Of the falshhood of that Religion conjointly 273 2. Of the different Degrees of the falshood of that Religion there being among the divers Religions of Pagans some manifestly impious and wicked 279 3. A great multitude of Gods and also diversity was acknowledged and worshipped by the Pagans 275 4. Condemnation of such Gods 1. They were not true Gods but Men Women c. 276 5. 2. And they were Devils who were worshipped by the Pagans under such names of Men and Women 278 6. Of the Differences that are between the true God and those false Gods of the Pagans 274 7. Why did not the true God the God of the ancient Jews in Rome find place among the false Gods of all the Nations conquered by the Romans 277 8. Refutation of the Plurality of those false Gods by the Sybils 278 9. Condemnation of the Worship of those Pagans 279 2. Of the False Religion of the Modern Jews with the following Exercitations 1. Of the falshood of that Religion conjointly 280 2. In what respects this false Religion is opposite to Christ. 281 3. Demonstration that
divisibile est corruptibile which holds in all States and Societies 3. The Church and the Common-wealth like the Lapis Tirrhenus Lib. 2. Natur. Hist cap. 105. of whom Pliny speaketh while they are whole swim in all waters but if they be broken into Factions or crumbled into Sects and Schisms they will soon sink if not drown 4. After the Donatists had made a Faction in Affrica as they brake the unity of the Church so they were broken themselves into divers fractions And so in a short space came to nothing 5. The Division among the Britains of this Nation brought in first the Saxons next the Danes and last of all the Normans 6. This is a cunning sleight of Satan to divide us one from another that so he may prevail against us all 7. The barbarous Soldiers divided not Christs Coat shall we rend and tear asunder his Body by Schism and Faction 8. Religion is the bond of all Society the strongest Sinew of Church or Commonwealth O let us take heed that there be no rupture in this bond nor any sprain in this Sinew 9. The Husband-man hath sowed good Seed clean and picked in this Kingdome for more than threescore years and it had fructified exceedingly since the happy Reformation of Religion in these parts lately the Envious man did sow upon it his Tares O let Christian Charity pluck them up or in the defect of it Publick Authority 10. We are all one Body let us have all the same mind towards God and let us endeavour to the utmost of our power to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of Peace Ephes 4.3 11. That our Spiritual Jerusalem may resemble the old Bizantium the stones whereof were so matched and the wall built so uniformly that the whole City seemed to be but one stone continued throughout 12. It was the Honour of the Old Jerusalem Let it be also of the New that it is a City at unity in it self Psal 122.3 13. The lines the nearer they come to the Center the nearer they are one to another we cannot be one with God so long as we are thus divided one against another Refutation of this Accusatin of the Jesuites and other Popish Doctors that in the Church and Religion of England since the last Reformation have been many Changes and Alterations and particularly in the Common Prayer Book The Popish Doctor 1. HE first calleth to remembrance the Act of 6. Articles established in the later dayes of King Henry the 8. 2. Which in the beginning of his Son Edward the 6. Reign was straightwaies disanulled and the Church Reformed 3. Which Reformation was overthrown in Queen Mary's Reign 4. And after renewed by Queen Elizabeth 5. And continued by her Successors unto this day Answer of the Reformed THis is the Answer that we make to that Accusation 1. That at the first when the Lord began to work some Reformation in the Church of England perfection in every Point was not forthwith attained and established 2. Which is no marvell considering both the greatness of the work and the malice of manifold enemies that withstood the same 3. Yea if in the Common Prayer Book of that Church alteration hath been according as to that Church seemed most convenient that was not in substance of Doctrine but in matters of Ceremony 4. Neither can the Popish Doctors charge the Church of England more for changing her Common Prayer Book then the said can charge the Roman Church for changing and reforming Her Missales Her Portasses Her Breviaries And a number of such Books even of late years in daily and publick use of Service in Her Defence of the English Translation of the Bible against the Contumelies of Jesuites and other Popish Writers Accusation of the Popish Writers THe divers English Translations of the Bible say the Popish Writers are nothing else but corrupt Gutters flowing from corrupt and stinking Lakes the best containing wicked horrible and Ethnical Errors Answer to that Accusation 1. THis is a slander most wicked horrible Ethnical of all men to be detested and the Accusers shall never prove any word of their Accusation true Gregory Martin hath laboured herein and hath performed nothing 2. If the said Popish Writers find fault with us for Correcting our Bibles let them shew us if they can that either it is unlawful to Translate the Bible into our own Tongue or else after it hath been Translated to reform the Translation in such places wherein some Errors have escaped or to Translate it again 3. No Translation of the Scripture can at the first be so perfect and sincere but it may be afterwards amended as God shall reveal to his Church the faults thereof 4. Otherwise if it were any Fault to amend a Fault why hath the Council of Trent taken order for the Correction of the Church of Romes Latine Translation and for a better Edition thereof to be published then heretofore hath been 5. Yea why hath Pope Pius Reformed The Psalters The Breviaries The Offices And such other Books as are in the Church of Rome in greatest use and estimation 6. If this seemed requisite why may not we look to our Translations likewise amend the Imperfections and set forth better 7. We add that we depend not upon any Translation English or Latine or of other Language no otherwise then the same agreeth with the Word of God EXERCITATION Refutation of this Accusation of the Jesuites that in the State of England great cruelty is exercised against them and the Seminary Priests in regard of their Religion 1. TO that Accusation the Reformed Doctors do answer That it is true indeed that some few of the Jesuites and other Popish Priests have been punished in the State of England but they died not for Religion but were by open Judgment of Law convicted of Treason 2. In the Raign of Queen Elizabeth of happy Memory was executed one Everard a Priest sent from the Colledge at Rhemes into England who though he was in danger of the Laws many wayes yet might have had his life But that impudently at the Bar he uttered things shameful vile and intollerable for he boasted himself both to be the Subject and Vassal of the Pope even in England and affirmed that the Pope was no lesse the Head of the Church of England then of the Church of Rome Avouching further that he was verily perswaded that the Pope did not erre when he termed Queen Elizabeth an Heretick and the Patron of Hereticks and denounced Her no lawful Queen Everard was for this confession convicted and condemned who afterwards as if this had not been enough in prison professed plainly and directly in the presence and hearing of sixteen men of credit that it was no sin against God to commit Treason against his Prince Yet for all this he suffered no new and unusual punishment but the same that all Traytors suffer in England in the like cause 3. We leave other Examples 4. And say
generally of all the Jesuites and Priests that did suffer in England that they did not suffer for their popish Religion but onely for their Treason and for their perturbation of that State § Great is the Evil and Harm that the Jesuites and Roman Priests hidden in England did cause and do cause to that State 1. THey trouble the peace of it 2. They corrupt its Children with an impious and strange Religion 3. They make more precious account of a forreign Enemy than of its Dignity 4. They divert the minds of people from true Religion to trouble the peace of the State 5. They estrange the minds of Loyal Subjects from their Lawful Prince 6. And turn all things topsie turvie §. In the State of England as in other States since the last Reformation of the Church extream hath been the cruelty of the Papists towards the Reformed 1. WHo are the Papists and what is their Religion That the Jesuites and Roman Priests so boldly object cruelty unto the Reformed State of England 2. 1. In Queen Maries time more of them were condemned in that State at one Sessions more executed in one day more consumed in one fire then they can recount to us to have been put to death for the Popes cause at any time or by any kind of death in the whole happy Reign of Queen Elizabeth 2 Let the Jesuites and other Papists then but call to mind the extream cruelty the exquisite Tortures the frequent Martyrdome of the times before the Keign of Queen Elizabeth And if there be in them any mark of Humanity they cannot chuse but confesse that their side hath been extream cruel And that the Englishes Reformed have been sufficiently provoked to severity against them and to have repayed them with the like 3. For what Times can afford such and so many Butcheries of men as was to be seen when the Papists were Lords over the Protestants in England let them tell what Sex or what Age they spared and did not bloodily execute all without difference and distinction Of Learned or Unlearned Of Male or Female Of Old or Young Children Virgins Married Clergie and Layetie Bishops Archbishops escaped not their hands The Martyrs they did beat with Rods their Tongues they pulled out of their Mouths their hands they burned off with Torches They Tormented Crucified Hanged and Beheaded them they burned them alive and toasted them at a soft fire Yea the Infant leaping out of the Mothers belly they received upon the Spears point and cast it into the flaming fire To conclude whatsoever barbarous cruelty could invent that they were not wanting to in execution against them 4. And if their cruelty had ended with the Living and had terminated in their deaths it had been lesse but so raging was their Tyranny that they took up the bodies of Saints interred in the Earth they arreigned them upon a day They accused them at a Bar They condemned them to Death And burned them at a Stake even exdeeding those old Tyrants in Fury and Cruelty 5. Can they name any one such Savage Fact amongst the said Reformed of England 6. Or what was he that was put to Death amongst them Reformed whom every good Man that heard of him judged not worthy of Death threefold more then of Life 7. Therefore let the Papists acknowledge their own cruelty in the State of England and accuse not the English Reformed §. What the Jesuites did alledge for their Justification of coming in England against the Laws of that State THey did alledge That they came thither upon commandment of their Superiours according to the Order of that Religion which they professe Confutation of such an Allegation 1. BUt the English Reformed did demand of the said Jesuites what necessity did lie upon them to obey his Commandement who had no Authority to enjoin them a Journey whether they were willing or unwilling to goe 2. And if that Spanish Soldier Loyola the first Authour of their Jesuitical Society were now alive and should enjoin them to set their Countrey on fire would they obey him we Reformed of England are sure they would never command such a foul fact 3. And yet he might better command and the English Jesuites execute that then this Thing for which they did professe that they were then come in England 4. For whether might it be deemed less to set houses on fire then to cause the Evils and Harms represented before 5. Which yet were the Ends of the Jesuites coming and the Order of their Profession required no less at their hands §. The Soveraign Magistrate in the Reformed State of England hath great Reason to Prohibite the Books of English Jesuites and Seminary Priests 1. THe Books of those men are such as it behooveth the Soveraign Magistrate to stop their passage 2. He must of necessity restrain their Books unless he would suffer the State to be stirred to Sedition the Church in danger of Heresie and Mens minds filled with cursed Opinions 3. For if Magistrates ought carefully to prevent lest the infection of the Plague be from other places brought into their Cities much more care is to be had that pestilent and pernicious Books be not openly spread abroad out of which simple and unlearned men do suck Poyson of deadly Error 4. Neither is the Reformed State of England the first that have taken this Course 5. It may be remembred in Queen Maries Time that they proceeded by Martial Law against all those with whom any of the Reformed Books were found If this was in the Reformed of that Time a matter worthy of Death so that they were by and by drawn to punishment as men guilty of High Treason and that without any Judicial Proceedings what reason have the English Jesuites and Seminary Priests that are in Rome Rhemes and other places abroad to look that their Books should now have such free liberty to be every where publickly sold Of Heretical Churches and Religions Of Heresies and Hereticks 1. HEresie is some opinion in matter of Faith repugnant and contrary to the Word of God being of some chosen out to themselves and wilfully maintained 2. And an Heretick is a person wilfully and stiffly maintaining false Opinions against the Scriptures after due admonition 3. There be three things required to an Heretick first that it be an Error about some Article of Christian Faith Secondly that it be contrary to the evidence and clear truth of holy Scripture soundly and generally held by the holy Catholick Church of God in the earth Thirdly that it be stoutly and obstinately maintained after conviction and lawfull admonition 4. The Doctors of the Roman Church do erre which account luch Opinions for Heresies as are not condemned but rather taught in the Word of God which is the onely Rule of saving Truth 5. It is to be noted that Heresies are compared in Scriptures to whores because they are stored with cunning pranks and a thousand entisements to make men ill advised
Traytor to partake of the Sacrament with his Disciples 4. Yet these pure Sectaries will none of our communion for that some unclean persons presume to come thither 5. To whom we answer as S. Augustine doth to Cresconius Lib. 3. c. 50. Et Epist 48. These evils are displeasing to the good we forbid and restrain them what we can what we cannot we suffer 6. But we do not for the Tares sake forsake the Field For the Chaffe leave the Floor of Christ For the evil Fish break the Net For the Goats sake refuse the Fold of Christ 7. When Religion was partly corrupted partly contemned in Israel and the Prophets cried go out from them and touch no unclean thing Did they then sever themselves from them In Evang. Serm. 8. I find no such thing saith Augustine yet doubtless they did themselves what their Prophets willed others to do 8. Hoc ergo est exire ore non Parcere hoc Immundum non tangere voluntate non consentire 9. Liber in conspectu Dei est cui nec Deus sua peccata imputat quae non fecit Neque aliena quae non approbavit Neque negligentiam quia non tacuit Neque Superbiam quia ab unitate Ecclesiae non â—â—cessit There is a necessity to have a certain Form of Liturgie for the publick Administration of all the Parts of Divine Worship in the Christian Church 1. THis certain and set Form of Publick Liturgie is necessary to entertain Uniformity in a National Church 2. There was such an one in the Eastern and Western Churches as it appears by their Liturgies which are in our hands 3. There is such an one in all the Reformed National Churches As in the National Reformed Church of France And in that of the Low-countries And in the Church of Geneva And in the Reformed Churches of Germany c. 4. By such a certain and set Form of publick Liturgie no wrong or injurie is done to the Holy Ghost as if one would undertake to inclose him within the Bars of certain Words For if that were true Christ should have committed such a fault because he hath given to his Apostles and with them to the whole Church an express and set Form of Prayer David also should have committed the like fault having given us in his Psalms so many Forms of Prayer of Thanksgiving and of confession of Sins Rather let us say that the set Form of Prayer of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Forms mentioned of the Prophet David being proceeded from the Holy Ghost the Will of God is that we make use of them to call upon him by prayer and to render thanks unto him by the very words of his Holy Spirit 5. And concerning the Ecclesiastical set Form which we require and commend by it we do not pretend to prescribe any thing to the Holy Ghost But besides the benefit of a National Uniformity our scope is to succour our common Infirmitie which is done when the Minister in the Administration of the parts of publick Divine Worship doth make use of the help of the Church thereupon and esteems it better to perform it in certain and set words then to let out from his mouth impertinent and ill digested conceptions and words 6. It is left to the liberty of every National Church to frame such a set Form of Liturgie §. The Reformed State and Church of England do condemn utterly and publickly Anabaptists Atheists the Family of Love and also the Separatists 1. ANd if notwithstanding that condemnation there be such in the State of England and secretly in the Church thereof so have there been alwayes Hereticks and wicked persons in the Church 2. And in respect of them the Reformed Religion of the Church of England is no more to be accused then the good Corn may justly be condemned because together with it many Tares and Weeds spring up and cannot be avoided §. From the time of the Reformation of the State and Church of England the Jesuites and Priests did never cease to trouble them and assault them 1. 1. IT is not unknown to the Soveraign Prince and also to the subordinate Magistrates of England how since the Reformation of the Religion and Church of that Kingdom the Adversaries Popes Jesuites and Priests have never ceased to trouble the State thereof and that by their Books in great number written and published and by all other means that possibly they were able to devise and also to defame that holy Religion of Christ which through Gods great mercy and the godly Laws of the Soveraigns is according to Gods word established in this State 2. What they have wrought with many of all Estates and how mightily they have prevailed with that strong and effectual illusion of Sathan which hath advanced Antichrist unto that Supremacie of Power Authority and Credit in the World whereof the Holy Ghost by S. Paul and by S. John hath foretold lamentable experience can witness And that in the backsliding and continual Apostating of many away from us to the final perdition of such Apostates to the grief of the Godly and to the great encouragement and comfort of the Enemy 2. ANd we have no doubt that all the English Jesuites and Seminarie Priests of Rome or of the Colledge of Rhemes are all most wilfully bent and earnestly disposed to do what harm any of them possibly can to the Church of England §. All the English Jesuites and Seminary Priests by their writings have gained nothing against the Reformed Religion of England 1. THese English old Souldiers of the Popish party Sanders Harding Allen Stapleton Bristol have imployed in the assailing of the Reformed Religion of England whatsoever Either Reading Or Leasure Or Cunning. Or Wit Or Diligence Or Malice Could supply unto them and for all this have gained nothing 2. Should New-discovered others of that kind that are not worthy to be compared with these hope to Reform that wherein they have failed §. Refutation of the Censure of the Manners of the State and Church of England made by the Jesuites 1. HE that reproveth the Manners of others it were meet that he should be without fault 2. Now is there so great a change made of Rome upon the sudden Is their Life now such Are there Manners begun to be so godly that the Jesuites being thence returned here Friers dare strive with us about Vertue Shamesastness and Honesty 3. Howsoever there be in England many things done which ought not to be done Yet if the Jesuites shall say that there is as great Impunity and Licentiousness of sins in England as they themselves have seen at Rome which is the very Towre of their Religion and Kingdom all men will judge them to be too too impudent 4. Surely as long as those publick Stewes and Dens of Whores stand still in Rome the Jesuites could scarce honestly make mention of Manners Of the English Service Book and of the Change in it since the