4. They add to and detract from the Scriptures at pleasure Bellarmin saith Pontificem posse mutare per ut Eclesiae expedit positivae precepta Apostolorum i. e. The Pope can change the positive precepts of the Apostles for the behoof of the Church 5. They will not stand to Scripture Tryal and Judgment for the Decision of Controversies but cry out to the Fathers to Counsels to Schoolmen as appears in our own Acts and Mon. in multitudes of examples 6. They restrain the people by penalties from reading the Scriptures perswading them to resolve their Faith into the Authority of the Pope and believe Implicity as the Church believes Ergo. That Religion which ascribes the glory of mans salvation to himself and not to Christ alone is a false Religion But the Popish Religion ascribes the glory of mans salvation to himself and not to Christ alone therefore 't is a False Religion The Major is undeniable the end of Religion is the glory of God the Christian Religion utterly excludes the glorying of man in himself Rom. 3.27 where is boasting then it is excluded by what Law of works nay but by the Law of Faith Tit. 3.5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done but according to his mercy be saved us c. The Minor is evident for themselves teach that the proper certainty of hope is in merits that certainty which is not presumption is of merrits and to be measured by merits Alexand. Ales. quest 3 d 65. Merits saith another are the foundation of our hope Piliucius tract 22. n. 244 therefore That which is the Religion of Antichrist is a false Religion but the Popish Religion is the Religion of Antichrist Ergo. The Major is evident for the Doctrine of Antichrist is a lye 2 Thess. 2.11 a mistery of iniquity ver 7. The Minor appears as evidently in that the Notes and Characters by which Antichrist is described and indigetated in Scripture agree to Popery and to it only The Pope is that Ho Anomos that lawless one 2 Thes. 2.8 He sits in the Temple of God challenging Supremacy over all Churches He sits there as God exalting himself above all that is called God ver 4. They attribute to him the Name of the Lord our God Oraclo vâ—cis mundi moderaeris habenas Et merito in terris câ—ederis esse Deus Sixty 4th His comming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders of which there are numberless multitudes in Popery their Legends swarm with them He hath horns as a Lamb viz pretences of meekness and innocency but speaks lâ—ke a Dragon Rev. 13.11 He arose out of the earth stirpium more after the manner of plants growing by insensible degrees to this monstrous greatness to him only agree all the other Caracters in Rev. 17. alibi therefore That Religion which tolerate and countenances all manner of Pride Covetousness Lust Murders c. is a False Religion but the Popish Religion tolerates and countenances these and many other fleshly lusts therefore it is a false Religion The Major if doubted may easily be proved by all those Scriptures which shew the purity of true Religion as Jam. 1.27 pure Religion and undefiled before God c Tit. 2.12 teaching uâ— that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts c. Psal 19.9 the fear of the Lord which is there put for his Worship is câ—ean c. The Minor may be as easily proved from their own Histories and Writings and many other credible Authors As for their Pride let an instance or two suffice Sir Richard Baker in his Chron. p. 30. tells us that Aldred Arch Bishop of Canterbury upon the repulse of his Suit by King William the first grew discontent and offered to depart when the King in awe of his displeasure staid him fell down at his feet desired pardon and promised to grant him his Suit the King being all this while down at the Arch-Bishops feet the Nobles that wete present put him in mind that he should cause the King to rise nay saith the Arch-Bishop let him alone let him find what it is â—o anger St. Peter Richonius that proud Papist was not ashamed to tell the world in Print that a Priest is as much above a King as a King is above a Beast yea as God iâ— above a Priest Their Coveâ—ousness is also insatiable all things are vendible at Rome even the Blood of Christ is set to sale for money they have vast Revenues from the very Stues and Brothels The blindest times took sâ— much notice of their Covetousness that though they durst not speak out yet exprest their apprehensions and just indignation against them in Pictures There was found in the tâ—e Abby of Fuâ—ba besides other Embldms taxing Popish Prelates the Picture of a Wolfe in a Monks Cowle and shaven Crown preaching to a Fâ—ock of Sheep with these words coming in a pendant out of his mouth God is my witness how I long for you all in my bowels and underneath was written This hooded Wolf is the Hypocrite of whom in the Gospel beware of False Prophets this Picture was made two hundred yeers before the Reformation by Luther Another like this was found at Ptortzheim onely with this difference that the Wolf was preaching to a Flock of Geese every one holding in his bill a paire of praying beads Prodigious Lusts are found among them they forbid Marriage and scatter their Lusts like bruâ—e beasts promiscuously St. Gregory commanded that their Priests should not marry but understanding what filthiness they commited and finding in one Fishpond six thousand Heads of young â—nfantâ— that had been murdered he repealed his decree Yea their own Writers tell us such stories of their wickednâ—ss in this kind that I am ashamed my pen should English the Learned Râ—ader may find more then enough in Bernard in Cant. Serm. 66. Alvaâ—â—z â—elâ—g de â—lâ—â—ct Ecles lib. 2. artic 24. Peter Aliacus Paliugeriuâ— Câ—â—nelius Muâ— c. Most horrid murders are frequently practised by them yea and encouraged with promised rewards in Heaven Hospinian shewes us how the Iesuites animate him whom they employ for the murdering of Kings they bring him into a Chappel where the Knife lyes wâ—apt up in a Cloath with agnns Dei engraven upon it then they open the Knife and sprinkle it with Holy Water fastning to the Haft some Consecrated Beads with this Indulgence That so many Stabs as he gives the King so many Souls he saves out of Purgatory they they commend to him the Knife in these words O thou chosen Son of God take to thee the Sword of Iephte Sampson David Gideon Iudith of Maccabeus of Iulius the Second who defended himself from the Princes by his Sword go and be wisely couragious and God strengthen thy hand then they all fall upon their knees with this prayer Be present O ye Cherubims and Seraphims be present ye Thrones Powers Holy Angels fill
there were many horrid Opinions A Wolf may as well give Laws to the understanding as he whose dictates are only propounded in violence and written in blood and a Dog is as capable of a Law as a Man if their be no choice in his obedience no discourse in his choice no reason to satisfie his discourse Are you not like to have the same measure you mete to us meted back to you again with an overplus if this enemy prevail and then you 'l find how good it is to afflict for Conscience sake Certainly if you resolve to be faiâ—hful to protestant Principles you will escape upon no easier terms then us Are not these very persons against whom you discharge your cannons and woory up and down by your apparitors like to prove as stiff assertors of the Protestant cause if God call for more blood to witness to it as your selves you find them I believe inflexible enough to your Ceremonies all your menacies and punishments cannot cudgel them into conformity with them because they find aliquid commune cum antichristo a spice and tang of Popish Superstition in them and doubtless they will as freely lay down their lives in defence of â—he fundamental and weightier points of Religion as their Places Liberties and Earthly Comforts for the lesser Circumstantial truths thereof and is it not pity that you should especially at such a time as this suppress afflict and silence such men whose abilities might now be improved to such singular advantage But aquilia non capit muscas Lordly spirits scorn to stoop to such mean composures or take notice of a creeping Pamphlet Let me therefore speak to the Body of the People and especially to those among the People who profess to fear the Lord and tremble at his Judgments Will you shut your ears to seasonable counsel also Will you despise your dangers till you are suprised by them O England Wilt thou not begin to fear till thou art past hope Shall thine Enemies find thee sleeping and leave the dead Wretehed England here is thy misery that thou knowest not thy time but as the fishes are taken in an evil net and as the birds are caught in the snare so wilt thon be snared in an evil time when it falleth on thee suddenly Ecles 8.12 May I freely express my apprehensions in the Case I much doubt thine Enemies have so contrived and laid their design against thee that in their apprehensions at least all thy struglings now are but as the flutterings of a bird in the net which instead of freeing doth but the faster intangle her However if God at last will but open thine ears to seasonable Counsel and perswade thine heart to thy present duties who can tell but the Lord may yet be gracious to his Land and spare his people It is not so much their confidence as our impenitence that is to be feared Haman was as confident as they can be and had cast Pur for the Jews as well as they for us Esth. 3.7 So was Pharoah too when he said I will pursue I will pursue God can quickly give their pregnant designs a miscarrying womb so that they which have conceived mischief shall bring forth but a lie and thou that fearest continuaâ—ly because of the Enemie shalt yet praise him and say The hâ—athen are sunk down in the pit that they made in the net which they hid is their own foot taken the Lord is known by the judgments which he executeth the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands Higgaion â—elah Psal. 9. 15.16 and when the Enemie cometh in like a flood the Spirit of thy God can set up a Standard against him if men cannot winds and waves shall fight for thee as they have done in former exigencies O nimium dilecte Deo cui militat aether Et conjurati veniunt ad classica venti Only obey the Counsels of God and let thine ear be circumcised and as ever you expect that a door of hope should be opened to you in this valley of achor let these following Counsels be speedily and heartily practised 1 COUNSEL Abhor Popery and be eminent in your zeal against it Rome is that Amalek with whom God will never make peace neither should we It was Queen Elizabeths Motto No peace with Spain and it should be ours No peace with Rome My dear Countreymen I beseech you be not deceived with vain words suffer not your selves too be circumvented by a Stratagem of the Enemy let not prejudice and discontents which they endeavour to beget and foment in you against your real friends cause any of you to fall in with the Design and Interest of your Enemies it is a dangerous thing to comply with that Interest which God hath engaged himself against and as sure as Christ sits at his Fathers right hand shall be destroyed and what cause you have to abhor Popery you will see by that time I have shewed you that it is a FALSE BLOODY BLASPHEMOUS UNCOMFORTABLE AND DAMNABLE RELIGION First It is a False Religion and that 's reason enough to abhor it You would be loath to be cheated with Counterfeit Coin especially if you were to receive your whole portion in it how much more with a False Faith when it amounts to as much as all your soules are worth in another World the falsity of the Popish Religion if it yet remain a question with any among us may be thus evinced That Religion which is not built upon the Foundation the Prophets and Apostles but stands in the wisdom of man is a False Religion But the Popish Religion is not built upon the Foundation of the Prophets and Apostles but stands in the wisdom of man therefore the Popish Religion is a False Religion The maâ—or proposition is undeniable and stands upon the authority of these Scriptures Ephes 2 20 And are built upon the foundation of the Prophets and Apostles Iesus Christ himself being the chief Corner Stone 1 Cor. 2.5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men but in the power of God Isa 8.20 To the Law and to the Testimony if they speak not according to this word it is because there is no light in them The minor proposition is as evident For 1. the Papists themselves acknowledge that their worshipping of Creatures Mass Purgatory the Popes Supremacy and most other Doctrines wherein they differ from us cannot be confirm'd by Scripture Azâ—rius instit mor. par 2 d. lib. 4. ca. 18 2. They set up the Pope as a Judge above the Scriptures subjecting them to the Popes authority this many of their Learned Doctors are not ashamed expresly to affirme and defend Pighâ—us Hierarch Lib. 1 Cap. 2.3 4. Card. Cusan Epist. 7th ad Bohem. Cocteus Holliâ—s c. â—3 They reproach and deprave the Scripture calling it an uncertain thing dead letter an insufficient guide of it self without their tradition or unwritten Word Belar de sut Serip
Christian eares with more of their Blasphemous Tenents this is enough to turn the stomacks of Christians with indignation aginst them 4. 'T is a most uncomfortable Religion it is impossible to get or keep true peace of Conscience in that way Rev. 9 5 6. And their torments was as the torment of a Scorpion when he smiteth a man And in those dayes sâ—all men seek death and shall not find it but death shall flie from them That is saith a worthy Divine the Consciences oâ— poor sinners being stung with guilt and horror of sin and finding no satisfaction nor remedy in their way shall be endlesly perplext tortured with inward troubles of spirit which are like the stinging of a Scorpion so that they shall chuse death rather then life For do but consider 1 They are enemies to free-grace and all Gospel-preaching Gardiner would not have this gap of free-grace opened to the People See saith â—ontâ—â—â— a Jesuit The fruit of Protestantism and their Gospel praeching 2 They deprived the people of the Scriptures wherein are treasured up all the Cordial and soul-reviving Comforts of a poor distressed sinner If thâ— Law saith David had not been my delight I should have perished in my affliction and again This is my comfort in my affliction thy word hath quikned me Psal. 119. 3. They lay the stress of their hopes for salvation as you have heard upon their own merits and the merits of others like themselves so that all the comforts they build upon that foundation must needs be loose and deluâ—ory things debile fundamentum fallit otus every thing is as its foundation is Lastly they deny the possibility of the assurance of â—alvation in this life so coseqâ—ntly their Consciences must be alwais cauterized dead or fluctuating dubious O what a religion is this 5. Lastly it is a Damnable religion we have no ground from Sripture to concâ—ude the salvation of any among them that know the depths of Satan and live and dye in destructive Opinions Hear what the Scriptures say Rev. 17.8 The beast that thou sawest was and is not and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit and go into perdition and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder whose Names are not written in the Book of Lâ—fe from the foundation of the Word when they see the beast that was and is not and yet is 2 Thes 2.21 And for this cause God shall send them strong delâ—sions that they should beleive a lye that they all might be damned that beleeved not the truth but had pleasure in unrighteosness When their sorest plague shall come upon them they shall not have a heart given them to repent but shall blaspheme the Name of God because of them Rev. 16.9 And therefore to shut up this first Counsel you that love the Lord hate that by which he is so much dishonoured it will make your blood boil in your veines to see how he is Crucified Dethroned and trampled on by these his Enemies 2 COVNSL Use all proper preventive means to avert this threatning judgement of which sort I shall recommend these three in speciall Mourn for the abuse of former Light and Liberty and say O remember not against us former iniquities let thy tendeo mercy speedily prevent us for we are brought very low Psal. 97.8 O England What a day of Mercy hast thou had how hast thou been exalted to Heaven with Capernaum thou mightest once have worshipped God as purely as thou wouldest you might have been as holy as you would the lot of this generation was cast upon such an happie nick of time as is scarce to be found in the history of Ages past but the most glorious morning hath its evening the brightest Sun its clouds and time of setting We know not the time of our Visitation but were both wanton and barren under those precous Mercies God is now coming with his Ax in his hand to hew down barren Trees Nothing but unfeigned repentance and speedy reformation can reprieve us Romanae leges â—â—nam pregnanti deferunt Nothing but those fruits can be a good signe of mercy to England And will you not yet mourn for the loss of such a day such peace neglected and not mourn such liberties abused and for their abuses removed and not a tear So many flourishing Churches broken and the heart not broken So many shining Lights extinct and none lay it to heart Such black clouds of Popish darkness and blood gathering over us and none tremble Lord what hearts have we how wonderful is the stupifying power of sin O ye Professors of England that ye had known at leaâ—â— in that your day the things of your peace but now they are hid from your eyes You once had those mercies now you have them not and the Lord only knows whether ever you shall see them again I am out of hopes of them till I see the people of God more humbled for the sins that removed them Make up your breaches speedily it is time I think when the enemie is entring in at them Hear me all ye friends of Christ by what names so ever distinguished among your selves Will you some and be friends one with another have you yet enough of your Divisions how do the fruits of your Animosities Contentions and Reproaches relish now with you do you see who God is sending to part you canâ—t you yet pray together mourn together strive with God together Why then can you go to Prison together Will you stand quietly at the stake together What say you friends you profess to be the children of the God of Peace and I am sure Christ is the Prince of Peace and the Gospel the Gospel of Peace and will not you be the Sons of Peace if you will not yet unite let the ruine of England lie upon your score Do you make no more of the Commands of Christ the Credit of Religion the safety of the Nation Ah! methinks as Tertullian told Scapula Si non vis tibi parcere parce Corthagim If you have no pitie for your selves have pitie for the Nation dont sacrifice all to your unruly lusts If you profess love to Christ and yet have no love for those in whom is his Image if you pretend to be Saints and yet had rather hazard the honour of Christ then denie your passions and lusts pray pull off your Vizards fall into your places and appear as you are Brethren I beseech you seriously to consider these three Particulars and if there be any force in them or tenderness in your Consciences let them at last perswade you to love one another 1. That Scripture makes your love to the Brethren a positive mark of your Regenration 1 John 3.14 We know that we are passed from death â—o life because we love the brethren He that loveth not his Brother abideth in death And 1 Joh 5.1 Every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is