Germany then I demand again who hath remoued him doubtlesse Antichrist the man of sin or the man of sinnes great precursor and the outlawes forerunner Answer me in good earnest is not soueraigntie and an vnappellable supremacie in temporals so essentiall intrinsecall and substantiall to Imperiall state and dignitie that the same being taken away imperiall state and dignitie is also taken away who can denie it agreeingly who that hath read any thing can denie but the Romane Bishops haue taken this supremucie and soueraigntie from the Romane Emperours what doe not the Romane Emperours homage to the Popes at their Inaugurations are they not then made by their oathes of fealty and liege seruice homines Papae the Popes men as they are called do they not at their inaugurations r Radeuike de gestis Frederi renounce the royalties of Rome and resigne them to the image of the beast and promise neither to come to Rome nor stay in Rome without the Popes free allowance Read the ceremoniall Booke in their inaugurations and you will finde it so Trust not the Dowists some of them perhaps out of ignorance will denie it they that doubt of this truth of which all histories make menttion and the very obseruing of Romes gouernment will shew it where the Emperout hath as much soueraigntie and as many royalties and imperialties as the great Turke or the French King hath let them read Å¿ Clement 5. in cap de iureiyrando Clement Popes decree and t Gratian. dist 63. in his two papall Canons for this purpose concerning Emperours fealties to Popes and so expounded by their glosers Gratian but for all others most clearely their late zealous and religious historian u Onuphrius in vita Grego 7. Auentihe lib. 5. Annal. Boior Hildebrandus c. subuerted the Ecclesiasticall state disturbed the kingdome of the Christian Empire as a whole Sinode of Bishops affirmed apud Abbat Vrsperg ad annum 1080. Onuphrius writing and pronouncing thus Gregorij 7. decreto c. by the decree of Gregory the 7 not onely the Emperour Henry the 4. but all the Latine and westerne Kings to haue beene attempted and violated and after them also the Bishops and the whole Cleargie of France of Italy and Germanie the Maiestie also and dignitie of the Romane Empire by the same ouerturned and euerted and that which was farre worse such foundations were laid by which all the power of the said Empire was weakened and beaten downe thus he Hearken Christian reader to a truth manifest in it self ingenuously acknowledged by Onuphrius here the maiesty and dignitie of the Romane Empire euerted by whom by decree of Gregory the seuenth Heare the euersion of all the Bishops of France Italy and Germanie by whom by Gregory the seuenths decree heare such foundations laid by which all power of the Romane Empire was beaten downe by what means by the decree of Gregory the seuenth what was hee a Pope yea a Pope who came presently after the thousand years when the x Apoc. 20. deuil was to be let loose This man therefore did take the Romane Emperours dignitie out of the way he did withall many prodigious wonders and lying miracles as the Pontificians affirme of him thereby making him a Saint forgetting that according to Saint y 2. Thess 2. Pauls reuelation the destroyer of the Empire should in himselfe and by his ministers worke many prodigies and wonders for the Apostle writeth thus of him that his comming should be in all power and in all lying signes and wonders note the words marke the mysteries to the seduction of those who had not receiued the charity of truth his miracles and prodigies shall be * See Saint Grego in 2. ad Thess 2 apud Paterus where you shall finde that Father discoursing that the miracles of the true Church in respect of those of the man of sinne and his seruants should be very few for then the grace of doing miracles shold be taken from the Church many mightie and great to the seduction of the greatest part of the world for the greatest part receiue not the charitie of truth yet lying because appearing as true miracles but are not lying also because wrought for the supporting of errours and lies lying because wrought by the power of Satan parent of lies Truly the holy Ghost see the concordancie of Scriptures most liuely describeth these manner of men in the reuelation vnder the horsemen that sate vpon the red black and pale horses to whom power was giuen to take peace from the earth and by their hypocriticall lyes to deceiue the world for since and when these Popes attempted the taking of the Romane Empire out of the way together with their prodigious lies and fabulous legends they haue filled the whole world with such rebellions ciuill commotions most dreadfull warres and horrible impurities suppositions hipocrisies that no man whose eyes are not wilfully shut can be ignorant but that they were * I doubt not to interprete thus that as by the white horse Apoc. 6. Christ and all holy Church-Gouernours were signified so also by the red pale and blacke horses other wicked gouernours in the vâ—sible state of the Church were designed ibidem the red blacke and pale horsemen who were to take peace from the earth and to set Christians together by the eares vnder colour of preaching the Gospell of Christ but in truth to preach the Papall Gospell of temporall Monarchy and idolatrie But such as haue the charitie of truth that is of Iesus Christ z who is the onely way to life and truth and doe wholy confide in his mercies and rest vpon the redemption and iustification in him walking in good works in which he hath ordained commanded and appointed them to walke in shall not be seduced by these men but will rather suffer many deaths for the testimony of Iesus as a S. Iohn in his Reuelations hath foreprophecied of the last * It is most euident that such as of later times haue beene put to death by the Pope and his for that they would rest only for their saluation vpon the merits of Iesus would not adore the Roman Images SacrameÌ„tal God haue bene put to death for the testimony of Iesus as of late â—â— very credibly reported oâ— a worthy Christian English man M. Mold whom the Pope hath caused to be put to death for the testimony of Iesus Martyrs of the Church But a little more of the taking away of the Romane Empire by the Popes for I demaund how can the present pretended Romane Emperor be stiled by the title Romanus Augustus Imperator Augustus and Emperour of Rome who hath nothing at all to doe in Rome not so much in sooth as the Ottamans of the East who haue gotten the Empire of the East and sit in the throne of Constantine who was sometimes the Emperour Augustus of Rome And doubtlesse if the Alman Emperour or King
the tyranny by which they denie The tenth Motive the indifferent reading of Gods holy Scriptures in the vulgar tongue is most inexcusable doubtlesse the cause is they do feare the taxing of their most manifest heresies even by the simplest I cannot blame them for their pollicie herein For manifest experience teacheth that wheresoever the word of God is translated into vulgar tongues and the same devoutly read there poperie still falles more or lesse an inuincible argument that the spirit wherewith the holy Scriptures were written worketh in the humble readers Haue ye forgotten ye Pontificians that the Iewish Church had the holy Scriptures written and read vnto them in their vulgar tongue why therefore shall the Christians of the new Testament be debarred of the vse of the same are not the holy Scriptures their riches their treasure and the cause of all consolaion to the devout readers why doe you not then permit vnto them the vse of that which is their owne but I must crie you mercie for the Scriptures are onely the treasure of the Romanes and onely as part of the Popes Patrimonie are at his disposing Would God also he would seriously peruse them and practise them for in them is his Religion condemned if you say they are abused by some of the simplest and that promiscous reading of them breedeth heresies alas alas as though the simple people were the Deuisers or Authors of many heresies how many heresies can you reckon deuised by such as vnderstood none of the learned tongues and what if some doe abuse the holy Scriptures so innumerable abuse pletures innumerable abuse confession to horrible and abominable proiects innumerable abuse your Masses and indulgences and what is there in the world which is more abused then the chaire of Peter it selfe which is so continually bought and sold What must wee away with it therefore and is there no abusing of your voluminous decrees decrees your decrotals extrauagants Clementines c I there no abuse of your Philosophicall learning in your Churches What must all things that are abused my our Church be removed if so doubtlesse you would have a single-souled religion for then away with the pictures of God the Father in the forme of an olde man which to my knowledge and experience hath possest many in this kingdom with the Anthropomorphitan conceive as thogh * In the same Pictures and many idle aparitions one I note in which it is expresly that when Ignatius eleuated the Host Christ apeared miraculously not in the Host but ouer the Host in certaine cloudes in the forme of a maÌ„ Apud Ribad God himselfe had limmes and true members may I not say that some of your Ignatianed with Ignatius were so perswaded in the u Ribadiuer lib. 1. cap. 7. pictures of whose life there is lately described how the misteries of the blessed Trinity was reuealed vnto him in which God the Father was portraited like an old Man with a Globe in his hand the holy Ghost drawne like a Doue and Christ Iesus with a Globe also in his hand O Vanities O horrible abuses O ye Ignatians is this the mystery of the most dreadfull Trinity reuealed to your holy and beatified Father Ignatius Doubtlesse the Deuill deluded him and if his Reuelations from Christ and Saint Peter and his Eleuations vp in the Aire proue no sounder they will proue but rotten and superstitious ware But to proceede if you feare seduction of your simpler Sheepe in reading of the Scriptures why are not your learned Priests more daily in them Why haue they no set Lectures vpon them Why are not your Diuines bound to study some Comments vpon them The true cause is your Spirits your Traditions which you must not leaue vnlesse you leaue Rome and her very word of God agree not together yet for a fashion forsooth the Scriptures must be read as in Rome and Spaine in your refectories when your Schollers are at Dinner and Supper and somwhere vpon full stomacks so full as short Commons can permit after Dinner and Supper in one of your Seminaries for it is not vsed in all and then they must heare some quarter of an hours commenting vpon some peece of scripture the study of one peece whereof requireth a mans life in which exercise how greatly your Priests profit one who lately came from your Famous Dowyan Seminary will liuely discouer It was my fortune lately to see and read a letter directed from this Priest out of the North vnto another Priest remaining in this house with me in which letter he excuseth himselfe with the other Priest his friend heere and defendeth as well as hee can himselfe from touch of inconstancy in friendship which the other had obiected vnto him vsing these and the like words doe not thinke good sir of me as though I were inconstant in my loue to you I am still the same according as the x Hebrews 13. Apostle saith Iesus Christ yesterday to day and the same for euer which application of Sacred Scipture when I read I could not but laugh heartily and I pittied withall the state of the English Seminaries and English Romane Catholikes for I was not then alienated from them in my heart and I thinke that whosoeuer shall reade this will easily obserue what a profound Scripture-Clerke he was many such like Clerkes there are in this Kingdome pardon mee Courteous Reader if I glaunce at one other who hath a good will for hee will forsooth preach commonly euery holy day in a certaine Cathedrall residence of his But his preaching is commonly out of the Legends forsooth or else out of the great looking glasse of examples for as for scripture he is so penurious that one day hearing of him preach vpon the Gospell of Christs tempting in the wildernesse he cited a sentence or two of that daies Gospell and both times broke Priscians head but he scandalized as I thinke Speculum magnum exemploris no mans head there being scarce one besides my self there who vnderstood Latine and such a good â—lde Harry perhaps y Math. 4. as did thinke that the Scripture might vse sometimes false Latine for a mysterie I would not glaunce at this mans insufficiency but that he is so * The Pontificall Spirit of this man you may gather by this being in a Vitling house vpon Tower Wharfe and ready to depart the land being banished with some nine other Priests he puts his Arme out of a window contrary to the liking of al his brethren publikely and Bishoplike hee blesses crosses all the people which caused shame in some loud laughter in others egregious a Champion against the Oath damning all that take it yea and not allowing confessions of those who haue gone to such Priests as allow it he is surely a very worthy Marchant to tell a fable to a Gentlewoman but inough heereof now all things haue their seasons But to conclude this my Motiue it
courteous Reader how Bellarmine tra uaileth to defend this booke from contradiction Bellar de verb. Dei lib 1. c. 12. Iudiths booke in particular I cannot but meruaile how any one can thinke that the holy Ghost would euer approue that decking and trimming vp of her selfe for such an impure and luxurious proiect thereby to draw m Iud. 10. 12 Holofernes into an vnlawfull burning lust and concupiscence of her if so they will teach and affirme may I not heere charge their doctrine with affirming God to bee the approuer and Authour of sinne more iustlie then they charge Caluin therewith Was not that of the holy Ghost in n Rom 3. St. Paul law and right in Iudiths daies Non sunt facienda mala vt eueniant bona Things that are euill are not to bee done that good may come thereby Besides it is too too apparent that in the story there are some vntruths and vnreconcilable contradictions which are clearelie against the other sacred Scriptures And therefore by euident consequence it is to bee affirmed that the booke is Apocriphall and not of that vndoubted and certaine authority which holy Canonicall Scriptures haue by which onely Dogmata fidei articles of Faith are to bee decreed and tried as the ancient Church euer beleft from whose faith because faith must euer be the same no Christian can without hazard of Saluation depart Against the books of Machabees many particular and vnanswerable doubts might be produced I will content my selfe with two or three Doth not the Author of them I should say the abbreuiatour of Iasons larger history as himselfe p 2. Mach. 2. professeth to be against the faith and doctrine of vndoubted Scriptures approue and admire the fact of q 2. Mach. 14. Razias murthering himselfe doth he not craue pardon of the Reader if he haue not answerably to the condition of a good r 2. Mach. vlt. Historian behaued himselfe belike the holy Ghost who is not accustomed nor cannot acknowledge himselfe nor his Scribes to bee subiect to any humane errour in writing thus here left him but not aboue in the 12. Chapter of this Å¿ 2. Mach. 12 booke where he mentioneth prayers and sacrifices for the dead and yet this by the helpe of false fingers also and therefore he here not there craued pardon if he had not arightly performed his office Doubtlesse hee who will thinke the holy Ghost can craue pardon of man as though he might be subiect to errour hath little of the holy Ghosts grace in him Which things considered with diuers other impossibilities against the truth of historie I cannot be perswaded that t Lib. de Ciuit. Dei 18. c. 36. St. Austin and the Fathers of the Councell of Carthage did otherwise approue them to be read then as a probable historie contayning some good morall matter if reade with u Cont. GaudeÌ„t sobriety to vse St. Austens owne phrase but not as to receiue them into the Canon of sacred Scripture of Gods word And if St. Austen may not bee thought to contradict himselfe within the compasse of halfe a dozen of lines some Manuscriber hath egregiously corrupted him for x Aug. lib. 18. de Ciuit. Dei cap. 36. first hee seemeth clearly and absolutely to affirme that they are not Canonicall and proueth thereupon a truth vpon which hee there discourseth and presently he is made to say thus that although the Iewes receiue not the Machabees into Canon yet the Church of Christ receiueth them but who smelleth not false fingers here especially if infinite like forgeries of Manuscribers be obserued Further I am more confirmed in my iudgement against these bookes because y Dist 15. cap. Sancta Romana Gelasius a Pope of Rome before any greater corruptions had deeply tainted that Church did with a whole Synode in Rome recounting a Canon of the Apostles for the same purpose exclude the Machabees out of the Canon of holy Scriptures and although the Canon beginning Sancta Romana c. in which this exclusion was be now so maymed and mangled that no man can iustly say this part or line of it is sound yet z Anton. 3. part summ l. 18. c. 6. Antonine Archbishop of Florence and a Saint in their Church confesseth that he himselfe had read the exclusion of these bookes out of Canon of Scripture in that decree of Gelasius and according to the Canon of the Apostles there mentioned All these things concurring out of Antiquitie and the vndoubted Churches of Christ with the authority also of some learned Pontificians their later Doctors and that of a Tertull. lib. de praescript Tertullian euer taking place in Christs Church Quod antiquissimum verissimum that which is most ancient is most true What may bee thought of that b Conc. Trident. Sess 4. congregation at Trent who hath giuen equal authority to them with the vndoubted word of God and haue accursed with their idle Anatheme all those who shall with the ancient Church of the Iewes the Nicene Councell which St. Gregorie esteemed as the Gospell with the I aodicene reuerend Fathers and almost all other ancient Fathers reiect them as Apocriphaâ—l Doubtlesse the curse of God against the idle curses of men may be iustly giuen vnto them who c Apocal. vlt. haue added the word of man to his word and haue made the word of man equall with his most infallible and inuiolable word d Iud. Epist Imperet illis Dominus The Lord God reproue them It is not possible if these men had esteemed of the vndoubted Scriptures as all the e Aug Epist 71 ad Marcell in prolog lib 3. de Trin. Epist 1â—1 Ep 166. ad Dâ—natist 〈◊〉 Epist 62 Basil 〈◊〉 de si de 〈◊〉 me Chrysost in opere imâ—â—rfect homâ—lia 49. ancient Fathers did who euer required the writings of all men to be examined and tryed by the certaine word of God they would neuer haue coupled humane authority with diuine and haue equalized them in one degree of truth but they may bee excused in dealing so warily and politikely herein for their desperate cause of Porgatorie fire praier for the dead c. otherwise would to the ground with many like of their superstitious trumperies The third Motiue BEsides the corrupting of the true rule of faith by adding the Apocriphall bookes they haue also depraued the same f Conc. Trident. Sess 4. rule by their vnwritten Traditions Anathematizing all who shall refuse or disesteeme the same Traditions and not hold them in equall reputation with Gods most vndoubted word This rule of Traditions they hold to bee an vnwritten Deposit left in the Romane Church and kept inuiolably by her vntill these times which if they can shew what good Christian is there who wil not with reuerenced esteeme receiue or commend whatsoeuer those most irreprehensible Founders of the Church haue deliuered either concerning faith or Church discipline But I must tell them
the p Isai 51. ad Corinth 1. cap. 10. Rock vnde exctsiestis from which you are cut and here after build onely vpon the q Ad Corin. 3. rock foundation Iesus Christ commending you all to his mercies and protection I take my leaue of you all this present Sunday being the 26. of Ianuary Anno Salutis 1612. Yours in Iesus Christ RICHARD SHELDON Priest TO THE CHRISTIAN AND CHARITABLE READER THE God of mercies in his most gracious prouidence concerning such as hee hath segregated to himselfe from all eternities doth often contrarie to their intended purposes and designes dispose and designe of them then working their conuersions to him when they least dreame thereof yea when they are purposely and obstinatelie striuing against it So hee dealt with Saul who brought vp at the a Acts 22 26. feet of Gamaliell profited so much in Iudaisme that by profession hee became a Pharisey and so zealous b Galat. 1. an Emulatour of his forefathers traditiens that at the mercifull appearance of the Saviour of mankind Iesus Christ hee was so repleat with Ignorant zeale and so c Acts 9. breathing out of threatnings against Christ that hee obteined letters of commission from the d Acts 12. Chiefe Priest in Hierusalem to goe into Samaria and to bring vp bound all those who should professe his name But prosecuting this designe because hee did it in c 1. Ad Timoth. 11. ignorance hee obtained mercie and therefore by the most gracious voice and shining light of him whom hee persecuted hee was most happilie prostrated to the ground in his way to Damascus and beeing led to Samaria the Place where hee intended most to oppose against Christ hee was there not onely conuerted by the ministerie of Ananias but hee was further so conforted and strengthned by the Spirit of God that of an instrument of wrath hee became a most Holy vessell of Election f Ibidem confounding the Iewes in their Synagogues the Iewes I say in their Synagogues who were erst the elect People of God g Ad Rom. 9. whose were the Promises and the Lawgiuing who iustlie gloried in that they were the h Ioh. 8. Children of Abraham to whom the i 2 Râ—g 3 Ierem. 33. Eternall Couenant with him and his posterity was made by God of whose temple God had promised to make k Psal 13â— his dwelling place for ener But these Jewes first so peculiarlie elected by God yea and euen then in some sort his true Church though afterwards wholly reiected and abandoned this most excellent witnesse of Christ did k Act 9. confound euery where throughout their Synagogues teaching that Iesus the Iust one whom they had denied and betraied was the Messias m Genes 22. promised to Abraham and his seede for euer Myselfe who a farre of can onely admire the vertues of this admirable witnesse doe most humblie intreat of God that I may in the lest modell imitate his zeale in the professing and testifying of Christs truth Hauing beene brought vp in Papisme and much profited therein I became so zealous an Imitatour and defender of all Romysh humane traditions and doctrines that I would most willinglie haue spent my bloud for the profession of the same earnestlie labouring by preaching exhorting writing early and late to draw all to a zealous profession of all doctrines of that Church for so much as meerlie concerned matter of Religion as diuers both may can and will witnesse which course I also prosecuted most zealouslie beeing grounded as I then thought vpon an inuincible Rocke to wit the Authority of the present Romane Church And although I call the heauens to witnesse euer since I entred into the studie of Diuinitie and serious perusing and discussing of diuers controuersies as to wit of the worshipping and adoration of Images of Indulgences of Purgatory of Merits and inuocations of Saints as necessarie to saluation of the Popes transcendent Supremacy of the imagined transubstantiation of the Canon of the Masse of the Publike seruicâ— in vnknown tongues and most speciallie of the maine principall and fundamentall controuersie of Iustification I oftentimes remained much vnsatisfied in my vnderstanding notwithstanding all I could read in Bellarmine Stapleton Sanders Vasques c. against all such doubts as eiâ—her out of Scriptures ancient Fathers or Councels were produced against the doctrines of these controuersies as they are now most stiflie maintained by the Romane Church yet in respect of the misconceiued dignitie and inerrabilitie of that See and her Bishops supposing that shee would decree nothing nor had decreed nothing as matter of faith but by generall consent of the whole Church I did so captiuate my vnderstanding in obedience to her and so firmelie receiue all that shee taught as faith that I would haue accounted my selfe most happie to haue suffered death for any point of her doctrine deliuered as a point of faith by her Thus walking in the way from Hierusalem into Samaria it pleased him who as I most confidently trust hath assumed mee to his mercies to knocke at my conscience and to prostrate my soule to a humiliation in her selfe to open my eies and eares to the hearkning of his voice bidding mee beware of the way in which I walked and looke whiâ—herunto the corruptions of that Church which I followed did lead mee the which hee vouchsafed so sweetlie to worke with his gracious illustrating and freeing of my vnderstanding that I could not much doubt at first but that it was n Psal 117. dextra Domini the right hand of the Lord which did touch my vnderstanding and as hee thus wrought in my vnderstanding so hee did also internally and immanentlie as me thought moue my will to a most sweet sincere and burning o 1. Iohn 4. Prou. 8. Iohn 14. loue of his Maiestie to a most resolute detestation of all my former sinnes greater or smaller euen to lament them p Isai 38. in amaritudine animae in bitternesse of soule purely for his loue onely moouing mee also to a longing desire to bee out of this wretched world and to bee q Ad Philip. 1. dissolued and to bee with him and withall so long as I should breath to beare a resolute resignation to auoid all occasions of sinnes whatsoeuer which also since my illustration hath so accompanied mee that looke as when I resolue to follow the truth offered so I increase in detestation of sinne looke as I haue temptations and suggestions moouing mee to wauer from the same either in respect of credite loue of my old acquaintance and of the world or of former meanes and maintenance so also I had inclinations to yeeld to other sinnes and a weakenesse also to withstand temptations as before It pleased also his infinite goodnesse at these times iointly to inspire and suggest vnto my soule that in his mercies and by his death and passion only I was redeemed and
to be saued not as with a wretchlesse presumption beleeuing r Iacob 2. this out of a dead faith but withall that by his holy assistance I was necessarily to liue and perseuere in his holy loue and feare and in the Å¿ Math. 7 obseruation of all his most holy commandements so farre as humane infirmity or ignorance would permit mee Thus beeing touched pardon mee Christian Reader for this disclosing the secrets of my soule I did often prostrate my soule and my heart beseeching that t Ad Titum 3. humanitie and benignitie of Iesus my onely Aduocate that hee would not for my u Psal 78. former sinnes and ignorances of my youth abandon me but that he would Psal 24. vouchsafe to x Psal 5 confirme mee with his principall spirit and to remooue from my soule all shadowes and deceits of Satan and to bring mee to his iotes for in him onlie with him onely and for him onely I desired to liue or die yea so resolued therein that whatsoeuer should betide mee either in this life or the next yet I esteemed it all happinesse that his name should be glorified in me either by iustice or mercy As my Soule was thus communing with herselfe and my Sauiour iointlie did present themselues to my memory many my former thoughts against the Romane humaine traditions and doctrines especially the pernicious Breefes of Paul the fift against the Oath of allegiance yea and euen thâ—n by happie occasion chanced into my hands a Remes â— estament where happily I light vpon y Annotat. in 22 Luc vpon those words Simon Simon and Annâ—tat vpon the first of the Acts and vpon the 1. 10 the Corinth 14. some of their corruptions and abuses yea and one pernicious errour or rather heresie the which as I had often obserued before but had passed it ouer in respect of my blind obedience to their doctrines so then I reconsidered more seriouslie and withall proposed it to some in this place who are worthily esteemed learned but they gaue mee little satisfaction because as the corruptions were wilfull and inexcusable so the errour was pernicious and indefensible But aboue all other two considerations then did offer themselues to my serious and pensiue vnderstanding first how not onlie the Bishop of Roâ—e himselfe but also all his Canonists some verie few onely excepted all those of the societie of Ignatius and all other the greatest firmaments of the present Roman religion doe obstinately maintaine that the Popes iudgement alone teaching the whole â—hurch was to bee beleeued beleeued I say as the infalible Oracle of God which to my vnderstanding and faith was so cleare an heresie and blasphemy against God contrarie to all Scriptures all ancient Councels Fathers yea all Ancients some few Popes only excepted whose testimonies are either counterfeited or else giuing testimony for themselues their testimonies are not true and worth-receiuing that I fully resolued not to giue an obedient and obsequious eare to the present Romane Church therein because shee did so perniciously erre in the verie rule of faith it selfe For if the square and rule bee crooked or vneuen how can any thing that is to bee leuelled therewith bee right and streight the blinde leading the blind both fall into the ditch z Luc. 6. saith Christ Secondlie I obserued by what preposterous meanes contrary to all Antiquity and Christs most expresse institution in a Mat. 22. Mar. 12. S. Matthew the Popes doe now challeng and assume power to depose Princes dispose of Kingdoms dissolue fidelity though with oath confirmed not onlie in case of heresie in the Prince by him so termed although this his mysticall power was at first onely pretended by the learnedst Ignatians against notorious Heretikes and manifest Apostates but in case also of any enormous delict or insufficiencie in any Princes whatsoeuer yea and to speake plaine English in what case soeuer it shall please his holinesse iudicially to proceed For who of the Pontificians dare b See pag. 43. following retract his sentence who euer resisted him and had peace or was not thundred against with excommunication deposition or depriuation which when I seriouslie pondered as in the sight of God I could not but thinke that it was soueraigntie not religion increase of possession not saluation of soules which the later Popes aimed at as also I shall most clearely deliuer in my motiues following Further I obserued that for the fortifying of this mysticall power of the Image of the Romane Empire they endeauoured to make heereof a newe article of Faith for indirect furthering whereof most impudently without all forehead c Vpon the feast of the inuention of the Crosse P. W. in a publike assembly at a publike panegericall oration made for the Martyrs honour at Loâ—aine prayed thus vnto him S. Henrice intercede pro noâ—is Holy Henry pray for vs I doe not heare that hee made R. Houldcorne a Saint which may wel be admired diuers of the Ignatians doe labour tooth and naiâ—e to make the late Arch-traitour Garnet a martyr a fit martyr indeede with his Consorts for this their new article of faith and by a pseudoprodigious and mendacious straw the imaginary face of which was first obserued and found by a notorious dicing and carding priest c to make the Authour of all goodnesse as a witnesse of the innocencie and integrity of that man who with other his Complices was not onely acquainted but also as the publike records of this Realme published accordingly to his triall made in the face of the whole Kingdome doe witnesse was a Concealer an Abettour and principall Furtherer of the same I must needs confesse Christian Reader that these two considerations did produce in my soule a kind of horrour and dread to bee partaker of that Church which was to bee supported by so weake and fallible a rule of faith as the Popes variable iudgement is and to bee ampliated and enlarged by such meanes as none but the verie smoakie d Apocal. 9. Locusts arising from out of the bottomlesse pit would offer to attempt Thus my soule wauering and being tossed I with all humility knocked often at the gates of his mercie who e Math. 7. promiseth to open to all such as confidentlie knocke thereat I entred into a more serious search of these matters I read with great diligence I conferred also with such as are reputed learned and Chiesetaines in this place so long as I saw * One of these M. G. B. Archp. being very lately dead is falsely by some reported to haue changed his opinion for the Oath of Allegiance them willing to giue me any satisfaction but when I clearelie obserued that their answers to the sacred Scriptures and ancient Authorities produced by mee were meere tergiuersations and that they resolutely rested vpon the authority of the present Roman Church and her practise disesteeming whatsoeuer was clearely brought against her against whose
Image of Sichem stood which being framed into a picture and representing the image of Sichem was at Saint Omers by the Bishop of that City superstitiously dedicated and set vp to bee adored in the French Ignatians Church with such often incensings adorings bowings prostratings lifting vp of hands that truly it might iustly be meruailed how Gods vengeance did not fall vpon such impudent Idolaters or the earth not open swallow them vp but great was the commodity and profit which thereby redounded to the Ignatians and therefore the rather such contemptible creatures may and ought to bee honoured with diuine worship though they haue neither tradition Scripture nor Ancient Father to iustifie their proceeding herein The Clerke of a poore Church A pretty prank of a Saint Omeristiā Clark in that City obseruing what immense profite came to the Ignatians there by to bring some commodity to his poore neglected Church deuiseth a prety pranke for that purpose He cunningly and secretly remoueth a picture of the blessed Virgin from an obscure place in which it stood into a more eminent and principall place of the same Church making and giuing out as though the blessed Virgins picture discontented with her former standing had remoued it selfe to a place fitter for adoration and worship This picture was by some superstitious people presently admired and frequented and the miracle by the Bishop and the Ignatians also defended as probable considering said the wise men of S. Omers the dayly wondrous operations of the Images at Sichem and Loretto but the Estcheuines and Magistrates of the Citie suspecting some legerdemaine very shortly by great diligence found the knauery and according to his deserts caused the vilanous Clerke to be punished But heere I obserue how easily the superstitious Bishop and Ignatians might haue beene seduced and how credulous they are in such things Like credulity was obserued certain yeers since in the learned and Peerelesse Vniuersitie of Doway where in a certaine small and poore Chappell was the picture of the blessed Virgin Mary as lying in Childebedde after trauaile such fopperies were permitted in that famous Vniuersity the which also was with a linnen veile couered as the fashion is for women lying in Childbed this image vpon a certain time to some deuout and simple women which came to supplicate for happy deliuerance seemed to moue and stirre it selfe the report whereof flew vp and downe the City as if the Virgin her selfe had beene come downe to lye in child-bed againe This report caused admiration amongst the Dowists admiration caused great deuotion deuotion frequentation to the picture frequentation a necessary purpose to remoue the picture and to place it in some more capable Church or Chappell the remoouall wherof being attempted those Masons who went about it insteed of the Mother of Clemency and Virgin Mary felt the wrathfull vengeance of the iust Iudge for one of them was with stones that fell downe vpon him presently slaine the second wounded and the third very hardly escaped Torment a paucorum exempla sunt omnium the Torments of a few are examples for many But a 2. ad Corin. 2. the God of this world hath so blinded the eies of these men that seeing these things they see them not but still most eagerly giue themselues to beleeue lies doubtlesse these are the times of which b Greg. apud Paterium expos in 2. ad Thessal 2. S. Gregory so liuely discourseth shewing that Antichrist and his Ministers shall work so many lying prodigies and wonders that all which the true Church shall doe in comparison of them shall seeme nothing at all But to proceed although this Adoration and worshipping of creatures in this sort be most inexcusable yet more inexcuseable is their inuocation of the pictures crosse it selfe I doe not heere impute this error to the learned who are acquainted with the figure of Prosopopeia taking one person for another and inuocating one in steed of another but in respect of the simple and ignorant for how can they without manifest danger of idolatry vnderstand that inuocation of the Crosse it selfe O crux Aue c. All haile O Crosse the * In passion weeke the crosse or crucifixe is the only hope but at other times whē Salue regina is song the blessed Virgin is their hope and life also It is not imaginable what like abuses of prayers were vsed in the old time deuised by the superstitious monks onely hope in this time of Passion increase iustice to the pious giue pardon to the guilty And how can they vnderstand that the Crosse should increase Iustice giue pardon But there is a praier to be made to the face it selfe of Veronica to the deuout rehearsing of which Iohn the 22. Pope gaue Indulgences of a thousand yeares as it is expressed in a booke intituled Antidotary of the soule This praier cannot be excused by the figure of Prosopopey by one person being taken for another for the praier is directly made to the corruptible figure that it would bring the suppliant to the incorruptible face Thus it is in meeter Salue nostrum gaudium in hac vita dura Labili et fragili cito peritura Nos deduc ad propria O foelix figura Ad videndam faciem quae est Christi pura All haile our ioy in this hard life Both slippery frail and swift in her decay O happy figure bring us all to our true life To see Christ his pure face for euer and for aye In which prayer I cannot but wonder what excellency Iohn the 22. could find to grant to the deuout rehearsing therof a 1000. yeers pardon it may be because he held that the blessed Saints should not see Gods face vntill the general resurrection the same perswasion moued him to giue such a liberall pardon to those who would deuoutly behold and inuocat e a materiall and corruptible shadow and figure of that infinitely resplendant and shining maiesty Surely this kind of inuocating figures and pictures was in some sort practised by those three of tenne wicked Diuels cast out of one Catharine Bus as * Roberts Chambers in his booke of the miracles of Sichem page 214. that the Diuels words were these in french Uine◠nostre Dame de mountagu qui nous sait sortir Which he englisheth thus Honour be to our Lady of Mountagu who maketh vs to depart Chambers reporteth who at their going out cried out thus Viue nostre dame du Sichem Uiue nostre dame du Sichem Liue our Lady of Sichem Liue our Lady of Sichem who constraineth vs to go out What may it bee thought these wicked Fiends did call vppon the most blessed Virgin Mary of Heauen with the name of our Lady of Sichem what meant they tell me O Chambers when they called the Image of Sichem our Lady of Sichem was it because the same is there worshipped and adored too too diuinely yea with more honour then the most blessed Virgin
139. Doctor Harding commendeth and produceth to proue the Romane presence in the Sacrament the similitude wherewith Martin q Bucer in comment in 16. Math. Bucer vsed to expresse the manner of Christs presence and how his bodie worketh those graces in the soules of worthie receiuers I will it being as fit as similitudes vse to be heere vse the same vt sol vere in vno loco coeli visibilis circumscriptus c. Euen as saith he the visible Sunne is truly circumscribed in one place of heauen and yet as present in his beames is truly and substantially exhibited throughout the world So the Lord although he be circumscribed in one place of the arcane and diuine heauen that is of the glorie of his Father notwithstanding by his word and sacred Simboles truly as whole God and Man he * Obseruing this sentence out of Bucer may not Parsons his calumniating spirit be called in question who reporteth that Martin Bucer should affirme to the Duke of Norfolke who asked his opinion of the reall presence that if all the Euangelists had written were true then Christs bodie must needs be there what presence hee taught you haue heere heard by himselfe confested and by Harding approued but Parsons bringeth his answere to the Duke as thogh that worthie man had doubtâ—d of the truth of th Euangelist a manifest caâ—umny as you here see but Parsons is sul of such stuffe is as present exhibited in the sacred Supper and for that really substantially which presence the minde doth not lesse certainly acknowledge beleeuing these words and simboles of the Lord then the eies see and haue the Sunne presentially demonstrated and exhibited by the corporall light This is a hidden thing and of the new Testament a thing of faith therefore hither are not to be admitted cogitations of the presentation of a bodie which is consisting after the manner of this passible and fluxible life we must simply adhere vnto the word of our Lord and faith must yeeld supply to the defect of senses thus farre that learned man and I wish the Reader to obserue the simplicitie of Doctor Harding who produceth this place against Bishop lewel as prouing the Romane transubstantiation It proueth indeed that Christ in his graces is truly and exhibited to the worthy receiuers of the Sacrament which the Church of England in her Iâ—yturgie and articles of the conuocation constantly with all the ancient Church Catholike delinereth O how happy had it beene for Christendome if learned men leauing off too deepely to search into this dread full misterie had with a Christian simplicitie applied themselues onely to the deuout and frequent vse of the same and not so peremptorily to haue defined Christ really corporally to be present eyther by impanation as Rupertus Abbot or consubstantiation as the Lutherans or transubstantiation which is most improbable and against the verie light of all antiquitie as Pope Innocent and his I ateranists but such is the pride of the Romane Bishops all their Doctrines forsooth must be vncontrollable all their vses vnreprehensible all their sentences vnappellable but if they would haue vouchsafed to haue squared their faith to the ancient Church they would haue perswaded and inculcated the reuerent and deuout often receiuing of it as of a diuine Sacrament but as for the manner of Christs presence seeing his Maiestie hath not more expresly deliuered it then as in a Sacrament they would haue beene reuerently silent But the r Apocalip 17. Cuppe of abhominations was to come from Rome for which one day she will be consumed and destroyed euen by those Kings and Kingdomes who haue beene drunke with the Cup of her fornications and abhominations The seuenth Motiue ANother Motiue with me and very forcible The seuenth Motiue is their intollerable or rather execrable abuse in their vaine indulgences the which being void of all foundation in holy Scripture are nothing at all to be grounded Å¿ See â—ajetan lib de Indulgent cap. 1. Roffensis consutat assert Lutheri Act. 18. Alphons aduersus hereses verbe indulgentia vpon any Apostolical tradition or authoritie of ancient Fathers Those pardons lay as hidden little regarded vntil that prophane Pope Boniface the eight of whom his predecessor Celestine reputed by the Romanists for a Saint prophecied that as he had entered like a Foxe so he should liue like a Lion and die like a Dog as accordingly it fell out did by his impious and superstitious Buls giue pardons to the visiters of Rome in the yeares of Iubilies t Platina in vita Bonifa appointing the same to be kept euery hundreth yeare although they are now ordained to be kept euery fiue and twentie by Sixtus the fourth as a little before they were kept every fiftie yeare by the ordinance of Clement the sixth and in the same his Buls did cast abroad the dregs of the filthy Cup of his abhominations I call them dregs of the Cup because being so iniurious to the death and passion of Christ so perniciously ouerthrowing all discipline and as a canker destroying good life that I can hardly thinke of a name vile enough for them Dregges they are therefore because partly founded vpon the imperfect and impure defects of sinfull men of whom there was neuer yet found one without many sinnes or so perfect that he could u Psal 48. make redemption for himselfe much lesse for his brother Dregs because this treasure vpon which papall Pardons are grounded is blasphemously compounded ioyntly of the infinite merits of Christ and his Saints they seeme to acknowledge Christs merits to be inexhaustible and infinite and yet they will needs haue compartners with him as Saint Laurence Saint Paul c. in the founding of this Pontifician treasurie Dregs and most vaine dregs because this treasurie is founded vpon the actions and merits of Saints not as they were meritorious for so say they they are rewarded in their owne persons but as they were satisfactorious forsooth as though an action in that it is painefull may not be and is not also meritorious according to their owne principles and therefore because there were some Saints who had more satisfactions then their sinnes required as though euerie sinne though in Saints had not an infinite malice according to their owne principles and euerie action in that it is satisfactorious according to their owne principles also had not a finite and a limited vertue these their satisfactions remaining in the Popes Vatican treasurie he may dispense thereof to whom he shall thinke meete What need then of the pecuniarie taxe of the Apostolicall Chancery or penitentiarie if there be such a treasurie yes that is to fill the purse but not to inrich the spiritual treasurie of merits of Saints and rather to buy some of them which are inexhaustible I demaunded not long since of the x M. G. B. Archpriest that was vpon what authoritie of Scripture the Pontifician treasurie of Indulgences
haue compassion of others infirmity bee it in any sinne of c. This brother forsooth had the life of his holy Father hee had also certaine girdles with certaine knots vpon them the which whosoeuer should weare and deuoutly say some certaine praiers vpon euery * Marke the Practises of this Pardon-monger one of those knots he should for euery one of them haue some great pardon by the merite of Saint Francis and by the wearing of the girdle he should come to Heauen and should haue so great a bléssing neuer to diesodain death These bauld pardons when I read in a copy out of his own hands with astonishment I admired thereat and procured an Assistant in the house to speake with him and to perswade him to desist from selling such merchandise any longer but I profited nothing for whensoeuer his sheepe came to him not vnlike those who in the fielde were wonted to heare his Father S. Francis preach when men neglected the same hee would still in steed of setting foorth the infinite merits of Christs death and passion inculcate vnto them the Merits of Saint Francis and of his miracles of the knots of his girdles vpon the which holding them in his left hand hee would with his right hand point out the attributes and perfections of them not without the laughter of some of them that haue beheld contemned the mans superstitious folly That this is true I appeale to the consciences of such who haue often heard him and who haue also sent him better Angels for his girdles then any he could giue them God pardon him and open his eies and conuert him to his mercy if the man did not perniciously still labour to bewitch others with such trumpery and if hee were not a most vehement enemy against the Oath of Allegeance so vehement that to my face he hath iudged me worthy to bee burnt for my booke of the Oath of Allegeance I would not so much as haue once glanced at his proceedings but if hee hold himselfe discontented and if the glory of God require it there is much more behind and he shall if he desire it drinke the dregges of his owne cuppe vntill he surfet But leaâ—ing to discourse longer of this matter I infinuate this one thing that there are of my acquaintance some English pontificians as worshipfull as ingenious and as zealous yea too to zealous as the best of them and yet as they haue often professed vnto me they could neuer vnderstand nor conceiue the mistery of indulgences which diuers haue often laboured to inculcate vnto them Iesus vouchsafe it may be in the end for the saluation of their souls and that they may vnderstand with what trumpery they are still pestered from Rome and I intreat the curteous and Christian Reader of these my Motiues to pray for their conuersions The eight Motiue ANother Motiue is their manifest abuse in commaunding and decreeing the publique Liturgy of the Church in and at which with common consent and concording deuotion God is to bee honoured by all sorts present to bee celebrated and done in tongues vnknowne to the Laity which cannot but be a most intollerable and inexcusable abuse to any one who with an indifferent eye shall peruse the 14. Chapter of Saint Pauls first Epistle to the Corinthians where he so strictly chargeth adding that q 1. Corin. 14. they are the Lords commandements that Church and in her all other Christian Churches that their publique seruice and Liturgy which consist of preaching praying exhorting and ministring of the Sacraments should be done to the edification of the whole assembly which hee in that Chapter most earnestly and effectually laboureth to shew could not bee if their publique preachings exhortations prayings conferences singing of Psalmes and other liturgicall actions were performed in tongues not knowne nor vnderstood by the assembly and especially to confound the Râ—mane tiranny against the Laity in whose ignorance their victory standeth marke those words of the blessed r Ibidem Apostle But if thou blesse in the spirit to wit in an vnknowne tongue hee that supplieth the place of the vulgar how shall hee say Amen vpon thy blessing because hee knoweth not what thou saiest for thou indeede giuest thanks well but the other is not edified Doth hee not in these words euince that in the seruice which is publike especially in the commemoratiue sacrifice offered by all and for all such it ought to be that the Laâ—ty the Vulgar may vnderstand and thereby be edified and hee expresly speaketh of edification by vnderstanding the seruice and I challenge any aduersary to shew that the Apostle heere speaketh of edification by dumbe Rites Ceremonies or vnknowne tongues vppon this Chapter of Saint Paul the Å¿ Annotations in 14. 1. â—orinth Rhemists haue made many impertinent Annotations and those verie long for that is their fashion when they are in a Labirinth of difficulties to make many large windings and turnings either to confound the Reader or else to make him thinke they can say much and so cunningly slide away but if it please the Curteous Reader to peruse them he shall finde that they doe not cite any one sentence of Auncient Father Commenting vpon this Chapter their consciences telling them that by citing of the Fathers they should therein discouer their owne turpitude For if it would haue pleased them to haue reade Saint Hierome Saint Chrisostome Theophilact Haimo yea Thomas Aquinas and all those Auncient Fathers who haue made Comments vpon that Scripture the fourteenth of the first to the Corinthians they would haue seene their owne turpitude discouered and their mistery of vnknown tongues in publique seruice condemned and that subuerted which most of them with other Romane errours sweare to obserue and keâ—pe in their vngodly oath made by their vnpious Pius the fourth Pope of that name But I must tell them also with their patience that this their practise is against a certaine Canon of their great and Admirable assembly of aboue a thousand of Prelates vnder Innocent the third t one Later c. 9 where it is decreed and appointed that where diâ—ers people had sundry rites and languages there should bee Priests prouided to minister them diuine seruice according to their rites and languages and in the end of the Canon this reason of this constitution is added as cause of the constitution it selfe that the Priests might preach and edifie the people verbo et exemplo with worde and example But the Romane Bishops in practising against this seeme to imitate the old Romane Ambitious Conquerours who in such lands as they powerfully subdued did egregiously endeuor to exile the auncient and naturall tongues of the inhabitants and to bring their owne in vse being wisely perswaded that it is the politikest most peaceable and surest way to obtaine secure possession of the conquered So these later Romanes in their stiffe and obstinate requiring to haue their language reigne in
himselfe was left alone in Israel and that all but hee with Achab and Iezabel the Idolatrous Princes worshipped Baal though euen then and in Israel also not onely in Iuda as the Papists will haue it God had g Ibidem 7000. who had neuer bowed to Baal what would they haue then done would they haue publikely followed the face of that Church and that visible Gouernment and not rather haue beene in society and communion with the inuisible company Or rather I aske would they at that very time haue followed the visible multitude in Iury and Hierasalem which at h Reg 3. cap. 22. 3. Reg. cap. 9. that season did sacrifice and burne incense in the high places by whose Idolatries it cannot be denied but that the whole Church of Iurie was contaminated and polluted at lest with the communion of that Idolatrous multitude although the Priests of Hierusalem withall did offer Sacrifice to the true God of Israel Againe what would these men haue done in the time of Achaz and Manasses in the daies of both which most sacrilegious Kings the Priests with the whole publike visible Church i 4 Reg. 16. 4. Reg. 21. worshipped strange gods would they then haue ioined with the visible Church and haue obeied the Idolatrous high Priest of that time and I hope they will not saie that the Law of k Deuteron 17. Deuteronomy decreeing that who should not obey the high Priests sentence for the time should die therefore did not excuse the whole Church of Hierusalem in obeying Vrias the high Reg. 16. Priest who according as King Achaz of Iuda had commanded him had erected an impious Altar according to that of Samaria setting aside that which God himselfe had appointed vntill the King should determine thereof AgaIne what would these haue done in the time of Annas and Caiphas the high Priests whose precepts and commandements neither Christ nor his Apostles would obey although they sate vpon the chaire of Moses yea and although Christ had before taught the Iewes that they m Math. 18. should doe what the Phariseis and Scribes sitting vpon the Chaire of Moses should teach and command them to doe Belike these men if they had beene in those times regarding the n Deuter. d7 Law of Moses which decreed that whosoeuer disobeied the sentence of the high Priest should die would haue associated themselues with Annas and Caiphas against Christ and his Apostles rather then with the poore contemptible company of Christ disciples which was so small and so inuisible at the time of Christs passion that some of the Aduersaries would seeme to haue it to haue remained and consisted onely in the most blessed Virgin Mary though this most falsely For doubtlesse there were diuers then secretly dispersed in the land of Iewry who beleeued in Christ and had heard nothing of the scandall of the crosse And although o Math. 26. Mar. 14. Luc. 22. Peter with mouth denied and abiured Christ yet I cannot thinke but that faith in his heart was still firme and also that some other of the Apostles and good deuoute women did still in their hearts constantly beleeue in him and were parts of his hidden Church there But the Aduersary will obiect that visible Succession and the Authority of the High Priests in the Church of the old Testament was not a sufficient warrant for such as should follow them commanding any thing against Gods Law Againe that their succession was not to continue but for a time and in the end to bee abolished and quite remooued Good God as though the Law of Deuteronomy were not an euerlasting Law and most expresse for the high Priests authority so expresse that your high Priest now and his p Bellar. lib. 4. de Ron. Pont. â—rp 16. Baron in Annal. Caâ—etan Tollet Stapleton Allen ally Cardinals in his behalfe doe chalenge greatest prerogatiue of power and iurisdiction from the same Good God as though visible succession had not beene promised to be in that place of which q â—sal 131. God said it was his resting place for euer of which Dauid speaking vnto God said thus Arise O God into thy rest thou and the Arke of thy sanctification Of which place King r 3 R g 9. Salomon in his dedication of the Temple spoke such magnificent promises As though Å¿ Ierem. 33 Psal 8. God had not promised visible succession in the 33. of Ieremy in the linage of Leui for euer Protesting that his promise and pact should faile with the day and night before it should faile with the Church of Ierusalem with many yea infinite such like promises in the holy Scriptures and yet notwithstanding the same we see that the succession of that Church is vtterly extirpated How much rather may the Church of Rome haue her succession either extirpated abolished or corrupted the which can shew no speciall promise for her selfe and for her euerlasting establishment there are indeed most firme promises for the Catholike Church of Christ but for the Romane particular Church there are no promses at all if there be any let them be produced And if the Aduersary reply and say the Romane Church was once a Pure Church and a Virgin therefore shee must bee so taken still vnlesse you can precisely shew the time when and by whom corruptions were introduced into that Church Vpon this reply they triumph they insult but it is God wot very vaine for if Cockle and Darnell was to bee sowed by the â— Math. 13. enemy when the Pastors of the Church were a sleepe not sleeping a naturall sleepe but a sleepe of ease security prosperity pleasure ignorance What maruell that the precise time when such cockle and darnell was sowed cannot bee deliuered for tell mee O thou wirty aduersary who should haue specified the time the Pastors they were a sleepe yea and by them sleeping the Diuel sowed cockle and darnell of heresie of idolatry of impurity and therefore a sleeping and a dreaming disputer may I call thee who wouldest bring out sleeping witnesses but yet to satisfie your triumphing reply although the precise times places and persons cannot bee expressed when your heresies first begaÌ„ to take root first to bud or to spring forth yet wee can specifie the very indiuiduall personall singular and speciall persons times and places where when your opinions were first receiued as Articles of Faith and beleefe And what is it not an euident demonstration to shewe any thing to bee nouell and new if it can bee demonstrated when the same was not receiued although the speciall time and maner of the beginning of it cannot euidently bee shewed and demonstrated but onely probably conceiued by some probable coniectures And although the Romane Church doe boast of a visible and a conspicuous company professing Christ although most corruptly continuing from Christs time yet that is not inough vnlesse they can also shew succession in doctrine For a man
authoritie command and Breefes notwithstanding some of them doe practise I could not but resolue to leaue off conference with them remembring that of the f Isai 6. Act. 28. Prophet Esay vnto the Iewes and vsed also by the Apostle S. Paul in like case Incrassatum est cor populihuius c. The heart of this people is become grosse and with their eares they haue heard heauily and they haue closed their eies lest perchance they should see with their eies and heare with their eares and vnderstand with their hearts and bee conuerted and I heale them This their estate as I did and do from the very bottome of my heart lament so it did greatly increase my doubts mustring themselues to my Conscience against the nouell traditions and vncatholike doctrines of the Church of Rome whereof Christian Reader with thy patience and good acceptance I will communicate part to thy courteous view not because I esteeme my selfe so learned as though I were able to produce any new learning neuer thought on before for in very deed I doe ranke my selfe amongst the meanest of Gods seruants and Priests nor because I doe seeke in matters of Religion to bee applauded by the worlds iudgement or to please humaine censures but alonely that thou maist consider vpon how waightie inducements I haue relinquished the intollerable and pernicious burthen of humaine traditions reared vp against Gods institution that if thou bee wauering from the Firmament of Truth of Gods word and holy ancient Church thou maist with mee bee staied if thou art alreadie seduâ—ed as I haue been thou maist be reclaimed to the sweet yoke of Iesus Christ My heart bleeds to thinke how many in this Kingdome and some of them my speciall acquaintance vertuously and zealously disposed are caried away with most dangerous errors obtruded vnto them only vpon the Roman Bishops prerogatiue of not erring and yet heauen and earth proclaimes that Popes may erre and be Heretikes God of his infinite mercy vouchsafe to open their eies that they may receiue the charity of Truth that they may see that defection and apostasie accomplished in them and their defendants which the g 2 ad Thess 2 vessell of election so long agoe forâ—told and whereof the Prophet and h Apoc. 17. Apostle in his Reuelation so clearelie discourseth shewing that Kings and Nations should be drunke and be bewitched with the Cup of Romes Fornications Fornications hee saith thereby most clearely demonstrating that some Romane Church or Congregation for most cleare it is and best Pontificians deny it not that of Rome hee prophecieth earst a Spouse but after a Strmpet in respect of her spirituall aduoutries first pure but after most impure first Christian but after Antichristian for her doctrines and practises against the most pure doctrine and humble conuersation of Christ first with a cup of Christian simplicity in her hands deuoid of humane dregs but after with a i Ibidem cup full of abominations and corruptions with which shee should delude all Nations and Kingdomes of the earth making merchandize negotiating with the souls of men the which if it should not be already fulfilled in the Roman Church it must bee heereafter at least if the Prophet truly haue forespoken The later of which especiallie touching the merchandizing of soules in auarice how clearlie it is already compleated in the Roman Church diuers earnest professors agreeing in all points of faith with the Romane Church in their times will plainely b In ementitam Constantini donationem testifie a Saepissime as Baptista Mantuanus c In Henr. 3. Valla Robertus Lincolriensis in c Matthew of Paris d In Epist 1. ad Titum Claudius Espencaeus S. e â—ab Cons ad Eugenium Bernard f Constitut Imperial pag. 39 Frederike the Emperour in his Epistle to all Prelates g Baronius 992. Arnulphus in a Synod at Rhemes in Baronius and read Baronius also in the yeere 912. where you shall find him affirming how at the lust of whores diuers Popes most wicked luxurious and auaricious were thrust into Peters chaire and how that custome lasted not for a short while only * Claudius Espencaeus as hee is now set forth is vvholly corrupted you must read his first Edition All these with infinite others do demonstrate the corruptions of the Roman Church would God effectually for the conuersion of seduced soules Wherein I can conceiue no great hope first of all such popish seruants as reape profitte or liuing by that profession nor of such children as are vnder the command of some obstinate recusants nor of any such bankrupts and malecontents as expect alterations and long for troubled waters to fish in nor of such scrupulous good soules as will not dare to peruse or read any part of holy Scripture though of the Rhemists Testament it selfe falsified with their Annotations lest they should proue Heretikes as some of them haue told me or else remaine perplexed in their Consciences nor of some of their Priests who are resolued for the maintenance of their credit conseruing of their meanes and some such other respects with their fauoritesses I meane such like fauours as will mooue men to trauell vp to Rome to procure dispensations for mariages and yet in their absences and long pilgrimages such painfull pilgrimes notwithstanding stripped of their fauouritesses by some of their own brotherhood which haue come betwixt them and home are ready without examination of Scriptures or Fathers to receiue whatsoeuer the Roman Church shal obtrude vnto them Neither may I conceiue hope of any such yonger persons who expect preferment by h One of the most speciall practises of the Pontificians in England to enlarge their religion is to procure matches in mariages doe thou make the inferences Christian Reader There is a mysterie in it if the natures of young spirits be considered who commonly at such seasons are rather full of the heate of carnall loue then of that fire which Christ came to send into this world Luk. 12. matching into some stocke and family the which as it abhorreth the reading of the Scriptures so also is inueterated in Papistrie My chiefest hope may be of those who as they are iudicious so embrace that faith meerely out of conscience and are nothing dependant of others who either through the peremptory auaricious factious and vnchast liues of their Priests or generally for the hatefull opposings and vncharitablenesse amongst them all by which they demonstrate themselues to be no disciples of Christ whose proper badge and stemme is i Ioh. 13. dilection and loue of each other or else through the vaine multiplicity of deuised fables and miracles out of their old Legends and withall through the inexcusable ignorance of their Priests in Gods sacred Scriptures which I dare boldly affirme is so great that there are scarse a hundred amongst diuers hundreths of them in this Kingdome who can tell either how many
bookes there are of Gods Scripture or how many Chapters there are in any of the bookes Or else through the inuallid successes or euents of their vows beeing either not heard or not regarded by them to whom they are made or else through the contiuuall disquietnesse and torment of their consciences in the * I disproue not ' but highly commend the vse of Auricular Confession when it is voluntary without sacrilege vsed for comfort not abused as the very means and cause by which sinners are iustified in the sight of God much like as the Mexicans vsed Auricular Confession Botero Relationi vniuersali Part. 4. lib. 2. nel fine vse of their Sacrament of confession as it is now by them most peruersly abused to the iniurie of Christ subuersion of diuers soules receiuing no * It is not imaginable what inconsolable liues some that are frequente in the vse of Confession as necessary to saluation doe lead there is no stony heart which would not pitie them knowing their torments rest day nor night k Ierem. 16 as seruing Gods who cannot giue it them are growne into some distrust of the Romane Church Of these might bee conceiued some iust hope of their conuersions if they would vouchsafe either to read holie Scriptures or else to read some learned bookes written by some learned Priest or Preacher of the reformed and Catholike Churches of Christendom but I greatly doubt they wil not dare without leaue of their Priests so to doc and I am most assured that by them they shal neuer be permitted A certaine Bishoppe of Italy was not ashamed to tell l Claud Espene Comeut in cap. 1 ad titum Claudius Espencaeus a famous Pontifician that the learned men in Italy it self were afraid to study the holy Scriptures lest thereby they should become Heretikes and that therefore they imployed themselues in commenting vpon the Popes law-bookes deerees and the Decretals the which Booke thoughfull of lies contradictions impertinencies yet because it is the Popes Booke it must be respected whilest the holie Scripture lyeth as it were in the streetes neglected But to these may not that of Christ be iustly obiected Serui nequam wicked seruants out of your owne mouthes I condemn you Assuredly these and like Italianized Prelates of m Luk. 19. which for greatest number consisted the Tridentine Councell are none of those who are reputed blessed by the Prophet n Psalm 2 Dauid for meditating in the law of God day and night But to shorten this my letter addressed vnto thee Christian and Catholike Reader I humblie request thee to accept with charitable interpretation these my Motiues and to pray for my constancy in profession of Gods truth I must needes confesse that I did find great difficulties in this my conuersion First some suggestions by Sathan suborned how greatly this my conuersion would turne to my disestimation with all of the present Roman faith and those my deare and old acquaintance of whom I affirme that they are vertuously disposed for whose saluations vtinam vt Anathema superimpenderer Would God to speake with the o Ad Rom. 9. 2. ad Corint 12 Apostle I might as an Anatheme be sacrificed yea offered and offered againe so that they might be saued Some other lesser difficulties I found all were humane terrene but when I considered that of the p Ad Galat. 1 Apostle if I should seeke to pleasemen I should not bee the seruant of Christ and that of q Luk. 12 Christ Seeke first the Kingdome of God and the iustice thereof and then all these things will bee added vnto you I fully resolued for the charity and r Ad Philip. 3 supereminent knowledge of Christ to esteeme all that is in the world as verie dung and rather to dwell poore Å¿ Psal 83 in the house of God then to dwell in the rich Tabernacles of sinners And in this my resolution I was somewhat the more confirmed in respect that from my verie youth euen then when I was too too zealous an Emulator of all Romane superstitions I haue euer had often suggestions and inspirations in my mind that a time would come when I should be calumniated and greatly abused by the Papists and persecuted by the Pope himselfe whom I then admired as an heauenly Oracle vpon earth but most of all I was filled with such foreapprehensions and presages being in Rome vpon t Anno Dom. 1594 the 20. of June the same day and houre when that glorious and renowned Christian Marsh suffered the cutting off of his right hand the gagging of his mouth by the Counsel of the Ignatian Cowlin who boasteth himself thereof in England after that the pulling tearing and burning of his flesh with hote glowing pincers for many howres together thorow many streetes of the City of Rome and lastly death it selfe by fire with such admirable patience and constancy that the Romanes themselues did greatly admire him therfore His act for which hee was so tormented was because hee had throwne downe their Sacrament as it was publikely carried thorow the streetes of Rome in publike Procession to be adored worshipped and inuocated as God himselfe an idolatrous superstition latelie crept into that Church contrary to the custom and practise of all auncient Churches whatsoeuer And yet notwitstanding all such suggestions and inspirations at that time which I constantly reiected as temptations I did beeing earnestly intreated and vrged thereunto by the Superiours of the English Colledge make an Oration and a most vehement * This Oration was ready penned to me because I had little aboue a day to prouide my selfe for the prpnouncing thereof before so publike an Audience inuectiue against that fact of his in the presence of diuers Cardinals and Prelates assembled together in the English Church to keepe a solemne Masse of the Sacrament some moneth after the death of that glorious Christian But what may I now vpon this euent interpret those presages inspirations and forewarnings else to haue been then sweet motions and inducements from him who as I trust hath segregated mee to preach the Gospell of his beloued Sonne Iesus the which then I passed ouer with a deafe eare but his goodnesse vouchsafing now to open my eare I may not contradict but blesse him eternally for that he hath made me a child of u Ad Rom. 8. â— Pâ—t 2 adoption of acquisition and election beleeuing with x Ad Rom 10. heart and confessing with mouth for my iustification and saluation onely and alonely in Iesus Christ But before I conclude I intreat the Courteous Reader that y Ad Galat. 5. Iacob 2. both by faith and conuersation by godly z Act. 2 frequenting of the most venerable Sacrament of Christs body and bloud by deuout a Ad Col. 3. Jacob. 1 attendance and hearkning to Gods word so daily so clearely so liuely preached in this Kingdome by daily b